US08295381B2

Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a signal decoder with a general purpose calculation engine. A system for decoding signals in a wireless communication system can include: a controller including an instruction counter; a program memory configured to store program code for operating the controller; a general purpose calculation engine configured to perform primitive operations derived from algorithms for decoding a plurality of coded signals received via a plurality of receive antennas; and a data memory connected to the general purpose calculation engine for storing data generated by the general purpose calculation engine while performing the primitive operations.
US08295379B2

A system and method for non-uniform bit allocation in the quantization of channel state vectors is provided. A method for communications node operation includes receiving a bit-allocation profile for use in quantizing channel state information, measuring a communications channel between the communications node and a controller, generating channel state information based on the measurement, computing a bit representation of the channel state information, transmitting the bit representation to the controller, and receiving a transmission from the controller. The computing makes use of quasi-tail-biting trellis decoding, and the computing is based on the bit-allocation policy. The transmission makes use of the channel state information transmitted by the communications node.
US08295378B2

Various aspects of a method for minimum mean square error soft interference cancellation (MMSE-SIC) based sub-optimal maximum likelihood (ML) detection for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) wireless system may comprise selecting at least one constellation point in a constellation map based on at least one of a plurality of received symbols. A number of the at least one constellation point may be less than or equal to a number of previously selected constellation points in a previous constellation map. At least one of the plurality of received symbols may be decoded based on the selected at least one constellation point.
US08295365B2

A bitstream analysis circuit, generates a reference clock control data. A reference clock DPLL receives a system clock signal and reference clock control data from the analysis circuit and generates a reference clock signal. The reference clock DPLL comprises a 1/n frequency dividing circuit for frequency-dividing the system clock signal, and a 1/(n+1) frequency dividing circuit for frequency-dividing the system clock signal. A register stores data to set frequency dividing ratios of both frequency dividing circuits. A mixing ratio set register stores data to set a mixing ratio between output clock signals from both frequency dividing circuits and a mixing circuit, and mixes the output clock signals from both frequency dividing circuits at a mixing ratio in response to the data in the mixing ratio setting register.
US08295354B2

A video decoder, encoder, and corresponding methods for processing video signal data for an image block and a pariticular reference picture index to predict the image block are disclosed that utilize adaptive weighting of reference pictures to enhance video compression, where a decoder includes a reference picture weighting factor unit for determining a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; an encoder includes a reference picture weighting factor assignor for assigning a weighting factor corresponding to the particular reference picture index; and a method for decoding includes receiving a reference picture index with the data that corresponds to the image block, determining a weighting factor for each received reference picture index, retrieving a reference picture for each index, motion compensating the retrieved reference picture, and multiplying the motion compensated reference picture by the corresponding weighting factor to form a weighted motion compensated reference picture.
US08295351B2

A moving picture coding method includes partitioning a picture into blocks each of which includes pixels, selecting a scanning scheme from among plural scanning schemes, scanning the blocks according to the selected scanning scheme, and coding the blocks in an order in which the blocks are scanned. In the partitioning, the picture is partitioned into rows and columns of macroblocks each of which is partitioned into the blocks. The plural scanning schemes include a first scanning scheme for scanning the blocks in the macroblock per row of blocks.
US08295349B2

A method and system for video compression prediction mode determination is disclosed. For one embodiment of the invention, the frequency domain characteristics (FDCs) of an image block are determined. The FDCs of the image block are compared to the FDCs of each of a number of prediction modes. The prediction mode having FDCs most similar to those of the image block is then determined and selected for encoding the block. For one embodiment of the invention the FDCs of the nine 4×4 prediction modes of the H.264 standard and the FDCs of a 4×4 image block are defined using a frequency domain transform. For one embodiment of the invention, one or more additional prediction modes are evaluated, and of these, the prediction mode resulting in RD optimization is selected for encoding the block.
US08295347B2

An information processing apparatus and method for splicing first compressed image data with second compressed image data. The method includes performing a decoding process for a first decoding interval that includes a first editing point set to the first compressed image data to produce a first non-compressed image signal. A second decoding process includes a second editing point set to the second compressed image data to produce a second non-compressed image signal. A re-encoding process re-encodes an interval of a third non-compressed image signal and the first and second non-compressed image signals are spliced at the first and second editing points to produce third compressed image data.
US08295342B2

Disclosed are a method and system for video compression, wherein the video encoder has low computational complexity and high compression efficiency. The disclosed system comprises a video encoder and a video decoder, wherein the method for encoding includes the steps of converting a source frame into a space-frequency representation; estimating conditional statistics of at least one vector of space-frequency coefficients; estimating encoding rates based on the said conditional statistics; and applying Slepian-Wolf codes with the said computed encoding rates. The preferred method for decoding includes the steps of; generating a side-information vector of frequency coefficients based on previously decoded source data, encoder statistics, and previous reconstructions of the source frequency vector; and performing Slepian-Wolf decoding of at least one source frequency vector based on the generated side-information, the Slepian-Wolf code bits and the encoder statistics.
US08295320B2

The present invention relates to external cavity laser (ECL) apparatuses and manufacturing processes, and more particularly to implementing low noise narrow bandwidth ECLs on planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platforms for harnessing high-performance, high-stability operation from a compact-footprint, low-power packaged device. An ECL device with narrow linewidth and low noise is disclosed, the device comprising a PLC device and a gain chip butt-coupled to each other. The PLC device has a planar Bragg grating (PBG) integrated onto a rectangular waveguide. The PLC device has anti-reflection coatings (ARC) on its input facet and output facet. The waveguide is designed to be selective of a single polarization. The gain chip has high-reflection coating (HRC) on a back facet and an ARC on a front facet. An operating wavelength of the ECL is aligned to a longer wavelength red slope of a reflectivity spectrum of the PBG. The operating wavelength may be tuned thermally, electrically, or thermo-electrically.
US08295318B2

A vertical cavity surface emitting laser including a substrate, a first semiconductor multilayer film reflector formed on the substrate, an active region formed on the first semiconductor multilayer film reflector, a second semiconductor multilayer film reflector formed on the active region, an electrode formed on the second semiconductor multilayer film reflector, a light absorption layer, and a light transmission layer. In the electrode, a light emitting aperture is formed. The light absorption layer is formed in a peripheral region of the light emitting aperture, and absorbs emitted light. The light transmission layer is composed of a material which the emitted light can pass through, and formed in a central region of the light emitting aperture. Thicknesses of the light absorption layer and the light transmission layer are selected so that phases of light from the light absorption layer and from the light transmission layer are adjusted.
US08295314B2

An MO-PA fiber laser having a master oscillator; and a first power amplifier which uses as a gain medium, a rare earth-doped optical fiber which is connected to a later stage of the master oscillator, wherein the MO-PA fiber laser has a wavelength conversion portion between the master oscillator and the power amplifier, and has a wavelength filter between the wavelength conversion portion and the master oscillator which only allows wavelength components of pulse light emitted from the master oscillator to pass, thereby making it possible to prevent breakage to a fiber laser which is caused by reflection light without using high-cost optical components.
US08295312B2

Aspects of a method and system for compensated time stamping for time-sensitive network communications are provided. In this regard, one or more timestamps generated in an OSI layer above the physical layer may be adjusted based on parameters associated with an amount of time in which data traverses a PHY of the network device. Communications of the network device may be managed based on the adjusted one or more timestamps. The parameters may comprise one or more of: average ingress PHY traversal time, average egress PHY traversal time, variance of ingress PHY traversal time, and variance of egress PHY traversal time. One or more network links coupled to the network device may be characterized based on the one or more adjusted timestamps. The parameters may be stored in one or more registers within a PHY of the network device.
US08295309B2

A method for time weighted combining of a plurality of binary phase shift key (BPSK) code sequences that is implemented by providing first, second and third sequences of chips of a BPSK code having a first, second and third code powers, respectively. A majority vote (MV) sequence of chips from the first, second and third sequences of chips is determined and a time multiplexed composite BPSK composite code sequence is formed by selecting a specific number of samples from each of the MV sequence of chips, and the two sequences of chips of the first, second and third sequences of chips that have the highest code powers, to form samples in a unit duration.
US08295305B2

Assigning work, such as data packets, from a plurality of sources, such as data queues in a network processing device, to a plurality of sinks, such as processor threads in the network processing device is provided. In a given processing period, a source is selected in a manner that maintains fairness in the selection process. A corresponding sink is selected for the selected source based on processing efficiency. If, due to assignment constraints, no sink is available for the selected source, the selected source is retained for selection in the next scheduling period, to maintain fairness. In this case, to optimize efficiency, a most efficient currently available sink is identified and a source for providing work to that sink is selected.
US08295303B2

A system and method for transmitting Frame Relay based communication over an ATM based network that includes a DSL link are disclosed. The Frame Relay based communication is mapped into ATM cells at a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). The mapping of the Frame Relay frames into ATM cells is carried in accordance with transparent mode or translation mode functionality provided in the DSLAM. The Frame Relay data may be mapped into the ATM cells pursuant to FRF.5, FRF.8, FRF.8.1, or other similar standards. The system and method may enable transparent propagation of the Frame Relay data across the DSL/ATM network, for receipt on the other end of the network by a Frame Relay compatible switch, or an ATM compatible switch.
US08295300B1

Packet switch operating methods and packet switches determine an identifier of an authorized multicast packet service, the multicast packet service being provided from a first device connected to the packet switch, receive a multicast packet comprising the identifier from a different second device connected to the packet switch, determine the multicast packet is unauthorized, and prevent the packet switch from forwarding the unauthorized multicast packet to a third device connected to the packet switch. Other packet switches include a first port, a second port, a third port, and forwarding circuitry connected to the first, second, and third ports. The forwarding circuitry is configured to forward first packets comprising a particular multicast destination address received from the first port to the second and third ports and to prevent second packets comprising the particular multicast destination address received from the second port from being forwarded to the third port.
US08295297B2

Protocol conversion based on a communication protocol and data modulation based on a communication method are performed, in advance, on desired transmission data by a host device, which is an external device. Then, the converted data will be written to a memory in a transmitting device. According to a transmission command from an input section, a logical device reads out the converted data stored in the memory, and then outputs the read data from a transmitting section.
US08295285B2

Method and arrangement for obtaining unambiguous addressing for data packets communicated between devices in two different local networks using private IP address spaces. A VPN tunnel is initially established between gateways in the two local networks and an internal IP address space is defined in each network for devices in the opposite network, not overlapping with an internal IP address space used for its own devices. When the gateway of one network receives a data packet from a device in the opposite network, the packet's header is modified by changing the destination and source addresses, which belong to address spaces valid in the opposite network, into addresses belonging to address spaces valid in the present network.
US08295282B2

The invention includes a method and apparatus for synchronizing line card forwarding databases. A method includes receiving a data packet at a line card, generating a control packet for each of at least one other line card to enable an address update operation thereat, and propagating the at least one control packet toward the at least one other line card. The control packet, or packets, is generated in response to a determination to perform an address update operation for the received data packet. The address update process may be implemented as an ingress address update process or an egress address update process. This address update process performed in conjunction with an address aging process.
US08295280B2

In accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a sensor node configured to operate in a wireless sensor network, wherein the sensor node is configured to receive a data packet that comprises a quality of service field, examine the quality of service field, and invoke one of a plurality of pre-stored algorithms depending on the value of the quality of service field.
US08295277B2

In an example embodiment described herein, there is disclosed an implementation for analyzing a network having cache advance (CA) segments, such as a session control protocol (SCTP) pipe. The path between endpoints, e.g. a client on a first local area network (LAN) and a server on a second LAN, wherein the first and second LAN are coupled by an SCTP pipe, is determined and properties of the path are acquired.
US08295275B2

An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to tag network transactions. A virtual queue stores packets received from and transmitted to a network interface card (NIC). A global session manager manages packet communication with a capability operating system (COS). A global virtual machine (VM) database stores global session identifiers (SIDs) of the packets and associated metadata. The global SIDs are used by the global session manager to track network sessions. The metadata describe characteristics of session connections. A VM tunnel connection encapsulates the packets passing to and from the COS.
US08295274B2

A tangible computer-readable medium encoded with an executable computer program for retrieving information from an internet protocol network is provided. The internet protocol network includes a plurality of tangible session initiation protocol entities that exchange session initiation protocol events via the internet protocol network, wherein each of the plurality of tangible session initiation protocol entities store exchanged session initiation protocol events. The tangible computer-readable medium includes an accessing code segment that, when executed, accesses the exchanged session initiation protocol events that are stored in one of the tangible session initiation protocol entities. A parsing code segment, when executed, parses the exchanged session initiation protocol events that are stored in the one of the tangible session initiation protocol entities based on a parsing parameter. Thereafter, a reporting code segment, when executed, displays results of the parsing code segment on a display.
US08295272B2

A system and method can enable a user of a communications network, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), wireless and/or voice over IP network to participate in Presence Availability Management (PAM) and Instant Messaging (IM) activities of a PAM/IM network. In response to phone network triggers, a phone network Service Control Point (SCP) can generate requests to a web server. The web server can translate the requests to presence information that can be forwarded to presence user agents for participants of the PAM/IM network. The presence user agents can present the user's presence information to participants having the user on their “buddy list”. In turn, the presence user agent for the user can forward the presence information for participants on the user's “buddy list” to a media server that can communicate the information to the user through Automatic Speech Recognition, Text to Speech and/or Dual Tone MultiFrequency technology.
US08295271B2

A disclosed Internet Linked Network Architecture delivers telecommunication type services across a network utilizing digital technology. The unique breadth and flexibility of telecommunication services offered by the Internet Linked Network Architecture flow directly from the network over which they are delivered and the underlying design principles and architectural decisions employed during its creation. The present invention supports current telecommunication and voice over IP standards and applications. This new network not only replaces the telecommunication network presently in place, but it also offers a more feature rich and cost effective alternative. For example, traditional telecommunication switches are more expensive, less reliable and slower than the faster digital data switches utilized in the present invention. Furthermore, the programmable nature of the digital devices comprising the present invention allows the new network to be built with a scalable and extensible architecture, providing the flexibility necessary to incorporate new or future digital enhancements. The inventive network is designed as a complete replacement for the traditional telecom network. The disclosed architecture allows for this network to connect to traditional networks and allows for an upgrade path. The design is robust and scalable so this network can introduce new features and functionality while preserving the quality of traditional networks.
US08295265B2

A method of transmitting downlink data after re-establishment of a universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) acknowledged mode (AM) radio link control (RLC) entity includes receiving a plurality of RLC service data units (SDUs) from a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the UTRAN; dividing the received RLC SDUs into RLC protocol data units (PDUs) and transmitting the RLC PDUs to a user equipment (UE); receiving acknowledgments from the UE for received RLC PDUs; receiving a re-establishment request at a transmitting side of the AM RLC entity from upper layers of the UTRAN; discarding all RLC SDUs that have been fully transmitted to the UE before the re-establishment request is received; and discarding all RLC SDUs that have not been fully transmitted to the UE when the re-establishment request is received.
US08295259B1

A network interface including: a physical layer device configured to transmit frames received from a host to a network; and a medium access control device configured to receive a first frame of the frames, and iteratively transmit the first frame to the physical layer device based on a first set of parameters until at least one of (i) the physical layer device receives an acknowledgement signal indicating that the first frame has been successfully transmitted, (ii) a number of unsuccessful transmissions of the first frame is equal to a predetermined count value, or (iii) a predetermined period expires prior to successful transmission of the first frame, wherein the first set of parameters comprise a first plurality of transmission parameters.
US08295257B2

A method for transmitting data in vehicular network comprising determining a communication window between at least two nodes, grouping a plurality of fragments of content together into an aggregate fragment block, forwarding the aggregate fragment block to a target node and assembling the plurality of fragments into the content. The content is divided into the plurality of fragments. A fragment signature is generated for the fragments that contain fragment index information regarding each fragment. Each fragment is unambiguously identified by its signature. A number of fragments grouped into the aggregate fragment block is dependent on the communication window.
US08295246B2

A method and system for supporting an evolved universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN) are disclosed. The system includes a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), a UTRAN and an E-UTRAN. The UTRAN sends to the WTRU a list of available radio access technologies in a coverage area of the UTRAN. The list includes information related to the E-UTRAN. The WTRU receives the list and may initiate a handoff based on the list. The WTRU then sends its multi-mode/multi-RAT capability information including the E-UTRAN capability to the UTRAN. The UTRAN then sends a measurement capability message to the WTRU. The measurement capability message includes parameters necessary for performing measurements on an E-UTRAN channel. The WTRU performs measurements based on the measurement capability message and reports measurement results to the UTRAN. The UTRAN may initiate a handoff to the E-UTRAN based on the measurement results.
US08295245B2

A network access device is provided with one or more processors configured for macrotechnology-based transmission to a multi-mode user equipment of a signal including a plurality of data portions and a plurality of gaps between one or more of the plurality of data portions, wherein at least one of the gaps is used by the multi-mode user equipment for measurement of a first signal strength of a microtechnology-based network.
US08295235B2

A method of operating a communication system is disclosed. A first set of wireless devices is communicated with using a first frequency range. A second set of wireless devices is communicated with using a second frequency range. A first air-interface utilization associated with the first frequency range is determined. The first air-interface utilization is determined to satisfy a criteria. A second air-interface utilization associated with the second frequency range is determined. A subset of the first set of wireless devices is selected. The subset is selected to have a total air interface utilization that exceeds one-half of the difference between the first air-interface utilization and the second air-interface utilization. The subset of wireless devices is controlled to use the second frequency range.
US08295231B2

A method of dynamic resource allocations in wireless network is disclosed. The method provides that a base station in the network allocates resources to users independently of other base stations and without resource planning. Resource allocations are done based at least in part on a local optimization objective and a channel quality indicator from one or more users, and result in efficient resource reuse.
US08295227B2

A radio communication system of an HARQ method that makes an HARQ transmission interval of subpackets appropriate and reduces data transmission delay resulting from subpacket retransmission. In the radio communication system in which a packet is transmitted and receives with the HARQ method between a base station and multiple radio mobile stations, each of the base station and the multiple radio mobile stations has: a packet transmission circuit for transmitting subpackets in predetermined intervals; a packet reception circuit for repeating decoding processing by combining a newly received subpacket and a previously received former subpacket until an original packet is successfully decoded; and a HARQ control equipped with a function of, for packet communication whose data length is short, transmitting a subpacket or response from the packet transmission circuit in an HARQ transmission interval that is shortened from the HARQ transmission interval of the normal mode.
US08295222B2

A wireless connection method is applicable to establishing a wireless connection device between an uplink device and a downlink device, and includes obtaining uplink wireless configuration information, and configuring a downlink with the obtained uplink wireless configuration information. A wireless connection is established with the uplink device based on the uplink wireless configuration information and, after successful connection establishment, a wireless connection is established with the downlink device based on the uplink wireless configuration information.
US08295215B2

A universal femto cell, method, and computer usable program product for using the universal femto cell are provided such that the femto cell is configurable according to the user's choice of wireless carriers. A user configurable component of the universal femto cell enables a user to configure the universal femto cell to operate on at least one wireless communication network. The universal femto cell further includes a storage unit for storing information used in configuring the universal femto cell, a network communication component used in communicating with a network, and a user interface component to receive a user input. The universal femto cell receives a second input from a data processing system, and uses the user input and the second input to configure the universal femto cell to operate on one or more wireless communication network.
US08295213B2

A method for uplink transmission based on a time division duplex (TDD) system is provided. In the method, a terminal measures downlink channel state information, estimates the state information of the uplink spatial channel using the channel reciprocity of the TDD system, and selects an uplink spatial pre-coding matrix using the state information of the uplink spatial channel based on a certain criterion, the terminal executes spatial pre-coding using the selected pre-coding matrix, and transmits the data stream to a base station via terminal transmit antennae. A terminal, a base station and a system which are based on the method are also provided. The invention uses the reciprocity of the TDD system channel fully to achieve the maximal channel capacity, thereby optimizes the uplink spatial-transmission.
US08295211B2

A method for transmitting/receiving data in an orthogonal frequency division multiple access-time division duplex (OFDMA-TDD) scheme. A first uplink signal and a first downlink signal of a specific band are periodically transmitted/received within a time-divided section. A second uplink signal and a second downlink signal are periodically transmitted/received, and the second signal is of a band other than the specific band, within the time-divided section, wherein, during a time section in which the first downlink signal is transmitted, the second uplink signal is received.
US08295204B2

According to a particular embodiment, a method for automatically assigning dynamic IP addresses without user interaction includes maintaining at least one pool of unused IP addresses. An advertisement message is transmitted from a first network element to at least one additional network element in a transport ring. The advertisement message identifies the first network element as providing IP address assignment services. The IP address request message from a second network element in the transport ring is received at the first network element. In response to the IP address request message, an IP address is dynamically assigned from the at least one pool of unused IP addresses. The dynamically assigned IP address is transmitted from the first network element to the second network element.
US08295201B2

An approach is provided for validating lower layer paths for higher layer networks. A request for path cost information is generated relating to a path traversing a first autonomous system and a second autonomous system, wherein each of the autonomous systems utilizes different cost metrics. The path cost information is received associated with reservation of capacity for the path. The path cost information is evaluated. The reservation is selectively accepted based on the evaluation.
US08295195B2

A frame format discrimination method in a wireless communication system is provided. The frame format discrimination method includes: calculating a power of an in-phase signal and a power of a quadrature signal in a predetermined section of a frame; comparing the power of the in-phase signal with the power of the quadrature signal; and determining the format of the frame in accordance with the comparison result.
US08295190B2

An improved method and system for determining round-trip time (RTT) during a radio link protocol (RLP) wireless communication link. The RTT estimate is negotiated by both sides of the RLP communication link without the need for the 3-way handshake generally required for RLP synchronization. The method includes techniques used by both sides of the RLP communication link to dynamically update and refine their initial, negotiated RTT estimates.
US08295189B2

A computing device configured for wireless communication may effectively control adaptation to channel conditions. The device may be configured to identify and classify conditions impacting performance of a channel so that appropriate adaptations may be made. Interference may be detected by correlating received signal strength and packet errors. High received signal strength correlated to a high packet error rate may signify presence of a source of interference. Once a source of interference is detected, other criteria may be used to determine the nature of the interference so that an adaptation that is minimally disruptive of applications can be selected. Additionally, channel degradation may be predicted by monitoring trends in error rates, including Forward Error Correction rates, and adaptation may be used before packet error rates exceed an unacceptable level.
US08295187B1

A system for determining a requirement in a converged communication system is provided. The system includes a network analyzer 108 that is operable to: (a) determine a packet-switched port usage for at least one of (i) a set of packet-switched stations, (ii) a set of packet-switched trunks, and (iii) a set of packet-switched communications, and a circuit-switched port usage for at least one of (iv) a set of circuit-switched stations, (v) a set of circuit-switched trunks, and (vi) a set of circuit-switched communications in at least a portion of an enterprise network; and (b) based on the determined packet-switched and circuit-switched port usages, determine a functional component requirement to comply with a selected communication specification.
US08295186B2

Performance measurements are taken in a data network where information from a source is sent to a set of receivers via a plurality of routers using multicast addressing by generating a performance measurement packet having indicia indicating that the packet is a performance measurement packet at the source. The performance measurement packet is forwarded from the source to a subset of one or more identified receivers over the same respective paths as non-measurement packets. The performance measurement packets are received at the subset of identified receivers, but not at receivers in the set that are not part of the subset.
US08295176B2

A method includes receiving a priority message in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) and identifying, via the IMS, resource availability through a first network and a second network. The method further includes routing, via the IMS, the priority message through one of the first network or the second network based on the identified resource availabilities of the first network and the second network.
US08295174B2

A system and method for enforcing uplink aggregate maximum bit rate (AMBR) at a network gateway is provided. In one embodiment, a network gateway may inform one or more network access nodes that are sending data to the network gateway that a total data flow rate on a plurality of bearers from the one or more network access nodes to the network gateway exceeds a first threshold. Responsive to being informed that the total data flow rate exceeds the first threshold, the one or more network access nodes take an action to decrease the data flow rate from a plurality of user equipment that are sending data to the one or more network access nodes.
US08295172B1

A device receives network traffic and bypass traffic, performs a first weighting operation on the network traffic and the bypass traffic to produce weighted network traffic and weighted bypass traffic, performs a second weighting operation on the weighted network traffic and the weighted bypass traffic to produce additionally weighted traffic, and transmits the additionally weighted traffic based on weights assigned by the second weighting operation.
US08295155B2

A method and apparatus are provided for allocating code resources to ACK/NACK channel indexes, when UEs need ACK/NACK transmission in a wireless communication system in which a predetermined number of orthogonal cover Walsh codes is selected from among available orthogonal cover Walsh codes, at least one subset is formed, having the selected orthogonal cover Walsh codes arranged in an ascending order of cross interference, subsets are selected for use in first and second slots of a subframe, and the orthogonal cover Walsh codes of the subset selected for each slot and ZC sequence cyclic shift values are allocated to the ACK/NACK channel indexes.
US08295148B2

A dual format hybrid storage medium includes a non-recordable section in which data to be reproduced is written and in which data cannot be updated, and a recordable section in which data in the non-recordable section having a high probability of error occurrence may be backed up. The high probability of error is determined based on a range of fluctuation of an RF envelope, an unstable phase locked loop signal, a value of a sum level or sub-beam added level of the reproduced data, an unstable focus lock signal, a range of fluctuation of a track error signal and a range of fluctuation of a focus error signal. A determination is made to test for errors if a freeze-frame is found, audio and video are out of sync, a data seek fails or a picture distortion or a picture mosaic effect occurs.
US08295142B2

Provided is an objective lens for recording a hologram that condenses an recording beam on a hologram recording medium, and the objective lens is configured so as to condense, in the case where the recording beam is incident upon the objective lens in a form of a parallel beam flux, an on-axis beam flux and an off-axis beam flux contained in the parallel flux so as to form a beam waist in the hologram recording medium, and such that a distance between an off-axis image point of the off-axis beam flux that defines a largest field angle among the off-axis beam fluxes gradually converging ahead of the beam waist and the hologram recording medium becomes minimal.
US08295137B2

An information medium evaluating method includes, in the following order: a recording process that records data onto a recordable information medium to be evaluated; a rubbing process that rubs a processing member against a data recording surface of the information medium; a reading process that reads the data from the information medium; and an evaluating process that evaluates the information medium based on a result of the reading process and evaluation standard data. During the rubbing process, the processing member is rubbed onto only part of a region in a circumferential direction of the information medium.
US08295132B2

A TAMR head is disclosed with a triangular shaped plasmon antenna covered on two sides with a plasmon layer that generates an edge plasmon mode along a vertex of the two plasmon sides formed opposite a main pole layer. A plasmon shield (PS) is formed along the ABS and opposite the vertex to confine an electric field from the edge plasmon mode within a small radius of the edge plasmon tip thereby reducing the optical spot size on the magnetic medium and enhancing writability. An end of a waveguide used to direct input electromagnetic radiation to the plasmon antenna adjoins a PS side opposite the ABS. In one embodiment, a magnetic shield may be formed along the ABS and adjoins the PS so that a first PS section terminates at the ABS and faces the vertex while a second PS section is formed between the magnetic shield and waveguide end.
US08295128B2

A radio-controlled timepiece includes an antenna receiving a standard radio wave and a plurality of motors driving indicator portions which indicate information. A fourth motor which is driven at a lowest frequency during the standard radio wave reception of the antenna is disposed closer to the antenna than the rest of the motors.
US08295113B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: a first switch controlling connection between a first data line pair a second data line pair; a first amplifier connected to the first data line pair; a second switch controlling the connection between the second data line pair and a third data line pair; a second amplifier amplifying data on the second data line pair and delivering the amplified data to the third data line pair; a third amplifier connected to the third data line pair; and a switch control circuit controlling the second switch. Based upon a first control signal that controls precharging and equalization of the first data line pair, the switch control circuit renders the second switch conductive when precharging and equalization of the first data line pair is not carried out, and renders the second switch non-conductive when precharging and equalization of the first data line pair is carried out.
US08295109B2

Controllers and memory devices are provided. In an embodiment, a controller is configured to address a non-defective column of memory cells of a memory device in place of a defective column of memory cells of the memory device in response to receiving an address of the defective column of memory cells from the memory device. In another embodiment, a memory device has columns of memory cells and is configured to receive an external address that addresses a non-defective column of memory cells of a sequence of columns of memory cells of the memory device in place of a defective column of memory cells of the sequence of columns of memory cells such that the non-defective column replaces the defective column. The non-defective column is a proximate non-defective column following the defective column in the sequence of columns that is available to replace the defective column.
US08295103B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory apparatus includes a control unit configured to generate a select signal and a driving control signal in response to a first enable signal and a second enable signal; a level shifting unit configured to enable a first shifting signal or a second shifting signal to a level of a pumping voltage in response to the select signal and the driving control signal; a first switching unit configured to apply a program voltage to a word line when the first shifting signal is enabled to the level of the pumping voltage; and a second switching unit configured to apply a pass voltage to the word line when the second shifting signal is enabled to the level of the pumping voltage.
US08295095B2

Methods for programming, memory devices, and memory systems are disclosed. In one such method for programming, a target memory cell is partially programmed to a final target programmed state where the partial programming is verified by applying a ramped voltage having a first voltage range (e.g., where the first voltage range is selected in response to program coupling effects from memory cells adjacent to the target memory cell.) A programming operation following the partial programming operation is performed on one or more adjacent memory cells which is then followed by additional programming of the target memory cell to adjust the memory cell from the partially programmed state to the final programmed state. A ramped voltage having a second voltage range different from the first voltage range is utilized to verify the programming of the target memory cell to the final programmed state.
US08295093B2

A multi-dot flash memory set potentials of bit lines being disposed at a left side of a selected floating gate to V2(1)>V2(2)>V2(3)> . . . and set potentials of bit lines being disposed at a right side of the selected floating gate to V1(1)
US08295090B2

According to one embodiment, a first well of the first conductivity type which is formed in a substrate. a second well of a second conductivity type which is formed in the first well. The plurality of memory cells, the plurality of first bit line select transistors, and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are formed in the second well, and the plurality of first bit line select transistors and the plurality of second bit line select transistors are arranged on a side of the sense amplifier with respect to the plurality of memory cells of the plurality of bit lines.
US08295089B2

A non-volatile memory device having a vertical structure includes a NAND string having a vertical structure. The NAND string includes a plurality of memory cells, and at least one pair of first selection transistors arranged to be adjacent to a first end of the plurality of memory cells. A plurality of word lines are coupled to the plurality of memory cells of the NAND string. A first selection line is commonly connected to the at least one pair of first selection transistors of the NAND string.
US08295087B2

A nonvolatile memory device includes an array of EEPROM configured nonvolatile memory cells each having a floating gate memory transistor for storing a digital datum and a floating gate select transistor for activating the floating gate memory transistor for reading, programming, and erasing. The nonvolatile memory device has a row decoder to transfer the operational biasing voltage levels to word lines connected to the floating gate memory transistors for reading, programming, verifying, and erasing the selected nonvolatile memory cells. The nonvolatile memory device has a select gate decoder circuit transfers select gate control biasing voltages to the select gate control lines connected to the control gate of the floating gate select transistor for reading, programming, verifying, and erasing the floating gate memory transistor of the selected nonvolatile memory cells. The operational biasing voltage levels are generated to minimize operational disturbances and preventing drain to source breakdown in peripheral devices.
US08295086B2

A memory array is shown, including memory cells with source and drain doped regions, and global bit lines coupled to the doped regions via select transistors. The connections of the select transistors are configured such that the respective loading capacitances of two global bit lines respectively coupled to the source and the drain of a memory cell to be read do not vary with the memory cell to be read.
US08295085B2

Multiple programming processes are performed for a plurality of non-volatile storage elements. Each of the programming processes operate to program at least a subset of the non-volatile storage elements to a respective set of target conditions using program pulses. At least a subset of the programming processes include identifying a program pulse associated with achieving a particular result for a respective programming process and performing one or more sensing operations at one or more alternative results for the non-volatile storage elements. Subsequent programming process are adjusted based on a first alternative result and the identification of the program pulse if the one or more sensing operations determined that greater than a predetermined number of non-volatile storage elements achieved the first alternative result. Subsequent programming process are adjusted based on the identification of the program pulse if the one or more sensing operations determined that less than a required number of non-volatile storage elements achieved any of the alternative results.
US08295074B2

A memory cell is provided, in which a resistance value is appropriately controlled, thereby a variable resistance element may be applied with a voltage necessary for changing the element into a high or low resistance state. A storage element 10, a nonlinear resistance element 20, and an MOS transistor 30 are electrically connected in series. The storage element 10 has a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic opposite to a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of the MOS transistor 30, and changes into a high or low resistance state in accordance with a polarity of applied voltage. The nonlinear resistance element 20 has a nonlinear current-voltage characteristic similar to the nonlinear current-voltage characteristic of the storage element 10.
US08295073B2

Non-volatile dual port memory with third dimension memory is described, including a non-volatile third dimensional memory array comprising a memory element, the memory element is configured to change from a first resistive state to a second resistive state in response to a voltage, a transceiver gate configured to gate the voltage to the memory element, the voltage being configured to change the memory element from the first resistive state to the second resistive state, the transceiver gate is configured to receive another voltage from a bit line and a bit bar line, the bit line and the bit bar line being coupled to the memory element and configured to provide the another voltage, and a plurality of word lines coupled to the memory element, the plurality of word lines are configured to provide substantially simultaneous access to the non-volatile third dimensional memory array using two or more ports.
US08295065B2

A load distribution and management system (LDMS) has a source of multi-phase power and multiple power lines. A separate power line is associated with each phase of power. These power lines connect the power source to a plurality of outlets. A threshold compare circuit is effective to compare power drawn through the plurality of outlets to a preset power limit and signal a phase rotation control if the power drawn exceeds the threshold power. The phase rotation control effective to interchange the power line associated with two of said multi-phases in response to said signal and a rotation detector disables those outlets not in use in response to the interchange of power and power lines. Conversely, when the power drawn is less than the preset threshold power, the phase rotation control returns the power phase to its associated power line signaling the rotation detector to enable disabled outlets. The LDMS is particularly useful where there is a limited supply of power, for example to provide power to passenger laptop computers and personal entertainment devices on a commercial aircraft.
US08295062B2

The switching power supply apparatus includes a transformer including a primary winding, a secondary winding, an auxiliary winding, a switching device connected to the primary winding, an output voltage generation circuit which is connected to the secondary winding and generates an output voltage, and an auxiliary power voltage generation circuit which is connected to the auxiliary winding and generates an auxiliary power voltage. The switching power supply apparatus also includes a control circuit, which operates using the auxiliary power voltage and controls a driver circuit so that an intermittent oscillation is performed when the output voltage is higher than a first output voltage, and which controls a peak of a current flowing through a switching device is lower than a peak in a normal mode, when the auxiliary power voltage is lower than a first auxiliary power voltage in the intermittent oscillation.
US08295060B2

A mounting apparatus includes a mounting member and a bracket. The mounting member includes a base piece and a latch piece located on the base piece. The latch piece is configured for securing a riser card. The bracket is configured for securing a PCI card, which is electronically coupled to the riser card. The bracket is secured to the base piece and the latch piece.
US08295059B1

A system relating to improved traffic-control hardware expansion and component testing. More particularly, this invention relates to providing systems for efficient expansion and portable testing of NEMA-standard TS-1 and TS-2 traffic-control devices used in traffic-control applications. The system is especially useful in extending the service life of “aging” fixed-size traffic-control cabinets, within existing traffic-control networks.
US08295054B2

A printed circuit board fastening structure aims to fasten a printed circuit board which has a first bearing surface abutting and coupling on a casing and a second bearing surface. The first bearing surface is coupled with at least one support member. The support member has at least one leg connecting to the first bearing surface and an end portion formed with a fastening hole. The end portion is adjacent to the casing. A fastening element is provided to run through the casing from another side thereof to couple with the support member, thereby to fasten the printed circuit board to the casing.
US08295051B2

A computer system includes a chassis, a motherboard, a backplane, riser cards, and disk drives. The chassis includes a bottom wall. The motherboard is secured to and parallel to the bottom wall. The backplane is secured to the bottom wall, and electrically connected to and parallel to the motherboard. The riser cards are electrically and perpendicularly connected to the backplane. The disk drives are electrically connected to the riser cards.
US08295048B2

An electronic device such as an AC/DC power adapter includes a conductive heat dissipation system. The device contains heat generating components and is powered via power supply leads by an external power supply circuit. The device further contains a thermally conductive mass that is thermally coupled to both the heat generating components and to the power supply leads. When the power supply leads are coupled to receive electricity from the external power supply circuit, heat generated by the device is thermally conducted into the external power supply circuit via the power supply leads.
US08295044B2

A storage device assembly includes a storage device, a bracket and a securing member. The storage device defines a first securing hole. The bracket includes a sidewall with an opening. The securing member is attached to an outside of the sidewall and includes an actuating end, a securing end, and a pivot portion formed between the actuating end and the securing end. The actuating end includes a ridge portion. The pivot portion is pivotally attached to the sidewall. The storage device abuts the actuating end of the securing member to force the securing end to pivot toward the sidewall and engage the first securing hole, and the actuating end extends through the opening and to be pressed by the storage device when located in the bracket.
US08295033B2

A mobile electricity generator comprising a telescopic boom, a first retractable support leg, and a base. The telescopic boom comprises a first end and a second end. A wind turbine is attached to the second end of the telescopic boom and the wind turbine is capable of transforming wind into electricity. The first end of the telescopic boom and the first retractable support leg is attached to the base. The mobile electricity generator can further comprise a first solar panel that is capable of transforming light into electricity, the base can further comprise an external surface, and the first solar panel can be attached to the external surface of the base. The mobile electricity generator can further comprise a battery in electric communication with the wind turbine and first solar panel and the battery can be capable of at least temporarily storing the electricity.
US08295027B2

A MEMS device and method of making same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a micro-switch includes a base assembly comprising a movable structure bearing a contact pad. The base assembly is wafer-scale bonded to a lid assembly comprising an activator and a signal path. The movable structure moves within a sealed cavity formed during the bonding process. The signal path includes an input line and an output line separated by a gap, which prevents signals from propagating through the micro-switch when the switch is deactivated. In operation, a signal is launched into the signal path. When the micro-switch is activated, a force is established by the actuator, which pulls a portion of the movable structure upwards towards the gap in the signal path, until the contact pad bridges the gap between the input line and output line, allowing the signal to propagate through the micro-switch.
US08295025B2

Apparatus and method for controlling the frequency of the current in the excitation coil of a handpiece of a dental magnetostrictive ultrasonic scaling unit, or a similar transducer. A microprocessor continually samples predetermined functions of the current through the excitation coil, and periodically adjusts the frequency, by performing a coarse-stepped frequency scan, followed by a fine-stepped frequency scan until the function samples are close to predetermined optimum values. The functions can include the peak of the current and the peak of a high-pass filtered version of the current. The frequency adjustment is performed each time the handpiece is energized by the practitioner, and at frequent intervals thereafter, assuring automatic optimal frequency at all times and under all conditions. Apparatus according to the invention does not require sensing coils or complex power- or impedance-sensing circuitry and covers a wide range of resonant frequencies for different handpiece- and insert types. A configuration with multiple handpieces is supported.
US08295023B2

Devices, such as mobile devices, may be exposed to short circuit and output overload events. To protect against such events, mobile devices typically include current limit circuits. Some current limit circuits may involve user programmable function. User programmable function may need accurate current limit detectors. Various embodiments of the present invention include devices and methods for detecting one or more programmed current limits. Some embodiments allow for a user application to select among parallel or serial configurations of current detection circuitry. Each such configuration may include multiple resistive devices of different resistive values.
US08295021B2

To provide an overcurrent protection apparatus for a load circuit which can detect an overcurrent accurately without being influenced by the offset voltage Voff of an amplifier (AMP1). When the amplifier (AMP1) has the offset voltage Voff which is a positive value (Voff>0), a current obtained by subtracting a current Ia from a current I1 flowing through a resistor R1 by conducting a current source IA is flown into a resistor R3. In contrast, when the amplifier (AMP1) has the offset voltage Voff which is a negative value (Voff<0), a voltage drop is generated at a resistor R2 by conducting a current source IB to thereby control so that a voltage Vds becomes same as the voltage generated at the resistor R1. Thus, since a voltage V3 generated at the resistor R3 becomes a voltage from which the influence of the offset voltage Voff is eliminated, it is possible to determine an overcurrent accurately by eliminating the influence of the offset voltage Voff.
US08295015B2

The invention is devised to provide a magnetoresistive element that is hardly susceptible to harmful influence of unnecessary magnetic fields and noise of heat even when reduction in size is achieved to be adaptable to higher recording density, and therefore that is excellent in operational reliability. The magnetoresistive element includes a stacked structure including, in order: a magnetically pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed in a given direction; a non-magnetic layer; a magnetically free layer whose magnetization direction changes according to an external magnetic field; and an antiferromagnetic bias layer exchange-coupled with the magnetically free layer. The exchange-coupling magnetic field between the magnetically free layer and the antiferromagnetic bias layer is smaller than a saturation magnetic field of the magnetically free layer.
US08295007B2

A magnetic tape head includes a writing element having a coil for generating magnetic flux and a yoke part that emits magnetic flux induced by the coil from a tape bearing surface opposite a magnetic tape, a substrate where the writing element is formed, and a closure joined with the substrate. A gap formed at a portion between the substrate and the closure exists from the yoke part in a direction orthogonal to a junction surface between the substrate and the closure.
US08294997B2

This invention provides an optical imaging lens assembly, in order from an object side toward an image side including: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface, a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, a third lens element with positive refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface, a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, and the two surfaces being aspheric; wherein the optical imaging lens assembly further comprises an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the first lens element, and there are four lens elements with refractive power.
US08294996B2

A diffractive optical element (1) composed of a ceramic, in which the optical characteristics are enhanced by enhancing the machining precision, is composed of an infrared-transmissive ceramic, and prominent portions (11) and groove portions (12) are repeatedly formed on a surface of the diffractive optical element (1). The average value of the surface roughness Ra within an optical effective area (10) of the surface of the diffractive optical element is 0.05 μm or less, and the difference in the surface roughness Ra within the optical effective area (10) of the surface is 0.02 μm or less.
US08294991B2

An optical system of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus permits comparatively flexible and fast influencing of the intensity distribution and/or the polarization state. The optical system includes at least one layer system that is at least one-side bounded by a lens or a mirror. The layer system is an interference layer system of several layers and has at least one liquid or gaseous layer portion with a maximum thickness of one micrometer (μm), and a manipulator for manipulation of the thickness profile of the layer portion.
US08294984B2

A microscope includes a laser light source, an optical system which changes a beam diameter, and a field stop disposed at a position conjugating with a sample plane, in this order beginning from the side of the laser light source. In this microscopes the following conditional equation is satisfied: A≦D/2 where “A” is the diameter of the field stop, and “D” is the diameter of light incident to the field stop.
US08294979B2

A wavelength conversion device includes a laser light source that emits a fundamental wave; a wavelength conversion element that converts the fundamental wave into a second harmonic wave; and an optical system including a wavelength selective mirror that reflects the fundamental wave transmitted through the wavelength conversion element without being converted into the second harmonic wave, while transmitting therethrough the second harmonic wave generated by wavelength conversion, wherein the optical system makes the fundamental wave transmitted through the wavelength conversion element without being converted into the second harmonic wave enter the wavelength conversion element again to be subjected to wavelength conversion once or more than once, while being focused by the wavelength selective mirror, and the conversion efficiency in at least one of the second stage and stages subsequent to the second stage is higher than the conversion efficiency in the first stage, where the conversion efficiency in each stage is defined as: (a second harmonic wave generated in one stage)/(a square of the fundamental wave entered in the one stage).
US08294970B2

An actuator includes: a frame; first members at each end of the frame along a first axis making the frame rotatable thereabout; second members supporting each end of a movable plate against the frame along a second axis making the movable plate rotatable thereabout; first magnets with poles interposing the first axis; a second magnet with poles interposing the first axis; a coil generating a magnetic force acting on the first and second magnets; and a voltage source applying a voltage to the coil. The first and second magnets have an angle of 30-60 degrees to the first axis, and identical magnetic pole directions. The voltage source includes first and second voltage generators generating first and second voltages of first and second frequencies, and a voltage superimposer. The movable plate is rotated about the first and second axes at the first and second frequencies by the superimposed voltages.
US08294967B2

A system and method for the controlled generation, manipulation, and conversion of individual photons in and for a quantum computing environment or a quantum communication environment are provided. Systems and methods for doubling a single photon in a first propagation mode into two new photons in one or two new propagation modes, combining two photons in one or two propagation modes into a single photon of a single propagation mode, and implementing a pi phase shift on a two-photon state but not on the one-photon state in a fully controlled, consistent, and repeatable fashion are also provided, as well as a source of individual photons having clearly defined and fully controllable properties. Embodiments of the above allow for generation and conversion operations that are up to 100% efficient. The generation, conversion, combination, and phase shifting operations are preferably carried out inside a non-linear χ3 material of a predetermined length.
US08294955B2

This invention is directed to provide a method capable of performing filter processing suitable for each of different image reading methods. This method includes the steps of causing a light emitting unit to sequentially irradiate an image original with light components of three primary colors and read the image original, and causing the light emitting unit to simultaneously irradiate the image original with one of three different color combinations, which includes two of the light components of three primary colors, and read the image original. The method further includes the step of processing image data obtained based on the reflected light received by the light receiving unit after changing a filter to be used for image processing depending on whether reading of the image original is primary color reading or complementary color reading.
US08294953B2

A color look-up table (CLUT) is compressed in a lossless manner. The CLUT includes nodes that convert values of a first color space to corresponding values of a second color space. The CLUT is received in a serialized node-by-node manner. For each of some of the nodes, the following is performed in the order in which the nodes are received in the serialized node-by-node manner. First, a difference value is determined that represents compression of a value of the node, in accordance with a hierarchical differential encoding approach or in accordance with a cellular interpolative prediction approach. Second, the difference value is stored in lieu of the value of the node being stored, to compress the value of the node in the lossless manner.
US08294947B2

A specified specific color is input, and a patch pattern that contains a large number of patches corresponding to a color adjacent to the specific color is read by a front-side scanner and a back-side scanner. The color difference between read values for the front side and read values for the back side is corrected.
US08294941B2

A data processor controls an image-forming device as the control target. The image-forming device is capable of recording images on a recording medium conveyed one sheet at a time from a feeding unit based on image data transmitted from the data processor. The data processor controls the image-forming device to begin conveying an N+1th sheet of the recording medium before the image-forming device finishes recording an image on an Nth sheet of recording medium on the condition that the data processor has transmitted indicate data to the image-forming device indicating the existence of an image to be recorded on the N+1th sheet of recording medium.
US08294938B2

An image forming apparatus holds a job to be executed, scan processing performed by an operator in job execution, sheet registration, work content of sheet supply, working hours, information about a worker and the like, in association with a database. Further, the image forming apparatus transmits information about man-hours concerning registration work of sheet information held in the database, to a server.
US08294934B2

A method stores serial numbers within memories of customer replaceable units that are used within printing devices. When one or more of the customer replaceable units are replaced, the method causes the printing devices to output to a computer the serial numbers of the customer replaceable units that are replaced. The method then analyzes the serial numbers using the computer to determine which specific customer replaceable unit was used within a specific printing device.
US08294931B2

There is described a network system that includes a plurality of image forming apparatuses, which are coupled to each other through a network, and each of which makes it possible to output voice guidance from an image forming apparatus located in the vicinity of the specific user who has instructed any one of the other image forming apparatuses to implement a print job. Each of the plurality of image forming apparatuses includes: a communication section to bilaterally communicate information with other image forming apparatuses; an authenticating section to authenticate whether or not the specific user resides by the image forming apparatus concerned; and a voice outputting section to output the guidance for the specific user by emitting the audible voice; wherein, when the print job is suspended, select one of the image forming apparatus to carry the voice guidance to the specific user and output the guidance again.
US08294927B2

Access-destination information specified by a mobile information terminal is received and an access decision unit (108) determines whether it is possible to access a WWW server on a network specified by the access-destination information. If it has been determined that the WWW server is accessible, the WWW server is accessed and data is acquired via a network communication unit (107), and the data is printed by an image processor (109). If it has been determined that the WWW server is inaccessible, on the other hand, then the mobile information terminal is notified of this fact via the network communication unit (107).
US08294918B2

An image forming apparatus includes a failure prediction unit, an image identification unit, a simulated-image generating unit, and an output unit. The failure prediction unit prepares an index value indicating a condition of the image forming apparatus based on multidimensional signal, obtained by monitoring the image forming apparatus, and compares the index value with a first threshold value to predict a failure mode of the image forming apparatus. The image identification unit identifies types of abnormal images based on the failure mode predicted by the failure prediction unit. An identified abnormal image is predicted to be appear a given time later. The simulated-image generating unit generates a simulated image of the identified abnormal image. The output unit outputs the identified abnormal image as the simulated image.
US08294911B2

A printer prints all print data when an inverted print mode is selected for printing even if an insufficient memory state occurs in the image conversion buffer. If the roll paper printer 1 is set to the inverted print mode and an insufficient memory monitoring unit 23 detects an insufficient memory state in the image conversion buffer 13 before the inverted image data generating unit 22 converts and writes all of the received print data to a print data break to the image conversion buffer 13, the print mode switching unit 25 changes the print mode from the inverted print mode to the normal print mode, and the normal printing unit 26 prints the print data from the beginning. Because the print data is printed from the beginning when the inverted image data cannot be correctly generated because of insufficient memory, there is no loss of information contained in the print data.
US08294907B2

In a scatterometric method, different targets with different sensitivities to a parameter of interest are printed in a calibration matrix and different spectra obtained. Principal component analysis is applied to the different spectra to obtain a calibration function that is less sensitive to variation in the underlying structure than a calibration function obtained from spectra obtained from a single target.
US08294903B2

The measurement accuracy of an apparatus for measuring the surface shape of an object utilizing a two-wavelength phase-shift interferometry is improved. A low-coherence light source, a plurality of wavelength filters with different transmission wavelengths, an angle control unit and an analysis unit are provided. When performing a two-wavelength phase shift method, the analysis unit detects the wavelength difference between two wavelengths, and corrects a calculated wavelength value and a calculated phase value of one of the wavelengths for preventing a fringe-order calculation error. Next, the angle of the wavelength filters is controlled for making the actual wavelength difference coincident with a designed value. Thus, the wavelength difference between the two wavelengths is continuously controlled to be constant, which enables measurements of surface shapes with high accuracy, even when there are wavelength fluctuations due to the temperature change or the time elapse.
US08294902B2

The present invention provides a reference standard used to calibrate measurement data of a measuring device for measuring the shape of a measurement surface utilizing interference between light from the measurement surface and light from the reference surface. A measurement surface of the reference standard has at least one protruding mark and one recessed mark, and an integrated value of the dimension of the protruding mark in the direction normal to the measurement surface of the reference standard, on the circumference of an assumed circle on the measurement surface centered at a point on an optical axis of the reference standard, is equal to an integrated value of the dimension of the recessed mark in the direction normal to the measurement surface of the reference standard on the circumference of the assumed circle.
US08294895B2

Provided is a fire detector in which an element substrate can be easily removed from and mounted into an optical case. The fire detector includes: an optical case (21); an element substrate (31), on which a light-receiving element (12) is mounted, the element substrate (31) being provided in the optical case (21); a signal line (35) passing through an introduction portion of a peripheral wall (21a) of the optical case (21), the signal line (35) being connected to the element substrate (31); and an optical cover (30) for closing an opening of the optical case (21), in which the signal line (35) is inserted into a slit (37) which is open on an upper end surface (21f) of the introduction portion of the peripheral wall (21a).
US08294893B2

A flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer in which a combustion gas is burned by a burner to form a flame and a nebulized sample is atomized in the flame, including a flashback detector for detecting an occurrence of a flashback phenomenon of the flame or detecting a state in which a flashback phenomenon is considered to have occurred; a flashback count memory for counting detection of a flashback by the flashback detector and storing a number of count; an ignition inhibitor for inhibiting, in a case where a flashback is detected by the flashback detector, an ignition after the detection; and an inhibition canceller for canceling, in an ignition inhibit state created by the ignition inhibitor, the ignition inhibit state only by a predetermined operation which is changed in accordance with the number of count stored in the flashback count memory.
US08294885B2

An auxiliary device for measuring the coaxiality of a lens. The auxiliary device includes a cylindrical main body having a first surface and a flat second surface facing away the first surface, and a protrusion formed on the first surface and defining a reference convex surface. The second surface of the main body defines a position part. The position part is coaxial with the reference convex surface and configured to engage with the lens to measure the coaxiality of the lens.
US08294879B2

A multi-directional sensor system includes a light source configured to generate a beam of electromagnetic radiation; and a transmitter configured to transmit the beam of electromagnetic radiation to a target. The transmitter may include (i) a plurality of optical fibers, wherein one or more of the optical fibers are configured to receive the beam of electromagnetic radiation, and (ii) a surface on which one end of each of the plurality of optical fibers terminate in a different direction and/or orientation thereof to emit electromagnetic radiation. A detector is configured to detect electromagnetic radiation responsive to electromagnetic radiation transmitted to the target. A method of sensing is also disclosed.
US08294865B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide for a FFS TFT LCD with a high refresh rate without limiting the aperture of individual pixels. More specifically, embodiments of the invention provide for the use of common bus lines to reduce the effective resistance of the common electrode and to therefore allow for higher refresh rates of the display. Furthermore, the common bus lines can be positioned in such a manner so that they do not further reduce the aperture of the display. More specifically, the common bus lines can be positioned above or below existing elements of the display that are already opaque. Thus, adding the common bus lines need not reduce the aperture. The above can be achieved by, for example, placing the common bus lines above or below existing non-transparent lines, such as gate lines or data lines.
US08294863B2

A liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix includes first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer held therebetween. Switching elements are arranged in each of the pixels on the first substrate. A first organic insulating film covers signal lines, scan lines and switching elements. Common electrodes are formed in the first organic insulating film on the first substrate. Connection elements are electrically connected to the switching elements through first contact holes formed in the first organic insulating film. A second organic insulating film covers the first organic insulating film and the connection elements. Pixel electrodes having slits are formed on the second organic insulating film electrically connected to the respective connection elements through second contact holes formed in the second organic insulating film. The liquid crystal layer is switched by using a lateral electric field between the common and pixel electrodes formed on the first substrate.
US08294858B2

Embodiments of the present invention describe a photovoltaic cell integrated into a display device. The photovoltaic cell is designed with an absorption spectrum that does not include a range of wavelengths corresponding to a particular color of visible light. Besides having the capability to harvest light, the photovoltaic cell can also function as a color filter and a photodetector.
US08294855B2

The present invention relates to a transflective thin film transistor substrate and method of fabricating the same that is adaptive for simplifying its process. The liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates; a gate line on the first substrate; a gate insulating film on the first substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; an organic insulating film on the gate line, the data line and the thin film transistor, and having a transmission hole in the pixel area; a pixel electrode on the organic insulating film of the pixel area via the transmission hole and connected to the thin film transistor; and a reflective electrode on the pixel electrode having a same edge part as the pixel electrode or an edge part located at inner side from an edge part of the pixel electrode and exposing the pixel electrode of the transmission hole.
US08294847B2

An optical unit for use in a backlight device of a liquid crystal display apparatus, includes a light-diffusing component to diffract incident light and a light-collecting component having multiple microlenses each having a shape of a hemisphere- or semi-oval-like protrusion on a light-emitting side of the light-collecting component. The components are provided in this order on an optical path of light emitted from a light source of the backlight device. The light-diffusing component includes a diffusing section having a first surface that faces the light source and an opposite second surface, and first and second prisms provided on the first and second surfaces, respectively. Each prism has a cross section like a teeth of a saw. Each first prism has a summit protruding towards the light source. Each second prism has a summit protruding in an opposite direction of the first prism.
US08294840B2

A system for displaying images, having a display panel, comprising: a lower substrate with a first surface, wherein the first surface is divided into a pixel area and a driver area; a peripheral circuit within the driver area on the first surface; at least one thin film transistor is formed in the pixel area, wherein the thin film transistor comprises an active layer, a gate dielectric layer overlying the active layer, and a gate electrode overlying the gate dielectric layer, and the active layer has source and drain regions; a first transparent electrode layer directly overlapped on a portion of the drain region, electrically connected thereto; and a second transparent electrode pattern is disposed on the gate dielectric layer, opposing the first transparent electrode layer.
US08294830B2

A broadcast receiving device comprising: a memory unit for storing a receivable channel information; a determination-information acquiring unit for acquiring determination information to identify a predetermined transmission condition of the transmission path; a determining unit for determining whether the transmission condition has varied, based on the determination information acquired by the determination-information acquiring unit; a detecting unit for detecting a channel of broadcasting signals which are receivable, by conducting an automatic scanning when the determining unit determines that the transmission condition of the transmission path has varied; and a renewing unit for renewing the channel information stored in the channel memory unit, based on a detected result obtained by the detecting unit.
US08294825B2

An image display device and an image display method are disclosed, each of which can adjust a display luminance so as to be sufficiently suitable for human adaptability to brightness. A display device main unit includes a display section and a luminance control section for adjusting a display luminance of an image displayed on the display section, and a remote controller includes: a signal transmission section for transmitting a signal; a light receiving section for measuring brightness of received light; and an operation input section for inputting a detail of control for the display device main unit, and the light receiving section measures brightness of light received from a direction of the display device main unit in association with an input operation performed with the operation input section, and the signal transmission section transmits information on the brightness to the display device main unit, and the luminance control section of the display device main unit adjusts the display luminance of the image, displayed on the display section, in accordance with the information on the brightness.
US08294823B2

An image of a background is stored and thereafter removed from a video stream. Substitute background video data is merged into the video stream and provided to videoconference participants.
US08294814B2

The invention teaches a method of automatically creating a 3D model of a scene of interest from an acquired image, and the use of such a 3D model for enabling user to determine real world distances from a displayed image of the scene of interest.
US08294813B2

The imaging device of the present invention includes an image generator that generates an electric image from optical information inputted thereto; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation from a user; a scene discriminator that discriminates a shooting scene on the basis of the image generated by the image generator and a picture quality adjuster that adjusts the picture quality of the image generated by the image generator on the basis of a result of discrimination performed by the scene discriminator. Due to this configuration, it is possible to discriminate an optimum shooting scene on the basis of an image to be captured, and consequently the operability can be improved.
US08294811B2

This is generally directed to auto-focusing techniques based on statistical blur estimation. An image can be captured at two or more candidate lens positions. The amount of blur of each image can then be determined, and the image containing the least amount of blur can be chosen as the “in-focus” image. In some embodiments, the amount of blur of an image can be determined by identifying how “Gaussian” an image is. Characteristics that are more Gaussian in nature can indicate that the image is more blurry. The Gaussianity of an image can be determined by estimating a generalized Gaussian shape parameter for that image. A smaller shape parameter can indicate the image is less Gaussian in nature. The shape parameter can be estimated in any suitable manner such as, for example, through a 2-d discrete wavelet transform, through a 1-d discrete wavelet transform, or through any other suitable manner.
US08294800B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels arrayed in the vertical transfer direction and in the horizontal transfer direction; a vertical CCD shift register disposed between two pixels adjacent in the horizontal transfer direction of the plurality of pixels; a first channel stop portion used for separation between pixels, formed between the two pixels adjacent in the horizontal transfer direction, and pixels adjacent to the two pixels adjacent in the horizontal transfer direction, in the horizontal transfer direction; and a readout gate portion and a second channel stop portion, formed in a direction parallel to the vertical transfer direction between the pixels and the vertical CCD shift register, with the two pixels adjacent in the horizontal transfer direction sharing the vertical CCD shift register, and with an insulating layer which is thicker than the gate insulating layer of the vertical CCD shift register being formed above the first channel stop portion.
US08294788B2

A hand-held device having positioning and photographing functions and geographical positioning methods thereof is provided. The hand-held device includes a photographing module, a positioning module, a database and a processor. The photographing module photographs environment of a shooting place to form a digital picture. The positioning module accesses a positioning data of the shooting place. The processor matches the positioning data of the shooting place with a geographical positioning condition when the digital picture is obtained, so as to get a target geographical area data corresponding to the shooting place, from all geographical area data. The target geographical area data is displayed on the digital picture corresponding to the shooting place and the geographical positioning condition is an area center data of every geographical area data or plural boundary pointers which include boundary coordinates of every geographical area data.
US08294773B2

An image processing apparatus includes a geometric converter configured to perform a geometric conversion process to a first frame image among frame images that are sequentially generated through imaging, based on motion information obtained by using a motion detector sensor, a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector between a geometric conversion image obtained through the geometric conversion process and a second frame image that has not undergone the geometric conversion process, an image stabilization parameter calculator configured to calculate an image stabilization parameter for different motions by using the motion information and the motion vector, and a stabilized image generator configured to generate a stabilized image through a deformation process to the second frame image or a frame image generated subsequent to the second frame image by utilizing the image stabilization parameter.
US08294754B2

A metadata generating method including: receiving sub-region dividing information to divide an object into a plurality of sub-regions; and generating sub-region indicating information to indicate each of the plurality of sub-regions divided according to the sub-region dividing information.
US08294752B2

An image system comprises an image display device which displays images, and image viewing eyeglasses used for viewing images displayed by the image display device. The image display device comprises an image display device configured to display image; and image viewing eyeglasses used for viewing the image displayed by the image display device, wherein the image display device includes: a display portion configured to display the image in time series to be viewed using the image viewing eyeglasses; a synchronization signal generator configured to generate a synchronization signal in synchronization with frame of the image, the synchronization signal including prescribed bit series to transmit bit data described by the presence or absence of a pulse; and a synchronization signal transmitter configured to transmit the synchronization signal, and the image viewing eyeglasses include: an optical filter portion configured to adjust an amount of light transmitted to a left eye and a right eye of a viewer; a synchronization signal receiver configured to receive the synchronization signal transmitted from the synchronization signal transmitter; a synchronization signal analyzer configured to detect the bit series, analyze a pattern of the bit series during a predetermined detection time when the synchronization signal analyzer detects the first pulse received by the synchronization signal receiver, and generate control data to control the optical filter portion; and an optical filter controller configured to control the optical filter portion with the control data.
US08294748B2

A technique of generating a panoramic image involves acquiring a set of at least two main image frames, as well as corresponding generating and/or acquiring corresponding relatively low-resolution image frames, of overlapping portions of a panoramic scene. A map or other information is stored relating to the generation of a low-res panorama. A main panorama image is formed by joining main image frames based on the map or other information gained in the low-res process.
US08294743B2

One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus.
US08294735B2

A method for automatically detecting and adjusting grayscale/white balance of a display comprises the steps of: detecting a chromaticity coordinate and a brightness of a present white color of the display by a detector; selecting a chromaticity coordinate of three primary colors of red, green, and blue in a known chromaticity space for automatically calculating a present mixing ratio of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue of the present white color of the display according to Grassman's Law of color mixture in colormetry; calculating a desired mixing ratio of three primary colors of red, green, and blue of an ideal white color under a predetermined color temperature; and comparing the present mixing ratio with the desired mixing ratio to obtain a proportion therebetween which is used as a set of gain values of the three primary colors of red, green of the display.
US08294729B2

Methods of performing stroke-to-raster video conversion having leading-edge error correction and/or falling-edge error correction are provided. Incoming data is pipelined before being written into a frame buffer. This allows each sample of data to be manipulated based on information obtained in samples that occur both before and after it. Highly accurate digital conversion of stroke video into a raster format having significantly reduced or eliminated noise and stray pixels from the video is therefore achieved.
US08294728B2

An image processing device comprising an acquisition interface for acquiring recorded image data or recorded image signals and a graphics interface for a display device is constructed in such a way that a temporal sequence of recorded images can be acquired via the acquisition interface and an image data acquisition device connected to the latter and a temporal sequence of display images can be generated from the recorded image sequence, preferably with a smaller quantity of display images over the period of time in which the recorded image sequence is acquired. A display image of the display image sequence is generated from a partial sequence of at least two already acquired recorded images of the recorded image sequence, this partial sequence being associated with the display image of the display image sequence, and the display images can be sent to the display device via the graphics interface.
US08294719B1

At least one computer performs an act of determining which plurality of financial items in a market sector are to be included in a graphical representation thereof comprising a respective plurality of contiguous regions each having a respective area based on a respective net assets of its represented one of the plurality of financial items and each having a respective interior color based on a respective change in price of its represented one of the plurality of financial items. The plurality of financial items comprises a first financial item. The act of determining comprises determining that a second financial item in the market sector is not to be included in the graphical representation based on its correlation with the first financial item being less than zero. The graphical representation is displayed using a display device coupled to the at least one computer.
US08294715B2

A computer-implemented system and method for generating data graphical displays. The data is indicative of a plurality of variables. The system and method receive data that is to be displayed in a non-textual format. Graph style data items are retrieved that contain display characteristics for displaying the data in the non-textual format. The data is displayed in accordance with the graph style data items.
US08294714B1

One embodiment of the invention sets forth a mechanism for interleaving consecutive display frames rendered at complementary reduced resolutions. The GPU driver configures a command stream associated with a frame received from a graphics application for reduced frame rendering. The command stream specifies a nominal resolution at which the frame should be rendered. The reduced resolution associated with the frame is determined based on the reduced resolution of an immediately preceding frame (i.e., the complementary reduced resolution), if one exists, or on GPU configuration information. The GPU driver then modifies the command stream to specify the reduced resolution. The GPU driver also inserts an upscale command sequence specifying the nominal resolution into the command stream. Once the command stream is configured in such a manner, the GPU driver transmits the command stream to the GPU for reduced rendering.
US08294712B2

Techniques for facilitating detection of an object in a point cloud of three-dimensional imaging data representing an area of study where the object potentially is obscured by intervening obstacles are provided. The imaging data is processed to identify elements in the point cloud having substantially common attributes signifying that the identified elements correspond to a feature in the area of study. An isosurface is generated associating the elements having substantially common attributes. A reversed orientation visualization model for a region of interest is generated. The reversed orientation visual model areas of total occlusion that potentially signify presence of the object.
US08294711B2

Two or more images having a parallax therebetween are obtained by imaging a subject from different positions using imaging units. Three-dimensional processing for three-dimensional display is applied to the two or more images, and the two or more images are displayed on a display unit. While the imaging units carry out a zoom operation, three-dimensional display with a reduced parallax between the two or more images or two-dimensional display is performed.
US08294710B2

An extensible map module allows facilitates development of new map styles and presentation elements. Projection and presentation functions are at least partially separated, so that new styles or modes can be developed without impacting existing presentation element features. Similarly, new presentation elements can be developed independently from a particular mode or style implementation.
US08294703B2

An organic light emitting diode display includes: a display module including a data driver for supplying data signals to a panel, a scan driver for supplying scan signals to the panel, and a timing driver for controlling the data driver and the scan driver; and a compensation driver for, upon receipt of a termination signal for terminating the display module, during a termination period in which the display module is terminated, setting a compensation period with reference to the driving time of the display module, and supplying a compensation signal to the panel.
US08294692B2

The invention discloses an optical touch sensing apparatus applied to a panel. The optical touch sensing apparatus comprises an frame, a first image capturing module, a second image capturing module, and a processing module. The first image capturing module is set at a first position for capturing a first image corresponding to a touch point on the panel; the second image capturing module is set at a second position for capturing a second image corresponding to the touch point. The processing module is used for determining a coordinate of the touch point according to the first image and the second image.
US08294691B2

A method and apparatus are provided for detecting activation of a touch panel. The method includes the steps of providing an N by M touch panel including a matrix of N rows of touch elements along a first axis and M columns of touch elements along a second axis, providing N optical beams where a characteristic of each beam of the N beams is different than the corresponding characteristic of any other of the N optical beams, where the summation of a characteristic any first group of the N optical beams is different than the summation the corresponding characteristic of any other N beams and where each respective beam of the N optical beams corresponds to an input of each of the N rows; and summing the characteristic from an output of each of the N rows.
US08294681B2

A video device controller and method for generating a key code enable key code generation by a single instance of manipulation of the controller by a user, obviating repetitive keypad manipulation and thereby facilitating controller operation. The video device controller includes a touch pad (110), a coordinate recognition unit (120) for recognizing coordinate values corresponding to a touch trajectory executed with respect to the touch pad (110), a key signal input unit (120), having a plurality of keys, for generating a key signal according to a user selection of at least one of the keys; a system controller (140) for calculating values of at least one of a direction, speed, and distance of the touch trajectory using the recognized coordinate values and for outputting a movement command signal based on the calculated values and the key signal, the movement command signal shifting an object displayed on the video device; and a key code generator (150) for generating a key code corresponding to the movement command signal. The touch pad (110) is preferably imparted with a predetermined pattern enabling a touch trajectory to be recognized in a simple manner.
US08294675B2

A touchpad assembly for use in an electronic device is provided. The touchpad assembly may include a touchpad frame operative to be placed within an opening in an electronic device frame. The touchpad assembly may include a support plate for supporting a touchpad, and a bracket for receiving a pick button. The support plate and bracket may be manufactured into a same component to increase the rigidity of the touchpad assembly. The pick button may include a varying height to prevent the pick button from deflecting and to make the pick button travel for providing a selection instruction uniform. The pick button may be coupled to the frame using any suitable approach, including using springs connected the ends of the pick button to the frame. The frame may also include pads to muffle the sound of the pick button when it returns to its initial position after having been pressed.
US08294666B2

A lapdesk for use with a laptop computer includes a housing having a top configured to support the laptop computer. The housing is configured to block heat emitted from the laptop computer from passing through the housing. The lapdesk further includes a tray having a touchpad disposed thereon. The tray is configured to slide into the housing and slide out from the housing. The lapdesk further includes a circuit coupled to the touchpad where the circuit is configured to transmit control signals from the touchpad to the laptop computer.
US08294660B2

A backlight unit and a display device having a backlight unit are disclosed. The backlight unit includes an LED substrate,. The LED substrate includes a plurality of emission regions. An LED is provided in each emission region. An LED driver drives the LED. An LED controller supplies a dimming control signal to the LED driver. The LED controller is provided on a driving board. A first connection unit is provided in the LED substrate. A second connection unit is provided in the driving board. The second connection unit is capable of coupling with the first connection unit.
US08294658B2

A diffuser incorporates diffuser elements (10) that each include a waveguide (12) coupled between a concentrator (14) and an inverse concentrator (16). The diffuser (44) may be disposed between a backlight (102) and a modulator (114) in a display (100). Luminance ratios of light rays emitted by a low resolution image-forming backlight (102) toward a high resolution light modulator (114) may be preserved such that, for viewing directions within the display's preferred angular viewing range, an observer perceives no significant change in the luminance of displayed images, irrespective of changes in the observer's viewing direction.
US08294645B2

The invention provides a liquid crystal device and method thereof. Subsequent to applying a first electrical voltage on a liquid crystal to induce a reorientation of the liquid crystal, a second electrical voltage with proper polarity is applied on the liquid crystal to assist the relaxation of the reorientation that was induced by the first electrical voltage. The “switch-off” phase of the liquid crystal can therefore be accelerated or temporally shortened, and the device can exhibit better performance such as fast response to on/off signals. The invention can be widely used LCD, LC shutter, LC lens, spatial light modulator, telecommunication device, tunable filter, beam steering device, and electrically driven LC device, among others.
US08294619B2

An unsymmetrical dual-band antenna including a substrate, a first radiation unit, a second radiation unit and an impedance matching unit is provided. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first radiation unit disposed on the first surface of the substrate includes first and second radiation portions connected to each other. The second radiation unit disposed on the first surface of the substrate includes third and fourth radiation portions connected to each other. The third radiation portion is disposed on the first surface of the substrate and adjacent to the first radiation portion. The impedance matching unit disposed on the second surface includes first to fourth patches. The first and the second patch are electrically connected to a feeding point. The third and the fourth patch are electrically connected to a ground point.
US08294617B2

Systems, devices, features, and/or methods for determining a location of a mobile device are disclosed. A method may include (a) receiving, into a mobile device, a common RF signal on a common carrier frequency, wherein the common RF signal includes a respective RF signal output by each of three or more transmitters on a common time basis in a round-robin manner, and wherein each of the three or more transmitters is positioned at a known location, (b) capturing data representing the common RF signal, (c) based on the captured data, discriminating between each respective RF signal that forms the received common RF signal, (d) determining a relative phase shift of each respective RF signal, and (e) determining the location of the mobile device based on the determined relative phase shifts and the known locations of the three or more transmitters.
US08294614B2

A mobile communication device includes a GPS system and a communication system through a low-earth orbit communication satellites or geosynchronous satellite. The processing system periodically calculates from GPS a current position which is compared to a saved position and saved if the amount of movement is greater than a set distance and also transmits each calculated position. In order to reduce power consumption, in the event that at least one and preferably several calculated differences between the current position and the previously saved position is less than the predetermined set distance, the processing system is placed in an idle mode in which position is transmitted at a lower frequency. The position is periodically calculated and as soon as the position changes the system is returned from idle. In order to keep remote recipients informed signals indicating entry into and return from the idle mode are transmitted with the position signals.
US08294606B2

A method and apparatus for compensating for gain offset, bias offset, and skew in a parallel processing environment is disclosed. The method and apparatus may be configured to compensate for mismatches between the sub-channel signals in a parallel ADC. This allows for accurate combination of the signals on the sub-channels. The method and apparatus may be utilized in a high speed data communication system having two or more channels, each of which are interleaved into two or more sub-channels. In one embodiment a DC loop processes signals on two or more sub-channels to account for and remove unwanted bias offset. In one embodiment a sub-channel gain mismatch compensation system (SCGMC) processes signals on two or more sub-channels to account for and remove unwanted gain offset. In one embodiment a skew compensation system, such as a parallel interpolator, processes signals on two or more sub-channels to remove unwanted skew across sub-channels.
US08294602B2

A coding method, a decoding method, a coder, and a decoder are disclosed herein. A coding method includes: obtaining the pulse distribution, on a track, of the pulses to be encoded on the track; determining a distribution identifier for identifying the pulse distribution according to the pulse distribution; and generating a coding index that includes the distribution identifier. A decoding method includes: receiving a coding index; obtaining a distribution identifier from the coding index, wherein the distribution identifier is configured to identify the pulse distribution, on a track, of the pulses to be encoded on the track; determining the pulse distribution, on a track, of all the pulses to be encoded on the track according to the distribution identifier; and reconstructing the pulse order on the track according to the pulse distribution.
US08294601B2

A method and device are provided for preventing unintended activation of one or more hard keys on a mobile device. A capacitive sensor senses a capacitance level at a location on the keyboard, to detect whether a hard key is being actuated by a human hand or human skin. If the sensed capacitance level exceeds a key activation capacitance threshold, a key circuit connection is identified as being associated with an intended hard key activation. If the measured capacitance level is within an uncertainty tolerance below the key activation capacitance threshold, a secondary capacitance level is measured at a non-keyboard location. The key circuit connection is identified as being associated with an intended hard key activation when the measured secondary capacitance level exceeds a key activation confirmation threshold. Additional secondary indicators can be obtained based on size and shape capacitance pattern, timing information, and an active application or device state.
US08294593B2

A method of collecting usage data of an on-demand service provided to a subscriber is disclosed. The method comprises provisioning of a first manageable resource in order to provide the on-demand service to the subscriber, the first manageable resource being associated with at least a first underlying resource, the first underlying resource comprising a first collector for collecting first usage data of the first underlying resource while the on-demand service is provided. Further, a first metering component is instantiated for the first manageable resource and the first metering component is instructed to initiate the retrieval of the first usage data from the first collector prior to the termination of the first metering component and the de-provisioning of the first manageable resource. Additionally, the retrieved first usage data is stored for further evaluation.
US08294592B2

A method and an apparatus are provided for determining an orientation of a wellbore survey tool at a first position with respect to a reference direction. At least one first signal is indicative of an orientation of a directional reference system with respect to the reference direction. The directional reference system is positioned at a second position spaced from the first position. At least one second signal is indicative of a relative orientation of the wellbore survey tool with respect to the directional reference system. The orientation of the wellbore survey tool at the first position is determined in response at least in part to the at least one first signal and the at least one second signal.
US08294584B2

A monitor implements a protocol for evaluating the sufficiency of a worker's hand washing activity in a desirably sanitary area. After a quantity of cleanser has been dispensed to the worker, data representative of the frequency, amplitude and duration of hand reciprocation by the worker are combined according to a predetermined mathematical proposition to provide a hand cleansing quality indicator. The indicator is then compared to a predetermined threshold level to determine if the protocol has been satisfied. Preferably, the predetermined mathematical proposition includes variable multipliers which can be selected to reflect the importance to the user of the frequency, amplitude and duration components of the proposition and the user can also select the predetermined pass/fail threshold.
US08294583B2

An EAS Tag with a marker that includes an adjustable housing comprised of a plurality of portions movably coupled with one another, forming an adjustable enclosure. A portion of the plurality of portions is movably coupled with a next, subsequent adjacent portion of the plurality of portions, with a first section of a first portion detachably, and adjustably accommodating a final portion to form the adjustable enclosure.
US08294581B2

A medical device is disclosed. The medical device includes an RFID reader for receiving information from at least one RFID transponder. The medical device also includes a memory for storing a database and at least one processor for processing information. Also, a remote controller for a medical device is disclosed. The remote controller includes an information receiver for receiving information related to food. The infusion device also includes a memory for storing a database and at least one processor for processing information. A method for use in a medical device is also disclosed. The method includes receiving information from an RFID transponder related to food. Also, the processing the information by comparing the information to a database is included in the method. The method also includes determining the acceptability of the food and providing information related to acceptability to the user.
US08294574B2

A security device comprising interfacing means incorporating a speaker (50) and a microphone (49) for interfacing with a person; a mobile network transmitter; an internet communication means; a controller which automatically responds to interaction with said interfacing means and firstly employs said mobile network transmitter to dial one or more predetermined phone numbers through a mobile network for directly establishing a two way communication across the mobile network; wherein said controller secondly employs said internet communication means for transmission through the internet of data captured by said interfacing means.
US08294567B1

A method and system are provided, which provides reliable fire detection. In one implementation, the automated system includes a combination of sensors configured to measure various factors associated with a hazard, such as a fire or gas leakage, and generate sensor readings. Factors measured can include smoke, carbon monoxide and heat. The system further includes a detection device that is configured to determine whether a hazard or fire exists by performing a fuzzy analysis of sensor readings. The fuzzy analysis includes categorizing respective sensor readings into fuzzy sets, and determining whether the hazard exists based on a combination of the categorizations. In addition the size and direction of a fire can be determined from multiple sensors.
US08294565B1

An automatic turn signal monitor and warning device for use with a vehicle such as a motorcycle which requires manual deactivation of the turn signals. The device monitors turn signal activation which initiates a timer, and the timer activates a warning signal to remind the operator to deactivate the turn signal when the turn signal remains activated beyond an adjustable time interval after initiation. The warning signal can be produced by one or more audible, visual, or tactile mechanisms. The vehicle's hazard lights do not activate the device's timer, and the device's timer resets when the vehicle's brakes are applied. The device can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle or included as original equipment when a vehicle is manufactured.
US08294557B1

A method, apparatus and system of synchronous haptic communications between an active user and a passive user through a network is provided. An image from an imaging device is captured of the passive user. Geometry or position data is determined from the captured image by utilizing a depth component of the capture image. Haptic feedback is generated to a haptic interface used by the active user based upon the determined geometry or position data. Haptic data is captured from the haptic interface used by the active user and tactile output is generated to a tactile display associated with the passive user wherein the tactile output is based upon the haptic data in correlation with the geometry or position data to determine collisions therein.
US08294555B2

A return communication system and method for an Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) System allows a pick-up device (3) to receive an instruction and supply a load (36) in such a way that a predetermined variation occurs in current in the primary conductive path (2) of the system The variation may be detected and decoded to determine a response from the pick-up to the instruction.
US08294547B2

A method for increasing the ESD pulse stability of an electrical component is disclosed. An electrical component is pre-aged by means of an aging pulse generated by a pulse generator. The degradation of an electrical characteristic curve of the component by ESD pulses that occur during operation of the electrical component is improved by the pre-aging.
US08294546B2

A method for manufacturing a module including a planar coil, and a module including a planar coil, reduce manufacturing cost and also are able to handle a large current. The method for manufacturing the module including the planar coil includes the steps of providing a second resin layer including a magnetic filler on a first resin layer with a built-in chip-type electronic component; providing a planar coil on the second resin layer; and providing a third resin layer including a non-magnetic property so as to coat the planar coil.
US08294540B2

A relay with multiple contacts includes a coil assembly and a contact assembly. The contact assembly includes at least one base having at least two slots defined therein and at least two bridge members respectively received in the at least two slots. Each bridge member has at least two terminal portions respectively formed thereon. Each terminal portion has a movable contact mounted thereon. At least one connector has at least two fixed contacts mounted thereon. Each fixed contact selectively connects with the corresponding movable contact. A first conducting member and a second conducting member are located between the coil assembly and the contact assembly. The first conducting member has at least one first fixed contact for selectively connecting with the corresponding movable contact. The second conducting member has at least one second fixed contact for selectively connecting with the corresponding movable contact.
US08294536B2

A cavity filter includes an enclosure, resonators secured inside the enclosure, a lid, a slider, and a driving device. The enclosure includes a bottom portion, sidewalls extending from edges of the bottom portion to define a cavity. Each sidewall defines a positioning portion at a top surface thereof. The lid covers the enclosure. The slider includes tuning cells each partially coated with metal and positioned opposite to one of the resonators. The slider is movably disposed between the lid and the resonators and slides on the positioning portions. The driving device is located inside the enclosure and drives the slider to move along the positioning portions to adjust a resonating frequency of the cavity filter.
US08294527B2

There is provided an oscillator circuit including: a current source; a resonant unit; an oscillation amplification unit connected to the current source while being connected in parallel to the resonant unit; a feedback resistor connected in parallel to the oscillation amplification unit; a bypass resistor having a resistance lower than a resistance of the feedback resistor; a switch unit connected between the feedback resistor and the bypass resistor, and configured to switch to the feedback resistor or the bypass resistor; and a control unit configured to control the switch unit such that a current from the current source is bypassed to the bypass resistor during a predetermined oscillation starting period, and to control the switch unit such that the current from the current source flows to the feedback resistor after the predetermined oscillation starting period has ended.
US08294520B2

A low noise amplifying (LNA) circuit comprising an amplifying section (11, 12) and a feedback means (14) arranged for providing input matching from the output to the input. The LNA circuit further comprises at least one frequency band determining inductor (15) having a predetermined resonance frequency for influencing at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates. The at least one inductor is directly connected to the output of the circuit and the feedback means (14) provides a feedback connection for the section (s) to the input. In this way, the at least one frequency band in which the amplifying section operates is substantially completely determined by the at least one frequency band determining inductor (15).
US08294518B2

Disclosed is a Class-AB/B amplifier comprising a first output stage including a first plurality of amplification devices and a second output stage including a second plurality of amplification devices. According to one embodiment, the first output stage operates when the Class-AB/B amplifier is in a quiescent state and the second output stage operates when the Class-AB/B amplifier is in an active state. The Class-AB/B amplifier also comprises a level shifting circuit that adjusts a control voltage of the second output stage, where the level shifting circuit is adapted to activate the second output stage when the Class-AB/B amplifier enters the active state. Embodiments of the Class-AB/B amplifier may include a level shifting circuit that implements either a fixed or signal-dependent level shift, and a quiescent control circuit that substantially eliminates any systematic offset arising from the active feedback circuit inside the replica bias circuit.
US08294506B2

A driving system for an electrical power conversion equipment includes a driving circuit for driving a switching device provided in the electrical power conversion equipment, and a driving capacity control circuit for controlling a driving capacity of the driving circuit. The driving capacity during a resonant operation of the electrical power conversion equipment becomes higher than that at a start of the resonant operation when the switching device is turned-on.
US08294489B2

A programmable logic circuit includes: an input circuit configured to receive a plurality of input signals; and a programmable cell array including a plurality of unit programmable cells arranged in a matrix form, each of the unit programmable cells including a first memory circuit of resistance change type including a first transistor and a second memory circuit of resistance change type including a second transistor, the first and second memory circuits connected in parallel, each gate of the first transistors on same row respectively receiving one input signal, each gate of the second transistors on same row receiving an inverted signal of the one input signal, output terminals of the first and second memory circuits on same column being connected to a common output line.
US08294488B1

An integrated circuit may include a plurality of sub bit line groups, each sub bit line group coupled to a different main bit line by a corresponding access device; and a plurality of programmable impedance elements arranged into element groups, each element group being coupled to a corresponding each sub bit line.
US08294487B2

The present invention provides an configuration setting device of integrated circuit and the configuration setting method thereof, in which the configuration setting device comprises a signal receiving terminal, a voltage output unit coupled to the signal receiving terminal, and a detector coupled to the signal receiving terminal. The signal receiving terminal is used to receive the input signal at the outer of the integrated circuit, and the voltage output unit generated at the inner of the integrated circuit is used to output a voltage signal based on the enable signal, and the detector is used to detect a level at the signal receiving terminal to output a configuration signal; wherein, the signal level generated at the signal receiving terminal is determined by the input signal and the voltage signal.
US08294484B1

A method of accelerating the aging of a laser to thereby determine the reliability of the laser. The method includes an act of providing a laser die for reliability testing, an act of applying a plurality of short signal pulses to the laser die so as to simulate the aging of the laser die, and an act of ascertaining the reliability of the laser die based on its response to the plurality of short signal pulses.
US08294477B2

A high-voltage sensing capacitor as an interface apparatus that may be used to attach an indicator unit to a high-voltage AC electrical bus and to provide safety to maintenance personnel. The high-impedance nature of the sensing capacitor effectively isolates the indicator unit from the high-voltage source to which it is connected. Multiple electrical phases can be interfaced using a plurality of such sensing capacitors. The sensing capacitor can be directly mounted to a high-voltage busbar. The indicator unit may provide visual and/or audible alerts to maintenance personnel when high voltage conditions are detected on the busbar by the sensing capacitor. The sensing capacitor is comprised of a portable, unitary capacitive structure that includes a molded insulator body encapsulating two electrodes. The electrodes of the capacitor only partially or incompletely overlap within the insulator body. The electrode spacing and configuration is structured to provide a deliberate amount of coupling between the two electrodes in the presence of an AC electric field. Because of rules governing Abstracts, this Abstract should not be used to construe the claims in this patent application.
US08294475B2

A circuit arrangement including a fuse comprises a fuse path (SP) which is coupled to a control input (SE) and comprises the fuse (RS) and a first charge reservoir (C1) serially connected thereto for providing a first charge state (L1), a reference path (RP) which is coupled to the control input (SE) and comprises a comparison element (RV) and a second charge reservoir (C2) serially connected thereto for providing a second charge state (L2), and an evaluation unit (AE) comprising a first input (E1) connected to the fuse path (SP) in a switchable manner, a second input (E2) connected to the reference path (RP) in a switchable manner, and a data output (DA) for providing a condition of the fuse (RS) depending on a difference between the first and second charge states (L1, L2). Further, a method for determining the condition of a fuse is provided.
US08294474B2

An electrical switching circuit for operating a bus of a field bus system senses a fault current based on a first current of a first bus line and a second current of a second bus line.
US08294472B2

A reliability evaluation system comprises a reliability evaluation circuit and a reliability evaluation control circuit. The reliability evaluation circuit includes a stress device array and a stress voltage generating block configured to receive a control voltage, generate stress voltages generated by using two reference voltages, and apply the stress voltages to the unit devices in a stress mode via first I/O lines according to the control voltage. The stress device array includes the unit devices that are matrix-arrayed. Each of the unit devices has a first terminal connected to one of the first I/O lines and a second terminal connected to one of second I/O lines. The reliability evaluation control circuit is configured to generate the control voltage and the two reference voltages, and test reliability of the unit devices by using the first I/O lines and the second I/O lines.
US08294463B2

A valve for controlling cryogen egress from a cryogen vessel has a housing having a low pressure side and a high pressure side with a fluid path defined between. A valve element is interposed between the low pressure side and the high pressure side of the housing. A mechanism is provided for holding the valve element against a valve seat. The mechanism has a cam shaft that is rotatable to displace the valve element from its seat to open the fluid path.
US08294458B2

A vibration and condition monitoring system with true digital signal processing based design, with very limited analog based general signal conditioning and integrated specific sensor conditioning and sensor power supply options. The device supports direct connection of eddy current probe systems to the module, due to a built-in driver and linearization functionality. Linearization and compensation of a specific eddy current probe/cable system is done by measuring its far/infinite gap response. This response is then according to the invention recalculated into a linearization curve/transfer function. Specific sensor signal conditioning is not dependent on hardware, but only on embedded software (firmware). There is full sensor input support in an I.S. environment. Not only the common sensor input types from accelerometer, velocity sensor or eddy current probe system for both vibration and/or speed measurements.
US08294454B2

Disclosed is a position measuring device, comprising: a first and second solid measure and a first and second scanning mechanism, wherein: the first and second solid measure and the first and second scanning mechanism are respectively designed identically but mirrored in a plane including the direction of measurement and perpendicular to the direction that is not measured; the first and second solid measure are mounted in a fixed opposite position in a direction that is not measured; the first and the second scanning mechanism are mounted in a fixed opposite position in the direction that is not measured; and the scanning signals generated by the first and second scanning mechanisms respectively are electronically combined into an output scanning signal.
US08294444B2

A power tracking device for a power generation apparatus is provided. A multiplier generates a power level signal according to a current signal and a voltage signal both sensed from the output of the power generation apparatus. A sample-and-hold circuit samples the power level signal according to a sampling clock and generates a current level signal, a peak level signal, and a threshold level signal according to an update signal. A compare circuit compares the current, peak and threshold level signals to generate the update signal and a change signal. A converter performs pulse width modulation (PWM) to generate a PWM signal according to a control signal corresponding to the change signal and converts the output of the power generation apparatus to a load according to the PWM signal.
US08294439B2

The present invention discloses a buck-boost switching regulator, and a control circuit and a method therefor, to convert an input voltage to an output voltage. The control method comprises: obtaining a feedback signal relating to the output voltage; comparing the feedback signal with a reference voltage to generate an error amplified signal; when the error amplified signal is between a first voltage (V1) and a second voltage (V2), causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck conversion mode; when the error amplified signal is between a third voltage (V3) and a fourth voltage (V4), causing the switching regulator to operate in a boost conversion mode; and when the error amplified signal is between the second voltage and the third voltage, causing the switching regulator to operate in a buck-boost conversion mode in which each power switch operates according to a respective predetermined pulse width, wherein V1
US08294437B1

A power management device for controlling a power supply device includes a pulse generator, a delay unit, a first XOR gate, an OR gate, and a second XOR gate. The pulse generator generates a pulse signal, the delay unit, the first XOR gate, the OR gate, and the second XOR gate cooperatively generate an enabling signal corresponding to the pulse signal to enable and disable the power supply, and receive an output voltage of the power supply device as a feedback signal. Upon receiving the feedback signal, the power management device can stay at correct enabled and disabled statuses of the power supply device.
US08294436B2

A DC/DC converter comprises an inductive element (L) having a first terminal connected to an input connection (1) and a second terminal (4) coupled to a reference potential connection (3) by a first switching element (N1). A second switching element (P1) being a p-channel field-effect transistor couples the second terminal (4) to an output connection (2). A control unit (CTL) comprises a detection unit which is configured to detect a first mode of operation in which an input voltage (VIN) is higher than a desired output voltage (VOUT). The control unit is configured, upon detection of the first mode of operation, during a first phase (PH1) to control the first switching element (N1) to a closed state and a second switching element (P1) to an open state, during a second phase (PH2) which comprises a first sub-phase (PH2A) and a second sub-phase (PH2B), to control the first switching element (N1) to an open state, during the first sub-phase (PH2A), to control the second switching element (P1) to a closed state, and, during the second sub-phase (PH2B), to provide a control voltage to a gate terminal of the second switching element (P1) which is higher than a difference between an output voltage (VOUT) and a threshold voltage of the second switching element (P1).
US08294435B2

A power supply apparatus converting electric power stored in a first power storage unit into a prescribed voltage for supply to a load includes: a power storage unit-side terminal coupled to the first power storage unit; a second power storage unit; a load-side terminal coupled to the load; a converter unit for increasing output voltage of the first power storage unit to a first voltage and outputting the first voltage to the load-side terminal at a time of discharging of the first power storage unit; a step-up circuit for increasing the output voltage of the first power storage unit and supplying the increased voltage to the second power storage unit; and a backflow prevention circuit arranged between the second power storage unit and the load-side terminal to allow current to flow from the second power storage unit to the load-side terminal and block current flowing from the load-side terminal to the second power storage unit.
US08294429B2

A system and method are disclosed for regulating a generator controlled power signal. An exemplary embodiment of the system may include both a digital voltage regulator and an analog voltage regulator and a selector switch configured to switch modulation control between the digital and analog voltage regulators. A watchdog detection circuit may be included for detecting an upsetting event in the digital voltage regulator and may trigger switching of the generator excitation input voltage modulation from the digital voltage regulator to the analog voltage regulator. An exemplary embodiment of the method may include modulating the generator excitation input voltage using the digital voltage regulator, detecting an occurrence of an upsetting event in the digital voltage regulator, disabling the digital voltage regulator, and switching modulation of the generator excitation input voltage to the analog voltage regulator.
US08294411B2

A sensorless induction motor control device with a function of correcting a slip frequency wherein a slip frequency estimation unit estimates the slip frequency from at least one kind of current flowing through the motor. A voltage command value calculation unit calculates a D-phase voltage command value and a Q-phase voltage command value which are used for controlling a voltage applied to the motor using a Q-phase current command value calculated based on a difference between a speed estimation value, which is calculated using an estimation value of the slip frequency, and an externally supplied speed command value. An ideal voltage command value determination unit determines an ideal voltage command value using the speed command value and the Q-phase current command value. An actual voltage command value calculation unit calculates an actual voltage command value using the D-phase voltage command value and the Q-phase voltage command value. and A slip frequency correction unit compares the ideal voltage command value with the actual voltage command value and changes the estimation value of the slip frequency to make it smaller if the actual voltage command value is smaller than the ideal voltage command value.
US08294404B2

The electrical machine includes a movable part and a static part. The movable part rotates in relation to the static part around a dedicated rotary axis. An air-gap is located between the rotating and the static part of the machine. A device is positioned and used to measure the spacing of the air-gap. The static part and/or the movable part is coupled with an actuating-unit, which changes the relative position of the static part in relation to the movable part to adjust the spacing of the air-gap.
US08294397B2

A sensorless starting control method for a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor, comprising a first rotor-positioning step configured to position a rotor in a first position by operating a coil unit in a first excitation state, a second rotor-positioning step configured to operate the coil unit in a second excitation state such that the rotor rotates from the first position to a second position, and an open-looped starting step configured to excite a plurality of coils of the coil unit in sequence so as to drive the rotor to rotate in a predetermined direction, wherein the coil unit generates a back electromotive force (EMF) when the rotor rotates in the predetermined direction. The method further comprises a close-looped operation step configured to control the BLDC motor to attain a predetermined rotational speed via a feedback of the back EMF.
US08294392B2

An arrangement for supplying power to a system includes a first electric drive unit constructed to supply mechanical power to or receive mechanical power from a first coupled system of machines and a second electric drive unit constructed to supply mechanical power to or receive mechanical power from a second coupled system of machines. The first and second coupled system of machines are constructed to receive mechanical power or mechanical energy or to supply mechanical power or mechanical energy. The arrangement further includes a first kinetic energy storage device having a first electrical energy exchange machine which is electrically connected to the first electric drive unit, and a second kinetic energy storage device having a second electrical energy exchange machine which is electrically connected to the second electric drive unit. The first kinetic energy storage device is coupled to the second kinetic energy storage device.
US08294389B2

A thermally efficient liquid motion lamp maintains the proper temperature of liquids within the lamp to provide desired motion while using a minimal amount of energy. The lamp includes a submerged heater and a second heater in the base of the lamp, and an efficient non-incandescent light source for illuminating liquids in the lamp. A sensor measures the temperature of the liquids inside the lamp and the control system controls the heaters to first heat the lamp to operating temperature using the submerged heater and to maintain the temperature within operating limits at the base of the lamp using the second heater. The non-incandescent light source is preferably an LED and may be multi-color or an Ultra Violet (UV) LED cooperating with UV dyes in the liquids, but may be any highly efficient light source. The color and intensity of the LED may be controlled to follow music.
US08294369B1

A plasma generator for delivering a generated plasma to an area that is a distance from the area where the plasma is initially generated, including a dielectric tube portion extending from a gas inlet to a discharge aperture; an anode formed at least substantially around a portion of the discharge tube, wherein the anode is electrically coupled, via an electrical connection, to a power supply; a cathode formed at least substantially around a portion of the discharge tube, wherein the cathode is electrically coupled, via an electrical connection, to the power supply; and an elongate discharge tube attached or coupled to the discharge aperture such that when a generated plasma is produced, the generated plasma flows through the discharge tube.
US08294367B2

Electron sources for a cathodoluminescent lighting system are disclosed. An electron source is a broad-beam reflecting-type electron gun having a cathode for emitting electrons and a reflector and/or secondary emitter electrode and no grids. An alternative electron gun has a cathode having a heater welded to a disk, the disk having an emissive surface on a side facing a dome-shaped defocusing grid and an anode. A lighting system incorporating the electron sources has an envelope with a transparent face, an anode with a phosphor layer to emit light through the face and a conductor layer. The system also has a power supply for providing from five to thirty thousand volts of power to the light emitting device to draw electrons from cathode to anode and excite a cathodoluminescent phosphor, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
US08294364B2

A plasma display panel is disclosed. In one embodiment, the plasma display panel includes a first member, which is a base substrate for forming a phosphor layer, having at least one inclined surface. Also a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel is disclosed. In one embodiment, both the first member and a second member formed on the first member are manufactured using a photolithography method using different exposure masks. Accordingly, the plasma display panel may be manufactured having increased reliability and productivity and a method of manufacturing the plasma display panel is provided.
US08294363B2

The invention provides a light-emitting device and an electronic apparatus, which are capable of preventing reduction of the amount of current flowing through light-emitting elements and which have an excellent display characteristic. Cathode wiring lines connected to a cathode are provided to surround an effective area outside the effective area where a plurality of pixels having light-emitting elements are provided. First to third power source lines connected to pixel electrodes are provided between the cathode wiring lines and the effective area.
US08294361B2

An organic electric field light-emitting element, containing an anode; a cathode; and an organic layer provided therebetween and containing a first organic layer, a second organic layer and a third organic layer laminated in this order from the anode side, wherein the first organic layer contains a first host material in an amount of 10 to 90 mass % and a first hole-transporting phosphorescent material in an amount of 10 to 90 mass %; the second organic layer contains a second host material in an amount of 65 to 96.9 mass %, a second hole-transporting phosphorescent material in an amount of 3 to 30 mass %, and an electron-trapping material in an amount of 0.1 to 5 mass %; the third organic layer contain a hole-blocking material whose T1 is higher than that of the second hole-transporting phosphorescent material by at least 0.1 eV, wherein the second host material, the second hole-transporting phosphorescent material, and the electron-trapping material satisfy the following relationship: |HOMOt2|>|HOMOh2| |HOMOt2|>|HOMOp2| |LUMOh2|+0.25 eV<|LUMOt2| |LUMOp2|+0.25 eV<|LUMOt2| and wherein the total average thickness of the first and second organic layers is at least 40 nm.
US08294353B1

Embodiments of a lighting apparatus comprise a barrier coating with multiple layers. Each layer comprises metal oxide particles such as gamma alumina particles and alpha alumina particles. In one embodiment, the barrier coating comprises a first layer that reduces mercury depletion and a second layer that improves opacity.
US08294350B2

A cathode HAS a cathode head in which a surface emitter is arranged that emits electrons upon application of a heating voltage. The surface emitter is fashioned as a parallel surface emitter with at least two emitter surfaces spaced apart from one another, to which at least one electrically conductive cutoff electrode is fed that is galvanically separated from the parallel surface emitter. Such a cathode has a good cutoff capability.
US08294348B2

Provided are a field emission electrode, a method of manufacturing the field emission electrode, and a field emission device including the field emission electrode. The field emission electrode may include a substrate, carbon nanotubes formed on the substrate, and a conductive layer formed on at least a portion of the surface of the substrate. Conductive nanoparticles may be attached to the external walls of the carbon nanotubes.
US08294344B2

A spark member (70) is formed by joining a noble metal member (71) and an intermediate member (75) and is provided in a spark discharge gap between a center electrode and a ground electrode (30). A bottom surface (80) of the intermediate member (75) is resistance-welded to an inner surface (33) of the ground electrode (30), and a weld metal zone (73) is formed in the region of joint therebetween. As viewed on the section of the spark member (70) which contains a centerline (Q), the weld metal zone (73) is reliably formed within the range of the length (D) of a columnar portion (76) as measured along a direction orthogonal to the projecting direction of the spark member (70) and has a length (d) of at least 0.1 times (10% of) the length (D).
US08294343B2

A side electrode for a spark plug is provided. The side electrode includes a side wire having a first end and a second end; an opening proximate to the first end, the opening extending from a first surface of the side wire to a second surface of the side wire, wherein the first surface has a flared portion proximate to the opening; and an electrode tip secured to the first end of the side wire, the electrode tip having a tip portion and a shaft portion, wherein the tip portion is located on the second surface and the shaft portion is secured to the side wire by engaging the flared portion.
US08294338B2

A piezoelectric resonator element includes: a resonating arm extending in a first direction and cantilever-supported; a base portion cantilever-supporting the resonating arm; and an excitation electrode allowing the resonating arm to perform flexural vibration in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction. In the piezoelectric resonator element, the resonating arm includes an adjusting part adjusting rigidity with respect to a bend in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions.
US08294335B2

Elliptical vibrations are generated by combining longitudinal primary resonance vibrations resulting from expansion and contraction of a vibrator in a direction of a central axis and torsional secondary resonance vibrations or torsional tertiary resonance vibrations resulting from twisting of the vibrator around the central axis. A dimension ratio of a rectangle of the vibrator is set such that a resonance frequency of the longitudinal primary resonance vibrations and a resonance frequency of the torsional secondary resonance vibrations or the torsional tertiary resonance vibrations almost match. The vibrator includes a plurality of piezoelectric sheets. The longitudinal primary resonance vibrations and the torsional secondary resonance vibrations or the torsional tertiary resonance vibrations are generated because of formation of activation regions by polarization in a thickness direction of the piezoelectric sheets.
US08294332B2

A pressure transducer for high-pressure measurements comprising a housing and a piezoelectric resonator located in the housing, wherein the resonator comprises double rotation cut piezoelectric material configured or designed for vibrating in the fundamental tone of dual modes of the fast and slow thickness-shear vibrations.
US08294326B2

A stator for an electric motor has a laminated stator core 10 formed from a plurality of stacked laminations, and a stator winding formed from a plurality of coils 20 wound on bobbins 30. The stator core 10 has a plurality of teeth 40 which extend radially and alternately spaced between and connected to circumferentially extending yokes 50. The yokes and the teeth are separately formed with each yoke 50 being a stack of yoke laminations 12 and each tooth 40 being a stack of tooth laminations 14. The teeth 40 are inserted through the bobbins 30 and arranged in a cylindrical form with each tooth 40 extending radially. Yokes 50 are then fixed between radially outer ends 144 of adjacent teeth to complete the radially outer portion of the stator core. Each tooth 40 has a radial location surface 144b which contacts an inner surface of the adjacent yokes 50. The yokes 50 and teeth 40 are fixed together by welding the yokes 50 to the outer ends 144 of the teeth 40.
US08294321B2

An apparatus is provided having a cylindrical stator and a rotor that is spaced from a stator to define an annular primary air gap that receives AC flux from the stator. The rotor has a plurality of longitudinal pole portions disposed parallel to the axis of rotation and alternating in polarity around a circumference of the rotor. Each longitudinal pole portion includes portions of permanent magnet (PM) material and at least one of the longitudinal pole portions has a first end and an opposing second end and a side magnet is disposed adjacent the first end and a side pole is disposed adjacent the second end.
US08294320B2

An interior permanent magnet (IPM) machine having a rotor and a stator is provided. The rotor includes a radially inner barrier devoid of magnets, and a radially outer barrier having at least one permanent magnet, each barrier having two pockets with one pocket disposed at an angle relative to the other. At least one of the pockets of the inner barrier has a shape of an irregular quadrilateral. At least one of the pockets of the outer barrier has a substantially trapezoidal shape with a first side generally parallel to a second side, wherein the first side has a portion slanted relative to the third side. In such an IPM machine, demagnetization of the outer barrier magnet is limited when operating temperatures and electrical current exceed operating conditions prescribed by design specifications.
US08294312B2

Provided is a sintered bearing with oil for a spindle motor. The bearing is characterized in that at least one portion of upper and lower sides of the bearing is denser than other portions of the bearing.
US08294310B2

A motor 10 with reduction gear mechanism has a first worm 15 and a second worm 15′ having mutually opposite screw torsion directions; a first counter gear 30 including a first large-diameter gear 31 meshing with the first worm 15 and a first small-diameter gear 35 rotating as one piece with the first large-diameter gear 31; a second counter gear 30′ including a second large-diameter gear 31′ meshing with the second worm 15′ and a second small-diameter gear 35′ rotating as one piece with the second large-diameter gear 31′; and an output gear 40 meshing with both the small-diameter gears 35, 35′; wherein a first device 50 for applying a force to press the first counter gear 30 towards a gear case 21 is arranged between the tip of the first small-diameter gear 35 and a gear case cover 29, and a second device 50′ for applying a force to press the second counter gear 30′ towards the gear case 21 is arranged between the tip of the second small-diameter gear 35′ and the gear case cover 29.
US08294300B2

A base including a magnetically resonant antenna therein for relaying energy to a portable device.
US08294299B2

A control device for a DC-DC converter includes a PWM controller for generating a PWM signal to a switch module of the DC-DC converter according to a feedback signal of the DC-DC converter, a logic circuit for generating a selection signal according to a magnitude of an output current of the DC-DC converter, and a multiplexer coupled to a plurality of voltages for selecting one of the plurality of voltages to be a supply voltage according to the selection signal.
US08294297B2

A scalable power distribution system for a data center and methods for scaling a power distribution system are described. The scalable power distribution system includes a transformer that is connected to a load at its output. The input of the transformer is connected to two isolation switches. A source is connected to one switch at all times, and the source can be switched without affecting power to the load by synchronizing the two sources at the transformer before switching sources. The load is not de-energized at any time during the transfer process.
US08294293B2

Provided is a high-voltage electrical component unit for vehicles, including: an electrical storage device; a power control block disposed above the electrical storage device for controlling input-output power of the electrical storage device; and a power distribution block disposed across both side portions of the electrical storage device and the power control block for electrically connecting the electrical storage device and the power control block, the electrical storage device, the power control block and the power distribution block being fastened to one another, wherein a temporarily fastening section is provided at a separately-provided conductive functional component which electrically connects a connection terminal of the power distribution block and a connection terminal of the power control block, the temporarily fastening section engaging to both the power control block and the power distribution block to hold relative positions thereof.
US08294289B2

The disclosure concerns a method for operating a wind turbine having an electrical system, the electrical system comprises a permanent magnet generator having a rotor and a stator, and a power electronic device electrically connected to the permanent magnet generator, wherein the power electronic device and a circuit breaker are electrically disposed in series between the permanent magnet generator and a grid, wherein the permanent magnet generator has permanent magnets and a generator winding into which a voltage is induced by the permanent magnets when the rotor is rotating, the method comprising: generating a signal for tripping the circuit breaker based on a field modification that is modifying the field of the permanent magnets of the permanent magnet generator. Further, the disclosure concerns a method for determining the temperature of at least one permanent magnet of a permanent magnet machine and a controller for a wind turbine.
US08294287B2

Systems and methods are disclosed relating to a system including a launch tube and a generator connected with the launch tube. The generator uses multiphase materials (MPM) and compressed air to convert kinetic energy of the MPM into electrical energy.
US08294283B2

A disclosed semiconductor device includes a wiring board, a semiconductor element mounted on a principal surface of the wiring board with flip chip mounting, a first conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along at least an edge portion of the semiconductor element, a second conductive pattern formed on the principal surface along the first conductive pattern and away from the first conductive pattern, a passive element bridging between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board, and a resin layer filling a space between the wiring board and the semiconductor chip, wherein the resin layer extends between the semiconductor element and the first conductive pattern on the principal surface of the wiring board.
US08294281B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, the following processes. A supporting substrate is prepared. The supporting substrate has a chip mounting area, and a plurality of penetrating slits around the chip mounting area. At least a stack of semiconductor chips is formed over the chip mounting area. A first sealing member is formed, which seals the stack of semiconductor chips without the first sealing member filling the plurality of penetrating slits.
US08294278B2

An integrated circuit described herein includes a substrate and a plurality of lines overlying the substrate. The lines define a plurality of first trenches and a plurality of second trenches. The plurality of first trenches extend into the substrate a distance different than that of the plurality of second trenches. Adjacent pairs of lines are separated by a first trench in the plurality of first trenches, and each pair of lines comprises a first line and a second line defining a corresponding second trench in the plurality of second trenches.
US08294268B2

Provided are a resin composition whose storability is not reduced, a prepreg which uses the resin composition and which is uniformly colored, a laminated board, a multilayer printed wiring board having excellent results in reliability tests such as a thermal shock test and the like, and a semiconductor device. The resin composition is a resin composition for a multilayer printed wiring board, comprising (A) a novolac type epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a colorant, wherein the exothermic peak temperature of the resin composition, as measured by DSC, is within ±5° C. of the exothermic peak temperature of a resin composition composed of (A) a novolac type epoxy resin, (B) a curing agent, and (C) an inorganic filler.
US08294262B2

A LED chip package including a two-phase-flow heat transfer device, at least one LED chip, a metal lead frame and a package material. The two-phase-flow heat transfer device has at least one flat surface. The LED chip is directly or indirectly bonded or adhered to the flat surface of the two-phase-flow heat transfer device. Heat generated by the LED chip can be easily conducted away from the LED chip by the two-phase-flow heat transfer device such as a heat pipe, a vapor chamber and the like so as to prevent heat from accumulating in the LED chip thereby extending the service duration of the LED chip and to prevent the LED chip from deterioration of the light emitting performance caused by the accumulation of heat.
US08294260B2

A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate including a first face and a second face on a side opposite to the first face; an external connection terminal formed on the first face of the semiconductor substrate; a first electrode formed on the first face of the semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the external connection terminal; an electronic element formed on or above the second face of the semiconductor substrate; a second electrode electrically connected to the electronic element and having a top face and a rear face; a groove portion formed on the second face of the semiconductor substrate and having a bottom face including at least part of the rear face of the second electrode; and a conductive portion formed in the groove portion and electrically connected to the rear face of the second electrode.
US08294253B2

A semiconductor device includes: an electronic component including an electrode pad forming face on which electrode pads are formed, a back face opposite to the electrode pad forming face; a sealing resin including a first face provided on the electrode pad forming face side and a second face provided on the back face side, and provided around the electronic component to seal up a side face of the electrode component; a multilayer wiring structure which is provided on the first face, and in which insulating layers, a wiring pattern and external connecting pads are stacked on each other; and a conductive member which is provided in a through-hole passing through the sealing resin and the insulating layer. The wiring pattern is directly connected to the electrode pads and the external connecting pads, and includes a wiring provided in the insulating layers. The conductive member is connected to the wiring.
US08294250B2

A wiring substrate for a semiconductor chip includes a substrate, first and second wiring layers and a plurality of first and second bonding pads. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, a window extending from the first surface to the second surface to expose chip pads of a semiconductor chip adherable to the first surface. The first and second wiring layers of a multi-layered structure are sequentially formed on the second surface of the substrate with at least one insulation layer interposed between the first and second wiring layers. A plurality of the first and second bonding pads are respectively connected to the first and second wiring layers, the first and second bonding pads having a concavo-convex arrangement on the second surface of the substrate along a side of the window.
US08294249B2

A lead frame package is disclosed where transmission signals are coupled into a die from a pair of lead frames through bonding wires that are separated by no more than three times a diameter of one of the bonding wires. In some embodiments, pairs of lead frames carrying differential transmission signals can be shielded by adjacent pairs of ground and power leads that are coupled into the die through bonding wires that are also separated by no more than three times a diameter of one of the bonding wires.
US08294247B2

Provided is a high-power device having a thermocouple (thermoelectric couple) for measuring the temperature of a transistor constituting a high-power device. The high-power device includes a heating element, a thermocouple formed adjacent to the heating element, and a dielectric body formed between the heating element and the thermocouple.
US08294232B2

An optical detector includes a detector surface operable to receive light, a depleted field region coupled to the underside of the detector surface, a charge collection node underlying the depleted field region, an active pixel area that includes the portion of the depleted field region above the charge collection node and below the detector surface, and two or more guard regions coupled to the underside of the detector surface and outside of the active pixel area. The depleted field region includes an intrinsic or a near-intrinsic material. The charge collection node has a first width, and the guard regions are separated by a second width that is greater than the first width of the charge collection node. The guard regions are operable to prevent crosstalk to an adjacent optical detector.
US08294228B2

A magnetic tunnel junction includes an amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer having a first reference layer side and an opposing second reference layer side. The first reference layer side has a greater concentration of boron than the second reference layer side. A magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer is disposed on the second side of the amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer. The magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer has a crystal structure. An amorphous ferromagnetic free layer is disposed on the magnesium oxide tunnel barrier layer.
US08294226B2

The present invention relates to large surface distributed pressure sensors comprising at least two flexible substrates, at least of one of these being entirely or partially coated by a layer of polythiophene containing repetitive structural units with formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are independently a C1-C12 alkyl group or they form a C1-C12 1,n-alkylene group, with n=1-12, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 alkyl group, C2-C12 alkene, vinylene, benzyl, phenyl group, a halogen atom, or by an ester, amine, amide or ether functional group, optionally substituted by a C1-C12 alkyl group; and one or more insulating spacers. Said sensors are flexible and easy to manufacture and they may present different symmetric, simple or multilayer configurations, as desired.
US08294220B2

Contacts having different characteristics may be created by forming a first silicide layer over a first device region of a substrate, and then forming a second silicide layer over a second device region while simultaneously further forming the first silicide layer. A first contact hole may be formed in a dielectric layer over a first device region of a substrate. A silicide layer may then be formed in the first contact hole. A second contact hole may be formed after the first contact hole and silicide layer is formed. A second silicidation may then be performed in the first and second contact holes.
US08294205B2

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor pillar, a first insulating film covering a side face of the first semiconductor pillar, a first electrode covering the first insulating film, a second semiconductor pillar, a second insulating film covering a side face of the second semiconductor pillar, and a second electrode covering the second insulating film. The top level of the second electrode is higher than the top level of the first electrode.
US08294204B2

A high-frequency power amplifier of the type to be mounted in an RF module for mobile phones having high-frequency power field effect transistors and gate protective diodes which are coupled between the gates and the sources of the high-frequency power field effect transistors. The gate protective diodes have an n type region formed over the main surface of a p type epitaxial layer, a first p type region formed at the center of the main surface of the n type region, a second p type region formed over the main surface of the epitaxial layer around the n type region from the periphery of the main surface of the n type region, and p+ type buried layers for coupling the second p type region to a substrate body. The distance between the end portions of the p+ type buried layers and the n+ type region is 7 μm or more.
US08294201B2

A device and method of formation are provided for a high-k gate dielectric and gate electrode. The high-k dielectric material is formed, and a silicon-rich film is formed over the high-k dielectric material. The silicon-rich film is then treated through either oxidation or nitridation to reduce the Fermi-level pinning that results from both the bonding of the high-k material to the subsequent gate conductor and also from a lack of oxygen along the interface of the high-k dielectric material and the gate conductor. A conductive material is then formed over the film through a controlled process to create the gate conductor.
US08294200B2

A non-volatile memory device includes a substrate, a tunneling layer over the substrate, a charge trapping layer including a nitride layer and a silicon boron nitride layer over the tunneling layer, and a blocking layer over the charge trapping layer, and a control gate electrode arranged on the blocking layer.
US08294199B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes first and second stacked structures, first and second semiconductor pillars, first and second memory units, and a semiconductor connection portion. The stacked structures include electrode films and first inter-electrode insulating films alternately stacked in a first direction. The second stacked structure is aligned with the first stacked structure in a second direction perpendicular to the first. The first and second semiconductor pillars pierce the first and second stacked structures, respectively. The first and second memory units are provided between the electrode films and the semiconductor pillar, respectively. The semiconductor connection portion connects the first and second semiconductor pillars and includes: an end connection portion; and a first protrusion having a side face continuous with a side face of the first semiconductor pillar. The semiconductor connection portion does not include a portion smaller than a diameter of the first semiconductor pillar.
US08294194B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes memory transistors, an interlayer insulating film, a peripheral transistor and a sidewall. The memory transistors are formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each of the memory transistors includes a first stack gate which includes a floating gate electrode, a second gate insulating film, and a control gate electrode. The interlayer insulating film is formed between the first stack gates. The interlayer insulating film includes a first air gap. The peripheral transistor is formed on the substrate. The peripheral transistor includes a second stack gate which includes a first gate electrode, a third gate insulating film, and a second gate electrode. The sidewall is formed on a side surface of the second stack gate and includes a second air gap. An upper end of the second air gap is located at a position lower than the third gate insulating film.
US08294185B2

A solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion portion that receives an incident light from a back surface side of a silicon layer to perform photoelectric conversion on the incident light; and a pixel transistor portion that outputs signal charges generated in the photoelectric conversion portion towards a front surface side of the silicon layer, wherein a gettering layer having internal stress is provided on the front surface side of the silicon layer at a position to overlap the photoelectric conversion portion on a plan view layout thereof.
US08294178B2

There is provided a light emitting device using a compound semiconductor, which can improve electrical characteristics and internal quantum efficiency by maximizing the recombination rate of electrons and holes in an active layer. The light emitting device using a compound semiconductor includes a substrate; a compound semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, the compound semiconductor layer comprising an active layer; and a current spreading layer formed on at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the active layer, the current spreading layer allowing electrons or holes to be uniformly spread into the active layer.
US08294175B2

A light-emitting device includes: a semiconductor layer including a first conductive contact layer, a first conductive cladding layer, an active layer, a second conductive cladding layer, a second conductive contact layer and a resin block layer in this order; a first electrode in contact with the first conductive contact layer; and a second electrode in contact with the second conductive contact layer. The second conductive contact layer includes a first opening at least in a region facing the first electrode. Moreover, the resin block layer includes a plurality of second openings communicated with the first opening, and the first opening has an air gap.
US08294167B2

The present invention relates to a light emitting diode with high electrostatic discharge and a fabrication method thereof, and more specifically to a light emitting diode comprising a first electrode layer provided over a upper surface of a first semiconductor layer and a upper surface of a second semiconductor layer; a transparent electrode layer formed on the upper surface of the second semiconductor layer, spaced from the first electrode layer; and a second electrode layer provided on a upper surface of the transparent electrode layer. With the present invention, there is provided a light emitting diode element with resistance against electrostatic discharge and with high reliability being strong against electrical impact, by selecting a structure arranging a form of an electrode differently from a conventional electrode.
US08294153B2

A thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) pixel unit and a method for manufacturing the same. The pixel unit comprises a gate line and a gate electrode formed on a substrate and a first gate insulating layer, an active layer, and a doped layer that are sequentially formed on the gate line and the gate electrode. An intercepting trench is formed on the gate line to cut off the doped layer and the active layer on the gate line. A second insulating layer covers the intercepting trench and the substrate where the gate line and the gate electrode are not formed. A pixel electrode is formed on the second insulating layer and a part of the pixel electrode overlaps one of a source and drain electrodes.
US08294152B2

An electronic circuit formed on an insulating substrate and having thin-film transistors (TFTs) comprising semiconductor layers. The thickness of the semiconductor layer is less than 1500 Å, e.g., between 100 and 750 Å. A first layer consisting mainly of titanium and nitrogen is formed on the semiconductor layer. A second layer consisting of aluminum is formed on top of the first layer. The first and second layers are patterned into conductive interconnects. The bottom surface of the second layer is substantially totally in intimate contact with the first layer. The interconnects have good contacts with the semiconductor layer.
US08294151B2

A plurality of gate lines having gate electrodes are formed on a substrate and a semiconductor layer is formed on a gate insulating layer covering the gate lines. A plurality of data lines intersecting the gate lines are formed on the gate insulating layer and a plurality of drain electrodes are formed extending parallel with and adjacent to the data lines. Furthermore, a plurality of storage capacitor conductors are formed to be connected to the drain electrodes and to overlap an adjacent gate line. A passivation layer made of an organic material is formed on the above structure and has a contact hole. Furthermore, a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed to be electrically connected to the drain electrodes through the contact hole.
US08294147B2

An object is to manufacture and provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a thin film transistor in which a semiconductor layer including a channel formation region serves as an oxide semiconductor film, heat treatment for reducing impurities such as moisture (heat treatment for dehydration or dehydrogenation) is performed after an oxide insulating film serving as a protective film is formed in contact with an oxide semiconductor layer. Then, the impurities such as moisture, which exist not only in a source electrode layer, in a drain electrode layer, in a gate insulating layer, and in the oxide semiconductor layer but also at interfaces between the oxide semiconductor film and upper and lower films which are in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, are reduced.
US08294138B2

A method for determining whether a quantum system comprising a superconducting qubit is occupying a first basis state or a second basis state once a measurement is performed is provided. The method, comprising: applying a signal having a frequency through a transmission line coupled to the superconducting qubit characterized by two distinct, separate, and stable states of differing resonance frequencies each corresponding to the occupation of the first or second basis state prior to measurement; and measuring at least one of an output power or phase at an output port of the transmission line, wherein the measured output power or phase is indicative of whether the superconducting qubit is occupying the first basis state or the second basis state.
US08294137B2

A field-effect transistor is provided and includes source, gate and drain regions, where the gate region controls charge carrier location in the transport channel, the transport channel includes a asymmetric coupled quantum well layer, the asymmetric quantum well layer includes at least two quantum wells separated by a barrier layer having a greater energy gap than the wells, the transport channel is connected to the source region at one end, and the drain regions at the other, the drain regions include at least two contacts electrically isolated from each other, the contacts are connected to at least one quantum well. The drain may include two regions that are configured to form the asymmetric coupled well transport channel. In an embodiment, two sources and two drains are also envisioned.
US08294134B2

A phase change memory device includes a switching device and a storage node connected to the switching device. The storage node includes a bottom stack, a phase change layer disposed on the bottom stack and a top stack disposed on the phase change layer. The phase change layer includes a unit for increasing a path of current flowing through the phase change layer and reducing a volume of a phase change memory region. The area of a surface of the unit disposed opposite to the bottom stack is greater than or equal to the area of a surface of the bottom stack in contact with the phase change layer.
US08294133B2

An electronic device 1 includes an electrical conductivity changeable body 2 whose electrical conductivity changes according to an electric field and an electric field applying device 3 that applies an electric field to the electrical conductivity changeable body 2. The electrical conductivity changeable body 2 contains RFe2O4, and its electrical conductivity changes due to a state of internal electrons being changed according to an electric field 4 applied from the outside by the electric field applying device 3. Thereby, an electronic device capable of changing its electrical conductivity in accordance with application of a small electric field is realized.
US08294120B1

The process of the present application differs substantially from the prior art, as it facilitates the deliberate extraction of electrons from atoms and molecules during the production of positive ions, as compared with occasionally and accidentally knocking them away. It is an energy efficient process for the extraction and capture of electrons, production of positive ions and negative ions, the construction of molecules and the selective decomposition of molecules. These results are accomplished by the forcible extraction of electrons from the object molecules and atoms. The present process is superior to any other intended for the production of positive ions and the composition and the decomposition of molecules, because it not only simplifies the process, but it also speeds the process, allowing a continuous stream or beam of particles to be so converted to positive ions. Additionally, the present process demonstrates its superiority to any other because it is extremely efficient, in that, once the system is fully charged, it requires only a small maintenance energy to sustain operation. Furthermore, by the reversal of electric polarity, the process allows the production of a continuous stream or beam of negative ions.
US08294102B2

This relates to a chemical biological threat detection system for enhancing the, discrimination in chemical biological threat detection in atmospheric air, low level chemical biological threat detection in air, as well as tactical determination of threat chemical biological agents' concentrations in a specific atmospheric range, at various time intervals. This uses the concept of quantitative monitoring the atmospheric air for chemical biological threats, as well as measuring the quantitative correlations/ratios in differential changes in the air, for the active/passive chemical biological Infrared (IR) EM radiation at an 8-12 μM wavelength, absorption/emission/scattering, using Electro-Optics. This chemical biological solution will use the reference chemical biological IR EM radiation (absorption, emission, scattering) signatures for comparison.
US08294097B2

The present invention provides a scanning charged particle beam device including a sample chamber (8) and a detector. The detector has: a function of detecting light at least ranging from the vacuum ultraviolet region to the visible light region, of light (17) having image information which is obtained by a light emission phenomenon of gas scintillation when the sample chamber is controlled to a low vacuum (1 Pa to 3,000 Pa); and a function of detecting ion currents (11, 13) having image information which are obtained by cascade amplification of electrons and gas molecules. Accordingly, it becomes possible to realize a device which can deal with observation of various samples. Further, an optimal configuration of the detection unit is devised, to thereby make it possible to add value to an obtained image and provide users in wide-ranging fields with the observation image. In addition, the detector is made usable in combination with a detector for high vacuum, to thereby make it possible to provide wide-ranging users with the image, irrespective of the vacuum mode.
US08294094B1

An apparatus and method are introduced in this invention to reduce the edge effect of a substrate that causes image variation or distortion due to applied substrate bias. An edge plate with an edge effect eliminator are provided such that substrate is inspected by a charged particle beam can capture images without distortion at substrate edge.
US08294090B1

Disclosed is a MALDI-TOF MS plate with which mass spectrometry may be performed with high reproducibility, and mass spectrum may easily be obtained even when the sample is a macromolecular substance such as a protein or nucleic acid, as well as mass spectrometry by MALDI-TOF MS using the plate. The MALDI-TOF MS plate has nanodot regions having a surface formed of a material which easily adsorbs nucleic acids and/or proteins, to which regions a test sample is attached. The mass spectrometry of a nucleic acid or protein is carried out by performing MALDI-TOF MS using this plate and using the nucleic acid or protein as a test sample.
US08294088B2

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a Gas Electron Multiplier ion detector. The ion detector comprises three gas electron multiplier stages GEM1, GEM2, GEM3 wherein a counter electrode (12) is arranged adjacent the first electron multiplier stage GEM1.
US08294074B2

A solid state lighting system controls overall light output level in a step-wise manner by discretely controlling the ON/OFF state of its light emitters. Solid state emitters that are ON at a given time are set and kept at a level intended to produce a desired output characteristic, e.g. at a level to produce a described color of light. The system utilizes optical processing of the generated light, for example by diffuse reflection in an optical integrating cavity, sufficient to convert the point source output(s) from the emitting elements into a uniform virtual source output. The virtual source output appears uniform regardless of how many emitters are ON or OFF, and only the perceptible intensity of the light output changes with the number of emitters that the system has ON.
US08294066B2

A heated element includes a thermally and electrically conductive polymer in a shaped or spaced arrangement. The spaced arrangement has at least one string of material with ends that are configured to be electrically connected to a power source. A first end is connected to a positive terminal of the power source while the other end is connected to a negative terminal of the power source. A hand grip includes the heating element disposed on an inner layer, and may include an outer layer. The spaced arrangement may be disposed between the inner and outer layer for indirect heating applications. Alternatively, portions of the spaced arrangement may protrude from either the inner layer or the outer layer for direct heating applications. The heated element may be used with a number of devices, including but not limited to, golf club grips, hand grips, heating pads, blankets, or other applications.
US08294064B1

An electrode assembly and welding system and method. An electrode assembly preferably includes an electrode mounting block, a weld electrode disposed in said mounting block with a first end extending therefrom for contact with a work piece or a projection weld nut, an insulating bushing separating the weld electrode from direct contact with the mounting block, and a contacting electrode floatingly installed into a receiving cavity located in a second end of the weld electrode, the contacting electrode provided for contact by a gun arm electrode of a weld gun. A system and method of the present invention makes use of cooperating electrode assemblies to weld projection weld nuts to a fixtured work piece. Welding current is transferred from the electrodes of a weld gun to the projection weld nut(s) and work piece via the contacting electrodes and weld electrodes of associated electrode assemblies.
US08294058B2

The invention relates to a device for electrical resistance heating (1), said device being used to heat a metallic mass (3), such as horse shoes and the like, at a sufficiently high temperature for forging, and over a sufficiently short period of time to be able to meet the requirements of the job. As a substitute for gas, the inventive device offers the user a significant economical advantage, a higher level of safety, and improved working conditions.
US08294055B2

Disclosed are an electronic device case provided with a touch sensor unit having an improved adherence structure and a method for manufacturing the same. The electronic device case includes a cover, and a touch sensor unit arranged on a front surface of the cover.
US08294052B2

An electrical appliance housing including a hard plastic housing body defining a switch-actuating aperture. The aperture is sealed with a soft plastic membrane. An actuating button is fastened to a hard plastic base that is bonded to the membrane.
US08294045B2

A balance (100) has a balance housing (200), a balance pan (300), a weighing compartment (310) that contains the balance pan, a draft shield (400) with a fixed rear wall (210), the draft shield enclosing the weighing compartment, a system of balance electronics (500), a weighing cell (600) arranged below the weighing pan, and a weighing cell compartment (270) that encases the weighing cell. The weighing cell compartment is atmospherically connected by way of a hollow space (240) to the upper third of the weighing compartment. The balance electronics are arranged at the rear wall outside of the weighing compartment.
US08294037B2

A method for arranging a component on a circuit board, a circuit board, and a mobile device comprising a circuit board are described.
US08294030B2

A cable bus system is provided. The system may include a first cable bus support block mounted to a bus housing. The first block has a body with a front face, back face, and top face. The body of the first block defines a first cable receiving feature that extends from the front face to the back face of the body. First marking indicia is present on the front face of the first block. A second cable bus support block is adjacent the first block. The second block has a body with a front face, back face, and bottom face. The body of the second block defines a second cable receiving feature that extends from the front face to the back face of the body of the second block. Second marking indicia is present on the front face of the second block.
US08294014B2

Disclosed is an apparatus for securing a media or audio player to a support and the related methods of use.
US08294012B1

Method and apparatus for an elevation tray that quickly and easily adjusts the nut of a stringed musical instrument by containing, elevating, and lowering a traditionally fixed nut. The elevation tray attaches and detaches in the same manner, location and position as the traditional stationary nut blank between the headstock and fingerboard of the instrument. The elevation tray comprises a first and second side along with an interconnecting channel which contains a lift plate which contacts and adjusts the nut. A threaded screw passes through a cap and a bushing disposed in each side of the elevation tray to a mating threaded hole on each end of the lift plate so that the lift plate and the nut are moved up or down in response to the screw being turned clockwise or counterclockwise.
US08294009B2

A surface 60 of a butt 50 has a flat portion 61 which is situated forward and has a small inclination angle and a slanting pressure receiving portion 62 which is situated backward and has a large inclination angle as areas pushed up by a jack 40. Between the flat portion 61 and the slanting pressure receiving portion 62, an escapement portion 63 having an obtuse angle is formed. The escapement portion 63 is provided to correspond to a position of the jack 40 placed immediately after the start of swinging of the jack 40. The inclination angle of the slanting pressure receiving portion 62 is determined such that in a stage where a key starts returning from a slow full stroke key-depression, a position at which the butt 50 is in contact with the jack 40 is maintained with the butt 50 swinging backward.
US08294006B1

A novel maize variety designated PHWDV and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHWDV with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHWDV 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 PHWDV or a locus conversion of PHWDV with another maize variety.
US08293999B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024231. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024231. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024231 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024231 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08293998B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024338. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024338. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024338 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024338 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08293997B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024318. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024318. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024318 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024318 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08293990B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB00G10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB00G10, cells from soybean variety XB00G10, plants of soybean XB00G10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB00G10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB00G10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB00G10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB00G10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB00G10 are further provided.
US08293987B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XBP56002 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP56002, cells from soybean variety XBP56002, plants of soybean XBP56002, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP56002. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP56002 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP56002, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP56002. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP56002 are further provided.
US08293985B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB56X10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB56X10, cells from soybean variety XB56X10, plants of soybean XB56X10, and plant parts of soybean variety XB56X10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB56X10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XB56X10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB56X10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB56X10 are further provided.
US08293984B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 06JR212793 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 06JR212793 and its progeny, and methods of making 06JR212793.
US08293975B2

Methods are provided in which a promoter hairpin construct is introduced into a cell to suppress expression of a gene of interest; a change in phenotype of the cell, or of an organism regenerated from the cell, is detected; and the change in phenotype identifies the function of a product of the gene of interest. Also provided are methods for restoring the original phenotype.
US08293973B2

The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions relating to UXS polypeptides and/or nucleic acids encoding UXS polypeptides. In certain claims, the methods and compositions are of use to improve digestibility and/or ease of grain processing. Such improvements relate to a modulation in arabinoxylan and/or hemicellulose content in transgenic plants. Such plants can, for example, comprise one or more nucleic acid sequences that inhibit expression of one or more UDP-Xylose Synthase (UXS) genes.
US08293967B2

A disposable absorbent article suitable for receiving and containing bodily exudates, the article comprising a front region, a back region and a crotch region disposed between said front and back region, each region having two opposing longitudinal edges, and wherein said article further comprises a window on any one of said regions for viewing a sensor suitable for measuring a condition selected from the group consisting of temperature, dehydration, rash, pH, analyte levels, humidity, and combinations thereof and wherein the sensor is placed adjacent to and facing said window placed adjacent to and facing said window.
US08293960B2

Processes are provided for the production of butadiene from C4 containing feed stocks that contain isobutene and/or isobutane in addition to n-butene(s) and/or n-butane. The processes of the present invention generally comprise feeding the feed stock to a combination butenes isomerization reaction and distillation tower for conversion of 1-butene to 2-butenes and separation from isobutene and isobutane, followed by an oxydehydrogenation unit to convert n-butenes to butadiene. The processes may also include additional isomerization and/or dehydrogenation steps for the tower overhead and bottoms streams to create additional isobutene and/or n-butenes for valued uses, which may include additional production of butadiene. The feed to the system may comprise any mixture or separate feeding of C4 olefins and C4 paraffins, at least one of which contains isobutene and/or isobutane.
US08293947B2

The present invention concerns a method for the preparation of therapeutically valuable triphenylbutene derivatives, especially ospemifene or fispemifene.
US08293945B2

Processes for preparing an amine, which processes comprise: reacting a reactant selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and mixtures thereof, with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group consisting of ammonia, primary amines, secondary amines and mixtures thereof, in the presence of a zirconium dioxide-and nickel-containing catalyst; wherein the catalyst comprises a catalytically active composition which comprises, before reduction with hydrogen, oxygen compounds of zirconium, nickel, and iron, and 0.2 to 5.5% by weight of at least one oxygen compound of tin, lead, bismuth, molybdenum, antimony or phosphorus, calculated as SnO, PbO, Bi2O3, MoO3, Sb2O3 and H3PO4 respectively; and wherein the catalytically active composition of the catalyst does not comprise any copper.
US08293937B2

The invention relates to a new industrial process for producing low-monomer-content organic polyisocyanates by oligomerization of organic diisocyanates in a two-phase system.
US08293934B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing isocyanates, which are industrially useful compounds, without using phosgene, and to provide a process for chemically recycling waste polycarbonate resin. The present invention discloses a process enabling isocyanate compounds to be produced without using phosgene as a raw material by subjecting a carbamic acid ester compound obtained by a reaction between an aromatic polycarbonate resin and an amine compound to a thermal decomposition reaction, while at the same time disclosing a process enabling chemical recycling of aromatic polycarbonate resin by recovering a divalent aromatic hydroxy compound forming aromatic polycarbonates.
US08293930B1

A process is provided for the semi-synthesis of taxane intermediates useful in the preparation of paclitaxel and docetaxel, in particular, the semi-synthesis of protected taxane intermediate in a one pot reaction of protecting the C-7 and C-10 positions and attaching a side chain at the C-13 position and subsequently deprotecting the group to form paclitaxel or docetaxel, and taxane intermediates.
US08293927B2

The present invention relates to methods for the synthesis of morphine, intermediates, salts and derivatives thereof. In preferred embodiments, the invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency and overall yield of said morphine, morphine related derivatives and intermediates thereof. In further embodiments, the invention relates to methods for improving the efficiency and overall yield of galanthamine and intermediates thereof.
US08293921B2

An object is to provide a novel triazole derivative having a bipolar property. Another object is to provide a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and an electronic device each having high emission efficiency. A triazole derivative represented by a general formula (G1), a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and an electronic device each formed using the triazole derivative represented by the general formula (G1) are provided. By use of the triazole derivative represented by the general formula (G1) for the light-emitting element, the light-emitting device, and the electronic device, the light-emitting element, the light-emitting device, and the electronic device each having high emission efficiency can be provided.
US08293914B2

The present invention is directed to compounds of formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US08293893B2

The present invention provides a method by which a 6-hydroxyethyl penam compound represented by General Formula (2) below can be produced with a high selectivity: wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a protective group for carboxylic acid and X2 represents a halogen atom; the method including the steps of reacting a Grignard reagent with a halogeno penam compound represented by General Formula (1) below: wherein R and X2 are the same as above, and X1 represents a halogen atom; reacting the generated compound with an amine compound; and further reacting the generated compound with acetaldehyde.
US08293892B2

The present invention relates to substituted tetrahydropyrazolo-pyrido-azepine compounds and methods of synthesizing these compounds. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing substituted tetrahydropyrazolo-pyrido-azepine compounds and methods of treating cell proliferative disorders, such as cancer, by administering these compounds and pharmaceutical compositions to subjects in need thereof.
US08293886B2

The invention relates to the identification of genes involved in resistance of cancer cells to therapy, to short nucleic acid molecules which inhibit the expression of these genes by RNA interference and to their use as adjuvant in cancer therapy, to sensitize cancer cells to conventional anticancer agents; the short nucleic acid molecules are double-stranded short interfering nucleic acid molecules including a sense and an antisense region, wherein the sense region includes a nucleotide sequence that is selected from the group consisting of: the sequences SEQ ID NO: 15, 11, 13, 14, 30, 31, 38, 46, 64 and 70 and the sequences having at least 70% identity, preferably at least 80% identity, more preferably at least 90% identity with the sequences, and the antisense region includes a nucleotide sequence that is complementary to the sense region.
US08293882B2

Isolated anti-tissue factor antibodies, immunoglobulins, cleavage products and other specified portions and variants thereof having enhanced ADCC activity, as well as anti-tissue factor antibody compositions, encoding or complementary nucleic acids, vectors, host cells, compositions, formulations, devices, transgenic animals, transgenic plants, and methods of making and using thereof. The antibodies of the invention bind human tissue factor and demonstrate enhanced ADCC activity. Accordingly, the antibodies can be used in a variety of methods for diagnosing, treating, and/or preventing diseases involving tissue factor, where enhanced ADCC activity is desirable such as cancer.
US08293879B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions useful in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune diseases. In particular, the present invention provides improved methods and compositions for the diagnosis and management of Graves' disease. The methods of the present invention not only avoids the need for radioactivity and are much simpler, economical, and rapid than methods traditionally used for the diagnosis of Graves' disease, but also improve upon the sensitivity and detection abilities of previous luciferase-based autoantibody detection assays.
US08293874B2

A Factor X (hereinafter referred to as “FX”) with a high activity is provided. The present invention relates to a method for efficiently preparing a recombinant, two-chain FX which comprises intervening glycosylation at such an amino acid sequence that is essential for glycosylation in FX to thereby allow for expression of a recombinant FX with no glycosylation, and the recombinant FX with no glycosylation obtained by said method.
US08293860B2

Disclosed is a non-thermofusible phenol resin powder having an average particle diameter of not more than 20 μm and a single particle ratio of not less than 0.7. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder preferably has a chlorine content of not more than 500 ppm. This non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is useful as an organic filler for sealing materials for semiconductors and adhesives for semiconductors. The non-thermofusible phenol resin powder is also useful as a precursor of functional carbon materials such as a molecular sieve carbon and a carbon electrode material.
US08293854B2

In a method of synthesizing a silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having 90%+CHA framework type character, a reaction mixture is prepared comprising first combining a reactive source of aluminum with a reactive source of phosphorus to form a primary mixture that is aged. A reactive source of silicon and a template for directing the formation of the molecular sieve can then be added to form a synthesis mixture. Crystallization is then induced in the synthesis mixture. Advantageously, (i) the source of silicon comprises an organosilicate, (ii) the source of phosphorus optionally comprises an organophosphate, and (iii) the crystallized silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve has a crystal size distribution such that its average crystal size is not greater than 5 μm. The molecular sieve can then preferably be used in a hydrocarbon (oxygenates-to-olefins) conversion process.
US08293849B2

A silicone composition for sealing a light emitting element includes: (A) a vinyl group-containing organopolysiloxane having a three-dimensional network structure represented by an average unit formula: (SiO4/2)a(ViR2SiO1/2)b(R3SiO1/2)c (where Vi represents a vinyl group, R's are identical or different substituted or unsubstituted monovalent hydrocarbon groups other than alkenyl groups, and a, b, and c are positive numbers satisfying that a/(a+b+c) is 0.2 to 0.6 and b/(a+b+c) is 0.001 to 0.2); (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane which has at least two hydrogen atoms, each hydrogen atom being bonded to a silicon atom per molecule, the organohydrogenpolysiloxane being contained in such an amount that an amount of a hydrogen atom bonded to a silicon atom is 0.3 to 3.0 mol per 1 mol of a vinyl group bonded to a silicon atom in the component (A); and (C) a hydrosilylation catalyst (catalytic amount), wherein a coefficient of linear expansion of the composition after curing is 10×10−6 to 290×10−6/° C. It is possible to obtain a cured product whose residual stress with a support substrate is reduced and which has long-term satisfactory and stable adhesiveness.
US08293837B2

The present invention provides a pigment dispersion, including: (a) a pigment; and (b) a polymer compound as a dispersant for the pigment (a), wherein the polymer compound includes a urethane bond in a main chain, includes a pendant moiety containing a skeleton which is the same as a partial skeleton of the pigment (a), and further includes, at a side chain, at least one polymer chain selected from the group consisting of a polyester chain, a poly(meth)acrylate chain, and a polyalkylene oxide chain, and wherein the molecular weight of the skeleton which is the same as a partial skeleton of the pigment (a) is from 20 to 70% of the molecular weight of the pigment (a).
US08293835B2

A silicone composition comprising an organopolysiloxane containing at least two silicon-bonded alkenyl and/or hydroxyl groups in the molecule and a filler having a BET surface area of at least 10 m2/g is prepared by kneading the components in a batchwise high-shear mixer. The mixer includes a rotatable mixing pan (1), a high-speed rotation agitator (3) disposed eccentrically in the pan, and a stationary scraper (4) disposed in the pan for creating a vertical counterflow.
US08293833B2

The present invention provides a rubber composition capable of reducing rolling resistance, and improving abrasion resistance, wet skid performance, and steering stability. A tire having a tread and/or a sidewall using the rubber composition is also provided. The rubber composition of the present invention comprises not less than 10 parts by weight of the silica (1) having an average primary particle diameter of not less than 22 nm and not less than 5 parts by weight of the silica (2) having an average primary particle diameter smaller than 22 nm based on 100 parts by weight of a rubber component, wherein the total amount of the silica (1) and the silica (2) is 15 to 150 parts by weight. The tire of the present invention is prepared by using the rubber composition.
US08293831B2

Disclosed is a thermoplastic composition including at least one semi-aromatic polyamide having a glass transition equal to or greater than 100° C. and a melting point of equal to or greater than 280° C.; a thermally conducting filler having a thermal conductivity of at least 5 W/mK, for instance CaF2 powder; and at least one hyperbranched polyesteramide having terminal hydroxy groups; and molded articles made therefrom.
US08293830B2

This invention relates to composites for use in high temperature elastic composite applications. Most particularly, this invention relates to elastic composites formed with a silanol-silanol condensation reaction mixture of silsesquioxane silicone resins thermally stabilized by boron nitride, silica and boron oxide additives as their matrix. The polymer matrix composite comprise a matrix of cured high, intermediate and optionally low molecular weight silicone resins including boron nitride and silica additives and reinforcing material.
US08293828B2

The present invention relates to using an adhesive and process for heating, curing, joining, attaching and detaching a part article from a body substrate structure. Described are polymeric adhesive compositions and methods of curing using a radiation apparatus for rapid adhesive bonding and attaching a fastener part to a structure surface. The adhesive composition contains additives that directly or indirectly absorb projected radiation from a radiation apparatus to rapidly and uniformly melt the adhesive and bond the surface of the part material onto the surface of the substrate material. A process is also described to reverse the adhesive bonding and detach the fastener part from the substrate.
US08293825B2

The present invention relates to the use of a polymer dispersion (PD) comprising at least one polymer (P), obtainable by free-radical emulsion polymerization of at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer (M1) and at least one monomer (M2) different therefrom and selected from esters of phosphonic acid or of phosphoric acid with unalkoxylated or alkoxylated hydroxyalkyl(meth)acrylates, and at least one emulsifier (E) selected from phosphoric esters with unalkoxylated or alkoxylated C8-C30 alkanols, and their salts, in coating materials to improve the scrub resistance of the coatings produced therefrom and/or to improve the burnish resistance of the coatings produced therefrom and/or to improve the stain resistance of the coatings produced therefrom and/or to improve the pigment distribution in the coatings produced therefrom and/or to reduce the emission of volatile organic compounds by the coatings produced therefrom, to polymer dispersions used in accordance with the invention, and to coating materials comprising the polymer dispersions of the invention.
US08293824B2

Provided are a polylactic acid resin composition which has a superior weatherability while inhibiting crystallization, and a resin molded article using this polylactic acid resin composition.The polylactic acid resin composition according to the present invention is a polylactic acid resin composition in which a hindered amine compound having a partial structure represented by the following General Formula (1): (wherein, R1, R2, R3 and R4 each independently represents a C1 to C4 alkyl group; and R represents a C1 to C18 alkyl group, C1 to C18 acyl group or C5 to C8 cycloalkyl group, which is optionally substituted with a hydroxyl group) is blended at an amount of 0.005 to 30 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of polylactic acid resin. The resin molded article according to the present invention is obtained by molding this polylactic acid resin composition.
US08293818B2

The present application is generally directed to activated carbon materials and methods for making the same. The disclosed methods comprise rapidly freezing synthetically prepared polymer gel particles. The methods further comprise drying, pyrolyzing, and activating steps to obtain an activated carbon material of high porosity. The disclosed methods represent viable manufacturing processes for the preparation of activated carbon materials.
US08293815B2

A process for the production of a translucent, IR-reflective plastic element, consisting entirely or at least in part of an impact-resistant, thermoplastic plastic, containing IR-reflective particles made of a lamellar-shaped carrier pigments coated with a metal oxide and the plastic element made therefrom.
US08293812B2

The invention provides a polymer composite comprising a thermoplastic host polymer having solid particulate material dispersed therethrough, the host polymer having at least one phase nanodomain, wherein the solid particulate material comprises particles having height, length and width dimensions of which at least one is substantially less than one or both of the other dimensions, and wherein the composite exhibits an increase in modulus of no more than 15% and a higher tensile strength, relative to said host polymer.
US08293810B2

A resin composition suited for rapid prototyping is provided comprising (I) an actinic energy radiation-curable silicone composition, (II) an actinic energy radiation-sensitive polymerization initiator, and (III) an actinic energy radiation absorber. The resin composition experiences little viscosity buildup and maintains fluidity during long-term storage at elevated temperature, and is effective in rapid prototyping or shaping by stereolithography using any actinic energy radiation.
US08293809B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel cationic photopolymerization initiator that efficiently absorbs light and generates protons. As a means of achieving the object above, a preferred cationic photopolymerization initiator of the present invention includes an initiator comprising a bismuthonium salt represented by the following general formula (II): Wherein R11, R12, and R13 may be the same or different and are each an optionally substituted monocyclic aryl group or an optionally substituted monocyclic heteroaryl group, R14 is an optionally substituted fused polycyclic aromatic group or an optionally substituted fused polycyclic heterocyclic group, and X− is an anion associated with a cation.
US08293801B2

A skin lightening method for lightening the natural skin tone of a user, or for treating disorders of hyperpigmentation, includes delivering an effective amount of methyl sulfonyl methane (MSM) to an individual in need of skin lightening, until an noticeable lightening of skin tone is observed. Delivery may be accomplished by topical application, oral ingestion, or a combination of the foregoing. The skin lightening effect may be enhanced by application of an exfoliate during the treatment period. A transdermal patch may be used to deliver MSM to specific skin areas. A lightening of skin tone equivalent to one or two Fitzpatrick skin type classes may be achieved in about three to six months. After cessation of treatment, skin returns to its natural, genetically-determined tone.
US08293799B2

The osmotic devices of the present invention include a single core comprising a salt of a drug and an osmotic salt, wherein the drug salt and the osmotic salt have a common ion. The release rate of the active drug is reduced, and the release profile of the active drug is modified, from a first order release profile to a zero order, pseudo-zero order, or sigmoidal release profile, by increasing the amount of the sodium chloride in the core of the device. In one embodiment the sodium chloride is used to modify a controlled release profile to a delayed and controlled release profile.
US08293794B2

The present invention provides novel methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of CNS-related conditions. One of the CNS-related conditions treated by the methods and compositions of the invention is Alzheimer's disease.
US08293789B2

A method of solubilizing an analog active agent of the prostaglandin F2α, such as latanoprost, is described and a method of preparing an ophthalmic solution of the solubilized latanoprost for the treatment of distinct ocular ailments. This invention also refers to an ophthalmic aqueous solution resulting from the aforementioned method, which is characterized by its chemical stability at room temperature, its safety, and innocuousness and efficiency in the treatment of the patient. The new ophthalmic aqueous solution is distinguished because its pharmaceutical value is found in the handling of a vehicle of easy access that not only permits the solubility of latanoprost, but also promotes its chemical stability and a greater tolerance of the patient with its ophthalmic application for the treatment of the patient's ailment.
US08293782B2

A compound represented by Formula (1) below, where n is 2 or 3; a is an integer of 1 to 4 and b is an integer of 3 and 5 to 10, or a is 5 and b is an integer of 1 to 10; R1 to R8 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a sulfonate that is any one of sodium sulfonate, potassium sulfonate, ammonium sulfonate, triethylammonium sulfonate, pyridinium sulfonate, lysine sulfonate, and arginine sulfonate; and R9 to R12 each independently represent a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C3 alkyl group.
US08293775B2

The present invention relates to benzoxazolone derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals, in the treatment of movement disorders, in particular in Parkinson's disease.
US08293772B2

The invention relates to novel compounds according to formula Ia and Ib, said compounds being useful, e.g. in the treatment of inflammatory, ophthalmic diseases, or cancer.
US08293764B2

Contemplated compounds disrupt interaction between BRCA2 and RAD51, likely by binding to RAD51. Based on the crucial role of the BRCA2-RAD51 complex formation in DNA repair and the role of RAD51 in the control of entry into S-phase from G1, numerous compositions and methods are presented. Among other advantageous uses, contemplated compounds may be employed as protective agents for non-neoplastic cells in chemotherapy before exposure of the cells to a chemotherapeutic drug, and/or as DNA-damage sensitizer for neoplastic cells.
US08293754B2

This invention provides thienopyrimidine derivatives of the formula, wherein R1 stands for hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; R2 stands for a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or amino group or the like, R3 stands for an alkyl, alkenyl or alkylthio group or the like or a group Y—X—; or R2 and R3 may together form tetramethylene group; X standing for a direct bond or linking group such as CH2, CH(OH), S, O, NH; Y standing for a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic carbocycylic, aromatic heterocylic, cycloalkyl or saturated heterocyclic group or the like; Z stands for S or O, and n is 0 or an integer of 1 to 4, or salts thereof, which exhibit an inhibitory effect on PDE9, and are therefore useful for prevention or treatment of overactive bladder syndrome, pollakiuria, urinary incontinence, dysuria associated with prostatic hyperplasia, urolithiasis, Alzheimer's disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, myocardial infarction, thrombosis, diabetes and the like.
US08293752B2

The present invention provides compounds useful as inhibitors of Raf protein kinase. The present invention also provides compositions thereof, and methods of treating Raf-mediated diseases.
US08293749B2

Methods of treating or preventing a vertigo, nausea, or vomiting condition comprising injecting a subject with a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation consisting essentially of an effective amount of meclizine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a chemically modified cyclodextrin, and an aqueous carrier medium having a pH between about 2 and about 7 are disclosed. An injectable pharmaceutical formulation for treating or preventing a vertigo, nausea, or vomiting condition consisting essentially of an effective amount of meclizine, a chemically modified cyclodextrin, and an aqueous carrier medium having a pH between about 2 and about 7 is also disclosed.
US08293748B2

There are provided inter alia compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, Ar, L, X, R3 and Q are as defined in the specification for use in therapy, especially in the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
US08293745B2

The present invention relates to the use of imatinib for treating viral liver diseases and in particular for viral hepatitis. The invention provides the use of imatinib for inhibiting replication, transmission or both of hepatitis viruses. The invention further relates to the use of imatinib for inhibiting replication, transmission or both of other viruses including herpes virus, poxvirus, influenza virus, para influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, yellow fever virus, west nile virus, and encephalitis virus.
US08293744B2

The present invention is directed to heterocyclic fused cinnoline compounds of formula (I) which are M1 receptor positive allosteric modulators and that are useful in the treatment of diseases in which the M1 receptor is involved, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain or sleep disorders. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases mediated by the M1 receptor.
US08293741B2

Biocompatible intraocular implants include an alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist and a polymer associated with the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist to facilitate release of the alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist into an eye for an extended period of time. The alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist may be associated with a biodegradable polymer matrix, such as a matrix of a two biodegradable polymers. The implants can be placed in an eye to treat one or more ocular conditions, such as an ocular vasculopathy or glaucoma, among others or to improve vision in a normal eye.
US08293739B2

The invention relates to compositions comprising 2-(5-(4-(2-morpholinoethoxy)phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-N-benzylacetamide and its mesylate and dihydrochloride salts. More specifically, the invention provides an efficient process for the synthesis of 2-(5-(4-(2-morpholinoethoxy) phenyl)pyridin-2-yl)-N-benzylacetamide and its mesylate and dihydrochloride salts and methods for modulating one or more components of a kinase cascade using the compositions of the invention.
US08293737B2

The present invention relates to chemical compounds of general formula (I) which may possess useful therapeutic activity in a range of central nervous system disorders, and in particular, anxiety disorders.
US08293736B2

The invention provides compounds having the general formula: and stereoisomers, tautomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and n are defined herein, compositions including the compounds and method of using the compounds to treat a disease or disorder mediated by the p110 delta isoform of PI3 kinase selected from immune disorders, cancer, cardiovascular disease, viral infection, inflammation, metabolism/endocrine function disorders and neurological disorders.
US08293733B2

Selective insect neonicotinoids is a class of pesticide active ingredients that share some characteristics in their chemical structures and bind to the nAChR acetylcholine receptors. Formulation of such compounds in oil suspension or oil dispersion is challenging due to their electrostatic interactions of the heteroatoms in oily media, that lead to irreversible flocculation or diminished homogeneicity and bleeding of such oil dispersions. Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Thiachloprid, Nitenpyram, Acetamiprid, Clothianidin and Dinetofuran and derivatives thereof with nAChR binding ability are successfully formulated in oil suspension with the use of certain copolymeric anionic fatty-acid based dispersants, sorbitan derivatives, ionic surfactants, other non-ionic surfactants and inorganic polyvalent cationic salt dispersed in the oil. The formulations this way produced show excellent storage stability properties regarding physiochemical parameters, including stability of the neonicotinoid active ingredient, reduced bleeding, and complete redispersibility. Further, they show excellent biological efficacy due to the reduced and homogeneous particle size below 2 μm when diluted—emulsified—in water.
US08293730B2

The present invention is concerned with a method of treating Alzheimer's disease by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a substituted imidazo[1,5-a][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-d][1,4]benzodiazepine of formula I wherein R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein, and their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts. The invention also provides novel compounds of formula I-A and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08293728B2

In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular-related disease and, in particular, a method of blood lipid therapy comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising eicosapentaenoic acid or a derivative thereof.
US08293720B2

The present invention provides substituted 4-{3-[6-amino-9-(3,4-dihydroxy-tetrahydro-furan-2-yl)-9H-purin-2-yl]-prop-2-ynyl}-piperidine-1-carboxylic acid esters and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same that are selective agonists of A2A adenosine receptors (ARs). These compounds and compositions are useful as pharmaceutical agents.
US08293719B2

The features of the present invention relate to compounds, compositions and methods useful for modulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as by the mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi). The compounds and compositions include iRNA agents that can be unmodified or chemically-modified.
US08293718B2

The present disclosure relates to methods of treating heat shock factor 1 (HSF1)-related diseases such as cancer and viral diseases, using a therapeutically effective amount of a RNAi agent to HSF.
US08293717B2

The subject invention concerns a method of inhibiting an RNA virus infection within a patient by increasing the amount of 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase (2-5 AS) activity within the patient. Preferably, the preventative and therapeutic methods of the present invention involve administering a nucleotide encoding 2-5 AS, or at least one catalytically active fragment thereof, such as the p40, p69, p100 subunits, to a patient in need thereof. The present inventors have determined that overexpression of 2-5AS causes a reduction in epithelial cell damage, reduction in infiltration of mononuclear cells in the peribronchiolar and perivascular regions, and reduction in thickening of the septa in the lungs. Levels of chemokines, such as MIP1-α, are also reduced upon overexpression of 2-5AS. The subject invention also pertains to pharmaceutical compositions containing a nucleotide sequence encoding 2-5 AS and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, as well as vectors for delivery of the 2-5 AS nucleotide sequence.
US08293714B2

The present invention provides VEGF binding peptides. In addition, the invention provides VEGF peptides conjugated to antibodies alone and in conjunction with other anti-angiogenic molecules. Various uses of the peptides and compounds are provided, including methods to treat disorders associated with abnormal angiogenesis.
US08293713B2

The present invention relates to methods of treating dry eye using β-turn peptidomimetic cyclic compounds or derivatives thereof. The β-turn peptidomimetic cyclic compounds can be used alone, in combination and/or in conjunction with one or more other compounds, molecules or drugs that treat dry eye.
US08293692B2

The present invention provides a lubricating oil composition comprising at least one type of base oil selected from mineral oils and synthetic oils, and a succinate ester and a sarcosinic acid as rust prevention agents. The succinate ester content is preferably set at 0.01 to 0.1 wt. %, and the sarcosinic acid content is preferably set at 0.001 to 0.01 wt. %. Further, they are preferably set such that the resulting weight ratio of the succinate ester content and sarcosinic acid content is 1:0.01 to 0.7. The lubricating oil composition according to the present invention shows excellent rust prevention properties and a satisfactorily long oxidation lifetime. Further it allows to attain a high level of anti-sludge performance and extreme pressure performance and lubrication performance, even when it is used for example in turbine bearings in combined cycle generators having multiplier gears operated under severe high temperature and high pressure conditions.
US08293689B2

The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and polymer with pendant groups. The invention further provides for a method of controlling viscosity index by supplying to an oil of lubricating viscosity the polymer with pendant groups.
US08293688B2

The present invention is directed to an enhanced oil recovery composition comprising (a) a surfactant comprising an alkylated hydroxyaromatic sulfonate having the general formula: wherein R1 is an alkyl group containing from about 8 to 40 carbon atoms and having from about 20% to about 50% methyl branching, and M is a mono-valent cation; (b) a solvent; (c) a passivator; and (d) a polymer.
US08293686B2

A water-based polymer drilling fluid, containing effective quantities of surfactants having HLB numbers equal to or greater than approximately 7, emulsifies oil and bitumen contained in oil sand cuttings, resulting in the oil and bitumen being dispersed into the mud as an emulsion. This eliminates or significantly reduces the ability of the oil, bitumen, and cuttings to clog the well or stick to drill string components when drilling a well through oil-bearing sands, particularly sands containing highly viscous oil or bitumen. The emulsification process separates the sand particles from the oil and bitumen, such that the sand particles can be removed when the mud is run through a conventional shale shaker or other suitable apparatus.
US08293678B2

A metal fiber based on one or several elements from the group of platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and iridium with 0 to 30% by weight of one or several additional alloy elements from the group of nickel, cobalt, gold, rhenium, molybdenum, and tungsten, contains 1 to 500 ppm by weight of boron or phosphorus. A non-woven material or netting, in particular for the production of nitrogen oxide or for the production of hydrocyanic acid, is made of such fibers. For the production of fibers based on noble metals having up to 30% by weight of additional alloy metals by drawing the fibers from a melt, the melting point of the metal is reduced by at least 400 ° C., before drawing of the fibers, by additionally alloying with boron or phosphorus, and the boron or the phosphorus is removed again from the fibers.
US08293672B2

A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization in which the molar ratio of residual alkoxy groups to supported titanium is 0.60 or less is obtained by reacting the following compound (a1) with the following compound (b1) at a hydroxyl group/magnesium molar ratio of 1.0 or more, reacting the reaction mixture with the following compound (c1) at a halogen/magnesium molar ratio of 0.20 or more, reacting the resultant reaction mixture with the following compounds (d1) and (e) at a temperature of 120° C. or higher but 150° C. or lower, washing the reaction mixture with an inert solvent, reacting the reaction mixture with the following compound (e) again at the above temperature and washing the reaction mixture with an inert solvent, whereby there can be provided the solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization and a catalyst for olefin polymerization which have high polymerization activity and give an olefin polymer having a less residual Cl content and being excellent in stereoregularity and powder form and a process for producing an olefin polymer, (a1) an oxide of at least one element that is selected from Group II to Group IV elements and which supports an alcohol-free halogen-containing magnesium compound, (b1) an alcohol, (c1) a halogen-containing silicon compound, (d1) an electron-donating compound, and (e) a halogen-containing titanium compound.
US08293671B2

Provided is a method for suppressing corrosion of a carbon material, which acts as a carrier in a catalyst layer of PEFC. The present invention relates to an electrode catalyst produced by subjecting a carbon material having a noble metal catalyst supported thereon to heat treatment under inert gas atmosphere.
US08293662B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes steps of: generating positively or negatively charged fine bubbles having substantially zero buoyancy in a coating solution as an insulating film forming material; coating the coating solution including the bubbles on a substrate to form a coating film; and baking the coating film by heating the substrate before the bubbles are removed to obtain a porous low dielectric constant insulating film.
US08293657B2

Systems and methods for processing sacrificial layers in MEMS device fabrication are provided. In one embodiment, a method comprises: applying a patterned layer of Aerogel material onto a substrate to form an Aerogel sacrificial layer; applying at least one non-sacrificial silicon layer over the Aerogel sacrificial layer, wherein the non-sacrificial silicon layer is coupled to the substrate through one or more gaps provided in the patterned layer of Aerogel material; and removing the Aerogel sacrificial layer by exposing the Aerogel sacrificial layer to a removal liquid.
US08293650B2

A phase change memory device includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of phase change cell regions; a lower electrode formed in each of the phase change cell regions on the semiconductor substrate; an insulation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate to cover the lower electrode and defined with a contact hole which exposes the lower electrode; a heater formed in the contact hole; a conductive pattern formed on the insulation layer to be spaced apart from the heater; a phase change layer formed on the heater, the conductive pattern, and portions of the insulation layer between the heater and the conductive pattern; and an upper electrode formed on the phase change layer. This phase change memory device allows the phase change layer to be stably formed and prevents the phase change layer from lifting.
US08293639B2

A method for controlling an ADI-AEI CD difference ratio of openings having different sizes is described. The openings are formed through a silicon-containing material layer, an etching resistive layer and a target material layer in turn. Before the opening etching steps, at least one of the opening patterns in the photoresist mask is altered in size through photoresist trimming or deposition of a substantially conformal polymer layer. A first etching step forming thicker polymer on the sidewall of the wider opening pattern is performed to form a patterned Si-containing material layer. A second etching step is performed to remove exposed portions of the etching resistive layer and the target material layer. At least one parameter among the parameters of the photoresist trimming or polymer layer deposition step and the etching parameters of the first etching step is controlled to obtain a predetermined ADI-AEI CD difference ratio.
US08293629B2

Embodiments of a process for forming a photodetector region in a CMOS pixel by dopant implantation, the process comprising masking a photodetector area of a surface of a substrate for formation of the photodetector region, positioning the substrate at a plurality of twist angles, and at each of the plurality of twist angles, directing dopants at the photodetector area at a selected tilt angle. Embodiments of a CMOS pixel comprising a photodetector region formed in a substrate, the photodetector region comprising overlapping first and second dopant implants, wherein the overlap region has a different dopant concentration than the non-overlapping parts of the first and second implants, a floating diffusion formed in the substrate, and a transfer gate formed on the substrate between the photodetector and the transfer gate. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
US08293628B2

Processes for forming quantum well structures which are characterized by controllable nitride content are provided, as well as superlattice structures, optical devices and optical communication systems based thereon.
US08293627B2

The described system relates to a method for forming a layer of a mono-crystalline semiconductor material on a substrate, comprising providing a substrate, growing epitaxially a template comprising at least one monolayer of a semiconductor material on the substrate, thereafter depositing an amorphous layer of the semiconductor material on the template; performing a thermal treatment or a laser anneal, thereby converting substantially all of the amorphous layer of the semiconductor material into a mono-crystalline layer of the semiconductor material. According to an embodiment, the semiconductor material is Ge and the substrate is a Si substrate. The template is preferably a few monolayers thick.
US08293625B2

A hard mask material is removed from an SOI substrate without using a chemical mechanical polish (CMP) process. A blocking material is deposited on a hard mask material after a deep trench reactive ion etch (RIE) process. The blocking material on top of the hard mask material is removed. A selective wet etching process is used to remove the hard mask material. Trench recess depth is effectively controlled.
US08293624B2

A method and apparatus for an electronic substrate having a plurality of semiconductor devices is described. A thin film of nanowires is formed on a substrate. The thin film of nanowires is formed to have a sufficient density of nanowires to achieve an operational current level. A plurality of semiconductor regions are defined in the thin film of nanowires. Contacts are formed at the semiconductor device regions to thereby provide electrical connectivity to the plurality of semiconductor devices. Furthermore, various materials for fabricating nanowires, thin films including p-doped nanowires and n-doped nanowires, nanowire heterostructures, light emitting nanowire heterostructures, flow masks for positioning nanowires on substrates, nanowire spraying techniques for depositing nanowires, techniques for reducing or eliminating phonon scattering of electrons in nanowires, and techniques for reducing surface states in nanowires are described.
US08293615B2

FDSOI devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a method for fabricating a device includes the following steps. A wafer is provided having a substrate, a BOX and a SOI layer. A hardmask layer is deposited over the SOI layer. A photoresist layer is deposited over the hardmask layer and patterned into groups of segments. A tilted implant is performed to damage all but those portions of the hardmask layer covered or shadowed by the segments. Portions of the hardmask layer damaged by the implant are removed. A first etch is performed through the hardmask layer to form a deep trench in the SOI layer, the BOX and at least a portion of the substrate. The hardmask layer is patterned using the patterned photoresist layer. A second etch is performed through the hardmask layer to form shallow trenches in the SOI layer.
US08293604B2

Vertical channel semiconductor devices include a semiconductor substrate with a pillar having an upper surface. An insulated gate electrode is around a periphery of the pillar. The insulated gate electrode has an upper surface at a vertical level lower than the upper surface of the pillar to vertically space apart the insulated gate electrode from the upper surface of the pillar. A first source/drain region is in the substrate adjacent the pillar. A second source/drain region is disposed in an upper region of the pillar including the upper surface of the pillar. A contact pad contacts the entire upper surface of the pillar to electrically connect to the second source/drain region.
US08293603B2

A method of fabricating a semiconductor device using a recess channel array is disclosed. A substrate is provided having a first region and a second region, including a first transistor in the first region including a first gate electrode partially filling a trench, and source and drain regions that are formed at both sides of the trench, and covered by a first insulating layer. A first conductive layer is formed on the substrate. A contact hole through which the drain region is exposed is formed by patterning the first conductive layer and the first insulating layer. A contact plug is formed that fills the contact hole. A bit line is formed that is electrically connected to the drain region through the contact plug, and simultaneously a second gate electrode is formed in the second region by patterning the first conductive layer.
US08293602B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for manufacturing grounded gate cross-hair cells and standard cross-hair cells of fin field-effect transistors (finFETs). In one embodiment, a process may include forming gate trenches and gates on and parallel to row trenches in a substrate, wherein the gate trenches and gates are pitch-doubled such that four gate trenches are formed for every two row trenches. In another embodiment, a process may include forming gate trenches, gates, and grounded gates in a substrate, wherein the gate trenches and gates are formed such that three gate trenches are formed for every two row trenches.
US08293601B2

A non-volatile semiconductor storage device has a plurality of memory strings with a plurality of electrically rewritable memory cells connected in series. Each of the memory strings includes: a memory columnar semiconductor extending in a direction perpendicular to a substrate; a tunnel insulation layer contacting the memory columnar semiconductor; a charge accumulation layer contacting the tunnel insulation layer and accumulating charges; a block insulation layer contacting the charge accumulation layer; and a plurality of memory conductive layers contacting the block insulation layer. The lower portion of the charge accumulation layer is covered by the tunnel insulation layer and the block insulation layer.
US08293595B2

In an active matrix display device, electric characteristics of thin film transistors included in a circuit are important, and performance of the display device depends on the electric characteristics. Thus, by using an oxide semiconductor film including In, Ga, and Zn for an inverted staggered thin film transistor, variation in electric characteristics of the thin film transistor can be reduced. Three layers of a gate insulating film, an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protective layer are successively formed by a sputtering method without being exposed to air. Further, in the oxide semiconductor layer, the thickness of a region overlapping with the channel protective film is larger than that of a region in contact with a conductive film.
US08293573B2

A microarray package includes a leadframe having an array of contact posts, a die carried by the lead frame, and a plurality of bonding wires that electrically connect the die to the lead frame. An encapsulant is included that encapsulates the die, the bonding wire and the leadframe while leaving the distal ends of the contact posts exposed and substantially co-planar with a bottom surface of the microarray package. A plurality of pedestal members is plated to the distal end of a respective contact pad. A distal surface of each pedestal member protrudes outwardly beyond the bottom surface of the microarray package in the range of about 15 μm to about 35 μm.
US08293571B2

A programmable metallization cell (PMC) that includes an active electrode; a nanoporous layer disposed on the active electrode, the nanoporous layer comprising a plurality of nanopores and a dielectric material; and an inert electrode disposed on the nanoporous layer. Other embodiments include forming the active electrode from silver iodide, copper iodide, silver sulfide, copper sulfide, silver selenide, or copper selenide and applying a positive bias to the active electrode that causes silver or copper to migrate into the nanopores. Methods of formation are also disclosed.
US08293569B2

An organic thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel includes a substrate, a gate line extending in a first direction, a data line extending in a second direction, intersecting with and insulated from the gate line, a source electrode connected to the data line, a drain electrode facing the source electrode, a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode, and an organic semiconductor connected to the source electrode and the drain electrode, the organic semiconductor made of an organic material with photosensitivity.
US08293563B2

Disclosed herein is a method for making a semiconductor device including the steps of: forming a light-receiving portion for carrying out photoelectric conversion in a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulating film to cover a light-receiving side of the semiconductor substrate; forming a metallic light-shielding film to partly cover the insulating film in correspondence to the light-receiving portion; and heating the metallic light-shielding film by irradiation of the metallic light-shielding film with a microwave to permit selective annealing of a laminated portion with the metallic light-shielding film in the insulating film.
US08293560B2

A method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device, comprises forming a first insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate electrode by forming an electrically conductive layer on the first insulating film and patterning the electrically conductive layer, etching an exposed surface of the first insulating film, forming a charge accumulation region of a photoelectric converter by implanting impurity ions of a first conductivity type into the semiconductor substrate through a thinned portion of the first insulating film formed by the etching, removing the thinned portion, forming a second insulating film covering the semiconductor substrate and the gate electrode, and forming a surface region of the photoelectric converter by implanting impurity ions of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type into the semiconductor substrate through the second insulating film.
US08293559B2

In a method of manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device having a pixel region and a peripheral circuit region, a semiconductor compound layer is formed by causing a surface of a diffusion layer or gate electrode of a MOS transistor in the peripheral circuit region to react with a high melting point metal, then an insulating layer is formed in the pixel region and the peripheral circuit region after the step of forming a semiconductor compound layer. A contact hole is formed in the insulating layer to expose a diffusion layer in the pixel region, and a contact hole is formed in the insulating layer to expose the semiconductor compound layer formed in the peripheral circuit region. These holes are formed at different timings. Prior to forming the hole which is formed later, a contact plug is formed in the contact hole which is formed earlier.
US08293550B2

A semiconductor device includes a first light emitting chip, the first light emitting chip having a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a first active layer disposed therebetween, a second light emitting chip disposed on the first light emitting chip, the second light emitting chip having a third semiconductor layer, a fourth semiconductor layer, and a second active layer disposed therebetween, and a conductive layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer and the fourth semiconductor layer having different conductivity types.
US08293548B2

An LED light module (100) for street lamp includes a frame (1), electrodes (5) and a heat sink (4) mounted in the frame, an LED chip (2) attached on a top of the heat sink; and a silicon lens (3) formed on the frame and closely sealing the LED chip therein. The LED light module is an integral structure with the silicon lens being formed thereon through an in-mold process. The silicon lens lengthwise includes two convergent parts (31, 33) at either end and a depressed part (32) at middle thereof for consecutively bridging the two convergent parts. Thus the exit light beam from the LED light module is elongated without light loss. A one-body molding process for manufacturing the LED light module is disclosed as well, which is in high-efficiency, and adapted for a mass production.
US08293545B2

Test structures including test trenches are used to define critical dimension of trenches in a via level of an integrated circuit to produce substantially the same depth. The trenches are formed at the periphery of the IC to serve as guard rings.
US08293544B2

A method (and semiconductor device) of fabricating a semiconductor device utilizes a thermal proximity correction (TPC) technique to reduce the impact of thermal variations during anneal. Prior to actual fabrication, a location of interest (e.g., a transistor) within an integrated circuit design is determined and an effective thermal area around the location is defined. Thermal properties of structures intended to be fabricated within this area are used to calculate an estimated temperature that would be achieved at the location of interest from a given anneal process. If the estimated temperature is below or above a predetermined target temperature (or range), TPC is performed. Various TPC techniques may be performed, such as the addition of dummy cells and/or changing dimensions of the structure to be fabricated at the location of interest (resulting in an modified thermally corrected design, to suppress local variations in device performance caused by thermal variations during anneal.
US08293539B2

An analysis system for detecting at least one analyte in a sample is proposed, in particular for detecting glucose in a bodily fluid. The analysis system is designed to detect the analyte using at least one test element. The test element has at least one analysis zone for detecting the analyte. The test element includes at least one coding with at least one test element specific item of information and/or at least one position specific item of information. The analysis system includes a detector and furthermore at least one transfer device which is designed to afford the detector the possibility of acquiring the analysis zone in at least a first position and to afford the detector the possibility of acquiring the coding in at least a second position which differs from the first position.
US08293532B2

A handheld tool is disclosed which may be used to transfer a plurality of plant tissue explants from a first container to a second container. The handheld tool may include a disposable tip member which couples the plurality of plant tissue explants through use of negative pressure. An automated system which transfers a plurality of plant tissue explants from a first container to a second container is also disclosed. The automated system may include a first presentment system which moves the first container to a region, a second presentment system which moves the second container to the region, and a robot system that transfers the plurality of plant tissue explants from the first container to the second container.
US08293526B2

Animal cell colonies are picked up automatically by an apparatus having a picking head with a plurality of hollow pins and an integrated imager for capturing an image of adherent or non-adherent animal cell colonies held in liquid or semi-solid medium. Image processing identifies the locations of the animal cell colonies to be picked. Picking an animal cell colony is performed by aligning each of the hollow pins in turn with a target animal cell colony location, introducing the hollow pin into the medium, and aspirating the animal cell colony into the hollow pin. In the case of an adherent colony, the distal end of the pin is forced into oscillation to detach the animal cell colony prior to aspiration. The animal cell colony is dispensed into a well plate by increasing pressure in the fluid conduit.
US08293522B2

The present invention pertains to a device for binding a target entity onto a bait entity that is immobilized on said device, comprising: a) a lipid layer having a negative net charge in an aqueous solution at a neutral pH; b) a two-dimensional matrix of anchoring complexes that are bound to said lipid layer, wherein each of said anchoring complexes comprises: (i) a fusion complex comprising an Annexin protein fused to a partner molecule; and (ii) a bait entity. It also concerns various uses of said device, including for detection and pharmaceutical purposes.
US08293519B2

This invention relates generally to the field of microarray chips and uses thereof. In particular, the invention provides a microarray reaction device that can be used in assaying the interaction between various moieties, e.g., nucleic acids, immunoreactions involving proteins, interactions between a protein and a nucleic acid, a ligand-receptor interaction, and small molecule and protein or nucleic acid interactions, etc. Articles of manufacture and kits comprising the microarray reaction device and assaying methods using the microarray reaction device are also provided.
US08293516B2

A recombinant microorganism is provided that has increased productivity of a protein or polypeptide of interest. A method for producing a protein of interest using the microorganism is also provided. The microorganism is prepared by inserting, in its genome, a transcription initiation regulatory region or both a transcription initiation regulatory region and a ribosome-binding site, upstream of a Bacillus subtilis prsA gene and by deleting or inactivating one or more of the abrB gene, dltA gene, dltB gene, dltC gene, dltD gene, dltE gene, or a gene (genes) corresponding thereto.
US08293510B2

The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).
US08293499B2

The present invention provides host cells that have been genetically manipulated to have an enhanced capacity to produce proteins of interest. In particular, the invention relates to modified Bacillus sp. Host cells that have at least one inactivated phr gene. The enhanced production of proteins of interest by the modified Bacillus sp. Host cells is further increased in modified Bacillus sp. Host cells that overexpress YmaH. Methods for producing proteins of interest in the modified host cells are also provided.
US08293493B2

A method for measuring a generation of thrombin in a sample of whole blood as a function of time includes adding to a sample of whole blood a fluorogenic substrate and a thrombin activator to form an activated sample. A conversion product is permitted to form in the activated sample. Fluorescence is measured as a function of time from a fluorescent group that is released during the formation of the conversion product with the use of a fluorescence detector. The fluorescence detector operates in an extended range mode and has an increased sensitivity. Thrombin generation as a function of time can then be calculated from the measured fluorescence as a function of time.
US08293487B1

The present invention provides an improved, simple and quantifiable process of immunodetection with improved specificity, allowing for its large-scale applications in clinical, pharmaceutical and biomedical studies and diagnostics applications. Compared with traditional immunodetection methods, this invention eliminates gel separation and transfer steps, and the results can be directly quantified with improved specificity. This invention adds one elution step in a typical immunodetection process, where bound immunocomplex is exposed to elution solution containing excessive amount of antigen or part of antigen in single or multiple copies within one molecule, to liberate bound antibody labeled with reporter enzyme into solution for direct quantification. This invention can be particularly useful to improve both the efficiency and accuracy of Western blot, Dot blot, ELISA and protein microarray analysis in multiwell plate format. It also allows for the automation of protein analysis for clinical, pharmaceutical, and biomedical applications and their diagnostics applications.
US08293480B2

The invention relates to transgenic non-human animals capable of producing heterologous antibodies and methods for producing human sequence antibodies which bind to human antigens with substantial affinity.
US08293477B2

This invention demonstrates that KRC molecules have multiple important functions as modulating agents in regulating a wide variety of cellular processes including bone formation and mineralization. TGF-β signaling in osteoblasts promotes the formation of a multimeric complex between KRC, Runx2, Smad3, and the E3 ubiquitin ligase, WWP1 which inhibits Runx2 function due to the ability of WWP1 to promote Runx2 polyubiquitination and proteasome-dependent degradation. Furthermore, KRC and WWP1 form a complex with RSK2 which promotes RSK2 phosphorylation and inhibits RSK2 function due to the ability of WWP 1 to promote RSK2 ubiquitination. Methods for identifying modulators of KRC activity are provided. Methods for modulating an immune response, bone formation and mineralization, and KRC-associated disorders using agents that modulate KRC expression and/or activity are also provided.
US08293474B2

This invention provides combinations of novel oligonucleotides and their use in detecting a deletion(s) in the Pre-S region of HBV. Such a deletion(s) is associated with an increased risk of developing cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.
US08293462B2

This invention provides a solution for preserving mammalian early embryos or ES cells by vitrification, which comprises, as a base material, a phosphate buffer that exclusively contains 10% to 15% (v/v) propylene glycol as polyhydric alcohol or a phosphate buffer that exclusively contains 10% to 15% (v/v) propylene glycol and 25% to 35% (v/v) ethylene glycol as polyhydric alcohols and further contains 15% to 25% (v/v) Percoll® and 0.2 M to 0.5 M sucrose. This invention also provides a method for preserving mammalian early embryos or ES cells by vitrification using such solution.
US08293456B2

A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes applying illumination light to a photomask, and projecting diffracted light components from the photomask via a projection optical system to form a photoresist pattern on a substrate. The photomask includes a plurality of opening patterns which are arranged on each of a plurality of parallel lines at regular second intervals in a second direction and which have regular first intervals in a first direction perpendicular to the second direction. The plurality of opening patterns arranged on the adjacent ones of the plurality of parallel lines are displaced from each other half the second interval in the second direction. Moreover, the dimensions of the plurality of opening patterns and the complex amplitude transmittance of nontransparent region in the photomask are set so that three of the diffracted light components passing through the pupil of the projection optical system have equal amplitude.
US08293450B2

Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include, coating layers image recording media, and methods for forming an image.
US08293448B2

Provided is a resin composition for stereolithography that absorbs little water and moisture over time in uncured state, maintains a low moisture absorption rate even under high humidity, and has high curing sensitivity, from which a stereolithography product excellent in the properties, such as dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, and dimensional stability can be smoothly produced for reduced light irradiation time. The resin composition for stereolithography comprising an oxetane compound expressed by the general formula (I) below: wherein R1 denotes an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and R2 denotes an alkylene group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms that may contain an ether bond, in the proportion of from 3 to 60 mass % based on the total mass of the resin composition for stereolithography.
US08293446B2

A resin-coated carrier is provided. A resin-coated carrier includes a carrier core and a resin coating layer formed on a surface of the carrier core. The carrier core is composed of a porous material having surface fine pores formed on a surface thereof, and has an apparent density of 1.6 to 2.0 g/cm3. The resin coating layer contains cross-linked fine resin particles. Additionally, the resin-coated carrier is configured such that a volume average particle size of the cross-linked fine resin particles contained in the resin coating layer and an area average diameter of the surface fine pores satisfy a predetermined relational expression.
US08293432B2

There is provided a pellicle which has a ventilation hole made through at least one frame bar for adjusting the pressure inside the frame to the atmospheric pressure, and a filter to cover up the external opening of the ventilation hole for preventing entrance of a foreign substance, and at least one of two openings of the ventilation hole is chamfered to a degree selected from a group consisting of “C0.5 to C1.0” and “R0.5 to R1.0”.
US08293426B2

Solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stack assembly designs are consistently investigated to develop an assembly that provides optimal performance, and durability, within desired cost parameters. A new design includes a repeat unit having a SOFC cassette and being characterized by a three-component construct. The three components include an oxidation-resistant, metal window frame hermetically joined to an electrolyte layer of a multi-layer, anode-supported ceramic cell and a pre-cassette including a separator plate having a plurality of vias that provide electrical contact between an anode-side collector within the pre-cassette and a cathode-side current collector of an adjacent cell. The third component is a cathode-side seal, which includes a standoff that supports a cathode channel spacing between each of the cassettes in a stack. Cassettes are formed by joining the pre-cassette and the window frame.
US08293423B2

The invention relates to a fuel cell stack composed of at least one fuel cell (1) and at least two separator structures (2, 2′). Said separator structures (2, 2′) are open on at least one side towards the exterior in order to allow passive exchange of air. Also, said separator structures comprise a channel system (53, 53′) for guiding fuel. The fuel cell can be embodied as a bi-fuel cell (1) composed of two electric cells. The anodes or cathodes of the two electric cells are arranged opposite each other.
US08293421B2

The aim of the invention is to improve the accuracy of estimating residual water content in a fuel cell system adopting an intermittent operation mode and to accurately suppress cell voltage reduction due to water accumulation caused by the intermittent operation. The fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell having a cell laminate; an estimating unit for estimating a residual water content distribution in a reactant gas flow channel and a moisture content distribution in an electrolyte membrane in a cell plane of each single cell while taking into consideration water transfer that occurs between an anode electrode and a cathode electrode via the electrolyte membrane; and an operation control unit which changes the content of an intermittent operation when a residual water content in the reactant gas flow channel estimated by the estimating unit is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.
US08293417B2

A fuel cell device including an elongate ceramic substrate having an exterior surface defining an interior ceramic support structure having non-active end regions and an active zone therebetween that includes electrodes in opposing relation with an electrolyte therebetween for undergoing a fuel cell reaction when supplied with heat, fuel and oxidizer. The electrolyte is a ceramic co-fired with the interior ceramic support structure. The end regions lack opposing electrodes and extend away from the active zone to dissipate heat. Gas inlets are positioned in the end regions with respective outlets in either the active zone or opposite end region, and elongate passages are coupled therebetween at least partially extending in opposing relation through the active zone. The electrodes are positioned adjacent the gas passages in the active zone and are electrically connected to exterior contact surfaces on the exterior surface of the end regions for external connection to voltage nodes.
US08293415B2

The invention provides tubular solid oxide fuel cell devices and a fuel cell system incorporating a plurality of the fuel devices, each device including an elongate tube having a reaction zone for heating to an operating reaction temperature, and at least one cold zone that remains at a low temperature below the operating reaction temperature when the reaction zone is heated. An electrolyte is disposed between anodes and cathodes in the reaction zone, and the anode and cathode each have an electrical pathway extending to an exterior surface in a cold zone for electrical connection at low temperature. In one embodiment, the tubular device is a spiral rolled structure, and in another embodiment, the tubular device is a concentrically arranged device. The system further includes the devices positioned with their reaction zones in a hot zone chamber and their cold zones extending outside the hot zone chamber. A heat source is coupled to the hot zone chamber to heat the reaction zones to the operating reaction temperature, and fuel and air supplies are coupled to the tubes in the cold zones.
US08293401B2

A battery cover assembly for a portable electronic device, the battery cover assembly includes a housing, a removable battery cover and a locking mechanism. The housing has a latching portion. The locking mechanism latches the battery cover to the housing, and includes an operating member, a slidable member and an elastic member. The operating member engages in the latching portion of the housing, and the operating member includes a resisting block. The slidable member releasably engages with the battery cover, and the slidable member has a support block engaging with the resisting block. The elastic member is between the slidable member and the latching portion and provides an elastic force to the slidable member and the operating member.
US08293399B2

A cell connector adapted for electrically connecting at least one cell includes a plate-shaped connecting member made of metal material with high conductivity, and at least one welding member mounted on the connecting member for being welded with the cell. The welding member is made of weldable metal solder. The connecting member has a lower resistivity than the welding member. Therefore, the cell connector of the present invention not only is easily welded, but also can reduce the energy loss thereon, and moreover, the cost is also advantageously reduced.
US08293387B2

A magnetic recording medium has recording regions including patterns of a magnetic material corresponding to servo signals and recording tracks, non-recording regions including an oxide of the magnetic material formed between the recording regions, and surface oxide films including an oxide of the magnetic material formed on surfaces of the recording regions.
US08293382B2

The luminous element includes a luminescence lamination, a second transparent oxidative conducting layer and a composite conducting layer. The composite conducting layer includes first transparent oxidative conducting layer and a metal layer. The second transparent oxidative conducting layer is positioned between the metal layer and luminescence lamination the second transparent oxidative conducting layer forms good ohmic contact with the luminous element and with metal layer. Thus, the metal layer will not be influenced by interfusion so as to maintain good light transmissivity and raise luminous efficiency of luminous element.
US08293381B2

An anthracene derivative and an organic electroluminescent device using the same are provided. More specifically, provided are an anthracene derivative represented by Formula 1: wherein each R1 is aryl; and each R2 is independently C6-C20 aryl or C3-C19 heteroaryl, which are unsubstituted or substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of C1-C10 alkyl, C1-C10 alkoxy, cyano, C1-C10 alkylamino, C1-C10 alkylsilyl, halogen, C6-C10 aryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, C6-C10 arylamino, C6-C10 arylsilyl, C3-C19 heteroaryl and hydrogen; and an organic electroluminescent device using the same. The present invention can provide an organic electroluminescent device having excellent power and luminance efficiencies in conjunction with a long service life.
US08293380B2

A polymer compound containing a structure of the following formula (B): —Ar—  (A) (wherein, Ar represents an arylene group, divalent heterocyclic group, divalent aromatic amine group or divalent group having a metal complex structure.) (wherein, A ring and B ring represent each independently an aromatic ring optionally having a substituent. X1 represents —C(═O)—, —S(═O)—, —S(═O)2—, —P(═O)(R1)—, —C(R1)(R2)—, —C(R2)(R2)—, —B(R1)—, —N(R1)— or —Si(R1)(R1)—. R* represents a hydrogen atom or monovalent or divalent group, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or monovalent group, and R2 represents a monovalent group having a hetero atom. When R1 and R2 are present each in plural number, they may be the same or different).
US08293378B2

A protective coating for a metal substrate is provided that is light, durable, galvanically protective, and easily applied at the site of manufacture. The coating has at least two layers, one of which is a galvanizing layer and one of which is a micro-composite of a galvanic metal and a non-conducting material, such as polymer. Such coatings are useful for example to protect pipes or other metal surfaces in corrosive environments. Methods of producing the coating are provided, including methods that use advanced spraying techniques to provide very thin but consistent layers. Using the advanced spraying methods the composite layer can be created by co-spraying the galvanic metal and the nonconductive material onto the surface of the galvanic coating. Optionally, an outer coat of insulating material can be applied to provide further protection to the surface.
US08293375B2

At heat sealable multilayer film includes a cohesive failure heat seal layer (1) that includes a resin composition including 75 to 85 wt % of a propylene polymer (A) and 15 to 25 wt % of an ethylene polymer (B) (based on the total of (A) and (B) of 100 wt %), and a support layer (2) including a propylene block copolymer (C). The heat sealable multilayer film can package oil-rich contents to be retort sterilized without separation (delamination) of a cohesive failure heat seal layer due to penetration of oil from the contents and have appropriate heat seal strength and excellent easy openability, and can be opened with stable peel conditions.
US08293369B2

An intermediate transfer media, such as a belt, that includes a fluoropolyimide polymer.
US08293366B2

Provided is a cosmetic including silicone microparticles, in which the silicone microparticles include 100 parts by mass of silicone elastomer spherical microparticles having a volume average particle diameter within a range from 0.1 to 100 μm, and 0.5 to 25 parts by mass of a polyorganosilsesquioxane that coats the surface of the silicone elastomer spherical microparticles, and the silicone elastomer is capable of absorbing not less than 200 parts by mass of a polymethylsiloxane having a viscosity at 25° C. of not more than 10 mm2/s per 100 parts by mass of the silicone elastomer. Even if containing a silicone oil, the cosmetic exhibits favorable feelings upon use, with no spreading difficulties, stickiness, greasiness, or oily film feeling or the like.
US08293358B2

When a ceramic substrate is manufactured through a constraint firing step that uses a constraining layer, the constraining layer is removed without causing significant damage to a sintered base layer or an electrode formed on the surface of the sintered base layer, and the electrode can be reliably exposed. A green stacked body having a base layer and a constraining layer disposed so as to be in contact with at least one principal surface of the base layer is formed. A fired stacked body having a sintered base layer and a green constraining layer is then obtained by firing the green stacked body to sinter the base layer. Subsequently, the constraining layer is removed from the sintered base layer by vibrating media that are disposed so as to be in contact with the constraining layer.
US08293354B2

Radiation-curable silsesquioxane resin materials are employed for micro- and nanolithography. The resin materials can include a radiation-curable silsesquioxane resin and a photo-initiator having low viscosity. The low viscosity of the liquid system allows imprinting with low pressure and low temperature; e.g. room temperature. The resist's dry etching resistance is increased and the cured film is more easily separated from the mask. Due to its high modulus after cure, the material allows the fabrication of micro- and nano-features having high aspect ratios while providing a high throughput. Various pattern sizes, for example, ranging from tens of microns to as small as a few nanometers, may be achieved with the UV-curable material system.
US08293332B2

A rust-proof coating, which does not contain a hazardous metal such as chromium and is able to form a thin coating in which crack generation is inhibited even after a baking treatment at a high temperature, including based on the whole composition, 5 to 40% by weight of an organic silicon compound, 0.05 to 5.0% by weight of an organic titanium compound, 20 to 60% by weight of one or more metal powders selected from the group of zinc powder, zinc alloy powder, and aluminum powder, and 10 to 60% by weight of an organic solvent. A coating having excellent anticorrosive properties can be formed by coating the above-mentioned paint composition followed by heating at a temperature of from 200 to 400 degrees C.
US08293317B2

A food product and method are provided. The food product is a crisp expanded proteinacious food product characterized by an absence of objectionable protein fiber formation. The product is puffed to provide a low density while providing a good eating texture. The product may be coated to provide additional flavors and/or nutrients.
US08293311B2

A method of forming a butter product comprises forming a primary oil-in-water emulsion by dispersing liquefied stearine butterfat in a butter serum, the liquefied stearine butterfat forming stearine globules within the butter serum. The primary oil-in-water emulsion is dispersed into an olein butterfat component forming an oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion, and the oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion being cooled to form the butter product which is spreadable at a temperature of less than about 45° F.
US08293310B2

A method of forming a fat product, the method entailing heating a first material to a first temperature to form a first intermediate, the first material comprising fat and the first temperature adequate to remove any memory of crystallization from the fat; rapidly cooling the first intermediate to a second temperature to form a second intermediate, the second temperature adequate to provide nascent seed crystals in the second intermediate; and quiescently cooling the second intermediate to form the fat product, the quiescent cooling adequate to support growth of macro-crystals about the nascent seed crystals.
US08293290B2

Annatto extract composition (AEC), including cis and trans geranyl geraniols (GG) and tocopherol-free C-5 unsubstituted tocotrienols (T3), increases the de novo synthesis of intermediate isoprenoid and distal protein products, including endogenous coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), dolichols (DL) and all subsequent GG-prenylated and DL-glycosylated proteins, including GG-porphyrinated hemes. This intermediate and distal product replenishment by AEC reverses maladies of myotoxicity (of both drug and non-drug origins), including maladies that affect the muscle, kidney, eye, GI tract and skin, nerve, blood, and CoQ10-related syndromes of energetics and LDL protection. AEC anabolically increases the endogenous de novo CoQ10 synthesis via GG elongation/prenylation of side-chain and conversely CoQ10 catabolically increases the endogenous de novo GG synthesis via beta-oxidation of CoQ10. Also, such AEC decreases de novo synthesis and increases disposal of triglycerides (TG) in humans via PPAR activation and SREBP deactivation. Such drop in TG by AEC reverses maladies of insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MS), prediabetes, diabetes and diabetes-related cardiovascular diseases (CVD). GG activates PPAR and down regulates SREBP transcription factors. This AEC, containing GG, inhibits cancer growth whether or not GG involvement in protein prenylation is required.
US08293281B2

The present invention discloses a composition that contains (1) an effective amount of an analgesically and/or anti-inflammatory active fraction separated from a mixture of plasma and/or serum, and (2) at least one metal, metal ion or metal salt, in which the mixture has been denatured. Also disclosed are methods of producing the composition for treating a subject afflicted with inflammation and/or pain.
US08293275B2

This invention provides methods and compositions to preserve bioactive materials, such as viruses, bacteria, cells, or liposomes, in freeze dried particles suitable for pulmonary administration. Methods provide spray freeze drying of formulations to form stable freeze dried particles.
US08293273B2

Controlled release and taste masking compositions containing one or more active principles inglobated in a three-component matrix structure, i.e. a structure formed by successive amphiphilic, lipophilic or inert matrices and finally inglobated or dispersed in hydrophilic matrices. The use of a plurality of systems for the control of the dissolution of the active ingredient modulates the dissolution rate of the active ingredient in aqueous and/or biological fluids, thereby controlling the release kinetics in the gastrointestinal tract.
US08293262B2

Described herein are medical devices which are configured for implantation or insertion into a subject, preferably a mammalian subject. The medical devices contain one or more multilayer regions, which contain: (a) one or more (typically a plurality of) charged nanoparticle layers and (b) one or more (typically a plurality of) charged polyelectroyte layers. Such multilayers have a number of desirable attributes, including high strength, non-compliance, and flexibility. Also described herein are methods of making such devices.
US08293258B2

The invention is an organic pesticide made from components of hop extract by preparing stable aqueous emulsions of hop acids and other hop extract components. The hop acids and other hop extract components are suspended as stable, colloidal preparations in water, which can be sprayed on plants for pest control.
US08293253B2

The invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions that provide sustained-release of a pharmaceutically active compound and to methods of treating or preventing a condition in an animal by administering the pharmaceutical compositions to the animal by injection. When the pharmaceutical compositions are administered to an animal by injection, they form a drug depot that releases the pharmaceutically active compound over time. The pharmaceutical compositions can also be administered orally.
US08293238B2

The application describes compositions and methods for regulating body weight, in particular, for treating obesity and obesity-associate disorders. The application also provides methods of screening compounds that modulate activity of GDF3. These compositions and methods are also useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal activity of GDF3.
US08293224B2

Uracil auxotroph mutants of apicomplexans are provided which lack a functional carbamoyl phosphate synthase II (CPSII) enzyme. Also provided are T. gondii autoxtroph mutants which express exogenous antigens, and methods of protecting an animal against a T. gondii and non-T. gondii disease.
US08293214B2

New targeting or therapeutic compounds which can be incorporated into a composition of gas-filled microvesicles. The invention further relates to gas-filled microvesicles for diagnostic and/or therapeutic use comprising said compounds and to their method of use. The new compounds are compounds of formula M-S-T, wherein: M represents a component capable of associating with an envelope of a gas-filled microvesicle; T represents a component comprising a targeting ligand or a therapeutic agent; and S represents a component comprising at least two bissulfone groups.
US08293212B2

The present invention provides methods which use induction phenomenon of production of interleukin 18 (IL-18) from keratinocyte (KC), and their usages. The methods are preferably applicable for understanding of pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis (AD) and AD-like symptoms, and for development of therapeutic drugs for AD and AD-like symptoms. For example, by applying, on skin of mice or the like, protein A (SpA) derived from Staphylococcus aureus, or transplanting, on mice, a skin graft which has developed an inflammatory skin disease like AD, it is possible to reproduce elevation of IgE to high level in serum, which elevation is generated in an AD-like lesion. As a result, it is possible, for example, to screen for an inhibitor which inhibits induction of production of IL-18 from KC.
US08293206B2

The present disclosure provides methods for treating cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method includes prequalifying a patient's therapeutic treatment by performing a molecular imaging procedure to the patient using a labeled biomarker specific for a cancer target at the tumor site; and administering a therapeutic effective amount of a compound comprising a targeting agent linked to a chemotherapeutic or a targeting agent linked to an antibody. Embodiments of the present invention also include compounds and compositions for using such methods.
US08293195B2

Systems and methods for contacting a liquid, gas, and/or a multi-phase mixture with particulate solids. The system can include a body having a first head and a second head disposed thereon. Two or more discrete fixed beds can be disposed across a cross-section of the body. One or more unobstructed fluid flow paths can bypass each fixed bed, and one or more baffles can be disposed between the fixed beds.
US08293191B2

The invention provides a method in which an annular or spiral droplet holder formed of wire is used to hold a droplet in a state of being hung therefrom or being contained therein. A means for moving the droplet holder is added to the droplet holder to enable droplet transfer. To merge two droplets, they are brought into contact. To drip the droplet held by a droplet holder formed of wire, the droplet holder is deformed using an external force. A light path which passes through a droplet is set to enable optical measurement. The present invention enables inexpensive, simple droplet transfer. An inexpensive, simple configuration for handling droplets in the fields of chemical analysis, biochemical analysis, and automatic blood analysis can be realized according to the present invention.
US08293184B2

A falling film plasma reactor (FFPR) provides a number of benefits for the treatment of process gases. The falling film plasma reactor uses high voltage alternating current or pulsed direct current which is applied to radially separated electrodes to thereby create a dielectric breakdown of the process gas that is flowing within the large radial gap between the two electrodes. Typical plasma reactors often utilize fixed dielectric construction which can result in potential failure of the device by arcing between the electrodes as portions of the dielectric fail. Such failures are prevented by using a dielectric liquid that constantly flows over the electrodes, or over a fixed dielectric barrier over the electrodes.
US08293180B2

An apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent which judges empty with a higher precision than heretofore is provided. The apparatus for distinguishing a liquid reducing agent is provided with a concentration sensor and a liquid-level sensor in storage tank of liquid reducing agent, and is characterized in that empty is judged by utilizing the liquid-level based on the liquid-level sensor in addition to the concentration based on the concentration sensor (step 3 and step 5). Even if a bubble is adhering to the concentration sensor and an erroneous signal indicative of empty is output although the residual quantity of liquid reducing agent is sufficient, the liquid-level sensor does not output a signal indicative of empty. Consequently, erroneous judgment is prevented and accurate judgment can be made as compared to heretofore.
US08293179B2

A gas detection apparatus A comprises a signal processing circuit 20, a Wheatstone bridge circuit 21, integrating circuits 22 and 23, a differential amplification circuit 24, a direct current power supply circuit 25, a heater voltage application circuit 26. The Wheatstone bridge circuit 21 is configured of parallel combination of series circuits: one composed of a catalytic combustion type gas sensor 1 and a load resistor R1, and the other composed of a resistor R2, a variable resistor VR1 and a resistor R3. The heater voltage application circuit 26 is configured to generate a pulsed heater voltage by switching a direct current voltage of the direct current power supply circuit 25 through a transistor TR1 for applying the pulsed heater voltage to the Wheatstone bridge circuit 21. The integrating circuit 22 integrates a voltage at a connection point between the gas sensor 1 and the load resistor R1. The integrating circuit 23 integrates a voltage at a connection point between the variable resistor VR1 and the resistor R3. The differential amplification circuit 24 is configured to amplify a differential voltage between the output voltages of the integrating circuits 22 and 23. The signal processing circuit 20 is configured to determine a concentration of a flammable gas from an output voltage of the differential amplification circuit 24.
US08293177B2

Methods and systems for label-free multiple analyte sensing, biosensing and diagnostic assay chips consisting of an array of photonic crystal microcavities along a single photonic crystal waveguide are disclosed. The invention comprises an on-chip integrated microarray device that enables detection and identification of multiple species to be performed simultaneously using optical techniques leading to a high throughput device for chemical sensing, biosensing and medical diagnostics. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08293173B2

Improved electron beam sterilization apparatus and shielding techniques for use in are provided. A controller modulates an electron beam when sterilizing an interior to an object to ensure that adequate dose is received. Sterilization carousels are configured with input/discharge feeds to reduce the possibility of humans being exposed to dangerous levels of radiation. The system reduces the amount of shielding required to thereby lower cost of installation.
US08293171B2

The present invention provides with a method of purifying air with significant content of ethylene gas. Bacteria, pathogens, molds, fungus and ethylene gas are removed by using ozone and air filtration technology. This process is useful for storages and production facilities where ethylene might be harmful for perishable products.
US08293166B2

A method for manufacturing lamp shell to improve structural strength and light penetration includes steps of: providing a plastic material, injecting the plastic material into a injection molding equipment to form a preform containing a first space with an opening and a connecting section at one end and a closed another end to form a light penetrating section, and placing the preform in a blow molding equipment and blowing the plastic material by injecting gas to inflate the preform through gas pressure to form a second space at a greater size than the first space to become a lamp shell. The lamp shell thus formed has a greater structural strength to meet safety requirements, and also provides improved light penetration, and can reduce material consumption of the lamp shell to save production cost.
US08293158B2

According to the invention blends of wood particles and plant particles and plastic are generated in an extruder thereby that the plastic is converted separately into a liquid melt before the joining takes place.
US08293156B2

The invention relates to device (30) and the procedure to grip, steer and pull outgoing profile (12) for continuous industrial production of profiles with rotating dies (10), which resolves the problems caused by adhesion, friction difference and unequal material flows mainly at start up. The device and procedure solves most problems that usually cause problems in the context of the billet changes which together with the start up is causing more than 90-95% of the problems in the manufacturing of profiles with rotating bodies.
US08293149B2

Disclosed are a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and a color filter using the same. The photosensitive resin composition for a color filter may include (A) a copolymer including a structural unit represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, wherein the substituents of Chemical Formula 1 are the same as defined in the specification; (B) an acrylic-based photopolymerizable monomer; (C) a photopolymerization initiator; (D) a pigment; and (E) a solvent.
US08293144B2

A composition containing fine silver particles which have a uniform particle size, can form a fine drawing pattern, and have a small environmental impact, a method for producing that composition, a method for producing fine silver particles, and a paste having fine silver particles are provided. The fine silver particles are produced by carrying out a fluid preparation step of preparing a reduction fluid, a silver reaction step, and a filtration/washing step. The reaction step is carried out by adding an aqueous silver nitrate fluid to a reduction fluid whose temperature has been increased to a range between 40 and 800° C. The aqueous silver nitrate fluid is added at a stretch. The composition containing fine silver particles is produced by dispersing the composition containing the fine silver particles in a polar fluid.
US08293143B2

A method to prepare a thin ceramic or metallic solid-state composition comprising three phases: a material (A), a material (B), and pores, wherein the porous matrix of material (A) has a porosity gradient in the range of about 0% to about 80%, and wherein the pores are partially or completely filled with material (B). Various compositions and methods of use for the prepared composition are also disclosed.
US08293141B2

An electronic device including electronic circuit structures formed with an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) with low and stable contact resistance including at least one melt-processable reactive resin, at least one reactive diluent, at least one rheological additive, at least one curing agent, at least one organic acid catalyst, and copper particles. The ECA is useful for filling vias, and bonding together components of electronic circuit structures.
US08293134B2

An optically anisotropic material having a good durability against light is provided. Further, an optical element having a good durability against light and an optical information writing/reading device employing such an element are provided.The optically anisotropic material is obtainable by polymerizing a polymerizable liquid crystal composition containing at least 5 mol % of at least one type of polymerizable compound represented by a general formula CH2═CR1—COO—K-Cy-Cy-L-OCO—CR2═CH2. A phase difference plate 4 produced by employing the optically anisotropic material has a good durability against light, and accordingly, the phase difference plate 4 can realize an optical heat device suitable for large capacity writing/reading by employing a blue laser as a light source 1.
US08293127B1

A plasma etching method includes placing a printed circuit board into a processing chamber of a plasma etching machine; operating the plasma etching machine with a low concentration of tetrafluoromethane in the processing chamber if the plasma etching machine is operated at a high power level; and operating the plasma etching machine with a high concentration of tetrafluoromethane in the processing chamber if the plasma etching machine is operated at a low power level.
US08293124B2

A method of multi-stage substrate etching is provided. The method comprises the steps of: forming a first mask pattern on one surface of a first substrate; forming a hole by etching the first substrate using the first mask pattern as an etching mask; forming a second mask pattern on one surface of a second substrate; forming a hole by etching the second substrate to a predetermined depth using the second mask pattern as an etching mask; bonding the first and second substrates together such that an etched surface of the first substrate faces an etched surface of the second substrate; forming a third mask pattern on the second substrate; and forming a hole passing through the second substrate by etching the second substrate using the third mask pattern as an etching mask, whereby it is prevented the occurrence of a radius of curvature in the bottom surface and the overhang structure occurring on a step surface, so that etching quality is improved, a precise bonding between the substrates is obtained using the alignment key positioned on each substrate, and a multi-layer process is carried out.
US08293107B1

New fluid separation devices and absorption materials are disclosed. Hollow fibers with an axial capillary slit act as very high efficiency absorption materials, as well as high-surface-area fluid separation devices. The hollow fibers with an axial capillary slit are constructed to preferentially absorb or repel different fluids and arranged to maximize that action over a plurality of fibers to separate different fluids. These separation devices can also function as injection devices and very effective micro-reactors.
US08293102B2

An apparatus and method for the treatment of stimulation fluid that involves passing a mixture of the stimulation fluid and reagents through a sectioned tank, each section having the means to agitate the mixture contained therein. Treated fluid is removed from a final settling section for reuse in oil and gas production operations.
US08293100B2

Apparatus and methods related to centrifugal liquid chromatography are described. An angular velocity can be simultaneously imparted to a large number of chromatographic enclosures. Via centrifugal forces, a mobile phase fluid including a sample can be driven through a stationary phase within the chromatographic enclosure to perform a chromatographic separation process on components of the sample. The use of centrifugation as a driving force can allow significantly smaller stationary phase particles to be employed as compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, for an equivalent chromatographic separation process, the use of centrifugation can provide much greater separation efficiencies than HPLC.
US08293095B2

Provided is a microfluidic device for electrically regulating the pH of a fluid comprising: a first chamber comprising a first electrode; a second chamber comprising a second electrode; a third chamber comprising a third electrode, a metal ion exchange membrane between the first and second chambers; and a hydrogen ion exchange membrane between the first or second chamber and the third chamber.
US08293086B2

A method is provided for classifying nanoobjects having different electrical properties, such as conductivities and permittivities. The method includes: suspending nanoobjects having different electrical properties in a liquid medium; passing the liquid medium through a microchamber; and filtering nanoobjects having a first type of electrical property from the liquid medium by applying an electric field to the liquid medium in the microchamber.
US08293082B2

Methods and apparatus relating to very large scale FET arrays for analyte measurements. ChemFET (e.g., ISFET) arrays may be fabricated using conventional CMOS processing techniques based on improved FET pixel and array designs that increase measurement sensitivity and accuracy, and at the same time facilitate significantly small pixel sizes and dense arrays. Improved array control techniques provide for rapid data acquisition from large and dense arrays. Such arrays may be employed to detect a presence and/or concentration changes of various analyte types in a wide variety of chemical and/or biological processes. In one example, chemFET arrays facilitate DNA sequencing techniques based on monitoring changes in hydrogen ion concentration (pH), changes in other analyte concentration, and/or binding events associated with chemical processes relating to DNA synthesis.
US08293076B2

Methods for producing trichlorosilane, including: reacting a tetrachlorosilane containing substance with hydrogen at a temperature of 400° C. to 1,200° C. to obtain a mixture including silane, monochlorosilane, dichlorosilane, and trichlorosilane; removing impurities which are electrically active in a semiconductor crystal from the mixture; separating the trichlorosilane from the silane, monochlorosilane and dichlorosilane to obtain purified trichlorosilane; and circulating the silane, monochlorosilane and dichlorosilane obtained from the separating step into the reacting step.
US08293071B2

Provided is a spin head for supporting and rotating a substrate. The spin head includes a body, chuck pins disposed at the body and movable between supporting positions and rest positions, and a chuck pin moving unit configured to move the chuck pins straight. The chuck pins supports a substrate at the supporting positions and provides a substrate loading/unloading space at the rest position. The chuck pin moving unit includes movable rods fixed to the chuck pins, a rotatable cam including protrusions on an outer surface thereof so as to move the chuck pins from the supporting positions to the rest positions, and chuck pin return units respectively applying forces to the movable rods so as to move the chuck pins individually from the rest positions to the supporting positions. The chuck pin moving unit further includes contact maintaining members.
US08293055B2

A manufacturing method of a vehicular interior part in which a cover member is attached to a base material, comprising the steps of forming a skin material, comprising a plurality of skin pieces sewn together, in accordance with a surface shape of said base material; and forming said cover member by attaching a soft material to a backside of said skin material after forming said skin material in accordance with said surface shape of said base material; and attaching said cover member to said base material.
US08293049B2

The present invention relates to a tire puncture sealant and a pneumatic tire containing such puncture sealant as a built-in puncture sealant. The sealant composition contains silica reinforcement and butyl rubber depolymerized in the presence of a balanced and cooperative combination of organoperoxides comprised of a minor amount of 4,4-di(tertiary butylperoxy) valerate depolymerization initiator and a major amount of dicumyl peroxide depolymerization propagator, the combination of which has been observed to have a synergistic effect.
US08293043B2

A die bonding apparatus and method is provided to automatically adjust a level of a die bonder to compensate for any physical changes occurring in the die bonder during bonding. A bond arm support is drivable to a bonding level to position a die onto a bonding surface, and a bond arm is slidably mounted to the bond arm support for holding and bonding the die. The bond arm is configured to be urged by the bonding surface to move relative to the bond arm support upon contact of the die onto the bonding surface. A measuring device is provided for determining a distance moved by the bond arm relative to the bond arm support during bonding, and a controller is responsive to the distance determined by the measuring device to change the bonding level to which the bond arm support is driven.
US08293039B2

A method of manufacturing a sheet of a copper-based alloy containing controlled amounts of Ni, Sn, P, optionally Zn and Fe, Co, Mg, Ti, Cr, Zr, and Al with the remainder being Cu and unavoidable impurities, comprising the steps of cold rolling followed by annealing at least one time of an ingot of the copper-based alloy, thereafter performing intermediate cold rolling, which is a cold rolling process before final cold rolling process, performing annealing with controlled temperature and time to obtain sheet with a grain size of 20 μm or less, performing final cold rolling at a percent reduction Z to meet the following Formula 0.8×(100−10X−Y)
US08293029B2

Chromium-free conversion coating treatment solutions and processes for depositing a colored layer on zinc or galvanized steel, aluminum, magnesium or their alloys, are provided comprising: hexafluorotitanate and/or hexafluorozirconate ions; molybdate and/or tungstate ions; one or more chelating complex formers; and a copolymer of alkylene phosphonic or alkylene phosphinic acid and one or more unsaturated carboxylic acids.
US08293020B2

A megasonic cleaning method and a megasonic cleaning apparatus are provided. Microcavitation bubbles may be formed by applying an electromotive force to a cleaning solution using a megasonic energy in a separate room from an object to be cleaned. The microcavitation bubbles having a stable oscillation among the formed microcavitation bubbles may be moved to the object to be cleaned. A surface of the object to be cleaned may be cleaned using the microcavitation bubbles having the stable oscillation. Particles attached onto the surface of the object to be cleaned may be effectively removed while preventing pattern damage.
US08293016B2

An apparatus for removing volatile residues from a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, an apparatus for removing halogen-containing residues from a substrate includes a chamber suitable for operating maintaining a vacuum therein and a heat module positioned to heat a substrate disposed in the chamber. The apparatus for removing halogen-containing residues from a substrate also includes at least one of A) a temperature controlled pedestal having a projection extending radially therefrom suitable for supporting the temperature control pedestal on a ledge of the chamber body, the projection thermally isolating the base from the chamber body; B) a pair of substrate holders that include two support flanges extending radially inward from an inner edge of an arc-shaped body, each support flange having a substrate support step that includes a sloped landing; or C) a domed window.
US08293011B2

A method for growing a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal is provided with the following steps: First, a chamber including a heat-shielding portion for shielding heat radiation from a material 13 therein is prepared. Then, material 13 is arranged on one side of heat-shielding portion in chamber. Then, by heating material to be sublimated, a material gas is deposited on the other side of heat-shielding portion in chamber so that a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal is grown.
US08293008B2

The present invention relates to a large-sized and high-quality bismuth-zinc-borate (Bi.sub.2 ZnB.sub.2 O.sub.7) single crystal, preparation methods and applications thereof. The crystal has cross-sectional dimensions greater than one centimeter, a nonlinear optical effect of about 3-4 times that of KH.sub.2 PO.sub.4 (KDP), and an optical transmission wavelength range of 330-3300 nm. The crystal can be grown from a compound melt by a Czochralski method, a Kyropoulos method or a Bridgman method with the raw material being the synthetic compound Bi.sub.2 ZnB.sub.2 O.sub.7. Alternatively, the crystal may be grown from a high-temperature solution method by using Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3 as a flux. The crystal may be applied in nonlinear optical devices such as frequency doubling generators, frequency upconverters or downconverters, and optical parametric oscillators.
US08293003B1

A cement product incorporating nanocrystalline cellulose and cellulose fiber throughout the product and a method of making the product.
US08292991B2

A filter for a gas mask has a concave outlet wall and a convex inlet wall with a particulate filter bed that has a uniform depth and conforms substantially to the shape of the inlet and outlet wall. The side wall can have an elliptical, circular or convex shape to conform to the curvature of the wearer's face, or a planar shape. The filter an be a double particulate filter element and a double adsorption filter element configured for axial airflow therethrough with a bifurcated flow pattern. The adsorption filter element comprises a granulated charcoal, a composite material having carbon particles combined with binder particles, or an immobilized bed of charcoal granules and EVA-coated fibers.
US08292990B2

A High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system including a pressure reducer assembly for reducing pressurized streams to ambient pressure. The pressure reducer assembly includes first and second flow restrictors, each coupled to a common chamber that acts as a surge suppressor that mitigates pressure spikes in the discharge lines. The flow restrictors may comprise tubes having a high length-to-diameter ratio. The pressure losses through the flow restrictors, in combination with transition losses as the flow stream enters and exits the chamber, are sufficient to reduce a discharge stream from a specified inlet pressure to substantially ambient pressure, thus eliminating the need for pressurized waste containers.
US08292982B2

A filter, in particular for a rotary separator, is produced using an energy beam melting process, for example an electron beam, starting from powder made from the same material as a porous filtering portion to be formed, for example from a titanium alloy; on the basis of a three-dimensional model comprising a cell structure defining the porous filtering portion, subsequent layers of powder are applied and locally melted, so as to form successive sections of the porous filtering portion; at the end of the forming process, the residual powder is evacuated from the pores.
US08292979B2

A surface cleaning apparatus can include a dirt inlet, a handle, and a cyclone bin having a longitudinal axis and a sidewall extending between an openable top and an openable bottom. The surface cleaning apparatus can also include a cyclone chamber located in the cyclone bin. The cyclone chamber can have an upper wall, a fluid inlet downstream from the dirt air inlet and a fluid outlet, and the fluid outlet can be removably mounted in the upper wall. The surface cleaning apparatus can also include a dirt collection located in the cyclone bin and a fluid flow motor.
US08292978B2

A radial air intake device for an engine or a power unit that includes a ring-shaped filter for covering the radial air intake. The ring-shaped filter includes a first fixed part and a second mobile part which is movable with respect to the first fixed part through actuator elements, from a filtering position in which the whole radial air intake is covered by the ring-shaped filter, to a bypass position in which the second mobile part uncovers at least partly the radial air intake.
US08292974B2

A method includes modifying a surface of an electrode active material including providing a solution or a suspension of a surface modification agent; providing the electrode active material; preparing a slurry of the solution or suspension of the surface modification agent, the electrode active material, a polymeric binder, and a conductive filler; casting the slurry in a metallic current collector; and drying the cast slurry.
US08292971B2

The present invention relates to a method of treating fabric conditioner for washable silk products, which can provide smoothness to silk products since fabric conditioners of different kinds are mixed and treated together and decrease whiteness or prevent yellowing.
US08292969B2

A system and method for electronic device protection. A method includes activating the electronic device; transferring control to a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) component after activation; transferring control to a non-viewable component from the BIOS component; verifying that an application component operated correctly during a previous device activation; and continuing with activation of the electronic device if the application component operated correctly during the previous device activation.
US08292964B2

An artificial knee joint that includes a femoral component with a specially shaped bearing surface and a tibial component, whose surface interacts with the femoral surfaces. The interaction provides for the motion and stability characteristics of the anatomic knee. The interaction between the femoral and tibial surfaces is such that as the knee is flexed to maximum, the femoral component moves posteriorly on the tibial surface, more so on the lateral side than on the medial side. This is accomplished by the interaction of a projecting tibial post inside a cupola in the center of the femoral component, and by the saggital radius on the medial side being smaller than that on the lateral side. The prevention of anterior sliding of the femur on the tibia in early flexion is accomplished by the interaction between a distal-anterior recess on the medial side of the femur and an apposing raised pad on the tibial surface. Rotational laxity at all angles is allowed by the presence of only one recess pad and by non-conforming femoral-tibial surfaces on the lateral side.
US08292961B2

A device and method for biologic vertebral reconstruction utilizes a biologically active jacket inserted into a cavity formed in a vertebra to be reconstructed. An artificial bone material is inserted into the biologically active jacket and allowed to set. The structure and method described herein provide for effective biologic vertebral reconstruction. The use of a biological material and artificial bone enables the host bone to replace the artificial bone over a period of time. Additionally, the structure of the biologically active jacket minimizes any impact into the spinal canal and the paravertebral spaces. Moreover, because of its biomechanical characteristics, which approximate the host bone, there is relative protection of the neighboring vertebral against fracture. Still further, the materials of the biologically active jacket may be impregnated with various substances to achieve various advantageous tasks.
US08292953B2

An intraocular lens for providing a subject with vision at various distances includes an optic having a first surface with a first shape, an opposing second surface with a second shape, a multifocal refractive profile, and one or more diffractive portions. The optic may include at least one multifocal diffractive profile. In some embodiments, multifocal diffractive and the multifocal refractive profiles are disposed on different, distinct, or non-overlapping portions or apertures of the optic. Alternatively, portions of the multifocal diffractive profiles and the multifocal refractive profiles may overlap within a common aperture or zone of the optic.
US08292947B2

In order to create a stent, which despite being simple to guide in the relevant body conduit allows flexible adaptability to the body conduit in a simple manner while avoiding undesirably high expansion forces on the wall of the body conduit, in accordance with the invention a catheter is provided, with an essentially tubular filling area surrounding the part of the catheter which can be introduced into the body conduit, which can be filled with a plastic mass which forms the stent by a process of hardening; there is provision for positioning the filling area at the position intended for the stent in the body conduit, for hardening the plastic mass in the filling area, for creating the stent and for removing the catheter from the body conduit with the stent remaining in the body conduit.
US08292946B2

An implant adapted to be retained in a body lumen includes a barb for engaging the lumen wall. The barb includes a yieldable element adapted to yield in response to a force, above a predetermined limit, tending to cause migration of the implant. The barb may comprise a shape memory material adapted to change shape when the material undergoes a stress induced phase change and thereby to disengage from the lumen wall.
US08292945B2

A stent comprising a serpentine portion extending about the circumference of the stent, the serpentine portion having a first end and a second end, the serpentine portion having a plurality of turns at the first end and a plurality of turns at the second end and struts extending therebetween, at least one of the turns at the first end, at least one of the turns at the second end, at least one of the struts therebetween, or some combination thereof having a plurality of shaped recesses thereon.
US08292941B2

A delivery device for a bifurcated stent-graft includes a first catheter portion with a first tip and a second catheter portion with a second tip. The first and second tips each include a generally curved and tapered outer surface and complementary surfaces that face each other. The first and second tips together form a generally continuous substantially smooth shaped outer surface, for example a bullet-shaped combined tip. An outer sleeve is disposed around the first catheter portion and the second catheter portion such that at least a portion of the first tip and a portion of the second tip extend distally beyond a distal end of the outer sleeve. An inner sleeve maintains the stent-graft in a compressed configuration during delivery to the target site. The delivery device is tracked over two guidewires to the target location with the tips acting as a unit. The outer sleeve is retracted to release the first catheter portion from the second catheter portion, and the tips are tracked over a respective one of the guidewires into its respective branch vessel. The inner sleeve is retracted to deploy the stent-graft from its compressed configuration to its expanded configuration.
US08292930B2

The present application is directed to tethering systems that provide a corrective force to one or more vertebral members. The tethering systems may include an elongated member with first and second sections. The sections are displaceable relative to each other to increase a length of the elongated member. The first section may be attached to a first vertebral member, and a second section may be attached to a second vertebral member. At least one tether may be attached to the elongated member. The tether may include a length to be attached to the first and second sections, and to a third vertebral member that is positioned between and laterally offset from the first and second vertebral members. The length of the elongated member may increase thus causing the tether to apply a corrective force to the third vertebral member.
US08292928B2

The invention provides an implantable spinal distraction/fusion rod with varied thread pitch and diameters along different portions of its length that it is capable of distracting two or more vertebral bodies relative to each other and/or facilitating the procedure of fusing the vertebral bodies together from within the spine. The present invention also provides for methods of using the rod to distract and/or fuse two or more vertebral bodies from within the spine.
US08292920B2

A surgical needle which is particularly suited for use in limited space applications and a method for its use are disclosed. The surgical needle generally includes an arcuate portion having a first end and a second end. A pointed tip is disposed near the first end. There is a relatively short, straight shank near the second end of the arcuate portion which extends from the arcuate portion at a predetermined angle. The predetermined angle is defined by the intersection of the arcuate portion and the shank. This predetermined angle is within a range of about 23° to about 29°. In a particularly useful embodiment, the predetermined angle is approximately 26°. Further, an extrapolation of a longitudinal axis of the shank intersects the arcuate portion of the surgical needle.
US08292917B2

Several alternative designs, structures, assemblies, treatment methods and/or methods of manufacturing medical closure devices adapted and/or configured for closing an opening, for example, an incision or a puncture in the tissue of a patient, for example, the dural membrane of a patient. Some embodiments include a medical closure device including an elongated tubular member extending along a longitudinal axis. The tubular member including a distal section and a proximal section, and the distal section is expandable from a first configuration to a second expanded configuration through the application of a compressive force upon the distal section along the longitudinal axis.
US08292906B2

An endoscopic stitching device is provided including a handle assembly supporting a manually operated suture needle loading assembly; a tool assembly operatively supported on and connected to the handle assembly; a suture needle operatively associated with the tool assembly, wherein the tool assembly includes a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another; and an actuation cable extending between the handle assembly and the tool assembly, wherein axial displacement of the actuation shaft results in opening and closing of the jaws and rotation of the actuation cable results in selective retention of the suture needle in the jaws. A proximal end of the actuation cable is connected to the suture needle loading assembly such that actuation of the suture needle loading assembly imparts rotation to the actuation cable to selectively engage the suture needle in one of the jaws.
US08292903B2

A device for placing one or more sutures and approximating tissue includes an elongate body member and a suture deployment system. The suture deployment system includes a suture carrier with a sharpened end for piercing tissue.
US08292900B2

A vessel bifurcation wire assist device and related methods of advancing guidewires into main and branch vessels of a vessel bifurcation. The wire assist device includes a first guidewire housing member defining a first guidewire lumen sized to advance over a first guidewire, and a second guidewire housing member defining a second guidewire lumen sized to advance over a second guidewire. The second guidewire housing member has a first directional arrangement and a second directional arrangement. The first directional arrangement provides a parallel arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the first guidewire housing member, and the second directional arrangement provides an angled arrangement of the second guidewire relative to the first guidewire housing member.
US08292898B2

Plate shaping tools may be attached to a plate having pre-assembled guides while the plate is located on the bone to effect alteration of the plate shape in an effective and precise manner. The tools are designed such that a drill and K-wires can be inserted through the guides while the tools are coupled to the guides.
US08292891B2

Some introducer tools for bone portals have a handle coupled to a driving member by a force-limiting coupling. A bone portal comprising a bone-penetrating portion and a bone stop may be driven to a desired depth in bone when the force-limiting coupling allows application of force to the bone portal that is sufficient to drive the bone-penetrating portion of the portal into the bone but not sufficient to drive the bone stop significantly into the bone. Bone portals of various types are described herein. Various configurations for stylets suitable for use in introducing bone portals or otherwise penetrating bone and methods for inserting bone portals are also described herein.
US08292888B2

An electro-mechanical surgical device, system and/or method may include a housing, at least two opposing jaw, and at least one electrical contact associated with at least one of the jaws. The electrical contact may include at least one of a bipolar electrical contact and an ultrasonic electrical contact. The electrical contact may be a row of electrodes located on one or all of the jaws. A sensor may also be associated with any tissue located between the jaws to sense and report the temperature of that tissue. A piercable ampulla containing fluid may also be placed on at least one of the jaws so that the fluid is releasable when the jaws are in closed position and the electrode(s) pass through the tissue into the piercable ampulla.
US08292886B2

A bipolar forceps includes a shaft extending from a housing and includes an end effector assembly at its distal end. The end effector assembly has a pair of jaw members movable between an open position and a closed position. A knife assembly includes a cutter having a generally circular cross-section. The cutter is configured to cut tissue when the jaw members are in the closed position. One or more electrically conductive tissue sealing plates are disposed on each of the jaw members. The tissue sealing plates are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source configured to deliver electrosurgical energy to tissue held between the jaw members to effect a tissue seal. An actuator is operably coupled to the knife assembly and is configured to selectively reciprocate the cutter relative to the jaw members.
US08292883B2

An electrosurgical apparatus in the present invention has a high frequency power generation section which generates high frequency power to be applied to a living tissue, a voltage detection section which detects the voltage of the high frequency power, a current detection section which detects the current of the high frequency power, an impedance computation section which computes the impedance of the living tissue on the basis of the voltage and the current, and a control section which, when the impedance exceeds a predetermined threshold value, performs control for increasing the frequency of the high frequency power stepwise on the high frequency power generation section.
US08292877B2

Systems and methods of incising a portion of a material include creating a sub-surface separation in a region of the material, and incising a periphery of the region with a pulsed laser beam to produce an edge of the portion. The edge includes a periodically varying shape to secure the portion to the material when the portion is reintegrated. The system includes a laser producing the pulsed laser beam, a scanner operable in response to a control signal, and a controller coupled to the scanner. The controller produces the control signal. In response to the control signal, the scanner creates a sub-surface separation in the region with the pulsed laser beam and incises the periphery of the region with the pulsed laser beam to produce the edge with the periodically varying shape.
US08292870B2

A method for performing a surgical procedure includes the steps of: accessing a surgical site with an access member, the access member having proximal and distal ends, and defining a longitudinal axis, the access member having an elongated element operatively connected thereto; transitioning the access member from a first condition having a first dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal axis to a second condition having a second dimension orthogonal to the longitudinal axis greater than the first dimension by drawing the elongated element in a proximal direction; anchoring the access member within a tissue passage leading to the surgical site when in the second condition thereof; and introducing a surgical object through a longitudinal opening of the access member to perform a surgical task.
US08292868B2

A pant has a garment shell. The garment shell includes a front region, a back region, a contracted crotch region, side seams connecting the front region to the back region, two leg openings, and hanging legs. At least a portion of each of the front region, the back region, the contracted crotch region and the hanging legs include portions of a single flat web. The hanging legs include no elasticization around a full periphery of the leg openings and are adapted to hang loosely about a wearer's thigh.
US08292854B2

A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity.
US08292844B1

Apparatus and method are disclosed for orally administering to a recipient a medication and a flavor, in a liquid form, for rendering the medication more palatable to the recipient. First and second liquid dispensers are operated manually, independent of one another, either simultaneously or in a selected sequence, and are arranged to advance the medication and the flavor into a conduit for passage through a common outlet to an administering head placed in the recipient's mouth so as to administer the medication and the flavor to the recipient's mouth. The apparatus includes a liquefying device which enables the apparatus to be used for the administration of a medication initially supplied in a non-liquid form.
US08292835B1

Non-invasive apparatus and methods are disclosed for treatment of soft-tissues of a human or animal body, and, more particularly, non-invasive treatment apparatus and methods for destruction of adipose tissues of a patient using focused delivery of ultrasonic energy in a group focal zone.
US08292834B2

Ultrasound stimulation devices and related techniques are disclosed. An ultrasound transducer for generating ultrasound energy is carried by a transducer housing that seals the transducer and may also include a positioning element for positioning the transducer proximate an application area to which generated ultrasound energy is to be applied. The transducer housing may also carry such components as a battery, a wireless receiver, and a controller. The same housing or a separate sensor housing may include an ultrasound sensor that provides feedback to the ultrasound transducer or its controller, illustratively through a wireless transmitter.
US08292824B2

A biopsy device includes a support base for supporting a mass to be examined, a compression plate for compressing and holding the mass to be examined against the support base, and a biopsy needle moving mechanism for moving a biopsy needle in a plane along the compression plate as well as in directions perpendicular to the compression plate. The biopsy needle is movable through an opening defined in the compression plate for insertion into the mass to be examined. The biopsy device also includes a determining section for determining whether or not the biopsy needle has pierced the mass to be examined, and a movement limiter for limiting movement of the biopsy needle within a plane perpendicular to a piercing direction along which the biopsy needle pierces the mass to be examined, if the determining section judges that the biopsy needle has pierced the mass to be examined.
US08292816B2

An image processor includes a signal processing circuit for performing signal processing on three-dimensional echo signals transmitted from an ultrasonic 3D probe, a memory for storing at least one set of plural sets of three-dimensional echo data converted by the signal processing circuit, a large capacity storage unit, a control circuit for controlling input/output signals from an input unit, an image processing circuit for performing image processing such as coordinate conversion based on the three-dimensional echo data stored in the memory, a display circuit for displaying the ultrasonic three-dimensional image processed by the image processing circuit, and a CPU for performing calculation for “volume measurement”. Accordingly, a tissue of interest can be easily and accurately measured.
US08292810B2

Systems and methods for minimizing or eliminating transient non-glucose related signal noise due to non-glucose rate limiting phenomenon such as ischemia, pH changes, temperatures changes, and the like. The system monitors a data stream from a glucose sensor and detects signal artifacts that have higher amplitude than electronic or diffusion-related system noise. The system replaces some or the entire data stream continually or intermittently including signal estimation methods that particularly address transient signal artifacts. The system is also capable of detecting the severity of the signal artifacts and selectively applying one or more signal estimation algorithm factors responsive to the severity of the signal artifacts, which includes selectively applying distinct sets of parameters to a signal estimation algorithm or selectively applying distinct signal estimation algorithms.
US08292794B2

A method for maintaining access to a biopsy site within a patient, includes forming a passageway from an opening in an exterior site on the patient to a desired location for a biopsy specimen within the patient; removing a tissue specimen from the desired location thereby leaving a biopsy cavity; providing a temporary catheter having an elongate shaft, a flexible proximal shaft section, and a distal shaft section having a cavity filling member thereon; inserting the cavity filling member on the distal shaft section into the biopsy cavity; inflating the cavity filling member after inserting the cavity filling member within the biopsy cavity, but before closing the opening, using the flexible proximal shaft section; placing the flexible proximal shaft section at an intracorporeal location; and closing the opening so as to seal the passageway.
US08292793B2

The present invention relates to a control method of a centrifuge using balancer wherein a balancer containing balls, a liquid, or both balls and a liquid are provided, thereby helping the rotor rotate more stably. More particularly, the centrifuge comprises a motor, a rotational shaft of the motor projected from said motor, a rotor, a main body, and a balancer which contains compensation material in a balancing space formed by a cover that is coupled to said main body, wherein the balancing for the unbalance due to the loaded samples is executed more accurately and stably.
US08292791B2

An electrical conductive roller 1 that includes a shaft member 2 born at both end portions in a lengthwise direction thereof, and one or more elastic layers 3 arranged on a radially outside thereof, where each elastic layer has a glass transition point of not higher than −40° C., and at least one of the elastic layers is constituted with a ultraviolet curing type resin containing an electrically conducting agent and a ultraviolet initiator.
US08292790B2

An exercise device includes at least one arc-shaped wing structure shaped to conform to a curvature of an exterior surface of an exercise ball such that when applied to the exterior surface thereof the at least one arc-shaped wing structure has a lower proximal end and an upper distal radiating end, protrudes away from the exterior surface of the exercise ball to a given distance that increases along a direction from the lower proximal end towards the upper distal radiating end, and is operable to provide an increased resistance against a rolling movement of the exercise ball along a surface when the at least one arc-shaped wing structure comes into rolling contact with the surface. An exercise ball with a plurality of the wing structures is likewise provided, the wing structures being integral or removable.
US08292786B1

A head set is provided. The head set is beneficial for assisting an individual who is significantly impaired in the use of his or her upper extremities. The system enables this individual to move a cursor on a display of a computer or other processing device using lingual musculature. The head set includes a head piece. The head piece supports an articulating arm. The articulating arm supports a mouthpiece at a distal end. The mouthpiece has a plurality of cells embedded therein. The cells are configured to receive pressure applied by the tongue of the user. Movement of the tongue over and against the cells causes the cursor to be moved on the display. A method for moving a cursor on a display using a mouthpiece controlled through lingual movement is also provided. In addition, a method of typing characters on a virtual keyboard using lingual musculature is offered.
US08292781B2

The invention concerns a method of operating a motor vehicle powertrain comprising an infinitely variable transmission and an engine. The transmission comprises a rotary transmission input coupled to the engine, a rotary transmission output coupled to the vehicle wheels, a variator which provides a continuously variable ratio (the “variator ratio”), and gearing for coupling the variator between the engine and the transmission output in such a manner that the ratio of transmission output speed to transmission input speed (the “reciprocal transmission ratio”) is a function of the variator ratio. The available range of variator ratios maps onto both forward and reverse reciprocal transmission ratios, and at a particular variator ratio (the “geared neutral ratio”) the transmission output is stationary despite its being coupled through the transmission to the rotating transmission input. The comprises sustaining engine speed in a range of low reciprocal transmission ratios containing and extending to either side of geared neutral, by applying a drive torque demand to the engine even while the powertrain is operating in overrun.
US08292770B2

An electric machine including a housing, a first rotor and stator carried within the housing and a rotatable shaft carried by the housing and extending from the housing. A first continuously variable transmission can be provided and includes a first rotatable element, a second rotatable element and a mechanism for controlling the ratio of the rotation of the second element to the rotation of the first element. The first element can be connected to the first rotor and the second element can be connected to the rotatable shaft. A second rotor and stator can be carried within the housing and a second continuously variable transmission provided. A hybrid engine having an internal combustion engine and utilizing the electric machine can be provided.
US08292767B2

A powertrain is provided having a multi-speed transmission. The transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes a sun gear member, a planet carrier member, and a ring gear member. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes arranged within a transmission housing.
US08292760B2

Systems and methods for controlling a baseball bat swing are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes an upper arm portion, a lower arm portion pivotably connected to the upper arm portion, and at least one releaseable attachment device carried by the upper arm portion and positioned to releasably attach to the user's arm. The system can further include an adjustment element operatively coupled to the upper arm portion and the lower arm portion, with the adjustment being manipulatable to control an angle between the upper arm portion and the lower arm portion. The system can be employed to train the user to achieve a consistent baseball bat swing.
US08292752B2

The present device relates to an apparatus and a method for allowing a golfer to properly grip a golf club. A proper grip is one that allows for the most efficient radial deviation (abduction) and ulnar deviation (adduction) as well as flexion and extension of the wrist of the golfer's upper hand, while also minimizing club head and shaft axis rotation during a golf swing. This grip can be achieved through the use of a marking system comprising the golfer's glove and the grip of the golf club. By matching one or more markings on the glove, placed in specific locations on its anterior, with one or more markings located on specific positions on a golf club grip, the proper location of the golfer's upper hand can be found and the proper grip can then be made.
US08292743B1

A method of changing virtual items based on location-based actions is disclosed. It is detected that a player of a computer-implemented game has performed a location-based action. An attribute of a virtual item of the player of the computer-implemented game is changed based on the detecting that the player of the computer-implemented game has performed the location-based action.
US08292741B2

In accordance with the teachings of the present embodiment, a system and method for wireless gaming with location-dependent gaming functions are provided. In a particular embodiment, the apparatus includes a gaming server; a wireless network at least partially covering a property, the wireless network comprising a plurality of signal detection devices; and a gaming communication device operable to transmit and receive gaming information to and from the gaming server via the wireless network. A location of the gaming communication device on the property is used to alter a game play function, such as a bet option, wager, graphic overlay, permission, or to provide location-dependent advertising or embedded advertising. Based upon the location of the gaming communication device on the property, a predetermined functionality of the gaming communication device may be enabled and/or controlled.
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