US08320276B1
Embodiments of the invention are concerned with multicarrier communication support, such as non-adjacent multicarrier support for a contiguous-bandwidth receiver. One embodiment includes receiving one or more carriers in a configurable contiguous bandwidth, calculating an imbalance metric representing a receiving imbalance over a set of carriers, said imbalance metric representing a difference between a first value based on received signal strength indication on each of one or more carriers and a second value based on received signal strength indication on each of one or more carriers, verifying, based on the calculated imbalance metric, whether a threshold condition relating to a current mode of an adjacent carrier mode and non-adjacent carrier mode is satisfied, and reporting an event for triggering reconfiguration of said configurable contiguous bandwidth to switch the current mode between said adjacent and non-adjacent carrier modes, if the threshold condition is satisfied.
US08320274B2
A distributed method is presented for determining equitable bandwidth allocations in a content distribution tree network, where the root of the tree has a server that broadcasts multiple programs throughout the tree. The intensive computations in the distributed method are done at each of the nodes independently while only minimal information is exchanged among the nodes. Each network link has limited capacity. The allocation problem is formulated as an equitable resource allocation problem with a lexicographic maximin objective function that provides equitable service performance for all requested programs at the various nodes. The constraints include link capacity constraints and tree-like ordering constraints imposed on each of the programs. The distributed method converges to the equitable solution in a finite number of iterations. The distributed method can be applied to a network comprised of multiple trees.
US08320273B2
Link adaptive retransmission techniques are provided for use in connection with wireless communications between a first wireless communication device and a second wireless communication device. The first wireless communication device generates M packet error information values for the transmit session of a packet based on whether an acknowledgment message or a non-acknowledgment message is received from the second wireless communication device for a transmission and for previously sent transmissions even if less than M transmissions are sent by the first wireless communication device to the second wireless communication device upon completion of the transmit session. The first wireless communication device computes a retransmission fading margin based on the M packet error information values, from which an effective carrier-to-interference-plus-noise ratio is derived for selection of a modulation scheme.
US08320272B2
A method and system for selecting at a terminal at least one of a plurality of available access networks for use with a wireless application invoked at the terminal according preferences associated with the wireless application, the network service provider, the subscriber, the subscriber subscription and application content provider. The selection may be constrained by an Application Policy received from a network service provider.
US08320263B2
On the basis of control information for CQI transmission of which a base station notifies a mobile station, the mobile station transmits CQI information for each sub-frame in a case of best effort type service or transmits the base station the CQI information at one time for every four sub-frames in a case of rate preservation type service.
US08320252B2
A system and method for data communications involves receiving a data frame in a receiver using a sliding receive window protocol, where a sliding receive window of the sliding receive window protocol is identified by sliding receive window information, and determining whether the data frame is a retransmitted data frame using the sliding receive window information.
US08320244B2
Embodiments describe scheduling communication in an ad hoc multihop network. Included is a reservation based Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol that has resources scheduled along the path from source to destination. Admission control is performed on a per-hop basis and a decision is made, in a distributed manner, if enough resources exist along the multihop path to admit a new communication.
US08320231B2
A recording apparatus that performs recording of data on a disc-shaped recording medium including a recording area, which is capable of recording user data therein, and a replacement area, which is replaced by a defect area included in the recording area, includes a setting section configured to replace a portion of the recording area by the replacement area, and set the portion of the recording area as an area for adjustment, and an adjustment section configured to perform adjustment by using the area for adjustment.
US08320230B2
A processing circuit for optical data is provided. The processing circuit includes a signal-processing module and a radio frequency (RF) signal-summing module. The signal-processing module averages and filters the data signals to obtain a low-frequency signal. The RF signal-summing module receives the data signals and the low-frequency signal, sums the data signals to obtain a summed data signal, and subtracts the low-frequency signal from the summed data signal to obtain a RF summing signal.
US08320229B2
A pickup and a drive, in a small size, having a spherical aberration correction device capable of correcting various spherical aberration, and coma aberration and/or astigmatism with a low power consumption. A variable-focus lens actuator can correct spherical aberration such that a transparent deformation film warps into a parabolic shape when a magnetic field is applied thereto, thereby changing the light intensity distribution of transmitted light. Further, the variable-focus lens actuator can correct coma aberration and/or astigmatism by arbitrarily tilting the transparent film to change the proceeding direction of the transmitted light.
US08320222B2
The present invention enables a comprehensive evaluation from both of data read from a disk and a servo signal of a servo controller. The present invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit mountable to a disk recording and reproducing drive, which comprises a signal processor of an RF signal read from a pickup, a servo controller responsive to a servo error signal read from the pickup, a memory controller, and an external interface. The memory controller is supplied with read data and a servo signal and stores the read data and the servo signal in a buffer memory according to a time division process. The read data and the servo signal stored in the buffer memory can be transferred to an external device via the external interface by the memory controller.
US08320221B2
An optical disc is rotated using a spindle motor of an optical disc device, at no more than 600 revolutions per minute (RPM). The spindle motor has at least three coil groups, where each coil group has one or more coils. While the optical disc is rotating, at least one of the coil groups generates a back electromagnetic force (EMF) signal. The back EMF signal is used to determine marking positions on the optical disc. An optical beam is used to mark the optical disc at the determined marking positions.
US08320215B2
A technique facilitates the steering of seismic survey related devices during seismic survey applications. A steering device is provided with a wing pivotably mounted to a body via a pivot member. As the steering device is moved through a liquid, the liquid acts against the wing and creates a torque about the pivot member which varies according to the angle of attack of the steering device. The steering device further comprises at least one feature designed to change the torque that would otherwise act on the pivot member.
US08320206B2
Various embodiments include apparatus, systems, and methods having multiple dice arranged in a stack in which a defective cell may be replaced by a spare cell on the same die or a different die. Other embodiments are described.
US08320196B2
A non-volatile memory core comprises one or more memory bays. Each memory bay comprises one or more memory blocks that include a grouping of non-volatile storage elements. In one embodiment, memory blocks in a particular memory bay share a group of read/write circuits. During a memory operation, memory blocks are transitioned into active and inactive states. The process of transitioning blocks from an inactive state to an active state includes enabling charge sharing between a memory block entering the active state and another memory block that was previously in the active state. This charge sharing improves performance and/or reduces energy consumption for the memory system.
US08320192B2
A method of programming a memory cell (100), the method comprising applying a first electric potential to a first electric terminal (101) of the memory cell (100) to accelerate first charge carriers of a first type of conductivity to thereby generate second charge carriers of a second type of conductivity by impact ionisation of the accelerated first charge carriers, and applying a second electric potential to a second electric terminal (102) of the memory cell (100) to accelerate the second charge carriers to thereby inject the second charge carriers in a charge trapping structure (103) of the memory cell (100).
US08320180B2
A multiple time programmable (MTP) memory cell, in accordance with an embodiment, includes a floating gate PMOS transistor, a high voltage NMOS transistor, and an n-well capacitor. The floating gate PMOS transistor includes a source that forms a first terminal of the memory cell, a drain and a gate. The high voltage NMOS transistor includes a source connected to ground, an extended drain connected to the drain of the PMOS transistor, and a gate forming a second terminal of the memory cell. The n-well capacitor includes a first terminal connected to the gate of the PMOS transistor, and a second terminal forming a third terminal of the memory cell. The floating gate PMOS transistor can store a logic state. Combinations of voltages can be applied to the first, second and third terminals of the memory cell to program, inhibit program, read and erase the logic state.
US08320172B2
Embodiments disclosed herein may relate to controlling a discharge of a capacitive element coupled to a phase change memory cell to produce a specified state in the phase change memory cell.
US08320167B2
A non-volatile memory structure comprises programmable write drivers for controlling drive strengths of write operations to storage elements. The memory structure comprises a storage element coupled to a bit line, a switching element coupled to the storage element, a source line and a word line, wherein the switching element is configured to change a logic state of the storage element. A first and a second write driver with programmable drive strengths are coupled to the bit line and source line respectively to enable control of drive strengths of write operations to the storage element.
US08320160B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a first select transistor, a second select transistor, and a first string of first memory cells provided between the first and second select transistors. Each first memory cell has a first resistive memory cell and a first transistor. The first resistive memory cell is in series with a gate of the first transistor. The non-volatile memory device further includes a first bit line coupled to a drain of the first select transistor and a plurality of word lines. Each word line is coupled to one of the first memory cells.
US08320154B2
A micro-switching element provided with a first electrode 4 containing an ionic conductor and a second electrode 5 composed of an electric conductor, wherein the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 are physically and electrically connected to each other through deposition of a metal ion from the ionic conductor, and wherein a photoresponsive film 9 that receives light to generate a carrier is disposed between the first electrode 4 and the second electrode 5 to fill up the space between the electrodes. Accordingly, a micro-switching element is provided of which the characteristic fluctuation is small and which hardly produces a problem of operation failure.
US08320146B2
A power converter system includes a power converter system including: a DC-to-AC power converter; a first output configured to be coupled to a power grid; a first input configured to be coupled to the power grid; second outputs each configured to be coupled to a corresponding AC load; a power-grid switch coupled to the converter and to the first output; load switches coupled to the converter, the second outputs, and the first input; and a controller coupled to the load switches and to the first output and configured to determine whether energy from the power grid satisfies at least one criterion, the controller being further configured to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to couple the converter to the first output and to couple the first input to the second outputs if the at least one criterion is satisfied and otherwise to control the power-grid switch and the load switches to isolate the converter from the first output and to couple the converter to at least one of the second outputs.
US08320145B2
A switching power source device includes current control pulse generating means configured of a target value setting module, which outputs a changeable value which is a predetermined target value relating to a control of an output current, a computing module, which carries out a computing process relating to the control of the output current based on the target value, and outputs a computation result, and a pulse generating module, which generates a current control pulse voltage for controlling the output current based on the computation result. The switching power source device includes a current detecting circuit, which detects the output current or a current flowing in a switching element TR1, and a current limit signal generating circuit which, when the detected current exceeds a reference value set based on the output of the current control pulse generating means, outputs a current limit signal for limiting the current. A drive pulse generating circuit, on the current limit signal being output, operates in such a way that an on-duty of a drive pulse stops widening, or becomes narrower.
US08320144B2
The present invention relates to a power factor correction circuit that can reduce distortion of input current in a switching mode power supply. The power factor correction circuit provided in the present invention basically comprises a first inductor which is electrically connected at a first end thereof to an input terminal, a second coil that is coupled to the first inductor to form an induced voltage, a switch electrically connected to the a second terminal of the first inductor, and a switching control unit for controlling turn-on and turn-off of the switch. In such a power factor correction circuit of the present invention, the switching control unit is configured to differently set a turn-on period of the switch depending on the input voltage by generating a signal for controlling the turn-off of the switch using a second coil voltage induced at the secondary coil of the inductor by input voltage or a directly sensed input voltage. Accordingly, distortion of input current can be effectively corrected.
US08320141B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that efficiently converts between a lower input voltage and a higher output voltage. This system includes an input which receives the input voltage, and an output which provides the output voltage. The system also includes a first capacitor with a higher potential terminal and a lower potential terminal, as well as a first set of switching devices which selectively couple the higher potential and lower potential terminals of the first capacitor between the input voltage, the output voltage and a base voltage. The system additionally includes a resonant clocking circuit which generates clock signals with substantially non-overlapping clock phases, including a first phase and a second phase. This resonant clocking circuit is configured to control the first set of switching devices so that during the first phase, the higher potential terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the input voltage and the lower potential terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the base voltage, and during the second phase, the higher potential terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the output voltage and the lower potential terminal of the first capacitor is coupled to the input voltage.
US08320138B2
A DC converter includes: a transformer (T1) including a primary winding (P1) and a secondary winding (S1); a series resonant circuit in which a current resonant reactor (Lr), the primary winding (P1) of the transformer, and a current resonant capacitor (Cri) are connected in series; conversion circuits (Q1, Q2) for converting a DC voltage of a DC power supply (Vin) into a rectangular-wave voltage, so as to output the rectangular-wave voltage to the series resonant circuit; and a rectifier smoothing circuit (D3, D4, Co) for rectifying and smoothing a voltage generated at the secondary winding (S1) of the transformer, so as to output a DC output voltage to a load, wherein a capacitive element (Cr) including a capacitive component corresponding to a floating capacitance (Cp) equivalently present between the primary winding of the transformer was connected to the current resonant reactor (Lr) in parallel.
US08320137B2
A printed circuit board includes a high-speed differential signal control chip, first to eighth coupling capacitor pads, first to fourth connector pads, a first transmission line, a second transmission line, a third transmission line, a fourth transmission line, first to eighth transmission lines, two ninth transmission lines, first and second vias, and first to fourth sharing pads. The printed circuit board is operable to selectively support multiple connectors.
US08320131B2
An actuator assembly for use in an electronic device is described. The actuator assembly includes a support tray, an actuator supported on the support tray, and a cover over the actuator and coupled to the support tray, a portion of the cover being movable relative to the support tray when the actuator is actuated.
US08320128B2
An exemplary server system includes a server cabinet, multiple racks arranged in the server cabinet, multiple servers mounted on the racks, and a heat dissipation device for cooling the servers. The heat dissipation device includes a fan module and a dissipating module. The fan module is arranged over the racks for generating downwards airflow across the servers to exchange heat with the servers. The dissipating module is arranged over the racks to exchange heat with the airflow after the airflow passes the servers.
US08320120B1
A reversible air flow fan system is described. A fan tray assembly is coupled with a chassis and a removable fan and bracket assembly that is oriented in a first direction. This removable fan and bracket assembly is configured to be removable from the fan tray assembly and being recoupled with the fan tray assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction. An air duct is coupled with and enables the exchange of air between the removable fan and bracket assembly and a first surface of the chassis. A sensor coupled with the fan tray assembly is configured for coupling with at least one bracket of the removable fan and bracket assembly when the removable fan and bracket assembly is oriented in the first direction.
US08320115B2
A mounting apparatus includes a chassis, a plurality of first locking members, and a second locking member. The chassis includes a bottom plate and two opposite side plates. The first locking members are secured to the bottom plate. A locking slot is defined in each locking member for receiving fastening members of a disk drive. The second locking member is secured to the bottom plate. A positioning flange is located on the second locking member and configured for abutting the disk drive, for preventing the fastening members from moving out of the locking slots along a direction perpendicular to the bottom plate.
US08320106B2
In a lower-face electrode type solid electrolytic multilayer capacitor and a mounting member having the same according to the present invention, fillet forming portions are formed by forming an electrode substrate cutting portion at a predetermined portion of an edge face in longer direction or in shorter direction of an electrode substrate, and a covering resin cutting portion on an edge face of a covering resin in a staircase pattern so that the electrode substrate cutting portion is surrounded by the covering resin cutting portion. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide the lower-face electrode type solid electrolytic multilayer capacitor and the mounting member having the same, in which the productivity is excellent, the volume efficiency can be improved to achieve the high capacitance, and the stable fillet can be formed on mounting.
US08320105B2
A both-side pressed terminal is connected as a first anode (cathode) lead tab terminal to an anode (a cathode) foil. A first connection surface of a connection portion of a one-side pressed terminal as a second anode (cathode) lead tab terminal is connected to an inner circumferential surface of the anode (cathode) foil. A position in a radial direction of a lead of the second anode (cathode) lead tab terminal is shifted inward to be in registration with a position in a radial direction of a lead of the first anode (cathode) lead tab terminal. Thus, an electrolytic capacitor free from position displacement of an anode (a cathode) lead tab terminal while maintaining characteristics as an electrolytic capacitor can be obtained.
US08320101B2
In a method for manufacturing a multilayer electronic component, after a plating layer for forming an external electrode is formed on an end surface of a laminate, conditions for heat-treating the laminate are set such that interdiffusion layers have ends which face internal electrodes and which are spaced from the end surface of the laminate at a distance of about 0.5 μm to about 1.9 μm.
US08320097B2
The present invention discloses an electrostatic discharge structure for a touch panel module to prevent ESD current flowing from the touch panel to the circuit board and damaging the electronic elements. The touch panel module comprises a touch panel and a circuit board. The circuit board has a connection portion connecting the circuit board with the touch panel. The connection portion has a plurality of sensing wires, two ends of each sensing wire are respectively electrically connected with one sensing unit of the touch panel and one sensor chip of the circuit board. The connection portion comprises at least one grounding solder pad and an electric-conduction structure covering thereon. The electric-conduction structure electrically connects the grounding solder pads to direct away the static.
US08320096B2
A clutch actuator for an electromechanical clutch having a solenoid actuating coil initially provides power to the solenoid at a high rate by using a high duty cycle pulse with a modulated controller. When the initial engagement of the clutch elements is sensed by a decrease in current, the duty cycle of the pulse width modulator is reduced and thereafter increased in a controlled fashion to accomplish a soft start.
US08320092B2
A protection circuit 10 provided with a current regulating section 14 with a first end connected to a power source line VDD and a second end connected to an input terminal 116A of an inverter 116. The current regulating section 14 applies a voltage of less than a threshold value voltage to the input terminal 116A when a surge current having predetermined frequency characteristics flows from the first end in a particular flow path, by generating induced electromotive force so as to generate a magnetic field to cancel out the magnetic field occurring due to the surge current, thereby impeding flow of the surge current. The current regulating section 14 applies a voltage of the threshold value voltage or greater to the input terminal 116A when a driving current not having the frequency characteristics flows in from the first end.
US08320089B1
An apparatus, method, and system for providing ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI)-type functionality for electrical systems that may experience leakage current, such as those used in outdoor sports lighting applications, and may benefit from mitigation of electrical shock hazards. The resulting system is such that an equipment-grounded electrical system, where the grounding system is actively monitored, in conjunction with the envisioned GFCI functionality, may comprise an electrical protection system whereby personal injury is minimized.
US08320082B2
According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider and a head section on the slider. A supporting surface of the slider includes a leading step in an inflow side of airflow, a leading pad on the leading step, a negative-pressure cavity in a downstream side of the leading pad, a trailing step in an outflow end side of the airflow, a center rail extending from the leading step to the trailing step, a guide groove in the center rail, configured to guide the airflow to the trailing step, and an intake groove formed in the leading pad, extending in a direction transverse to the airflow, communicating with the guide groove, and includes two end parts in its longitudinal direction, the two end parts extending in a direction of the airflow and forming openings open to the inflow side of the leading pad.
US08320080B1
A spin-torque oscillator (STO) has a single free ferromagnetic layer that forms part of both a giant magnetoresistance (GMR) structure with a nonmagnetic conductive spacer layer and a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) structure with a tunnel barrier layer. The STO has three electrical terminals that connect to electrical circuitry that provides a spin-torque excitation current through the conductive spacer layer and a lesser sense current through the tunnel barrier layer. When the STO is used as a magnetic field sensor, the excitation current causes the magnetization of the free layer to oscillate at a fixed base frequency in the absence of an external magnetic field. A detector coupled to the sense current detects shifts in the free layer magnetization oscillation frequency from the base frequency in response to external magnetic fields.
US08320077B1
A method and system for providing a high moment film are disclosed. The high moment film might be used in structures, such as a pole, of a magnetic transducer. The method and system includes providing a plurality of high moment layers and at least one soft magnetic layer interleaved with and ferromagnetically coupled with the plurality of high moment layers. Each of the plurality of high moment layers has a magnetic moment of greater than 2.4 Tesla. The at least one soft magnetic layer has a hard axis coercivity of not more than twenty Oersted. The high moment film has a total thickness of at least one thousand Angstroms.
US08320074B2
A magnetic head which includes a core, a coil wound on the core, terminals to which ends of the coil are connected. The magnetic head also includes a substrate on which mounted are a demodulating electronic component for demodulating an analog output signal output from the terminals to create a digital demodulated signal, and an encrypting electronic component for encrypting the demodulated signal to create an encrypted signal. A cable electrically connects the demodulating electronic component and the terminals. A case body stores the core, the coil, the terminals, and the cable. The demodulating electronic component is mounted on one side of the substrate, and the encrypting electronic component is mounted on the other side of the substrate. The substrate is fixed to the case body so that the demodulating electronic component is placed inside the case body while the encrypting electronic component is placed outside the case body.
US08320073B2
According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole, wherein a thickness in a down-track direction of the main pole increases moving away from an air bearing surface of the magnetic pole, and wherein a center position in a thickness direction of a portion of the main pole which is exposed at the air bearing surface (the ABS portion) is positioned toward a trailing side of the main pole with respect to a center position in a thickness direction of a portion of the magnetic pole having a greatest cross-sectional area and which is set back from the air bearing surface (the set-back portion). Further embodiments of this magnetic recording head, along with systems thereof and methods of producing magnetic recording heads are also described, according to more embodiments.
US08320071B2
A transmission apparatus for transmitting tapes within a tape library is disclosed. The transmission apparatus comprises a tray for transmitting a tape cartridge. A plurality of pinion gears is provided. The pinion gears are operably connected to each other and are rotatably attached to the tray. A plurality of vertically disposed racks is provided for engagement by the plurality of pinion gears for rotational movement therealong.
US08320069B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disks having a plurality of disk surfaces. The disk drive further comprises a head actuated over each disk surface, and a spindle motor for rotating the disks. A first fly height measurement is generated for a first disk surface, and a second fly height measurement is generated for a second disk surface. A positive correlation is detected in the first and second fly height measurements.
US08320063B2
An actuator capable of attaining two-dimensional positioning with a simple configuration includes an electromechanical transducer 11 which makes mechanical displacement in accordance with a voltage applied thereto, a driving shaft 12 which is axially displaced and inclined by the mechanical displacement of the electromechanical transducer 11, a movable member 13 which frictionally engages on the driving shaft 12, and a driving circuit for superposing a direct-current driving voltage leading to an inclination of the driving shaft 12 at a desired angle at a low rate of change preventing slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and an alternating driving voltage for causing axial vibrations of the driving shaft 12 so as to cause slide displacement of the movable member 13 relative to the driving shaft 12 and applying the superposed voltages to the electromechanical transducer 11.
US08320062B1
A holder for at least one eyepiece is described. The holder includes an upper plate having at least two upper apertures therethrough, a top surface, and a bottom surface, and a lower plate having at least two lower apertures therethrough, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Each lower aperture corresponds to one of the upper apertures of the upper plate. When the upper and lower plates are mutually aligned, the at least one eyepiece may be inserted through corresponding upper and lower apertures. Furthermore, when one of the plates is selectively slid with respect to the other plate, the upper and lower apertures become misaligned to bind the at least one eyepiece to retain the eyepiece in the holder.
US08320061B2
A lens system, in the order from the subject side to the image side thereof, includes an aperture stop, a first lens of positive refractive power, a second lens of negative refractive power, a third lens of positive refractive power, and a fourth lens of negative refractive power. The image lens satisfies the formulae: G2R2
US08320055B2
A lens barrel showing a satisfactory property in assembly and a high dust-proof and drip-proof performance includes: a first member; a lens holding frame configured to hold lens units moving in an optical axis direction to either zoom or focus the lens units; and an elastic member held between respective optical-axis-orthogonal surfaces of the first member and the lens holding frame, wherein the elastic member can be compressed in the optical axis direction during a zooming or focusing operation.
US08320051B2
A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and subsequent lens units including a fourth lens unit having optical power, wherein any one of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, and the subsequent lens units includes a lens element having a reflecting surface that bends a light beam incident from an object, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at the time of image taking, the first lens unit and the third lens unit do not move along an optical axis, and wherein the condition is satisfied: 1.42
US08320050B2
A zoom lens includes in order from an object side to an image side and arranged along an optical axis thereof, a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a second lens unit having a positive refractive power. A distance between each lens unit changes when zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. The first lens unit includes a first lens sub-unit including a positive lens element and a negative lens element, and having a negative refractive power, and a second lens sub-unit including a single negative lens element. Focusing is performed by moving the second lens sub-unit in an optical axis direction, a focal length of the second lens sub-unit f1b and a focal length of the entire zoom lens fw at a wide-angle end are suitably set based on predetermined mathematical expressions.
US08320045B2
A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell. The optional secondary light concentrator may further concentrate the light out-coupled from the transport structure into the PV cell.
US08320035B2
A micro-movable device includes a frame, a movable section including a body section, and a torsion coupling section for coupling the frame with the movable section to define an axis of oscillation of the movable section, wherein the frame includes a first extending portion and a second extending portion that are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the axis and extend along the body section, and oppose the body section via a gap.
US08320032B2
A diffractive beam expander (50) comprises a substantially planar waveguiding substrate, an input grating (10) to provide an in-coupled beam (B1) propagating within said substrate, and an output grating (30) to provide an out-coupled beam. The expander (50) comprises also four or more further grating portions to expand the height of the in-coupled beam (B1). A part of the in-coupled light is diffracted by a first deflecting grating portion (21a) to provide a first deflected beam. A part of the in-coupled light is diffracted by a second deflecting grating portion (22a) to provide a second deflected beam. The first deflected beam propagates downwards and the second deflected beam propagates upwards with respect to the in-coupled beam (B1). The first deflected beam impinges on a first direction-restoring grating portion (21b) and the second deflected beam impinges on a second direction-restoring grating portion (22b). The first restoring grating portion (21b) provides a first restored beam (V1) and the second restoring grating portion (22b) provides a second restored beam (V2), which both have the same direction as the in-coupled beam (B1). Out-coupling provides an output beam which is parallel to the input beam, and has a greater vertical dimension than said input beam.
US08320029B2
When an original conveying unit that rotates about a rotation center 901 reaches an opening angle 906, an image is read using a line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being white dust on a platen glass. When it further reaches an opening angle 908, an image is again read using the line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being black dust on the platen glass. When it further reaches an opening angle 910, an image is again read using the line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being dust on a reference white plate with which the original conveying unit is provided in a state of facing a reading position where the line sensor performs reading.
US08320016B2
An image processing method includes steps of acquiring a first two-dimensional parallelogram image, creating a second two-dimensional parallelogram image by dividing the first image into two figures by a line along a predetermined scanning direction and joining together respective sides of the two figures corresponding to an upper base and a lower base of the first image, calculating a value w representing a numerical number of pixels constituting an upper base or a lower base of the second image and a value h representing a numerical number of pixels in a height direction of the second image, securing a w×h two-dimensional memory space, writing pixel values on each scanning line of the second image, sequentially in a scanning order, onto a corresponding scanning line of the two-dimensional memory space, and storing supplementary information of the second image in association with the two-dimensional memory space.
US08320014B2
The present invention prevents necessary image data from deviating from a print medium and thereby executes a good printing operation without a loss of necessary image data. For this purpose, when performing a so-called marginless printing, in which ink is applied also to an area overrunning from the print medium to form an image without leaving a blank margin at edges of the print medium, the overrunning widths of the area are made adjustable.
US08320009B2
A disclosed image formation apparatus includes: an operation unit allowing input of reading conditions of image data; an input unit reading the image data in accordance with the reading conditions input via the operation unit; a first storage unit storing the image data read by the input unit; a second storage unit storing correspondence relation between the reading conditions and predicted data amount of the image data to be stored in the first storage unit; a data amount prediction unit predicting data amount of the image data to be read based on the reading conditions and the correspondence relation stored in the second storage unit; and a judgment unit judging whether to perform reading of the image data based on the predicted data amount and an available capacity of the first storage unit.
US08319986B2
To generate print jobs to be executed by a printing device, an image processing apparatus edits drawing commands output by applications and stored in storage means, in accordance with editing instructions input through input means, executes a process of generating chasing data using the drawing commands, the process including the edition, and then executes a process of generating print data, the process including the edition. The editing instructions for the drawing commands include an instruction to combine a plurality of drawing commands, an instruction to separate a drawing command into a plurality of subcommands, and an instruction to delete a drawing command. The chasing data is generated so as to have a layered data structure indicating the combinative relationship among the plurality of drawing commands if the editing instruction instructs a plurality of drawing commands to be combined together.
US08319985B2
The present invention provides an image formation apparatus that reconstructs and prints a document based on document data written in a markup language. The image formation apparatus arranges, by using browser software, text data included in the document data within a page of the document, and acquires image data from servers and arranges the image data within the page of the document. If the image formation apparatus fails to acquire one or more pieces of the image data, it judges whether each of the pieces of image data is important or not according to the attribute information of the image data. If judged negatively, the image formation apparatus executes printing of the document reconstructed based on the text data and/or the acquired pieces of image data. If judged affirmatively, the image formation apparatus cancels the printing of the reconstructed document.
US08319983B2
The present invention provides an image forming device capable of maintaining a security level of a document constant, and an image forming device terminal. The image forming device capable of executing an authentication print printing includes a storage unit for storing a document data file and setting data of the authentication print printing of the document data file; a communication interface for receiving instruction data containing instruction of a process related to the document data file; an authentication print setting determination unit for determining whether to execute as the authentication print printing based on setting data stored in the storage unit; an authentication unit; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication; a job executing unit for executing the job; and an authentication print setting registration unit for editing the setting data stored in the storage unit based on the instruction data.
US08319979B2
A single laser beam measurement system employing retro-reflective striped targets is disclosed having an error correction mechanism which compensates for errors arising from the target not being square to a laser scanning beam.
US08319978B2
A method for analyzing probe mark, the method includes: scanning the probe mark by multiple spots; evaluating a probe mark characteristic in response to detection signals generated by multiple sensors of the chromatic confocal system that is characterized by a sub-micron axial resolution.
US08319977B2
A 3D measuring apparatus includes a stage, a projection portion, and an imaging portion. The projection portion includes first and second lights, first and second lattices, and first and second projection lenses. The imaging portion includes an imaging lens and a camera. The projection portion further includes a movement instrument which control the first and the second lattice simultaneously with predetermined n times.
US08319976B2
Chirped light pulses, the color of which changes regularly with time, are generated and applied to an object to be measured. A reflected light image of the chirped light pulses reflected from the object is acquired. Then, three-dimensional information of the object is acquired using two-dimensional information, color information represented by the reflected light image of the chirped light pulses, and the field of vision of the three-dimensional information to be acquired is enlarged.
US08319974B2
A system, method and apparatus for anatomical mapping utilizing optical coherence tomography. In the present invention, 3-dimensional fundus intensity imagery can be acquired from a scanning of light back-reflected from an eye. The scanning can include spectral domain scanning, as an example. A fundus intensity image can be acquired in real-time. The 3-dimensional data set can be reduced to generate an anatomical mapping, such as an edema mapping and a thickness mapping. Optionally, a partial fundus intensity image can be produced from the scanning of the eye to generate an en face view of the retinal structure of the eye without first requiring a full segmentation of the 3-D data set. Advantageously, the system, method and apparatus of the present invention can provide quantitative three-dimensional information about the spatial location and extent of macular edema and other pathologies. This three-dimensional information can be used to determine the need for treatment, monitor the effectiveness of treatment and identify the return of fluid that may signal the need for re-treatment.
US08319961B2
An apparatus to test a semiconductor package includes a vertical illuminator to supply vertical illumination in the same axial direction as a measurement target and a vertical image unit to capture a vertical image of the measurement target so that a testing apparatus may 2-dimensionally determine information on the shape, size, or position of a solder ball. An inclined illuminator may supply inclined illumination in a different axial direction from the measurement target, and an inclined image capture unit may capture a side image of the measurement target so that the testing apparatus may 3-dimensionally determine information on a state of contact of the solder ball with the ball land. The inclined image capture unit may include a color camera using color information, thereby markedly increasing test reliability and yield.
US08319954B2
Detection and characterization of immunologically detected substances are performed electronically on human and animal biological fluids such as whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, milk, pleural and peritoneal fluids, and semen, which fluids are contained in a thin chamber forming a quiescent fluid sample, which chamber has at least two parallel planar walls, at least one of which is transparent.
US08319948B2
An exposure apparatus includes an original stage mounted with an exposure original having a pattern used for exposure, and an evaluation original having a pattern used to evaluate an optical performance of a projection optical system, a first drive mechanism configured to drive the original stage in a first direction that is a scan direction, and a second drive mechanism configured to drive the evaluation original on the original stage in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, a width of the evaluation original in the second direction is smaller than that of the exposure original in the second direction.
US08319926B2
In the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, each pixel region includes first, second and third subpixel electrodes 111a, 111b1 and 111b2, a vertical alignment liquid crystal layer, a counter electrode 121, and an alignment film. The second and third subpixel electrodes are arranged to interpose the first subpixel electrode. Each pixel region is comprised of first, second and third regions associated with the first, second and third subpixel electrodes, respectively. Each pixel region includes eight liquid crystal domains in total, consisting of two sets of four liquid crystal domains A, B, C and D of first, second, third and fourth types, in which an angle formed between any two tilt directions is approximately equal to an integral multiple of 90 degrees. The first region has four liquid crystal domains of the first, second, third and fourth types, respectively, while each of the second and third regions has two liquid crystal domains selected from the four other liquid crystal domains of the first, second, third and fourth types, whereby the display quality of a VA mode LCD is improved.
US08319923B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal layer which is arranged between first and second aligning films formed on inner sides of first and second substrates, has liquid crystal molecules twist-aligned in a direction from the first aligning film toward the second aligning film when an electric field is not applied between first and second electrodes, and generates retardation of substantially λ/2 with respect to transmitted light. First and second polarizing plates are arranged on outer sides of the first and second substrates. A transmission axis or an absorption axis of the first polarizing plate is substantially matched with a direction along which the liquid crystal molecules in the vicinity of the first aligning film are aligned when a sufficiently intensive electric field is applied.
US08319921B2
The present invention provides a transflective liquid crystal display device having a high aperture ratio. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a first substrate; a liquid crystal layer; and a second substrate in this order, wherein the first substrate includes a pixel electrode having a trunk portion, a plurality of branch portions branched from the trunk portion, and slits, the liquid crystal display device comprises a display region including a region where the branch portions and the slits are alternately arranged, the display region includes a reflection region and a transmission region, and in the reflection region, the pixel electrode, a reflective film disposed under the pixel electrode, and a λ/4 retarder are arranged.
US08319919B2
A transflective type liquid crystal display device according to an exemplary aspect of the invention includes: a liquid crystal layer; a first sub-pixel electrode that is constituted of a transmissive region transmitting light from a back surface side to a display surface side; a second sub-pixel electrode that is constituted of a reflective region reflecting light being incident from the display surface side; and a connecting portion that electrically connects the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode to each other. The second sub-pixel electrode being constituted of the reflective region that is adjacent to the first sub-pixel electrode being constituted of the transmissive region has a reflective conductive thin film in which a hollowed out cutout portion is formed, in a region extending from the connecting portion connecting the first sub-pixel electrode and the second sub-pixel electrode to each other.
US08319911B2
An attachment frame for a display module includes a bezel at a periphery of the display module, and at least one pair of tabs positioned in a plurality of inner sides of the bezel. Each tab includes a fixing portion welded to the bezel and a mounting portion fixed to the display module. The fixing portion forms two positioning posts, and the bezel defines two corresponding positioning holes, and the tabs are positioned relative to the bezel via the engagement of the positioning posts and the corresponding positioning holes.
US08319908B2
Variable liquid crystal devices for controlling the propagation of light through a liquid crystal layer use a frequency dependent material to dynamically reconfigure effective electrode structures in the device. The frequency of a drive signal that generates an electric field in the device may be varied, and the frequency dependent material has different charge mobilities for the different frequencies. At a low charge mobility, the frequency dependent material has little effect on the existing electrode structures. However, at a high charge mobility, the frequency dependent material appears as an extension of the fixed electrodes, and may be used to change the effective electrode structure and, thereby, the spatial profile of the electric field. This, in turn, changes the optical properties of the liquid crystal, thus allowing the optical device to be frequency controllable.
US08319905B2
Provided are a display substrate and a display device including the same. The display substrate includes: gate wiring; a first semiconductor pattern formed on the gate wiring and having a first energy bandgap; a second semiconductor pattern formed on the first semiconductor pattern and having a second energy bandgap which is greater than the first energy bandgap; data wiring formed on the first semiconductor pattern; and a pixel electrode electrically connected to the data wiring. Because the second energy bandgap is larger than the first energy bandgap, a quantum well is formed in the first semiconductor pattern, enhancing electron mobility therein.
US08319901B2
Discharge tubes, each of which includes a glass tube and a ferrule that has a substantially cylindrical shape and is fitted to each end portion of the glass tube, are supported by a plurality of pairs of relay connectors (or supporting members) provided on the front side of a chassis having substantially a plate-shaped configuration. When a discharge tube is supported by relay connectors, stoppers provided on the relay connectors lock the ferrules so that axial movement of the discharge tube relative to the relay connectors is restricted.
US08319885B2
An exemplary camera module includes an image sensor package, an enclosure, and a lens module. The image sensor package includes a circuit board and an image sensor mounted on the circuit board. The enclosure is attached on the circuit board and includes four elastic engaging portions protruding from an interior surface thereof. The lens module includes a barrel and at least one optical element received in the barrel. The barrel defines four recesses in an outer surface thereof. The barrel is detachably mounted in the enclosure. The engaging portions engage in the respective recesses.
US08319884B2
A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion or a digital image and to generate images of greater resolution by modifying digital images or modifying digital and emulsion images.
US08319880B2
An apparatus and method for generating co-registerable images for processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a dichroic filter that splits an electro-magnetic beam into first and second split beams, and a mirror that reflects the second split beam. The dichroic filter and the first and second split beams are arranged to direct the first and second split beams, respectively, along substantially parallel but non overlapping paths.
US08319878B2
A solid-state imaging device of the type having photoelectric conversion elements formed in a matrix pattern on a semiconductor substrate, vertical transfer elements each of which reads signal charges from the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in the column direction and transfers the signal charges in the vertical direction, and a horizontal transfer element which transfers in the horizontal direction the signal charges sent from each of the vertical transfer elements, the horizontal transfer element includes: a charge transfer channel; a first transfer electrode; a second transfer electrode; and an interelectrode insulating film; with the first transfer electrode and the second transfer electrode being at the same potential.
US08319874B2
Suppressing a fall in sensitivity upon shooting without causing similar effect as a pixel defect in spite of being able to perform focal point detection. When a gate electrode 67 is high, pinned photodiodes 41, 42 are electrically connected with each other. At this moment, a lower area of the gate electrode 67 has a photoelectric conversion function. On the other hand, when the gate electrode 67 is low, pinned photodiodes 41, 42 are electrically separated with each other. At this moment, the lower area of the gate electrode 67 does not have any photoelectric conversion function.
US08319873B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a photodiode array having a plurality of photodiodes, read transistors each having one terminal and the other terminal of a current path, one terminal of the current path being connected to one of four photodiodes corresponding to two photodiodes adjacent in a row direction and two photodiodes adjacent in a column direction, the other terminal of the current path being connected in common to a first node, the first node provided as a set of four photodiodes being in a floating-state, read control lines to connect the gate of the read transistor corresponding to each set of the read transistors in common, and independently supplied with a read signal, and vertical signal lines supplied with a signal converted by two photodiodes adjacent in a row direction of the photodiodes for an independent period within one horizontal blanking period of image scanning.
US08319866B2
An imaging optical system includes: a light control element formed of a dye pigment-containing dichroic guest-host liquid crystal, and that is disposed on a light path to adjust a quantity of incident light for an image sensing device; and an optical filter disposed on the light path, and that includes an infrared absorbing material, the optical filter having a spectral transmittance that satisfies the following conditions (1), (2), and (3) 0.6
US08319859B2
A digital camera capable of variably setting a frame rate may include an imaging device which outputs a plurality of temporally continuous image frames when photographing a moving image. The digital camera may also include a digital signal processor that determines a frame rate with which the image frames are filed, wherein the digital signal processor variably determines the frame rate according to a motion speed of a subject in the frames. The digital camera may further include a recording medium in which the filed image frames are stored. Accordingly, as the frame rate is varied according to the motion of a subject, the motion of the subject can be smoothly realized in a high motion speed section from a reproduction perspective, and substantially repeated image frames can be removed in a low speed motion section. Thus, the size of moving image files can be reduced, saving memory resources.
US08319849B2
An image capture device is provided that can playback and output a desirable file of multiple files accumulated in an external storage device. The image capture device of the present invention has a camera body including: a memory controller for writing an image file obtained by image shooting to an external memory card, or for reading a file from the external memory card; a USB interface for making connection to an external hard disk drive; a USB host controller for controlling transmission and receipt of data through the interface; and a CPU for controlling the operations of the memory controller and the USB host controller in order to transmit data between the external memory card and the external hard disk drive.
US08319843B2
A capturing parameter and a capturing image are obtained by an image capturing device which uses the capturing parameter. Correction data, which corresponds to an optical transfer function of the image capturing device derived from the capturing parameter, and a noise amount of the capturing image dependent on the capturing parameter, is acquired to correct a blur of the capturing image. A first degree of correction by the correction data for a high noise amount is less than a second degree of correction by the correction data for a low noise amount.
US08319835B2
An electronic camera having a function of accessing a specific server via Internet includes: a storage unit in which related information concerning the electronic camera is stored in advance; a generation unit that dynamically generates an identifier to be used to identify the electronic camera in conformance to a predefined specific rule based upon at least part of the related information stored in the storage unit; and a setting unit that sets the identifier generated by the generation unit within a request message to be transmitted to the Internet.
US08319832B2
An input section includes a palm rest and a hand detection sensor on the top surface of a housing. The input section also includes, for example, an analog resistive touch panel above the housing to the front. A palm rest is used as a base for placing a palm for manipulating the touch panel and has a flat surface slightly forward with reference to a horizontal level. The touch panel tilts below the surface of the palm rest. The touch panel is given a tilt angle so that the fingertip or the finger cushion naturally touches the surface (panel surface) of the touch panel when the palm is placed on the palm rest.
US08319831B2
A component manipulating method includes recognizing, computing, and manipulating. The recognizing is a process in which a position and an attitude of a measured object is recognized by taking an image of a light spot group of the measured object with a camera, the measured object having the light spot group including a plurality of light spots, based on a light image expressing light spots constituting the light spot group on an image taken with the camera. The computing is a process in which a position and an attitude of the component are computed based on the position and the attitude of the recognized measured object and also on geometric arrangement positions of the measured object and the component. The manipulating is a process in which a robot being used to perform operations on the component is manipulated based on the computed position and the attitude.
US08319828B2
Provided is a highly efficient 2D-3D switchable display device. The image display device includes a display unit forming an image, and a switching visual field separation unit switching the image formed by the display unit into a 2D image or a 3D image, and comprising a lens array for separating a visual field and a liquid crystal lens controlled so as to have a refractive power offsetting or reinforcing a refractive power of the lens array.
US08319827B2
An image signal process apparatus and a method for controlling thereof are provided. The image signal process apparatus includes a storage unit storing pixel data of an incoming frame image, a scaling filter generating one frame image by scaling the pixel data, and a controller retrieving a part of the pixel data among pixel data of the frame image stored at the storage unit, and transmitting the retrieved pixel data to the scaling filter. As a result, a process of processing a stereoscopic image may be reduced such that deterioration of an image quality may be prevented, and a data processing time may be reduced.
US08319822B2
A high-resolution image device that is used to receive images in a variable depth of field environment may include a color image sensor, a panchromatic image sensor, and a measuring device. The color image sensor may be configured to receive a color image of an object. Similarly, a synchronous panchromatic image may be received by the panchromatic image sensor. To generate a fine spatial color image with higher resolution than the image received by the color image sensor, the image device may be configured to replace a luminance component from the original color image with a luminance component from the panchromatic image. However, due to a spatial difference between apertures of the color and panchromatic image sensors, parallax error may occur due to a perceived shift of the imaged object against a reference background in the color and panchromatic images. The measuring device may be configured to measure a distance between the image sensors and the object, such that the image device may be configured to use the distance to account for the effect of parallax.
US08319817B2
A method and an apparatus for a video call using transmission of divided image frames are provided. A transmitting mobile terminal captures a still image with the first resolution at a predefined period, divides the captured image into images with the second resolution that is smaller than the first resolution, and transmits the divided images to a receiving mobile terminal. Then the receiving terminal receives the divided images at a predefined period, creates a combined image corresponding to the initial still image from the divided images, and outputs the combined image on a display unit.
US08319809B2
A recording head applicable to a recording device is disclosed. The recording head comprises a substrate, a conductive pattern layer, and an electric resistor layer. The conductive pattern layer is formed on the substrate and comprises a first conductive portion, a second conductive portion, and an insulating portion. The second conductive portion is paired with the first conductive portion. The insulating portion insulates the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion. The electrical resistance layer: is formed on the conductive pattern layer; is connected to the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion; and comprises a heat-generating region between the first conductive portion and the second conductive portion.
US08319808B2
According to one embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus, including an accommodation unit, an image forming unit, an image reading unit, an image erasing unit, a first medium processing unit, and a second medium processing unit. The first medium processing unit forms the image on the recording medium carried from the accommodation unit and discharges the recording medium on which the image is formed, based on the setting of a first image process mode. The second medium processing unit forms a test image on the recording medium carried from the accommodation unit, reads the test image, erases the test image, and returns the recording medium to the accommodation unit, based on a setting of a second image process mode.
US08319806B2
An apparatus performs a pattern matching operation based on a template pattern size in the moving direction set according to information about the moving state of an object between acquisitions of first and second data, such as an encoder configured to acquire information about the moving state of the object.
US08319799B2
A display device to change an image displayed in a display area when the display area is changed includes a memory, a location output unit and a screen display unit. The memory stores size information of a display area displayed on a screen and the image data of the displayed image. The location computing unit computes a start point of the changed display area when the display area is changed. The display unit decodes data corresponding to the size of the display area based on the computed new start point from the image data to display the decoded data in the display area. Since the start point is obtained with center point of the changed display area and its size information and then a display area to be displayed is determined based on the start point, a current search location is maintained even when the screen is swung.
US08319796B2
A texture is generated using a plurality of images and a geometry that correspond to an object. The geometry is mapped to each of the plurality of images. A graph includes a plurality of nodes corresponding to portions of the images. An edge exists between a first node and a second node if a first portion corresponding to the first node and a second portion corresponding to the second node can be neighboring portions in a resulting image. Ways of forming the resulting image are represented by paths in the graph. Edges and nodes in the graph may have associated costs. A path in the graph having a smallest total cost is determined and represents the resulting image. A texture is generated for the object using the resulting image.
US08319792B2
One embodiment of the invention is a method for composing a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing that includes modeled components and non-modeled components. The method includes receiving a selection of properties for a non-modeled component to include in the CAD drawing, where the non-modeled component defines an element of an object modeled in the CAD drawing that is not included in a display representation of the object including an instance of the non-modeled component in the CAD drawing. Although not shown in display representations, the non-modeled elements may be displayed in a browse view showing the elements included in a CAD drawing, and in a bill of materials generated from the CAD drawing.
US08319783B1
A system and method for performing zero-bandwidth-clears reduces external memory accesses by a graphics processor when performing clears and subsequent read operations. A set of clear values is stored in the graphics processor. Each portion of a color or z buffer may be configured using a zero-bandwidth-clear command to reference a clear value without writing the external memory. The clear value is provided to a requestor without accessing the external memory when a read access is performed.
US08319782B2
Systems and methods for providing scalability of multiple graphic processor units (GPU) that work together in a multi-coprocessor fashion to provide parallel graphics rendering methodology for an information handling system. The total number of active GPUs working together to provide parallel graphics rendering methodology for a given information handling system may be increased in a modular manner beyond one or two GPUs, e.g., so as allow as many GPUs as desired to be attached to a given information handling system such as a desktop computer or notebook computer.
US08319777B2
A character display for attracting user interest by increasing the variety of on-screen display while reducing data processing by making the time variation of posture common among a plurality of characters. The character display (301) comprises: an arrangement selector (303) that, on the basis of instructional input from the user, selects arrangement information stored in an arrangement storage unit (302) that determines the reference positions/orientations of each character; a posture acquirer (305) that acquires, from a posture storage unit (304), a coordinate group representing the posture of the characters in association with the elapsed time from a predetermined time to the present; a mover/rotator (306) that moves/rotates the coordinate group to match the reference position/orientation of each character; and a generating/displaying unit (307) that generates/displays an image wherein the plurality of characters are arranged in the virtual space and taking postures on the basis of the moved/rotated coordinate group.
US08319772B2
Techniques and tools are described for rendering views of a map in which map metadata elements are layered in 3D space through which a viewer navigates. Layering of metadata elements such as text labels in 3D space facilitates parallax and smooth motion effects for zoom-in, zoom-out and scrolling operations during map navigation. A computing device can determine a viewer position that is associated with a view altitude in 3D space, then render for display a map view based upon the viewer position and metadata elements layered at different metadata altitudes in 3D space. For example, the computing device places text labels in 3D space above features associated with the respective labels, at the metadata altitudes indicated for the respective labels. The computing device creates a map view from points of the placed labels and points of a surface layer of the map that are visible from the viewer position.
US08319770B2
A method and system for optimizing user input points that identify points within an image of a left ventricle of a heart includes identifying user input points on an image. The user input points include an apical point and left and right basal points positioned proximate to an endocardium of a left ventricle. An adjusted apical point is determined based on at least an autocorrelation of points in the image proximate to the apical point. The adjusted apical point is displayed on the image.
US08319767B2
A driver includes a plurality of amplifier circuits which outputs a plurality of gradation voltages to a display portion according to a control signal, a control circuit which outputs the control signal, and a delay portion which sequentially supplies the control signal to amplifier circuits in a first amplifier circuit group, and which sequentially supplies a delayed control signal to amplifier circuits in a second amplifier circuit group other than the first amplifier circuit group, the delayed control signals obtained by delaying the control signal by a certain delay time.
US08319766B2
Electronic Paper Displays can suffer from “ghosting” or previous images remaining partially visible after the display has updated to show a new image. A pseudo-random noise intermediate image is used to make the ghosting less visible to human observers. Further, other intermediate images can be used to convey visible information or to convey secret information, e.g. a watermark. A control signal for driving the bi-stable display from the current optical state to an intermediate state, then to a final optical state is also determined. In some embodiments, the intermediate state for each pixel is determined in a pseudo-random manner. The pseudo-random noise values are applied to the bi-stable display to remove noise and other artifacts from the end resulting images. The determined control signal is applied to the bi-stable display to drive the bi-stable to the intermediate state, then to the final optical state.
US08319761B2
An organic light emitting display configured to be driven using a frame divided into a plurality of sub-frames includes a data driver configured to supply a plurality of data signals to output lines during a first period of one horizontal period of the sub-frame, a scan driver configured to sequentially supply a scan signal to scan lines during a second period of the one horizontal period of the sub-frame, a demultiplexer coupled to each output line, the demultiplexer being configured to supply the data signals to a plurality of data lines, buffers configured to supply buffers supplying signals from the demultiplexers to the data lines, the buffers including PMOS transistors, and pixels disposed at intersections of the scan lines and the data lines, the pixels being configured to display images corresponding to the data signals.
US08319760B2
Disclosed herein is a display device including: a pixel section having pixel circuits arranged to form a matrix with at least a plurality of columns, pixel data being written to each of the pixel circuits via a switching element; at least one scan line disposed to be associated with rows of the pixel circuits and adapted to control the conduction of the switching elements; a plurality of signal lines disposed to be associated with columns of the pixel circuits and adapted to convey the pixel data; and a horizontal driving circuit having a plurality of signal drivers, the plurality of signal drivers being associated with a plurality of groups into which the signal lines are divided, and being adapted to convey the image data supplied to the signal lines.
US08319754B2
The screen touch pen used for inputting commands to a capacitive type touch screen, comprising a pen-tip having a first portion and a second portion along an axial direction, the first portion of the pen-tip being exposed for inputting commands to the capacitive type touch screen, wherein a portion of the pen-tip contacting with the capacitive type touch screen is made of an electrically-conductive fabric.
US08319751B2
An apparatus, method and system are disclosed for touch and gesture detection. A light source array comprises a plurality of light sources. Each light source of the light source array transmits a light beam across a face of a display in response to being activated. A light sensor array comprises a plurality of light sensors. Each light sensor of the light sensor array detects an intensity of each light beam transmitted across the face of the display in response to being activated. A controller concurrently activates each light source of the light source array with each light sensor of the light sensor array as a source/sensor pair during a detection cycle while other light sources of the light source array and other light sensors of the light sensor array are inactive. The controller further determines a location of a pointer relative to the display from a pattern of light beam intensities for each source/sensor pair.
US08319749B2
An image pickup apparatus capable of easily improving the detection accuracy of a touching or proximity object is provided. An offset noise (a reset image R) is obtained by an image pickup process in a state (a reset state) in which an image pickup device is initialized. Moreover, a fingertip extraction process is performed in consideration of the offset noise on the basis of a picked-up image (a shadow image A or a display light-using image B) which is obtained by picking up an image of a proximity object to obtain object information about the proximity object. While an offset noise in the apparatus is easily reduced, object information about the proximity object can be obtained.
US08319739B2
A light sensitive screen includes at least one sensing element each being configured to detect a force applied to a position of the light sensitive screen and generate an electrical signal when a force is detected, and a sensor module configured to receive and process the electrical signal from the at least one sensing element. The sensor module may amplify the electrical signal from one of the at least one sensing element and generate an amplified signal, compare the amplified signal with a threshold and generate a comparing result, and generate a digital signal based on the comparing result, the digital signal including information as to whether the position of the light sensitive screen is touched.
US08319736B2
Touch sensitive computing systems and methods are provided. The touch sensitive computing device may include a touch sensitive display configured to receive a touch input. A gesture recognition module may be coupled with the touch sensitive display, and may be configured to receive the touch input. The gesture recognition module may also be configured to determine, based on the touch input, and by selecting from a plurality of different predefined gestures, a recognized gesture that corresponds to the touch input. The touch sensitive computing device may also include a personal information management (PIM) module including a PIM database. The PIM module may be configured to apply a selected item shown on the touch sensitive display to a selected one of a plurality of different PIM schemas of the PIM database. The selected one of the PIM schemas may be selected based on the recognized gesture.
US08319734B2
An improved input apparatus and method of enabling input improve handheld electronic devices having a housing and a processor apparatus disposed on the housing. The processor apparatus comprises a processor and a memory. The input apparatus includes an input assembly with an input device for providing input to the processor, a plurality of input members, and at least a first actuating element movable between a first position and a second position. In the second position, the actuating element actuates the input device. Each input member of the portion of input members is movable among an unactuated position and an actuated position. Each of a plurality of input members of the portion of input members, in the actuated position, is engageable with the actuating element to move it toward the second position. The input apparatus enables close arrangement of the input members to provide, for example, a compact keyboard layout.
US08319732B2
A data input apparatus, medium, and method detecting a selected data key input. The data input apparatus may include an image output module, an image input module, and a control module, with the image output module generating an input image having a predetermined number of input keys for the input of data. The image input module may capture the generated input image, and the control module may then binarize the captured images of the respective input keys, e.g., using a predetermined threshold value. Accordingly, the proper selection of input keys can be determined by comparing the binarized images with previously stored binarized images.
US08319730B2
Embodiments of peripheral pointing devices and methods for manufacturing the same are generally described herein. In at least one embodiment, a peripheral device comprises a housing, one or more buttons at a first side of the housing, a displacement tracker at a second side of the housing, a keypad comprising keys at the second side of the housing; and a keypress restrictor coupled to the housing. Other examples, embodiments, and related methods are further described below.
US08319725B2
The display device includes: a flexible display panel including a display portion in which scanning lines and signal lines cross each other; a supporting portion for supporting an end portion of the flexible display panel; a signal line driver circuit for outputting a signal to the signal line, which is provided for the supporting portion; and a scanning line driver circuit for outputting a signal to the scanning line, which is provided for a flexible surface of the display panel in a direction which is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the supporting portion.
US08319720B2
An active matrix display device comprises a substrate having an insulating surface, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged in a matrix form over the substrate, and a plurality of switching elements operationally connected to the pixel electrodes. Each of the switching elements further comprise a thin film transistor. The display device further includes a display medium comprising an emissive material that is capable of electrically changing luminous strength disposed at each of the pixel electrodes, and a driver circuit that includes a plurality of thin film transistors for driving the plurality of switching elements. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors comprise a crystallized semiconductor layer, a gate insulating film adjacent to the crystallized semiconductor layer and a gate electrode adjacent to the gate insulating film.
US08319717B2
The exemplary embodiment relates to a liquid crystal display device and a driving method thereof for reducing heat and electric consumption power of the data driving circuit. The exemplary embodiment includes: a liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of data lines crossing a plurality of gate lines and liquid crystal cells arranged in a matrix e; a timing controller generating a polarity control signal, deciding if a predetermined weak pattern data is input, and shifting a phase of the polarity control signal in a next frame period following a frame showing the weak pattern data when the weak pattern data is input; a data driving circuit reversing the polarity of the data voltage in response to the polarity control signal and supplying to the data lines; and a gate driving circuit supplying a gate pulse to the gate lines sequentially.
US08319715B2
A channel forming region of a thin-film transistor is covered with an electrode and wiring line that extends from a source line. As a result, the channel forming region is prevented from being illuminated with light coming from above the thin-film transistor, whereby the characteristics of the thin-film transistor can be made stable.
US08319710B2
A pixel has an outer region extending linearly along a boundary with an adjacent pixel and an inner region extending along the inner side of the outer region. Wiring lines are arranged across the outer region and the inner region. An outer uneven zone is formed along the outer region and on a substrate due to level differences resulting from the presence of the wiring lines. Similarly, an inner uneven zone is formed along the inner region and on the substrate due to level differences resulting from the presence of the wiring lines. A pattern of a conductor film of which the wiring lines are made is formed properly such that recessed portions of the outer uneven zone are located directly behind their corresponding raised portions of the inner uneven zone, as viewed from inside the pixel.
US08319709B2
A display device of the invention includes a display panel attached to one face side of a light transmissive circuit board and a light transmissive substrate attached to the other face side of the circuit board. A mounted component is mounted on the other face side of the circuit board. The circuit board includes a light transmissive junction layer for joining the circuit board to the light transmissive substrate at a position avoiding the mounted component. The junction layer includes a core substrate formed of a resin, an adhesive layer formed on one face of the core substrate, and a bonding layer formed on the other face of the core substrate and cured. The adhesive layer is adhered to the circuit board, and the bonding layer is firmly fixed to the light transmissive substrate.
US08319706B2
Display apparatus and driving method with first and second time correction of pixel drive transistor
A display apparatus including a pixel array section, and a driving section configured to drive said pixel array section having pixels respectively including a drive transistor and light emitting element. A first time correction for the mobility of the drive transistor is applied, and then a second time correction for additional correction time is applied if the signal potential of an image signal is not high.
US08319687B2
A system for determining the dimensional coordinates of a point of interest in a work space, includes a plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, located at known positions in the work space, and a wand having a first end configured for indicating a point of interest. A pair of ranging radios are mounted on the wand. A measurement circuit, responsive to the pair of ranging radios, determines the position of each of the pair of ranging radios with respect to the plurality of fixed-position ranging radios, and determines the position of the first end of the wand with respect to the plurality of fixed position ranging radios. A robotic total station may be used in lieu of the fixed-position ranging radios to monitor the positions of retroreflective elements on the wand.
US08319685B2
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products. Data representing a plurality of power management profiles for a battery-operated wireless computing device are stored on the device. The power management profiles correspond to different power consumption levels. Each power management profile defines a feature for determining a geographic location of the device from among a plurality of features that are available for determining the geographic location of the device, and a frequency for employing the feature to determine the geographic location of the device. A first battery level of the device is determined. If the determined battery level is lower than a first predetermined amount, the device switches from a first power management profile having a first consumption level to a second power management profile having a second consumption level that is lower than the first consumption level.
US08319680B2
The invention relates to a method for accurately determining the level L of a liquid by means of radar signals emitted to the liquid surface and radar signals reflected from the liquid surface. The invention further relates to a device for accurately determining the level of a liquid by means of the method according to the invention, which device comprises at least a radar antenna disposed above the liquid for emitting radar signals to the liquid and receiving radar signals reflected from the liquid surface, as well as means for determining the liquid level on the basis of the emitted radar signals and the reflected radar signals.
US08319673B2
An embodiment of an analog-to-digital converter system is described wherein an analog voltage signal Vin(t) is provided by an input amplifier. The analog signal Vin(t) has a predetermined full-scale range that is less wide than a reference voltage (Vref) range used by a downstream ADC to derive a first digital (numerical) representation D1(k) of a sampled value Vin(k) of the analog signal Vin(t). The first digital representation has N bits. A digital circuit then converts the N-bit D1(k) code to a second numerical representation D2(k) of the sampled analog voltage Vin(k) with respect to the full-scale range of the ADC system. The D2(k) code has P bits of resolution, which may be less than N bits. The P-bit D2(k) code representing Vin(k) is the output of the ADC system. Therefore, the width of the reference voltage range applied to the ADC is greater than the width of the system's full-scale range at the output of the system.
US08319665B2
A system and method of acquiring information from an image of an instrument panel of a vehicle in real time wherein at least one imaging device with advanced light metering capabilities is placed aboard a vehicle, a computer processor means is provided to control the imaging device and the advanced light metering capabilities, the advanced light metering capabilities are used to capture an image of at least a portion of the instrument panel, such as a gauge or operator control, and image recognition algorithms are used to identify the current state of the imaged portion of the instrument panel.
US08319664B2
A vehicular sensor node, circuit apparatus and their operations. Power from power source is controlled for delivery to radio transceiver and magnetic sensor, based upon a task trigger and task identifier. The radio transceiver and the magnetic sensor are operated based upon the task identifier, when the task trigger is active. The power source, radio transceiver, magnetic sensor, and circuit apparatus are enclosed in vehicular sensor node, placed upon pavement and operating for at least five years without replacing the power source components. Magnetic sensor preferably uses the magnetic resistive effect to create magnetic sensor state. Radio transceiver preferably implements version of a wireless communications protocol. The circuit apparatus may further include light emitting structure to visibly communicate during installation and/or testing, and second light emitting structure used to visibly communicate with vehicle operators. Making filled shell and vehicular sensor node from circuit apparatus.
US08319637B2
Methods, systems and articles of manufacture are provided for administering sobriety tests to online gamblers, as well as to determining whether, when and to whom to administer a sobriety tests. Various mediation events to be initiated upon certain results of such sobriety tests are also disclosed.
US08319634B2
Detecting whether an article has been loaded or unloaded for example from a ship by tracking the movements of a transducer such as an RFID tag attached to the article in space, and comparing the tracked movements with a trajectory envelope characterizing the movements associated with a load or unload action, and in the case where the movements of the article are found to comply with the trajectory envelope, registering the article as present in the predetermined volume.
US08319628B2
A three-phase faulted circuit indicator adjustable to accommodate a variety of three-phase power cables is disclosed. In one embodiment, faulted circuit indicator comprises a flexible holder that encircles the monitored conductor slightly more than one time. The flexible holder includes a plurality of magnetic sensors for monitoring the current within the internal conductors of the power cable, a logic circuit for determining the occurrence of a fault, and an output device for providing an indication of a fault. In a second embodiment, the faulted circuit indicator comprises a plurality of sensor compartments, each disposed about a central point, and each coupled to two other sensor compartments.
US08319625B2
In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, an alarm system is provided. The alarm system includes a system controller coupled to at least one initiation device. At least one textual notification device such as for example a signboard is coupled to the system controller. In one embodiment, the textual notification device is a multi-line signboard having an alarm input and a secondary input. The textual notification device is supervised, controlled, and powered integrally with the system controller. In an additional embodiment, an audible generator can be provided that provides an audible message in conjunction with the visual message on the textual notification devices.
US08319621B2
A vehicle which evaluates tire wear properly even in a road condition that tires easily slip or lock up. The vehicle, which has a driven wheel and a driving wheel with tires attached thereto, includes: a revolution speed detector for detecting revolution speeds of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed detector for detecting wheel speeds of the driven and driving wheels based on the detected revolution speed data of the driven and driving wheels; a wheel speed ratio detector for detecting a wheel speed ratio between the driven and driving wheels based on the detected wheel speed data of the driven and driving wheels; and a tire condition evaluator for outputting an evaluation result indicating that the tire(s) attached to the driven wheel and/or driving wheel is(are) worn when the wheel speed ratio is higher than a preset threshold.
US08319620B2
Methods and devices for situation awareness facilitation for a vehicle driver are provided. A method includes receiving a first acoustic signal from outside a vehicle that the driver is in and converting the first acoustic signal into a first acoustic electronic signal; sending the first acoustic electronic signal to a processor; matching the first acoustic electronic signal by the processor to stored reference electronic signals; and sending an acoustic message associated with a matched reference electronic signal to a speaker in the cab of the vehicle.
US08319611B2
An ID tag has a stable internal supply voltage and extends the range of communication with the reader/writer during back scattering communication. An ASK-modulated signal pre-boost circuit to which antenna terminals are coupled is coupled in parallel with a rectifying circuit. In the ASK-modulated signal pre-boost circuit, a switch for back scattering, working as a modulator element, is provided. During back scattering communication, when a back scattering signal “1” is transmitted, only the current flowing in the signal receiving path of the modulation/demodulation unit is wasted by turning the switch for back scattering on. Additional current loss other than the loss for impedance matching can be prevented.
US08319598B2
A power resistor includes first and second opposite terminations, a resistive element formed from a plurality of resistive element segments between the first and second opposite terminations, at least one segmenting conductive strip separating two of the resistive element segments, and at least one open area between the first and second opposite terminations and separating at least two resistive element segments. Separation of the plurality of resistive element segments assists in spreading heat throughout the power resistor. The power resistor or other electronic component may be packaged by bonding to a heat sink tab with a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material.
US08319592B2
A variable inductor includes: a first coil; a second coil which emanates a magnetic flux in a cancelling direction with respect to the magnetic flux generated in the first coil; a plate-shaped movable core positioned between the first coil and the second coil for carrying out opening & closing operation; and first and second magnetic cores, having a closed magnetic-path structure which involves the first coil, the second coil and the movable core. The first magnetic core includes a first center-core portion around which the first coil is wound and the second magnetic core includes a second center-core portion around which the second coil is wound.
US08319590B2
Device for prevention against explosion of an on load tap changer on an electrical transformer, the on load tap changer including a tank and a cover, the tank including a cooling liquid. The prevention device includes a rupture element provided with tearing zones and with folding zones upon rupture, said rupture element being able to break open when the pressure inside the tank exceeds a predetermined ceiling, at least a support member supporting the rupture element, said support member supporting a duct downstream the rupture element, the support element being distinct from the cover.
US08319587B2
A device for sectioning an electrical circuit is provided. The device includes a housing having two main sectioning terminals and, in the housing, a first member for sectioning a first electrical connection between the two main sectioning terminals, an automatic control, under the action of an electrical signal, of the first sectioning member from the closed position to the open position thereof, and a manual control member for resetting the first sectioning member from the open position to the closed position thereof. The device also includes, in the housing, two secondary sectioning terminals and a second sectioning member movable between a position for opening and a position for closing a second electrical connection between the two secondary sectioning terminals, the second sectioning member being coupled to the first sectioning member, commutation of the first sectioning member bringing about commutation of the second sectioning member.
US08319585B2
An elastic wave filter device in which elastic wave filters and parallel resonators are provided on a piezoelectric substrate includes a plurality of ground ports. The elastic wave filters include input-side resonators and output-side resonators. The input-side resonators are connected between a reception input port and a first one of the ground ports. The output-side resonators are connected between reception output ports and the first ground port. The parallel resonators are connected in parallel to output lines and are connected to second and third ground ports.
US08319581B2
A power amplifier having multiple solid state sub-amplifiers connected in parallel between an input and an output are described. The signal input to the power amplifier is provided to an RF splitter connected between an input connector and the input of each of the sub-amplifiers. The RF splitter splits the input power from the signal input and provides the power to the sub-amplifier inputs through input electrical paths. The input electrical paths from the power amplifier input to the sub-amplifiers are substantially identical. Each of the sub-amplifiers drive an input of an RF combiner connected between the outputs of the sub-amplifiers and the output of the power amplifier. The RF combiner combines the output power from each of the sub-amplifiers through output electrical paths, and provides the combined power to the power amplifier output. The output electrical paths from the sub-amplifiers to the power amplifier output are substantially identical.
US08319577B2
To provide a thin film balun that can improve balance characteristics while maintaining miniaturization. In a thin film balun to which an embodiment relates, an auxiliary coil portion is disposed at a predetermined position so as to face any one of an unbalanced transmission line and a balanced transmission line.
US08319575B2
A magnetic resonance type isolator includes a ferrite; a connection conductor that is arranged on the ferrite and includes first, second and third ports; a permanent magnet that applies a direct current magnetic field to the ferrite; a capacitor (or an inductor) that defines a first reactance element; and a capacitor (or an inductor) that defines a second reactance element. A main line arranged between the first port and the second port of the connection conductor does not resonate, an end portion of a sub-line that branches off from the main line serves as the third port, and a wave reflected from the sub-line is modulated so that its phase is shifted by 90° or about 90° at an intersection of the connection conductor. One of the capacitors is connected to the third port and the other capacitor is connected between the first port and the second port.
US08319574B2
A printed circuit board and a transmitting/receiving module including the same are disclosed. The printed circuit board in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can include a substrate, a first transmission line, which is formed on one surface of the substrate and transmits an inputted data signal, and a second transmission line, which is capacitively connected to the first transmission line. Here, the first transmission line and the second transmission line transmit an ascending edge and a descending edge of the inputted data signal.
US08319566B2
Methods and apparatus for tuning devices having mechanical resonators are described. In one implementation, a mechanical resonator and a phase shifter are configured in a feedback loop, so that the phase shifter shifts the phase of the resonator output signal. The amount of phase shift induced by the phase shifter may be variable. In another implementation, an LC tuning subcircuit is coupled to a mechanical resonator. In some implementations, the LC tuning subcircuit has a variable capacitance. One or more of the apparatus described herein may be implemented as part, or all, of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS).
US08319564B2
Integrated circuits with phase-locked loops are provided. Phase-locked loops may include an oscillator, a phase-frequency detector, a charge pump, a loop filter, a voltage-controlled oscillator, and a programmable divider. The voltage-controlled oscillator may include multiple inductors, an oscillator circuit, and a buffer circuit. A selected one of the multiple inductors may be actively connected to the oscillator circuit. The voltage-controlled oscillators may have multiple oscillator circuits. Each oscillator circuit may be connected to a respective inductor, may include a varactor, and may be powered by a respective voltage regulator. Each oscillator circuit may be coupled to a respective input transistor pair in the buffer circuit through associated coupling capacitors. A selected one of the oscillator circuits may be turned on during normal operation by supplying a high voltage to the selected one of the oscillator circuit and by supply a ground voltage to the remaining oscillator circuits.
US08319559B2
An active bias control circuit for an amplifier includes a low dropout regulator for providing a regulated voltage to provide an input current to the amplifier, and a current sense circuit responsive to the low dropout regulator for sensing a scaled down replica of the input current to the amplifier. An amplifier control circuit adjusts a control voltage to the amplifier in response to the sensed, scaled down replica of the input current to regulate the input current to the amplifier. A method for power up sequencing an amplifier for an active bias control circuit for the amplifier is also disclosed.
US08319558B1
The present disclosure relates to RF power amplifier circuitry that may operate as either a Class AB amplifier or as a Class B amplifier based on a magnitude of RF output power provided by the RF power amplifier circuitry. A transistor bias circuit in the RF power amplifier circuitry may control transitioning between operating as the Class AB amplifier and operating as the Class B amplifier. When the magnitude of the RF output power is below a first threshold, the RF power amplifier circuitry may operate as a Class AB amplifier, and when the magnitude of the RF output power is above the first threshold, the RF power amplifier circuitry may operate as a Class B amplifier.
US08319553B1
Apparatus and methods for biasing amplifiers are provided. In certain implementations, a bias circuit is provided for controlling the drain-source voltage of input transistors electrically connected to the inputs of a transconductance amplification circuit. For example, the bias circuit can maintain a relatively constant drain-source voltage in the input transistors by using a feedback loop that includes a feedback amplifier for adjusting the bias current of the input transistors based upon a difference between the drain and source voltages of the input transistors. In certain implementations, the feedback amplifier has an offset voltage equal to about the desired value of the drain-source voltage, and the feedback amplifier is configured to adjust the bias current until the difference between the inputs of the feedback amplifier is equal to about the offset voltage.
US08319552B1
An amplifier having an imbalance between pull-up and pull-down sections may include a counterpart section to balance the output sections and/or enable them to be driven by balanced drive signals. In one embodiment, a rail-to-rail output stage may include a current minor to drive one side of the circuit. The other side may be driven by a transistor having a counterpart transistor to balance the circuit. A drive section may include a balance point to facilitate balancing the drive signals.
US08319546B2
A control circuit for a transistor arrangement comprises a monitoring arrangement (60) for monitoring the current flow and voltage across the transistor arrangement (50) and means (62) for determining if the current and voltage values define an operating point which falls within a stable operating region. The stable operating region comprises a region having a boundary (30) which comprises an electro-thermal instability line.
US08319544B2
A mode determination apparatus in a semiconductor apparatus includes a first condition detection block configured to generate a first condition signal in response to a clock enable signal activated when the semiconductor apparatus enters a dynamic voltage scaling mode, a second condition detection block configured to generate a second condition signal in response to an external high voltage in the dynamic voltage scaling mode, the external high voltage having a voltage level in the dynamic voltage scaling mode different from a voltage level in a normal mode, and a signal processing block configured to generate a dynamic voltage scaling mode signal in response to the first condition signal and the second condition signal.
US08319543B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a cascode circuit having a transistor, a detector circuit and a bias generator circuit. A bias is applied to a substrate of the transistor. The detector circuit generates a signal related to a threshold voltage of the transistor. The bias generator circuit generates the bias based on the signal generated by the detector circuit.
US08319535B2
A DLL circuit includes a common delay line configured to generate a delay locked clock by selectively delaying a source clock by one or more unit delays in response to a first delay control code or a second delay control code, a clock cycle detector configured to compare a phase of the source clock with a phase of the delay locked clock in a cycle detection mode and generate the first delay control code corresponding to a delay amount of a cycle of the source clock based on a result of comparing the phases of the source and delay locked clocks, a feedback delay configured to delay the delay locked clock and output a feedback clock, and a delay amount controller configured to compare the phase of the source clock with a phase of the feedback clock in a delay locking mode and change the second delay control code based on a result of comparing the source and feedback clocks.
US08319532B2
A frequency divider comprises a phase selector and a timing circuit. The phase selector is arranged to receive a plurality of input signals and a plurality of control signals and output a plurality of output signals according to the control signals, wherein a predetermined reference voltage and the input signals are selectively chosen to generate the output signals according to the control signals, and the input signals are of a same frequency but different phases. The timing circuit is arranged to receive the output signals and generate the control signals according to the output signals.
US08319525B2
A flip-flop circuit includes a D flip-flop and a leakage current suppression circuit. The D flip-flop receives an input signal and a clock signal, and outputs a voltage of the input signal at a rising or falling edge of the clock signal as an output signal. The leakage current suppression circuit detects an output error caused by the leakage current flowing through at least a floating node of the D flip-flop and compensates for the leakage current to correct the output error. The leakage current suppression circuit includes a detection circuit and a compensation circuit. The detection circuit receives the output signal and clock signal and detects whether the output error has occurred to generate a detection result. The compensation circuit compensates for the leakage current according to the detection result to correct the output error.
US08319524B1
An apparatus, method, and system for removing glitches from a clock signal, including a duty cycle lock loop (DCLL) circuit. A glitch, which may produce errors in the clock signal, may occur when a read channel transitions from an acquired clock signal to an adjusted clock signal. In one embodiment of the inventive deglitch circuit, a first capacitor is charged and discharged in response to an input clock signal, and an output clock signal is provided depending upon the first capacitor's voltage. The output clock signal further charges and discharges a second capacitor whose ratio of charge to discharge currents provides a signal to bias the discharge current of the first capacitor. A second DCLL circuit may be provided to restore the output clock signal duty cycle to the original clock signal duty cycle.
US08319522B2
A data transfer circuit includes: plural transfer lines transferring data; plural data output units connected to end portions of the respective transfer lines, detecting and outputting data transferred through the transfer lines with drive performance in accordance with a control signal; plural data transmission units arranged in parallel, transferring data to the corresponding transfer lines in response to selection signals; a selection control unit generating selection signals and outputting the selection signals to the corresponding data transmission units; and a control unit generating the control signal for controlling drive performance of the data output units to adjust data transfer delay and outputting the control signal to the respective output units. The transfer lines are arranged in the arrangement direction of the data transmission units and connected to the corresponding data output units. The control unit generates the control signal in accordance with the length of the data transfer distance.
US08319521B1
A programmable logic device (PLD) is disclosed that includes a non-volatile memory; a shadow register; and a data shift register (DSR) configurable to receive control information from an external programming tool, wherein the DSR is configured to shift the control information into the shadow register if the PLD is in a first programming mode, the PLD being configurable to operate in the first programming mode using the control information stored in the shadow register without the control information being stored in the non-volatile memory.
US08319516B2
A circuit is configured for testing an inrush current of a power supply. The circuit includes a capacitor module, a voltage meter, a semiconductor switch, and a current meter. The capacitor module is connected to an power source for storing electric charge. The voltage meter is connected to the capacitor module for measuring a voltage across the capacitor module. The semiconductor switch is capable of connecting the capacitor module to the power supply and being closed when the voltage across the capacitor module reaches a predetermined value. The current meter is capable of measuring the inrush current at the time the power supply is powered on.
US08319511B2
A reinforcing member is formed at a top surface side of a probe card including a support plate for supporting a contactor and a circuit board. A plurality of long guide holes are formed in an outer peripheral portion of the reinforcing member. Fixing members fixed to a holding member and collars formed around outer circumferences of the fixing members are formed in the guide holes. A length in a longitudinal direction of each of the guide holes is greater than a diameter of each of the collars, and a central line in the longitudinal direction of each of the guide holes passes through a center of the reinforcing member. Due to the guide holes, horizontal expansion of the reinforcing member itself is allowed.
US08319510B2
Disclosed is a pre-alignment method and a computer-readable medium storing a pre-alignment program capable of reducing pre-alignment time and transfer time of a semiconductor wafer. The pre-alignment method includes steps of rotating the semiconductor wafer transferred from a receiving unit onto a rotating body of a pre-alignment mechanism by a transfer mechanism, calculating and storing an eccentric value between a shaft center of the rotating body and a center of the semiconductor wafer detected by a sensor of the pre-alignment mechanism, correcting a positional deviation of the semiconductor wafer on the rotating body by the transfer mechanism according to the calculated eccentric value, when the calculated eccentric value exceeds a predetermined value, and estimating the eccentric value when conducting the pre-alignment operation for a succeeding semiconductor wafer, based on the eccentric value accumulated during the pre-alignment operation conducted for semiconductor wafers prior to the succeeding semiconductor wafer.
US08319504B2
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for characterizing a tuner. For a given tuner, a processing system is adapted to measure scattering parameters for a plurality of characterization points that are non-uniformly distributed across a Smith chart, and to store the scattering parameters in a tuner characterization file. Interpolation and extrapolation processes are performed to determine additional scattering parameters for a plurality of additional characterization points, which are also stored in the tuner characterization file.
US08319503B2
A flicker noise test system includes a guarded signal path and an unguarded signal path selectively connectable to respective terminals of a device under test. The selected signal path is connectable a terminal without disconnecting cables or changing probes.
US08319502B2
A measurement device is presented being configured to be connectable to an analyzer unit (including a network analyzer). The measurement device includes a measuring unit and a calibration and control unit connected to and integral with the measuring unit. The calibration and control unit is configured to enable connection of the measuring unit to the analyzer unit. The calibration and control unit includes a number of terminals of known RF reflection coefficients respectively and includes a memory utility carrying recorded data indicative of said RF reflection coefficients and recorded data indicative of RF transfer coefficients of the calibration and control unit. This configuration enables calculation of the RF response of the measuring unit while remaining integral with the calibration and control unit.
US08319494B2
A pipeline inspection tool includes two pole magnets oriented at an oblique angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the tool body. An array of sensor coil sets is located between opposing edges of the two pole magnets and oriented perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. Each sensor coil set includes a transmitter coil and two opposing pairs of receiver coils that are gated to receive reflections from the wall of a tubular member. Because the line of sensor coils is rotated relative to the magnetic bias field, the receiver coils are in-line with, and have the same angular orientation as, the transmitter coil. The tool provides improved sensitivity to small defects, substantial decrease in RF pulser power requirements, full circumferential coverage, self-calibration of the transmitted signals, and less interference between transmitter coils caused by acoustic ring around.
US08319476B2
Provided are a battery state monitoring circuit and a battery device which can be readily adapted to variation in number of batteries, and has low withstand voltage and a simple circuit configuration. The battery state monitoring circuit includes: a first voltage monitoring terminal; a second voltage monitoring terminal; a first transmitting terminal; a second transmitting terminal; a first receiving terminal; a second receiving terminal; a control terminal; an overcharge detector circuit for detecting whether a battery is in an overcharged state or not based on a voltage between the first voltage monitoring terminal and the second voltage monitoring terminal and outputting an overcharge detection signal indicating the detection result; and an overcharge information communication circuit for transmitting an overcharge signal indicative of an overcharged state to an external from the first transmitting terminal when at least one of an overcharge signal indicating whether another battery is in the overcharged state or not, which has been received through the first receiving terminal, and the overcharge detection signal, is indicative of the overcharged state.
US08319471B2
A system and method for digital management and control of power conversion from battery cells. The system utilizes a power management and conversion module that uses a CPU to maintain a high power conversion efficiency over a wide range of loads and to manage charge and discharge operation of the battery cells. The power management and conversion module includes the CPU, a current sense unit, a charge/discharge unit, a DC-to-DC conversion unit, a battery protection unit, a fuel gauge and an internal DC regulation unit. Through intelligent power conversion and charge/discharge operations, a given battery type is given the ability to emulate other battery types by conversion of the output voltage of the battery and adaptation of the charging scheme to suit the battery.
US08319470B2
A portable solar battery charger comprises a photovoltaic array, a power regulator, a controller, and a battery. In one embodiment, the controller is configured to increase the charging current provided by the power regulator to the battery over time using discrete current levels. A comparator can compare the voltage of the photovoltaic array to a threshold, and provide the result to the controller. The controller can be configured to decrease the current to a previously selected level when the comparator indicates the voltage of the photovoltaic array is below a threshold, thereby improving the efficiency of the current delivery to the battery.
US08319469B2
The brushless electric machine includes a first drive member (30U) having a plurality of permanent magnets (32U); a second drive member (10) having a plurality of electromagnetic coils and capable of movement relative to the first drive member (30U); and a third drive member (30L) disposed at the opposite side from the first drive member (30U) with the second drive member (10) therebetween. The second drive member (10) has magnetic sensors (40A, 40B) for detecting the relative position of the first and second drive members. The third drive member (30L) has at locations facing the permanent magnets of the first drive member (30U) a plurality of magnetic field strengthening members (32L) for strengthening the magnetic field at the location of the second drive member (10) in conjunction with the permanent magnets.
US08319459B2
It is determined which of six continuous sections having different magnitude correlation of signal amplitude of each phase of an input three-phase signal a section is. Predetermined subtraction is performed between respective phases in the section, to obtain a normalized amplitude value normalized in the section, using the subtraction result. The normalized amplitude value is converted to a vector phase for one cycle based on a predetermined phase and output corresponding to the determined section.
US08319455B2
Systems and methods for controlling the output of a plurality of light sources. The system can include four or more light sources (e.g. light emitting diodes (“LEDs”)) and a controller. The light sources are included in, for example, a luminaire. The respective outputs of the plurality of light sources are controlled using a hue and purity (“HP”) control technique. The HP technique includes selecting a dominant hue (e.g., green, blue, red, etc.). The purity of the selected hue is then modified to include or remove wavelengths of light adjacent to the selected hue. For example, if the selected hue is green, gradually reducing the purity of the selected hue gradually increases the presence of cyan and amber in the output of the luminaire. As the purity is reduced further, additional wavelengths of light are included, but the output of the luminaire remains, in essence, green.
US08319452B1
In some examples, a dimming protocol detection technology includes methods and apparatuses. In other examples, the technology includes a dimmer configured to transmit a dimming input signal. The dimming input signal is in a dimming protocol. The technology further includes a light fixture. The light fixture includes a plurality of lights and a dimming protocol detection module configured to detect the dimming protocol received in the dimming input signal. The dimming protocol is detected from a plurality of dimming protocols. The light fixture further includes a light dimming control module configured to control the plurality of lights based on the detected dimming protocol.
US08319450B2
A method for igniting and for starting high-pressure discharge lamps is provided. The method may include applying a takeover voltage to the lamp for a predetermined time of a burst; superimposing ignition pulses on the takeover voltage in such a way that the voltage of the ignition pulses and the takeover voltage are added up and an interruption being provided between two bursts; and changing the ignition pulses from burst to burst or within a burst from the positive half-cycle of the takeover voltage to the negative half-cycle of the takeover voltage, and vice versa.
US08319445B2
A driver circuit produces variable current output for an LED lighting system providing improved dimming capability and greater power efficiency when responding to industry standard lighting dimmers, through the use of an input voltage monitoring circuit which variably controls the current output of a switching regulator. Output current modulation methods such as analog, PWM, Pulse Frequency Modulation, or other digital modulation, and combination or hybrid methods may be employed. The current invention marries such output modulation techniques with a control method which is derived through intelligent monitoring of the input voltage waveform. The circuit and method described is adapted to higher current applications such as LED lighting systems using the latest high-power LEDs.
US08319444B2
The present invention discloses a tail-less LED control circuit, which includes: a power supply stage having an output terminal which provides electrical power to an LED circuit; an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal; an LED driver circuit coupled to the power supply stage for controlling the power supply stage to provide the electrical power to the LED circuit, the LED driver circuit receiving a PWM dimming signal for adjusting brightness of the LED circuit; and a MOSFET switch coupled to the output capacitor in series, the MOSFET switch switching synchronously with the PWM dimming signal to alleviate LED afterglow, wherein the MOSFET switch includes a body diode having an anode-cathode direction against the discharge direction of the output capacitor.
US08319440B2
A direction controllable lighting unit (10) and use thereof in a lighting system (40) are described. A lighting unit (10) has means (16) for directing the light emission (22) into different directions. A plurality of light sources (20a, 20b) are mounted on a common body (14). The light sources (20a, 20b) are disposed to emit directed light into different directions. The light is modulated to contain identification codes ‘A’, ‘B’, which are unique. Within the lighting system (40), an optical sensor (46) is arranged in a region illuminated by the lighting unit (10). The optical sensor (46) demodulates the received light according to the identification code. A control unit (44) is connected to the optical sensor (46) and to the lighting unit (10) to control the direction of the lighting unit (10) based on information from the optical sensor (46).
US08319439B2
An electrodeless plasma lamp and a method of controlling operation of a plasma lamp are provided. The plasma lamp may a power source to provide radio frequency (RF) power and a lamp body to receive the RF power from a feed. The lamp body may comprise a dielectric material having a dielectric constant greater than 2 and bulb is provided that contains a fill that forms a plasma that emits light when at least a portion of the RF power is coupled to the fill. A light guide directs light from the bulb to a photosensor that is shielded from light output from a front side of the lamp body. The lamp includes a drive circuit to control operation of the lamp based on a level of light detected by the photosensor.
US08319437B2
According to various embodiments of the invention, an LED lighting system is providing having a replaceable driver module. In some embodiments, the replaceable driver module comprises a component that is physically attachable to an LED illumination module, whereby the attached components have a combined physical profile dimensioned for installation in a pre-existing light fixture. In further embodiments, the combined system's dimensions allow it to be installed in pre-existing fluorescent fixtures without requiring rewiring of the fixtures. In some embodiments, the LED driver module may be configured to condition power received from a fluorescent light ballast to drive the LEDs such that a pre-existing fluorescent ballast does not need to be removed. In other embodiments, the LED driver may be configured to condition main power such that a pre-existing fluorescent ballast may be removed.
US08319427B2
A light emitting apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a body including a cavity; an electrode of which one end is disposed in the cavity by penetrating the body and the other end is disposed outside of the body; a heat radiating member including a main frame which is coupled with the body to form the bottom of the cavity and a sub frame which extends from the main frame, wherein the top surface of the main frame has a larger area than the bottom surface of the main frame and the sub frame includes a slope; and a light emitting device installed on the heat radiating member and electrically connected with the electrode.
US08319423B2
The present invention relates to a display device preventing a getter layer from contacting elements disposed in the display device, and an embodiment of the present invention may be achieved in a whole or in part by a display device comprising: A substrate; A pixel part disposed on the substrate; A cap comprising a first region attached on the substrate; and a second region having a position different from a position of the first region, connected with the first region, and corresponding to the pixel part; A getter layer disposed on the second region of the cap; and A protecting layer disposed on the getter layer.
US08319408B1
A lamp includes a housing, a cooling module and a light emitting diode. The housing has an assembling opening and an electrical connection member on two ends of the housing, wherein an inner surface of the housing defines a receiving room, and a part of the inner surface of the housing adjacent to the assembling opening is an air-guiding wall. The cooling module is disposed at the assembling opening of the housing to form at least one air channel between the cooling module and the air-guiding wall, wherein the cooling module has an air-guiding passage communicating with the receiving room of the housing. The light emitting diode is coupled with the cooling module. Therefore, there is no air inlet or outlet formed on the housing of the LED lamp, so as to provide a simplified structure and to maintain the exterior integrity of the LED lamp.
US08319407B2
A LED lamp with straight tube comprises a tube body, a lamp cover sheathed at two ends of the tube body and a lamp strip which is in inserted connection in the tube body and comprises a circuit board and a heat diffuser; the lamp cover is internally, fixedly provided with a connecting device connected with the lamp strip; the connecting device comprises a connecting piece on which a connecting arm extending along the length direction of the lamp strip is arranged; the connecting arm is provided with a buckle body; the corresponding position on the surface of the lamp strip is provided with a buckle seat matched with the buckle body; and the circuit board is overlapped and adhered with the radiator to be into a whole through an insulating heat conducting layer.
US08319392B2
A motor may include a stator provided with a yoke having a plurality of pole teeth and an exciting coil and a rotor disposed in a circular space surrounded by the pole teeth. A portion where a difference between an inner side area of the pole tooth facing the rotor and an outer side area of the pole tooth facing the exciting coil is larger than a difference between the inner side area and the outer side area of the pole tooth where both circumferential direction faces of the pole tooth are formed in faces coincided with normal lines may be provided on a root part of the pole tooth. Further, circumferential direction faces of at least a root part of the pole tooth are formed so as to face the rotor in an inclined manner.
US08319391B2
A stator assembly for an electric motor includes an annular core centered about an axis of rotation of an inner rotor which the stator assembly surrounds. The stator assembly has a plurality of electrical windings, each wound in a respective spiral around the outer surface of the core and arranged for current to flow in the windings. In some embodiments, the respective spirals are spaced from and parallel with one another. The stator assembly may have pole pieces that substantially enclose the core and windings. The pole pieces may be configured to taper both radially outward and axially inward to thereby concentrate flux from the core to an inner surface of the pole pieces facing the rotor.
US08319386B2
A motor having a rotor and a stator is disclosed. A motor having a rotor and as stator is disclosed. The rotor is a consequent-pole rotor having a rotor core, a plurality of magnets, and a plurality of salient poles. The stator includes a plurality of teeth. The stator is arranged to be opposite to the rotor with a gap along the radial direction. The gap between the stator and the rotor is set to satisfy an expression 1
US08319377B2
A photovoltaic system includes an inverter, a photovoltaic generator with a plurality of serially connected photovoltaic modules, said photovoltaic generator connected to the inverter by an electrical supply line, a controllable fuse interconnected in the electrical supply line between the inverter and the photovoltaic generator and having a signal input, and a voltage-dependent resistor connected between the signal input of the controllable fuse and the electrical supply line and generating a control signal which triggers the controllable fuse responsive to the control signal and interrupts the electrical supply line. The controllable fuse can be used to disconnect the electrical connection of the photovoltaic system to the inverter when a switch short-circuiting one or more modules of the photovoltaic generator malfunctions. The arrangement permits operation of photovoltaic system at an operating voltage of close to 1000 V, thereby allowing use of thinner cables.
US08319369B2
An aircraft electrical system includes a generator that supplies electrical AC power to a plurality of accessories associated with a gas turbine engine. The generator also supplies power to an aircraft DC bus in parallel to the supply to the accessory bus.
US08319363B2
A wind power generator includes a pillar fixed on a base, a nacelle platform disposed on an upper end portion of the pillar, a service crane provided at a side of the nacelle platform, a generator assembly coupled to the nacelle platform, a rotor hub rotatably coupled to the generator assembly, and a plurality of blades coupled to the rotor hub and rotating the rotor hub. The rotor hub is provided at an outer circumference of a front end thereof with a plurality of first pulleys for guiding a case from a winch installed on the ground.
US08319361B2
The invention relates to a device for monitoring a wind energy installation (1) comprising a tower (2) and a rotor provided with rotor blades (5) and arranged on the tower, in terms of a possible collision of a rotor blade (5) with the tower (2). Said device comprises at least one distance sensor (7a, 7b) which is arranged on the wind energy installation (1) and used for the non-contact measurement of the distance between the rotor blades (5) and a pre-determined point on the wind energy installation (1). The device also comprises an electronic evaluation system in which the distance data measured by the at least one distance sensor (7a, 7b) is evaluated, said system emitting a collision warning in the event of a critical distance not being reached.
US08319360B1
A generator which extracts operating energy from waves of a body of water. A plurality of floats may be suspended beside a rotary power collector. The rotary power collector is arranged to turn unidirectionally as the floats rise and fall vertically on the waves. Rotation of the rotary power collector is transmitted to a rotary generator. The floats may comprise rigid rods each having a finger which engages and rotates the rotary power collector. Alternatively, the floats may be suspended from ropes or the like which are wound around a reel, with the reel driving the rotary power collector in a manner controlled by ratchet action.
US08319354B2
The invention provides a semiconductor chip comprising an interconnecting structure over said passivation layer. The interconnecting structure comprises a first contact pad connected to a second contact pad exposed by an opening in a passivation layer. A metal bump is on the first contact pad and over multiple semiconductor devices, wherein the metal bump has more than 50 percent by weight of gold and has a height of between 8 and 50 microns.
US08319343B2
The present invention provides a solder bump structure. In one aspect, the solder bump structure is utilized in a semiconductor device, such as an integrated circuit. The semiconductor device comprises active devices located over a semiconductor substrate, interconnect layers comprising copper formed over the active devices, and an outermost metallization layer positioned over the interconnect layers. The outermost metallization layer comprises aluminum and includes at least one bond pad and at least one interconnect runner each electrically connected to an interconnect layer. An under bump metallization layer (UBM) is located over the bond pad, and a solder bump is located over the UBM.
US08319339B2
A silicon chip surface mounted via balls attached to its front surface, wherein the front and rear surfaces of the chip are covered with a thermosetting epoxy resin having the following characteristics: the resin contains a proportion ranging from 45 to 60% by weight of a load formed of carbon fiber particles with a maximum size of 20 μm and with its largest portion having a diameter ranging between 2 and 8 μm, on the front surface side, the loaded resin covers from 45 to 60% of the ball height, on the rear surface side, the loaded resin has a thickness ranging between 80 and 150 μm.
US08319323B2
In one embodiment, a leadless package includes down-set conductive leads having base portions. The base portions include stand-offs that attach to electrodes on an electronic chip using, for example, a solder die attach material. An optional encapsulating layer covers portions of the down-set conductive leads and portions of the electronic chip while leaving pad portions of the down-set conductive leads and a surface of the electronic chip exposed. The pad portions and the surface of the electronic chip are oriented to attach to a next level of assembly.
US08319319B2
A semiconductor package and mounting method of improving reliability by strengthening adhesive strength of both a printed circuit board and a surface mounting package, includes a chip pad on which a semiconductor device is disposed, and lead terminals, wherein at least one of the chip pad and the lead terminals have a plurality of grooves. Accordingly, in comparison with a typical package, since a plurality of grooves are formed on both a chip pad and lead terminals of a package adhering to a printed circuit, an adhesive area of both the package and the cream solder is widened so that the shearing strength may be improved and greater solder joint reliability can be acquired.
US08319317B2
Problems with a conventional mesa type semiconductor device, which are deterioration in a withstand voltage and occurrence of a leakage current caused by reduced thickness of an insulation film on an inner wall of a mesa groove corresponding to a PN junction, are solved using an inexpensive material, and a mesa type semiconductor device of high withstand voltage and high reliability is offered together with its manufacturing method. A stable protection film made of a thermal oxide film is formed on the inner wall of the mesa groove in the mesa type semiconductor device to cover and protect the PN junction, and an insulation film having negative electric charges is formed to fill a space in the mesa groove covered with the thermal oxide film so that an electron accumulation layer is not easily formed at an interface between an N− type semiconductor layer and the thermal oxide film. With the structure described above, an influence of the positive electric charges in the thermal oxide film is weakened and an extension of a depletion layer into the N− type semiconductor layer at the interface with the thermal oxide film is secured.
US08319314B2
A semiconductor device comprises a first base layer of a first conductivity type; a plurality of second base layers of a second conductivity type, provided on a part of a first surface of the first base layer; trenches formed on each side of the second base layers, and formed to be deeper than the second base layers; an emitter layer formed along the trench on a surface of the second base layers; a collector layer of the second conductivity type, provided on a second surface of the first base layer opposite to the first surface; an insulating film formed on an inner wall of the trench, the insulating film being thicker on a bottom of the trench than on a side surface of the trench; a gate electrode formed within the trench, and isolated from the second base layers and the emitter layer by the insulating film; and a space section provided between the second base layers adjacent to each other, the space section being deeper than the second base layers and being electrically isolated from the emitter layer and the second base layers.
US08319310B2
A Schottky gate (27′, 27″) of a metal-semiconductor FET (20′, 20″) is formed on a semiconductor comprising substrate (21) by, etching a gate recess (36) so as to expose a slightly depressed surface (362) of the substrate (21), the etching step also producing surface undercut cavities (363) extending laterally under the etch mask (43) from the gate recess (36), then conformally coating the slightly depressed surface (362) with a first Schottky forming conductor (40′) and substantially also coating inner surfaces (366) of the surface undercut cavities (363), and forming a Schottky contact to the semiconductor comprising substrate (21), adapted when biased to control current flow in a channel (22) extending between source (23) and drain (24) of the FET (20′, 20″) under the gate recess (36). In further embodiments, a conformal or non-conformal barrier layer conductor (41′, 41″) may be provided over the Schottky forming conductor (40′) and a thicker overlying gate conductor (442, 272) provided over the barrier layer conductor (41′, 41″).
US08319309B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device including: a base substrate; a semiconductor layer which is disposed on the base substrate and has a 2-Dimensional Electron Gas (2DEG) formed therewithin; a first ohmic electrode disposed on a central region of the semiconductor layer; a second ohmic electrode which is formed on the edge regions of the semiconductor layer in such a manner to be disposed to be spaced apart from the first ohmic electrodes, and have a ring shape surrounding the first ohmic electrode; and a Schottky electrode part which is formed on the central region to cover the first ohmic electrode and is formed to be spaced apart from the second ohmic electrode.
US08319306B2
A method of fabricating an image sensor and an image sensor thereof are provided. The method comprises: providing a mask; utilizing the mask at a first position to form a first group of micro-lenses having a first height on a first group of color filters of a color filter array on a pixel array; shifting the mask from the first position to a second position, wherein a distance between the first position and the second position is substantially equal to a width of a pixel of the pixel array; and utilizing the mask at the second position to form a second group of micro-lenses having a second height, different from the first height, on a second group of color filters of the color filter array.
US08319305B2
This invention provides a solid-state image sensing apparatus in which a sensor portion that performs photo-electric conversion and plural layers of wiring lines including a signal line for the sensor portion are formed on a semiconductor substrate; which includes an effective pixel portion configured such that light enters the sensor portion, and an optical black portion shielded so that the light does not enter the sensor portion; and which has a light-receiving surface on the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate. The optical black portion includes the sensor portion, a first light-shielding film formed closer to the back surface side of the semiconductor substrate than the sensor portion, and a second light-shielding film formed closer to the front surface side of the semiconductor substrate than the sensor portion.
US08319304B2
A light detecting apparatus includes an SOI substrate. In the SOI substrate, a semiconductor layer and a silicon substrate are laminated via an insulating layer. The semiconductor layer has a light receiving unit and a circuit unit formed therein. The light detecting apparatus also includes an interlayer insulating film formed on a first main surface of the SOI substrate. The light detecting apparatus also includes a front surface circuit wiring embedded in the interlayer insulating film. The light detecting apparatus also includes a front surface pseudo-wiring having a grid unit. The grid unit has at least one opening allowing passage of a light of a predetermined wavelength range to the light receiving unit. The light detecting apparatus also includes a rear surface circuit wiring and a rear surface pseudo-wiring formed on a second main surface of the SOI substrate. The light detecting apparatus also includes a penetration circuit wiring that connects the front surface circuit wiring to the rear surface circuit wiring. The light detecting apparatus also includes a penetration pseudo-wiring that electrically connects the front surface pseudo-wiring to the rear surface pseudo-wiring. The light receiving unit is surrounded by the front surface pseudo-wiring, the rear surface pseudo-wiring, and the penetration pseudo-wiring.
US08319299B2
A process for forming at least one transistor on a substrate is described. The substrate comprises a polyimide and a nanoscopic filler. The polyimide is derived substantially or wholly from rigid rod monomers and the nanoscopic filler has an aspect ratio of at least 3:1. The substrates of the present disclosure are particularly well suited for thin film transistor applications, due at least in part to high resistance to hygroscopic expansion and relatively high levels of thermal and dimensional stability.
US08319296B2
In a semiconductor device including a carbon-containing electrode and a method for fabricating the same, an electrode has a high work function due to a carbon-containing TiN layer contained therein. It is possible to provide a dielectric layer having a high permittivity and thus to reduce the leakage current by forming an electrode having a high work function. Also, sufficient capacitance of a capacitor can be secured by employing an electrode having a high work function and a dielectric layer having a high permittivity.
US08319294B2
Techniques for providing a source line plane are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for providing a source line plane. The apparatus may comprise a source line plane coupled to at least one constant voltage source. The apparatus may also comprise a plurality of memory cells arranged in an array of rows and columns, each memory cell including one or more memory transistors. Each of the one or more memory transistors may comprise a first region coupled to the source line plane, a second region coupled to a bit line, a body region disposed between the first region and the second region, wherein the body region may be electrically floating, and a gate coupled to a word line and spaced apart from, and capacitively coupled to, the body region.
US08319286B2
A system and method for electrostatic discharge protection. The system includes a first transistor including a first drain, a second transistor including a second drain, and a resistor including a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is coupled to the first drain and the second drain. Additionally, the system includes a third transistor coupled to the second terminal and a protected system. The third transistor includes a first gate, a first dielectric layer located between the first gate and a first substrate, a first source, and a third drain. The protected system includes a fourth transistor, and the fourth transistor includes a second gate, a second dielectric layer located between the second gate and a second substrate, a second source, and a fourth drain.
US08319274B2
A gate dielectric functioning as a charge-trapping layer of a non-volatile memory cell with a structure of an insulator gate field effect transistor is formed by laminating a first insulator formed of a silicon oxide film, a second insulator formed of a silicon nitride film, a third insulator formed of a silicon nitride film containing oxygen, and a fourth insulator formed of a silicon oxide film in this order on a main surface of a semiconductor substrate. Holes are injected into the charge-trapping layer from a gate electrode side. Accordingly, since the operations can be achieved without the penetration of the holes through the interface in contact to the channel and the first insulator, the deterioration in rewriting endurance and the charge-trapping characteristics due to the deterioration of the first insulator does not occur, and highly efficient rewriting (writing and erasing) characteristics and stable charge-trapping characteristics can be achieved.
US08319263B2
The output voltage of an MRAM is increased by means of an Fe(001)/MgO(001)/Fe(001) MTJ device, which is formed by microfabrication of a sample prepared by the following steps. A single-crystalline MgO (001) substrate 11 is prepared. An epitaxial Fe(001) lower electrode (a first electrode) 17 with the thickness of 50 nm is grown on a MgO(001) seed layer 15 at room temperature, followed by annealing under ultrahigh vacuum (2×10−8 Pa) and at 350° C. A MgO(001) barrier layer 21 with the thickness of 2 nm is epitaxially formed on the Fe(001) lower electrode (the first electrode) at room temperature, using a MgO electron-beam evaporation. A Fe(001) upper electrode (a second electrode) with the thickness of 10 nm is then formed on the MgO(001) barrier layer 21 at room temperature. This is successively followed by the deposition of a Co layer 21 with the thickness of 10 nm on the Fe(001) upper electrode (the second electrode) 23. The Co layer 21 is provided so as to increase the coercive force of the upper electrode 23 in order to realize an antiparallel magnetization alignment.
US08319253B2
The device including an active layer composed of AlGaInP, and an n-type clad layer and a p-type clad layer disposed so as to sandwich the active layer, the n-type clad layer and the p-type clad layer each having a bandgap greater than the bandgap of the active layer. The n-type clad layer includes a first n-type clad layer composed of AlGaInP and a second n-type clad layer composed of AlInP; and the second n-type clad layer has a thickness in the range from 40 nm to 200 nm.
US08319252B2
A light emitting device comprises two light-emitting diode (LED) groups, a group of luminophor layers, and an input terminal. The first LED group includes at least one blue LED emitting light having a dominant wavelength in a range between 400 nm and 480 nm, and the second LED group includes at least one red-orange LED emitting light having a dominant wavelength in a range between 610 nm and 630 nm. The group of luminophor layers, which are selected from one of silicates, nitrides, and nitrogen oxides, are positioned above the first LED group and partially converts the light emitted by the first LED group into light having a dominant wavelength in a range between 500 nm and 555 nm. The input terminal is connected to the two LED groups for providing desired electric energy thereto.
US08319230B1
An optoelectronics chip-to-chip interconnects system is provided, including at least one packaged chip to be connected on the printed-circuit-board with at least one other packaged chip, optical-electrical (O-E) conversion mean, waveguide-board, and (PCB). Single to multiple chips interconnects can be interconnected provided using the technique disclosed in this invention. The packaged chip includes semiconductor die and its package based on the ball-grid array or chip-scale-package. The O-E board includes the optoelectronics components and multiple electrical contacts on both sides of the O-E substrate. The waveguide board includes the electrical conductor transferring the signal from O-E board to PCB and the flex optical waveguide easily stackable onto the PCB to guide optical signal from one chip-to-other chip. Alternatively, the electrode can be directly connected to the PCB instead of including in the waveguide board. The chip-to-chip interconnections system is pin-free and compatible with the PCB. The main advantages of this invention are to use the packaged chip for interconnection and the conventional PCB technology can be used for low speed electrical signal connection. Also, the part of the heat from the packaged chip can be transmitted to the PCB through the conductors, so that complex cooling system can be avoided.
US08319189B2
A radiographic imaging assistance device is provided. An acquisition component acquires position information representing positions of defective pixels of an imaging device, the imaging device being plurally provided with pixels comprising detection elements which detect radiation that has passed through a subject of imaging, and the imaging device carrying out imaging by generating image information which represents a radiographic image in accordance with radiation amounts detected by the detection elements and storing the image information in a pre-specified storage region. A judgment component, based on detection region information, which represents a detection region with a size corresponding to the subject of imaging, and the acquired position information, judges whether or not an influence from the defective pixels in a detection region that is represented by the detection region information is within an acceptable level that accepts imaging a radiographic image.
US08319187B2
Disclosed are a system and method counting photons. Photons are counted through a plurality of counters. Each of the counters generates a flag signal indicating the availability of each counter for an output of a photon detector. The generated flag signal is input into a control unit which controls a switching unit. The control unit allows a signal to be input into a counter, which is not in dead time, based on the received flag signal.
US08319177B2
An ion mobility spectrometer is described having an ion filter in the form of at least one ion channel having a plurality of electrodes. A time-varying electric potential applied to the conductive layers allows the filler to selectively admit ion species. The electric potential has a drive and a transverse component, and in preferred embodiments each of the electrodes is involved in generating a component of both the drive and transverse fields. The device may be used without a drift gas flow. Microfabrication techniques are described for producing microscale spectrometers, as are various uses of the spectrometer.
US08319172B2
An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided having a transmitter (12) for operating light, a light receiver (14) for the generation of an electrical received signal from incident light and an evaluation unit (16) which can detect an object in the beam path from the transmitter (12) for operating light to the light receiver (14) from the received light, wherein a first alignment light transmitter (13a) is provided. In this respect, a second alignment transmitter (13b) is provided, with the first alignment light transmitter (13a) and the second alignment light transmitter (13b) being able to be individually activated and the evaluation unit (16) being designed to determine alignment information on the adjustment of the sensor (10) from a received first alignment signal of the light receiver (14) with an activated first alignment light transmitter (13a) and from a received second alignment signal of the light receiver (14) with an activated second alignment light transmitter (13b).
US08319171B2
There is provided an optical scanning type photoelectric switch capable of facilitating control of holding a set detection sensitivity, wherein first and second reflection surfaces with different reflection factors are built as reference objects in the optical scanning type photoelectric switch, and arranged in a measurement invalid range in rotation of a scanning mirror, a light projection path, a light reception path, a laser light source LD and a light receiving element, which are used for scanning in the measurement area, are shared, and when a light reception intensity of the white second reflection surface is smaller than a “reference light reception intensity (white)”, a light projection driving section is controlled to increase the light projection intensity.
US08319164B2
A slow rolling projectile comprises a projectile body has a forward section and a rear section and having a longitudinal axis. Two or more canards in the forward section are capable of being extended from and retracted into the projectile body at predetermined frequencies and/or for predetermined times. Two or more tail fins in the rear section are fixed coextensive to or at an angle to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator extends and retracts the canards. The canards are capable of being extended and retracted at a rate based on the rotation of the projectile sufficient to correct for lateral movement. A GPS or INS navigational system activates an actuator to extend and retract the canards.
US08319163B2
A GNC device for use with a projectile, includes a rotating GNC portion and a non-rotating GNC portion, the rotating GNC portion being fixedly coupled to a projectile body, at least one bearing being interposed between the rotating GNC portion and a non-rotating GNC portion, the at least one bearing permitting the rotating GNC portion to rotate with respect to the non-rotating GNC portion. In a GNC device for use with a projectile, a method is further included.
US08319158B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electric heating device, comprising a housing in which a heating block is held with the pretensioning force of at least one spring element located approximately at the same level as the heating block in its post assembly position and which defines opposite housing apertures between which the heating block is exposed, wherein the heating block is introduced into a housing part and the heating block is enclosed in the housing by another housing part. The spring element is brought into its assembled position and pretensioned when the housing is being closed to enclose the heating block.
US08319156B2
A vapor cell includes an interrogation cell in a substrate, the interrogation cell having an entrance window and an exit window, and a first transparent thin-film heater in thermal communication with the entrance window. The transparent thin-film heater has a first layer in communication with a first pole contact at a proximal end of the heater and a layer coupler contact at a distal end, a second layer in communication with a second pole contact at the proximal end, and the second layer electrically coupled to the layer coupler contact at the distal end. An insulating layer is sandwiched between the first and second layers. The insulating layer has an opening at the distal end to admit the layer coupler contact and to insulate the remainder of the second layer from the first layer. The first and second pole contacts are available to complete an electric circuit at the proximal end, with magnetic fields for each of the first and second layers oriented in opposing directions when a current is applied through the circuit.
US08319154B2
A self-heating fluid connector comprising a housing in which is provided exothermic phase change material and one or more fluid channels extending from one end of the housing to the other, in thermal communication with the exothermic phase change material, whereby fluid passing through the fluid conduits is heated by the exothermic phase change material. The self-heating connector is particularly suited for use with a fluid container and a fluid delivery port such as a baby's bottle and feeding teat.
US08319143B2
A laser processing apparatus having a holding unit for holding a workpiece to be processed and a processing unit for applying a laser beam to the workpiece held by the holding unit. The processing unit includes an oscillator for oscillating the laser beam, a focusing lens for focusing the laser beam oscillated by the oscillator toward the workpiece, and a focal position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the focal position of the laser beam focused by the focusing lens. The focal position adjusting mechanism includes a movable unit having a permanent magnet and supporting the focusing lens, a fixed portion having a coil for moving the movable unit in a direction perpendicular to the workpiece and a gas bearing for supporting the movable unit by using a gas, and a supporting member for supporting the movable unit from the under side by using a magnetic repulsive action.
US08319133B2
A charging assembly for an electrical switching apparatus includes a cam shaft and including a number of cams. A latch lobe and a charging handle are coupled to opposing ends of the cam shaft. Each stroke of the charging handle pivots the cams a predetermined amount. A rocker arm includes a first portion cooperating with the cams, a second portion translating movement of the cams into movement of a stored energy mechanism, and a third portion cooperating with a close D-shaft having a close latch. A close prop includes a first end cooperating with the close D-shaft, and a second end including a roller that cooperates with the latch lobe. The close D-shaft pivots between latched and unlatched positions. The third portion cooperates with the close D-shaft to hold the close latch in the unlatched position until the charging handle has been pivoted a predetermined number of strokes.
US08319131B2
A device is disclosed for switching an electrical switch on and off, with a drive shaft and an output shaft. The drive shaft and the output shaft run transversely with respect to one another and interact in such that a rotation of the drive shaft entails a rotation of the output shaft, the drive shaft being rotatable between an ON position and an OFF position, and the output shaft being rotatable between a switch-on position and a switch-off position. The output shaft is connected to the switch which can be switched to the switch-on and the switch-off position as a result of the rotation of the output shaft. The drive shaft and the output shaft are connected to one another via a displaceable sliding element which, during the rotation of the drive shaft, is displaced, and the output shaft is rotated by the sliding element in the course of displacement.
US08319130B2
A light emitting key structure is provided. The key structure includes a base, a reflective sheet, a circuit board, an elastic member, a linkage mechanism, and a key cap sequentially disposed one on another in order. The reflective sheet is disposed on the base. The circuit board is made of a light guide material. At least one light source is bonded to a lateral side of the circuit board. The circuit board, together with the light source bonded to the lateral side thereof is disposed on the reflective sheet. The elastic member is directly coupled to the circuit board. The key cap is featured with a light transmission characteristic. Therefore, in operation, the light emitted from the light source can be directly guided into the circuit board, and then outputted from the light transmissive key cap, thus achieving the light emitting effect.
US08319126B2
A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops. The force application system is configured to individually and selectively apply a force on the liquid in each of the one or more passages to control switching between the two or more switch positions of each of the liquid drops. Engaging one or more of the switch positions moves the plunger along the inner surface of the channel away from the substrate.
US08319121B2
A server enclosure includes a bottom wall, two sidewalls extending from opposite sides of the bottom wall, a backboard to electrically connected to a number of hard disk drives, and two fixing elements. The fixing elements are fixed on opposite ends of the backboard. Each fixing element includes a connection board fixed on the backboard, a first fixing portion extending from a bottom of the connection board along a first direction, and a positioning arm extending from a side of the connection board along the first direction. The first fixing portion is fixed on the bottom wall. The positioning arm is slidably positioned on the corresponding sidewall to fix the backboard.
US08319114B2
A dual footprint mounting package for a surface mount power converter modules and its method of manufacture. Castellated regions are formed on the edge of the component package using the appropriate sized drill or milling bit. Edge plating is applied to the castellated surfaces to create edge pads. The edge plating provides electrical continuity between the edge pads and the SMT pads. Solder mask, or other materials, is applied to prevent solder from wicking between each SMT pad and its respective edge pad. Such component may be attached to a larger device PWB using either the edge pads or the SMT pads, or may even be attached using a combination of the two, such as in the event of a pad failure or other defect.
US08319107B2
A circuit board and a heat radiating system of the circuit board. In the circuit board, a plurality of conductive layer regions coated with a conductor are separately formed on both sides of an insulating substrate, the conductive layer region formed on either side of an insulating region on each of the both sides of the insulating substrate, the plurality of the conductive layer regions includes a plurality of through holes which penetrate through the insulating substrate and are coated with a conductor over an inner wall, the conductor in the through hole electrically conducts the coated conductor of the plurality of the conductive layer regions, one of the lead pins is connected to one of the separated conductive layer regions on the both sides based on the insulating region, and the other lead pin is connected to the other conductive layer region. Accordingly, the efficient heat radiation of the circuit board can prevent the component malfunction, the lifespan reduction, the power consumption increase, and the illuminance drop.
US08319084B2
A system, method, and apparatus for learning music through an educational audio track embodied on a computer readable medium are presented. The system can comprise have components including a processor, an input device, a database, a transformation module, an emulation recording module, an integration engine, an output module, and an output device, wherein each component is operable in itself to perform it's function in the system and operable with other system components to provide a system to a user for learning music.
US08319068B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV951414. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV951414, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV951414 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV951414 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV951414.
US08319065B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH734952. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH734952, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH734952 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH734952.
US08319063B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV493546. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV493546, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV493546 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV493546 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV493546.
US08319059B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH113132. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH113132, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH113132 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH113132.
US08319045B1
A novel maize variety designated PHPJA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPJA with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPJA 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 PHPJA or a trait conversion of PHPJA with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPJA, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHPJA and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08319041B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XBP39008 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP39008, cells from soybean variety XBP39008, plants of soybean XBP39008, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP39008. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP39008 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XBP39008, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP39008, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XBP39008. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP39008 are further provided.
US08319040B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1024255. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1024255. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1024255 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1024255 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08319031B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016242. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016242. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016242 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016242 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08319028B2
A soybean cultivar designated S080102 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080102, to the plants of soybean S080102, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080102, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080102 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080102, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080102, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080102 with another soybean cultivar.
US08319022B2
A soybean cultivar designated 8536465 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 8536465, to the plants of soybean 8536465, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 8536465, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 8536465 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety 8536465, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 8536465, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 8536465 with another soybean cultivar.
US08319014B1
A novel maize variety designated X08A201 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08A201 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A201 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A201, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A201. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A201.
US08319013B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH626058. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH626058, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH626058 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH626058.
US08319007B2
Disclosed herein are an α1/CaV3.1 double knockout mouse or α1−/−; Emx1-Cre mouse with enhanced essential tremor and a screening method of therapeutic agents for essential tremor by using the same. The α1/CaV3.1 double knockout mouse or α1−/−; Emx1-Cre mouse of the present invention may be usefully used for development of therapeutic agents for essential tremor because the mouse exhibits essential tremor strong and evident enough to be visually confirmed, compared to an α1 knockout mouse.
US08319004B2
An aid is usable with a wearer's garment, the aid including a structural layer having a skin-facing side, wherein the structural layer is adapted to be positioned within the garment such that the skin-facing side is in at least partial skin contact with the wearer; and a thermal grill disposed on the structural layer. Also, an absorbent article delivers discomfort without causing physiological damage, the article including a bodyside liner; a plurality of warm portions disposed on the bodyside liner; and a plurality of cool portions disposed on the bodyside liner, wherein the warm portions and cool portions are disposed in an alternating pattern.
US08319003B2
An adhesive wafer for an ostomy faceplate or wound dressing comprising a backing layer, said backing layer having one surface facing the skin, said surface comprising a first and a second adhesive zone being separated from each others by a void volume, said void volume being defined by the backing layer, the first and the second adhesive zones and the skin surface and wherein the first and the second adhesive zones are capable of moving independently of each others with respect to the lateral plane of the backing layer.
US08318985B2
The present invention relates to a particularly economic overall method for producing menthol, specifically for producing optically active, essentially enantiomerically and diastereomerically pure L-menthol and racemic menthol, starting from the starting material citral which is available inexpensively on an industrial scale. The method comprises the following stepsa) catalytic hydrogenation of neral and/or geranial to give citronellal,b) cyclization of citronellal to isopulegol in the presence of an acidic catalyst,c) purification of isopulegol by crystallization andd) catalytic hydrogenation of isopulegol to give menthol.
US08318984B2
This invention provides a method of producing cyathin A3 in a culture of Cyathus helenae. It employs added bacteria to stimulate production of cyathin A3.
US08318981B2
There is provided a compound having an excellent controlling effect on arthropod pests represented by the formula (I-1): wherein Z represents an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; G represents a -A1-R1 group, etc.; X represents a -A2-R4 group, etc.; X represents a -A2-R4 group, etc.; X0 represents a -A3-R6 group, etc.; or X and X0 are optionally taken together to form a -A2-T0-A3- group; M1 represents a —R8 group, etc.; A1, A2 and A3 independently represent an oxygen atom, etc.; R1 and R8 independently represents an optionally substituted C1-C20 chain hydrocarbon group, etc.; R4 and R6 independently represent an optionally substituted C1-C6 chain hydrocarbon group, etc.; and T0 represents an optionally substituted C2-C6 alkanediyl group.
US08318980B2
The invention relates to new, highly efficient UV-absorbing compounds, a process for their manufacturing and to uses of these UV-absorbing compounds. The UV-absorbing compounds are in particular UV-A-absorbing compounds according to Formula (VI) or (VII): R2CH2—N(R17)—(CR12)m—N(R17)—CH2R2 (VI) N{(R17)3-n[(CR12)m-N(R17)—CH2R2]n} (VII).
US08318979B2
The invention relates to a method for preparing a sulphoxide compound of formula (I) either as a single enantiomer or in an enantiomerically enriched form, comprising the steps of: a) contacting a pro-chiral sulphide of formula (II) with a metal chiral complex, a base and an oxidizing agent in an organic solvent; and optionally b) isolating the obtained sulphoxide of formula (I). wherein n, Y, R1, R1a, R2 and R2a are as defined in claim 1.
US08318968B2
Process for preparing an alkenylphosphonic acid derivative by reacting a phosphonic acid derivative with an alkyne in the presence of a complex catalyst system and a base whose conjugate acid has a pKa in dimethyl sulfoxide (25° C., 1 bar) of at least 6.
US08318964B2
ProblemTo provide an environmentally-friendly method for producing industrially an ester compound.SolutionThe present invention is a method for producing an ester compound which comprises subjecting a carboxylic acid and an alcohol to dehydration-condensation reaction using an involatile acid catalyst and then removing the residual acid catalyst by bringing a weak basic substance into contact with the residual acid catalyst.
US08318953B2
Chemically reactive 7-hydroxycoumarin derivatives and their application for analyzing cell function, for example in combination with additional fluorescent labels. The coumarin derivatives exhibit a strong absorption at 405 nm and high fluorescence quantum yields.
US08318948B2
Disclosed is a novel fluorene derivative and an organic electronic device using the same. The organic electronic device has excellent efficiency, driving voltage, and a lifespan.
US08318945B2
The present invention relates to metalloprotein inhibitors comprising: a. an organic substituent and at least one zinc binding group (ZBG) covalently attached thereto; or b. a ZBG substituted by a side chain wherein the ZBG is of formula (I): wherein X is O or S and each R1, R2, R3, and R4 is individually hydrogen or an organic radical. The metalloprotein inhibitors are useful for preventing or treating a pathological disease, condition, or symptom that is associated with pathological metalloprotein activity and/or that is alleviated by inhibition of said activity.
US08318936B2
Process for the preparation of N-methylnaltrexone bromide, wherein a compound of the general formula (I): wherein X− represents an anion other than the bromide anion, and R represents hydrogen or a leaving group, is dissolved or dispersed in a suitable polar solvent, the solution or dispersion is mixed with a compound containing bromide anions, and the resulting reaction mixture is stirred until N-methylnaltrexone bromide has formed and crystallized, wherein, in the case where R represents a leaving group, that group is removed during or after the reaction.
US08318932B2
A 4-aminoquinazoline derivative can be obtained by the steps of reacting quinazolin-4-one or its derivative with a chlorinating agent in a first organic solvent in the presence of an organic base, and subsequently reacting the reaction product with an amine compound represented by the formula R5—NH—R6 (each of R5 and R6 represents hydrogen or an optionally substituted hydrocarbyl group) in the presence of a second organic solvent.
US08318931B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I): wherein all symbols are as defined here, a salt thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof. The compound of the present invention has an antagonistic activity against CXCR4 and is therefore useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for CXCR4-mediated diseases, for example, inflammatory and immune diseases (for example, rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, retinopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, rejection of transplanted organ, etc.), allergic diseases, infections (for example, human immunodeficiency virus infection, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, etc.), psychoneurotic diseases, cerebral diseases, cardiovascular disease, metabolic diseases, and cancerous diseases (for example, cancer, cancer metastasis, etc.), or an agent for regeneration therapy.
US08318927B2
6-(4-Cyclopropylpiperazin-1-yl)-2′-methyl-[3,4′]bipyridinyl and salts and hydrates thereof interact with the histamine H3 receptor are defined.
US08318922B2
Antisense oligonucleotides that inhibit expression of human replication-initiation protein as well as methods of preventing or treating hyperproliferative conditions using said oligonucleotides are disclosed. One aspect provides an antisense oligonucleotide that inhibits the expression of human replication-initiation protein and has a sequence complementary to at least a portion of a target sequence encoding a human replication-initiation gene. By administering a therapeutically effective amount of an antisense oligonucleotide or by contacting the hyperproliferating cells with an effective amount of one or more antisense oligonucleotides, expression of replication-initiation protein is inhibited. Methods of screening and testing active antisense oligonucleotides for their ability to inhibit gene expression are also disclosed.
US08318921B2
The present application relates to methods and compositions for triggering RNAi. Triggered RNAi is highly versatile because the silencing targets are independent of the detection targets. In some embodiments, a method of silencing a target gene is provided. The method comprises providing an initiator to a cell comprising a detection target and a silencing target gene, wherein the detection target is different from the silencing target gene; providing a first substrate monomer to the cell, wherein the first substrate monomer comprises a silencing target complement region that is substantially complementary to a portion of the silencing target gene, and an initiator complement region that is substantially complementary to a portion of the initiator; and providing a second substrate monomer to the cell, wherein the second substrate monomer comprises a silencing target region that is substantially complementary to the silencing target complement region; wherein binding of the detection target to the initiator initiates formation of an inactivator double-stranded RNA (inactivator dsRNA) which silences the silencing target gene.
US08318919B2
Disclosed herein are methods of destabilizing double-stranded nucleic acid hybridization using an enzyme comprising DNA N-glycosylase activity. Also disclosed herein is the detection of a double-stranded target DNA wherein the hybridization of duplex strands has been at least partially disrupted thereby permitting invasion of a probe strand. Also disclosed herein are methods of using an enzyme comprising DNA N-glycosylase activity to generate single-stranded circular nucleic acids.
US08318917B2
The invention provides a method of producing aglycosylated Fc-containing polypeptides, such as antibodies, having desired effector function. The invention also provides aglycosylated antibodies produced according to the method as well as methods of using such antibodies as therapeutics.
US08318909B2
Based on the discovery of the nucleotide and amino acid differences which distinguish the Gova and Govb allelic forms of the membrane glycoprotein CD109, and which comprise the biallelic Gov platelet alloantigen system, compositions and methods are provided for determining the Gov genotype and phenotype of individuals. Also provided, on the basis of this discovery, are compositions and methods for treating disorders associated with Gov alloantigen incompatibility, such as the bleeding disorders post-transfusion purpura, post-transfusion platelet refractoriness, and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia. The two allelic forms of CD109 differ by a single amino acid. The Gova allelic form has Tyr at amino acid position 703 in the CD109 sequence. The Govb allelic form has Ser at the same position. This amino acid difference is due to a single change, from A for the Gova allele to C for the Govb allele, in the CD109 gene.
US08318904B2
The present invention is directed to liquid, aqueous pharmaceutical compositions stabilized against chemical and/or physical degradation containing Factor VII polypeptides, and methods for preparing and using such compositions, as well as vials containing such compositions, and the use of such compositions in the treatment of a Factor VII-responsive syndrome. The main embodiment is represented by a liquid, aqueous pharmaceutical composition comprising at least 0.01 mg/mL of a Factor VII polypeptide (i); a buffering agent (ii) suitable for keeping pH in the range of from about 4.0 to about 9.0; and at least one stabilizing agent (iii) comprising a —C(═N—Z1—R1)—NH—Z2—R2 motif, e.g. benzamidine compounds and guanidine compounds such as arginine.
US08318903B2
A benign solvent for dissolving proteins comprises alcohol, salt and water. The ratio by volume of water to alcohol is between about ninety-nine-to-one and about one-to-ninety-nine. A salt concentration is between near zero moles per liter and the maximum salt concentration soluble in water. The amount of protein by weight as compared to the mixture of water and alcohol is between near zero percent and about 25 percent. A method for forming a protein structure from a benign solvent comprises forming a benign solvent from water, alcohol, and salt; and dissolving a protein in the benign solvent to form a protein solution. The method further comprises extracting the protein from the protein solution; and arranging the protein into a protein structure.
US08318892B2
A capped structured organic film comprising a plurality of segments and a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework, wherein the structured organic film may be a multi-segment thick structured organic film.
US08318891B2
A copolycarbonate-polyester, comprising units of formula wherein at least 60 percent of the total number of R1 groups are divalent aromatic organic radicals and the balance thereof are divalent aliphatic or alicyclic radicals; units of formula wherein T is a C7-20 divalent alkyl aromatic radical or a C6-20 divalent aromatic radical, and D is a divalent C6-20 aromatic radical; and units of the formula wherein R2 and R3 are each independently a halogen or a C1-6 alkyl group, R4 is a methyl or phenyl group, each c is independently 0 to 4, and T is as described above. A method of making a copolycarbonate-polyester is also disclosed.
US08318883B1
A polymer having a density of from about 0.960 g/cc to about 0.965 g/cc and a melt index of from about 0.2 g/10 min. to about 0.6 g/10 min. wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of equal to or greater than about 150 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition B, 100% Igepal. A polymer having a density of from about 0.955 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc and a melt index of from about 0.2 g/10 min. to about 0.6 g/10 min. wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of equal to or greater than about 500 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition B, 100% Igepal.
US08318869B2
A composition useful for imparting durable stain repellence and soil release properties to textile substrates, a method for treating textile substrates using such composition, and the textile substrates obtained therefrom. The composition comprises: (A) at least one fluorinated ionisable polyurethane polymer (PUR) being free from perfluoroalkyl chains and comprising at least one fluorinated block comprising a fluoropolyoxyalkene chain, and at least one functional block comprising an hydrocarbon chain (RHC) having from 2 to 14 carbon atoms, said chain (RHC) comprising at least one ionisable group, said blocks being linked by urethane moieties of formula (I), wherein E is a divalent hydrocarbon carbon group; (B) at least one fluorocarbon polymer (F) comprising at least one perfluoroalkyl chain (Rf) linked by one or more ester moiety of formula (II) and/or urethane moiety of formula (III) and/or urea moiety of formula (IV); and (C) at least one crosslinking agent.
US08318847B2
In one embodiment, a plastic composition can comprise: a plastic, a white pigment, and a non-white colorant. The composition can have a whiteness index of greater than or equal to about 50, and a composition yellowness index of less than 10, as measured on a 3 mm thick color chip under D65 illuminant and 2 degree observer. Also disclosed are articles made from the plastic composition.
US08318843B2
Use of thermoplastic molding compositions comprising, as essential components, A) from 29 to 99.95% by weight of a polyester, B) from 0.05 to 2.0% by weight of Na2CO3, K2CO3, NaHCO3, KHCO3, or a mixture of these, based on 100% by weight of A) and B), and also C) from 0 to 70% by weight of further additives, where the total of the % by weight values for A) to C) is 100%, for producing laser-transparent moldings of any type.
US08318841B2
A binder for air drying paint, based on metal oxide-containing nanoparticles with unsaturated organic branches. At least one metal atom of the nanoparticle is chemically bound to an organic branch with at least one unsaturated ethylenic functionality. A process for preparation of the binder.
US08318839B2
The present invention provides a tire puncture sealant which has a reduced viscosity at low temperatures and better injectability at low temperatures while exerting excellent initial sealing performance and storage stability. The present invention also provides a tire puncture sealant which further has better injectability at high temperatures while exerting the seal retention performance. The present invention relates to a tire puncture sealant including: a natural rubber latex; a tackifier; and propylene glycol, wherein the amount of the propylene glycol in 100% by mass of a liquid portion of the puncture sealant is 55% by mass or more, and also relates to a tire puncture sealant including: a natural rubber latex; a tackifier; propylene glycol; and a nonionic surfactant, wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether and/or a polyoxyalkylene alkenyl ether.
US08318832B2
The present invention provides optic portions, intraocular lenses, and polymers for use in manufacturing optic portions and intraocular lenses. The optic portions include a polymer that comprises (a) one or more alkoxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more alkoxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; (b) one or more hydroxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more hydroxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; and (c) optionally, one or more crosslinking agents that are incorporated in the polymer.
US08318830B2
The present invention provides organometallic latent catalyst compounds, which are suitable as catalysts in polyaddition or polycondensation reactions which are catalysed by a Lewis acid type catalyst, in particular for the crosslinking of a blocked or unblocked isocyanate or isothiocyanate component with a polyol or polythiolto form a polyurethane (PU).
US08318819B2
The disclosure provides a composition as well as a set of compositions and method for producing cellular or foamed or blown fluoropolymers such as perfluoropolymers and other thermoplastics articles allowing for the creation of a lower cost communications cable, conductor separator, conductor support-separator, jacketing, tape, wire insulation and in some cases a conduit tube as individual components or combined configurations that exhibit improved electrical, flammability and optical properties. Specifically, the foamable or blown fluoropolymer such as a perfluoropolymer cellular insulation composition comprises; talc and the selected fluoropolymer such as perfluoropolymers. Compounded pellets or products resulting in cellular or foamable products using these pellets has also been realized by providing the melt combination in the pellets of only talc and a perfluoropolymer.
US08318804B2
Disclosed is a method of synthesizing new optically pure heterocyclic compounds using Pd(0) catalyzed intramolecular cyclizations. Analogs of cyclopentanes, like isoxazoline-2-oxide and furan, with similar framework to the cyclopentanes act as anti-HIV and anticancer agents which opens a whole new field for application of these compounds. Starting from a meso-diol, optically pure compounds were prepared without utilizing chiral ligands at any stage of the synthesis. The stereochemical outcome of the product (>99% ee) was influenced by desymmetrization catalyzed by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase and the stereo selective nature of the palladium catalyzed transformations.
US08318802B2
This invention relates to a stable epoprostenol composition that can be combined with commercially available IV fluids and can be administered in its reconstituted and/or diluted form under ambient conditions of about 15-30° C. for greater than 24 hours. The composition preferably contains (a) epoprostenol or a salt thereof; (b) a alkalinization agent; and (c) a base, such that when reconstituted or in solution, the solution has a pH>11. Methods for making the lyophilized composition are also disclosed.
US08318797B2
Compositions for treating hair are disclosed. Methods of making and using compositions for treating hair are also disclosed.
US08318794B2
The invention provides method of use of a porphyrin compound as shown below in preparing a medicament for sonodynamic therapy, and a method of sonodynamic therapy using a porphyrin compound. Said therapy comprises administering a porphyrin compound to a patient and applying sonic wave to the patient, wherein each symbol has the meaning as defined in the description.
US08318748B2
This invention relates to a novel class of compounds which are cysteine protease inhibitors, including but not limited to, inhibitors of cathepsins K, L, S and B. These compounds are useful for treating diseases in which inhibition of bone resorption is indicated, such as osteoporosis.
US08318738B2
Conformationally constrained compounds that mimic the secondary structure of reverse-turn regions of biologically active peptides and proteins are disclosed. Such reverse-turn mimetic structures have utility over a wide range of fields, including use as diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Libraries containing the reverse-turn mimetic structures of this invention are also disclosed as well as methods for screening the same to identify biologically active members. The invention also relates to the use of such compounds for inhibiting or treating disorders modulated by Wnt-signaling pathway, such as cancer, especially colorectal cancer, restenosis associated with angioplasty, polycystic kidney disease, aberrant angiogenesis disease, rheumatoid arthritis disease, tuberous sclerosis complex, Alzheimer's disease, excess hair growth or loss, or ulcerative colitis.
US08318732B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, salt or prodrug thereof. The present invention further provides a method of treatment or prophylaxis of a viral infection in a subject comprising administering to said subject an effective amount of a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, salt or prodrug thereof. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising a compound of formula (I) are also provided.
US08318726B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula 5, useful as potential antitumour agents against human cancer cell lines. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine hybrids of formula 5a-t.
US08318725B2
The present invention relates to novel aryl indolyl sulfonamide compounds of the formula (I), their tautomeric forms, their stereoisomers, their polymorphs, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, their pharmaceutically acceptable solvates described herein and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them.
US08318719B2
This application discloses 5-phenyl-1H-pyridin-2-one, 6-phenyl-2H-pyridazin-3-one, and 5-phenyl-1H-pyrazin-2-one derivatives according to generic Formulae I-II: wherein, variables Q1, Q2, R, X, Y1, Y2, Y2′, Y3, Y4, Y5, m, and p are defined as described herein, which inhibit Btk. The compounds disclosed herein are useful to modulate the activity of Btk and treat diseases associated with excessive Btk activity. The compounds are further useful to treat inflammatory and auto immune diseases associated with aberrant B-cell proliferation such as rheumatoid arthritis. Also disclosed are compositions containing compounds of Formulae I-II and at least one carrier, diluent or excipient.
US08318717B2
The present invention relates to compounds capable of inhibiting binding of the Smac protein to Inhibitors of apoptosis (IAPs). Such compounds are preferably capable of inhibiting IAP and thus may promote apoptosis or sensitize cells for apoptosis. The compounds may be used in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer.
US08318711B2
The invention relates to the use of 2,5-diacetyl-3a,5,6,6a-tetrahydro-6a-hydroxy-2,3a,5-trimethylfuro[2,3-d]-1,3-dioxole (diacetyl trimer) of the formula in the form of one of its stereoisomers or in the form of a mixture consisting of or containing two or more of the stereoisomers (i) as an odoriferous or aromatic substance, (ii) for imparting, intensifying and/or modifying a creamy and/or fatty sensation in the mouth, (iii) for imparting, intensifying and/or modifying a sweet, buttery, cream-like and/or creamy flavor, and/or (iv) for masking a bitter flavor. The invention furthermore relates to corresponding aromatic compositions as well as compositions which serve for nutrition, oral hygiene, consumption for pleasure or for oral pharmaceutical use.
US08318710B2
Compositions comprising an LXR activator and retinoic acid and/or a metabolic precursor thereto are useful in reducing the effects of chronoageing and/or photoageing of the skin.
US08318699B2
The present invention is directed to compounds that are allosteric inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor receptor I, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds and compositions thereof in the treatment of TNF-α mediated conditions.
US08318694B2
A process for preparing an oligosaccharide derivative from an oligosaccharide mixture, the process being characterized in that the process comprises the steps of (a) introducing a lipophilic group into oligosaccharides of the mixture to obtain a mixture of oligosaccharide derivatives, and (b) treating the oligosaccharide derivative mixture by serotonin affinity column chromatography.
US08318690B2
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Hemoglobin (HBF/HBG). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of HBF/HBG.
US08318689B2
A double-strand oligonucleotide including two complementary oligonucleotide sequences forming a hybrid, each including at one of their 3′ or 5′ ends, one to five unpaired nucleotides forming single-strand ends extending beyond the hybrid, one of the oligonucleotide sequences being substantially complementary to a target sequence belonging to a DNA or RNA molecule to be specifically repressed, the target sequence belonging to a DNA or RNA molecule of a gene coding an angiogenic factor.
US08318686B2
A novel family of human mitochondrial RNAs, referred to as chimeric RNAs, which are differentially expressed in normal, pre-cancer and cancer cells, are described. Oligonucleotides targeted to the chimeric RNAs are provided. The described oligonucleotides or their analogs can be used for cancer diagnostics and cancer therapy as well as for research. In one embodiment of this invention, these oligonucleotides hybridize with the sense or with the antisense mitochondrial chimeric RNAs, and the result of the hybridization is useful to differentiate between normal proliferating cells, pre-cancer cells and cancer cells. In another embodiment of the invention, the compositions comprise oligonucleotides that hybridize with the human chimeric RNAs resulting in cancer cell and pre-cancer cell death, while there is no effect in normal cells, constituting therefore, a novel approach for cancer therapy.
US08318678B2
The present invention generally features novel cosmetic skin and hair care compositions for enhancing the appearance of eyelashes and eyebrows. Specifically, the topical skin and hair care compositions of the invention contain a concentration of at least one of pentapeptide-17 tetrapeptide-12 that provide for thicker, longer and more voluminous appearing eyelashes and eyebrows. The cosmetic formulations of the invention may further include cosmetically acceptable vehicle(s) and/or other skin and hair conditioning agents.
US08318673B2
An anti-hemorrhage medication pack for administering an anti-hemorrhage drug, in particular for the treatment of hemorrhage caused by trauma in emergency situations comprises an active ingredient selected from the group comprising the 1-24 amino acid sequence of the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH 1-24) and all its fragments and analogues, and analogues of fragments, with agonist activity on the MC4 melanocortin receptors, and all the synthesis agonists, including those with a nonpeptidic structure, of the MC4 melanocortin receptors. An auto-injector (1; 11) includes the drug for automatically injecting a patient with the drug.
US08318671B1
The invention relates to a method for producing biologically active β-NGF from the proform proNGF. After expressing the proform of the β-NGF in a prokaryotic host cell, the recombinant protein is isolated in the form of insoluble inactive aggregates (inclusion bodies). After the solubilization thereof in a strong denaturing agent and the subsequent conversion thereof into the natural conformation, which is determined by the disulfide bridges present in the natural β-NGF, biologically active β-NGF is obtained by subsequently splitting-off the prosequence.
US08318661B2
The present invention relates to the use of plasminogen/plasmin and its derivatives as agents for enhancing host defense against infection or other infectious diseases. The invention also relates to a method for screening of compounds which enhance host defense against infection by evaluating the host defense against bacterial arthritis and spontaneous otitis media in an animal model.
US08318659B2
Peptide-based organic sunscreens, formed by coupling a skin-binding peptide with an organic sunscreen agent, are described. The skin-binding peptide part of the peptide-based organic sunscreen binds strongly to the skin, thus keeping the organic sunscreen agent attached to the skin for long lasting protection. Sunscreen compositions comprising the peptide-based organic sunscreens are also provided.
US08318658B2
This invention provides cell-calcification inhibitory proteins as well as genes encoding the proteins. Based on the discovery of a novel isoform gene of the c-erg gene (herein referred to as “C-11 gene”) which is an erg gene derived from chickens, the nucleotide sequence of the gene has been determined, and then the expression of a protein encoded by such gene (herein referred to as “C-11 protein”) has been confirmed. Further, it has been discovered that when the c-erg or C-11 gene is introduced into osteoblasts, the calcification of the cells is inhibited.
US08318653B2
The present invention relates to amphiphilic water-soluble alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines having an inner polyethylene oxide block comprising 20 to 50 polyethylene oxide units and an outer polypropylene oxide block comprising 10 to 50 polyethylene oxide units and especially to such alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines wherein the ratio of polyethylene oxide units and polypropylene oxide units is proportionally related to the square root of the number of polyalkyleneimine units present in the backbone. The present invention further relates to the use of these alkoxylated polyalkyleneimines as a soil detachment promoting additive to laundry detergents and cleaning compositions and to laundry detergents and cleaning compositions which comprise these alkoxylated mono- or polyalkyleneimines.
US08318648B2
A lubricant base stock is provided. The base stock is a polyether of a plurality of epoxidized olefin monomeric units. The polyether has 30 carbon atoms or more. There is also a process for making a polyether.
US08318638B2
An object of the present invention is to determine novel means of activating plants; more particularly, means of controlling plant growth, such as means of promoting growth, means of controlling dormancy, means of imparting tolerance against stress for plants (dryness, high or low temperatures, osmotic pressure, etc.), and means of preventing aging. The present inventors have found that the above object can be achieved by providing plant activators containing, as an active ingredient, C4-C24 ketol fatty acids, in particular, 9-hydroxy-10-oxo-12(Z),15(Z)-octadecadienoic acid.
US08318632B2
An exhaust gas purification catalyst includes a substrate, and a first catalyst layer formed on the substrate, the first catalyst layer containing palladium and/or platinum and alumina doped with an alkaline-earth metal element. The exhaust gas purification catalyst has a correlation coefficient ρAl,AE given by the following formula of 0.75 or more: ρ Al , AE = C Al , AE σ Al σ AE . ( 1 )
US08318629B2
A catalyzed diesel particulate filter (CDPF) and a method for filtering particulates from diesel engine exhaust are provided, where the catalyzed diesel particulate filter includes a substrate and a catalyst composition, where the catalyst composition contains at least one first component, at least one second component, and at least one third component, where the first component is at least one first component selected from the group consisting of cerium and a lanthanide and mixtures thereof, the at least one second component is selected from the group consisting of cobalt, copper, manganese and mixtures thereof; and the third component comprises strontium, where the first component, the second component, and the third component are in an oxide form after calcination. The catalyst on the catalyzed diesel particulate filter lowers the temperature at which particulates are removed from the CDPF by oxidizing the particulates on the filter. The catalyzed diesel particulate filter may also include a washcoat. Washcoats prepared from colloidal aluminum oxide may have higher surface areas and pore volumes loadings than washcoats containing aluminum oxide prepared from aluminum nitrate.
US08318627B2
This invention relates to catalyst carriers to be used as supports for metal and metal oxide catalyst components of use in a variety of chemical reactions. More specifically, the invention provides a process of formulating a low surface area alpha alumina carrier that is suitable as a support for silver and the use of such catalyst in chemical reactions, especially the epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide. A precursor for a catalyst support comprises an admixture of an alpha alumina and/or a transition alumina; a binder; and either a solid blowing agent which expands, or propels a gas upon the application of sufficient heat, and optionally contains talc and/or water soluble titanium compound.
US08318625B2
A method of scavenging oil from an oil-water mixture includes providing a plurality of functionalized fly ash particles having functionalized surfaces including reactive groups or reactive materials having hydrophobic groups covalently bound to the reactive groups or reactive materials. The oil-water mixture is contacted with the plurality of functionalized fly ash particles. The plurality of functionalized fly ash particles absorb oil from the oil-water mixture to form oil-laden fly ash particles. The oil-laden fly ash particles can be fed into a combustion process to generate heat from oil absorbed thereon, or absorbed oil from the oil-laden fly ash particles can be separated using a desorption process, and the oil recovered after separating.
US08318611B2
Combinatorial plasma enhanced deposition techniques are described, including designating multiple regions of a substrate, providing a precursor to at least a first region of the multiple regions, and providing a plasma to the first region to deposit a first material on the first region formed using the first precursor, wherein the first material is different from a second material formed on a second region of the substrate.
US08318589B2
Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a process of depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over a substrate. The transparent oxide layer is sometimes deposited onto a substrate for later use in a solar cell device. The transparent conductive oxide layer may be deposited by a “cold” sputtering process. In other words, during the sputtering process, a plasma is ignited in the processing chamber which naturally heats the substrate. No additional heat is provided to the substrate during deposition such as from the susceptor. After the transparent conductive oxide layer is deposited, the substrate may be annealed and etched, in either order, to texture the transparent conductive oxide layer. In order to tailor the shape of the texturing, different wet etch chemistries may be utilized. The different etch chemistries may be used to shape the surface of the transparent conductive oxide and the etch rate.
US08318586B2
Two plates, each comprising a thin layer of silicon or silicon oxide at a surface thereof, are bonded by subjecting the thin layer of at least one of the plates to a surface treatment step forming a silicon oxynitride superficial thin film with a thickness of less than 5nm. The thin film is performed with a nitrogen-based plasma generated by an inductively coupled plasma source. Furthermore, a potential difference applied between the plasma and a substrate holder supporting said plate during the surface treatment step is less than 50 V, advantageously less than 15 V and preferably zero. This enables a defect-free bonding interface to be obtained irrespective of a temperature of any heat treatment carried out after a contacting step between the respective thin layers of the two plates.
US08318584B2
The formation of a gap-filling silicon oxide layer with reduced volume fraction of voids is described. The deposition involves the formation of an oxygen-rich less-flowable liner layer before an oxygen-poor more-flowable gapfill layer. However, the liner layer is deposited within the same chamber as the gapfill layer. The liner layer and the gapfill layer may both be formed by combining a radical component with an unexcited silicon-containing precursor (i.e. not directly excited by application of plasma power). The liner layer has more oxygen content than the gapfill layer and deposits more conformally. The deposition rate of the gapfill layer may be increased by the presence of the liner layer. The gapfill layer may contain silicon, oxygen and nitrogen and be converted at elevated temperature to contain more oxygen and less nitrogen. The presence of the gapfill liner provides a source of oxygen underneath the gapfill layer to augment the gas phase oxygen introduced during the conversion.
US08318581B2
Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) devices and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a MEMS device includes a semiconductive layer disposed over a substrate. A trench is disposed in the semiconductive layer, the trench with a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall. A first insulating material layer is disposed over an upper portion of the first sidewall, and a conductive material disposed within the trench. An air gap is disposed between the conductive material and the semiconductive layer.
US08318575B2
In one embodiment a method of forming a compressive polycrystalline semiconductive material layer is disclosed. The method comprises forming a polycrystalline semiconductive seed layer over a substrate and forming a silicon layer by depositing silicon directly on the polycrystalline silicon seed layer under amorphous process conditions at a temperature below 600 C.
US08318568B2
A method for fabricating an FET device characterized as being a tunnel FET (TFET) device is disclosed. The method includes processing a gate-stack, and processing the adjoining source and drain junctions, which are of a first conductivity type. A hardmask is formed covering the gate-stack and the junctions. A tilted angle ion implantation is performed which is received by a first portion of the hardmask, and it is not received by a second portion of the hardmask due to the shadowing of the gate-stack. The implanted portion of the hardmask is removed and one of the junctions is exposed. The junction is etched away, and a new junction, typically in-situ doped to a second conductivity type, is epitaxially grown into its place. A device characterized as being an asymmetrical TFET is also disclosed. The source and drain junctions of the TFET are of different conductivity types, and the TFET also includes spacer formations in a manner that the spacer formation on one side of the gate-stack is thinner than on the other side of the gate-stack.
US08318567B2
The invention provides a method for activating impurity element added to a semiconductor and performing gettering process in shirt time, and a thermal treatment equipment enabling to perform such the heat-treating. The thermal treatment equipment comprises treatment rooms of n pieces (n>2) performing heat-treating, a preparatory heating room, and a cooling room, and heating a substrate using gas heated by heating units of n pieces as a heating source, wherein a gas-supplying unit is connected to a gas charge port of the cooling room, a discharge port of the cooling room is connected to a first gas-heating unit through a heat exchanger, a charge port of an m-th (1≦m≦(n−1)) treatment room is connected to a discharge port of an m-th gas-heating unit, a charge port of an n-th treatment room is connected to a discharge port of an n-th gas-heating unit, a discharge port of the n-th treatment room is connected to the heat exchanger, and discharge port of the heat exchanger is connected to gas charge port of the preparatory heating room.
US08318566B2
Devices and methods for isolating adjacent charge accumulation layers in a semiconductor device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device comprises a bit line formed in a semiconductor substrate, a charge accumulation layer formed on the semiconductor substrate, a word line formed on the charge accumulation layer across the bit line, and a channel region formed in the semiconductor substrate below the word line and between the bit line and its adjacent bit line. For the semiconductor device, the charge accumulation layer is formed above the channel region in a widthwise direction of the word line, and a width of the word line is set to be narrower than a distance between an end of the channel region and a central part of the channel region in a lengthwise direction of the word line.
US08318564B2
In sophisticated transistor elements, integrity of sensitive gate materials may be enhanced while, at the same time, the lateral offset of extension regions may be reduced. To this end, at least a portion of the extension regions may be implanted at an early manufacturing stage, i.e., in the presence of a protective liner material, which may, after forming the extension regions, be patterned into a protective spacer structure used for preserving integrity of the sensitive gate electrode structure.
US08318561B2
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a semiconductor device including a plurality of memory cells, comprising a plurality of floating gate electrodes which are formed on a tunnel insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate and have an upper portion which is narrower in a channel width direction than a lower portion, an interelectrode insulating film formed on the floating gate electrodes, and a control gate electrode which is formed on the interelectrode insulating film formed on the floating gate electrodes and partially buried between the floating gate electrodes opposing each other.
US08318558B2
A semiconductor device and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The semiconductor device includes vertical pillars formed by etching a semiconductor substrate and junction regions which are located among the neighboring vertical pillars and spaced apart from one another in a zigzag pattern. As a result, the semiconductor device easily guarantees an electrical passage between the semiconductor substrate and the vertical pillars, such that it substantially prevents the floating phenomenon from being generated, resulting in the prevention of deterioration of the semiconductor device.
US08318552B2
A process for forming gate structures is described. A web comprises a substrate, a plurality of conductive elements disposed on the substrate, and a conductive anodization bus. The web is moved through an anodization station to form a plurality of gate structures comprising a plurality of gate dielectrics adjacent to a plurality of gate electrodes. A process for forming electronic devices further providing a semiconductor, a source electrode, and a drain electrode is described.
US08318546B2
Thermal management is provided for a device. The device may include a substrate having a mounting area on a first surface of the substrate. The device may also include first thermal vias extending from the mounting area to at least an interior of the substrate. The device may also include at least one thermal plane substantially parallel to the first surface of the substrate, the at least one thermal plane being in thermal contact with at least one of the first thermal vias. The device may also include a heat sink attachment area, and second thermal vias extending from the heat sink attachment area to the interior of the substrate, the at least one thermal plane being in thermal contact with the second thermal vias.
US08318540B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor structure. One embodiment produces a substrate having at least two semiconductor chips embedded in a molded body. A layer is applied over at least one main surface of the substrate by using a jet printing process.
US08318539B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a carrier having a planar surface and a cavity therein, a first barrier between the planar surface and a first interconnect, and a second barrier between the cavity and a second interconnect; providing a substrate; mounting an integrated circuit over the substrate; mounting the carrier to the substrate with the first interconnect and the second interconnect attached to the substrate and with the planar surface over the integrated circuit; forming an encapsulation between the substrate and the carrier covering the integrated circuit, the encapsulation having an encapsulation recess under the planar surface and over the integrated circuit; and removing a portion of the carrier to expose the encapsulation, a portion of the first barrier to form a first contact pad, and a portion of the second barrier to form a second contact pad.
US08318523B2
A thin film transistor, a method of fabricating the same, and an OLED display device having the same. The thin film transistor includes a substrate, a semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate and having a channel region, source and drain regions, and a body contact region, a gate insulating layer disposed on the semiconductor layer to expose the body contact region, a silicon layer disposed on the gate insulating layer and contacting the body contact region exposed by the gate insulating layer, a gate electrode disposed on the silicon layer, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes disposed on the interlayer insulating layer and electrically connected with the source and drain regions, wherein the body contact region is formed in an edge region of the semiconductor layer.
US08318521B2
A top emission organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the same. The organic light emitting display includes a substrate, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFT) on the substrate, a plurality of first electrodes coupled to the plurality of TFTs, auxiliary electrodes having a mesh structure defining areas where the plurality of first electrodes are located, a pixel defining layer on a substantially entire area of the substrate and patterned to expose the first electrodes and the auxiliary electrodes, an organic light emission layer on the substantially entire area of the substrate including the exposed first electrodes and auxiliary electrodes, and second electrodes on the organic light emission layer. Steps are formed at lower parts of the auxiliary electrodes, and the second electrodes are coupled to the auxiliary electrodes through contact regions in which the auxiliary electrodes are exposed due to the steps.
US08318519B2
Systems and methods for fabricating a light emitting diode include forming a multilayer epitaxial structure above a carrier substrate; depositing at least one metal layer above the multilayer epitaxial structure; removing the carrier substrate.
US08318518B2
A light emitting device including a sapphire layer and a light emitting layer formed on the sapphire layer. The sapphire layer has a polygonal sectional shape whose internal angle is an obtuse angle, such as a regular hexagonal shape. Light emitted from the light emitting layer is totally reflected on one side surface of the sapphire layer and next transmitted through another side surface of the sapphire layer.
US08318511B2
A method for manufacturing an MEMS device is provided. The method includes steps of a) providing a first substrate having a concavity located thereon, b) providing a second substrate having a connecting area and an actuating area respectively located thereon, c) forming plural microstructures in the actuating area, d) mounting a conducting element in the connecting area and the actuating area, e) forming an insulating layer on the conducting element and f) connecting the first substrate to the connecting area to form the MEMS device. The concavity contains the plural microstructures.
US08318501B2
The invention provides enzymatic methods for direct determination of percentage of glycated hemoglobin in blood samples without the need of a separated measurement of total hemoglobin content in blood samples. The methods utilizes one or two different types of oxidizing agents which selectively oxidize low-molecular weight reducing substances and high-molecular weight (mainly hemoglobin) reducing substances in blood samples, coupled with enzymatic reactions catalyzed by proteases, fructosyl amino acid oxidase, and peroxidase. The invention provides kits for performing the methods of the invention.
US08318497B2
The present invention is related to a reversible, parallel and/or multitask cloning method and kit, which improve the cloning of (preferably multiple) genetic element(s) in a nucleic acid construct such as vector or in chromosome of a cell and the rapid and efficient selection of said construct with a correct integration of said genetic element(s) either in vitro or in vivo.
US08318488B1
Provided are assay systems for determining the therapeutic or toxic effect of a putative drug based on assaying its activity in cells which have been differentiated in vitro from stem cells, and induced to display a phenotype that resembles a disease to be treated.
US08318486B2
A cell culture comprising human foreskin cells, the human foreskin cells being capable of maintaining stem cells in an undifferentiated state when co-cultured therewith.
US08318472B2
An optimized nucleic acid sequence encoding the immunoconjugate VB4-845 is disclosed. Modifications to the original VB4-845 nucleic acid sequence include optimization of the sequences encoding the VH region, VL region, linkers and pseudomonas exotoxin A. The modifications improved the yield of VB4-845 in an Escherichia coli expression system.
US08318461B2
A process for the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose to produce a hydrolysis product comprising glucose from a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock and enzymes for use in the process are provided. The process comprises hydrolyzing an aqueous slurry of a pretreated lignocellulosic feedstock with cellulase enzymes, one or more than one β-glucosidase enzyme and a binding agent for binding the β-glucosidase enzyme to fiber solids present in the aqueous slurry. During the hydrolysis, both the cellulase enzyme and β-glucosidase enzyme bind to the fiber solids. The hydrolysis is performed in a solids-retaining hydrolysis reactor so that unhydrolyzed fiber solids and bound enzyme are retained in the reactor longer than the aqueous phase of the slurry.
US08318459B2
Glucosyl stevia compositions are prepared from steviol glycosides of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni. The glucosylation was performed by cyclodextrin glucanotransferase using the starch as source of glucose residues. The short-chain glucosyl stevia compositions were purified to >95 % content of total steviol glycosides. The compositions can be used as sweetness enhancers, flavor enhancers and sweeteners in foods, beverages, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.
US08318456B2
Provided herein are isolated polypeptides derived from the staphylococcal protein A protein B domain comprising a pair of anti-parallel alpha helices that are capable of binding a target. Also provided are nucleic acid sequences encoding such two helix binders, vectors containing the nucleic acid sequences encoding for two helix binders, and host cells transformed with vectors containing the nucleic acid sequences encoding for the two-helix binders. Also provided are methods of using the two helix binders.
US08318447B2
The present invention relates to the discovery that specific human taste receptors in the T2R taste receptor family respond to particular bitter compounds, i.e., chlorogenic lactone compounds that contribute at least partially to the bitter taste of many coffee beverages. The present invention further relates to the use of these receptors in assays for identifying ligands that modulate the activation of these taste receptors by chlorogenic lactones and related compounds and which may be used as additives and/or removed from foods, beverages and medicinals in order to modify (block) T2R-associated bitter taste. A preferred embodiment is the use of the identified compounds as additives in coffee and coffee-flavored foods, beverages and medicinals.
US08318445B2
The present invention relates to methods and systems for labeling, isolating, detecting, and/or enumerating a statistically significant number of biological cells, or other biological analytes of interest, present in a complex matrix sample. The isolation of a biological target of interest from a sample mixture is done by immunomagnetic separation. Upon introduction of the sample within an imaging chamber, the capture complex (biological target-magnetic capture agent) will be attracted by the magnetic field and will lay on the surface of the chamber in the focal plane of the imaging system.
US08318432B2
Cross-reacting hybridization probe for detecting HIV-1 and HIV-2 nucleic acids. The probe advantageously exhibited uniformly high signal-to-noise ratios when hybridized to HIV-1 and HIV-2 target nucleic acids. The probe can be used, for example, in screening applications for detecting donated blood contaminated with either of the two analytes.
US08318425B2
Inhibition of HIV-1 replication by disrupting the processing of the viral Gag capsid (CA) protein (p24) from the CA-spacer peptide 1 (SP1) protein precursor (p25) is disclosed. Amino acid sequences containing a mutation in the Gag p25 protein, with the mutation resulting in a decrease in the inhibition of processing of p25 to p24 by dimethylsuccinyl betulinic acid or dimethylsuccinyl betulin, polynucleotides encoding such mutated sequences and antibodies that selectively bind such mutated sequences are also included. Methods of inhibiting, inhibitory compounds and methods of discovering inhibitory compounds that target proteolytic processing of the HIV Gag protein are included. In one embodiment, such compounds inhibit the interaction of the HIV protease enzyme with Gag by binding to the Gag proteolytic cleavage site rather than to the protease enzyme. In another embodiment, viruses or recombinant proteins that contain mutations in the region of the Gag proteolytic cleavage site can be used in screening assays to identify compounds that target proteolytic processing.
US08318424B2
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to technology and methods for analyzing the structure of RNA molecules. More particularly, the presently disclosed subject matter is directed to methods of, compositions for, and computer program products for RNA structure analysis through alkoxide-selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension.
US08318421B2
New styles of hepatitis C virus (HCV), referred to as HCV-3 and HCV-4, have been identified and sequenced. Antigenic regions of HCV-2, HCV-3 and HCV-4 polypeptides have been identified. Immunoassays for HCV and antibodies thereto are described, which allow more complete screening of blood samples for HCV, and allow HCV genotyping.
US08318413B2
A tissue, such as an amniotic or chorionic membrane, harvesting device that integrates a system facilitating subsequent storage of tissue samples. The device cuts a sample of the target tissue and automatically deposits the sample in a storage vessel. A method of collecting and storing a sample from a target tissue using a tissue harvesting device. A kit for collecting and storing samples of the target tissue.
US08318411B2
Method for fabricating an interposer is provided. A substrate is provided having thereon at least a conductive via and at least a flange. The flange is bonded on the substrate and shades a portion of the via. A photoresist layer is formed on the interior surface of the via, on a contact surface of the flange and on an inner surface of the flange opposite to the contact surface. An opening is formed in the photoresist layer to expose a portion of the contact surface of the flange, while the photoresist layer still covers the interior surface of the via and the inner surface of the flange. A plating layer is formed on the exposed contact surface of the flange. The photoresist layer is then removed.
US08318401B2
Disclosed is a photosensitive resin composition, comprising 0.1 to 20 parts by weight of a polygonal oligomeric silsesquioxane derivative, and 5 to 30 parts by weight of a compound generating acid by light, based on 100 parts by weight of a polyamide derivative.
US08318400B2
A method of preparing a toner, including periodically discharging a toner constituent liquid from plural nozzles having the same aperture diameter with a mechanical oscillator, wherein the toner constituent liquid includes: a binder resin, a colorant, and an organic solvent, wherein the binder resin and the colorant are dissolved or dispersed in the organic solvent; forming a droplet of the toner constituent liquid in a gas phase; and solidifying the droplet, wherein the aperture diameter is from 3 to 30 μm, and the binder resin has a ratio (Mw/Mn) of a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) to a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of THF (tetrahydrofuran)-soluble components therein of from 1.5 to 15 in a molecular weight distribution measured by GPC (gel permeation chromatography), and a ½ flow temperature (Tm) of from 114 to 149° C.
US08318392B2
An alignment method is disclosed, in which a distance between a substrate and a photomask is set at a predetermined exposure gap. The photomask is rectangular, and includes a first side, and a second side opposite to the first side. A distance between a midpoint of the first side and the substrate is matched with the exposure gap. The photomask is rotated about, as an axis, a line that connects the midpoint of the first side and a midpoint of the second side to each other, whereby distances between both ends of the first side and the substrate are individually matched with the exposure gap. The photomask is rotated about the first side taken as an axis, whereby a distance between the midpoint of the second side and the substrate is matched with the exposure gap.
US08318390B2
A halftone mask includes shielding parts partially formed on a transparent substrate; a lower portion halftone transmission pattern partially formed between the shielding parts on the transparent substrate; and an upper potion halftone transmission pattern partially formed on the lower portion halftone transmission layer pattern, where the lower portion halftone transmission pattern is partially exposed in a gap between the shielding parts and the upper portion halftone transmission pattern.
US08318377B2
A membrane-electrode junction agent, a proton conducting membrane having a junction layer, a membrane-electrode assembly, a polymer electrolyte fuel cell, and a manufacturing method of the membrane-electrode assembly, which enhance the power generation performance, realize the high fuel barrier property, and are capable of enhancing the joint strength between the membrane and the electrodes, is provided. A membrane-electrode junction agent that joins a proton conducting membrane and electrodes arranged on both surfaces of the proton conducting membrane to each other, the membrane-electrode junction agent including: a cross-linked compound (X) having a silicon-oxygen bond; a polymer material (Y) containing an acid group; and a hydrophilic resin (Z) containing no acid group.
US08318375B2
A cathode for an electrochemical reactor including a diffusion layer and a catalyst layer. The cathode has bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles, dispersed in direct contact with the diffusion layer, at least one of the metals being chromium (Cr) wholly or partly in oxidized form. The cathode is fabricated by depositing the bimetallic or multimetallic nanoparticles on the diffusion layer by DLI-MOCVD in the presence of O2.
US08318357B2
Disclosed is a secondary battery with a non-aqueous electrolyte that has excellent cycle characteristics and output characteristics. Also disclosed is a positive electrode active material for a secondary battery with a non-aqueous electrolyte that includes a powder of a volume resistivity of 20 Ω·cm or more and 100 Ω·cm or less when said powder has a bulk density of 3 g/cm3. The use of the lithium nickel composite oxide as a positive electrode active material can provide a secondary battery with a non-aqueous electrolyte that has excellent cycle characteristics and output characteristics.
US08318336B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having positive and negative electrodes and a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes. Each of the positive and negative electrodes has an active material coated part and an active material uncoated part. A case receives the electrode assembly, the case being provided with an opening through which the electrode assembly is inserted therein. A cap plate is coupled to the opening. An electrode terminal is coupled to a through-hole formed on the cap plate and protrudes out of the case. A current collector has a flange part with a cross-sectional area greater than the through-hole and a contacting part which connects the current collector to the active material uncoated part.
US08318333B2
A battery pack includes a battery including a battery element covered with a packaging member, a battery protection circuit board, a covering material, and a rippable portion formed in a part of the covering material. The battery element includes a positive electrode and a negative electrode which are spirally wound or stacked through a separator. The covering material collectively covers the battery and the battery protection circuit board. The rippable portion rips open due to a gas generated from the battery in the event of an abnormal condition to form a gas release hole for releasing the gas outside the battery pack.
US08318330B2
A substrate for a magnetic read/write head is disclosed. The substrate can reduce detachment of crystal grains when the substrate is machined. The substrate may be machined when the substrate is cut into strips or a flow path surface recess is formed to produce the magnetic read/write head. The reduced detachment of crystal grains makes the magnetic read/write head more resilient to chipping, which allows the magnetic read/write head to have a lower and more stable flying height that increases recording density.
US08318328B2
An inventive workpiece features on at least parts of its surface a wear resistant hard coating comprising the following composition Al1-a-b-c-dCraXbSicBdZ, where x is at least one element from Nb, Mo, W or Ta; Z is one element or compound from N, C, CN, NO, CO, CNO; and 0.2<=a<=0.5; 0.01<=b<=0.2; 0<=c<=0.1; 0<=d<=0.1. Further a PVD process for depositing such a wear resistant coating is disclosed whereby at least one workpiece is installed in a vacuum coating system and said system is operated in a low pressure argon atmosphere utilizing at least two metal or metal alloy targets with at least temporarily addition of a reactive gas.
US08318288B2
An optical element includes a top layer which is transmissive for EUV radiation with wavelength λ in the range of 5-20 nm, and a structure of the top layer is a structure having an rms roughness value equal to or larger than λ/10 for spatial periods equal to or smaller than λ/2. The structure promotes transmission through the top layer to the optical element.
US08318285B1
An article for absorbing fluids that includes a backing sheet and an absorption sheet, wherein the absorption sheet is made of a material that is capable of absorbing any oil based liquid, and wherein the backing sheet is at least partly affixed to the absorption sheet; at least one first fastener means, wherein the first fastener means includes an attachment means on the bottom side and a mating attachment means on the top side, and wherein the bottom side of the first fastener means is at least partly affixed to a top side of the absorption sheet; and one or more malleable strips positioned along at least a portion of a length of the article.
US08318280B2
A compressed and re-expandable soft foam sealing tape, which is provided on one side with a self-adhesive layer covered by a cover film, and rolled up into a roll, is provided. A flexible film strip is inserted between the adhesive surface and the cover film at least along its edge on one side of the sealing tape roll and is adhered to the adhesive surface. The remaining film strip is folded over the sealing tape roll and inserted between the soft foam layer, to which the portion of the film strip has been adhered, and the cover film adhering to the adjacent soft foam layer.
US08318277B2
A plastic fuel tank is disclosed including polyethylene layers laminated respectively onto an upper surface and a lower surface of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol layer for preventing fuel seepage. The outermost polyethylene layer laminated onto the upper surface is a high-density polyethylene layer colored black so as to minimize transmission of ultraviolet light.
US08318272B1
A system and method by which new or recycled paper is rolled and assembled to form artwork is herein disclosed. The art form comprises a plurality of pre-rolled or flat pieces of paper that are rolled and formed into tubes. These tubes are then taped to hold them together, and if desired, folded inwardly at end portions for aesthetic purposes. Next, the tubes are arranged in a two-layer matrix forming an initial panel and secured using plastic wire ties. The panels are then layered and joined using the wire ties to form various finished designs. When completed, the art assembly comprises various abstract pieces of art being flat, non-flat, three-dimensional, or the like, that can be hung on a wall, stood upon a floor, or suspended from a ceiling. It is envisioned that the art form may be provided using recycled paper from catalogues and magazines to provide lively colors and brightly colored pattern that is also ecologically friendly. It is envisioned that the art form is to be sold in a kit format with the paper in a flat form to be rolled by the final user. The kit would be packaged with a suitable number of wire ties, common adhesive tape, and instructions for producing one (1) or more pieces of artwork.
US08318267B2
An object to be processed which has silicon on its surface is loaded in a processing chamber. A plasma of a processing gas containing oxygen gas and nitrogen gas is generated in the processing chamber. The silicon on the surface of the object to be processed is oxidized by the plasma, thereby forming a silicon oxide film.
US08318266B2
A method for depositing a refractory metal nitride barrier layer having a thickness of about 20 angstroms or less is provided. In one aspect, the refractory metal nitride layer is formed by introducing a pulse of a metal-containing compound followed by a pulse of a nitrogen-containing compound. The refractory metal nitride barrier layer provides adequate barrier properties and allows the grain growth of the first metal layer to continue across the barrier layer into the second metal layer thereby enhancing the electrical performance of the interconnect.
US08318261B2
The disclosure provides a method of producing thermally sprayed Al2O3 coatings having a high content of corundum without any property-reducing additives. The coatings may be utilized particularly in the field of electrical insulation, as a dielectric, and as protection from wear. The thermally sprayed Al2O3 coatings have a porosity of no more than 19%, and a high content of α-Al2O3 (content of corundum) of at least 72% by volume. The coatings have a specific electrical resistance of >1·1012 Ohms·cm, and a purity of >97%. The production of said coatings is carried out utilizing aqueous or alcoholic suspensions made from substantially pure α-Al2O3, having a grain size of >100 nm by thermal spraying.
US08318257B2
Dispersions and methods for forming dispersions that include a higher crystallinity polyolefin and at least one dispersing agent are disclosed. Various applications for use of the dispersions are also disclosed.
US08318254B2
A copolymer deposited with particles of catalytic metal is disclosed in the present invention, which is formed from an ethylenically unsaturated monomer and a hydrophilic monomer, and the catalytic metal is Au, Ag, Pd, Pt or Ru. The copolymer is hydrophilic when the temperature is lower than a specific temperature, and will become hydrophobic when the temperature is greater than the specific temperature. The present invention also discloses a method for forming a metal layer on a substrate via electroless plating, which includes contacting the substrate with an ink composition, drying the ink composition on the substrate, and contacting the dried ink composition with an electroless plating solution, wherein the ink composition contains the copolymer of the present invention in an aqueous phase. The present invention further discloses a method for forming metal conductors in through holes of a substrate.
US08318247B2
The present invention includes: a first step of discharging a coating solution from a nozzle to a center portion of the substrate to apply the coating solution on a surface of the substrate while rotating the substrate; a second step of decelerating, after the first step, the rotation of the substrate and continuously rotating the substrate; and a third step of accelerating, after the second step, the rotation of the substrate to dry the coating solution on the substrate, wherein: the substrate is rotated at a fixed speed of a first speed immediately before the first step; and in the first step, the rotation of the substrate which is at the first speed before start of the first step is gradually accelerated after the start of the first step so as to make the speed continuously change, and the acceleration of the rotation of the substrate is gradually decreased so as to make the speed of the rotation of the substrate converge in a second speed higher than the first speed at end of the first step.
US08318243B2
Disclosed is a method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium. The method includes laminating plural layers successively on a substrate having a through-hole at its center; and fitting center caps each having a predetermined radius in the through-hole to form at least two of the plural layers by a spin coat method. A radius of a first center cap used for forming an upper layer of the at least two layers is larger than a radius of a second center cap used for forming a lower layer thereof.
US08318242B2
A method in one embodiment includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials; and storing the magnetic head. A method in another embodiment includes applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials, the organic coating being applied to the magnetic head after the head is installed in the magnetic storage system. Another method includes fabricating a tape having an applicator portion for applying an organic coating to a magnetic head for reducing exposure of the head to oxidation promoting materials; applying the organic coating to the applicator portion of the tape; and applying a lubricant to a data portion of the tape. A method in another embodiment includes fabricating a tape having a data portion, and a cleaning portion for removing an organic coating from a magnetic head.
US08318239B2
The embodiments of the present invention provide a defect detection process and apparatus to detect defects in solar cell structures. During the process, an input signal from a signal source is applied to a top surface of a transparent conductive layer of a solar cell structure. In response to the input signal, an output signal is generated from a predetermined area of the top surface and detected by a defect detector. The output signal carrying the defect position information is transmitted to a computer and registered in a database. With the position information, an injector is driven to the defect location to apply an insulator to passivate the defect. A finger pattern layer may be formed over the predetermined area after completing the defect detection and passivation processes.
US08318237B2
A pixel observation system includes a memory unit, a coordinate generation unit, and an observation unit. The memory unit is configured to store at least nozzle information indicative of discharge states of a liquid material in a plurality of nozzles and arrangement information indicative of an arrangement of each of the nozzles with respect to each of a plurality of pixel regions in relative movement of the nozzles and a substrate. The coordinate generation unit is configured to generate observation coordinates of observation regions on the substrate based on the nozzle information and the arrangement information, and to include coordinates of at least some of the pixel regions over which the nozzles scan through one cycle of the relative movement in the observation coordinates. The observation unit is configured and arranged to observe the pixel regions positioned at the observation coordinates generated by the coordinate generation unit.
US08318233B2
It has now been found that emulsions having a discrete phase volume fraction of 60% to 67% with excellent stability may be prepared using at least one low molecular weight surfactant. Such emulsions have high oil loading and a small mean particle size of less than 0.2 microns. Further, such emulsions may be used in beverages without weighting agents.
US08318230B2
This patent pertains to the use of debranched starch in the preparation of pharmaceutical pellets by extrusion spheronization. Such excipients are useful in any dry dosage form, including tablets and capsules, for either immediate or sustained release.
US08318229B2
A method and apparatus to impart a random curvature to frying pre-formed snack pieces in a multi-layer fryer through the use of a contoured submerger. The shape of the contours of a contoured submerger imparts a random final curvature to each snack piece as snack pieces pass through a glass transition during frying. The contours are chosen so as to achieve a desired bulk density for the packaged fried snack products. Such method and apparatus are also useful in controlling the amount of change in bulk density or amount of settling of a packaged product during shipping or handling.
US08318224B2
This invention relates to a composition that contains quercetin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, caffeine, epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epigallocatechin.
US08318222B2
Disclosed is a multi-beneficial topical skin care composition, and methods for its use, that can hydrate skin, increase the firmness of skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles on skin, and reduce the appearance of age spots on skin. The composition can include a combination of skin active ingredients comprising euterpe oleracea fruit extract, punica granatum sterols, caprooyl tetrapeptide-3, tocopherol or tocopherol acetate, and niacinamide, a combination of skin moisturizing agents comprising glycerin and butyrospermum parkii, a photo stable combination of sunscreen agents providing the composition with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least about 15, and a dermatologically acceptable vehicle which imparts a non-greasy feel when applied to skin.
US08318220B2
The present invention relates to isolated bioactive compositions containing bioactive fractions derived from Theacea plants. The present invention also relates to bioactive topical formulations containing the bioactive compositions. The present invention further relates to methods of using the bioactive compositions of the present invention, including, for example, methods for inhibiting inflammatory activity in skin tissue of a mammal, for protecting skin tissue of a mammal from ultraviolet light-induced damage, and for normalizing skin disorders in skin tissue of a mammal. The present invention also relates to methods for isolating bioactive fractions derived from cell juice or a cell walls component a Theacea plant.
US08318219B2
The invention refers to an isolated extract of walnuts of high efficiency and stability over time useful for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases, which is characterized in that it is obtained from a process comprising: i) collecting unripe walnut fruits as raw material; ii) preparing the raw material for the extraction, iii) freezing the raw material prepared in the previous step; iv) drying; v) extracting in a time lower than 10 minutes; vi) filtration; and vii) final packaging. The invention also refers to its use for manufacturing a medicament for the treatment of bacterial, fungal and viral diseases and to a composition comprising it.
US08318217B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising an NFκB-inhibitor and an anti-inflammatory compound. The anti-inflammatory compound is not an NFκB-inhibitor and has an IC50 of about 70 μg/ml or less.
US08318215B1
The present invention is a topical treatment. which can be in the form of cream, ointment, spray or other topically administered composition, which is used to enhance healing of burns, ultraviolet and radiation erythema. The treatment not only reduces pain and inflammation, prevents blistering, and maintains flexibility of the skin, but also accelerates the normal healing process.
US08318214B2
Method for the treatment of onychoschizia in a patient having onychoschizia. The method is performed by administering to the patient a topical composition including (a) at least one herb extract from the genus Equisetum, and (b) at least one water-soluble film forming agent which is a derivative of chitosan.
US08318212B2
Disclosed is a method for regenerating articular cartilage in an animal comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a non-demineralized particulate articular cartilage having a distribution of particle sizes within the range of from about 60 microns to about 500 microns.
US08318210B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods for the controlled release of active agents in a shelf-stable liquid formulation by blending one or more controlled release microbeads comprising one or more active agents, preparing a dense, thixotropic solution having a density that is at, or about, the density of the one or more microbeads comprising a thixotropic agent, water and one or more preservatives under conditions that reduce bubble formation and mixing the microbeads and the thixotropic solutions in a mixer that lacks scraping paddles.
US08318208B1
The present disclosure generally relates to nanoparticles having about 0.2 to about 35 weight percent of a therapeutic agent; and about 10 to about 99 weight percent of biocompatible polymer such as a diblock poly(lactic) acid-poly(ethylene)glycol. Other aspects of the invention include methods of making such nanoparticles.
US08318203B2
The present invention relates to a new racecadotril formulation in the form of tablets, the preparation process thereof and the use thereof to treat diarrhoea.
US08318202B2
Stable pharmaceutical compositions of famotidine and ibuprofen in a single unit dosage form are disclosed herein. The compositions comprise a famotidine core having a reduced or minimal surface area surrounded by a layer of ibuprofen. In some embodiments, the ibuprofen is in direct physical contact with the famotidine.
US08318185B2
The present invention refers to a recombinant malaria vaccine and a method for its manufacture.
US08318182B2
Methods and compositions are provided herein for immunizing a subject against Chlamydial genital infection by administering to the subject an effective amount of a Chlamydial immunogenic peptide or an immunogenic fragment or variant thereof incorporated within a vault-like particle carrier. In some aspects, the vault-like-particles are administered to the nasal mucosa. The methods and compositions advantageously exhibit enhanced ability to induce cell-mediated immunity and/or antibody-based immunity at mucosal surfaces while reducing inflammation associated with Chlamydia infection.
US08318176B2
The invention provides immunosuppressive polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides. In one aspect, the invention provides mutant CTLA-4 polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding mutant CTLA-4 polypeptides. Compositions and methods for utilizing such polypeptides and nucleic acids are also provided.
US08318171B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions for the treatment or alleviation of Alzheimer's disease and of other conditions related to abnormal protein aggregation. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions for the immunotherapy of Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cataract. In one aspect the invention provides a method of prophylaxis, treatment or alleviation of a condition characterized by pathological aggregation and accumulation of a specific protein associated with an immunizing-effective dose of one or more tyrosine cross-linked compounds, and optionally also comprising copper ions complexed to the compound. Alternatively passive immunization against a tyrosine cross-linked compound may be used. Prophylactic or therapeutic compositions and diagnostic methods are also disclosed and claimed.
US08318170B2
It is possible to inhibit inflammatory processes by administration of antibodies to chemokines. Identification of chemokines which are over-produced makes it possible to block specific chemokine activity using antibodies to the over-expressed chemokines.
US08318165B2
The present invention provides isolated antibodies (e.g., humanized or human antibodies) that bind to the membrane-proximal domain (MP) of human Melanoma-Associated Chondroitin Sulphate Proteoglycan (MCSP), and are capable of mediating cytolysis of a cell expressing MCSP in the presence of human effector cells or complement. Methods of using such antibodies to induce cytolysis (e.g., ADCC or CDCC) of cells expressing MP-MCSP are also provided.
US08318161B2
A formulation comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an antibody, optionally, not subjected to prior lyophilization, a buffer maintaining the pH in the range from about 4.5 to about 6.5, and an optional surfactant is described, along with uses for such a formulation.
US08318156B2
Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein generally relate to anti-cocaine therapeutics. Specifically, some embodiments of the invention relate to highly efficient, thermostable, and long-lasting cocaine esterase (CocE) mutants that can protect against the toxic and reinforcing effects of cocaine in subjects. Provided herein are mutant CocE polypeptides displaying thermostable esterase activity. Also provided are methods of treating cocaine-induced conditions in a subject in need via administration of mutant CocE as well as methods for high-throughput screening of candidate esterase polypeptides.
US08318151B2
The present invention generally relates to the field of weight management and obesity. In particular the present invention relates to the use of probiotics in combination with prebiotics to treat or prevent obesity. One embodiment of the present invention relates to the use of Lactobacillus rhamnosus NCC 4007 in combination with a specific probiotic mixture for the preparation of a composition to support weight management, promote weight loss and/or to treat obesity.
US08318144B2
The use of poly(oxyethylene)-poly(oxybutylene) block copolymers in pharmaceutical compositions useful for modifying the surfaces of contact lenses and other medical devices is disclosed. The present invention is based in-part on a discovery that this class of compounds is particularly efficient in wetting hydrophobic surfaces, such as the surfaces of silicone hydrogel contact lenses and other types of ophthalmic lenses. Such compounds are also useful for cleaning purposes. The use of the compounds as surfactants in various types of compositions for treating contact lenses therefore represents a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
US08318143B2
Disclosed are compositions, inter alia, shampoos, conditioners, and restoratives that are effective in preventing further damage to keratin-containing fibers damaged by exposure to oxidative dyeing catalysts, mechanical damage, exposure to UV and visible radiation, and the like.
US08318142B2
A method of stimulating growth of a hair shaft from a hair follicle on a scalp of a human includes supplying a hair growth system. The hair growth system includes a vitamin complex ingestible by the human, a cleansing agent suitable for washing the scalp at least once every 48 hours and substantially free from each of sodium lauryl sulfate, palmitoyl ethanolamide, and dehydroepiandrosterone, and a plurality of laser diodes disposed in a fixture. The fixture is configured for surrounding the scalp and applying electromagnetic radiation to the scalp. The method also includes applying electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from about 380 nm to about 1,000 nm to the scalp at a radiant flux of from about 600 nW to about 700 nW via the plurality of laser diodes to stimulate growth of the hair shaft from the hair follicle. A hair growth system is also disclosed.
US08318135B2
The invention provides multivalent ligand binding agents (traps) for members of the TGF-β superfamily and polypeptide linkers and methods for making and using such constructs. The traps may be used as therapeutic or diagnostic (imaging or non-imaging) agents for diseases/disorders caused by over-production/activity of the target ligand. In an embodiment of the invention there is provided a multivalent binding agent with affinity for a member of the TGF-β superfamily, the agent having the general structure I: (
US08318130B2
A process, preferably continuous, for producing hydrogen gas comprising contacting in the liquid phase at least one oxidizable organic substance in the presence of a mixture comprising at least one conductive catalyst and an aqueous alkaline carbonate electrolyte, wherein at least one bicarbonate composition produced by reaction of the electrolyte is regenerated and the at least one oxidizable organic substance comprises a oxygenated hydrocarbon, for example methanol and/or dimethyl ether. In a preferred embodiment the alkaline electrolyte is regenerated using steam. Various advantageous reaction schemes are described, utilizing, e.g., co-current and countercurrent stream flow and alternative tower sequence arrangements.
US08318125B2
A catalyst having decreased activity is subjected to a contact treatment with a reducing gas containing carbon monoxide and/or hydrogen. Also, the catalyst can be effectively activated by being treated by contacting with an oxidizing gas after having been treated by contacting with the reducing gas. As the catalyst for production of chlorine, a ruthenium catalyst, particularly a catalyst containing ruthenium oxide is suitably activated.
US08318122B2
Powdered, amorphous carbon nanomaterials are formed from a carbon precursor in reverse microemulsion that includes organic solvent, surfactant and water. Methods for manufacturing amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterials generally include steps of (1) forming a reverse microemulsion including at least one non-polar solvent, at least one surfactant, and at least one polar solvent, (2) adding at least one carbon precursor substance to the reverse microemulsion, (3) reacting the at least one carbon precursor substance so as to form an intermediate carbon nanomaterial, (4) separating the intermediate amorphous carbon nanomaterial from the reverse microemulsion, and (5) heating the intermediate amorphous carbon nanomaterial for a period of time so as to yield an amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterial. Amorphous, powdered carbon nanomaterials manufactured according to the present disclosure typically have a surface area of at least 500 m2/g, a graphitic content of at least 25%, and a conductivity of at least 150 S/m.
US08318120B2
A method for the preparation of functionalized particles includes providing a feedstock made of particles, a surface treatment agent reactive with the particles, and solvent. The feedstock is exposed to microwave radiation to heat the feedstock and react the particles with the surface treatment agent to provide the functionalized particles in less than about 60 minutes.
US08318119B2
A high-surface area fine particle dispersal of LaMnO3 or a promoted derivation of LaMnO3 may be prepared by the citrate method. The amount of citric acid used to complex the constituent metal cations into citrate complexed mixed metal compounds may range from about 40 mol % to about 100 mol % in excess of stoichiometry.
US08318107B2
Disclosed herein are a system for collecting a sample and optionally detecting or analyzing an electrical property thereof, the method comprising: means for obtaining a sample in a sample container; means for directing the sample into a sensing chamber in fluid communication with the sample container, the sensing chamber comprising a plurality of sensing chamber electrodes positioned at the sensing chamber and configured to be in contact with the sample when the sample is directed into the sensing chamber; means for applying an electrical signal to the sample with a read-out analyzer via the plurality of sensing chamber electrodes; the plurality of sensing chamber electrodes in operable communication with the read-out analyzer; and means for detecting the effect of the sample on the electrical signal, thereby determining an electrical property of the sample.
US08318104B2
An apparatus for treating waste comprises a gravity drop steam heating tower for heating the waste to the biological kill temperature using pressurized steam, a first feed member for feeding the waste to be sterilized to the gravity drop steam heating tower, and a vaporization system. The vaporization system includes a heating chamber for facilitating vaporization of liquids in the waste, a conveying member for conveying the waste from the lower end portion of the gravity drop steam heating tower into and through the heating chamber, and a vaporization chamber for receiving the waste from the heating chamber and for releasing vapor entrained in the waste into the vaporization chamber.
US08318103B2
The invention relates to a catalyst arrangement in an exhaust gas after-treatment system of an internal combustion engine comprising an exhaust gas line in which an SCR catalyst is positioned in the direction of flow of the exhaust gas. A reducing agent production system has an NOx and CO/H2 production unit and a combined NOx storage/ammonia production unit in the standard gas-carrying path of the reducing agent production system which supplies ammonia as the reducing agent. The NOx and CO/H2 production unit is at least temporarily supplied via a fuel supply and an air supply with starting products for producing ammonia. The combined NOx storage/ammonia production unit has a plurality catalyst sections having different characteristic properties or functionalities, enabling a higher ammonia yield in the combined NOx storage/ammonia production unit. The catalyst formulations make it possible to adjust a temperature profile that additionally influences the ammonia production rate and contributes to higher ammonia yields.
US08318100B2
Reactor vessels with pressure and heat transfer features for producing hydrogen-based fuels and structural elements, and associated systems and methods. A representative reactor system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first reaction zone and a heat path positioned to direct heat into the first reaction zone, a reactant source coupled to the first reaction zone, and a first actuator coupled to cyclically pressurize the first reaction zone. The system can further include a second reaction zone in fluid communication with the first, a valve coupled between the first and second reaction zones to control a flow rate therebetween, and a second actuator coupled in fluid communication with the second reaction zone to cyclically pressurize the second reaction zone. A first heat exchanger is positioned to direct heat from a first product leaving the first reaction zone to a reactant entering the first reaction zone, and a second heat exchanger is positioned to direct heat from a second product leaving the second reaction zone to the reactant entering the first reaction zone. A controller is coupled to the first and second actuators and is programmed with instructions that, when executed, control the first and second actuators in a coordinated manner based at least in part on a flow rate of the second product from the second reaction zone.
US08318088B2
A method of radiation sterilizing a plurality of stent-catheter assemblies includes positioning a plurality of stent-catheter assemblies on a fixture, each of the stent catheter assemblies being arranged in a planar configuration and disposed in corresponding planar packages supported on the fixture, wherein the packages are stacked horizontally on the fixture, and wherein the stents of the assemblies are positioned at a position in each package such that the stents are exposed to the same or substantially the same radiation; and exposing the packages to an incoming radiation beam, the radiation beam being at an acute angle to the planes of the planar configuration of the assemblies, wherein the packages are arranged such that a front end of the stack faces the radiation beam and a back end of the stack faces away from the radiation beam.
US08318079B2
The invention relates to a method for assembling an adhesive device comprising a first matrix-forming material with holes and a second material, the method comprising: (a) compose the first matrix-forming material with holes; (b) compose the second material with a Tm lower than the Tm of the first material, while enabling increase in the Tm of the second material; (c) assemble the adhesive device by filling the holes of the first matrix-forming material of step (a) with the deformable second material of step (b) at a temperature where the second material is deformable and the first material is non-deformable; (d) increase the Tm of the second material.
US08318077B2
Methods of producing collection tubes are presented. The methods include providing a separator substance that can rapidly polymerize in a short time to a desired hardness and disposing the separator substance within the lumen of the tube. The separator substance is formulated to have a density between an average density of a serum fraction of whole blood and a cell-containing fraction of whole blood, and to be flowable with whole blood. Upon centrifugation of a tube having blood, the separator substance forms a barrier between the whole blood fractions. The barrier rapidly hardens forming a solid barrier when triggered by a suitable energy source.
US08318068B2
A method for joining together constructional parts which are made of a composite material and extend transversely to one another, such as a flange and a web of a profile, includes the steps of: placing the constructional parts in the desired position with respect to one another so as to form a connecting region in which one of the constructional parts abuts against or in proximity to the other constructional part, causing a thermoplastic material to flow out into the connecting region, fusing together the constructional parts under the influence of heat and pressure.
US08318066B2
The present invention is directed to methods for patterning a substrate by imprint lithography. Imprint lithography is a process in which a liquid is dispensed onto a substrate. A template is brought into contact with the liquid and the liquid is cured. The cured liquid includes an imprint of any patterns formed in the template. In one embodiment, the imprint process is designed to imprint only a portion of the substrate. The remainder of the substrate is imprinted by moving the template to a different portion of the template and repeating the imprint lithography process.
US08318065B2
The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion, post-doping annealing, and materials used therein.
US08318064B2
This present invention is for an improved method of recycling waste materials consisting substantially of cellulosic fiber and thermoplastic resin to make combustible products useful as industrial fuel with high heat output. The preferred method utilizes a low-speed and high-torque grinder to facilitate the continuous processing of feedstock. One advantage of the present invention over the prior art is the ability to continuously process feedstock while reducing the risk of fire.
US08318056B2
An optical sheet having both a light condensing function and a light diffusing function in a single sheet is to be provided. When a transparent support (18) on which a curable resin coat layer (38) is formed is wound around a zigzag-faced roller (32) on which the reversed pattern of convex-concave patterns is formed to transfer the reversed pattern of the zigzag-faced roller (32) to the resin coat layer (38), gas is blown from a gas jet nozzle (50), immediately before winding the transparent support (18) around the zigzag-faced roller (32), into a gap between the resin coat layer (38) and the surface of the zigzag-faced roller.
US08318037B2
Disclosed are hydroxy terminated alkylsilane ethers with oligoethylene oxide substituents. They are suitable for use as electrolyte solvents and particularly well suited for use with aqueous environment electrolytic capacitors. Methods for synthesizing these compounds are also disclosed.
US08318028B2
A method and system for wastewater treatment comprising a first treatment zone (11) fluidly connected to one or more further treatment zones (12, 13, 14), a membrane module (16) comprising a filter membrane positioned in or fluidly connected to the further treatment zone (14), a gravity settling device (15) fluidly connected to the first treatment zone (11) to receive overflow therefrom; and a flow control device (23) between the first treatment zone (11) and the gravity settling device (15) to control the flow of liquid therebetween.
US08318027B2
Disclosed is a process for reclamation of waste fluids. A conditioning container is employed for receipt of waste material on a continuous flow for treatment within the container by immersible transducers producing ultrasonic acoustic waves in combination with a high level of injected ozone. The invention discloses a cost efficient and environmentally friendly process and apparatus for cleaning and recycling of flowback, or frac water, which has been used to stimulate gas production from shale formations. The apparatus is mobile and containerized and suitable for installation at the well site.
US08318026B2
A system for controlling the sedimentation of sand or grit particles suspended in waste water contained in a grit chamber by determining the temperature of water contained in the grit chamber and by operating a turbulence creating means on the basis of the water temperature. A method of controlling the sedimentation of sand and grit particles suspended in waste water contained in a grit chamber, by determining the temperature of water contained in the grit chamber and by operating a turbulence creating means on the basis of the water temperature.
US08318023B2
Contaminating water and/or fuel material may be removed from a stream of internal combustion engine lubricating oil being circulated over parts of an operating engine. A suitable membrane material is supported in a suitable housing. At least a portion of the oil stream is flowed over one side of the membrane and water and/or fuel material diffuses through the membrane to its other side where they are gathered and removed from the housing. The water and fuel material may be recovered separately using different membranes or different regions of a membrane. They may be swept from the membranes and housings using streams of flowing air heated to a pre-selected temperatures using waste engine heat for disposition outside the housing. Application of this practice to other membrane-separable mixtures is described.
US08318015B2
A stormwater filtration system suitable for treatment of stormwater runoff in a developed environment uses a primary treatment bay that includes a filtration bed with live plant matter. A second treatment bay treats water that exceeds the maximum throughput of the primary bay. A reservoir stores treated runoff to water the plants during dry weather. Removable trays on the surface of the primary filtration bed provide plants suitable for ground cover. Additional bays expand the filtration bed throughput and accommodate extended root systems. A flow control may be provided for the primary treatment bay.
US08318007B2
The invention relates to an ultraviolet radiation lamp. The lamp comprises a substantially sealed cavity comprising a mercury-containing material; a filament disposed in the sealed cavity; and an electrical control element in contact with the filament, the electrical control element configured to adjust or maintain a temperature of the mercury-containing material with respect to a prescribed temperature. Such a constructions allows the present ultraviolet radiation lamp to be operated at optimal efficiency without the need to use additional components to add heat to and/or remove heat from the mercury-containing material.
US08318002B2
Lubricating base oils/base stocks comprising one or more hydrodewaxate and/or hydroisomerate base stock(s) and/or base oil(s), GTL base stock(s) and/or base oil(s) or mixture thereof, preferably GTL base stock(s) and/or base oil(s) of improved solvency comprise said base stock combined with a Group I base stock/base oil selected from the group consisting of high viscosity Group I mineral oil, preferably Bright Stock.The solvency and the capability to solubilize performance additives of base oils comprising one or more hydrodewaxate and/or hydroisomerate base stock(s) and/or base oil(s), GTL base stock(s) and/or base oil(s) or mixture thereof, preferably GTL base stock(s) and/or base oil(s) is improved by the addition to said base oils of a Group I base oil/base stock selected from the group consisting of high viscosity Group I mineral oil, preferably Bright Stock.
US08317999B2
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.
US08317992B2
The present disclosure is directed at a modular apparatus for a saltwater desalinating system, and a method for using same. The apparatus includes multiple internal modules that are compressively coupled to each other. Each of the internal modules includes a pair of rigid end plates located at opposing ends of the internal module, and a stack of membrane bounded compartments that are layered from one of the end plates to the other. The modular apparatus can be used in a membrane based desalination system, which includes concentration difference energy systems, electrodialysis reversal systems, and membrane distillation systems. The modular apparatus helps to mitigate problems such as leakage and buckling in such systems, and can be used to increase membrane packing density and, accordingly, desalination efficiency.
US08317989B2
An electrochemical sensor is provided that includes a housing having an outer wall, an axial bore circumscribed by the outer wall, and a barrier wall that aids in defining a reference cavity. The housing further including a plurality of cross members in spaced relation to one another disposed between the axial bore and the outer wall, each cross member defining an aperture. A junction plug is disposed at the distal end of the housing. The junction plug comprises a porous material that enables ionic flow through the junction plug. The sensor enables ionic communication between the target fluid and the reference electrode within the reference cavity through the apertures of the plurality of cross members. In this manner, the sensor provides generally a long, tortuous flow path, or salt bridge, between the target fluid and the reference electrode, resulting in a high resistance factor for the sensor.
US08317987B2
One embodiment relates to a substrate carrier for use in electroplating a plurality of substrates. The substrate carrier comprises a non-conductive carrier body on which the substrates are to be held. Electrically-conductive lines are embedded within the carrier body, and a plurality of contact clips are coupled to the electrically-conductive lines embedded within the carrier body. The contact clips hold the substrates in place and electrically couple the substrates to the electrically-conductive lines. The non-conductive carrier body is continuous so as to be impermeable to flow of electroplating solution through the non-conductive carrier body. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08317986B2
An electrolyser for generating hydrogen including a plurality of elementary electrolysis cells including a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte provided between the cathode and the anode. An interconnection plate is interposed between the anode of an elementary cell and a cathode of a following elementary cell, in electric contact with the anode and the cathode, and includes a cathodic compartment, an anodic compartment for circulation of fluid to the cathode and the anode respectively, and a chamber for collecting a gas generated at the cathode, separated from the cathodic compartment and the anodic compartment by first and second walls respectively, the first wall at least having a thickness allowing diffusion of the gas through the first wall from the cathodic compartment to the chamber.
US08317982B2
The present invention discloses a process and apparatus for utilization of waste heat of flue gas liberated from different heat sources to provide high quality water from sea/brackish.
US08317970B2
A gas distribution plate is formed of a metallic body having a bottom surface with plural gas disperser orifices and an internal gas manifold feeding the orifices. Each one of an array of discrete RF power applicators held in the plate includes (a) an insulating cylindrical housing extending through the plate, a portion of the housing extending outside of the plate through the bottom surface, and (b) a conductive solenoidal coil contained within the housing, a portion of the coil lying within the portion of the housing that extends outside of the plate through the bottom surface.
US08317942B2
A cast iron material, particularly a ledeburitic cast iron material with a carbide content of at least 15 wt. % and a characteristic free, evenly distributed graphite formation is disclosed. In this case, the evenly distributed graphite formation may comprise graphite flakes and/or vermicular graphite and/or nodular graphite. Depending on the respective application (diameter (D) of the running gear seal, peripheral speed), the basic matrix may be realized in pearlitic and/or bainitic and/or martensitic form. Due to the high graphite content, the material has a thermal conductivity that is three to four times greater than that of white cast iron materials, wherein this provides the advantage that no scoring of the running gear seals occurs at high peripheral speeds (>5 m/s) and large diametrical dimensions of the seals (D >600 mm). In addition, the high carbide content of at least 15 wt. % provides an adequate wear resistance, and other alloying elements such as chromium, vanadium, molybdenum and nickel provide the material with a corresponding corrosion resistance. The aforementioned ledeburitic cast iron material with evenly distributed graphite formation can be used, for example, for the manufacture of axial face seals and cylinder liners.
US08317939B2
In a first step of a method of gas carburizing, a steel treatment object is heated in a carburizing atmosphere comprising a carburizing gas until the surface carbon concentration of the treatment object reaches the final target value that is not higher than the solid solubility limit at a carburizing temperature that is not higher than the peritectic point, at which steel transforms from δ iron and liquid phase to γ iron, and is not less than the eutectic point, at which steel transforms from liquid phase to γ iron and cementite. In a second step the gas carburizing is advanced after the first step so that the carburizing depth of the treatment object increases while the surface carbon concentration of the treatment object is kept at the final target value by reducing the carbon potential of the carburizing gas with the lapse of time.
US08317938B2
A steel composition which has good nitridability, in particular for the manufacture of piston rings and cylinder liners, contains the following elements in the following quantities expressed with respect to 100 weight % of the steel composition: 0.5-1.5 weight % Al, 0.5-1.2 weight % C, 68.2-96.9 weight % Fe, 0.1-3.0 weight % Mn and 2.0-10.0 weight % Si. It can be manufactured by producing a melt of starting materials and casting the melt into a prepared mold. Nitriding the steel composition obtained results in a nitrided steel composition produced by gravity casting manufacturing with properties that surpass those of hardened and tempered spheroidal graphite.
US08317937B2
In order to make a sintered R-T-B-M magnet so that R2T14B phases that include a lot of Dy in the surface region of the main phase are distributed over the entire magnet, a region including a heavy rare-earth element RH at a high concentration is formed continuously beforehand at an interface between the crystals of an R2T14B compound that is the main phase of the sintered R-T-B-M magnet and the other phases.
US08317936B2
A dish washer which includes a steam generator. The dish washer, for example, may comprise a tub to provide a room for dishes for washing, a sump to hold water for supplying to the tub for the washing; a steam generator to generate steam, a first tube (or a steam tube) to provide a passage for the steam from the steam generator to the tub, and a valve to release the steam or water from the steam generator according to a pressure.
US08317935B2
A dishwasher apparatus includes a cover member and a sound absorbing device. The sound absorbing device comprises a sound absorbing element attached to the cover member and a motor guard attached to the sound absorbing element. A portion of the motor guard is positioned between a portion of the motor and a portion of the sound absorbing element.
US08317925B2
A structure for independently supporting a wafer and a mask in a processing chamber is provided. The structure includes a set of extensions for supporting the wafer and a set of extensions supporting the mask. The set of extensions for the wafer and the set of extensions for the mask enable independent movement of the wafer and the mask. In one embodiment, the extensions are affixed to an annular ring which is capable of moving in a vertical direction within the processing chamber. A processing chamber, a mask, and a method for combinatorially processing a substrate are also provided.
US08317914B2
A building material product comprising a cementitious binder, an aggregate and cellulose reinforcing fibers wherein the cellulose reinforcing fibers have been treated with cationic or nonionic oil. The resulting fiber when included in a fiber cement composite results in improved deflection of the composite at peak loading as well as improved impact strength while maintaining overall board strength.
US08317911B2
The invention relates to application of solvent(s) to a product including at least one binder, wherein the product is a paint or coating formulation and the solvent is a compound of renewable vegetable origin, notably agricultural origin. It also relates to a paint or coating including at least one binder and one solvent, wherein the solvent is of renewable vegetable origin. Formulations are given.
US08317897B2
The invention relates to a method and device for supersonically injecting oxygen into a furnace, in particular a cupola furnace, in which the total oxygen required for the furnace operation is injected with the aid of two distinct circuits, i.e., the first circuit comprising at least one supersonic oxygen injecting nozzle and a second circuit which comprises additionally oxygen injecting means and is connected to the first circuit by pressure-sensitive means, such as a discharging device (or upstream pressure adjuster), in such a way that a stable pressure is obtained in the first circuit upon the attainment of the maximum flowrate thereof, wherein the first circuit can consists of several supersonic nozzle groups.
US08317896B2
A method of recycling useful metals is provided. The method enables useful metals including indium, zinc, yttrium, europium, lanthanum, terbium, gadolinium, antimony, lead, copper, tin, and silver to be recovered from wastes, such as wasted flat panel displays, and recycled economically with small energy consumption. The method of recycling useful metals includes: a step in which wastes comprising various flat panel displays, e.g., liquid-crystal display panels, are crushed/powdered; a step in which the resultant particles are dissolved in an aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution; and a step in which various metal oxides and various metal fluorides which remain undissolved are filtered off and the aqueous hydrofluoric acid solution containing various metal ions is electrolyzed to deposit and recover metals for transparent-electrode oxides, such as indium and zinc, and other useful metals.
US08317873B2
A controlled-stretch prosthetic liner comprising a polymeric material covered with at least a stretch-controlling fabric. Certain liner types, such as below knee (BK) liners, may also include a panel of more stretchable fabric so as to prevent any interference with knee flexion. The polymeric material of the liner may also be used to control liner stretch, such as by adding Kevlar pulp or other materials that increase the strength and reduce the elasticity of the polymeric material and/or by reducing the amount of plasticizer(s) present therein. The stretch-controlling fabric, possibly in conjunction with the polymeric material, acts to limit the longitudinal stretch of the liner while not adversely affecting the radial stretch thereof.
US08317871B2
A two piece humeral component for use in joint arthroplasty which is adapted to be implanted into a joint and engaged by a socket component of the joint. The joint component includes a body having a first articulating surface and a second medial surface opposite the first articulating surface. The first articulating surface is adapted to be engaged by the socket and the second medial surface is adapted to be secured to mounting portion. The mounting portion has a first surface and a second medial surface. The first surface is adapted to be fixably engaged to the second mounting portion of the humeral component. The second medial surface is adapted to be secured to the humerus. A peg which has a first end adapted to engage a cavity found in the humerus is disposed on the mounting portion's second medial surface.
US08317870B2
An implantable orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a component that is configured to be coupled to a surgically-prepared bone. A fixation side of the component includes a fixation surface that has an angled cement pocket formed therein.
US08317869B2
A femoral component of a knee prosthesis, wherein the femoral component includes a sharp radius at each end (e.g., the anterior end and the posterior end) of the femoral component is disclosed herein. The sharp radius at each end may form a “claw” at each end. Each of these claws may “dig” through the patient's cartilage into the bone (or may “dig” directly into bone if there is no intervening cartilage). One benefit provided by a claw may be facilitating a smooth transition of cartilage/poly bearing to femoral implant/poly bearing (e.g., during knee extension). A femoral component of a knee prosthesis, wherein the femoral component includes a raised rib having a bulbous terminus at a free edge is disclosed herein. This raised rib having a bulbous terminus at a free edge may, for example, simultaneously create sufficient implant strength and adequate cement fixation while minimizing the component's thickness.
US08317867B2
Methods for correcting a deformity in the spine by forming a trans-sacral axial instrumentation/fusion axial bore through vertebral bodies in general alignment with a visualized, anterior axial instrumentation/fusion line in a minimally invasive, low trauma, manner and providing a therapy to the spine employing the axial bore. Curved or relatively straight anterior axial bores are formed from the anterior starting positions. The therapies performed through the axial bores include discoscopy, full and partial discectomy, vertebroplasty, balloon-assisted vertebroplasty, drug delivery, electrical stimulation and various forms of spinal disc cavity augmentation, spinal disc replacement, fusion of spinal motion segments and implantation of radioactive seeds. Axial spinal implants and bone growth materials can be placed into single or multiple parallel or diverging axial bores to fuse two or more vertebrae, or distract or shock absorb two or more vertebrae.
US08317865B2
A percutaneous path is established into a selected bone having an interior volume occupied, at least in part, by a cancellous bone, e.g., a vertebral body. An expandable mesh structure is introduced into the cancellous bone by deployment of a tool through the percutaneous path into the cancellous bone. The expandable mesh structure is expanded within cancellous bone by conveying a material into the mesh structure. Expansion of the mesh structure can, e.g., compact cancellous bone, and/or form a cavity in cancellous bone, and/or move fractured cortical bone.
US08317862B2
A method of providing a replacement anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) provides a tibial tunnel and at least one femoral tunnel for receiving the replacement ligament, the femoral and tibial tunnels not being colinear but rather in an orientation that more closely mimics the natural ACL. The femoral tunnel is formed through the anterior medial portal. A cross pinning guide having a femoral rod for insertion into the femoral tunnel, a spaced apart arc shaped track and a guide block having one or more bores aligned with the femoral rod whereby an instrument inserted through one of the bores creates a pilot hole for the cross pin which intersects the femoral tunnel and an appropriate angle thereof which avoids ligaments and other sensitive tissue can be selected by adjusting the guide block along the track.
US08317858B2
The present invention relates to a stent for the positioning and anchoring of a valvular prosthesis in an implantation site in the heart of a patient. Specifically, the present invention relates to an expandable stent for an endoprosthesis used in the treatment of a narrowing of a cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. So as to ensure that no longitudinal displacement of a valvular prosthesis fastened to a stent will occur relative the stent in the implanted state of the stent, even given the peristaltic motion of the heart, the stent according to the invention comprises at least one fastening portion via which the valvular prosthesis is connectable to the stent. The stent further comprises positioning arches and retaining arches, whereby at least one positioning arch is connected to at least one retaining arch via a first connecting web. The stent moreover comprises at least one auxiliary retaining arch which connects the respective arms of the at least one retaining arch connected to the at least one positioning arch.
US08317857B2
Disclosed herein is a biodegradable prosthesis that includes a first end, a second end, and an elongate tubular body with a lumen therethrough. The prosthesis can have a first layer comprising a set of flexible interbraided bioabsorbable filaments, and optionally a set of flexible interbraided metallic filaments. Also, the prosthesis can have a second layer comprising a porous thermoplastic material that can be either an outer layer or an inner layer relative to the first layer. The prosthesis can include other features including branch apertures, folded portions, and attachment mechanisms for the first and second layers.
US08317848B1
An optical-signal vestibular-nerve stimulation device and method that provides different nerve stimulation signals to a plurality of different vestibular nerves, including at least some of the three semicircular canal nerves and the two otolith organ nerves. In some embodiments, balance conditions of the person are sensed by the implanted device or external device, and based on the sensed balance conditions, varying laser nerve-stimulation signals are sent to a plurality of the different vestibular nerves.
US08317847B2
A biostimulation apparatus of the present invention includes a laser oscillator for oscillating an ultra short pulsed laser beam and an optical system for focusing the ultra short pulsed laser beam, wherein the ultra short pulsed laser beam is focused by the optical system at a target portion of a living subject to cause the target portion to be irradiated with the laser beam to stimulate an acupuncture point, and wherein the target portion is either the acupuncture point or its periphery.
US08317842B2
A distal tibia plating system includes anterolateral and medial plates. The anterolateral plate includes a shaft with both threaded first fastener holes and compression slots along its length. The head includes a first row of four threaded fastener holes arranged transversely to the longitudinal axis, a non-threaded compression screw hole, and a plurality of distal tabs. Each tab includes a ring with a single threaded fastener hole and a bridge that couples the ring to the distal end of the plate. The bridge is configured to bend preferentially in a desired direction and to allow tab removal. The medial plate is a low profile plate including a shaft and a relatively enlarged distal head. Several fasteners can be used with the plates. A plate holder is provided to maneuver the plates subcutaneously.
US08317840B2
The invention relates to a surgical method for positioning a permanent percutaneous electrical connection device in a receiving bone site of a patient, the patient being a human being or an animal, and the device comprising, on the one hand, a plate-implant integrating at least one fixed electrical connection port and, on the other hand, a percutaneous electrical connection abutment designed to be coupled to the electrical connection port, the method comprising the following successive steps: step of preparing the receiving bone site, during which: the cutaneous plane facing the receiving bone site is incised, then the periosteum of the receiving bone site is incised and detached and then reclined to clear the bone structure, then the bone structure is hollowed out so as to form a cavity in which the plate-implant is to be impacted; step of impacting the plate-implant into the cavity formed in the receiving bone site, during which: the plate-implant is anchored in the cavity formed in the receiving bone site, then bone fragments are positioned to cover the plate-implant except in the area of the fixed electrical connection port, then said bone fragments are covered with a membrane to keep the bone fragments in position so as to ensure guided bone regeneration, said membrane being affixed to the bone structure on one part and to the plate-implant on another part in order to hold the bone fragments in position.
US08317829B2
An innovative bone anchor and methods for securing soft tissue, such as tendons, to bone are described herein. Such devices and methods permit a suture attachment that lies beneath the cortical bone surface and does not require tying of knots in the suture.
US08317825B2
A method of conducting biological materials in soft tissue includes inserting an elongated conduit device into the soft tissue and through a defect in the soft tissue, and conducting biological materials along at least one longitudinal channel defined on an outer surface of the conduit device into the soft tissue. The conduit device is externally threaded.
US08317822B2
Vessel wound closure systems and method for sealing a puncture wound in a target vessel, such as those puncture wounds that occur from interventional procedures. The vessel wound closure system generally comprises an introducer, and a hydratable hemostatic membrane dislodgable from over a portion of the introducer to seal a vessel wound upon hydration of the membrane. The membrane may include a glaze on an outside surface thereof to help control hydration of the membrane.
US08317820B2
A medical device with pivotable jaws and method of use thereof are disclosed. The device includes a pair of jaw members which are capable of being rotated independently of one another and spaced apart up to about 360°. Various gear arrangements are provided for enabling rotation of the jaws. The jaw members are disposed within a flexible slotted housing when advanced to a target tissue site, and thereafter rotated out of the housing a predetermined amount to contact target tissue.
US08317816B2
A set of sinus balloon catheters are provided for treating a patient's paranasal sinus system, including dilating prepared openings, and natural ostia and ducts and excising sinus cavities. These include a balloon catheter with a bend placing a distal segment at 90° to a proximal segment and a balloon catheter which is substantially straight. The catheters have sufficient stiffness and column strength that the balloon carrying distal segment of the catheter can be pushed into the prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus to be excised. The catheters have appropriate inflated working diameters and appropriate outer diameters with the balloon deflated that will enable the catheter to be pushed into the respective prepared opening, natural ostium or duct, or sinus cavity to be excised. The methods use the balloon catheters to dilate prepared openings to selected parts of the sinus system, to dilate natural ostia and ducts of the sinus system, and/or to dilate sinus cavities to remove them.
US08317814B2
A medical device includes: a medical instrument introduced into a body cavity and having a contact portion that is fixed in contact with a wall within a body, and a wire; an extracorporeal device installed on a body surface and having a hole portion through which the wire can be inserted and removed, fixing mechanisms for fixing the wire inserted through the hole portion, and a housing that is fixed in contact with the body surface; and a pressure adjusting portion provided in one of the medical instrument and the extracorporeal device for maintaining a predetermined tensile force or more that is applied to the wire when the wire is fixed by the fixing mechanism with a body wall being sandwiched between the contact portion and the housing.
US08317800B2
An injectable material delivery device is disclosed and can include a barrel that can have an internal chamber. A plunger can be at least partially disposed within the internal chamber of the barrel. Further, a collapsible mixing blade can be disposed within the internal chamber.
US08317792B2
A surgical procedure and a device used in the procedure according to which one end portion of a guide rod is inserted into the condyle of a damaged area of a human. The rod is used as a guide for a drill bit and a chisel to cut an opening in the condyle.
US08317788B2
An intramedullary pin for insertion into the medullary space of the femur through the lateral compacta of the trochanter major. The pin has a proximal pin section and an adjoining distal pin section. Each pin section includes one or more bores for one or more bone screws. The proximal pin section has at least one bore running obliquely to the longitudinal axis, so that bone screws can be inserted through the bore into the head of the femur, or a screw can be inserted in the antegrade direction through the bore. The distal pin section is at least partly straight and the proximal pin section has a curvature in the lateral-posterior direction.
US08317787B2
A bipolar forceps for sealing tissue includes an end effector assembly having opposing first and second jaw members. Each of the jaw members includes an electrode having an electrically conductive tissue sealing surface. An electrical energy source may be connected to the tissue sealing surfaces so that the sealing surfaces can conduct energy to tissue. A pivot mechanism is operably connected to the jaw members and configured to allow selective movement of the jaw members relative to one another from a first spaced apart position to a second position. The pivot mechanism is configured to promote substantially parallel movement of the jaw members through a range of motion between the first position and the second position.
US08317778B2
Steerable and flexibly curved probes are provided, primarily for A surgical applications. A probe with flexible distal portion is inserted through an incision or cannula and the flexible distal portion may be selectively bent or steered using a guide wire. The guide wire is extended through the probe on a radially offset axis, and affixed at its distal end to the distal end of the flexible distal portion. The curvature of the nitinol wire is induced by extending or retracting the wire from the proximal end of the flexible distal portion while the distal end of the guide wire remains affixed to the distal end of the probe. The guide wire is activated by a finger-actuated mechanism. A further embodiment is provided in which the guide wire is fixed at both ends of the flexible distal portion of the probe and has a normally curved conformation, and assumes such conformation after insertion through a straight cannula. Other embodiments and applications are similarly disclosed.
US08317768B2
An absorbent article (1), such as an incontinence protector, sanitary napkin or the like, includes a liquid permeable top sheet (3), a backing sheet (4) and an absorbent core (5,6,7) enclosed therebetween. The absorbent core includes an upper absorbent layer (5) proximal to the top sheet and a lower absorbent layer (6) distal to the top sheet. An elongated hole (8) extending in the longitudinal direction of the article is made in the absorbent core. First and second elastic elements (9,10) attached to opposite lateral edges of the absorbent core (5,6,7) extend along the hole in a longitudinal direction and the top sheet (3) is affixed to the elastic elements and to the bottom of the hole (8).
US08317764B2
A method for designing an absorbent article to be worn close to the body is disclosed. For one embodiment of the method, the steps are attaching middy tape in the shape of an edge of a first element of an absorbent article onto a body form to create an outline of the first element of the absorbent article, attaching conformable sheet material to the body form about the outline of the first element of the absorbent article, marking the shape of the outline of the first element of the absorbent article on the conformable sheet material to create a pattern, removing the conformable sheet material from the body form, constructing a first element of the absorbent article corresponding to the pattern.
US08317760B2
Methods for delivery of a compound within a tube.
US08317755B2
The device for securing medical tubing is an attachment for use with medical tubing, such as a nasal cannula, nasogastric/orogastric tubes or the like, that permits the medical tubing to be comfortably and releasably secured to the skin of the patient. The device for securing medical tubing includes a base having opposed inner and outer surfaces. Laterally opposed peripheral edges of the first surface of the base are releasably secured to one another to form a channel for receiving and releasably securing a portion of the medical tubing. The outer surface of the base is divided into an attachment portion adapted for releasable attachment to the patient's skin, and an outwardly facing portion. Preferably, a layer of non-allergenic adhesive is applied to the attachment portion of the outer surface. The adhesive layer may be covered by a release strip.
US08317754B2
A hub for a sheath, catheter, or other tubular device includes a first hub portion including a first hub lumen sized for receiving a medical device therethrough, and a second hub portion including a second hub lumen, the second hub portion coupled to the first hub portion such that the first and second hub lumens are aligned with one another and the first and second hub portions are spaced apart from one another to define a gap. A valve is secured within the gap between the first and second hub portions that includes a valve passage therethrough, e.g., for accommodating receiving a medical device through the first and second hub lumens into the tubular device, while providing a substantially fluid tight seal.
US08317750B2
A renal failure therapy system includes a blood pump; a citrate pump; and a control unit configured to automatically control the blood pump and the citrate pump to achieve a citrate flowrate that is based on a blood flowrate, so that the flowrates are synchronized.
US08317747B2
A combination dilatation and drug delivery device includes a flexible catheter, a drug delivery sheath mounted to a distal end region of the catheter and a dilatation balloon also mounted to the catheter and contained within a compartment formed by the sheath. The sheath is radially expandable by supplying a liquid therapeutic agent to the compartment under a moderate pressure. The dilatation balloon is expandable by providing a dilatation fluid to the balloon under a much higher pressure. The sheath can be formed of a highly elastic material or can be made quite thin, and in either case is mounted independently of the dilatation balloon. Thus when radially expanded, the sheath is moved into a conforming contact with surrounding vascular tissue. The conforming contact protects tissue and the therapeutic agent from exposure to blood, and more effectively confines the therapeutic agent to the intended treatment area. The sheath either is naturally porous or is provided with multiple pores, whereby the therapeutic agent perfuses through the sheath into the surrounding tissue.
US08317744B2
A robotic catheter manipulator assembly may include a support member including a catheter manipulation base and a sheath manipulation base movable relative to each other and to the support member. Each respective manipulation base may be releasably connectable to a catheter cartridge and a sheath cartridge. A drive mechanism may be provided for moving the catheter and sheath manipulation bases relative to each other and to the support member. The manipulation base or the cartridge may include a first element engageable with a complementary second element slidably engaged with the other one of the manipulation base or the cartridge for controlling movement of a component connected to the cartridge. The cartridge, for example, may be a transseptal cartridge, a catheter cartridge or a sheath cartridge, and the component may respectively be a surgically insertable device such as a transseptal needle, a catheter or a sheath.
US08317738B2
A liquid collection bag is used as a part of an extracorporeal circuit and is connected via a tube to a storage container containing a priming solution. The collection container collects the priming solution from the storage container by a pressure differential between the pressure inside the collection container and the pressure inside the storage container. The liquid collection container is a flexible bag body having a partition part dividing the inside of the bag body into a first space and a second space. In addition, a communication part communicates the first space with the second space.
US08317736B2
A compression or support stocking encases a human leg. The stocking has a first understocking and a first overstocking, each with a leg section and a foot section, which can be worn over each other, wherein the understocking has a continuous pressure progression in the area between measuring points B and B1, and the pressure at measuring point B1 amounts to 90%-100% of the pressure at measuring point B. The compression or support stocking can be used for treating Ulcus cruris venosum.
US08317731B2
In order to reduce reflection and heating of a high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) beam following a region of interest in tissue to which an HIFU beam was administered, at least two layers of aquasonic gel are applied at a tissue/air interface following the region of interest and the focus in a direction of propagation of the HIFU beam. A first of the two aquasonic gel layers is a foamed aquasonic gel layer, and a second of the two layers is substantially bubble-free aquasonic gel. The layer of foamed aquasonic gel is placed directly adjacent the tissue/air interface, and the layer of substantially bubble-free aquasonic gel is placed over the layer of foamed aquasonic gel, at a side thereof facing away from the tissue/air interface.
US08317729B2
An instrument for measuring cervical dilation can have a pair of arms connected at their proximal ends to an arm pivot or articulating member, the arms being in movable communication with a gauge assembly for measuring the relative distance between the arms at a fixed location near the proximal ends of the arms. The arms can be disposed to apply an outward lateral pressure against the walls of the cervix, thereby engaging the cervix without the need for physical penetration, gripping, or other attachment of the device to the cervical tissue. Continuous outward lateral pressure of the arms against the cervical walls can allow the arms to expand in response to and in concert with expansion and dilation of the cervix. The relative distance between the arms correlates to the diameter of the cervix, such that the correlated measurement indicated on a scale of the gauge means is the measurement of cervical dilation.
US08317726B2
Embodiments of the invention include devices for obtaining tissue including a proximal actuator and a distal assembly having first and second end effectors. The first and second end effectors include the features of at least one element within the inner surface either of the first and second end effectors for aiding in the capture and retention of a targeted tissue sample.
US08317722B2
A method of conducting a hearing test, and a device to perform the method, the method including configuring multiple test sound sets including multiple sound sources at each included audio frequency, wherein the sound sources, when sequentially arranged according to volume, have a uniform volume difference and a same frequency band, the uniform volume difference indicating a volume difference between neighboring sound sources, outputting the sound sources included in one of the multiple test sound sets, and determining and outputting a following test sound set according to a subject's input sound sources' number one or more times, and determining an auditory threshold of the subject regarding the audio frequency of the output test sound sets based on a result of the subject's input.
US08317717B2
A cardiac rhythm management system includes a heart sound detector providing for detection of the third heart sounds (S3). An implantable sensor such as an accelerometer or a microphone senses an acoustic signal indicative heart sounds including the second heart sounds (S2) and S3. The heart sound detector detects occurrences of S2 and starts S3 detection windows each after a predetermined delay after a detected occurrence of S2. The occurrences of S3 are then detected from the acoustic signal within the S3 detection windows.
US08317714B2
An ultrasonic imaging system comprises a processing system and an ultrasound imaging probe that is configured to transmit ultrasound energy into a selected portion of a subject and to receive echoes therefrom and to transmit data signals representative thereof to the processing system. The system further comprises a blood pressure sensor that is configured to measure the blood pressure of the subject and to transmit data signals representative thereof to the processing system. The processing system can processes the received ultrasound data signals to generate an ultrasound image and the received blood pressure data signals to generate a blood pressure trace. The processing system can also display the ultrasound image and blood pressure trace in a display image in which portions of the ultrasound image are displayed in temporal synchrony with portions of the blood pressure trace.
US08317706B2
In an ultrasound imaging system that applies a beamformer to received ultrasound signal samples to form one or more beams represented by arrays of beamformed samples, a method and an apparatus compress each array of beamformed samples independently of the other arrays to form compressed beams. A plurality of analog to digital converters sample multiple analog ultrasound signals produced by a transducer array to provide multiple streams of ultrasound signal samples to the beamformer. The compressed beams are transferred via a digital interface to a signal processor. At the signal processor, the compressed beams are decompressed to form decompressed beams. The signal processor further processes the decompressed beams for diagnostic imaging, such as for B-mode and Doppler imaging, and scan conversion to prepare the resulting ultrasound image for display. This abstract does not limit the scope of the invention as described in the claims.
US08317705B2
The invention relates to a device and method for generating a motion-corrected 3D image of a cyclically moving object by means of an ultrasound probe, comprising the steps of providing at least one 3D reference image of the object, the 3D reference image showing the object substantially at one particular phase in its cyclic movement; acquiring a set of sub-images of the object by sweeping the ultrasound probe over the moving object; registering at least two, preferably all, of the sub-images with the 3D reference image, thereby generating at least two motion-corrected sub-images; and reconstructing a motion-corrected 3D image from the motion-corrected sub-images. The invention is also directed to a corresponding device, computer program, and digital storage medium.
US08317696B2
A surgical tool for visually assessing or measuring the aortic structures contained within a generally tubular aortic root. The surgical tool is appropriately configured and sized to be insertable within an aortic root during surgery. The surgical tool comprises a handle portion and a cylindrical portion connectable thereto. The cylindrical portion defines an external cylindrical surface and extends in height along a tool axis between a base portion and a top portion. The cylindrical portion being optically clear or having at least a section thereof that is sufficiently transparent whereby, in use, when the surgical tool is placed within the aortic root and the aortic structures are in contact with the external cylindrical surface, the aortic structures are visible through said optically clear or sufficiently transparent section. The cylindrical portion preferably further comprises an array of reference datum and measurement increments visible through the optically clear section such that the visualization and measurement of the aortic structures may be effected with reference to the array.
US08317686B2
An endoscope includes a bending section for bending a bending portion, a manipulating section for operating the bending portion to bend the bending portion, a drive section for bending the bending portion with the bending section, a brake instruction section and a brake release instruction section, and a bend amount detecting section. In response to a brake instruction, the bend amount at a point in time the brake instruction was given is detected, and the drive section is so controlled as to maintain the bend amount whereas in response to a brake release instruction, the drive force of the drive section for maintaining the bend amount is gradually reduced.
US08317684B2
An endoscope includes a flexible tube having a helical tube in which a thin strip plate is helically wound, a braid tube covering the outside of the helical tube, and a flexible outer tube covering the outside of the braid tube, a connection mouth ring plastically deformed and fixed to an end of the flexible tube, and a helical tube displacement preventing portion which prevents displacement of the strip plate of the helical tube at the end of the flexible tube to which the connection mouth ring is fixed, when the connection mouth ring is fixed to the end of the flexible tube.
US08317682B2
A medical device control system improves an inducing stability and operability of a medical device having its direction controlled with magnetism, which is used for the inspection or treatment in a subject's body. The control system is formed of a medical device including an insertion member inserted into the subject's body, and a magnetic field response portion disposed within the insertion member for generating torque in response to the magnetic field applied from outside the subject's body, a direction detection unit that detects an insertion direction of the insertion member, a user interface through which the information with respect to the control of the insertion direction is input and output, a magnetic field generation portion that generates a magnetic field that directs the insertion member to a control direction, and a user interface control unit that controls the user interface based on a discordance between the control direction and the insertion direction.
US08317680B2
An endoscope apparatus includes an endoscope apparatus body portion which includes a first connector, and which is connectable to an insertion portion having an image pickup device disposed at a distal end portion. The endoscope apparatus further includes a connection unit which includes a second connector which is removably connectable to the endoscope apparatus body portion by communicating the second connector with the first connector, a non-volatile memory which stores a program for processing image data inputted from the image pickup device via the second connector, a CPU which controls the processing of the image data in accordance with the stored program to produce processed data, and a display data output section configured to output the processed data.
US08317678B2
A method for visualizing the interior of a bodily passageway at a remote location, the method comprising the steps of: providing a visualization system for deployment in the bodily passageway, the visualization system comprising: an endoscope comprising a rotatable drive collar configured for rotation relative to the endoscope; a disposable drive tube comprising an elongated tube having a helical thread disposed on an exterior surface of the elongated tube, the elongated tube being configured for coaxial disposition about the endoscope; and a mount for releasably securing the disposable drive tube to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope; wherein the helical thread has a sufficient structural integrity, and a sufficient surface profile, such that when the disposable drive tube is disposed in the bodily passageway so that the helical thread engages the interior side wall of the bodily passageway, rotation of the disposable drive tube will induce a relative movement between the disposable drive tube and the side wall of the bodily passageway; mounting the disposable drive tube coaxially about the endoscope so that the disposable drive tube is secured to the rotatable drive collar of the endoscope; inserting the visualization system into the bodily passageway at a location remote from the site which is to be visualized; rotating the disposable drive tube so as to bring together the site which is to be visualized and the visualization apparatus; and using the visualization apparatus to visualize the interior of the bodily passageway.
US08317673B2
Embodiments of the invention include a device for therapeutically delivering radiation to tissue. Some embodiments include a radiation source and a combination of members surrounding the radiation source that move relative to one another to permit or restrict the emitting of radiation from the device. Limits to the movement of the combination of members may be imposed by one or more biodegradable members.
US08317667B1
According to one embodiment, an exercise device in the form of an adjustable resistance multi-use toning system that includes a plurality of elongated elastic bands (tension bands or cables) which can have different tension (resistance) values. Each band has a first end and an opposing second end. The device further includes a hollow sleeve that receives at least a portion of each of the elastic bands so as to at least partially envelope the elastic bands while permitting the first and second ends to be accessible. A first fastener is provided for attaching the first ends of the elastic bands to a support member, such as a piece of exercise equipment, a belt to be worn around a body part of a user; or any other structure to which the exercise device can be attached.
US08317659B2
A system and method for training swimmers in a controlled aquatic environment, such as a pool, the system comprising a base station in communication with various system components. The base station receives pertinent data from the swimmer through direct wiring detecting a contact with the pool (i.e. the completion of a lap) or through wireless communication. The base station can include an accelerometer-based touch pad for detecting contact of a swimmer with the pool wall. The base station can alternatively include an optical transceiver for transmitting and receiving swimmer data. The swimmers can be equipped with a finger tapper and a toe tapper for determining lap times and sending the relevant information to the base station. The training system can also include an underwater display for providing relevant information to a swimmer within a pool and an underwater video camera for recording video footage of swimmers.
US08317649B2
The output gear-equipped reduction device has an output flange for taking out rotation reduced by a reduction mechanism, an output shaft provided on the output flange and having a smaller diameter than the output flange, and an output gear provided on the output shaft and having an addendum circle greater than the diameter of the output shaft. The output flange, the output shaft, and the output gear are integrally formed as an output flange section, an output shaft section, and an output gear section of a single output member in that order in the axial direction with the above-stated dimensional relationship maintained. The integral output member is supported at the output shaft section by a casing via bearing means.
US08317648B2
A hybrid electro-mechanical transmission has an input member, an output member, and a stationary member. The transmission has a planetary gear set with a first sun gear, a second sun gear, a carrier, a first set of pinion gears, a second set of pinion gears, and a ring gear. The carrier supports the sets of pinion gears. The first set of pinion gears meshes with the first sun gear and with the ring gear. The second set of pinion gears meshes with the second sun gear and with the second set of pinion gears. The input member is connected with the ring gear. The output member is connected with the first sun gear. A first motor/generator has a rotor connected with the carrier. A second motor/generator has a rotor connected with the second sun gear. A torque-transmitting mechanism is selectively engageable to ground the input member to the stationary member.
US08317647B2
A drive unit comprises an output shaft, two or more hydraulic motors, each hydraulic motor being adapted to drive the output shaft, and hydraulic fluid distribution means for supplying relatively high pressure hydraulic fluid to the drive motors and for removing relatively low pressure hydraulic fluid from the drive motors. The hydraulic fluid distribution means comprises a hydraulic fluid inlet for connecting to a hydraulic line to provide relatively high pressure hydraulic fluid to the two or more hydraulic motors and a hydraulic fluid outlet for removing relatively low pressure hydraulic fluid from the two or more hydraulic motors.
US08317645B2
In a silent chain transmission, the distance between the centers of front and rear pin holes of each of the inner link plates of the chain is smaller than the length of the smallest chord obtained by dividing, by the number of sprocket teeth, the circumference of a circle having a radius extending from the center of the sprocket to the center of a pin hole of a link plate of the chain when the last-mentioned link plate is fully engaged with the sprocket.
