US08331168B2
Providing increased capacity in heterogeneous storage elements including a method for storing data including a write process writing to a memory and a read process reading from the memory. Physical characteristics of memory cells in the memory support different sets of data levels. The write process takes into account the different sets of data levels when writing to the memory. The read process first obtains data in the memory and subsequently determines how to interpret the data.
US08331165B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of first output terminals 1-13 and a plurality of first output circuits 203,204 provided corresponding to each of the plurality of first output terminals and coupled to a corresponding first output terminal. The semiconductor device further includes a second output circuit 201 coupled to a second output terminal DQS. The second output circuit automatically adjusts a slew rate based on the state transitions of the plurality of first output circuits. The second output circuit adjusts the slew rate from a first state to a second state based on a transition from first data outputted from the first output circuit to second data following said first data. The second output circuit outputs data in synchronization with the second data with a slew rate in said second state.
US08331163B2
A latch based memory device includes a plurality of latches and a method of testing the latch based memory device that includes serially connecting the latches with each other so as to form a shift register chain. A bit sequence is input into the shift register chain to shift the bit sequence through the shift register chain. A bit sequence is outputted and shifted through the shift register chain, and the input bit sequence is compared with the output sequence to evaluate the functionality of the latches in a first test phase and to test the remaining structures of the latch based memory device in a second test phase by using, e.g., a conventional scan test approach.
US08331162B2
The semiconductor memory device includes a first memory cell array including at least one first memory cell and at least one second memory cell corresponding to the at least one first memory cell, a first low bit line connected to the at least one first memory cell, a first low complementary bit line connected to the at least one second memory cell, a first switch unit having a first terminal connected to the first low bit line, a second switch unit having a first terminal connected to the first low complementary bit line, a first global bit line connected to a second terminal of the first switch unit, a first global complementary bit line connected to a second terminal of the second switch unit, and a plurality of sensing amplifying units connected to the first global bit line and the first global complementary bit line.
US08331152B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes resistive memory devices in a three-dimensional structure. A block select circuit generates a block select signal for selecting a memory block. In response to the block select signal, local word line selection units connected to each memory block connect global word lines connected to a word line decoder and local word lines, and local bit line selection units connected to each memory block connect global bit lines connected to a sense amplifier and local bit lines. Each memory block includes local word lines which extend in a first direction and are stacked in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on a second plane perpendicular to a first plane. Local bit lines extend in the second direction to cross local word lines. Memory cells are formed at cross-points where local word lines and local bit lines cross one another.
US08331145B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises selectively programming memory cells from a first state to a second state based on lower bit data, selectively programming the memory cells from the second state to an intermediate state corresponding to the lower bit data, and selectively programming the memory cells from the intermediate state to a third or fourth state based on upper bit data.
US08331142B2
An embodiment of the invention relates to a memory comprising a strained double-heterostructure having an inner semiconductor layer which is sandwiched between two outer semiconductor layers, wherein the lattice constant of the inner semiconductor layer differs from the lattice constants of the outer semiconductor layers, the resulting lattice strain in the double-heterostructure inducing the formation of at least one quantum dot inside the inner semiconductor layer, said at least one quantum dot being capable of storing charge carriers therein, and wherein, due to the lattice strain, the at least one quantum dot has an emission barrier of 1.15 eV or higher, and provides an energy state density of at least three energy states per 1000 nm3, all said at least three energy states being located in an energy band of 50 meV or less.
US08331141B2
A multi-bit cell of magnetic random access memory comprises a magnetic tunnel junction element including a first and second free layer comprising a changeable magnetization oriented substantially perpendicular to a layer plane in its equilibrium state and a switching current, a first and second tunnel barrier layer, and a pinned layer comprising a fixed magnetization oriented substantially perpendicular to a layer plane, the pinned layer is disposed between the first and second free layers and is separated from the free layers by one of the tunnel barrier layers, a selection transistor electrically connected to a word line, and a bit line intersecting the word line. The magnetic tunnel junction element is disposed between the bit line and the selection transistor and is electrically connected to the bit line and the selection transistor, wherein the first and second free layers have substantially different switching currents.
US08331135B2
A chain of field coupled nanomagnets includes at least one elements having substantially different anisotropy energy from that of the other nanomagnets. A signal can propagate from a first input nanomagnet having a relatively high anisotropy energy through the chain to an output nanomagnet. The output nanomagnet may have a relatively lower anisotropy energy than the other nanomagnets. Signal flow direction thus can be controlled. The higher anisotropy energy nanomagnet may be attained by use of a ferromagnet material having a higher anisotropy constant and/or configured with a larger volume than the other elements. The lower anisotropy energy magnet may be attained by use of a ferromagnet material having a lower anisotropy constant and/or configured with a smaller volume than the other elements. Logic signal flow control can also be attained making use of three dimensional geometries of nanomagnets with two different orientations.
US08331133B2
Approaches to organizing/constructing a register file base cell in a way that reduces the number of signals which need to be routed to and through the bit base cell are disclosed. Base cells so constructed allow industry standard static timing approaches and tools to verify the timing of a register file comprised of such base cells as a whole and allow industry standard place-and-route (APR) tools to be used to implement the connections between the base cells and the other register file logic not directly included in the base cell.
US08331131B2
A method of changing a state of a memristor having a first intermediate layer, a second intermediate layer, and a third intermediate layer positioned between a first electrode and a second electrode includes applying a first pulse having a first bias voltage across the memristor, wherein the first pulse causes mobile species to flow in a first direction within the memristor and collect in the first intermediate layer thereby causing the memristor to enter into an intermediate state and applying a second pulse having a second bias voltage across the memristor, in which the second pulse causes the mobile species from the first intermediate layer to flow in a second direction within the memristor and collect in the third intermediate layer, wherein the flow of the mobile species in the second direction causes the memristor to enter into a fully changed state.
US08331120B2
An offset removal circuit (10) includes a removal circuit (1) and a removal circuit (2). The removal circuit (1) digitally removes offset voltage from an input voltage Vin. The removal circuit (2) removes offset voltage, in an analog manner, from the voltage subjected to offset voltage removal by the removal circuit (1). Then, the removal circuit (2) outputs the voltage subjected to the offset voltage removal to a non-inverting input terminal of a differential amplifier (20).
US08331119B2
Supply circuit (3) for an electric apparatus (1) having a positive supply line (5) and a negative supply line, to which lines a polarity inversion detection module (18), an inrush current module (18) and a capacitive filter element (14) are connected, wherein the capacitive filter element is mounted on a secondary line (15), the ends of which are connected to the positive and negative line, respectively; the circuit comprising a first MOSFET transistor (16) channel N and a second MOSFET transistor (17) channel N mounted in series on the positive line, wherein the first transistor has a gate which is connected to the inrush current detection module and the second transistor has a drain which is connected to the positive line prior to the point of connection between the positive line and the secondary line and a gate which is connected to the polarity inversion detection module.
US08331116B2
A power converter in one aspect limits the magnetic flux in a transformer. A control circuit included in the power converter includes a pulse width modulator, a logic circuit and a saturation prevention circuit. The saturation prevention circuit asserts a first signal when a first integral value of the input voltage reaches a first threshold value and asserts a second signal after a delay time that begins when a difference between the first integral value and a second integral value of a reset voltage of the transformer falls to a second threshold value. The logic circuit turns off the switch when the first signal is asserted, and allows the switch to turn on and off in accordance with the pulse width modulator when the second signal is asserted.
US08331111B2
A switching power supply device 100 includes: zener diodes ZD31 and ZD32 that become conducting when the voltage values of direct current voltages VO1 and VO2 are equal to or more than their zener voltage values, respectively; an overcurrent protection circuit 131 that makes a switching portion 12 stop generating the direct current voltages if an overcurrent that is equal to or more than a previously set current threshold value flows in the secondary winding 23 of a transformer 2; and a diode D3 one end of which is connected to the output end of a regulator 32 and the other end of which is connected between voltage divider resistances R41 and R42, the forward direction of the diode D3 being from the voltage divider resistances R41 and R42 to the regulator 32.
US08331106B2
An electrical device enclosure includes a front panel, a power supply and a switch assembly mounted on the front panel. The power supply includes an alternating current (AC) plug and a power circuit. The AC plug is used to receive an AC voltage. The power circuit is used to convert the AC voltage from the AC plug into a direct current voltage. The switch assembly is connected between the AC plug and the power circuit to turn on/off a connection between the AC plug and the power circuit.
US08331093B2
The invention relates to an improved aircraft electronics cooling system for an aircraft having a liquid cooling system (2), the aircraft electronics cooling system providing a thermal coupling between an electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 42, 44) to be cooled and the liquid cooling system (2) of the aircraft. A coolant delivered by the liquid cooling system (2) may flow through a board of the electronic device (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), through a heat sink on which the electronic device (42) is arranged and/or through a housing in which the electronic device (44) is arranged. The coolant may be permanently in the liquid state in a cooling circuit. The coolant may vaporize at least partially while cooling the electronic device.
US08331082B2
Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for providing components in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) energy meters. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for accessing electrical meter components, the method includes providing an energy meter enclosure having one or more service accessible compartments operable for housing AMI components, manipulating one or more compartment covers associated with the one or more service accessible compartments, installing one or more AMI components in the one or more service accessible compartments, and closing the one or more compartment covers. The energy meter enclosure protects the AMI components from at least one external element.
US08331080B2
There are provided an electrolyte for a lithium ion capacitor and a lithium ion capacitor including the same. The electrolyte for a lithium ion capacitor according to the present invention includes: a lithium salt; and a mixing solvent including i) two or more compounds selected from a group consisting of cyclic carbonate compounds, ii) one or more compounds selected from a group consisting of linear carbonate compounds represented by a specified Formula, and iii) one or more compound selected from a group consisting of propionate compound represented by a specified Formula.
US08331078B2
A multi-layered ceramic capacitor with at least one chip and with first base metal plates in a parallel spaced apart relationship and second base metal plates in a parallel spaced apart relationship wherein the first plates and second plates are interleaved. A dielectric is between the first base metal plates and said second base metal plates and the dielectric has a first coefficient of thermal expansion. A first termination is in electrical contact with the first plates and a second termination is in electrical contact with the second plates. Lead frames are attached to, and in electrical contact with, the terminations wherein the lead frames have a second coefficient of thermal expansion and the second coefficient of thermal expansion is higher than said first coefficient of thermal expansion. The lead frame is a non-ferrous material.
US08331075B2
The present invention provides an electro-static floating type gyro device comprising: a gyro mechanism having a gyro rotor and plural adjacent pairs of electro static support electrodes for supporting said gyro rotor; a posture control circuit for generating complementary posture control voltages for controlling a posture of the gyro rotor, wherein the complementary posture control voltages applied to the adjacent pairs of electro static support electrodes are alternated in time.
US08331063B2
An MR element in a CPP-GMR structure includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a spacer layer that is epitaxially formed on the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer that is located on the spacer layer, and that is laminated with the first ferromagnetic layer to sandwich the spacer layer. A sense current flows along a lamination direction of the first and second ferromagnetic layers. Angle of magnetization directions of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer relatively change due to an externally applied magnetic field.
US08331062B2
A magneto-resistance effect element includes: a first magnetization layer of which a magnetization is substantially fixed in one direction; a second magnetization layer of which a magnetization is rotated in accordance with an external magnetic field; an intermediate layer which contains insulating portions and magnetic metallic portions and which is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a pair of electrodes to flow current in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of a multilayered film made of the first magnetic layer, the intermediate layer and the second magnetic layer; wherein the magnetic metallic portions of the intermediate layer contain non-ferromagnetic metal.
US08331054B1
Systems and techniques relating to interpreting signals on a channel having an asymmetrical signal amplitude response include an integrated circuit device including: an input to receive digital data corresponding to an asymmetry corrected analog signal of a read channel; an input to receive sequence data detected in the digital data; circuitry to generate a coefficient adjustment based on an estimate of non-linearity for the read channel, the estimate derived from the digital data and the sequence data; and an output to provide the coefficient adjustment to affect asymmetry correction of the analog signal.
US08331049B2
This application discloses a hard disk drive and a control circuit that are configured to determine touchdown by determining the SAGC for a track, removing the repeatable component of the SAGC to create the non-repeatable component and determining an indication of clearance irregularity and/or touch down when the standard deviation of the non-repeatable component spikes. These operations may create a defect map and/or a Flying height On Demand (FOD) control table in or for the hard disk drive as products of operating the hard disk drive.
US08331046B2
A focusing device for a beam projector which includes a casing; a lens holder having at least one lens which is movable forward or backward in the direction of the optical axis; a movable member located at a side of the lens holder to be movable parallel to the direction of the optical axis together with the lens holder; and a control knob located adjacent to the lens holder and rotatably coupled on the casing.
US08331045B2
A cemented optical element includes a convex lens and a concave lens. The convex lens has a first convex surface and a second convex surface that are rotationally symmetric with respect to an optical axis. The convex lens has an edge with a thickness of substantially zero. The concave lens has a concave surface bonded to the first convex surface of the convex lens. Preferably, the peripheral portion of the concave lens extends radially outwardly beyond the convex lens to the extent that it is located within an area surrounded by an extension zone of the second convex surface of the convex lens.
US08331040B2
A photographic lens of a photographic apparatus which includes a plurality of lens groups may be manufactured using a method which includes correcting a focus deviation from a designed value generated in one lens group by adjusting a distance between lenses of another lens group. The distance between lenses may be adjusted using a washer. The lenses between which the distance is adjusted may include a positive lens and a negative lens, and the lens group having the lenses between which the distance is adjusted may have a negative refractive power.
US08331035B2
An image pickup apparatus includes in order from an object side a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power. The fourth lens group includes an image forming optical system which comprises two lens components namely, a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward an image side, and a biconcave negative lens in order from the object side, or, one lens component in which, the positive meniscus lens having the convex surface directed toward the image side, and the biconcave negative lens are cemented, and the fourth lens group satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.
US08331025B2
A polarizing plate of the present invention includes a polyvinyl alcohol-based polarizer and transparent protective films provided on both sides of the polarizer with an adhesive layer interposed between the polarizer and each transparent protective film, wherein the transparent protective film on one side comprises a lactone ring structure-containing (meth)acrylic resin and is a retardation plate having an in-plane retardation of 40 nm or more and/or a thickness direction retardation of 80 nm or more, and the transparent protective film on the other side has an in-plane retardation of less than 40 nm and a thickness direction retardation of less than 80 nm. The polarizing plate can satisfy durability and display uniformity (unevenness).
US08331021B2
An optical sight includes an outer barrel unit, an objective lens unit, an ocular lens unit, a magnification unit, and an illumination unit. The outer barrel unit extends about an axis and has a front end and a rear end. The objective lens unit is mounted to the front end of the outer barrel unit and has a first optical axis. The ocular lens unit is mounted to the rear end of the outer barrel unit. The magnification unit is disposed in and on the outer barrel unit between the objective lens unit and the ocular lens unit, and has a second optical axis. The illumination unit is disposed on the magnification unit, and includes a light source spaced apart from the second optical axis, and a reflective element for projecting emitted light, which is emitted from the light source, onto the objective lens unit.
US08331020B2
The invention relates to an illumination device (1) for a microscope (10) utilizing at least one point light source (4) arranged on a carrier element (2), at least one carrier element (2) for receiving at least one point light source (4), and a holder (5) attachable to the microscope (10) and having an arc-shaped guide (6), being provided, the at least one carrier element (2) being mounted displaceably along the guide (6) in a horizontal plane. According to a further aspect, the illumination device (1) comprises a connector element (20) for attaching the illumination device (1) both to a stationary focusing column (12) and to an adjustable focusing arm (11) of a microscope (10).
US08331019B2
A method and system for performing three-dimensional holographic microscopy of an optically trapped one dimensional structure. The method and system use an inverted optical microscope, a laser source which generates a trapping laser beam wherein the laser beam is focused by an objective lens into a plurality of optical traps. The method and system also use a collimated laser at an imaging wavelength to illuminate the structure created by the optical traps. Imaging light scattered by the optically tapped structure forms normalized intensity holograms that are imaged by a video camera and analyzed by optical formalisms to determine light field to reconstruct 3-D images for analysis and evaluation.
US08331008B1
Whispering gallery mode resonator based devices as photonic RF or microwave receivers.
US08331003B2
An optical deflector has: a movable plate having a reflecting surface and a side surface; and a support portion that supports the movable plate in such a manner that the movable plate is able to rotate around a predetermined axis, in which the side surface of the movable plate is recessed toward the axis.
US08331000B2
An image forming apparatus is provided that is capable of accurately outputting images of both sides of a card type document to the same side of a sheet of paper with a simple operation. On a card size input screen, a first scale for measuring a long-side size of a card type document and a second scale for measuring a short-side size of the card type document are displayed on a same screen such that they intersect at an origin. By operating a long-side size-decreasing instruction portion and a long-side size-increasing instruction portion, the long-side size of the card type document is decreased or increased and inputted. By operating a short-side size-decreasing instruction portion and a short-side size-increasing instruction portion, the short-side size of the card type document is decreased or increased and inputted.
US08330999B2
An image reading apparatus to read an image and generate pixel data representing the image is provided. The image reading apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of sensor units, each of which includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a data storage store shading correction data, which is used to correct unevenness caused in the pixel data, including first shading correction data, and a data corrector to correct the pixel data output from the light receiving elements based on the shading correction data. The data corrector corrects the pixel data based on the first shading correction data when a number of light receiving elements used to read the image in each sensor unit is greater than a number of pieces of correcting information in the first shading correction data.
US08330998B2
A scanner device includes a scanner body enclosed by a housing and an external cover covering an outer side of the housing. The external cover is comprised of a plurality of external members. By spacing the adjacent external members apart from each other at the side edge parts of the housing, recesses are formed between the adjacent external members so as to constitute parts of the external design of the scanner body. Preferably, the side edge parts of the housing are exposed between the adjacent external members at the side edge parts of the housing, and information providing devices providing information on the scanner device are provided at the side edge parts of the housing exposed between the adjacent external members.
US08330997B2
An image processing method, and an image processing apparatus with which to perform the method, the method including generating a scan image by scanning an object, detecting a non-image area affected by external incident light in the scan image according to a pixel-value distribution pattern varied depending on incident angles of the external incident light, and extracting an image area corresponding to the object by removing the non-image area from the scan image.
US08330996B2
An image forming apparatus is supplied capable of, with respect to a manuscript in which watermark information 25 are buried, limiting an ease copy of manuscript whose watermark information can not be analyzed through stopping the copy of the manuscript according to the degradation state of the watermark information. In the image forming apparatus having copy function, a reading section to read manuscript on which watermark information are buried in an image; a judging section to judge the degradation state of the watermark information; and a controlling section to stop copy of the read manuscript when the watermark information is judged degrading are provided.
US08330991B2
The present invention relates to a method for minimizing the effects of metamerism between a set of color standards (e.g., nitrocellulose lacquers) and inkjet printed color merchandise (e.g., paint chips) under a plurality of illuminants, including a balanced illuminant that emulates lighting conditions between cool (6500 K) and warm (2856 K) color temperatures. For each color standard, one selects an ink combination that best produces color merchandise having a minimal degree of metamerism. Innovatively, a combination of instrumental and visual tests is used to evaluate color difference for a set of color standards-color merchandise pairs under a plurality of illuminants. If a color standard-color merchandise pair fails either test then the ink combination may be adjusted.
US08330989B2
A print control device includes a data acquiring section, a print control section, a preview-image output control section, and a print-ratio acquiring section. The data acquiring section acquires image data. The print control section controls a printing device to print an image based on the image data on a sheet. The preview-image output control section outputs preview images at a plurality of print ratios. The preview images are indicators of print results to be obtained when the printing device prints, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at the respective print ratios. The print-ratio acquiring section acquires print-ratio specifying information through an input device that can be operated by a user, after the preview-image output control section outputs the preview images. The print control section controls the printing device to print, on the sheet, the image based on the image data at a print ratio specified by the print-ratio specifying information.
US08330984B2
A standalone printer monitoring device comprising a processing unit, a memory capable of communicating with the processing unit, a network interface interconnected to the processing unit wherein the network interface is configured to receive DC power over a network to power the device, a printer discovery engine configured to discover a plurality of printers on a network, a printer patrol engine configured to patrol the printers discovered by the printer discovery engine, and a reporting engine configured to report to a centralized repository information collected by the printer patrol engine.
US08330981B2
An image processing apparatus for receiving a plurality of images, saving the plurality of images, and executing image processing includes an identifying unit for identifying a first image and a second image from the plurality of the images, an image recognizing unit for recognizing information on the second image from the first image, and a processing setting unit for setting processing for the second image based on recognition at the image recognition unit, wherein the images are processed based on the setting set at the processing setting unit, thereby automatically processing documents of plural types and greatly reducing work loads on the operator such as operator's setting paper and instructing start operation.
US08330975B2
An information output system is provided with an information output unit that outputs information represented by service data, and a data transmitting server configured to transmit the service data to the information output unit. The data transmitting server is provided with a charging unit configured to perform a charging operation with respect the service data transmitted to the information output unit, the charging operation being performed at least one predetermined stage after a start and before a completion of the output of the information.
US08330971B2
A method and apparatus of printing books based on digital data, comprises accepting a plurality of orders, each order including a request for at least one copy of each of a plurality of titles. The plurality of orders form a streamlined cover set. The streamlined cover set is scanned, the detecting of each cover in the cover set causing digital printing of a book block corresponding to the detected title associated with the cover.
US08330960B2
The present invention includes a method of changing intensity of a reflected beam which may be expressed as a method of changing the amount of reflected light from a beam of light, the method comprising: (a) providing a substrate bearing a film of a reflective material; (b) directing a first beam of light at a reflecting point upon the reflective material so as to create a reflecting beam therefrom; (c) directing a second beam of light at the reflecting point upon the reflective material so as to alter the amount of light in the reflecting beam, and (d) detecting the change in the amount of light in the reflecting beam. The invention also includes an apparatus for changing the amount of reflected light from a beam of light and measuring that change, as well as related apparatus for a pulsed optical signal.
US08330953B2
Provided is a method of adjusting detection sensitivity in detecting a sample in a channel. A detection method of optically detecting a sample includes: forming a multilayer flow, in which at least one of layers of the multilayer flow contains the sample; introducing light into at least one of layers of the multilayer flow; and detecting a signal generated from the multilayer flow in response to the introduced light, to detect the sample. The sample includes one of a chemical substance, a molecule, a cell, a particle, and a mixture thereof. At least one of fluids included in the multilayer flow has a refractive index different from a refractive index of another one of the fluids.
US08330948B2
A semiconductor examination apparatus includes an energy source device that supplies a semiconductor substrate having a pn junction with excitation energy that causes luminescence in the semiconductor substrate, an image capturing device that captures a first luminescence image of the semiconductor substrate supplied with first excitation energy and a second luminescence image of the semiconductor substrate supplied with second excitation energy that is different in magnitude from the first excitation energy, a luminescence image processing device that calculates the difference in luminescence intensity between the first luminescence image and the second luminescence image at positions on the semiconductor substrate and generates intensity difference image data, and a detecting device that detects a crack position of a crack occurring in the semiconductor substrate on the basis of determination values based on the magnitude of the difference on the intensity difference image data.
US08330946B2
A method and apparatus identifies defects in a sample using photoluminescence with a silicon filter to filter out the primary excitation light from the return light received by the detector. The silicon filter passes the light emitted by the sample in response to the excitation light, while absorbing the lower wavelength excitation light that is reflected by or transmitted through the sample. The silicon filter has introduced impurities that reduce the recombination lifetime which reduces or eliminate photoluminescence in the silicon filter in response to the excitation light, thereby improving the signal to noise ratio of the signal received by the detector.
US08330944B2
A dust cap assembly comprising a sleeve and a sealant that seals a fiber optic ferrule from contaminants and, upon removal, provides remedial cleaning of any foreign matter present on the ferrule when the dust cap assembly was initially installed. Further, the sealant has advantageous mechanical and optical properties such that the interaction of the sealant, the sleeve and the fiber optic ferrule defines a convex shape. The dust cap assembly may therefore function as a terminator that reduces back reflection during testing.
US08330938B2
A method for providing an actinic illumination energizes solid-state light sources in an array, wherein each solid-state light source emits actinic light of a predetermined wavelength, directs the emitted actinic light from the solid state light sources through one or more compound parabolic concentrators, and forms a field conjugate to an objective lens by directing the concentrated actinic light from each compound parabolic concentrator through one or more lens elements in a lens array. Emission of one or more of the solid state light sources is adjusted to obtain a predetermined illumination pupil envelope function.
US08330932B2
A watermark formed of a bistable material, and a method of forming the watermark, are described.
US08330929B2
A display panel includes a first substrate in which a terminal area is defined along at least one edge thereof, and connection terminals are formed in the terminal area; and a second substrate which is bonded to the first substrate with sealing material being interposed between the first and second substrates, so as to expose the connection terminals. At an edge of the second substrate corresponding to the edge of the first substrate, at which the terminal area is defined, the second substrate includes protrusions protruding to the edge of the first substrate.
US08330921B2
A pixel structure including a substrate, a scan line, a data line, an active device, a capacitor electrode line, an upper electrode pattern and a pixel electrode is described. The scan line and the data line are disposed on the substrate. The active device is electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The capacitor electrode is disposed on the substrate. The upper electrode pattern is disposed above the capacitor electrode line, and the upper electrode pattern has a first opening therein to expose the capacitor electrode pattern. The pixel electrode is electrically connected with the active device and covers the capacitor electrode line and the upper electrode pattern, wherein the pixel electrode has a middle portion and a plurality of branches connecting to the middle portion, and the middle portion has a second opening therein to expose the first opening.
US08330919B2
An array substrate for an in-plane switching mode liquid crystal display device includes: a substrate; a gate line on the substrate; first and second common lines parallel to and spaced apart from the gate line; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, the pixel electrode having a plate shape; a plurality of common electrodes connected between the first and second common lines, the plurality of common electrodes overlapping the pixel electrode; and first and second shielding electrodes parallel to the data line, the first and second shielding electrodes spaced apart from each other with respect to the data line.
US08330918B2
A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes a first insulation substrate, a thin film transistor (“TFT”) disposed on the first insulation substrate, and a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulation substrate and connected to a drain electrode of the TFT, wherein the pixel electrode includes an edge connection and a drain electrode connection, a portion of the edge connection pattern near a position where the drain electrode connection and the edge connection intersect is removed in the LCD, the pixel electrode further includes a stem and a plurality of minute branches, and a laser is irradiated to one intersection point between the stem and the minute branches among the stem near the light blocking layer to cut the portion of the pixel electrode.
US08330915B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of preventing the occurrence of crack in a capacitor insulating film due to laser marking is provided. The liquid crystal display device includes pixels arranged in a matrix in a display region above a substrate, a thin film layer formed in a non-display region excluding the display region, and a transparent insulating film extending from the display region to the non-display region and formed on the thin film layer, in which the transparent insulating film includes at least an organic insulating film formed of an organic compound for planarizing a surface of the substrate, an inorganic insulating film which is a thin film formed on the organic insulating film and formed of an inorganic compound and formed with an opening extending to the organic insulating film in a region above the thin film layer, and a transparent electrode layer which is formed in the opening of the inorganic insulating film to cover the organic insulating film exposed from the opening of the inorganic insulating film.
US08330912B2
A flat panel display device is provided with an increased viewing angle having good dark versus light imaging contrast. The display device includes a display panel, a first optical unit, and a second optical unit. The display panel includes a liquid crystal layer that is driven in a vertical alignment mode. The first optical unit includes a negative C-plate and a first polarizer having a first absorption axis. The second optical unit includes a biaxial compensation plate having a refractive indices coefficient, (nx−nz)/(nx−ny) of more than 0.45 and less than 0.55, and a second polarizer having a second absorption axis crossing the first absorption axis. The biaxial compensation plate has a refractive indices relationship of nx>nz>ny such that dispersion of polarization states of colored light rays passed through the C-plate and the liquid crystal layer may be minimized and gathered about an extinction point, thereby improving contrast at side viewing angles.
US08330905B2
A liquid crystal display device capable of reducing manufacturing costs is disclosed. The liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates facing each other, a liquid crystal layer filled between the first and second substrates, a first common electrode formed in a first pixel region on the first substrate in correspondence with a first subpixel for emitting a light of a first color, and having a first area, wherein a common voltage is applied to the first common electrode, and a second common electrode formed in a second pixel region on the first substrate in correspondence with a second subpixel for emitting light of a second color different from the first color and having a second area different from the first area, wherein the common voltage is applied to the second common electrode.
US08330898B2
A flexible liquid crystal display device includes a first flexible substrate having a display region and a non-display region at a periphery of the display region; an organic electroluminescent diode including a first electrode on the first flexible substrate, an organic emitting layer on the first electrode and a second electrode on the organic emitting layer, wherein each of the first electrode, the organic emitting layer and the second electrode covering an entire surface of the display region; a buffer layer on the organic electroluminescent diode; a gate line on the buffer layer; a data line over the buffer layer and crossing the gate line to define a pixel region at the display region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; a second flexible substrate facing the first flexible substrate; a common electrode on the second flexible substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the pixel and common electrodes.
US08330894B2
The present invention provides a display device that prevents damage on a display panel even when the display device drops or falls down during handling. The display device includes: a PDP (10) including a front panel (20) and a back panel (30) that have peripheral portions joined to each other by a sealing material (36); a chassis member (44) supporting the PDP (10); and a housing enclosing the PDP (10) and the chassis member (44). The housing includes a front housing portion (41), a front protective glass substrate (43) that closes an opening (54) provided in the front housing portion (41), a side housing portion (51), and a back housing portion (42). A supporting member (55) for forming specified gap D between itself and the front panel (20) is provided on the front protective glass substrate (43) or the front housing portion (41) so as to sit between the sealing material (36) and the opening (54).
US08330893B2
An active matrix substrate (20a) defining a display region (D) which contributes to display and a frame region (F) which is arranged outside the display region (D) and does not contribute to display, the active matrix substrate (20a) comprising: a grounding wire (23) extending along a circumference of the frame region (F) in the frame region (F), wherein a gate electrode line (14b), part of which overlapping the grounding wire (23) constitutes an electrostatic protection element (25), is arranged in part of the frame region (F) outside the grounding wire (23).
US08330892B2
Electrical conductor patterns (20) are provided so as to face respective source lines (SL). In each of the electrical conductor patterns (20), a plurality of electrical conductor islands (21) line up. With a source line (SL) being broken at points P1 and P2, an electrical conductor island (21-j) is connected via point Q1a and Q1b, and an electrical conductor island (21j) is connected via points Q2a and Q2b, by carrying out laser welding. This realizes a display panel including spare lines for respective data signal lines, in which display panel it is possible to increase a probability that a supply failure of a data signal can be avoided, even in a case where a data signal line is broken.
US08330891B2
An active array substrate for a flat panel display is disclosed. The active array substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of first conductive lines, a plurality of second conductive lines, a plurality of first repair lines, a plurality of second repair lines, a plurality of third repair lines. The substrate has a display area. The first repair lines cross and are electrically separated from the second conductive lines. The second repair lines cross and are electrically separated from the second conductive lines. Each of the third repair lines is in electrical connection respectively with one of the first repair lines and one of the second repair lines. The second conductive lines are divided into a plurality of second conductive line groups and each of the second conductive line groups respectively corresponds to one of the third repair lines.
US08330883B2
An active matrix substrate includes: storage capacitor wirings (18); a Cs trunk wiring (50) connected with the storage capacitor wirings via contact holes (48) provided in a non-display region (44); scanning signal lines (16) provided in the same layer as the storage capacitor wirings (18) and crossing the Cs trunk wiring (50) in the non-display region (44); an insulating layer between the storage capacitor wirings (18) and the Cs trunk wiring (50) which includes: a through-bore portion for forming the contact hole (48); a first film thickness portion (53) adjacent to the through-bore portion; and a second film thickness portion which is thicker than the first film thickness portion (53) and situated at least in the intersections of the storage capacitor wirings (18) with the Cs trunk wiring (50). Consequently, the storage capacitor wirings (18) and the Cs trunk wiring (50) are connected with high precision, and a short circuit between the Cs trunk wiring (50) and the scanning signal lines (16) is unlikely to occur.
US08330882B2
An image display comprises at least one display device having a first pair of transparent conductive layers, a second pair of transparent conductive layers spaced apart from the first pair transparent conductive layers, a display layer disposed between the first pair of transparent conductive layers, the display layer configured to display an image in response to a first set of voltages applied to the first pair of transparent conductive layers, and a light control layer disposed between the second pair of transparent conductive layers, the light control layer configured to operate in one of a transmissive mode to allow an incident light to pass toward the display layer and a reflective mode to reflect an incident light away from the display layer in response to a second set of voltages applied to the second pair of transparent conductive layers.
US08330881B2
A switchable autostereoscopic display device comprises a display panel having an array of display pixel elements for producing a display, the display pixel elements being arranged in rows and columns. An imaging arrangement directs the output from different pixel elements to different spatial positions to enable a stereoscopic image to be viewed. The imaging arrangement is electrically switchable between at two 3D modes, wherein the effective position of the imaging arrangement is shifted laterally between the modes with respect to the display pixel elements by an amount which is a non-integer multiple of the pitch between the pixel elements. These two modes enable the resolution per mode to be increased, by adding views at inter-pixel locations, or enables the number of views to be increased.
US08330874B2
A video signal conversion device performs the process of: selecting a selected video signal out of two or more video signals input; recognizing the signal type of the selected video signal; converting, in accordance with the result of recognition, the selected video signal into a display signal format suitable for a display section and supplying it to the display section; selecting a target video signal from a group of unselected video signals not including the selected video signal, and recognizing the signal type of the target video signal; generating a piece of video information from the result of recognition and storing the piece of video information in a storage section; and reading out, when accepting a switching instruction that instructs to select another video signal as a selected video signal, a piece of video information corresponding to it from the storage section and converting it into the format.
US08330873B2
Various embodiments are described herein for a universal television receiver that is capable of processing television channel signals broadcast according to a variety of analog and digital broadcast standards. An overmodulation handling mode is used that modifies operation when locking onto a picture carrier signal frequency in the presence of overmodulation.
US08330871B2
A method for detecting motion in an image display device includes receiving a plurality of composite signals having luminance signals and chrominance signals corresponding to a plurality of frames, determining luminance motion factors of the plurality of frames according to the luminance signals of the plurality of composite signals, determining chrominance motion factors of the plurality of frames according to edge intensities of the plurality of frames and the chrominance signals of the plurality of composite signals, and determining motion factors of the plurality of frames according to the luminance motion factors and the chrominance motion factors.
US08330870B2
A method for improving image contrast for a display apparatus obtains a frame of image data having one or more code values for each pixel in the frame of image data, analyzes the frame of image data to identify a distribution of dark regions therein. The method further adjusts at least one of the one or more code values for the frame of image data according to the distribution of dark regions in the frame of image data and attenuates a brightness level available for the image frame according to the distribution of dark regions in the frame of image data.
US08330869B2
A parameter for determining a chrominance correction curve for use in correcting the chrominance component of each pixel is determined from one or more parameters for determining a luminance correction curve for use in correcting luminance applied to the entirety of one frame of motion picture data. The chrominance component of each pixel is corrected using the chrominance correction curve.
US08330862B2
An STB (104), which reduces operating load of a user and causes a television (101) and an amplifier (102) to be appropriately linked, includes: a receiving unit (204) which receives a broadcast signal including an application program written in Java (registered trademark); a Java VM (403) which executes the application program; a CEC (401b4) which performs HDMI-CEC-compliant communication between each of the television (101) and the amplifier (102); and a device control library (405e) which performs conversion between data handled by an application program and data communicated by the CEC (401b4), so that the television (101) and the amplifier (102) can be controlled by the application program executed by the Java VM (403).
US08330859B2
Measurement of the relative timing between images and associated information, for example video and audio. Image mutual event characteristics are recognized in the images and associated mutual event characteristics are recognized in the associated information. The image mutual events and associated mutual events are compared to determine their occurrences, one relative to the other as a measure of relative timing. Particular operation with audio and video signals is described.
US08330858B2
A pull-down detection apparatus includes a pixel comparator at least performing pixel comparison between a subsequent field and a present field to determine a presence of a pixel change between the subsequent field and the present field, a field comparator compiles a determination result in the pixel comparator by dividing the result according to pixel location in the fields and determining a presence of an image change between the subsequent field and the present field based on the divided compiled determination result, and a pull-down determinater determining that the input video signal is generated by pull-down processing based on a history of a determination result in the field comparator.
US08330856B2
A display apparatus and a driving method thereof capable of assuring reliability in frame inversion driving and improving cinema video image quality are provided. To accomplish this, a display apparatus of the embodiment replaces at least one of a plurality of frame images obtained by doubling the frame rate, with a different image before display. Specifically, the display apparatus replaces at least one of the double-speed converted plural frame images with a high-frequency emphasized image and at least one with a low-frequency component image, and displays the frame images. Furthermore, the display apparatus replaces an image at the border between cinema images with a different image before displaying.
US08330851B2
An image pickup apparatus including a half mirror, a phase difference detecting AF sensor, an image pickup device, and a display is provided. The half mirror is provided so as to be movable between a first position on an optical path of the subject image light from the photographing optical system and a second position to which the half mirror is evacuated from the optical path of the subject image light. When the half mirror is in the second position, the image pickup device generates an actual photographing image on the basis of the subject image light reaching the image pickup device from the photographing optical system without passing through the half mirror.
US08330847B2
Provided is a solid-state imaging device capable of reducing occurrence of noise resulting from reflected light to improve light use efficiency in a case where a solid-state imaging device is constructed to have a structure in which incident light passing through a substrate is reflected toward a photoelectric conversion unit. The solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion unit formed in an inner portion of a substrate; a condensing unit provided on a side of the substrate which incident light enters, for condensing the incident light to the photoelectric conversion unit; and a reflecting unit provided on a side of the substrate which is opposed to the condensing unit, the reflecting unit being concave to the substrate, in which the reflecting unit has a structure for substantially aligning a same magnification imaging position of the reflecting unit with a focusing position of the condensing unit.
US08330839B2
An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors. Further, the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defines a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels. The minimal repeating unit has a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions.
US08330833B2
A signal processing apparatus for determining color conversion for converting a second color signal obtained through image pickup by a second image pickup device to be processed to a color signal approximate to a first color signal obtained through image pickup by a target first image pickup device, including a spectral difference calculating section that calculates a difference between spectral characteristics of the first image pickup device and spectral characteristics of the second image pickup device for each of spectral characteristics corresponding to a plurality of color signals making up a color signal and a processing determining section that determines linear conversion as color conversion when the spectral difference value is equal to or less than a determination reference value and determines non-linear conversion as the color conversion when the spectral difference value is greater than the determination reference value.
US08330832B2
Different sharpness values are assigned to different digital zoom levels for generation of preview images from cropped images, where the dimensions of the cropped images correspond to the different digital zoom levels.
US08330830B2
In an imaging evaluation method, camera, and system, a scene is imaged with a camera. User inputs to the camera are received concurrent with the imaging. The inputs each define a setting of one of a plurality of operational functions of the camera. The inputs are valued to provide a set of input values. An image value index is calculated using the input values.
US08330827B2
A method for increasing the resolution of a digital image comprising: receiving an input digital image of a scene; interpolating a high-resolution image using an interpolation function; receiving a blur kernel associated with the interpolation function; initializing a candidate sharp high-resolution image; determining a plurality of differential images representing differences between neighboring pixels in the candidate sharp high-resolution image; determining a combined differential image by combining the differential images; repeatedly updating the candidate sharp high-resolution image responsive to the interpolated high-resolution image, the blur kernel, the candidate sharp high-resolution image and the combined differential image until a convergence criterion is satisfied; and storing the final candidate sharp high-resolution image in a processor-accessible memory system.
US08330824B2
A camera is provided with which a small size can be achieved while ensuring good image blur correction performance. The camera (1) has an optical system (O), a housing (2), a second drive unit (12) serving as part of an image blur corrector, an imaging element (17), a first angular velocity sensor (4), an acceleration sensor (7), a sensor drive unit (240), and a drive controller (22). The first angular velocity sensor (4) is configured to acquire the rotational angle of the housing (2). The acceleration sensor (7) is configured to acquire the amount of displacement of the housing (2). A correction computer (21) calculates the amount of drive of a correcting lens (9) from the displacement amount acquired by the acceleration sensor (7), and calculates the amount of drive of the correcting lens (9) from the rotational angle acquired by the first angular velocity sensor (4) using the position of the acceleration sensor (7) as a reference. The drive controller (22) controls the operation of the second drive unit (12) on the basis of these drive amounts.
US08330823B2
Capturing a surface in motion picture, including: covering a surface with a pattern formed of a marking material; acquiring a sequence of image frames, each image frame of the sequence including a plurality of images of the pattern covering the surface; deriving a mesh object from the plurality of images for the each image frame; tracking the mesh object in each frame through the sequence of frames; and generating animation data modeling a characteristic of the surface using the tracked mesh object.
US08330812B2
Apparatus and method of (1) navigating an image acquisition device with both translatory and attitudinal movements while acquiring successive images in an object space and at the same time sensing the translatory and attitudinal movements of the device with respect to a three-dimensional reference frame of the object space, (2) providing successive computer generated (CG) images produced by a computer workstation from the successive images captured by the device in synchronization with the sensed translatory and attitudinal movements of the device with respect to the three-dimensional reference frame, and (3) storing the successive CG images on a non-transitory storage medium for later retrieval by a playback device for presentation by the playback device of said successive CG images to at least one eye of a viewer in an image space for perception of the successive CG images. A non-transitory storage medium storing the successive CG images is also provided.
US08330810B2
Systems and methods for detecting a present location of a target from a moving platform are provided. One system includes a movement module for estimating the present location of the target, a prediction module for estimating future locations of the target, and a first processor. The first processor is configured to receive present location estimates, receive future location estimates, store the future location estimates to create a first future location estimate, and determine the present location of the target based on the present location estimate and/or the first future location estimate. One method includes receiving an estimate of the present location of the moving platform, receiving an estimate of a future location of the moving platform, and determining the present location of the target based on the estimate of the present location and/or the estimate of the future location.
US08330809B2
A vision system incorporated into an item of egg handling equipment, the system incorporating software control for detecting at least one of color shades and defects on both brown and white eggs. An enclosure incorporates a plurality of high resolution producing cameras, these communicating via cable with a switch to a remote vision PC system. A non-linear shaped diffuser is mounted along an open facing bottom of the enclosure for facilitating uniform lighting throughout an open interior of the enclosure associated with the cameras. The cameras are operable to produce multiple, high resolution images of each of a plurality of eggs continuously transported along the associated egg handling equipment, for classifying types of defects that are allowable and those that must be rejected, as well as assisting in the segregating of the eggs into more consistent shaded groups for eventual packaging.
US08330807B2
An automated skin lesion assessment system may automatically assess a suspect skin lesion. An electronic image library may contain diagnosed skin lesion image data representative of images of a plurality of diagnosed skin lesions and, for each, a diagnosis of the skin lesion. An image capture system may capture an image of the suspect skin lesion. A computer processing system may compare the image of the suspect skin lesion with the diagnosed skin lesion image data and, based on this comparison, identify one or more diagnosed skin lesions which match the suspect skin lesion. A user interface may report the diagnoses of the diagnosed skin lesions that match the image of the suspect skin lesion.
US08330799B2
According to one embodiment, an image output apparatus includes an input module, a separator, a first image processor, a second image processor, and a controller. The input module is configured to input 3D images. The separator is configured to separate a plurality of left-eye images and a plurality of right-eye images from the 3D images. The first image processor is configured to process the plurality of left-eye images or the plurality of right-eye images. The second image processor is configured to process the plurality of right-eye images or the plurality of left-eye images. The controller is configured to execute control to output the plurality of left-eye images or the plurality of right-eye images processed by at least one of the first image processor and the second image processor.
US08330798B2
A method for providing stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) image/video content in a terminal based on Lightweight Application Scene Representation (LASeR) is provided. The method includes receiving a LASeR content including therein stereoscopic 3D image/video information, decoding the received LASeR content according to a stereoscopic 3D image/video attribute, checking LASeR commands from the decoded LASeR content, carrying out the LASeR commands, parsing scene information including stereoscopic 3D image/video information included in the decoded LASeR content, determining whether a media object to be included in scene description is a stereoscopic 3D image/video according to the stereoscopic 3D image/video information and, when the media object to be included in scene description is a stereoscopic 3D image/video, displaying the stereoscopic 3D image/video according to whether the terminal supports a stereoscopic 3D image/video.
US08330795B2
Systems and methods of providing extended presence information for multi-user devices are described. Communication devices used in conference rooms represent a different nature than single user devices such as a personal computer. Conference rooms also have attributes that may be added to existing presence information and provide an enhanced experience for scheduling and dissemination of conference room capabilities. Information such as actual people in attendance may be added to the presence information maintained by a presence server to provide an overall enhancement to the meeting room whether it is physically a single conference room or a multitude of endpoints remotely connected to a conference.
US08330794B2
In a video conference system capable of providing multiple video streams, displayed streams for participants are configured based on automatic selection by the system (such as active speaker) and manual override by the participants. The displayed views are further enhanced by implementing duplicate detection to avoid display of duplicate streams between the automatic selections and manual selections.
US08330793B2
A method for rendering a video conference including identifying a location of a focus region and a size of the focus region by tracking a head position of a participant viewing the video conference and rendering the video conference to increase an amount of display resources for one or more participants included in the focus region and decrease the amount of display resources for one or more of the participants not included in the focus region.
US08330782B2
Methods are provided for imaging patterns on a media. The steps of the method include operating a first imaging head with individually addressable channels to direct imaging beams to form a first image on the media while scanning over the media along a scan path. A second imaging head with individually addressable channels is operated, either at the same time or a different time, to direct imaging beams to form a second image on the media while scanning over the media along a second scan path. It is possible that the first scan path may or may not be parallel to the second scan path, and that the first image may or may not be aligned with the second image. The first image may or may not be skewed with respect to the second image.
US08330776B2
An appliance according to the present invention is operative under instructions from a plurality of control units, which includes a first control unit and a second control unit. The first control unit outputs a first control signal to the appliance to instruct the appliance to perform a predetermined operation. The second control unit outputs a second control signal to the appliance to instruct the appliance to perform the predetermined operation. The appliance includes a receiving section that receives the first and second control signals and an image control section that changes sizes of a particular image to be presented during the predetermined operation depending on whether the receiving section has received the first control signal or the second control signal.
US08330772B2
Various techniques are provided herein for processing raw image data in front-end processing logic of an image signal processing system. In one embodiment, the front-end processing logic includes a statistics processing unit configured to process raw image data acquired by an image sensor to obtain one or more sets of statistics. The statistics processing unit may first correct defective pixels in the raw image data and then correct lens shading errors in the raw image data prior to extracting the statistics information. In certain embodiments, black level compensation may be applied between the defective pixel correction and lens shading correction steps, and inverse black level compensation may be applied between the lens shading correction step and the extraction of the statistics information. The acquired statistics information may be utilized by an image signal processing pipeline for converting the raw image data into a color (e.g., RGB) and/or luma (e.g., YCbCr) image.
US08330770B2
A system and method for processing video data are disclosed. In one aspect, a method includes generating halftone data for a first video frame and generating halftone data for a second video frame. The method further includes, to reduce at least one visual artifact, selectively copying the halftone data for the first video frame into the halftone data for the second video frame, the selectively copying being based upon a comparison between an adaptive threshold and the change resulting due to the copying of the data, in the human visual system model-based perceptual error of the halftone data for the second video frame.
US08330767B2
A method and apparatus for angular invariant texture level of detail calculation is disclosed. The method includes a determination for a LOD that determines angular invariant LODs that result in efficient ASIC hardware implementation.
US08330755B2
An image display with high brightness where a long time can be secured for light emission of self-luminous elements can be implemented using only line memories.The period for the writing in of a display voltage (period for writing in of data) continues for a number of lines (three lines), and the reset pulse becomes of a “high” state. Subsequently, operation for three lines is carried out collectively during a triangular wave period (period for writing in of a triangular wave voltage), and only the light emission controlling pulse becomes of a “high” state. During the period for the writing in of a triangular wave voltage, the writing in of a triangular wave voltage from the second time onward is rewriting of a triangular wave voltage, and thus, the period for rewriting the display voltage (dotted line portion) becomes unnecessary, and a longer period for light emission, where the light emission controlling pulse becomes of a “high” state, can be secured.
US08330753B2
A driving method for a display including a source driver and at least one pixel is disclosed. The source driver is activated to provide a first data signal to the pixel. The first data signal includes a first pulse. The source driver is activated to provide a second data signal to the pixel. The second data signal includes a second pulse. The width of the first pulse is different from the width of the second pulse and a gray level is composed of the first and the second pulses.
US08330751B2
A display apparatus includes a passive matrix display element and can support full-color display. The apparatus includes a passive matrix display element 10 composed of a memory type display material, a row driver 26 for driving the scan electrode of the display element and a column driver 27 for driving the data electrode of the display element. A switching signal S/C is set to a segment mode during the falling period of a display-apparatus driving signal /DSPOF for preventing rush current caused at the falling edge of a frame signal FR. During this period, the former half of line data is transferred and outputted. Consequently, the falling period of the display-apparatus driving signal /DSPOF (i.e., time during which liquid crystal does not operate) can be shortened, thus improving the response characteristics of liquid crystal.
US08330750B2
A liquid crystal drive device (200) is configured so that a source driver (20) or a common driver (30) performs voltage application using a power voltage VDDH prior to voltage application using a boosted voltage 2VDDH upon application of a source voltage VS and high-level transition of a common voltage VCOM.
US08330744B2
For locating a touch on a tactile surface belonging to an object, mechanical waves are made to propagate in the object and these mechanical waves are picked up. Certain characteristics of the signal picked up are compared to a library of reference characteristics, and the position of the touch is deduced from this comparison.
US08330741B1
Methods, Integrated Circuits (IC) and computer programs for decoding contacts in a digital resistive screen overlay (DRSO) are presented. The method includes coupling in succession columns of the DRSO to a first voltage while floating a remainder of the columns. Further, the method includes the operation of checking during a sampling time if each row of the DRSO is connected through closed switches in the DRSO to the column coupled to the first voltage. The sampling time is configured such that the sampling time for a given row is previous to the arrival time of a signal that started with the coupling of a column and that propagated to the given row through more than one closed switch in the DRSO.
US08330725B2
A computer keyboard includes a plurality of keys arranged in a pattern contained within a plane, a webbed structure defining openings for each of the keys, an illumination source, and one or more light pipes positioned along the webbed structure and arranged to deliver light from the illumination source to the keys, wherein each of the keys is illuminated thereby. Although the keys have the appearance of being backlit similar to traditional illuminated keyboards, the illumination source is actually located along at least one side of and within the same plane as the pattern of keys, rather than beneath the keys. The keyboard can thus be made thinner in such arrangements where the illumination source does not need to be located beneath the keys.
US08330723B2
Coupling an outer covering to a frame of an appliance. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are devices including a frame member of an appliance (the frame member defines an outer portion and a first ridge feature on the outer portion, the first ridge feature has a length along the frame member, a height, and a flat contact portion that defines a width), an outer covering member in contact with the contact portion of the first ridge feature, and an adhesive disposed between the frame member and the outer covering member proximate to the first ridge feature (the adhesive adhered to the frame member and the outer covering member). For at least a portion of the length of the first ridge feature, a thickness of the adhesive is the same as a height of the first ridge feature.
US08330716B2
An input device includes a main body and a motion sensor unit. The main body has a longitudinal axis. The motion sensor unit is configured and arranged to detect rotation of the main body about the longitudinal axis. The motion sensor unit has an X-axis angular velocity sensor configured and arranged to detect an angular velocity of the main body about an X-axis in a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system defined by the X-axis, a Y-axis and a Z-axis. The X-axis coincides with the longitudinal axis of the main body and the Y-axis and the Z-axis being orthogonal to each other in a first plane perpendicular to the X-axis.
US08330710B2
Provided are systems and methods for controlling a solid state lighting panel. A system according to some embodiments of the invention includes a controller that provides control signals to current drivers that are configured to provide current to multiple solid state lighting devices. The system also includes a sequence generator that generates a firing sequence for firing multiple strings of slid state lighting devices.
US08330708B2
The present invention relates to a display device, which includes: a backlight unit that is divided into a plurality of blocks, is driven for each divided block, and includes at least one optical assembly; a display panel disposed on the upper side of the backlight unit; a controller that outputs a local dimming value for each block corresponding to brightness of each block of the backlight unit according to images displayed on the display panel; and a BLU driver that controls the brightness of the blocks of the backlight unit by using the local dimming value for each block, wherein the optical assembly includes a first layer; a plurality of light sources that is formed on the first layer to emit light; a second layer that is disposed on the upper side of the first layer and is formed to cover the plurality of light sources; and a reflective layer that is disposed between the first and second layers, and the BLU driver receives the local dimming value for each block to output the plurality of driving signals, and the blocks of the backlight unit are divided into a plurality of scan groups and is driven in the divided group unit.
US08330701B2
The present invention relates to device and method for driving a liquid crystal display device. The device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a plurality of pixel regions, a gate driver for driving a plurality of gate lines on the liquid crystal display panel, a data driver for driving a plurality of data lines on the liquid crystal display panel, and a timing controller for analyzing an image data received from an outside of the driver according to pattern recognition information having a detection factor and a detection stop factor for a defective display pattern to detect, or stopping detection of, the defective display pattern, and changing an inversion system of the liquid crystal display panel according to a result of the detection of the defective display pattern.
US08330699B2
A liquid crystal display and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display includes a timing controller, N source drive integrated circuits (ICs), where N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, N pairs of data bus lines, each of which connects the timing controller to each of the N source drive ICs in a point-to-point manner, a lock check line that connects a first source drive IC of the N source drive ICs to the timing controller and cascade-connects the N source drive ICs to one another, a feedback check line that connects a last source drive IC of the N source drive ICs to the timing controller.
US08330698B2
A signal generating circuit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) includes circuitry adapted to receive a gate clock signal and an output enable signal. The gate clock signal is a combination of a gate-on signal and a gate-off signal and the output enable signal is operable to adjust the width of the gate-on signal. The signal generating circuit adjusts the output enable signal such that a falling edge of the output enable signal overlaps a rising edge of the gate clock signal and thereby delays the gate clock signal for a selected amount of time.
US08330694B2
The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal modulation element including first and second electrode, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first and second electrodes, a first alignment film disposed between the first electrode and the liquid crystal layer, and a second alignment film disposed between the second electrode and the liquid crystal layer. The apparatus further includes a controller that respectively provides first and second electric potentials to the first and second electrodes such that a sign of an electric field generated in the liquid crystal layer is cyclically inverted in a modulation operation state. The controller respectively provides third and fourth electric potentials to the first and second electrodes such that the sign of the electric field is fixed in a state other than the modulation operation state. The apparatus can avoid an influence by cumulated charged particles without adding a new member.
US08330693B2
A two-stage drive waveform switches a DFLC from a high tilt state to a low tilt state quickly and without scattering. A relaxation voltage is applied to delay the onset of the high amplitude high frequency kick voltage when switching from a high tilt state to a low tilt state. The relaxation voltage allows the molecules to ‘relax’ in accordance with their own elasticity towards their low tilt state in the direction of the average azimuth angle of the low tilt state. The kick voltage is then applied to drive the molecules quickly to the low tilt state. Optimal switching time and the desired molecular response is achieved by delaying the onset of the large kick voltage via application of the relaxation voltage. The relaxation voltage may constitute a lower amplitude holding voltage, a small or zero DC voltage or a smooth windowing of the kick voltage.
US08330686B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel, a driving circuit and a backlight unit supplying light to the liquid crystal panel. The liquid crystal display device further includes a power management unit. The driving circuit includes a plurality of sub-circuits. The power management unit may provide a common voltage to the driving circuit and the backlight unit. A driving method of the liquid crystal display device includes halting an image display operation of a liquid crystal panel in response to a change of an operation mode. The driving method further includes sequentially changing operations of the plurality of sub-circuits.
US08330677B2
An organic electro-luminescent display device has a gate-source voltage that selectively has a positive polarity and a negative polarity so that deterioration of the switching element is prevented. The display device includes an electro-luminescent element that emits light. The device includes a first switching element for switching a data voltage in response to a scan signal, a second switching element for adjusting the amount of the current supplied to the electro-luminescent element, and a polarity controller for applying a voltage having a value between a minimum value and a maximum value of the data voltage to a source terminal of the second switching element to vary a polarity of a gate-source voltage of the second switching element according to the data voltage applied to a gate terminal of the second switching element.
US08330676B2
This invention provides a plasma tube array-type display device and a luminance correcting method realizing reduced variations in luminance values of a plasma tube array. A gradient of the luminance value in the longitudinal direction of one plasma tube is calculated on the basis of the obtained luminance value at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of at least one plasma tube. A difference of the luminance value of each plasma tube obtained at the same relative position. On the basis of the gradient of the luminance value and the difference of the luminance value of each plasma tube at the same relative position, a correction luminance value in each discharge cell in the longitudinal direction of each of the plurality of plasma tubes is calculated.
US08330673B2
A method for creating an efficient scan loop for displaying a vector projection graphic upon a substantially transparent windscreen head-up display includes determining a plurality of candidate scan loops to create a desired vector projection graphic, determining an efficiency metric for each of the plurality of candidate scan loops, determining the efficient scan loop for displaying the vector projection graphic based upon comparing the efficiency metrics, and utilizing the efficient scan loop to create the desired vector projection graphic upon the substantially transparent windscreen head-up display.
US08330669B2
Disclosed are apparatus and methodology for providing improved signal radiation from an Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) endpoint module. A two-part coupler is provided, with one part thereof affixed to a printed circuit board (PCB) which hosts components of an endpoint module including a transmitter to which, via the two-part coupler, various antenna may be selectively connected to improve signal radiation from the module. The antenna coupling system provides a selection of various antennae including some directly connected to a component of the two-part coupler and others connected remotely to the two-part coupler by way of a cable.
US08330661B2
Provided is a system and method for measuring an antenna radiation pattern in a Fresnel region based on a phi-variation method. The system includes a rotator for changing angles of a reference antenna and a target antenna; a vector network analyzer for obtaining radiation pattern data in accordance with transmission/reception radio frequency (RF) signals between the reference antenna and the target antenna; a measurement unit for calculating a far-field radiation pattern based on the radiation pattern data received from the vector network analyzer; and a controller for controlling the rotator according to a measurement angle transmitted from the measurement unit.
US08330654B2
A method for positioning a mobile device includes following steps. Based on a prior location point of the mobile device, many sample points are generated according to a prior probability distribution associated with the prior location point. A current moving track or a current moving status of the mobile device is obtained, and the sample points are updated according to at least one of the current moving track and the current moving status. A current estimated position is obtained based on a radio frequency signal received by the mobile device. A current probability distribution of the sample points corresponding to the radio frequency signal or the current estimated position is generated to obtain corresponding weights of the updated sample points. A current location point of the mobile device is obtained according to the weights and distribution of the sample points.
US08330649B2
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining whether a moving entity is moving in a predetermined direction. A moving entity being equipped with positioning means receives data from a sender comprising information about a position of a point of interest and a position of a reference point. Based on the received data, a first position of the moving entity at a first point in time, and a second position of the moving entity at a second point in time, it is determined whether the moving entity is moving in the predetermined direction. Preferably, angular information is utilized to verify whether the moving entity is moving in the predetermined direction.
US08330643B2
A surveillance system for detecting targets with high cross-range resolution between targets. The system includes at least two radar antennae mounted on blades of a windmill and is configured to apply a compressive sensing technique when the blades do not rotate.
US08330639B2
A remote controller for toys includes a user interface which applies the low-cost capacitive sensing method with the remote controller. Users can touch and/or drag on a remote controller surface by fingers to remotely control the movement of R/C cars, planes, helicopters or a boat. The remote controller is essentially a flat faced unit and there is no need for protruding control sticks or pushbuttons. This controller is applicable to different types of remote control toys with digital proportional control on speed and steering control. The remote controller is a symmetric product design whereby the controller is easily operable with left and right hand conventions.
US08330635B2
There are provided an A/D conversion circuit in which a counter is made to be capable of performing counting at both edges of a clock, up/down count values can be switched while the up/down count values are held, and the duty of the counting operation is difficult to be distorted even with the both-edge counting, a solid-state image sensor, and a camera system. An ADC 15A is configured as an integrating-type A/D conversion circuit using a comparator 151 and a counter 152. The counter 152 has a function of switching a count mode from an up count to a down count and from a down count to an up count while a value is held, a function of performing counting at both rising and falling edges of an input clock CK at a frequency two times as high as that of the input clock, and a function of latching the input clock CK in accordance with an output signal of the comparator 151 and setting non-inverted or inverted data of the latched data to be data of an LSB.
US08330624B2
A remote meterless parking monitoring system including a plurality of individual parking spaces, a plurality of vehicle detector/RFID units for monitoring the status of the individual parking spaces; at least one Gateway device responsive to the plurality of vehicle detector/RFID units; a Command and Control Server for employing numerous security provisions at least including encryption of data, Virtual Privacy Networks, firewalls and authenticated connections and responsive to data from said Cellular gateway via the internet; and the Command and Control Server uses the status of each space and the ID from the motorist's RFID tag to cross reference data according to a Policy database and identifying the motorist through a Motorist Database including information about the motorist's mailing address, vehicle payment account balance or other information.
US08330615B2
An electric system for measurement and control in an oil/gas well using transmission of electric signals and supply of electric power. The system is provided with a current loop having an essentially constant current in a current loop and a number of downhole network nodes (1N) which are connected to the system.
US08330607B2
The present invention provides a radio field intensity measurement device having a display portion with improved visibility, in the case of measuring a weak radiowave from a long distance. In the radio field intensity measurement device, a battery is provided as a power source for power supply and the battery is charged by a received radiowave. When a potential of a signal obtained from the received radiowave is higher than an output potential of the battery, the power is stored in the battery. On the other hand, when the potential of the signal obtained from the received radiowave is lower than the output potential of the battery, power produced by the battery is used as power to drive the radio field intensity measurement device. As an element to display the radio field intensity, a thermochromic element or an electrochromic element is used.
US08330603B1
A dewatering system includes a selective calibrating sensor circuit configured to receive sensor readings from an electronic sensor, to determine if the electronic sensor is immersed in water, to allow a user to adjust a pump down time in the field, and to generate a control output signal accordingly. The selective calibrating sensor circuit periodically performs a self-calibration when the electronic sensor is not immersed in water to cancel the effect of potential contaminants deposited on the electronic sensor over its operating life. The selective calibrating sensor circuit inhibits calibration when the electronic sensor is immersed in water. In some applications with multiple electronic sensors, the selective calibrating sensor circuit disconnects from one of the electronic sensors before performing the self-calibration.
US08330600B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a first cold noise source, a first radiometer receiver, and a first detector. The first cold noise source generates a first thermal radiation signal having a first carrier frequency band. The first thermal radiation signal carries a first information signal. The first cold noise source also transmits the first thermal radiation signal through a first antenna. The first radiometer receiver receives the first thermal radiation signal through a second antenna, and the first detector extracts the first information signal from the first thermal radiation signal.
US08330599B2
An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity.
US08330596B2
Provided is a sensor node including: a sensor for measuring biological information; a CPU for acquiring data by driving the sensor; a wireless communication unit for transmitting the data acquired by the CPU; a battery for supplying the control unit, the wireless communication unit, and the sensor with electric power; a RAM for storing the data; a compression unit for compressing the data stored in the RAM when the wireless communication unit cannot carry out the transmission; and a flash memory for storing the compressed data, thereby storing as much sensing data as possible on the sensor node, which is limited in resources, and preventing loss of the sensing data.
US08330590B2
A user interface feedback apparatus includes an operable element, a sensor, a processing unit, and a tactile control module. The operable element has a two-layer structure made up of a conductor and an insulator. The sensor detects, in the form of user contact information, at least a user contact position with respect to the insulator of the operable element. The processing unit acquires the detected information from the sensor, and determines parameters for an electrical signal to be output to the conductor. The tactile control module controls the frictional force between the insulator and the user by outputting to the conductor an electrical signal regulated by the parameters determined by the processing unit.
US08330589B2
A security system includes a warning notification module adapted to recognize at least one of a wireless or audible signal. A door bell ringer or emergency transmission signal from a wireless transmitter can provide a recognition signal to a microprocessor in the security system via the warning notification module. The microprocessor retrieves dog barking sounds stored in memory and provides them to at least one of an amplifier or radio frequency transmitter after the microprocessor receives the recognition signal from the warning notification module. Dog barking sounds can be broadcasted using the wireless transmitter. Processing can be with a time delay after first receipt of the recognition signal. A random module can enable random retrieval of various dog barking sounds from memory for processing. A time out module can disable operation of the microprocessor at a set time after recognition signal receipt.
US08330587B2
A method and system for providing enhanced interactivity and immersion in a theme park environment. The system uses a token having a tag that is able to communicate with a reader that is associated with a theme park device. The tag communicates to the reader identification data that correlates to the theme of the theme park and the theme park device. The theme park device will act or behave in response to the identification data.
US08330580B2
A radio device such as a wireless tag reader communicates with multiple types of wireless identification tags in a monitored region. The radio device includes a network interface to receive messages transmitted over a network. In response to receiving a message indicating to reconfigure the radio device to support an additional wireless tag protocol, the radio is reconfigured to support communications with a corresponding new type of wireless identification tag in a monitored region. Based on this technique of reconfiguring the radio device via network messages, the radio device optionally supports additional, new or latest versions of wireless tag protocols without having to physically reprogram or replace the radio device.
US08330578B2
Transponder circuit arrangement having antenna connections for application of a voltage signal, a load-reduction modulation device, which is coupled to the antenna connections and is designed to modulate the applied, unmodulated voltage signal, which is at a first level, and a voltage conversion device, which is coupled to the load-reduction modulation device and is designed to provide a supply voltage, the magnitude of whose level is greater than the first level.
US08330577B2
A device having a biometric input device is configured to allow a user to enter a character sequence for use in validation using the biometric input device. A predetermined assignment of characters to enrolled biometric templates allows a user to determine a sequence of biometric inputs to provide to enter an appropriate character sequence.
US08330569B2
A system for receiving data for training a trainable transmitter used to subsequently transmit a modulated RF signal having the received data includes an antenna, a capacitive detection circuit and a control circuit. The capacitive detection circuit is coupled to the antenna and configured to detect data provided in a control signal of a remote control transmitter used to remotely actuate a device. The control circuit is coupled to the capacitive detection circuit and is configured to store the received data and to generate the RF signal having the received data to be transmitted by the trainable transmitter to actuate the device.
US08330568B2
A multilayer coil component includes internal conductors made of silver (Ag) having metal films provided on surfaces thereof to suppress migration of Ag contained in the internal conductors and/or relieve internal stress between magnetic ceramic layers and internal conductor layers without forming gaps at interfaces between the internal conductors including the metal films and a magnetic ceramic surrounding the internal conductors and the interfaces between the internal conductors and the magnetic ceramic. In a manufacturing method for forming a multilayer coil, an acidic solution containing a metal is allowed to penetrate a magnetic ceramic through side surfaces thereof and side gap sections that are regions between side portions of internal conductors and the side surfaces to reach the interfaces between the internal conductors and a surrounding magnetic ceramic, whereby the metal is deposited on surfaces of the internal conductors.
US08330566B2
One embodiment of the invention includes a magnetic solenoid. The magnetic solenoid includes an elongated sidewall that extends between spaced apart ends. The elongated sidewall can surround a central axis that extends longitudinally along the sidewall. The elongated sidewall can have a radius that is defined by a compound equation that varies the radius as a function of position along the central axis.
US08330565B2
A noise decreasing type electromagnetic switch includes a buffer disposed between a stationary core and a contact spring to electrically support a shaft and the stationary core. The buffer includes a buffering space therein. Accordingly, impact caused at the stationary core and the shaft can be effectively absorbed even by the buffering space as well as an elastic force of the buffer. The buffer is inserted in the stationary core for coupling so as to be prevented from being separated during operations, resulting in maintaining long-term durability. Also, the buffer may support the stationary core and a metal plate, whereby an assembly process can be simplified.
US08330527B2
Various embodiments of a fuse circuit of a semiconductor apparatus are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the fuse circuit may include a fuse whose electrical connection state can be changed by an electrical stress applied thereto and a plurality of self boosting units configured to perform self boosting operations under the control of a rupture enable signal. The self boosting units may also be configured to generate stress voltages and supply the generated stress voltages to the fuse. The fuse circuit may also include a precharge unit configured to supply a precharge voltage to the fuse in response to a precharge signal and a cross-coupled latching amplification unit configured to sense a change in a voltage level of the precharge voltage supplied to the fuse, with reference to a reference voltage, and output a fuse state signal.
US08330517B1
A method and circuit for operating a bistable latch are provided. The state of input data is latched on a first edge of a clock signal. In response to every first edge of the clock signal, a control circuit causes power boost circuit to couple first and second complementary output nodes of the bistable latch to a power source. In response to detecting stable operation of the bistable circuit, the control circuit causes power boost circuit to decouple the first and second complementary output nodes from the power source.
US08330510B2
A phase-locked loop for generating an output signal that has a predetermined frequency relationship with a reference signal, the phase-locked loop comprising a signal generator arranged to generate the output signal, a charge pump arranged to generate current pulses for controlling the signal generator, two control units for controlling a duration of the current pulses generated by the charge pump and a selection unit arranged to select either the first control unit or the second control unit to control the charge pump, wherein a first one of the control units is arranged to continuously monitor a phase-difference between the reference signal and a feedback signal formed from the output signal and to, when selected by the selection unit, control the charge pump to output a current pulse having a duration that is dependent on that phase-difference and a second one of the control units is arranged to, when selected by the selection unit, control the charge pump to output a current pulse of predetermined duration that compensates for a phase error in the feedback signal.
US08330506B2
A frequency multiplier circuit, comprising a first stage including a first differential pair of amplifier elements having respective current conduction paths connected in parallel between first and second nodes and respective control terminals connected to receive input signals of opposite polarity at an input frequency in the radio frequency range, the first and second nodes being connected to respective bias voltage supply terminals through first and second impedances respectively so that current flowing differentially in the current conduction paths of the first differential pair of amplifier elements produces a voltage difference across the first and second nodes at a frequency which contains a harmonic of the input frequency, and a second stage including a second differential pair of amplifier elements coupled at the harmonic of the input frequency with the first and second nodes to amplify differentially the voltage difference and produce an output signal at the harmonic of the input frequency. Radio frequency connections apply the voltage difference across the first and second nodes at the frequency of the harmonic to the second differential pair of amplifier elements and block direct current, and separate direct current connections connect respectively the first differential pair of amplifier elements and the second differential pair of amplifier elements across the bias voltage supply terminals.
US08330502B2
Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for protecting a processing system from electromagnetic interference. An integrated circuit comprises a sensing arrangement configured to sense an interference signal and an interference detection module coupled to the sensing arrangement. The interference detection module is configured to detect when a power level associated with the interference signal is greater than a threshold value. In one embodiment, the interference detection module generates an interrupt for a processing system when the power level associated with the interference signal is greater than the threshold value.
US08330495B2
A countermeasure in a logic circuit having a logic gate supplying a binary output signal, the method including supplying binary data having random values to inputs of logic circuit during a precharge phase; supplying data to process to inputs of the logic circuit during a data processing phase; supplying on input of the logic circuit a precharge command signal launching a precharge phase; and under the effect of the precharge command signal, adapting the functioning of a logic gate of the logic circuit, statistically unbalanced, so that the output signal of the logic gate is in a binary state with a same probability as the random binary data supplied on input of the logic circuit during the precharge phase.
US08330488B1
Some embodiments of the invention provide an integrated circuit (IC) with configurable input/output (I/O) circuits for optimally operating with two or more interfaces. Some embodiments optimally operate over the two or more interfaces by supporting a particular voltage for each interface. Also, some embodiments optimally operate over two or more interfaces by supporting a particular frequency for each supported voltage whereby supporting a particular frequency involves producing sufficient current drive at each voltage to support the particular frequency.
US08330486B2
A data line termination circuit includes a swing-width sensing unit configured to sense a swing width of a voltage of a data line and output a sensed signal, and a variable termination unit configured to adjust a termination resistance value of the data line in response to the sensed signal. The swing-width sensing unit can sense if the swing width is less than or greater than a predetermined swing width, and the swing width of the voltage of the data line can be reduced or increased to maintain the voltage of the data line within a predetermined range.
US08330485B2
A curved spring structure includes a base (anchor) section extending parallel to a planar substrate surface, a cantilever section extending away from the substrate surface, and an optional elongated section extending from the base section along the substrate surface under the cantilevered section. The cantilever section includes a body portion integrally attached at a lower end to the anchor section and extending at an acute angle relative to the planar surface, and a curved portion integrally attached to an upper end of the body portion and including a downturned tip. A middle section of the curved portion is disposed a first distance away from the planar surface of the substrate, and the downturned tip is disposed a second distance away from the planar surface of the substrate, the first distance being greater than the second distance.
US08330483B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device in which a circuit in the semiconductor chip is divided into a plurality of sub-circuits. The semiconductor device includes switches between the respective sub-circuits and a power supply, and a circuit that variably controls on-resistances of the switches 111 to 11N.
US08330481B2
A probe assembly has insertion holes formed in a base layer provided on a circuit board. Probe pins are inserted into the insertion holes and fixed by a conductive adhesive filled in the insertion holes. The probe pins can be arranged with small pitch without mechanically electrically interfering with neighboring pins using the insertion holes. Furthermore, the base layer is formed of a semiconductor material to prevent a problem caused by a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion between the base layer and a wafer. Moreover, coplanarity and alignment accuracy of the probe pins can be improved using aligning mask layers or aligning mask in a process of manufacturing the probe assembly. In addition, probe assembly manufacturing time can be reduced by using a pin array frame into which a large number of probe pins are temporarily inserted.
US08330479B2
A testing device suitable for a testing apparatus with light inspection of a display panel is provided, in which the testing device includes a main part and two contact parts. The testing device is fixed to the testing apparatus with light inspection by the main part. Two contact parts are respectively extended from two ends of the main part along a first direction, and each of the contact parts has a plurality of tips. The tips of each contact part have different heights. Besides, a testing apparatus is also provided. Therefore, the abovementioned testing device and the testing apparatus are able to drastically extend the user lifetime, improve the inspection accuracy and save cost.
US08330470B2
The invention relates to a device for checking the operability of a sensor element (100) for determining the concentration of gas components in a gas mixture, particularly of the concentration of gas components in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engine, having an external pump electrode (APE) and an internal pump and Nernst electrode (IPE), a measurement resistor (Rm) and a balancing resistor (Rtrim) connected parallel thereto being provided upstream of the external pump electrode (APE), and a pump current (Ip) being impressible into the external pump electrode by means of a pump current source, and a measuring voltage (Um) incident across the measuring resistor (Rm) via a measuring and analysis device (200) being detectable, characterized in that an activatable switch means (S) is disposed in series to the measuring resistor (Rm), which can be switched at a high impedance for a predetermined amount of time, during which the voltage across the measuring resistor is detected and analyzed in the measuring and analysis device, and that an error output occurs upon a predetermined voltage threshold value being exceeded.
US08330468B2
Each time that starting of a vehicle engine is completed, a vehicle control system derives an estimated amount by which the charge in the vehicle battery is less than a predetermined upper limit value of stored charge, and subtracts the estimated amount from the difference between the upper limit value and a lower limit value of stored charge, to obtain an initial allowable discharge amount. An automatic engine stop/restart function is thereafter enabled or inhibited in accordance with whether a net amount of discharge from the battery, since completion of the preceding engine start, exceeds the initial allowable discharge amount.
US08330467B2
A measuring device is used in conjunction with a programmable controller for monitoring electrolyte levels in the battery. According to one implementation, the measuring device is located in a battery and is configured to detect when the electrolyte level in the battery falls below a particular level. The controller is in electrical communication with the electrolyte detection device. The controller is configured to: (i) receive a signal from the electrolyte level detection device indicating when the electrolyte level in the battery has fallen below the particular level; (ii) introduce a wait-period after the signal is received; and (iii) enable an indicator to indicate that the electrolyte level in the battery should be refilled when the wait-period expires.
US08330466B2
A method used in electrical investigation of geological formations surrounding a borehole comprising: determining S1 a grid of iso-parameter lines GR in a two-dimensional plane, the parameter being an electrical parameter characterizing the geological formation, injecting in a localized manner a survey current IS into a selected zone SZ of the geological formations GF surrounding the borehole BH, and measuring S2 a measured value of a quantity characterizing the electrical parameter of the selected zone based on the survey current, and interpolating S3 an interpolated electrical parameter value of the selected zone SZ based on the measured value and the grid of iso-parameter lines GR.
US08330465B2
A measuring head for use in electrical measurements conducted in holes drilled in the ground comprises an elongated body, adaptable in the hole and comprising an electrode, electrically connecting the measuring head with its surroundings, for transmitting an electrical signal between the measuring head and its surroundings. In accordance with the invention, the measuring head comprises insulating means, placed on the body on both sides of the electrode along the length of the hole in order to form a measuring area, electrically insulated from other parts of the hole, around the electrode placed in the hole.
US08330462B2
A method for performing magnetic resonance diffusion imaging, comprising: (a) acquiring a sequence of magnetic resonance images of a target body (BS) using diffusion-encoding gradient pulses applied along a set of non-collinear orientations ( ) sampling a three-dimensional orientation space (AR); (b) estimating, from said sequence of images, a set of space- and orientation-dependent parameters representative of molecular diffusion within said target body; wherein said step of estimating a set of space- and orientation-dependent parameters representative of molecular diffusion within said target body is performed in real time by means of an incremental estimator such as a Kalman filter fed by data provided by said magnetic resonance images; characterized in that said three-dimensional orientation space (AR) selectively excludes a set of orientations (FR) for which magnetic resonance signal intensity is attenuated by diffusion below a threshold level.
US08330459B2
NMR spin echo signals are measured in a small borehole during drilling. Signals measured in a plurality of regions of investigation are combined to increase the signal strength.
US08330458B2
There is provided a nondestructive inspection apparatus using a SQUID magnetic sensor which allows nondestructive and accurate detection of magnetic particles in an insulator such as an electronic device or in a magnetizable member. The nondestructive inspection apparatus using the SQUID magnetic sensor comprises: a magnet for horizontal magnetization 4, the magnet applying a magnetic field to a specimen in the longitudinal direction of the specimen 3′; an inspection unit on which a specimen 3 is set, the specimen 3 being horizontally magnetized in the longitudinal direction by the magnet for horizontal magnetization 4; and belt conveyers 2, 5 for conveying the horizontally magnetized specimen 3; and a gradiometer 8 for detecting a particle horizontally magnetized along with a magnetizable member as the horizontally magnetized specimen 3.
US08330457B2
A device (10) for the in-line detection of surface defects of a rolled product (30) in a rolling stand (11, 111) comprises an inspection unit (19) having one or more coils (20, 21) able to generate and detect magnetic fields. The rolling-stand (11, 111) is provided with a support structure (28) supporting rolling means (12, 112) that are provided for effecting a roll-mill process on said product (30), a guide element (13) having a guide hole (14) defining a nominal rolling axis (X) and a support unit (15, 115), assembled on the support structure (28) and which is provided as a structural element of the rolling stand (11, 111) that supports said guide element (13). The inspection unit (19) is assembled on said support unit (15, 115), in order to be directly housed and integrated in the structural element already present in the rolling stand (11, 111).
US08330456B2
First and second magnets are installed to an inner peripheral wall of a yoke, which is configured into a tubular form. The yoke is constructed from at least one plate material. At each contact portion, a corresponding circumferential end part of the at least one plate material and another corresponding circumferential end part of the at least one plate material contact with each other. A Hall IC is placed in a magnetic field, which is generated between the first and second magnets.
US08330453B2
The invention concerns a current detection apparatus for detection of a current flowing through a conductor (1) by detection of a magnetic field surrounding the conductor. The current detection apparatus includes at least one sensor element (3) provided on a carrier portion (4) for detection of the magnetic field, and a predetermined region (S) of the conductor (1), at which the at least one sensor element is arranged. The conductor (1) in the predetermined region (S) has a plurality of conductor portions (11, 12; La, Lb) which have the current to be measured flowing therethrough in the same direction and which are spaced from each other by a predetermined spacing and which form an intermediate space (2). The carrier portion (4) is fitted into the intermediate space in such a way that the at least one sensor element (3) is arranged outside the intermediate space in adjacent relationship therewith in the magnetic field of the conductor (1).
US08330449B2
A clamp-on multimeter measures alternating current flow in an electrical conductor. The multimeter includes a display, a housing including the display, a first sensor, a second sensor, a processor and an integrator. The first sensor has a magnetizable material core and inductively senses the alternating current. The first sensor includes a first clamp portion fixed to the housing and a second clamp portion pivotally coupled to the first clamp portion. The second sensor includes a Rogowski coil that has a non-magnetic core and inductively senses the alternating current. The processor receives an input signal in a first voltage range and sends an output signal to the digital display. The integrator scales a signal from the second sensor in a second voltage range to the first voltage range. The housing includes the processor, the integrator, and a selector configured to select the input signal to the processor from one of the first sensor and the integrator.
US08330447B2
A self-balancing Wheatstone bridge that provides frequency and power information. The frequency information obtained can be applied to correct the power measurement to provide excellent match, excellent frequency insensitivity, good dynamic range, good frequency range, and adequate frequency accuracy. The system is highly responsive, simple, and cost effective.
US08330436B2
Series switches for power delivery. A regulator operated as a current source is arranged in parallel with a switched capacitor divider. A switched capacitor divider is configured in series with a plurality of linear regulators with each regulating one of a plurality of voltage outputs from the switched capacitor divider. In another embodiment, a series switch bridge has a first pair of switches connected in series with a second pair of switches across a voltage input, each switch within a pair of switches is switched in-phase with the other while the first pair of switches is switched out of phase with the second pair of switches. A balancing capacitor is coupled across one switch in both the first and second pair to be in parallel when either of the pair of switches is closed to reduce a charge imbalance between the switches.
US08330435B2
An apparatus includes a buck boost converter for generating a regulated output voltage responsive to an input voltage. The buck boost converter includes an inductor, a first pair of switching transistors responsive to a first PWM signal and a second pair of switching transistors responsive to a second PWM signal. An error amplifier generates an error voltage responsive to the regulated output voltage and a reference voltage. A control circuit generates the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the error voltage and a sensed current voltage responsive to a sensed current through the inductor. The control circuit controls switching of the first pair of switching transistors and the second pair of switching transistors using the first PWM signal and the second PWM signal responsive to the sensed current through the inductor and a plurality of offset error voltages based on the error voltage.
US08330434B2
A power supply includes a rectifier having an AC input and a DC output and a power factor correction (PFC) preregulator, coupled to the rectifier, that increases a power factor of the power supply. The PFC preregulator includes a controller that integrates an input power to determine energy consumption and outputs a signal indicative of the energy consumption.
US08330429B2
A discharge mechanism including: a smoothing capacitor; a first terminal and a second terminal that are provided at both end sides of the smoothing capacitor respectively; and a short-circuiting clasp that is disposed apart from the first terminal and the second terminal by a predetermined clearance to short-circuit the first terminal and the second terminal to each other. The short-circuiting clasp is disposed so as to move in such a direction as to approach the first terminal and the second terminal through application of an external force to the short-circuiting clasp, and to discharge electric charges accumulated on the smoothing capacitor through abutment of the short-circuiting clasp on the first terminal and the second terminal.
US08330428B2
A de-sulfating device including a plurality of capacitive discharge channels selectively activatable by a control board to provide a pulse wave modulated de-sulfating current to a lead-acid battery. Some exemplary embodiments may provide a de-sulfating current comprising a repeating pattern including an about 0.75 ms ON pulse followed by an about 4.5 ms OFF period, which may be applied to the battery at an operator-adjustable peak amperage of about 0-350 amps. The extent of sulfation of the battery may be ascertained by measuring the impedance of the battery.
US08330427B2
A charge control circuit including a voltage detection section which detects a terminal voltage of a secondary battery; a primary charge processing section which performs a charge processing of acquiring, as a first terminal voltage, a terminal voltage detected by the voltage detection section while causing a charging section to charge the secondary battery; a charging suspend voltage acquiring section which causes the charging section to suspend the charge after the first terminal voltage has been acquired by the primary charge processing section, and acquires, as a second terminal voltage, a terminal voltage detected by the voltage detection section in a state that the charge is suspended; and a charging end determining section which determines whether or not the charge of the secondary battery is to be terminated.
US08330425B2
A system for and method of for detecting a non-functional battery back-up unit (BBU) of an optical network terminal is presented. The system and method may include receiving power outage data associated with a plurality of customer sites, receiving, from each of the plurality of customer sites, discharge time data associated with a battery via a network, calculating a mean discharge time based on the discharge time data, comparing the discharge time data associated with each battery to the mean discharge time, determining that each battery that is associated with discharge time data that indicates a discharge time value that is less than the mean discharge time is faulty, and outputting a data signal that indicates that a battery is faulty.
US08330417B2
A power source with multiple cells connected in parallel to a common node or power supply point. The individual cells within the power source may also have a dedicated controller for each of the individual cells. Additionally, a system controller is coupled to each controller in a feedback loop and is configured to selectively connect each cell of the plurality of cells to a power bus to control the discharge of each of the plurality of cells.
US08330413B2
A method and apparatus of determining the state of charge and charging Li-ion batteries while the batteries remain floating on the direct current (DC) bus without the need for a dedicated charger is described. The system includes a battery, a DC generator and a converter, each electrically connected to a DC bus. A charging control algorithm may be used to monitor and control the charging current supplied to the battery. The voltage on the DC bus may be varied to help control the charging current supplied to the battery, based on the battery's internal impedance and the battery's state of charge.
US08330404B2
The present invention provides a permanent-magnet-type rotating electrical machine capable of realizing variable-speed operation in a wide range from low speed to high speed at high output and improving, in a wide operating range, efficiency, reliability, and productivity. A narrow magnetic path 11 is formed in a rotor core 2 of a rotor 1 at an inter-pole yoke that magnetically connects adjacent pole core portions 7 to each other, so that the narrow magnetic path is magnetically saturated with flux of a magnetic field created by a predetermined magnetizing current passed to an armature coil 21. Each of first permanent magnets 3 at each of the pole core portions 7 is magnetized with a magnetic field created by a magnetizing current passed to the armature coil 21, to irreversibly change the flux amount of the first permanent magnet.
US08330395B2
A lighting system (20) comprises a plurality of light units (1, 6, 10, 11), each light unit (1, 6, 10, 11) including a photo sensor (2, 7), a light source (4, 9) and a control unit (3, 8) adapted to operate the light source (4, 9) and to modulate the light emitted by the light source (4, 9) so as to transmit data, wherein the light units (1, 6, 10, 11) are arranged according to a ring topology.
US08330391B2
Supply circuits (1-3,101-102,201-203) for supplying output current signals to loads (6,106,206) and comprising first circuits (1,101,201) with transistors (11-14,111-112,211-212) for converting input voltage signals into pulse signals and comprising second circuits (2,102,202) with resonance circuits for receiving the pulse signals and for supplying the output current signals to the loads (6,106,206) are provided with third circuits (3,203) for controlling the first circuits (1,101,201), which third circuits (3,203) comprise generators (35-37) for generating control signals for controlling the transistors (11-14,111-112,211-212) for reducing dependencies between the input voltage signals and the output current signals. The third circuits (3,203) supply the control signals in dependence of the input voltage signals and independently from the output current signals. The transistors (11-14,111-112,211-212) may form a full bridge, a full bridge operated in a half bridge mode, or a half bridge.
US08330384B2
A power supply unit with a dimming function which is adapted for a light emitting apparatus including a power system is provided. The power supply unit includes at least one output channel, a power stage, a detecting unit, and a micro controller unit (MCU). The power stage receives a first output of the power system and provides a first signal. The detecting unit detects a second output of the power system and provides a second signal. The MCU receives the first signal and the second signal, controls the at least one output channel, and is programmed to set a dimming ratio for the at least one output channel according to the first signal and the second signal. Furthermore, a light emitting apparatus and a dimming method are also provided.
US08330381B2
Embodiments of an illumination device including LEDs for connection to an existing fluorescent lamp fixture including a conventional ballast described. One illumination device includes protection circuitry configured to protect the illumination device from the ballast current signal, a full-wave rectifier, a smoothing filter electrically coupled to the full wave rectifier, and a current regulator power circuit electrically coupled to the smoothing filter and the LEDS. The current regulator power circuit can include a first switching element configured to operate in response to a first (PWM) ON/OFF control signal; a current controller electrically coupled to a gate of the first switching element, the current controller configured to generate the first PWM control signal; and a current sense resistor electrically coupled to the first switching element and configured to sense the current through the LEDS, wherein the sensed current is fed back to the current controller.
US08330376B2
A cathodoluminescent lighting system has a light emitting device having an envelope with a transparent face, a cathode for emitting electrons, an anode with a phosphor layer and a conductor layer. The phosphor layer emits light through the transparent face of the envelope. The system also has a power supply for providing at least five thousand volts of power to the light emitting device, and the electrons transiting from cathode to anode are essentially unfocused. Additional embodiments responsive to triac-type dimmers with intensity and color-changes in response to dimmer control. A power-factor-corrected embodiment is also disclosed.
US08330372B2
A rapidly twisted electromagnetic accelerating structure includes a waveguide body having a central axis, one or more helical channels defined by the body and disposed around a substantially linear central axial channel, with central portions of the helical channels merging with the linear central axial channel. The structure propagates electromagnetic waves in the helical channels which support particle beam acceleration in the central axial channel at a phase velocity equal to or slower than the speed of light in free space. Since there is no variation in the shape of the transversal cross-section along the axis of the structure, inexpensive mechanical fabrication processes can be used to form the structure, such as extrusion, casting or injection molding. Also, because the field and frequency of the resonant mode depend on the whole structure rather than on dimensional tolerances of individual cells, no tuning of individual cells is needed. Accordingly, the overall operating frequency may be varied with a tuning/phase shifting device located outside the resonant waveguide structure.
US08330368B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a plasma display panel that can suppress the generation of cracks in a dielectric layer, and also improve the yield, and a method for manufacturing such a display panel. A dielectric layer on a front panel is designed to have a two-layer structure in which a first dielectric layer and a second dielectric layer are laminated, and the first dielectric layer is formed through processes in which, after printing or applying a dielectric paste containing a glass frit onto a front substrate so as to cover display electrodes formed thereon as a stripe pattern, drying and firing the resulting substrate at a temperature not less than a softening point of the glass frit, and the second dielectric layer is formed on the first dielectric layer by using a sol-gel method.
US08330367B2
A plasma display panel has a first substrate, plural pairs of display electrodes, a second substrate, and plural data electrodes. Each pair of the display electrodes is made up of a scanning electrode and a sustain electrode which are arranged parallel to each other on the first substrate. The second substrate is disposed opposite to the first substrate. A discharge space is formed between the first substrate and second substrate. The data electrodes are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the display electrodes on the second substrate. The data electrode is wider in peripheral portion of the second substrate than in a central portion of the second substrate.
US08330366B2
A plasma display device that can reduce vibration noise of the conductive tape through reducing the vibration of the conductive tape caused by vibration of the outside or inside of the plasma display panel by forming the noise prevention hole in the conductive tape attached to the filter and bracket. The plasma display device includes: a plasma display panel; a filter attached on a front surface of the plasma display panel; a chassis base whose front surface is mounted on the rear surface of the plasma display panel; a driving circuit unit, mounted on the rear surface of the chassis base, driving the plasma display panel; a plurality of brackets, connected to the rear surface of the chassis base, being extended to the front surface of the plasma display panel; and a conductive tape, attached to the filter and bracket, transmitting electromagnetic wave incident on the filter to the chassis base, where the conductive tape includes a plurality of noise prevention holes.
US08330365B2
A method for formation of a line pattern using a multiple nozzle head includes forming a cell region in which display cells with a height corresponding to a multiple of a line gap of nozzles provided to the multiple nozzle head are repeated in two dimensions; and forming different kinds of first and second line patterns alternatively repeated on the cell region by ink-jet printing using the multiple nozzle head. When the multiple nozzle head scans once, the first and second line patterns are formed at the same time under the condition that the height of the display cells and a gap between two associative line patterns are a multiple of the line gap of nozzles. This method may improve productivity by reducing the number of scans of the multiple nozzle head, and also decrease the possibility of open circuit occurring when forming a line pattern by ink jetting.
US08330363B2
When attaching a substrate with an EL element formed thereon and a transparent sealing substrate, the periphery of a pixel portion is surrounded with a first sealing agent that maintains a gap between the two pieces of substrates, an entire surface of the pixel portion is covered with a second transparent sealing agent so that the two pieces of substrate is fixed with the first sealing agent and the second sealing agent. Consequently, the EL element can be encapsulated by curing the first sealing agent and the second sealing agent without enclosing a drying agent and doing damage to the EL element due to UV irradiation even when a sealing device only having a to function of UV irradiation is used.
US08330357B2
An object is to provide a highly functional and reliable light-emitting element and light-emitting device with lower power consumption and high emission efficiency. The light-emitting element has an EL layer that has a stacked structure including a light-emitting element containing an organic compound and a functional layer having separate functions between a pair of electrode layers. In the light-emitting element including the functional layer and the light-emitting element containing an organic compound, a mixed-valence compound is contained in the functional layers. When an element in a compound has a plurality of valences, this element is in a state that is referred to as a mixed-valence state and this compound is referred to as a mixed-valence compound.
US08330350B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes: a cathode; an anode; and a single-layered or multilayered organic thin-film layer provided between the cathode and the anode. In the organic electroluminescence device, the organic thin-film layer includes at least one emitting layer, and the at least one emitting layer includes at least one phosphorescent material and a host material represented by the following Formula (1). Ra—Ar1—Ar2—Rb (1) In Formula (1): Ra and Rb each represent a substituted or non-substituted benzene ring or a substituted or non-substituted condensed aromatic hydrocarbon ring selected from a group consisting of a naphthalene ring, a chrysene ring, a fluoranthene ring, a triphenylene ring, a phenanthrene ring, a benzophenanthrene ring, a dibenzophenanthrene ring, a benzotriphenylene ring, a benzochrysene ring and a picene ring; andAr1 and Ar2 each represent a substituted or non-substituted benzene ring or a substituted or non-substituted condensed aromatic hydrocarbon ring selected from a group consisting of a naphthalene ring, a chrysene ring, a fluoranthene ring, a triphenylene ring, a benzophenanthrene ring, a dibenzophenanthrene ring, a benzotriphenylene ring, a benzochrysene ring and a picene ring.
US08330345B2
An active electronically steered cathode (AESC) applies one or more electromagnetic modes to an input cavity, similar to that used in an inductive output tube. The structure and superposition of these modes creates local electric field maxima, causing the electron emission site or sites to move or be distributed across the surface of the cathode. Changing the amplitude, phase, or frequency of the modes provides time-variable control of the electric field profile, thereby generating electronically steered electron beams. One embodiment employs a pair of orthogonal TM modes driven out of phase, causing the electric field maximum to rotate around an annular cathode, producing a helical beam. Slots in the control grid may be used to segment the helical beam into discrete bunches to provide additional density modulation.
US08330344B2
An electron gun includes: an electron source; an accelerating electrode; an extraction electrode for extracting electrons from an electron emission surface of the electron source; a suppressor electrode for suppressing emission of electrons from a side surface of the electron source; and an electron beam converging unit for converging an electron beam of thermal field emission electrons emitted from the electron emission surface by applying an electric field to the electron emission surface. The electron beam converging unit is an electrostatic lens electrode which is placed between the extraction electrode and the accelerating electrode and having an opening portion in its center. A voltage is applied to the electrostatic lens electrode to converge the electron beam.
US08330342B2
This light emitting diode (LED) device provides a 360 degree lighting angle in the horizontal plane and a 300 degree lighting angle in the vertical plane while simultaneously addressing LED die thermal management, which is critical to high lumen output LEDs. This LED lighting device is comprised of the LED lens, the LED holder and the heat sink stem. Light produced by at least one LED die traveling vertically is diffused by the top refractive portion of the lens. Light rays directed towards the pointed elements are totally internally reflected downwards then refracted out of the lens, thus resulting in a spherical light pattern. This technology is designed as a replacement for conventional light sources, such as incandescent light bulbs, halogen bulbs, CFLs (compact fluorescent lamps) and metal halide lamps.
US08330330B2
A piezoelectric actuator includes a supporting substrate, a main body having a first piezoelectric laminate, a second piezoelectric laminate, and a displacement portion, and a first elastic layer. The first elastic layer is fixed to the main body so as to connect a lower surface of the first piezoelectric laminate, a lower surface of the second piezoelectric laminate, a side surface of the first piezoelectric laminate, and a side surface of the second piezoelectric laminate. A first region to fourth region of the first elastic layer is fixed to the principal surface of the supporting substrate by a first to fourth bonding portions. A non-bonding surface is not fixed to the principal surface of the supporting substrate.
US08330317B2
Embodiments of the invention provide for conical magnets for rotors in electrodynamic machines, methods to design the same, and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines. In various embodiments, a rotor-stator structure for electrodynamic machine can include field pole members and conical magnets. According to at least some embodiments, one or more of the conical magnets can include a magnetic region configured to confront one or more air gaps. The magnetic region can be substantially coextensive with one or more acute angles to the axis of rotation. The magnetic region can also include a surface positioned at multiple radial distances from the axis of rotation in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
US08330307B2
A linear motor including permanent magnets fixed on an elongate yoke such that polarities of the permanent magnets alternately change, and an armature having cores and coils wound on the respective cores, wherein each row of the permanent magnets and the armature are moved relative to each other along a straight line by application of an electric current to the coils, each core extending in a first direction perpendicular to the permanent magnet row, the cores being arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and disposed on the cores such that the coils on the cores adjacent to each other are arranged in a zigzag pattern and spaced apart from each other in the first direction, with a gap left therebetween, wherein the armature includes a heat pipe having opposite end portions one of which is inserted in the gap and the other of which extends outwardly of the gap, and fins fixed to the other end portion of the heat pipe.
US08330304B2
An information handling system component contained within an information handling system housing uses the information handling system housing as at least a portion of a safety enclosure for hazardous functions of the component. A lock out device disables the hazardous function if the information handling system housing is moved relative to the component. For example, an optical disc drive laser is disabled if a Hall effect sensor in the chassis of the optical disc drive no longer senses a magnet placed in a portion of the information handling system housing used to enclose the optical disc drive. Alternatively, the component couples to the information handling system housing to enclose the hazardous function within the interior of the information handling system housing so that the component is inaccessible from the exterior of the housing.
US08330300B2
The present invention relates to a device for supplying current to at least one silicon rod (3) during precipitation of silicon with the Siemens process, wherein the device has at least one input (E) suitable and configured for connecting the device to an electric power grid (N) for supplying electric energy, at least one output (A) to which the at least one silicon rod (3) can be connected, at least one AC current regulator (1) which is suitable and configured to supply the at least one silicon rod (3) connected to the at least one output (A) with electric current from the electric power grid (N), wherein the device further includes at least one frequency converter (2) which is suitable and configured to supply the at least one silicon rod (3) connected to the at least one output (A) with electric current from the electric power grid (N), wherein the electric current has a higher frequency than the current provided by the AC current regulator (1).
US08330293B2
A charging system of the present invention is connectable to a power grid having a monitoring device. The monitoring device monitors the power delivered to a plurality of loads and determines a power factor and a power factor correction value associated with the loads. The power factor correction value indicates the difference between the power factor and unity. The charging system includes an electrical device, a charger in communication with the electrical device, a charging controller, a power factor correction circuit, a communication device, and a controller. The communication device of the charger receives a data signal from the monitoring device indicative of the power factor correction value associated with the plurality of loads. The power factor correction circuit is configured to communicate an input current to and from the power grid, which adjusts the power factor of the associated loads to about unity.
US08330288B2
A device for charging at least one electric battery (1) on board a boat comprises a propeller (2) adapted to immersed in water through the movement of the boat be driven to rotate a axle (3) and an electric direct current machine (8) connected to the axle and adapted to generate voltage to the battery for charging thereof upon rotation of the axle. A DC/DC-converter (7) is arranged to convert the voltage generated by the electric machine through the rotation of the axle to a higher voltage suited for charging the battery. A member (10) is adapted to measure the voltage generated by the electric machine and a micro processor unit (9) is adapted to control the DC/DC-converter on the basis of voltage data delivered by said member.
US08330274B2
One or more embodiments relate to a method of forming a semiconductor structure, comprising: providing a workpiece; forming a barrier layer over the workpiece; forming a seed layer over the barrier layer; forming an inhibitor layer over the seed layer; removing a portion of said inhibitor layer to expose a portion of the seed layer; and selectively depositing a fill layer on the exposed seed layer.
US08330272B2
A packaged microelectronic element includes a microelectronic element having a front surface and a plurality of first solid metal posts extending away from the front surface. A substrate has a major surface and a plurality of conductive elements exposed at the major surface and joined to the first solid metal posts. In particular examples, the conductive elements can be bond pads or can be second posts having top surfaces and edge surfaces extending at substantial angles away therefrom. Each first solid metal post includes a base region adjacent the microelectronic element and a tip region remote from the microelectronic element, the base region and tip region having respective concave circumferential surfaces. Each first solid metal post has a horizontal dimension which is a first function of vertical location in the base region and which is a second function of vertical location in the tip region.
US08330265B2
A packaged RF transistor device includes an RF transistor die including a plurality of RF transistor cells. Each of the plurality of RF transistor cells includes a control terminal and an output terminal. The RF transistor device further includes an RF input lead, and an input matching network coupled between the RF input lead and the RF transistor die. The input matching network includes a plurality of capacitors having respective input terminals. The input terminals of the capacitors are coupled to the control terminals of respective ones of the RF transistor cells.
US08330261B2
In general, the invention relates to manufacturing a wafer. The method includes manufacturing a wafer that includes a front side and a back side, thinning the wafer down to a thickness suitable for an intended operation of the wafer, polarizing the substrate wafer from the back side, and cutting the wafer. The wafer is polarized such that an attempt to thin the wafer from the backside results in at least one selected from a group consisting of destruction of the wafer and damage to the wafer.
US08330259B2
A IC package for a wireless device includes an antenna that is attached to the chip. The electrically conductive elements of the antenna are spaced away from the antenna and particularly the endpoint of the antenna to prevent interference with the antenna. An element on the IC package may be shielded antenna. The antenna may have the shape of a space-filling curve, including a Hilbert, box-counting or grid dimension curve.
US08330257B2
In a method of manufacturing a thin film transistor substrate, a semiconductor pattern is formed on a substrate, a first etch stop layer and a second etch stop layer are sequentially formed on the semiconductor pattern, and the second etch stop layer and the first etch stop layer are sequentially patterned to form a second etch stop pattern and a first etch stop pattern. Thus, when the second etch stop layer is patterned using an etchant, the first etch stop layer covers the semiconductor pattern, thereby preventing the semiconductor pattern from being etched by the etchant.
US08330254B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer in which semiconductor chip forming regions and a scribe region located between the semiconductor chip forming regions are formed, a plurality of semiconductor chip circuit portions provided over the semiconductor wafer, a plurality of first conductive layers, provided in each of the semiconductor chip forming regions, which is electrically connected to each of the circuit portions, and a first connecting portion that electrically connects the first conductive layers to each other across a portion of the scribe region. An external power supply or grounding pad is connected to any one of the first conductive layer and the first connecting portion. The semiconductor device includes a communication portion, connected to the circuit portion, which performs communication with the outside by capacitive coupling or inductive coupling.
US08330253B2
The present invention provides a technique for improving the reliability of a semiconductor device where spreading of cracking that occurs at the time of dicing to a seal ring can be restricted even in a semiconductor device with a low-k film used as an interlayer insulating film. Dummy vias are formed in each layer on a dicing region side. The dummy vias are formed at the same intervals in a matrix as viewed in a top view. Even in the case where cracking occurs at the time of dicing, the cracking can be prevented from spreading to a seal ring by the dummy vias. As a result, resistance to moisture absorbed in a circuit formation region can be improved, and deterioration in reliability can be prevented.
US08330245B2
Semiconductor wafers with reduced roll-off and bonded and unbonded SOI structures produced from same
The disclosure relates to preparation of silicon on insulator structures with reduced unbonded regions and to methods for producing such wafers by minimizing the roll-off amount (ROA) of the handle and donor wafers. Methods for polishing wafers are also provided.
US08330244B2
A semiconductor device according to some embodiments includes a semiconductor layer having a first conductivity type and a surface in which an active region of the semiconductor device is defined. A plurality of spaced apart first doped regions are arranged within the active region. The plurality of first doped regions have a second conductivity type that is opposite the first conductivity type, have a first dopant concentration, and define a plurality of exposed portions of the semiconductor layer within the active region. The plurality of first doped regions are arranged as islands in the semiconductor layer. A second doped region in the semiconductor layer has the second conductivity type and has a second dopant concentration that is greater than the first dopant concentration.
US08330236B2
A system for improving the performance of a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device that is housed in a package and implemented on a printed circuit board (PCB) comprises a footprint, an isolation channel, and a bridge. A portion of the isolation channel is removed to mechanically isolate the MEMS device.
US08330235B2
Transistor devices are formed with nickel silicide layers formulated to prevent degradation upon removal of overlying stress liners. Embodiments include transistors with nickel silicide layers having a platinum composition gradient increasing in platinum content toward the upper surfaces thereof, i.e., increasing in platinum in a direction away from the gate electrode and source/drain regions. Embodiments include forming a first layer of nickel having a first amount of platinum and forming, on the first layer of nickel, a second layer of nickel having a second amount of platinum, the second weight percent of platinum being greater than the first weight percent. The layers of nickel are then annealed to form a nickel silicide layer having the platinum composition gradient increasing in platinum toward the upper surface. The platinum concentration gradient protects the nickel silicide layer during subsequent processing, as during etching to remove overlying stress liners, thereby avoiding a decrease in device performance.
US08330229B2
A hybrid orientation inversion mode GAA (Gate-All-Around) CMOSFET includes a PMOS region having a first channel, an NMOS region having a second channel and a gate region. The first channel and the second channel have a racetrack-shaped cross section and are formed of n-type Si (110) and p-type Si(100), respectively; the surfaces of the first channel and the second channel are substantially surrounded by the gate region; a buried oxide layer is disposed between the PMOS region and the NMOS region and between the PMOS or NMOS region and the Si substrate to isolate them from one another. The device structure according to the prevent invention is quite simple, compact and highly integrated. In an inversion mode, the devices have different orientation channels, the GAA structure with the racetrack-shaped, high-k gate dielectric layer and metal gate, so as to achieve high carrier mobility, and prevent polysilicon gate depletion and short channel effects.
US08330224B2
An electronic apparatus is provided that has a core, an electronic circuit in the core and a lid. An ESD protection device is in the lid. The ESD protection device is coupled to the electronic circuit.
US08330219B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type; a well having a second conductivity type and provided inside the semiconductor substrate; a first impurity region having the first conductivity type and provided within the well; a second impurity region having the second conductivity type, provided inside the well and away from the first impurity region; and a third impurity region having a first conductivity type, provided surrounding the well and away from the second impurity region. In this semiconductor device, the well is formed to be deeper than the first impurity region, the second impurity region, and the third impurity region, in a thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate; and a minimum distance between the first impurity region and the second impurity region is smaller than a minimum distance between the second impurity region and the third impurity region.
US08330218B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device using a DMOS device includes: a semiconductor substrate, in which a first conductive type well is formed; a first conductive type gate electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate with a gate insulating layer intervening between the gate electrode and the semiconductor substrate; a second conductive type body electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate and separated from the gate electrode; a first conductive type drain electrode formed on the semiconductor substrate and separated from the gate electrode and the body electrode; a second conductive type first body region formed in the well under the body electrode; a second conductive type second body region extending from the first body region to the gate insulating layer and formed in the well; a first conductive type source region formed in the second body region and extending from the first body region to the gate insulating layer; and a first conductive type source electrode extending from the source region to surround the gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate with an insulating layer intervening between the source electrode and gate electrode.
US08330217B2
A DMOS transistor is fabricated with its source/body/deep body regions formed on the walls of a first set of trenches, and its drain regions formed on the walls of a different set of trenches. A gate region that is formed in a yet another set of trenches can be biased to allow carriers to flow from the source to the drain. Lateral current low from source/body regions on trench walls increases the active channel perimeter to a value well above the amount that would be present if the device was fabricated on just the surface of the wafer. Masking is avoided while open trenches are present. A transistor with a very low on-resistance per unit area is obtained.
US08330211B2
A memory device includes a substrate, a plurality of wordlines arranged over the substrate, a plurality of pillars formed over the substrate between the wordlines, a gate electrode surrounding external walls of the pillars to be connected to the wordlines, and an insulation layer for insulating one sidewall of each wordline from the gate electrode.
US08330203B2
A first insulation film is formed on a semiconductor substrate. A first gate electrode is formed on the first insulation film. A second insulation film is formed on an upper surface and a side surface of the first gate electrode. A second gate electrode is formed on the second insulation film. The entirety of that part of the second gate electrode, which is located above the second insulation film formed on the upper surface of the first gate electrode, is a silicide layer. At least a portion of that part of the second gate electrode, which is located on the side surface of the first gate electrode, is a silicon layer.
US08330192B2
In broad terms the present invention is a semiconductor junction comprising a first material (102) and a second material (104), in which a surface of one or both of the junction materials has a periodically repeating structure that causes electron wave interference resulting in a change in the way electron energy levels within the junction are distributed.
US08330186B2
A lateral device includes a gate region connected to a drain region by a drift layer. An insulation region adjoins the drift layer between the gate region and the drain region. Permanent charges are embedded in the insulation region, sufficient to cause inversion in the insulation region.
US08330185B2
A semiconductor device, including a semiconductor substrate in which a diode region and an IGBT region are formed, is provided. A lifetime control region is formed within a diode drift region. The diode drift region and the IGBT drift region are a continuous region across a boundary region between the diode region and the IGBT region. A first separation region and a second separation region are formed within the boundary region. The first separation region is formed of a p-type semiconductor, formed in a range extending from an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both of a lower end of an anode region and a lower end of a body region, and bordering with the anode region. The second separation region is formed of a p-type semiconductor, formed in a range extending from the upper surface of the semiconductor substrate to a position deeper than both of the lower end of the anode region and the lower end of the body region, and bordering with the body region. The second separation region is separated from the first separation region.
US08330180B2
Provided are a semiconductor light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same. The semiconductor light emitting device comprises a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer, a second conductive semiconductor layer, and an electrode layer comprising a conductive polymer on the second conductive semiconductor layer.
US08330177B2
A display device is provided with a pair of a first electrode and a second electrode, at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes being transparent or translucent and a phosphor layer provided as being sandwiched between the first electrode and the second electrode, and at least one buffer layer provided as being sandwiched between the first or second electrode and the phosphor layer, and the phosphor layer has a plurality of pixel regions that are selectively allowed to emit light in a predetermined range thereof and non-pixel regions that divide at least one portion of the pixel regions, and wherein the buffer layer is sandwiched between the first or second electrode and the phosphor layer so that the size of an electric potential barrier between the first or second electrode and the phosphor layer via the buffer layer is made smaller than the size of a Schottky barrier between the first or second electrode and the phosphor layer that are directly made contact with each other without the buffer layer therebetween.
US08330176B2
Disclosed herein are LED devices having lenses and methods of making the devices. The LED devices are made using an optical layer comprising a plurality of lens features. The optical layer is disposed relative to the LED die such that at least one LED die is optically coupled to at least one lens feature. A lens can then be made from the lens feature and excess optical layer removed to provide the device.
US08330174B2
An LED having a radiation-emitting active layer (7), an n-type contact (10), a p-type contact (9) and a current spreading layer (4) is specified. The current spreading layer (4) is arranged between the active layer (7) and the n-type contact (10). Furthermore, the current spreading layer (4) has a multiply repeating layer sequence having at least one n-doped layer (44), an undoped layer (42) and a layer composed of AlxGa1-xN (43), where 0≦x≦1. The layer composed of AlxGa1-xN (43) has a concentration gradient of the Al content.
US08330170B2
A semiconductor device structure includes a transistor with an energy barrier beneath its transistor channel. The energy barrier prevents leakage of stored charge from the transistor channel into a bulk substrate. Methods for fabricating semiconductor devices that include energy barriers are also disclosed.
US08330169B2
The present invention is a multi-gas sensor and a method for fabricating the multi-gas sensor.The multi-gas sensor comprises a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a metal oxide layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer and multiple third metal layers.The method for fabricating the multi-gas sensor comprises steps of forming an epitaxial layer on a substrate; etching the epitaxial layer to form a first epitaxial structure and a second epitaxial structure a fixed distance from the first epitaxial structure; forming a metal oxide layer on the first epitaxial structure; forming a first metal layer that has at least two metal layers on the second epitaxial structure; forming a second metal layer a fixed distance from the first metal layer on the second epitaxial structure; forming third metal layers respectively on the metal oxide layer, the first metal layer and the second metal layer.
US08330162B2
A pixel structure includes a drain extension portion disposed on an islanding semiconductor layer, wherein the islanding semiconductor layer is formed together with a thin-film transistor channel layer. Therefore, the total thickness of the islanding semiconductor layer and the drain extension portion is increased, such that the distance between the gate line and the drain extension portion is enlarged, and the coupling capacitance between the gate line and the drain extension portion can be lowered. Therefore, the display panel with the pixel structure of the present invention can have low coupling capacitance so as to improve the flicker phenomena obviously.
US08330149B2
Featured is an organic/polymer diode having a first layer composed essentially of one of an organic semiconductor material or a polymeric semiconductor material and a second layer formed on the first layer and being electrically coupled to the first layer such that current flows through the layers in one direction when a voltage is applied in one direction. The second layer is essentially composed of a material whose characteristics and properties are such that when formed on the first layer, the diode is capable of high frequency rectifications on the order of megahertz rectifications such as for example rectifications at one of above 100KHz, 500KhZ, IMHz, or 10 MHz. In further embodiments, the layers are arranged so as to be exposed to atmosphere.
US08330148B2
An electric organic component and a method for the production thereof is disclosed. The component includes a substrate, a first electrode, a first electrically semiconductive layer on the first electrode, an organic functional layer on the first electrically semiconductive layer and a second electrode on the organic functional layer. The first or the second electrode may be arranged on the substrate. The electrically semiconductive layer is doped with a dopant which comprises rhenium compounds.
US08330140B2
A semiconductor light emitting device including a semiconductor substrate and an active layer which is formed on the substrate and has a cascade structure formed by multistage-laminating unit laminate structures 16 each including an emission layer 17 and an injection layer 18 is configured. The unit laminate structure 16 has a first upper level L3, a second upper level L4, and a lower level L2 in the emission layer 17, and an injection level L1 in the injection layer 18, an energy interval between the levels L3 and L4 is set to be smaller than the energy of an LO phonon, the layer thickness of the exit barrier layer is set in a range not less than 70% and not more than 150% of the layer thickness of the injection barrier layer, light is generated by emission transition in the emission layer 17, and electrons after the emission transition are injected from the level L2 into the level L4 of the emission layer of a subsequent stage via the level L1. Accordingly, a semiconductor light emitting device using polaritons, capable of performing a light emitting operation by current injection, is realized.
US08330137B2
A method of manufacturing an electrode is provided that includes providing a pillar of a first phase change material atop a conductive structure of a dielectric layer; or the inverted structure; forming an insulating material atop dielectric layer and adjacent the pillar, wherein an upper surface of the first insulating material is coplanar with an upper surface of the pillar; recessing the upper surface of the pillar below the upper surface of the insulating material to provide a recessed cavity; and forming a second phase change material atop the recessed cavity and the upper surface of the insulating material, wherein the second phase change material has a greater phase resistivity than the first phase change material.
US08330131B2
A source-collector module for an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography system, the module including a laser-produced plasma (LPP) that generates EUV radiation and a grazing-incidence collector (GIC) mirror arranged relative thereto and having an input end and an output end. The LPP is formed using an LPP target system wherein a pulsed laser beam travels on-axis through the GIC and is incident upon solid, moveable LPP target. The GIC mirror is arranged relative to the LPP to receive the EUV radiation therefrom at its input end and focus the received EUV radiation at an intermediate focus adjacent the output end. An example GIC mirror design is presented that includes a polynomial surface-figure correction to compensate for GIC shell thickness effects, thereby improve far-field imaging performance.
US08330130B2
A charged particle beam device is described. The device includes an emitter unit including an emitter tip; a voltage supply unit adapted for providing a stable voltage to generate a stable extraction field at the emitter tip; a pulsed voltage supply member adapted for providing a pulsed voltage to generate a pulsed extraction field on top of the stable extraction field; a measuring unit for measuring an emitter characteristic; and a control unit adapted for receiving a signal from the measuring unit and for control of the pulsed voltage supply member.
US08330127B2
Liner elements to protect the ion source housing and also increase the power efficiency of the ion source are disclosed. Two liner elements, preferably constructed from tungsten, are inserted into the ion source chamber, one placed against each of the two sidewalls. These inserts are electrically biased so as to induce an electrical field that is perpendicular to the applied magnetic field. Such an arrangement has been unexpectedly found to increase the life of not only the ion chamber housing, but also the indirectly heated cathode (IHC) and the repeller. In addition, the use of these biased liner elements also improved the power efficiency of the ion source; allowing more ions to be generated at a given power level, or an equal number of ions to be generated at a lower power level.
US08330124B2
A fluorescence detection device for a flow site meter emits laser light intensity-modulated in accordance with a modulation signal and acquires a fluorescent signal of fluorescence emitted from a measurement object that passes through a measurement point of the laser light. The fluorescence detection device generates, separately from the modulation signal, a reference signal having a frequency different from a frequency of the modulation signal and a phase in synchronization with a phase of the modulation signal. The fluorescence detection device determines a fluorescent relaxation time of the measurement object from the fluorescent signal by using the reference signal.
US08330117B1
Test samples for use in conducting integrated circuit alpha particle emissions testing, processes for preparing test samples for use in conducting integrated circuit alpha particle emissions testing, and processes for conducting integrated circuit alpha particle emissions testing using the test samples, are described. The approach takes into account the effects of the relative physical positions of the respective components within a final integrated circuit package, and takes into account the effect of contamination of individual components or of the integrated circuit package as a whole due to conditions and/or processes performed during the production process. The described approach relates to test sample preparation and integrated circuit alpha particle emissions testing for integrated circuits in which the alpha particle emission levels are extremely low, i.e., in the ultra low alpha region, for example, alpha particle emissions less than 0.002 cph/cm2.
US08330108B2
A power control circuit of a variable-frequency opto-interrupter for a printer has a plurality of impedances electrically connected with a receiving terminal of the opto-interrupter in parallel for multi-stage variable adjustment, an IR photodiode having stronger penetration and adopted to a transmitting terminal, and a variable frequency generator generating variable frequency signal and electrically connected with a negative pole pin of the IR photodiode through a switching transistor. Accordingly, the emitting intensity of the opto-interrupter is significantly enhanced so that various printing media are penetrated through by infrared beams and the emitting intensity is adjusted to adapt to acquire a broader dynamic range of the load of the receiving terminal.
US08330106B2
The invention comprises a radiation and contamination monitor for the monitoring of radiation and contamination. The instrument is intrinsically safe and comprises a radiation detector, a power source, a signal processor and a display, said power source, signal processor and display being housed within a sealed instrument housing formed from a non-metallic material which is resistant to static discharge. The detector may be housed in a detachable housing for contamination monitoring.
US08330105B2
A phase contrast electron microscope has an objective with a back focal plane, a first diffraction lens, which images the back focal plane of the objective magnified into a diffraction intermediate image plane, a second diffraction lens whose principal plane is mounted in the proximity of the diffraction intermediate image plane and a phase-shifting element which is mounted in or in the proximity of the diffraction intermediate image plane. Also, a phase contrast electron microscope has an objective having a back focal plane, a first diffraction lens, a first phase-shifting element and a second phase-shifting element which is mounted in or in the proximity of the diffraction intermediate image plane. The first diffraction lens images the back focal plane of the objective magnified into a diffraction intermediate image plane and the first phase-shifting element is mounted in the back focal plane of the objective.
US08330097B2
An angular correction method is provided for a rotary encoder in which angular skip does not occur in determining an angle at a position of switching a combination of successive angular graduation images used in interpolation calculation. An angular correction quantity Ci includes (1) a residual ri between a position computed from a model and an actually read position P, for each angular graduation image position and (2) a tangential slope f′(xi) of residual curve, r=f(x), determined by fitting the residuals to a polynomial f(x) which is a function of angular graduation image number x. The actually-read position P is corrected as P+Ci to perform interpolation calculation determining an angle without angular skip.
US08330093B2
An ambient light sensor includes a first stack of at least two photodiodes, wherein a cathode of one of the at least two photodiodes is electrically connected to an anode of another of the at least two photodiodes. The ALS further includes a bias source for providing a bias voltage to the first stack, and at least one switch electrically connected to the first stack. The at least one switch is operative to periodically apply the bias voltage to and remove the bias voltage from the first diode stack.
US08330085B2
A variable-frequency oscillator 1, a semiconductor power amplifier 2 for amplifying the output of the variable-frequency oscillator 1; a radiator 3 for radiating an electromagnetic wave for heating based on the output of the semiconductor power amplifier 2; a reflected wave monitoring circuit 5 for detecting a reflected wave of the electromagnetic wave for heating; and a controller 7 for controlling the oscillation frequency of the variable-frequency oscillator 1 are provided. The controller 7 changes the oscillation frequencies of the variable-frequency oscillator 1 discontinuously, thereby getting a frequency-hopping spread-spectrum radiation done by the radiator 3. The electromagnetic wave radiated by the radiator 3 irradiates an object 9 to be heated (which is usually food) inside a heating chamber 8, thereby heating the object.
US08330073B2
The invention concerns a method for laser ablation of a surface coating from a wall, such as a painted wall finish, for example in a nuclear plant to be decontaminated, and a device for implementing said method. The inventive ablation method includes sweeping shots on the coating of at least one pulsed laser beam with a laser beam quality factor M2 less than 20, and characterized in that it comprises a direct control of said shots by optical deflection, such that the impact zones (I1, I2, I3,) of said shots on said coating are disjointed or substantially adjacent with minimized overlapping.
US08330069B2
An ablative plasma gun includes a first portion having a first diameter and a second portion having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter, wherein a chamber is defined by the first portion and the second portion.
US08330066B2
A switch assembly provides a pressing plate on a pivot contact lever to minimize heat generation at the point between the pivot contact lever and the contact point by providing an additional parallel connection contact plate which is in parallel connection to the pivot contact lever. The switch assembly provides convex contact portions on the internal output ports of the forward/reverse switch mechanism. A supplementary elastic metal plate to the pivot contact lever is provided to solve the problem of loose contact at the pivot connection site where the pivot contact lever and the support unit meet, and provides a supplementary contact unit to the movable contact device at the forward/reverse switch mechanism.
US08330061B2
Compact input devices formed on flexible substrates are disclosed. The input devices may be formed using three or more conducting layers. By including three or more conducting layers, the diameter of the input device may be minimized. In addition, to improve the flexibility of portions of the input device mounted, some portions of the input device may be made to have fewer layers than other portions of the input device.
US08330059B2
The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a collection bin for a front loading waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weights of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
US08330055B2
The present invention provides a magnetic composite capable of enhancing the effect of shielding against electromagnetic noise and the like (magnetic shielding effect) while inhibiting a possible eddy current, and a method for producing the magnetic composite, and a shielding structure comprising the magnetic composite. A shielding member 10 as a magnetic composite contains a resin 12 which is an insulator and serves as a matrix material and into which fine powders of an amorphous metal magnetic substance 10a containing Fe, Si, and B are mixed. In the shielding member 10, a plurality of the amorphous metal magnetic substances 10a are contained in the resin 12 at a volume fraction less than a percolation threshold. The type of the amorphous metal magnetic substance 10a is not particularly limited provided that the amorphous metal contains Fe, Si, and B.
US08330051B2
A multi-layer circuit board, a method of manufacturing the same, and a communication device are provided. As for the multi-layer circuit board, a slot segment is opened on at least one daughter board to form a first daughter board. At least one daughter board and medium layers are stacked together. The daughter boards include first daughter boards. The first daughter boards are placed in such a way that the slot segments of the first daughter boards are communicated. The slot segments are communicated to form a receiving slot. A heat conducting block is placed within the receiving slot. Each medium layer is sandwiched between the daughter boards. The stacked daughter boards, medium layers, and heat conducting block are pressed together, and the pressed daughter boards and heat conducting block are made into a multi-layer circuit board. The heat conducting block is embedded when the circuit board is pressed, thereby simplifying the assembling process of the heat conducting block.
US08330049B2
There is provided a circuit board module and a method of manufacturing the same. The circuit board module may include: a circuit board; a resistor arranged on the circuit board; pads covering both edges of the resistor; adhesive portions provided at least on the pads and formed of an electrically insulating material; and a heat dissipation member provided on the resistor and bonded to the pads using the adhesive portions.The adhesive portions are selectively formed, thereby preventing short circuits occurring between the resistor mounted onto the circuit board and the heat dissipation member. Accordingly, the reliability of components can be increased.Furthermore, an adhesive material used to connect the board and the heat dissipation member is formed of a thermally conductive material, thereby increasing heat dissipation efficiency.
US08330030B1
The body of drum includes an outer body, an inner body, and two positioning loops. The outer and the inner bodies are both hollow rings but are made of different materials. Each positioning loop has a first face and an opposite second face. A convex rib protrudes on the center of the width of the first face and partitions the first face of the positioning loop to a ring-shaped inner fringe and a ring-shaped outer fringe. The fringes of the two opposite ends of the outer body are disposed on the two outer fringes respectively, and the fringes of the two opposite ends of the inner body are disposed on the two inner fringes respectively. The convex rib is located between the outer and the inner bodies. Thus, the timbre can be changed by making different combinations of the inner and the outer bodies.
US08330017B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV789291. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV789291, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV789291 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 CV789291 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 CV789291.
US08330016B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH851373. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH851373, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH851373 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 CH851373.
US08330011B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH470355. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH470355, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH470355 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 CH470355.
US08330008B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH779573. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH779573, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH779573 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 CH779573.
US08330007B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH639930. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH639930, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH639930 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 CH639930.
US08330002B1
A novel soybean variety, designated XR35J10 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XR35J10, cells from soybean variety XR35J10, plants of soybean XR35J10, and plant parts of soybean variety XR35J10. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XR35J10 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XR35J10, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XR35J10. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XR35J10 are further provided.
US08329993B2
The present invention relates to an improved method for the specific production of unsaturated ω-3 fatty acids and a method for the production of triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids, in particular ω-3 fatty acids having more than three double bonds. The invention relates to the production of a transgenic organism, preferably a transgenic plant or a transgenic microorganism, having an increased content of fatty acids, oils or lipids having Δ6 double bonds due to the expression of a Δ6-desaturase from Primulaceae. The invention additionally relates to expression cassettes containing a nucleic acid sequence, a vector and organisms containing at least one nucleic acid sequence or an expression cassette. The invention further relates to unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides having an increased content of unsaturated fatty acids and use thereof.
US08329987B2
Disclosed herein is a transgenic plant transformed with an isolated nucleic acid comprising a plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein coding sequence operatively linked to a plant-expressible transcription regulatory sequence, wherein the plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein (AIRAP) coding sequence encodes a polypeptide that is at least 95% identical to a polypeptide sequence of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10, SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ ID NO:12, SEQ ID NO:13, or SEQ ID NO:14, wherein the plant arsenite-inducible RNA-associated protein coding sequence encodes a polypeptide that confers resistance to an environmental stress, wherein greater than or equal to about 25% of transgenic plants are resistant to an environmental stress, and wherein the environmental stress inhibits the growth of wild type plants.
US08329977B2
A film that is biodegradable and water-sensitive (e.g., water-soluble, water-dispersible, etc.) in that it loses its integrity over time in the presence of water is provided. The film contains a biodegradable polyester, starch, water-soluble polymer, and plasticizer. The desired water-sensitive attributes of film may be achieved in the present invention by selectively controlling a variety of aspects of the film construction, such as the nature of the components employed, the relative amount of each component, the manner in which the film is formed, and so forth.
US08329963B2
The seeding of calcium carbonate into a calcium chloride-contaminated monoethylene glycol (MEG) stream accelerates the growth of calcium carbonate particles to a size that enhances their removal from the stream by filtration. A seeding vessel allows the calcium carbonate particles a time period to grow. Sodium carbonate may be added to the contaminated stream to facilitate calcium carbonate particle growth. A recycle seeding conduit may recycle seeds from a filtration unit to the seeding vessel. A base such as sodium hydroxide may be added to accelerate the precipitation process.
US08329954B2
Methods of applying cyclopropene amine derivatives and compositions thereof to inhibit ethylene receptors in plants and plant material are disclosed. Methods include applying to the plant an effective ethylene response-inhibiting amount of at least one cyclopropene amine compound or composition thereof. Cyclopropene amine compounds, enantiomers, stereoisomers or salts thereof are also provided.
US08329947B2
Process for the industrial synthesis of the compound of formula (I)
US08329940B2
The present invention provides a chemical compound having the structure being one selected from a group consisting of wherein R1 is one selected from a group consisting of COOCH3, COOCH2Ph, CONHCH(CH3)2 and CONHC6H5, R2 is one selected from a group consisting of H, CH3 and CH(CH3)2, R3 is one selected from a group consisting of H, CH3, CH(CH3)2 and CH2Ph, and R4 is one of CH(CH3)2 and C6H5.
US08329934B2
A radioisotope labeled reagent includes a compound having the general formula (I), L-(aCbH2)naC5bH3 (I) where a in each occurrence independently is a carbon mass number between 11 and 14 inclusive, b in each occurrence independently is a hydrogen mass number between 1 and 3 inclusive, such that a in each occurrence is not 12 simultaneously with b in each occurrence being 1; L is a leaving group R1SO2—O—, R1—S—, 12C1H3(12C1H2)n—S—R1C(O)O—, NC—, (R1)3P—, XMg— and Li—, where n is an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive, where X is chloro, bromo or iodine, where R1 is H, aryl, a substituent containing aryl, C1-C20 alkyl, a substituent containing C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, a substituent containing C2-C20 alkenyl, C2-C20 alkynyl, and a substitute containing C2-C20 alkynyl with the proviso that when n is 0, a is 13 and b is 2 and R1 in R1—S is not aryl.
US08329929B2
A metal complex represented by the following formula (1): wherein R1 to R6 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent; Y1 and Y2 each independently represent any one of the following groups: wherein Rα represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; P1 and P2 each represent a group of atoms necessary for forming a heterocyclic ring together with Y1 or Y2 and the two carbon atoms at a position adjacent to Y1 or Y2; P1 and P2 may be linked to each other to form a ring; M represents a transition metal element or typical metal element; m represents 1 or 2; X represents a counter ion or a neutral molecule; n represents the number of X's in the complex, and an integer of 0 or more; and Q1 and Q2 each independently represent an aromatic heterocyclic group.
US08329928B2
Compounds useful for treating cellular proliferative diseases and disorders by modulating the activity of KSP are disclosed.
US08329916B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds effective as human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTP-β) inhibitors thereby regulating angiogenesis. The present disclosure further relates to compositions comprising said human protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (HPTP-β) inhibitors, and to methods for regulating angiogenesis.
US08329914B2
Novel compounds of the structural formula (I) are activators of AMP-protein kinase and are useful in the treatment, prevention and suppression of diseases mediated by the AMPK-activated protein kinase. The compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension.
US08329912B2
The present invention relates to mono-sulfate and hemi-sulfate salts of 2-Chloro-4-[1-(4-fluoro-phenyl)-2,5-dimethyl-1H-imidazol-4-ylethynyl]-pyridine, to crystalline and amorphous forms thereof and to their use in pharmaceutical formulations.
US08329909B2
To provide a novel method for producing a 2-azaadamantane compound from a bicyclocarbamate compound.In accordance with the following scheme: a bicyclocarbamate compound represented by the formula (1) is reacted with a halogenating agent to produce a 2-azaadamantane carbamate compound represented by the formula (2), and the 2-azaadamantane carbamate compound is subjected to hydrogenolysis to produce a 2-azaadamantane compound represented by the formula (3) (in the formulae, R1 is hydrogen or the like, each of R2 and R3 which are independent of each other, is a hydrogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group, Ar is an aryl group which may be substituted by Ra, Ra is halogen or the like, X is a halogen atom, and Y is X or a hydrogen atom).
US08329908B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I) that are useful antimicrobial agents and effective against a variety of multi-drug resistant bacteria:
US08329903B2
An organometallic complex is provided by which favorable red-color light emission can be obtained. Further, an organometallic complex having a peak of light emission at about 620 nm is provided because the wavelength of light which is perceived as excellent red-color light is about 620 nm. Furthermore, an organometallic complex is provided by which red-color light emission with high luminous efficiency (cd/A) can be obtained. An organometallic complex represented by the following general formula (G2) and a light-emitting element, a light-emitting device, and an electronic device including the organometallic complex represented by the following general formula (G2) are provided.
US08329902B2
The present invention relates to an optically pure compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, a process for preparing the optically pure compound of formula (I), and use of the optically pure compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof as a medicament, in particular as a medicament for the treatment and prevention of type B hepatitis.
US08329900B2
Compounds, pharmaceuticals, kits and methods are provided for use with DPP-IV and other S9 proteases that comprise a compound comprising: wherein M is N or CR4; Q1 and Q2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of CO, SO, SO2, and C═NR9; and each L, X, R1, R2, and R3 are as defined herein.
US08329897B2
Disclosed are syntheses of 11β-HSD1 inhibitors and corresponding intermediates that are promising for the treatment of a variety of disease states including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hypertension, hypertension-related cardiovascular disorders, hyperlipidemia, deleterious gluco-corticoid effects on neuronal function (e.g. cognitive impairment, dementia, and/or depression), elevated intra-ocular pressure, various forms of bone disease (e.g., osteoporosis), tuberculosis, leprosy (Hansen's disease), psoriasis, and impaired wound healing (e.g., in patients that exhibit impaired glucose tolerance and/or type 2 diabetes).
US08329894B2
A process for the production of an ester of a non-reducing sugar or sugar derivative comprises reacting the non-reducing sugar or sugar derivative with a triglyceride of a fatty acid or a fatty acid ester of a monohydric alcohol in air, substantially in the absence of a solvent and under heterogeneous reaction conditions in which the sucrose and alkyl ester or triglyceride are present as separate phases, at a temperature in the range of from 110° C. to 140° C., wherein the reaction is conducted in the presence of a potassium soap but in the absence of an alkaline component. The process enables esters of sugars and sugar derivatives to be produced at lower temperatures than hitherto and in a much simpler process.
US08329891B2
Disclosed are methods for identification of agents that modulate cell attachment, cell migration and cell viability. Cancer and primary cells adhered to a matrix are treated with agent(s) that modulate ActRII signaling and cell adhesion. Agents are tested that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. Agents that modulate the expression, phosphorylation, function and translocation of ActRII signaling pathway members also can predict agents that modulate cell adhesion, detachment, invasion and viability. The methods have utility in identifying agents that prevent cancer cell metastasis, wound dehiscence, aortic dissection and aid retina attachment and skin replacement and fertility.
US08329884B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for detecting Neisseria gonorrhoeae in a sample. This invention also provides related reaction mixtures, kits, systems, and computers.
US08329881B2
The invention relates to prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for protecting individuals against metastatic colorectal cancer and for treating individuals who are suffering from metastatic colorectal cancer.
US08329880B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing naphthalen-2-yl-pyrazol-3-one intermediates, tautomers, and salts thereof, to novel intermediates, and to the use of the intermediates in the preparation of sigma receptor inhibitors.
US08329875B2
Provided is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, which binds specifically to an epitope within the sequence KPGAKKDTKDSRPKL (Sequence ID No. 2) of AGR2. Such monoclonal antibodies are of prognostic and diagnostic utility in the investigation of cancer, particularly metastatic cancer. The antibodies described may also be used in prognosis or diagnosis of inflammatory diseases. Also provided are kits and solid supports comprising such antibodies, as well as the therapeutic use of antibodies of the invention.
US08329874B2
Methods are described for improving the diagnostic possibilities of diseases where oxidative NO-modifications occur, for example inflammatory conditions, cancer, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, and to provide means of monitoring the effects of therapeutical measures taken towards such diseases. The invention enables the detection of disease specific catabolic markers related to oxidative NO-modifications, utilizing an immunoassay comprising antibodies directed against nitrated and non-nitrated epitopes characteristic of a specific protein.
US08329872B2
A method for obtaining at least one binding agent which binds a pharmaceutically active form of the compound with a higher specificity than a pharmaceutically inactive form of the compound is described by using special derivatives of said parent compound. The invention also pertains to the respectively created binding agents and derivatives. Furthermore, drug monitoring assays using said binding agents for monitoring pharmaceutically active forms of said parent compound are provided.
US08329871B2
A process of purifying or enriching coagulation FVIII employing chromatography comprising the steps of providing a fraction containing FVIII in an aqueous solution having a high ionic strength; contacting the fraction containing FVIII with a multimodal resin; optionally washing the multimodal resin having FVIII adsorbed with an aqueous washing buffer; eluting FVIII containing fractions by an aqueous elution buffer comprising at least one amino acid which is positively charged at pH 6 to 8; and optionally collecting FVIII containing fractions in purified or enriched form.
US08329869B2
Modified interferon beta polypeptides and uses thereof are provided.
US08329864B2
The present invention relates to a proteinaceous extract derived from tortoise spleen and to a tetrapeptide FTGN, which have stimulatory activity on hematopoietic cells. In particular, this tetrapeptide enhances hemopoietic reconstruction, and bone marrow re-population, reduced as a consequence of a high dose of radiation or chemotherapy exposure. The invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising as an effective ingredient the proteinaceous extract or the FTGN tetrapeptide and ex vivo and in vivo methods of treatment employing them.
US08329861B2
Provided is a novel, isolated polypeptide including an amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO: 2 or SEQ. ID. NO: 4, and the nucleic acid molecule which encodes it. The polypeptide may be used in a method for treating various diseases including cancer, immune associated, viral and inflammatory diseases.
US08329860B2
The present invention relates to a chromatography ligand, which comprises Domain C from Staphylococcus protein A (SpA), or a functional fragment or variant thereof. The chromatography ligand presents an advantageous capability of withstanding harsh cleaning in place (CIP) conditions, and is capable of binding Fab fragments of antibodies. The ligand may be provided with a terminal coupling group, such as arginine or cysteine, to facilitate its coupling to an insoluble carrier such as beads or a membrane. The invention also relates to a process of using the ligand in isolation of antibodies, and to a purification protocol which may include washing steps and/or regeneration with alkali.
US08329859B2
The present invention provides a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature. The invention also provides a method of directing a moiety to tumor lymphatic vasculature in a subject by administering to the subject a conjugate containing a moiety linked to a homing molecule that selectively homes to tumor lymphatic vasculature.
US08329856B2
The present invention relates to a preparation method for a biodegradable polymer microparticle and a microparticle prepared by the method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for preparing a polymer microparticle, wherein the method includes the steps of: dissolving a biodegradable polyester-based polymer in DMSO (Dimethyl Sulfoxide); spraying the solution in a low temperature hydrocarbon solution to provide a frozen DMSO microparticle; adding the microparticle in a low temperature salt aqueous solution to dissolve DMSO; and removing salt. The present invention provides a method for preparing a novel polymer microsphere which can be injected through a syringe due to excellent physical properties (such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, porosity, mechanical strength) and the microcarrier's size-adjustability, and can be easily mass-produced. The microparticle prepared by the method of the present invention may have variable sizes with biodegradability and biocompatibility, and thus can be used as a carrier for regeneration of a damaged cell or tissue by being injected into a body through a syringe.
US08329853B2
The invention relates to an improved process for the preparation of poly-α-glutamic acids which comprises the polymerization of tertiary γ-esters of α-glutamic acid N-carboxy anhydride with appropriate solvents and initiators, followed by acid hydrolysis of the resulting poly-α-glutamic acid-γ-ester. The process is particularly advantageous in that it allows one to carefully control the molecular weight of the resulting poly-α-glutamic acid. The invention also relates to poly-α-glutamic acids capped at the amino terminus with carboxylic acids or amino acids and to a process for the preparation thereof.
US08329851B2
A functionalized polymer is disclosed that comprises the reaction product of a polymer having one or more pendant reactive functional groups and a color changing indictor having a co-reactive functional group. The co-reactive functional group of the color changing is able to react with the reactive functional group of the polymer to form a covalent bond. Therefore, the color changing indicator is pendant from the polymer. The color changing indicator maintains its ability to produce a visually discernable color change in the presence of an associated stimulus.
US08329847B2
The present invention relates to an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive composition which comprises a (meth)acrylic copolymer comprising 70 to 95 parts by weight of an alkyl(meth)acrylic acid ester monomer, in which alkyl has 2 to 14 carbon atoms, and 5 to 30 parts by weight of a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer containing a copolymerizable aromatic group, wherein the composition has a gel fraction of 10 to 55% and a swelling ratio of 30 to 110, and a sol (uncross-linked polymer) eluted therein with a solvent has a weight average molecular weight of 600,000 or more; a polarizing plate comprising the composition; and a liquid crystal display device comprising the same. The composition according to the present invention provides workability such as an excellent durability and re-workability, and has an effect of improving a light leakage phenomenon, since the size of birefringence occurred under stress is very small.
US08329844B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
US08329841B2
The present invention relates to a photoreactive polymer that comprises a multi-cyclic compound in a main chain, and a polymerization method thereof. Since the photoreactive polymer according to the present invention comprises a multi-cyclic compound having a high glass transition temperature as a main chain, the thermal stability is excellent, and since the mobility of the main chain is relatively high as compared to that of an additional polymer, a photoreactive group can be freely moved in the main chain of the polymer. Accordingly, it is possible to overcome a slow photoreactive rate that is considered a disadvantage of a polymer material used to prepare an alignment film for known liquid crystal display devices.
US08329838B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to non-self imagable and imagable norbornene-type polymers useful for immersion lithographic processes, methods of making such polymers, compositions employing such polymers and the immersion lithographic processes that make use of such compositions. More specifically the embodiments of the present invention are related to norbornene-type polymers useful for forming imaging layer and top-coat layers for overlying such imaging layers in immersion lithographic process and the process thereof.
US08329832B2
A method for producing a cyclic polyarylene sulfide, wherein a cyclic polyarylene sulfide is produced by heating a reaction mixture which is composed of at least a linear polyarylene sulfide (a), a sulfidizing agent (b), a dihalogenated aromatic compound (c) and an organic polar solvent (d). This method for producing a cyclic polyarylene sulfide is characterized in that not less than 1.25 liters of the organic polar solvent is used per 1 mole of the sulfur content in the reaction mixture. This method enables to efficiently produce a cyclic polyarylene sulfide, more specifically cyclic oligoarylene sulfide by an economical and simple process in short time.
US08329829B2
A thermoplastic polyurethane composition includes thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a polysiloxane, an acetal polymer, and an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymer. A method of forming the TPU composition includes the step of combining the TPU, the polysiloxane, the acetal polymer, and the ABS copolymer. The thermoplastic polyurethane composition is also used to form an article. The TPU composition has an increased abrasion resistance and decreased coefficient of friction as compared to existing TPUs.
US08329826B2
Surface modification methods for an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel to provide a basis for cell or tissue attachment are provided. The method involves the activation of functional groups on the surface of the IPN hydrogel. The activated functional groups are then reacted with amine-containing molecules or hydroxyl-containing molecules. The methods (i) can be performed in an aqueous environment and do not require the use of any organic solvent, (ii) do not require UV treatment, thereby avoiding denaturation of the IPN hydrogel or proteins, and/or (iii) can be performed as a one pot reaction.
US08329820B2
A fire-resistant coating material comprising an organic/inorganic composite is disclosed. The organic/inorganic composite includes an organic component of polymer, monomer, oligomer, prepolymer, or copolymer having a first reactive functional group; inorganic particles; and optional additives. The inorganic particles possess a second reactive functional group, originally or after surface modification, which react with the first reactive functional group of the organic component to form chemical bonds. The organic/inorganic composite can be with admixed with a suitable continuous phase, depending on the type of the organic component, to provide a fire-resistant coating material.
US08329811B2
A process for polymerization in the presence of nanoparticles of a mineral filler for obtaining polymer nanocomposites which includes the steps of (a) mixing a mineral filler with a swelling agent in a liquid state or near a critical state or supercritical state; (b) subjecting the swelling agent of the mixture obtained in step (a) to an endoenthalpic or isoenthalpic phase change, by altering the conditions of temperature and/or pressure; and (c) polymerizing a monomer, in a continuous or a batch process, in the presence of the mixture of step (b); wherein the swelling agent is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, a polar or vinylic organic compound, the same monomer used in the polymerization reaction or an inert compound present as a component of the reaction medium.
US08329808B2
A method for compounding a plastic material is provided, wherein the following steps are carried out: a) providing at least one ethylenic polymer; b) addition of at least one cross-linking agent to the ethylenic polymer; c) at least partial cross-linking of the ethylenic polymer by the cross-linking agent; d) addition of at least one propylenic polymer to the product obtained in step c); and e) at least partial cross-linking of the propylenic polymer with the product obtained in step c). Further, a plastic material producible by this method, and a plastic product made out of it are provided.
US08329799B2
The invention provides a rubber composition for studless tire achieving well-balanced abrasion resistance, performance on ice and snow, handling stability, and wet grip performance; and a studless tire including a tread produced from the composition. The composition contains: a rubber component; aromatic oil; silica; carbon black; and a mixture of a zinc salt of aliphatic carboxylic acid and a zinc salt of aromatic carboxylic acid, wherein the total of NR and BR in 100% by mass of the rubber component is 30% by mass or more, the amount of aromatic oil is 12-85 parts by mass, the amount of silica is 12-85 parts by mass, and the amount of mixture is 1 part by mass or more, per 100 parts by mass of the rubber component, and the proportion of silica is 45% by mass or more per 100% by mass of the total of the silica and carbon black.
US08329797B2
Power cables that comprise a sheath layer, e.g., an insulation layer, are produced from a mixture of a high pressure polyolefin free of silane functionality, e.g., high pressure low density polyethylene, and a polyether polyol of which at least 50 percent of its molecules comprise no more than a single hydroxyl functionality. Preferably, the power cable is a medium or high voltage power cable, and the polyolefin is crosslinked as the sheath layer is fabricated and/or subsequent to the fabrication of the sheath layer.
US08329796B2
The invention relates to mixtures of diisononyl esters of terephthalic acid, characterized in that the isomeric nonyl radicals bound in the ester mixture have an average degree of branching of 1.0 to 2.2. Said mixtures can advantageously be used as softeners or part of a softener composition in plastics or plastic components.
US08329792B2
The present invention provides a phosphonate based compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1 and a flameproof thermoplastic resin composition comprising (A) a thermoplastic resin and (B) a phosphonate based compound represented by the following Chemical Formula 1. The flameproof thermoplastic resin composition can exhibit good flame retardancy and impact strength. Further, the composition does not include a halogenated flame retardant and thus can provide environmental and safety benefits. wherein R1 and R2 are each independently C1-C4 alkylene and X is a cyano group.
US08329791B2
The present invention provides phosphonate compounds represented by Chemical Formula 1. In addition, the invention provides flame retardant styrene resin compositions comprising (A) styrene resin, (B) polyphenylene ether resin, and (C) the phosphonate compound. The flame retardant styrene resin compositions according to the invention: can provide protection against fire, exhibit improved impact strength, and can be environment-friendly.
US08329789B2
The present invention relates to a stabilizer composition for halogen-containing polymers comprising titanium dioxide and at least one nitrogen-containing compound, wherein the titanium dioxide has a photo-electromotive force (photo-EMK) in the μs-range >−15 mV and a photo-electromotive force in the ms-range >+5 mV.
US08329787B2
Hindered amines represented by the general formula (I): (wherein R is an alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having 1 to 30 carbon atoms or alkenyl having 2 to 30 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 1 to 4; when n is 1, R1 is alkyl having 1 to 22 carbon atoms, alkenyl having 2 to 22 carbon atoms, or a group represented by the general formula (III): (R is as defined above), while when n is 2 to 4, R1 is an n-valent organic group having 2 to 20 carbon atoms). When added to synthetic resins or coating materials, the amines can impart long-period stabilizing effect to the resins or the materials and exhibit excellent resistance to extraction with acid rain or chemicals.
US08329786B2
A film-forming binder polymer for a coating composition such as a paint, varnish or woodstain where the polymer is modified by the presence of bonded moieties derived from plant gum, particularly plant fibre gum obtainable from plant fibre, especially corn fibre gum and more particularly moieties derived from proteo-xylans and/or furanose. The modified binder polymer minimises the need to use coalescing solvents without producing poor dried paint coatings which fail the scrub resistance tests also improves the opacity of the dried coating composition.
US08329783B2
The present invention is toner particle that includes a continuous phase of binder polymer and a second phase of hydrocolloid. The particle has a porosity of at least 10 percent.
US08329781B2
Thermosetting colored powder paints to be used in electrostatic painting processes are described. These powder paints comprise not more than 30% by weight of at least one monochromatic pigment coated with at least one aldehyde and/or ketone resin, preferably 5 to 30% by weight, and up to 95% by weight of conversion agent, preferably 70 to 95% by weight; more than 90% of the particles of said at least one coated monochromatic pigment and said conversion agent have a particle size of between 10 and 40 microns, preferably between 15 and 35 microns. The coated monochromatic pigment and the conversion agent have the same specific weight which is between 1.3 and 1.7 g/cc.
US08329780B2
Provided are an encapsulated colorant including a polymer resin and a colorant coated with the polymer resin, wherein the encapsulated colorant includes at least two types of colorants which have different average particle diameters with different distributions. The encapsulated colorant has two types of colorants which have different average particle diameters with different distributions. In the preparation of an encapsulated colorant, a supplementary colorant is added to the preparation of an initially added colorant after a specific period of time. Thus, a polymer resin growing on the colorants has a different size. Thus, the present general inventive concept provides an encapsulated colorant having at least two average particle diameters with different distributions and has beneficial miscibility since the colorants are coated with a polymer resin. The present general inventive concept also provides an ink composition having superior work efficiency in low shear regions such as mixing and transferring the colorants, and in high shear regions such as inkjet ejection.
US08329778B2
A sealant composition for the sealing of a punctured tire including a liquid carrier, one or more viscosity and suspending agents, one or more fillers and sealants, and one or more polyacrylates.
US08329771B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a photobase generator capable of efficiently generating amines (tertiary amines and amidine) high in catalytic activity by sensing light with a wavelength of from 350 to 500 nm (especially, from 400 to 500 nm).The present invention is a photobase generator characterized in being represented by general formula (1) or (2).Y+ is a quaternary ammonio group of general formula (3) to (5), and X− is a counter anion selected from among a borate anion, a phenolate anion, and a carboxylate anion.
US08329764B2
A defoaming method capable of destroying foams generated when a container is filled with drink, or the like, efficiently at a high speed and destroying foams effectively even in the case of a container having a narrow mouth. Liquid surface (6) in a container (1) is irradiated with pulse-like light (2) and a pulse-like sound wave (8) is generated from an irradiated point (7) as a sound source. The pulse-like sound wave thus generated propagates from the sound source as a strong spherical wave to reach a bubble (9) and to destroy the bubble. It can also destroy a bubble located at a place remote from the optical path quickly, thus destroying bubbles efficiently at a high speed. Alternatively, pulse-like light is condensed at a gas portion above the liquid surface and the bubbles can be destroyed with a shock wave generated by breakdown phenomenon.
US08329749B2
The present invention provides the use of (−)(3-trihalomethylphenoxy)(4-halophenyl)acetic acid derivatives and compositions in the treatment of insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia.
US08329739B2
[Object] To provide a pharmaceutical product (chemotherapeutic agent) effective in the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia, obesity, etc.[Solving Means] A phenylimidazole compound represented by the following General Formula (1): wherein, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl lower alkyl group optionally having a substituent, or a pyridyl lower alkyl group optionally having a substituent, and the benzene ring and the pyridine ring are optionally substituted with 1 or 2 substituents selected from the group consisting of halogen atoms, cyano group and halogen-substituted lower alkyl groups. One of R2 and R3 represents a hydrogen atom and the other represents a lower alkoxy group. R4 represents a phenyl group optionally having a substituent. R5 and R6 are the same or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group. R7 and R8 are the same or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or a lower alkoxy group. However, when R1 represents an unsubstituted phenyl lower alkyl group, R2 represents a lower alkoxy group, R3 represents a hydrogen atom, R4 represents a phenyl group optionally having a substituent, and R5 represents a hydrogen atom, R6 is not a hydrogen atom.
US08329737B2
A compound of the general formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable prodrugs, salts, hydrates, solvates, crystal forms or diastereomers thereof, wherein A represents a variety of six membered nitrogen containing heterocyclic rings, Q is a bond, halogen, C1-4 alkyl, O, S, SO2, CO or CS and X1, X2, X3 and X4 are optionally substituted by 9 specific substituents or one can be nitrogen. Compositions comprising a carrier and at least one compound of formula (I) are also provided. Further provided are methods of treating tyrosine kinase-associated disease states by administering a compound of formula (I) and methods of suppressing the immune system of a subject by administering a compound of formula (I).
US08329729B2
The invention provides named compounds of formula (I), wherein R4 is a N-substituted quinuclidine (I) pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a process for preparing the pharmaceutical compositions. Their use in therapy for the treatment of conditions mediated by M3 muscarinic receptors, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is also disclosed.
US08329726B2
The invention relates to the inhibition of VEGF receptor signaling and HGF receptor signaling. The invention provides compounds of general formula (A) wherein A1 is sulfur, A3 is CH, A2 is CH, D is heterocycle, Z is oxygen, SO0-2 or NR, Ar is phenyl and G is not a ring, and methods for inhibiting VEGF receptor signaling and HGF receptor signaling. The invention also provides compositions and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases and conditions.
US08329719B2
Disclosed herein are methods of treating neurodegenerative diseases comprising administering to the subject a compound having the structure: wherein α and R1-R8 are described herein, or a compound having the structure: wherein Y, Z, and R21, R24, R25, and R31-R33 are described herein.
US08329715B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds of Formula (I) are as herein defined, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use in the treatment of conditions or disorders mediated by TNF-α or by PDE4, including but not limited to rheumatoid arthritis.
US08329694B2
A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof represented by the general formula: which have a potent antibacterial activity and a high safety. Thus, the compounds are useful as antibacterial agents against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and drug resistant bacteria.
US08329693B2
A method for the prevention of thrombotic, embolic and/or hemorrhagic disorders, such as cerebral infarction (stroke) or myocardial infarction, by administering levosimendan or its metabolite (II) or any of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts to a mammal in need of such prevention.
US08329691B2
A renin inhibitor comprising a compound represented by the formula: wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof. The compound of the present invention has a superior renin inhibitory activity, and thus is useful as an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of hypertension, various organ damages attributable to hypertension and the like.
US08329676B2
The present invention provides sphingosine-1-phosphate analogs that are potent, and selective agonists at one or more S1P receptors, specifically the S1P1 receptor type, which alter lymphocyte trafficking. The compounds of the invention include compounds having a phosphate moiety as well as compounds with hydrolysis-resistant phosphate surrogates such as phosphonates, alpha-substituted phosphonates, and phosphothionates.
US08329670B2
The object of present invention is to provide a system that can deliver in vivo nucleic acids such as an siRNA for suppressing a target gene expression in vivo more safely and efficiently, and to provide an expression-suppressing agent and a pharmaceutical composition utilizing the system. An introduction substance into chylomiclon, particularly nucleic acids to which an alpha-tocopherol is bound for suppressing a target gene expression, can be delivered more safely and efficiently into hepatic cells in vivo by administering the nucleic aids under the condition where the production of chylomicron is induced in the body. Alternatively, alpha-tocopherol-bound nucleic acids are mixed with extracted chylomiclon, and then they are administered. Consequently, a target gene expression is suppressed, thereby a disease caused by an elevated expression of the target gene can be treated more safely and efficiently.
US08329669B2
The present invention relates to a composition which is useful in the treatment of a tumor, a method for making such a composition, and a method for using such a composition. The invention relates also to a method for assaying for inhibitors of the activity of Core 1 protein and/or other proteins of the respiratory complex III of mitochondria.
US08329664B2
A compound for use in the treatment or prophylaxis of viral infections such, for example as chicken pox or shingles caused by the Varicella Zoster virus, said compound having the general formula (II): wherein X is O, S, NH or CH2, Y is O, S or NH, Z is O, S or CH2, R1 is C1-6 alkyl, preferably n-alkyl, e.g., n-pentyl or n-hexyl, and one of R2 and R3 is OH, and the other of R3 and R2 is a neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof. Said neutral, non-polar amino acid moiety R2 or R3 may be (IV): in which R4, R5, R6 and R7 are each independently H or C1-2 alkyl. In preferred embodiments, one of R2 or R3 is valine, leucine, isoleucine or alanine, particularly valine.
US08329661B2
This invention is based on the experimental finding that HIP/PAP has mitogenic and antiapoptotic effects in vitro on hepatocytes in primary culture. Moreover, HIP/PAP is a mitogenic and anti-apoptotic molecule for hepatocytcs, in vivo, during liver failure and liver regeneration. The present invention is also based on the experimental finding that HIP/PAP administration has no adverse effects in mammals. This invention concerns a pharmaceutical composition for stimulating liver regeneration in vivo including after chronic/acute liver failure, comprising an effective amount of a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having 90% amino acid identity with the polypeptide consisting of the amino acid sequence starting at the amino acid residue (36) and ending at the amino acid residue (175) of sequence SEQ ID No 1, in combination with at least one physiologically acceptable excipient.
US08329658B2
This invention provides compounds of general formula (I): wherein A, B, R1, R2 and X are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutical compositions prepared from the same, for use in treatment of hepatitis C virus and/or human immunodeficiency virus.
US08329655B2
Disclosed are methods of increasing vascularization in a tissue by administering a neublastin polypeptide to a mammal exhibiting impaired or inadequate blood flow in the tissue. The methods can be used to in the treatment or prevention of a disorder characterized by impaired or inadequate blood flow or to increase vascularization in an organ that has been transplanted into a subject.
US08329653B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for reducing or inhibiting net beta-amyloid peptide production and/or amyloid plaque formation. The methods and compositions involve administering a netrin-1 polypeptide or netrin-1 therapeutic to a subject in need thereof.
US08329644B2
The present invention provides actagardine, actagradine B and deoxy actagardine B derivatives of formula (I), wherein: X1 denotes that the residue is Leu; Val; or Ile; X2 denotes that the residue is Leu; Val; or Ile; R1 represents an alkyl or heteroalkyl group, substituted by at least one hydroxyl substituent, and R2 represents hydrogen, or an alkyl or heteroalkyl group, optionally substituted by at least one hydroxyl substituent, or R1 and R2 taken together with the nitrogen atom represent a heterocyclic group having at least one hydroxyl substituent, wherein the heterocyclic group optionally further contains one or more heteroatoms; Z is an amino acid residue, —NR3R4, —NR5COR6, —NR5C(O)OR6; —NR5SOR6, NR5SO2R6; —NR5C(S)NR6R7, —NR5C(NR8)NR6R7, or —N═R9, where R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently hydrogen, or a group, optionally substituted, selected from alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aralkyl and heteroaralkyl, with the proviso that R9 is not hydrogen; and Y is —S— or —S(O)—. The compounds find use in the treatment of microbial infections.
US08329643B2
The present invention relates to a novel peptide sequence named PIMAP39 (herein referred to as SEQ ID NO.: 1) and methods of use of the novel sequence and functional variants thereof. The present invention also relates to methods for reducing and/or modulating inflammatory responses by administration of the peptide of the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the modulation of the expression of cytokines effected as part of an inflammatory response by administration of the peptide of the present invention.
US08329641B2
An effective agent for treating ischemic disease, the agent containing human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (human G-CSF) as an active ingredient is disclosed. By administering this therapeutic agent, an effective therapy particularly for obstructive arteriosclerosis is provided which can eliminate drawbacks with conventional therapies, such as kinesitherapy, pharmacotherapy, and revascularization, and recently proposed therapies, such as gene therapy and intramuscular transplantation of bone marrow cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic agent can be used as an agent for treating ischemic disease, such as ischemic cerebrovascular disorder or ischemic heart disease.
US08329640B2
The present invention relates to novel peptides that are highly biologically and pharmacologically active as therapeutic agents for the treatment of numerous lung diseases or lung and/or bronchi related diseases, especially chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), and Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). The synthetic peptides according to the invention are derivatives of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and show enhanced physical, pharmacological and biological/therapeutic properties compared to VIP.
US08329638B2
An antibacterial composition includes a combination of fatty acid ester of fatty acid and hydroxy carboxylic acid with an antibacterial agent selected from polylysine, chitosan, protamine, their salts and mixtures hereof. The hydroxy carboxylic acid may be present as acid in its free form, in its salt form and/or in its ester form. The composition may be used as an antibacterial agent against gram-negative bacteria in various products, applications and methods.
US08329631B2
An aqueous cleaning agent for hard surfaces which contains a surfactant combination of fatty alcohol ether sulfate and at least one further surfactant together with 10 to 40 wt. % of a water-soluble salt, may be used for manual dishwashing and is above all suitable for removing stubborn, burnt-on or dried-on soiling while being gentle on the skin.
US08329624B2
The present invention provides dicyclopentadienyl molybdenum crosslinked complexes which can be represented by general formula (1) below, the use thereof as friction-modifiers and lubricating compositions which contain these compounds. In this formula X is the element oxygen or the element sulphur, Y is the element oxygen or Y is absent, and R1 to R10 are groups selected individually from the group comprising hydrogen, the methyl group and the ethyl group.
US08329622B2
Alcohol compatible, water-soluble copolymer useful as a corrosion inhibitor. The copolymer includes at least one olefinically unsaturated carboxylic acid monomer, at least one olefinically unsaturated mono- or di-alkyl ester of a di-carboxylic acid monomer, and at least one olefinically unsaturated hydrophilic, non-ionic monomer. The molar ratio of the alkyl ester groups of the mono- or di-alkyl ester of the dicarboxylic acid monomer to the hydrophilic groups of the hydrophilic, non-ionic monomers is from about 0.01:1 to 1000:1, and the molar ratio of the sum of the alkyl ester groups and hydrophilic groups of the hydrophilic, non-ionic monomers to the carboxylic acid groups, is from about 0.001:1 to 100:1. No haze or precipitate occurs in a mixture of the water-soluble copolymer at 4° C. for 15 hrs or more as a 20 weight % aqueous copolymer solution in alcohol at a water-soluble copolymer to methanol weight-ratio of not more than 25 to 100.
US08329613B2
The invention relates to methods for producing supported gold catalysts from a porous metal oxide support and a chloroauric acid precursor, wherein the support is placed in contact with the aqueous solution of the chloroauric acid precursor. The invention also relates to a metal oxide supported gold catalyst and its use in the oxidation of alcohols, aldehydes, polyhydroxy compounds and carbohydrates.
US08329608B2
A method of making a catalyst for use in oligomerizing an olefin, comprising a chromium-containing compound, a pyrrole-containing compound, a metal alkyl, a halide-containing compound, and optionally a solvent, the method comprising abating all or a portion of water, acidic protons, or both from a composition comprising the chromium-containing compound, a composition comprising the pyrrole-containing compound, a composition comprising a non-metal halide-containing compound, a composition comprising the solvent, or combinations thereof prior to contact thereof with a composition comprising a metal halide-containing compound.
US08329603B2
A composition comprising a base component and a polymer, and a method of making said composition, are disclosed. The composition thereby obtained is then used as a catalyst for isoparaffin-olefin alkylation.
US08329602B2
An optical glass has a refractive index (nd) of 1.60 or over and excellent transmittance and internal quality. The optical glass comprises 0.1-4 mass % of Ta2O5 to total mass of glass calculated on oxide basis, has ratio of 0.95
US08329595B2
Processes for enhancing solubility and the reaction rates in supercritical fluids are provided. In preferred embodiments, such processes provide for the uniform and precise deposition of metal-containing films on semiconductor substrates as well as the uniform and precise removal of materials from such substrates. In one embodiment, the process includes, providing a supercritical fluid containing at least one reactant, the supercritical fluid being maintained at above its critical point, exposing at least a portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate to the supercritical fluid, applying acoustic energy, and reacting the at least one reactant to cause a change in at least a portion of the surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US08329594B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: providing a substrate; depositing a material layer on the substrate; forming at least one dielectric layer on the material layer; forming a patterned resist on the dielectric layer; performing a first trimming process on at least the patterned resist; performing a second trimming process on at least the dielectric layer; and using the dielectric layer as mask for etching the material layer.
US08329590B2
Apparatus and methods for shielding a feature projecting from a first area on a substrate to a plasma while simultaneously removing extraneous material from a different area on the substrate with the plasma. The apparatus includes at least one concavity positioned and dimensioned to receive the feature such that the feature is shielded from the plasma. The apparatus further includes a window through which the plasma removes the extraneous material. The method generally includes removing the extraneous material while shielding the feature against plasma exposure.
US08329588B2
A method for forming a hydrogen barrier layer that overlies ferroelectric capacitors and a buffer region but is removed from a portion of the logic region.
US08329586B2
A method of processing a workpiece in a plasma reactor having an electrostatic chuck for supporting the workpiece within a reactor chamber, the method including circulating a coolant through a refrigeration loop that includes an evaporator inside the electrostatic chuck, while pressurizing a workpiece-to-chuck interface with a thermally conductive gas, sensing conditions in the chamber including temperature near the workpiece and simulating heat flow through the electrostatic chuck in a thermal model of the chuck based upon the conditions. The method further includes obtaining the next scheduled change in RF heat load on the workpiece and using the model to estimate a change in thermal conditions of the coolant in the evaporator that would hold the temperature nearly constant by compensating for the next scheduled change in RF heat load, and making the change in thermal conditions of the coolant in the evaporator prior to the time of the next scheduled change by a head start related to the thermal propagation delay through the electrostatic chuck.
US08329583B2
Methods and compositions for depositing metal films are disclosed herein. In general, the disclosed methods utilize precursor compounds comprising gold, silver, or copper. More specifically, the disclosed precursor compounds utilize pentadienyl ligands coupled to a metal to increase thermal stability. Furthermore, methods of depositing copper, gold, or silver are disclosed in conjunction with use of other precursors to deposit metal films. The methods and compositions may be used in a variety of deposition processes.
US08329579B2
Through substrate vias (TSVs) are provided after substantially all high temperature operations needed to form a device region of a first thickness proximate the front surface of a substrate wafer by: (i) from the front surface, forming comparatively shallow vias of a first aspect ratio containing first conductors extending preferably through the first thickness but not through the initial wafer thickness, (ii) removing material from the rear surface to form a modified wafer of smaller final thickness with a new rear surface, and (iii) forming from the new rear surface, much deeper vias of second aspect ratios beneath the device region with second conductors therein contacting the first conductors, thereby providing front-to-back interconnections without substantially impacting wafer robustness during manufacturing and device region area. Both aspect ratios are desirably about ≦40, usefully ≦10 and preferably ≦5.
US08329572B2
In a method for fabricating a semiconductor device, first, a first metal interconnect is formed in an interconnect formation region, and a second metal interconnect is formed in a seal ring region. Subsequently, by chemical mechanical polishing or etching, the upper portions of the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect are recessed to form recesses. A second insulating film filling the recesses is then formed above a substrate, and the upper portion of the second insulating film is planarized. Next, a hole and a trench are formed to extend halfway through the second insulating film, and ashing and polymer removal are performed. Subsequently to this, the hole and the trench are allowed to reach the first metal interconnect and the second metal interconnect.
US08329567B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming one or more doped regions in a semiconductor substrate. Plasma doping may be used to form a first dopant to a first depth within the substrate. The first dopant may then be impacted with a second dopant to knock the first dopant to a second depth within the substrate. In some embodiments the first dopant is p-type (such as boron) and the second dopant is neutral type (such as germanium). In some embodiments the second dopant is heavier than the first dopant.
US08329563B2
A device and a device manufacturing process. First, a gettering layer is formed on the bottom surface of a silicon substrate. Gates having a MOS structure are then formed on the principal surface of the silicon substrate, and the gettering layer is removed. According to this manufacturing method, the formation of the gates having a MOS structure is performed such that the gettering layer getters dissolved oxygen present in the silicon substrate. This reduces the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the silicon substrate, resulting in improved device characteristics.
US08329558B2
A processing method for a wafer having a device area where a plurality of devices are formed on the front side of the wafer and a peripheral marginal area surrounding the device area. The processing method includes a reinforcing plate forming step of applying a heat-resistant bond to the front side of the wafer and solidifying the heat-resistant bond to thereby form a reinforcing plate from only the heat-resistant bond, a back grinding step of holding the reinforcing plate on a chuck table and grinding the back side of the wafer in the device area to thereby form a circular recess in the device area and leave an annular reinforcing portion in the peripheral marginal area, a through electrode forming step of forming a through electrode connected to an electrode of each device formed on the front side of the wafer, from the back side of the wafer fixed to the reinforcing plate, and a reinforcing plate removing step of supplying a solvent for dissolving the heat-resistant bond to the reinforcing plate, thereby removing the reinforcing plate.
US08329554B2
A method of making a semiconductor device includes forming an under-film layer over bumps disposed on a surface of a wafer to completely cover the bumps, and forming an adhesive layer over the under-film layer. The method further includes attaching a support layer over the adhesive layer, removing a portion of a back surface of the wafer, and removing the support layer to expose the adhesive layer that remains disposed over the under-film layer. The method further includes removing the adhesive layer to expose the under-film layer while the bumps remain completely covered by the under-film layer, and singulating the wafer to form a semiconductor die. The method further includes pressing the bumps into contact with a substrate while the under-film layer provides an underfill between the semiconductor die and the substrate.
US08329532B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to method for the concurrent deposition of multiple different crystalline structures on a semiconductor body utilizing in-situ differential epitaxy. In one embodiment of the present invention a preparation surface is formed, resulting in two distinct crystalline regions, a monocrystalline silicon substrate region and an isolating layer region. A monocrystalline silicon layer and an amorphous silicon layer are concurrently formed directly onto the preparation surface in the monocrystalline silicon substrate region and the isolating layer region, respectively. Deposition comprises the formation of two or more sub-layers. The process parameters can be varied for each individual sub-layer to optimize deposition characteristics.
US08329522B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes: forming a plurality of photoresist patterns over a substrate structure; forming an insulation layer for a spacer over a structure including the photoresist patterns; forming a plurality of spacers on sidewalls of the photoresist patterns by anisotropically etching the insulation layer, and forming a first opening through the insulation layer; and forming second openings in the insulation layer to expose the substrate structure.
US08329521B2
A method includes providing a substrate having a first surface, forming an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having an second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, removing a portion of the isolation structure to form a recess therein having a bottom surface spaced from the first surface by less than the step height, forming a gate structure, and forming a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess. A different aspect involves an apparatus that includes a substrate having a first surface, an isolation structure disposed partly in the substrate and having a second surface higher than the first surface by a step height, a recess extending downwardly from the second surface, the recess having a bottom surface spaced from the first surface by less than the step height, a gate structure, and a contact engaging the gate structure over the recess.
US08329516B2
A plurality of nanowires is grown on a first substrate in a first direction perpendicular to the first substrate. An insulation layer covering the nanowires is formed on the first substrate to define a nanowire block including the nanowires and the insulation layer. The nanowire block is moved so that each of the nanowires is arranged in a second direction parallel to the first substrate. The insulation layer is partially removed to partially expose the nanowires. A gate line covering the exposed nanowires is formed. Impurities are implanted into portions of the nanowires adjacent to the gate line.
US08329509B2
A method and apparatus are described for fabricating a low-pin-count chip package (701) including a die pad (706) for receiving an integrated circuit device and a plurality of connection leads (702) having recessed lead ends (704) at the outer peripheral region of each contact lead. After forming the package body (202) over the integrated circuit device, unplated portions (104) of the exposed bottom surface of the selectively plated lead frame are partially etched to form recessed lead ends (302) at the outer peripheral region of each contact lead, and the recessed lead ends are subsequently re-plated (402) to provide wettable recessed lead ends at the outer peripheral region of each contact lead.
US08329504B2
Disclosed is a method of forming an organic semiconductor layer comprising the steps of preparing a substrate having a groove formed on the surface, applying, to the surface of the substrate, a droplet of an organic semiconductor liquid in which an organic semiconductor material is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent, and drying the droplet to form the organic semiconductor layer, wherein the droplet is applied to a position of the substrate where a part of the circumference of the droplet is introduced into the groove.
US08329499B2
A lateral overflow drain and a channel stop are fabricated using a double mask process. Each lateral overflow drain is formed within a respective channel stop. Due to the use of two mask layers, one edge of each lateral overflow drain is aligned, or substantially aligned, with an edge of a respective channel stop.
US08329492B2
A method for fabricating a MEMS resonator is provided. A stacked main body including a silicon substrate, a plurality of metallic layers and an isolation layer is formed and has a first etching channel extending from the metallic layers into the silicon substrate. The isolation layer is filled in the first etching channel. The stacked main body also has a predetermined suspended portion. Subsequently, a portion of the isolation layer is removed so that a second etching channel is formed and the remained portion of the isolation layer covers an inner sidewall of the first etching channel. Afterwards, employing the isolation layer that covers the inner sidewall of the first etching channel as a mask, an isotropic etching process through the second etching channel is applied to the silicon substrate, thereby forming the MEMS resonator suspending above the silicon substrate. The method for fabricating MEMS resonator can be integrated with the process of fabricating the CMOS circuit, thereby the process of fabricating a microelectronic device can be simplified and the cost of fabricating a micro electronic device can be reduced. A micro electronic device is also provided in the present invention.
US08329489B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device is provided. The device includes: an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type semiconductor layer; and a light emitting unit provided between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The method includes: forming a buffer layer made of a crystalline AlxGa1-xN (0.8≦x≦1) on a first substrate made of c-plane sapphire and forming a GaN layer on the buffer layer; stacking the n-type semiconductor layer, the light emitting unit, and the p-type semiconductor layer on the GaN layer; and separating the first substrate by irradiating the GaN layer with a laser having a wavelength shorter than a bandgap wavelength of GaN from the first substrate side through the first substrate and the buffer layer.
US08329487B2
In a fabricating method of an LED, a first-type doped semiconductor material layer, a light emitting material layer, and a second-type doped semiconductor material layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. The first-type and second-type doped semiconductor material layers and the light emitting material layer are patterned to form a first-type doped semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second-type doped semiconductor layer. The active layer is disposed on a portion of the first-type doped semiconductor layer. The second-type doped semiconductor layer is disposed on the active layer and has a first top surface. A wall structure is formed on the first-type doped semiconductor layer that is not covered by the active layer, and the wall structure surrounds the active layer and has a second top surface higher than the first top surface of the second-type doped semiconductor layer. Electrodes are formed on the first-type and second-type doped semiconductor layers.
US08329485B2
The present invention provides an ink jet printable phosphor ink composition for LED packaging that enables precision control of the amount and position of phosphor layers on the LED device or the LED device packaging. The ink includes both a UV-curable resin component and a thermally curable resin component. A phase-separation component prevents phase separation of the UV-curable resin component and the thermally curable resin component. Phosphor particles on the order of less than approximately 2 microns are uniformly dispersed throughout the ink composition. The phosphor ink composition is deposited through either thermal or piezoelectric ink jet printing; a thin layer is deposited in a desired pattern. UV curing (and, optionally, thermal curing) is used to fix each layer followed by subsequent deposition and curing. In this manner, undesirable phosphor settling does not occur and layers are selectively built up to form precise phosphor distributions.
US08329483B2
A method for manufacturing a bi-section semiconductor laser device includes the steps of (A) forming a stacked structure obtained by stacking, on a substrate in sequence, a first compound semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a compound semiconductor layer that constitutes a light-emitting region and a saturable absorption region, and a second compound semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type; (B) forming a belt-shaped second electrode on the second compound semiconductor layer; (C) forming a ridge structure by etching at least part of the second compound semiconductor layer using the second electrode as an etching mask; and (D) forming a resist layer for forming a separating groove in the second electrode and then forming the separating groove in the second electrode by wet etching so that the separating groove separates the second electrode into a first portion and a second portion.
US08329468B2
An innovative method of collecting cord blood stem cells from an isolated mammalian non-exsanguinated or partially exsanguinated placenta by placental perfusion is described and also an easy method for safe long duration cold storage of the placenta. Placental perfusion can include perfusing the isolated placenta with a pulsatile flow of perfusion solution, for example, using a pulsatile or peristaltic pump or device. The stem cells can then be isolated from the perfusate. Significantly increased amounts of CD133+ stem cells can be collected from the perfusate. The perfusion solution can include an anticoagulant. The isolated mammalian placenta need not be treated with an anticoagulant prior to perfusing. The isolated placenta can be free from an anticoagulant prior to perfusing.
US08329458B2
A triphasic bioreactor for physico-chemically treating a gas is disclosed. The triphasic bioreactor comprises a reaction chamber with a liquid and biocatalysts in suspension in the liquid, for catalyzing a reaction between the gas and the liquid to obtain a treated gas and a solution containing a reaction product. A gas bubbling means is provided in the reaction chamber for bubbling the gas to be treated into the liquid thereby dissolving the gas into the liquid and increasing a pressure inside the reaction chamber. The bioreactor further comprises a liquid inlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for receiving the liquid and filling the reaction chamber, a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber for releasing the solution and a gas outlet in fluid communication with the reaction chamber to release the treated gas. The bioreactor further comprises a retention device to retain the biocatalysts in the reaction chamber. The invention also concerns a process using the triphasic bioreactor. The triphasic bioreactor may advantageously be used for removing carbonic dioxide from a CO2-containing gas.
US08329454B2
A device for detecting a cholinesterase-inhibiting substance comprising a basal layer fixed at the bottom of a container, and a cholinesterase-containing reaction layer which is fixed on the basal layer, wherein the basal layer and the cholinesterase-containing reaction layer comprises a hydrophilic photo-crosslinkable resin.
US08329445B2
The present invention provides methods, enzymes, and cells for the biosynthetic production of phloroglucinol from malonyl-CoA, which is ultimately obtained from simple starting materials such as glucose; also provided are methods for preparing derivatives of biosynthetic phloroglucinol, including, e.g., resorcinol.
US08329437B1
A single-use disposable cartridge and reusable interrogation platform for interrogating particles in a fluid carrier medium. The cartridge includes a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) embodied in a chip to perform electrical property interrogations of fluid flowing in a micro channel. Desirably, the microchannel is sized to cause single-file particle flow past a sensor portion of the MEMS chip.
US08329436B2
The invention relates to processes that efficiently convert carbon-containing materials, such as biomass, into products in such a manner that the energy, carbon, and mass content of the materials are efficiently transferred into such products. Such methods include converting the materials into at least one intermediate by a biological conversion process and at least one intermediate by a thermochemical conversion process and reacting the intermediates to form the product. Such methods have a chemical energy efficiency to produce the product that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a solely biological conversion process to produce the product and that is greater than the chemical energy efficiency of a process in which all of the material is initially subjected to a thermochemical conversion step as part of the process to produce the product.
US08329435B2
A “one-step” process for production of peptides and other organic molecules which are both esters and also acetylated forms of the desired molecule. The ester may be a mono-ester, di-ester, or another poly-ester, complexed with a molecule for protecting the organic molecules in the digestive tract. The method allows simple adjustment of the delivery properties of the peptides produced, in particular adjustment or addition of lipiphilic tendencies. A therapeutic or nutrient made by this method comprises acetylated organic molecule esters, in particular an acetylated peptide ester or even an acetylated amino acid ester and demonstrates improved metabolic properties leading to increased efficiency for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes including oral, transdermal, sublingual, buccal, and topical administration. The present disclosure further teaches several specific examples of acetylated esters, including acetyl-glutathione-ester (mGSH), MCAR (carnosine), pyruvate and others modified from base forms by the methods of the present disclosure.
US08329421B2
Disclosed herein are antigen-binding molecules, such as antibodies, that specifically recognize a portion of the EGFR C-terminal (intracellular) regulatory domain that interacts with one or more regulatory molecules (such as Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (“SOCS”) proteins). In certain normal or neoplastic cells and/or tissues, this region is inaccessible to the disclosed antigen-binding molecules. Thus, such antigen-binding molecules are useful at least to interrogate the regulated state of EGFR, predict the response of a cancer patient to EGFR inhibitor therapies, and/or predict the aggressiveness of neoplasms.
US08329413B2
Methods are provided for labeling cellular glycans bearing azide groups via fluorescent labeling comprising Cu(I)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of a probe comprising alkynyl group. Generation of fluorescent probes from a nonfluorescent precursor, 4-ethynyl-N-ethyl-1,8-naphthalimide, by Cu(I)-catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition of the alkyne group of the probe to an azido-modified sugar are provided. Incorporation of azido-containing fucose analog into glycoconjugates via the fucose salvage pathway are disclosed. Fluorescent visualization of fucosylated cells by flow cytometry of cells treated with 6-azidofucose labeled with click-activated fluorogenic probe or biotinylated alkyne is disclosed. Visualization of intracellular location of fucosylated glycoconjugates by fluorescence microscopy are disclosed.
US08329410B2
The present invention provides biomarkers for detecting kidney disease, selected from the oligonucleotide sequence, complementary sequence or derivatives, amino acid sequence or derivatives, fragment, variants, antibody of annexin A2 or S100A6 or combinations thereof. Moreover, the present invention also provides an assay kit and a method for kidney disease detecting, practically for the kidney disease resulting from acute tubular necrosis.
US08329407B2
The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.
US08329394B2
A capture probe suitable for use with methods for isolating, labeling or detecting small polynucleotides. A method for isolating a small polynucleotide of interest from a sample comprising hybridizing the small polynucleotide to the capture probe and lengthening the small polynucleotide by primer extension or ligation. A method for detecting a small polynucleotide of interest following isolation by amplification of the primer extension products and/or hybridization and subsequent cleavage of dual labeled detector probes.
US08329390B2
The present invention relates generally to the detection and measurement of transmembrane potentials using an N,N,N′-trialkyl thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonol (shown below). In particular, the present invention is directed to compositions and optical methods for determining transmembrane potentials across the plasma membrane of biological cells using a slightly hydrophobic N,N,N′-trialkyl thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonols. The method comprises a slightly hydrophobic N,N,N′-trialkyl thiobarbituric acid-derived polymethine oxonol anion capable of redistributing from a first face of the membrane to a second face of the membrane in response to changes in the potential of the membrane. In one aspect the method is used to identify compounds which modulate membrane potentials in biological membranes. wherein R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, haloalkyl and heteroalkyl; n is an integer from 1 to 3; Z is Na, K, ammonium or other biologically acceptable salt.
US08329389B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for storing platelets to preserve the function and freshness of the platelets. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a preservative composition having an antiplatelet agent, an anticoagulant, and an oxygen carrier, for maintaining the freshness of platelets. Additionally, the composition may also contain an ultra-short acting broad spectrum anti-microbial agents. The preservative composition may be used to store platelets in a liquid state, a frozen state, or a freeze-dried state.
US08329384B2
A patterning process includes (1) coating a first positive resist composition onto a substrate, baking, exposing, post-exposure baking, and alkali developing to form a first resist pattern, (2) coating a resist-modifying composition onto the first resist pattern and heating to effect modifying treatment, and (3) coating a second positive resist composition, baking, exposing, post-exposure baking, and alkali developing to form a second resist pattern. The resist modifying composition comprises a base resin comprising recurring units having formula (1) wherein A1 is alkylene, R1 is H or methyl, R2 is alkyl or bond together to form a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, and an alcohol-based solvent.
US08329372B2
An liquid developer includes insulating liquid and toner particles dispersed in the insulating liquid. An average particle diameter of the toner particles based on volume is in the range of 0.7 to 3 μm, a width S of particle size distribution of the toner particles represented by the following formula (I) is 1.4 or less, and the insulating liquid include the unsaturated fatty acid glyceride: S=[D(90)−D(10)]/D(50) (I), where D(X) represents the particle diameter at the point of X % in which X is the ratio of accumulated volume to the total volume when the volume is accumulated from the small particle diameter in the particle size distribution of the toner particles.
US08329368B2
An electrophotographic toner is disclosed. The toner contains a compound of Formula X-1 and a copper complex compound represented by the following Formula (1), which are defined detain in the specification.
US08329366B2
A method is described for alignment of a substrate during a double patterning process. A first resist layer containing at least one alignment mark is formed on the substrate. After the first resist layer is developed, a second resist layer is deposited over the first resist layer, leaving a planar top surface (i.e., without topography). By baking the second resist layer appropriately, a symmetric alignment mark is formed in the second resist layer with little or no offset error from the alignment mark in the first resist layer. The symmetry of the alignment mark formed in the second resist can be enhanced by appropriate adjustments of the respective thicknesses of the first and second resist layers, the coating process parameters, and the baking process parameters.
US08329364B2
The present invention provides a photomask blank used for producing a photomask to which an ArF excimer laser light is applied, wherein: a light-shielding film is provided on a light transmissive substrate; the light-shielding film has a laminated structure in which a lower layer, an interlayer and an upper layer are laminated in this order from the side close to the light transmissive substrate; the thickness of the entire light-shielding film is 60 nm or less; the lower layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a first etching rate; the upper layer is made of a film containing a metal and has a third etching rate; the interlayer is made of a film containing the same metal as that contained in the lower layer or the upper layer and has a second etching rate that is lower than the first etching rate and the third etching rate; and the thickness of the interlayer is 30% or less of the thickness of the entire light-shielding film.
US08329356B2
A fuel cell microporous layer including a plurality of porous particles wherein at least 90% of intruded volume by mercury porosimetry is introduced into pore size diameters ranging from about 0.43 μm to about 0.03 μm.
US08329353B2
A fuel cell system of the present invention includes a fuel cell (3); a water passage (8, 10, 12, 15, 17, 18); an electric heater (19) configured to heat the water passage; a water-related temperature detector (20); a first abnormality detector (22, etc.) configured to detect first abnormalities; a second abnormality detector (28, etc.) configured to detect second abnormalities; and a controller (21), and the controller is configured to stop an operation of the fuel cell system when the first abnormality is detected by the first abnormality detector or when the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector. In a case where the fuel cell system stops since the second abnormality is detected by the second abnormality detector, the controller causes the electric heater (19) to carry out an operation as an antifreezing operation when the water-related temperature detector detects a temperature that is not more than a predetermined threshold. In a case where the fuel cell system stops since the first abnormality is detected by the first abnormality detector, the controller does not cause the electric heater (19) to carry out the operation as the antifreezing operation even when the water-related temperature detector detects the temperature that is not more than the predetermined threshold.
US08329342B2
The present invention is to provide a lithium ion secondary battery that realizes to raise an initial charge and discharge efficiency without deteriorating its charge and discharge characteristic in comparison with the conventional technology.A carbon material and a lithium ion secondary battery using the carbon material as the anode material, wherein the face interval d002 of the carbon material determined by an X ray diffraction apparatus is not less than 0.340 nm and not more than 0.370 nm, and further, V1/V2 representing a ratio of a volume V1 of pores having diameters from not less than 1 nm to less than 10 nm in the carbon material with respect to a volume V2 of pores having diameters from not less than 10 nm to less than 100 nm therein is not more than 0.2.
US08329336B2
A cathode composition is provided. The cathode composition includes at least one electroactive metal, wherein the electroactive metal is at least one selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, niobium, molybdenum, nickel, iron, cobalt, chromium, manganese, silver, antimony, cadmium, tin, lead and zinc; a first alkali metal halide; an electrolyte salt comprising a reaction product of a second alkali metal halide and a metal halide, wherein the electrolyte salt has a melting point of less than about 300 degrees Centigrade; and a metal chlorosulfide compound having a formula (I) M1M2p+1SnCl4+3p−2n wherein “M1” is a metal selected from group IA of the periodic table, “M2” is a metal selected from group IIIA of the periodic table, “p” is 0 or 1, and “n” is equal to or greater than 0.5. An article and an energy storage device comprising the cathode composition is provided. A method of forming the energy storage device is provided.
US08329331B2
The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery module. The battery module includes a plurality of unit batteries, a connecting member, and a pressure member. The plurality of unit batteries includes electrode terminals protruded from the unit batteries. The electrode terminals are inserted to a connecting member, and the connecting member includes a fitting portion including a gap on one side of the fitting portion, and a connecting part for connecting the fitting portions while having the gap between the connecting parts. The pressure member compresses the connecting parts so as to narrow a gap between the connecting parts.
US08329328B2
The storage cell includes a flat roll electrode that includes a strip of positive electrode having a positive electrode current collector foil and a positive electrode layer formed thereon, a strip of negative electrode having an electrode current collector foil and a negative electrode layer formed, and a strip of electrically insulated separator, the strip of positive electrode and the strip of negative electrode being wound into a flat roll configuration with the strip of electrically insulated separator sandwiched therebetween; a sealed casing that hermetically seals the flat roll electrode impregnated with an electrolyte; a positive terminal and a negative terminal each electrically insulated from the sealed casing, connected to the positive current collector foil and the negative current collector foil, respectively.
US08329322B2
In a solid polyelectrolyte fuel cell, with a frame including a frame body main part placed along a peripheral edge portion of a membrane, a plurality of first retaining portions which are arrayed so as to protrude from an inner edge of the frame body main part and which retain the front surface side of the membrane, and a plurality of second retaining portions which are arrayed so as to protrude from the inner edge of the frame body main part and which retain the back surface side of the membrane, the first retaining portions and the second retaining portions are so arrayed that retaining positions of the membrane by the first retaining portions and retaining positions of the membrane by the second retaining portions are alternately placed. A plurality of front-surface side elastic members are placed on the front surface of the membrane between neighboring ones of the first retaining portions while a plurality of back-surface side elastic members are placed on the back surface of the membrane between neighboring ones of the second retaining portions.
US08329320B2
A laminated high moment film with a non-AFC configuration is disclosed that can serve as a seed layer for a main pole layer or as the main pole layer itself in a PMR writer. The laminated film includes a plurality of (B/M) stacks where B is an alignment layer and M is a high moment layer. Adjacent (B/M) stacks are separated by an amorphous layer that breaks the magnetic coupling between adjacent high moment layers and reduces remanence in a hard axis direction while maintaining a high magnetic moment and achieving low values for Hch, Hce, and Hk. The amorphous material layer may be made of an oxide, nitride, or oxynitride of one or more of Hf, Zr, Ta, Al, Mg, Zn, Ti, Cr, Nb, or Si, or may be Hf, Zr, Ta, Nb, CoFeB, CoB, FeB, or CoZrNb. Alignment layers are FCC soft ferromagnetic materials or non-magnetic FCC materials.
US08329313B2
The present invention relates to a coating composition having excellent electro-conductivity and corrosion resistance, a method of preparing the coating composition, and an article coated with the coating composition. More particularly, the present invention relates to a coating composition having excellent surface electro-conductivity and corrosion resistance, comprising: one or more base resins selected from the group consisting of a polyester resin, an epoxy resin, a polyurethane resin, an acrylic resin, a polyolefin resin, a fluorine resin, a polycarbonate resin and a phenol resin; a melamine-based curing agent; one or more selected from among carbon black and carbon nanotubes; metal powder; and organo clay, a method of preparing the coating composition, and an article coated with the coating composition.
US08329311B2
The invention concerns a nanoprinted device comprising point shaped metallic patterns, in which each metallic pattern has a bilayer structure controlled in hardness and in chemical properties comprising a lower layer (30) constituting the base of the point and an upper layer (31) constituting the point itself.
US08329307B2
This invention relates to silicon compositions particularly useful for the production of anti-fouling varnishes that can be applied to flexible or bulk supports. In particular, embodiments of the invention are directed to cross-linkable silicone composition that is cross-linkable by polyaddition and includes at least two inter-reactive polyorganosiloxane (POS) species (A) and (B) in the presence of a metal catalyst (C) in order to allow cross-linking by polyaddition; and optionally at least one particulate component (D); at least one cross-linking inhibitor (E); optionally at least one solvent (F), optionally at least one adhesion promoter (G); and optionally at least one functional additive (H) for imparting specific properties.
US08329305B2
To provide a highly hard coating film formed on a substrate, as adhered to the surface of the substrate and having a refractive index of from 1.28 to 1.41 and a contact angle with water of from 90° to 115°. A coating film having a refractive index of from 1.28 to 1.41 and a contact angle with water of from 90° to 115°, which is formed as adhered to a substrate surface by forming a reaction mixture comprising a silicon compound (A) of the formula Si(OR)4, a silicon compound (B) of the formula CF3(CF2)nCH2CH2Si(OR1)3, a silicon compound (C) of the formula H2NCOH(CH)mSi(OR2)3, an alcohol (D) of the formula R3CH2OH and oxalic acid (E), in a specific ratio, heating this reaction mixture at a temperature of from 40 to 180° C. in the absence of water to form a solution of a polysiloxane, then applying a coating fluid comprising the polysiloxane solution on a substrate surface to form a coating, and heat-curing the coating at a temperature of from 40 to 450° C.; a process for forming such a coating film, and a process for producing such a coating fluid.
US08329302B2
In order to provide a decorative coating (9) which exhibits improved temperature resistance and strength on glass and glass-ceramic and which also has no strength-reducing effect on the substrate (3), or at least no longer has any substantially strength-reducing effect on the substrate, the invention envisions a process for producing glass or glass-ceramic articles having a decorative layer in which at least one decorative pigment (13) is mixed with a sol-gel binder (11), and the pigment mixed with the sol-gel binder is cured on the glass or glass-ceramic substrate of the article by annealing, to form a decorative layer having a porous ceramiclike structure.
US08329279B2
An electrooptic apparatus includes an electrooptic material interposed between a pair of substrates, and a film formed above each of surfaces of the substrates facing the electrooptic material. The film is formed by a method including (a) forming a frame-shaped partition in an application area on the substrate, the partition having a side surface facing a center of the application area, (b) applying the material liquid to the application area, and (c) drying the material liquid. In step (a), the partition is formed so that a distance between the side surface of the partition and the center is smaller than a distance between an outer edge of the application area and the center, and so that a height of the partition is smaller than a film thickness of the material liquid at a time when the material liquid is applied and is larger than a thickness of the dried film.
US08329277B2
An optical media disk is treated with a light-sensitive material that impedes the ability of an optical media player from reading data stored on the disk. This light-sensitive material is a material that changes phase upon exposure to one or more wavelengths of light. During the initial phase, the light-sensitive material will render the disk unreadable. After activation, however, the disk becomes permanently readable by conventional optical media players. In this fashion, theft of yet-to-be-activated optical media is deterred.
US08329270B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing plastic packaging in tubular form, which process comprises a wrapping step during which a laminate (11) is wrapped, an abutting step during which the edges (8, 9) of the laminate (11) are butted together and a fastening step during which said edges (8, 9) of the laminate (11) are welded together, characterized in that a bead (12) of plastic in the molten state is extruded and deposited on the internal face of the packaging so as to cover at least the weld zone (10) defined between the edges. The energy needed to produce the weld (10) comes from the plastic bead (12).The invention also relates to packaging obtained from the aforementioned process and to a device for implementing said process.
US08329265B2
A durable and wear resistant synthetic sports transition turf field having at least two strips with a plurality of fibrillated polypropylene strands tufted within a backing material. The strands are tufted in a wide variety of pile heights, patterns, gauges, and stitch patterns depending upon end use. The backing material consists of at least two layers of a woven material, with the bottommost one coated with a secondary coating used to contain the ends of the plurality of strands. The strips are placed onto a shock layer and coupled together using a hook and loop fastening system. The field is covered with an infill preferably consisting of resilient particles. The field is easily installed and removed and is ideal for use in indoor, multiuse sports and entertainment facilities that require a multitude of different flooring surfaces.
US08329261B2
A protective coating applied to the underwater portion of a marine vessel operable to inhibit the growth of marine foulants. The coating comprises a polymer, a marine biocide, a preservative, and optionally an antimicrobial agent. In certain embodiments, the marine biocide, preservative, and optional antimicrobial agent are chemically bonded with the polymer thereby significantly reducing the ability of the biocide, preservative, and antimicrobial agent to leach from the coating into the surrounding environment.
US08329258B2
The method according to the invention for electrostatic coating of an electrically conducting workpiece with coating powder includes the following steps. The workpiece is earthed. Then an electrode has a negatives potential applied to it compared to that of the workpiece and a counter-electrode has a positive potential applied to it compared to that of the workpiece. The potential in the area of the workpiece in which the workpiece is to be coated is set to zero, by means of a control unit. Afterwards the workpiece is sprayed with coating powder in the area to be coated using a powder spray gun.
US08329257B2
The invention relates to a method for depositing nanometric filamentary structures. The method comprises passing a gaseous phase comprising the nanometric filamentary structures through a space defined between at least two electrodes generating an electric field, for depositing the nanometric filamentary structures on at least one of the electrodes; and at least substantially preventing the deposited nanometric filamentary structures from bridging the electrodes during the deposition. The invention also relates to an apparatus for depositing nanometric filamentary structures as well as to methods and apparatuses for monitoring the production of nanometric filamentary structures.
US08329245B2
A method of forming a fat product, the method entailing heating a first material to a first temperature to form a first intermediate, the first material comprising fat and the first temperature adequate to remove any memory of crystallization from the fat; rapidly cooling the first intermediate to a second temperature to form a second intermediate, the second temperature adequate to provide nascent seed crystals in the second intermediate; and quiescently cooling the second intermediate to form the fat product, the quiescent cooling adequate to support growth of macro-crystals about the nascent seed crystals.
US08329243B2
A process for producing chocolate or a chocolate-like product comprises: (i) forming a first mixture comprising components of the chocolate or chocolate-like product; (ii) grinding the first mixture in first grinding means; (iii) forming a second mixture comprising components of the chocolate or chocolate-like product; (iv) grinding the second mixture in second grinding means different from the first grinding means; (v) combining the first and second mixtures to form a third mixture; and (vi) conching the third mixture to form the chocolate or chocolate-like product.
US08329229B2
This invention provides processes for improved recovery of essential oil from the catmint (catnip) plant Nepeta cataria.
US08329228B2
A process for the preparation of an extract from a plant of the Turneraceae family, comprising the steps of: extracting plant parts with an extractant containing, in addition to water, an organic solvent selected from methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, acetone and mixtures thereof; concentrating the extracts to form a viscous extract; enriching the lipophilic substances to form a concentrate.
US08329224B2
The present invention provides a method and composition for loading one or more drugs in a solution onto one or more ion exchange resin particles to form a drug-loaded resin particle. The drug-loaded resin particle is separated from the solution and dried before recombining the drug-loaded resin particle with the solution to load more drugs onto the drug-loaded resin particle from the solution.
US08329221B2
Coprocessed compositions containing calcium phosphate and microcrystalline cellulose are useful as excipients in the preparation of solid dosage forms containing active pharmaceutical ingredients, particularly those prepared by processes involving multiple compaction steps. Such compositions may be obtained by preparing aqueous slurries of microcrystalline cellulose and calcium phosphate and drying such slurries to produce particulate products. The coprocessed products exhibit improved compactibility, as compared to dry physical blends of the same components.
US08329213B2
The present invention provides liposome compositions containing substituted ammonium and/or polyanion, and optionally with a desired therapeutic or imaging entity. The present invention also provides methods of making the liposome compositions provided by the present invention.
US08329211B2
The present invention is directed to a synthetic fabric comprising a multi-layered nonwoven fabric made from staples of a polyglycolide/polylactide copolymer, each layer having a different density. The multi-layer fabric can be used as a reinforced absorbable hemostat medical device.
US08329208B2
Compositions and methods to improve the pharmacokinetic profile of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) are provided, as are methods of treating various disorders using SAMe formulations with improved pharmacokinetic profiles. More specifically, the invention is directed to methods of treating a disease or disorder in a subject and/or improving the nutritional status of a subject by administering formulations exhibiting improved pharmacokinetic profiles of exogenous SAMe. The method also includes the step of orally administering compositions of the invention to the subject once per day after overnight fast; that is prior to food intake in the morning.
US08329202B2
One embodiment of the present invention is directed to compositions and methods for enhancing attachment of soft tissues to a metal prosthetic device. In one embodiment a construct is provided comprising a metal implant having a porous metal region, wherein said porous region exhibits a nano-textured surface, and a biocompatible polymer matrix coating the nano-textured surface. The polymer matrix coating comprises a naturally occurring extracellular matrix with biocompatible inorganic materials distributed within the matrix, or a biocompatible polymer and an osteo-inductive agent.
US08329196B2
The invention provides allergen containing pharmaceutical products and in particular fast-dispersing solid allergen dosage forms. In particular, fast-dispersing, non-compressed solid dosage forms suitable for oromucosal administration comprising a matrix and at least one allergen are provided. Suitable matrices are gelatine, starch and mannitol. Methods for the dosage forms are also provided.
US08329190B2
The invention relates to a composition for modulating the immune responses induced by Gram negative bacteria, potential pathogenic Gram positive bacteria and/or their derivatives, comprising lipoteichoic acid from lactic acid bacteria as an active ingredient. It also relates to the use of a lipoteichoic acid from lactic acid bacteria as an active ingredient and/or lactic acid bacteria producing it and/or its supernatant of culture, in the manufacture of a medicament, an oral or topical product for cosmetic, dermatological or ophtalmological applications, a food or petfood composition for modulating bacterial colonization, immune responses and decreasing the inflammatory processes associated with bacterially-mediated disease and infection in the gastrointestinal tract, bone, skin, eye, ear, lung and oral cavity. The invention also relates to lipoteichoic acid selected thereof.
US08329189B2
Provided herein are immunoreactive peptides which can selectively bind Ehrlichia-specific anti-p120 or anti-p140 antibodies. Methods and kits utilizing the immunoreactive peptides are also provided. The immunoreactive peptides may be utilized, e.g., for determining whether or not a subject is infected with Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis. In certain embodiments, the immunoreactive peptides may be utilized in an ELISA or lateral flow assay.
US08329176B2
The invention is directed to a method of inhibiting bone resorption. The method comprises administering to a human an amount of sclerostin inhibitor that reduces a bone resorption marker level for at least 2 weeks. The invention also provides a method of monitoring anti-sclerostin therapy comprising measuring one or more bone resorption marker levels, administering a sclerostin binding agent, then measuring the bone resorption marker levels. Also provided is a method of increasing bone mineral density; a method of ameliorating the effects of an osteoclast-related disorder; a method of treating a bone-related disorder by maintaining bone density; and a method of treating a bone-related disorder in a human suffering from or at risk of hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, a human in which treatment with a parathyroid hormone or analog thereof is contraindicated, or a human in which treatment with a bisphosphonate is contraindicated.
US08329170B2
An anti-IL-12 antibody that binds to a portion of the IL-12 protein corresponding to at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of residues 15, 17-21, 23, 40-43, 45-47, 54-56 and 58-62 of the amino acid sequence of the p40 subunit of IL-12, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-IL-12 antibody, vectors, host cells, transgenic animals or plants, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in treating IL-12-related disorders, such as psoriasis.
US08329162B2
Methods and compositions are provided for delivery of a polynucleotide encoding a gene of interest, typically an antigen, to a dendritic cell (DC). The virus envelope comprises a DC-SIGN specific targeting molecule. The methods and related compositions can be used to treat patients suffering from a wide range of conditions, including infection, such as HIV/AIDS, and various types of cancers.
US08329157B2
Compositions comprising poly(hydroxyalkanoates) and agents for use with medical articles are described.
US08329151B2
A method of treating hair comprising the step of applying to dry towel dried hair a hair care product comprising a non-surfactant esterified sugar which is non-crystalline at 20° C.
US08329150B2
Provided are a method for evaluating evenness of suplatast tosilate crystals; stable suplatast tosilate crystals exhibiting evenness in optical purity; and a method for producing the suplatast tosilate crystals.The method for evaluating evenness of suplatast tosilate crystals includes: (a) a step of adding a solvent to suplatast tosilate crystals to thereby dissolve 3% or less of the crystals in the solvent, and subjecting a portion of the supernatant of the resultant suspension to optical purity measurement, and (b) a step of adding a solvent to the remaining suspension to thereby dissolve the entirety of the suspension in the solvent, and subjecting a portion of the resultant solution to optical purity measurement, wherein the optical purity as measured in the step (a) is compared with the optical purity as measured in the step (b). The suplatast tosilate crystals exhibits excellent evenness and thermal stability. The method for producing the suplatast tosilate crystals is also provided.
US08329147B2
The invention relates to alkyl benzoate mixtures, the sum of the C12- and C14-alkyl benzoates being greater than or equal to 85%, in relation to the total sum of the alkyl benzoates. The invention also relates to the use of said alkyl benzoate mixtures in cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical preparations, in particular as oil components.
US08329145B1
A pumpable liquid spray formulation for retarding degradation of color cosmetics.
US08329127B2
A catalyst comprising: (a) a first layer comprising an oxidizing catalyst having an effective PGM loading such that oxidation of hydrocarbons generates sufficient heat to regenerate soot, wherein said effective amount of PGM is greater than about 10 g/ft3; and (b) a second layer adjacent to said first layer and comprising a reducing catalyst to selectively reduce NOx.
US08329112B2
The invention relates to a multi-dosing detergent delivery device. In embodiments of the present invention, the device comprises a housing (2) for receiving a cartridge (200). The cartridge (200) has a plurality X of chambers, each accommodating a detergent composition. The device has a lid (3,1100) for receiving water/wash liquor and directing it selectively into a chamber of the cartridge (200) to contact the detergent composition therein and an outlet to allow the detergent loaded wash liquor to exit the device. The device has automatic indexing means (100) for automatic movement of said cartridge (200) relative to said lid (3,1100) so as to cause a neighboring chamber to be in an exposed, ready to be used, position prior to a next washing cycle and features an end stop mechanism (A,B) for preventing actuation of said automatic indexing mechanism (100) subsequent to an Xth washing cycle. The indexing mechanism (100) operates so as to impart a first amount of rotational movement to said cartridge (200) during a heating cycle and to provide a second amount of rotational movement to said cartridge (200) during a cooling cycle and said end stop mechanism (A,B) is arranged to block completion of the second amount of rotational movement following the Xth heating cycle.
US08329110B2
An electrically-heated catalyst is disclosed. The catalyst may include a carrier; more than two comb-shaped electrode portions extending in a longitudinal direction; an electrically conductive underlying layer provided between the carrier and the comb-shaped electrode portions; and more than two electrically conductive fixing layers bonding to at least one of the comb-shaped electrode portions and to the underlying layer to fix the comb-shaped electrode portions to the carrier at more than two points spaced apart.
US08329101B2
A sample analyzer includes a transporting device configured to transport a rack for holding a plurality of sample containers containing samples respectively, a barcode reader configured to read a barcode of the rack transported by the transporting device, and an aspirating device that includes an aspirating tube and a moving device configured to move the aspirating tube in a direction to insert the aspirating tube in a sample container. The sample analyzer further includes a controller configured to determine, based on the container type identifying information included in the barcode read by the barcode reader, an aspiration position for aspirating a sample in a sample container and to control insertion of the aspirating tube in the sample container at the determined aspiration position, and an analyzing part configured to analyze the sample aspirated by the aspirating device.
US08329099B1
Reigniting a flame in a volatile organic compound (VOC) detector in the event that the flame has gone out. In one implementation, a signal is received at a handheld personal computer indicating that a flame in the VOC detector has gone out. The flame in the VOC detector may then be reignited using the handheld personal computer and a Bluetooth enabled device facilitating communication between the handheld personal computer and the VOC detector.
US08329091B2
In one aspect, there are provided methods for producing porous metallic structures, wherein the methods involve the use of collagen fibrils on the nanometer scale as a “sacrificial” scaffold upon which metal particles are deposited. Also disclosed are structures comprising a porous metallic matrix having favorable strength, porosity, and density characteristics. Structures produced in accordance with the present disclosure are useful for, inter alia, the fabrication of devices such as filters, heat exchangers, sound absorbers, electrochemical cathodes, fuel cells, catalyst supports, fluid treatment units, lightweight structures and biomaterials.
US08329081B2
A method of making a golf ball having a secondary surface texture created on the fret areas by the dimple making procedure. The secondary surface is created on a hob prior to the primary dimple pattern being formed therein, and which largely obliterates the secondary surface texture except for the fret areas and the outer inside surface of the perimeter of the dimples where the depth of the dimple is less than the depth of the secondary surface texture.
US08329055B2
Apparatus and method for improving the plasma uniformity in a plasma based system are described. The apparatus may include a plurality of electrical conductors, to which one or more types of electrical potentials may be applied. The conductors may be arranged in an array and may preferably be positioned near the plasma. By applying the bias voltages to the various electrically conductors, the plasma can be manipulated. For example, the conductors may extract or confine the electrons in the plasma, thereby locally adjusting the plasma density near the conductors. In the process, uniformity of the plasma density or ion concentration in the plasma may be improved. In a further embodiment, a magnetic field is included in the same direction as the electric field created by the bias voltage so as to better confine the charged particles.
US08329047B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a liquid discharge head including a silicon substrate having, on a first surface, energy generating elements, and a supply port penetrating the substrate from the first surface to a second surface, which is a rear surface of the first surface of the substrate. The method includes the steps of: preparing the silicon substrate having a sacrifice layer at a portion on the first surface where the ink supply port is to be formed and an etching mask layer having a plurality of openings on the second surface, the volume of a portion of the sacrifice layer at a position corresponding to a portion between two adjacent said openings being smaller than the volume of a portion of the sacrifice layer at a position corresponding to the opening; etching the silicon substrate from the plurality of openings and etching the sacrifice layer.
US08329037B2
A filtration apparatus including an annular filter surrounding a waste treatment chamber, a first turbine drawing liquid up within the chamber and a second turbine driving liquid outwardly through the filter. In the method of treating organic waste, the chamber includes an ultraviolet lamp and a cylindrical baffle surrounding the chamber having a mirrored surface. The disclosed apparatus further includes anodic and cathodic plates surrounding the filter.
US08329034B2
A grafted nonwoven substrate is disclosed having average fiber sizes of 0.7 to 15 microns, and a void volume of 50 to 95%, and a polymer comprising anionic monomer units grafted to the surface of the nonwoven substrate. The article may be used as a filter element to purify or separate target materials, such as monoclonal antibodies (MAb), from a fluid mixture.
US08329031B2
A water treatment apparatus includes a first treatment tank forming thereon a first, fixed bed includes a powdery phosphorus adsorbent includes an inorganic layered compound, wherein the first bed separates phosphorus and solid matter from the water, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the first bed, a second treatment tank forming a second, fluidized or fixed bed includes the phosphorus adsorbent, wherein the second bed separates phosphorus from the water received from the first treatment tank, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the second bed, and a transferring line configured to transfer the phosphorus adsorbent, having phosphorus adsorbed thereon in the second treatment tank, from the second treatment tank to the first treatment tank.
US08329030B2
A hemodialysis system includes (i) blood tubing; (ii) a peristaltic blood pump contacting the blood tubing to pump blood through the blood tubing; (iii) a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood tubing; (iv) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; (v) a dialysate heater; (vi) a plurality of pinch valves; and (vii) a cassette including a rigid structure, a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes, and a plurality of incoming tubes, the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orienting (a) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (b) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, and (c) the plurality of incoming tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves.
US08329029B2
A reaction inhibitor can be used to reduce catalyst activity at the beginning of a naphtha selective hydrodesulfurization process. The use of the reaction inhibitor can allow greater flexibility in selecting the reaction conditions to accommodate both the start and end of the hydrodesulfurization process. The reaction inhibitor can be removed during the hydrodesulfurization process, possibly in conjunction with modification of the reaction temperature, in order to maintain a substantially constant amount of sulfur in the naphtha product.
US08329028B2
Systems and processes for hydrocarbon conversion are provided that utilize a plurality of moving bed reactors. The reactors may be moving bed radial flow reactors. Optional mixers that mix a portion of a second hydrocarbon feed with the effluent stream from an upstream reactor, to produce reactor feed streams may be employed, and the reactor feed streams may be introduced at injection points prior to each reactor. Catalyst can be provided from the reaction zone of one reactor to the reaction zone of a downstream reactor through catalyst transfer pipes, and can be regenerated after passing through the reaction zones of the reactors. The moving bed reactors can be stacked in one or more reactor stacks.
US08329024B2
A method and apparatus measures the presence of total residual oxidant species in aqueous environments. More specifically, the apparatus is operable to measure hypohalites (e.g., hypochlorite and hypobromite) in water containing halide salts using electrochemistry. The apparatus can be a sensor having four electrodes—a reference electrode, a working electrode, and two auxiliary electrodes. The fourth electrode, i.e., the second auxiliary electrode, can be used to generate ionized water near and in contact with the working electrode. The ionized water can clean the working electrode to minimize effects due to scaling or biofilm formation. As such, the working electrode does not need the capability to clean itself. Thus, other elements, originally believed to be unsuitable for use in saline aqueous environments, can be used for the electrodes, for example, gold.
US08329018B2
Disclosed are metal plating compositions and methods. The metal plating compositions provide good leveling performance and throwing power.
US08329014B2
Disclosed is a method for producing a vehicle body, which, without removing protrusions on an electrophoretic coating, improves the coating quality. The outer surface of the vehicle body is sanded prior to a pre-treatment, where the vehicle body is degreased and washed.
US08329013B2
A process for the anticorrosive treatment of metal components that have been heat-treated at a temperature of at least 100° C. and at least partially comprise zinc surfaces, wherein the surfaces of the component that consist of zinc already partially have a crystalline zinc phosphate layer, wherein the cleaned component is given an activating pretreatment with an acidic aqueous dispersion of insoluble phosphates having a pH of not less than 4 and the component is subsequently subjected to a phosphating conversion treatment before electrocoating is applied. The invention also comprises the use of metal components that have been treated in such a process, for the application of multilayer systems and in particular for the manufacture of bodies in automobile production.
US08329004B2
An apparatus for protection of metallic materials from corrosion comprising an electrical power source (5) and a conductor (7) coupled to the power source. An anode (11) is electrically coupled to the conductor. The anode is configured to be secured proximal to the metallic materials to be protected from corrosion and has an exterior surface (13) formed predominantly of electrically conductive polymer and an interior filled with particulate carbonaceous material. The anode comprises a hollow cylinder (13) formed of electrically conductive polymer, the cylinder having an interior. A metallic tube (15) is secured to and in electrical communication with the interior of the cylinder. An anode conductor (17) is electrically coupled to the metallic tube and extends from the interior of the cylinder to the exterior of the cylinder for connection to the conductor coupled to the power source.
US08329002B1
Methods for depositing an amorphous vanadium oxide (VOx) film include vaporizing vanadium from a vanadium source while the a gas containing an oxygen species and a process modifying additive are in the chamber so as to deposit an amorphous VOx film on the substrate, where x>0. The process modifying additive includes a gas flowing into the chamber or vaporized material from a target source. The additive may stabilize the deposition rate of VOx, reduce resistivity, improve thickness control, and improve uniformity of thickness and resistivity. The thin film may be a nitrogen-enhanced, amorphous vanadium oxide (VOxNy) film formed on a substrate, where x>y>0, and the film contains at least 0.2 atomic % nitrogen. The film may be used in a device, such as a thermal or infrared sensor, or more particularly a bolometer.
US08328998B2
An ozone generating apparatus is provided which includes a pair of electrodes for producing a discharge by the application of an ac voltage therebetween, and at least one dielectric provided between the pair of electrodes. A source gas containing oxygen is provided into a discharge space in which the discharge is produced to generate ozone by the action of the discharge. A surface lying between at least one of the pair of electrodes and the discharge space and in contact with the discharge has a surface resistivity of 104Ω to 1011Ω. The source gas provided into the discharge space includes ultrapure oxygen having a purity of not less than 99.9%.
US08328996B2
A method and apparatus for desalinating water combined with power generation, wherein a desalination system is used for desalinating coastal seawater and is operationally related to a power generation system, wherein such dual purpose co-generation facility captures the heat vapor exhausted or a steam turbine generator's condenser is replaced by the desalination plant's heat exchanger enabling such captured heat energy to reduce the energy requirements of the desalination plant, and wherein brine solution being utilized by the desalination plant is circulated from and to the substrata sea water table via supply and return wells.
US08328993B2
Proposed is a pyrolysis reactor for processing solid municipal and domestic wastes by means of a pyrolytic reaction in the pyrolysis chamber without access of oxygen to the reaction system. The reactor is characterized by containing two waste-feeding screws which have tapered shapes, a gap between the outer surfaces of the threads, are inclined in the vertical plane and converge towards each other in a horizontal plane in the direction from the inlet to the outlet end. The gap is adjustable with diminishing toward the outlet end.
US08328992B1
A retort involves a stack of retort units arranged to process coal or other raw material by heating the coal in a heating compartment and directing vapors emitted from the raw material into a vapor compartment surrounding the heating compartment. The heating compartment may include a plurality of louver units with embedded heating components. Each louver unit includes heating fins (a heat transfer medium) that delivers heat to the coal. Each louver unit also includes an insulation layer adjacent a vapor opening where vapors emitted from the coal pass into the vapor compartment. The vapors are directed to a distillation column where carbon based vapors, volatiles, fuel vapors and the like may be liquefied for transport to a refinery or directly refined into fuels. Further, a clean coal char (toxins and carbon vaporized) is delivered to a power generation plant to provide cleaner emissions relative to unprocessed coal.
US08328990B2
A fabric for a papermaking machine, the fabric including a machine facing side and a web facing side having pockets formed by warp and weft yarns. Each pocket is defined by four sides on the web facing side, two of the four sides each formed by a warp knuckle of a single warp yarn that passes over three consecutive weft yarns to define the warp knuckle, the other two of the four sides each formed by a weft knuckle of a single weft yarn that passes over three consecutive warp yarns to define the weft knuckle, a lower surface of each pocket being formed by first and second lower warps yarns and first and second lower weft yarns, a first warp knuckle being of the first warp yarn passed over by a first weft knuckle and the first lower warp yarn being of the second warp yarn passed over by the first weft knuckle and the second lower warp yarn being of the third warp yarn passed over the first weft knuckle, a second weft knuckle being of the first weft yarn passed over by the first warp knuckle and the second lower weft yarn being of the second weft yarn passed over by the first warp knuckle and the first lower weft yarn being of the third weft yarn passed over by the first warp knuckle, the first lower warp yarn passing under the first and second lower weft yarns, and the second lower warp passing over the first lower weft yarn and under the second lower weft yarn.
US08328989B2
The invention pertains to a process for manufacturing paper or cardboard, wherein flour including a protein and starch fraction is subjected to a degradation step involving a treatment with protease and a non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) hydrolyzing enzyme, after which the flour is introduced into the paper fiber matrix. It is especially preferred that the flour is rye flour, and that the NSP hydrolyzing enzyme is a hemi-cellulase or a cellulase, or a combination thereof. The invention also pertains to a composition containing flour and the aforementioned enzymes; and to the use of flour thus treated as a source of starch.
US08328986B2
A disclosed laminated sheet to be wound around an outer surface of an exhaust gas processing unit includes a first mat containing first inorganic fibers and a second mat containing second inorganic fibers, the second mat being laminated on the first mat. The average fiber length of the first inorganic fibers is larger than the average fiber length of the second inorganic fibers and the laminated sheet is to be wound around the exhaust gas processing unit such that the first mat forms an outermost layer. Development of cracks in the outer surface of the laminated sheet can be prevented by winding the laminated sheet around an exhaust gas processing unit such that the first mat faces outward.
US08328981B2
A plasma etching apparatus includes a vacuum processing chamber; a lower electrode, i.e., a mounting table for mounting the substrate, provided in the vacuum processing chamber; an upper electrode provided to face the lower electrode; a gas supply unit for supplying a processing gas to the vacuum processing chamber; a high frequency power supply unit for supplying a high frequency power to the lower electrode; and a focus ring provided on the lower electrode to surround a periphery of the substrate. In a method for performing a plasma etching on a substrate by using the plasma etching apparatus, a plasma is generated in the vacuum processing chamber to perform the plasma etching on the substrate by using the plasma after the focus ring is heated by supplying a high frequency power from the high frequency power supply unit to the lower electrode under a condition that no plasma is generated.
US08328980B2
An apparatus to supply a plurality of process fluids for processing a substrate in a semiconductor processing chamber is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of process fluid supply valves and a fluid supply network that is defined between a crossover valve and a tuning supply valve. The apparatus further includes a tuning fluid supply being connected to the fluid supply network through the tuning supply valve. Further included with the apparatus is a plurality of process fluids that are connected to the fluid supply network through the plurality of process fluid supply valves. A process chamber that has a substrate support is also included in the apparatus. The process chamber further including an edge fluid supply and a center fluid supply, the edge fluid supply connected to the fluid supply network through an edge enable valve and the center supply connected to the fluid supply network through a center enable valve. Wherein the crossover valve, edge enable valve, and center enable valve allow one of tuning fluid or process fluids to flow to one of the edge fluid supply or the center fluid supply.
US08328975B2
A fixed window assembly is adapted to be fixedly secured to a door of a motor vehicle having a retractable window pane. The fixed window assembly includes a fixed window pane having an outer periphery. A division post extends along a portion of the outer periphery of the fixed window pane. A glass run is fixedly secured to the division post opposite of the fixed window pane for receiving the retractable window pane. The glass run is formed from a first moldable material. An encapsulation is molded to the fixed window pane to secure the division post thereto. The encapsulation is formed from a second moldable material that is different from the first moldable material.
US08328971B2
Laminated metallic sheets which comprise an interior layer of a viscoelastic polymeric compound sandwiched between outer layers of metallic sheet may exhibit enhanced properties through modification of the viscoelastic phase. In a first embodiment the elastic modulus of the viscoelastic polymeric compound may be reduced by incorporating voids, bubbles or pores within the compound. These voids which may be introduced by introduction of polymeric microspheres are effective in reducing the internal stresses induced in the laminate by temperature changes. In a second embodiment, coating the microspheres with an electrically-conductive layer may be effective in enabling resistance spot welding of such laminated materials.
US08328969B2
A method for curing a resin contained in a liner of an underground pipe or passageway by use of a mobile magnetron module. The module navigates the length of the passageway of pipe via air pressure which also keeps the liner inflated. A winch attached to the module regulates the rate at which the module traverses the passageway or pipe. As the module makes its way through the passageway or pipe, the magnetron emits microwaves which cures the resin. Additionally, a thermal imaging camera can be utilized in the module or trailing the module to monitor the status of the curing of the resin in its entirety.
US08328957B2
In an electric resistance welded steel pipe with excellent weld toughness for a line pipe, the area fraction of minute defects each having a maximum length of less than 50 μm in a projection plane of an electric resistance welded seam is in the range of 0.000006 to 0.026, and the absorbed energy at −40° C. measured by a method for an impact test of metallic materials is 315 J or more.
US08328956B2
The present invention provides a gear, continuously variable transmission, constant velocity joint, hub, or other steel part superior in surface fatigue strength compared with the past and method of production of the same, that is, provides a carbonitrided induction hardened steel part made of steel comprised of a specific composition of chemical ingredients and carbonitrided, then treated by induction hardening, the steel part characterized in that a surface N concentration is 0.1 to 0.8 mass %, a sum of an N concentration and C concentration is 1.0 to 2.0 mass %, an amount of surface residual austenite is less than 15 vol %, a depth of the incompletely hardened layer from the surface is less than 5 μm, and a surface X-ray diffraction half width is 6.0 degrees or more, and a method of production of the same.
US08328951B2
Liquid detergent or cleaning agent preparations include a) at least 5 wt % of at least one enzyme preparation active in washing or cleaning; and b) at least 0.5 wt % cumenesulfonate, wherein the liquid detergent or cleaning agent preparations are characterized by a good phase stability and enzyme stability and good cleaning performance.
US08328940B2
In one embodiment, a transfer robot for transferring a substrate includes a supporting means, a transfer robot arm including a first sub-robot arm and a second sub-robot arm arranged over the supporting means, an inner rail and an outer rail adjacent to the inner rail overlying the supporting means. The first sub-robot arm is adapted to move in a straight line motion along the inner rail and the second sub-robot arm is adapted to move in a straight line motion along the outer rail. The second sub-robot arm surrounds the first sub-robot arm.
US08328934B2
This invention relates to a novel, bacterial GTP Cyclohydrolase Type IB enzyme, and the crystal structure thereof.
US08328933B2
The invention provides a method to enforce face-to-face stacking of organic semiconductors in the solid state that employs semiconductor co-crystal formers (SCCFs), to align semiconductor building blocks (SBBs). Single-crystal X-ray analysis reveals π-orbital overlap optimal for organic semiconductor device applications.
US08328931B2
The present invention concerns a hydraulic binder comprising a ground blast furnace slag in an amount comprised between 30% and 95% by mass on the binder, Portland cement clinker in an amount equal to or greater than 5% by mass on the binder, and at least one sulphate as activator, characterised in that said slag has the following properties and composition by mass: grinding fineness greater than 4000 cm2/g Blaine glass content greater than 80% SiO2: 30-40% Al2O3: 9-13% CaO: 34-42% with a (CaO+MgO)/(Al2O3+SiO2) ratio greater than 1; and in that said sulphate is contained in a total amount, expressed as SO3, comprised between 0.6% and 4.5% by mass on the binder.
US08328929B2
Silicone compositions that are cationically crosslinkable into hard, anti-mist/anti-fouling coatings, e.g., onto thermoplastic substrates, contain colloidal particles of non-functionalized silica and also: at least one crosslinkable and/or polymerizable silicone monomer, oligomer and/or polymer comprising: at least one structural unit of formula (I): Z1(R0)aSiO(3-a)/2 (I) in which: a=0, 1 or 2; the radicals R0, which may be identical or different when a>1, are each an alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, vinyl, or alkoxy radical, or a hydrogen atom; the radicals Z1, which may be identical or different when the number of units of formula (I) is greater than 1, are each an organic substituent comprising at least one epoxy and/or alkenyl ether and/or oxetane and/or dioxolane and/or carbonate reactive functional group; and a total number of silicon atoms per molecule at least equal to 2; and an effective amount of at least one cationic initiator; and optionally, at least one organic solvent.
US08328927B2
A water-based ink for ink jet recording, containing: a coloring agent; water; and a water-soluble organic solvent. The coloring agent contains a phosphate group-modified self-dispersing pigment. The water-based ink further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of boric acid, diglycolic acid, and a chelating agent.
US08328921B2
Dye-based gray ink formulations, ink-jet ink sets, and methods of making a dye-based gray ink formulation, are disclosed.
US08328914B2
A apparatus for substantially dehumidifying an insulating annular space (108) is provided. This apparatus includes an insulated surrounding envelope (106), an inner cylindrical device (107) and a partial annular cylinder (100) comprising at least two porous zones. This apparatus positions the partial annular cylinder (100) within the insulating annular space (108) that is formed by the inner cylindrical device (107) positioned within the insulated surrounding envelope (106). This partial annular cylinder (100) holds adsorbent.
US08328908B2
The invention provides an apparatus and methods for removing heavy metals and heavy metal-containing compounds from fluid streams. The invention also provides new uses and methods for removing heavy metals and heavy metal-containing compounds from a natural gas stream, or a gas stream produced during the combustion or gasification of a fossil fuel, such as coal or petroleum fuels or oil.
US08328907B2
A system includes a resonant frequency modeler for determining a resonant frequency of a node on a collecting plate that collects particles from a gas flow; and a wave generating device that applies a wave having an applied frequency substantially equal to the resonant frequency to the node of the collecting plate to remove particles from the collecting plate. An electrostatic precipitator (ESP) including the system and related method are also provided.
US08328900B2
Provided herein are processes for recovering molybdenum and/or other value metals (e.g., uranium) present in aqueous solutions from a large range of concentrations: from ppm to grams per liter via a solvent extraction process by extracting the molybdenum and/or other value metal from the aqueous solution by contacting it with an organic phase solution containing a phosphinic acid, stripping the molybdenum and/or other value metal from the organic phase solution by contacting it with an aqueous phase strip solution containing an inorganic compound and having a ≦1.0 M concentration of free ammonia, and recovering the molybdenum and/or other value metal by separating it from the aqueous phase strip solution. When the molybdenum and/or other value metal are present only in low concentration, the processes can include an organic phase recycle step and/or an aqueous phase strip recycle step in order to concentrate the metal prior to recover.
US08328889B2
Systems and processes for producing syngas and power therefrom are provided. One or more feedstocks and one or more oxidants can be combined in a fluidized reaction zone operated at a temperature from 550° C. to 1,050° C. to provide a syngas. Heat can be indirectly exchanged in a first zone from the syngas to a condensate to provide steam. Heat can also be indirectly exchanged in a second zone from the syngas to the steam to provide superheated steam. Heat can then be indirectly exchanged in a third zone from the syngas to provide a cooled syngas and the condensate for the first zone. At least a portion of the superheated steam can be directly supplied to one or more steam turbines to produce power.
US08328886B2
A fuel processor includes a reformer that generates hydrogen gas by reacting a fuel source and water; a burner that heats the reformer to a temperature suitable for a hydrogen generation reaction; a CO shift reactor that removes CO generated during the hydrogen generation reaction in the reformer; a heating element for heating the CO shift reactor; and a cooling element for cooling the CO shift reactor, wherein the cooling element comprises at least one of a cooling water flow line for heat exchange with the CO shift reactor when cooling water flows through the cooling water flow line and a cooling gas flow line for heat exchange with the CO shift reactor when a cooling gas, which is a burner exhaust gas that has heat exchanged with cooling water, flows through the cooling gas flow line. When the fuel processor is operated, a stable CO removal performance can be maintained since the temperature of the CO shift reactor can be actively controlled.
US08328884B1
Compositions for wood pellets including grape vine and methods of making wood pellet compositions including grape vine are described. The wood pellets include wood particles, grape vine particles, and a lubricant. The method includes mixing wood particles and grape vine particles with a lubricant, heating the mixture, and forming the mixture into pellets.
US08328881B2
This invention relates to a permanent dye for coloring keratinous fibers comprising: (a) A solution of iron (II) or iron (III) salt; (b) A solution of an aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula and (c) A solution of at least one color developer selected from the group consisting of a polyphenol and polyphenol derivatives or mixture thereof. A method of coloring keratinous fibers using the permanent dye is also provided.
US08328879B2
Agent for lightening keratin fibers, particularly human hair. The agent for lightening keratin fibers contains at least one cationic phthalimide of formula (I) in addition to an oxidant in a cosmetic carrier.
US08328878B2
A kind of yarn of animal collagen fiber and the manufacture process thereof, characterized in that the yarn is made of 1-100 WT % of collagen fiber of animal leather, and 0-99 WT % of textile fiber. The yarn of animal collagen fiber is made by the following procedure: choosing raw materials, loosing fiber, assorting, blending, carding, drawing, and twisting, if using the rawhide, the above procedure should add the steps of liming, washing, deliming, tanning and dehydrating. The raw material of the yarn can be the rawhide of any animal, as well as the leftover material or worn-out leather. The yarn has excellent properties, high tensile strength, abrasion resistance, softness, water adsorbent, oil adsorbent, flame-retardant, and can be woven, knitted and braided. The yarn can be used to weave high quality fabric with high count and high strength for four seasons, which greatly broadens the application fields of animal leather, improves the utilization of the leather and provides a kind of spinnable fiber for the textile industry. Therefore, the present invention can be widely used in textile industry.
US08328871B2
An expandable medical implant for supporting bone structures is disclosed. The implant may include an outer member and an inner member receivable in the outer member. One of the outer and inner members includes a tapered surface and the other of the outer and inner members includes a scalloped surface. The implant may also include a locking element disposed between the tapered surface and the scalloped surface. The tapered surface may be movable relative to the locking element to transversely shift the locking element into engagement with the scalloped surface to inhibit a decrease in the overall implant height.
US08328869B2
Accommodating intraocular lenses containing a flowable media and their methods of accommodation.
US08328867B2
A drug eluting implantable device includes an exterior surface on the device and at least one recess formed in the exterior surface. The device further include at least one sidewall protruding from the exterior surface adjacent the at least one recess defining a channel with the recess into which the drug may be loaded, the sidewall including a perpendicular portion substantially perpendicular to the exterior surface and the sidewall further including a parallel portion extending from the perpendicular portion, the parallel portion extending from the perpendicular portion at an angle greater than about 90 degrees as measured with reference to the exterior surface.
US08328865B2
Preferred embodiments of a stent with a high degree of flexibility are shown and described. The stent can include a continuous helical winding having interconnected struts joined at vertices, and having bridges connecting sections of the helical winding to each other. An annular ring can be provided at one or both ends of the helical winding, and the annular ring can have extensions extending to connect to the helical winding. One of the extensions can connect to a bridge and another extension can connect to a vertex. The struts at the ends of the helical winding can have strut lengths that differ from the strut lengths of the struts in a central portion of the winding between the ends of the winding.
US08328854B2
A dynamic cervical plate has a ratchet and pawl mechanism that allows the cervical plate to post operatively shorten the length of the plate and maintain compression between adjacent vertebrae. The plate has an elongated shaft with teeth on one surface and a groove along each longitudinal edge. A lateral plate is attached on one end of the shaft. The plate has screw holes for connecting with the head of a spinal screw. Another lateral plate is slidably engaged in the longitudinal grooves along the shaft and has a spring clip acting as a pawl with the teeth on the shaft. The sliding bar has screw holes on each side of the shaft. The clip is configured to span the screw holes to automatically engage and prevent screws from backing out of the holes.
US08328852B2
A spinal intervertebral support implant, for fusion or for dynamic stabilization purposes. A rod, preferably in the form of a screw, is inserted obliquely from the pedicle of an inferior vertebra into the body of a neighboring superior vertebra, through the disc space. The rod can be anchored into the body of the superior vertebra by means of a force fit or a screw thread. A pile of elements is disposed on the rod in the disc space like a pile of washers, so that the compression load between vertebrae is carried partly by these elements. These elements can be inserted through the bore through which the rod was inserted in a tightly folded configuration, and deployed into their washer-like form only when in position in the intervertebral space, such that there is no need for any additional incisions.
US08328846B2
Multi-membrane prosthetic nucleus and implants using same are disclosed having an outermost membrane that is semi-compliant and limits the innermost membrane and any intermediate membranes that are highly compliant from bulging out of any opening in the annulus fibrosus. The outermost membrane may help protect the innermost membrane from trauma including any trauma before the innermost membrane is expanded through the injection of prosthetic nucleus material and trauma during the expansion of the innermost membrane in response to the injection of prosthetic nucleus material. Also disclosed is a coated membrane which combines the mechanical properties of the foundation layer with the low permeability to the passage of the flowable prosthetic material of the coating. This coated membrane is semi-compliant and prevents the prosthetic nucleus from bulging out of any openings in the annulus fibrosus. Use is made of injected prosthetic nucleus material that changes to a non-flowable state.
US08328842B2
A medical guidewire assembly comprises a guidewire having a flexible tip. A medical device such as a collapsible filter for use as an embolic protection device is mounted on the guidewire. The filter is advanced through a body lumen with the guidewire tip extending distally. A variable thickness guidewire (having a recess or thinner segment between thicker segments) can be employed. At a first location the filter is advanced relative to the tip to a location which is distally advanced from the first location. Placement of the filter in an optimal distal location is thereby achieved.
US08328836B2
Various methods and devices are provided for penetrating tissue. In one embodiment, a tissue-penetrating device is provided and includes a flexible hollow elongate shaft having a tissue-penetrating tip at a distal end thereof, and a plunger disposed within the tissue-penetrating tip. The plunger can be movable relative to the tissue-penetrating tip between a distal position in which the plunger is distal of the tissue-penetrating tip to prevent tissue penetration, and a proximal position in which the plunger is proximal of the tissue-penetrating tip to allow the tip to penetrate tissue. The plunger can be adapted to move from the distal position to the proximal position when the plunger is advanced into a tissue surface. The device can also include a biasing element coupled to the plunger that can be adapted to bias the plunger to the distal position. The biasing element can be coupled between a distal end of a stylet that extends through the hollow elongate shaft, and a proximal end of the plunger.
US08328834B2
An ultrasonic clamp coagulator assembly that is configured to permit selective cutting, coagulation, and fine dissection required in fine and delicate surgical procedures. The assembly includes a housing, a curved blade assembly and a first shroud and a second shroud.
US08328833B2
An end effector of an ultrasonic surgical instrument is provided, the ultrasonic surgical instrument having a manipulatable structure, a body portion operatively connected to the manipulatable structure and having a distal end, a transducer, and the end effector being supported on the distal end of the body portion, the end effector including a plurality of resonant member elements, each resonant member operatively connected to a transducer of the plurality of transducers for effecting vibrations along the length of the resonant member, and including an operating surface configured to effect tissue dissection, cutting, coagulation, ligation and/or hemostasis, wherein a displacement curve associated with the vibrations of a first one of the plurality of resonant members is offset relative to the displacement curve associated with the vibrations of a second one of the plurality of resonant members.
US08328829B2
The present invention is an atherectomy catheter with a hollow head. The head has a window with at least one internal bladed edge, a plunger, and an adjustable angle nose. The angle of the nose can be manipulated by the operator to apply pressure to an artery wall, thereby forcing the window and the window cutting edge up against a plaque target on the opposite side of the artery wall. The position of the plunger can be manipulated by the operator to open or close the window, thereby exposing or not exposing the bladed window edge, and optionally also pinching off dangling plaque fragments. Cut plaque enters the hollow catheter head through the open window, and is stored inside the catheter for removal from the body and subsequent analysis. In some embodiments, the catheter head may have optional sensors, or the plunger may also serve as a rotary cutter.
