US08331746B2

An illumination unit comprising a luminescence diode chip mounted on a chip carrier and comprising an optical waveguide is specified. The optical waveguide is joined together from at least two separate parts, wherein the luminescence diode chip is encapsulated by one of the parts of the optical waveguide. A method for producing a luminescence diode chip of this type and also an LCD display comprising an illumination unit of this type are furthermore specified.
US08331743B2

The present invention describes a microresonator that can be used as a 1:f variable coupler in a unit cell. It is described how a cascade of unit cells can be used to form a tunable, higher-order RF-filter with reconfigurable passbands. The disclosed filter structure can be utilized for the narrowband channelization of RF signals that have been modulated onto optical carriers. It is also disclosed how to utilize add/drop capabilities of the contemplated microdisks to confer connectivity and cascading in two dimensions. The present invention can conveniently provide a wavelength division multiplexing router, where an array of unit cells as provided herein can form a programmable optical switching matrix, through electronic programming of filter parameters.
US08331742B2

Method and apparatus enable optical evanescent sensing utilizing a waveguide with an annular core. The annular core can provide detectable sensitivity to a measurand due to optical interactions with contents along an inside surface of the annular core since optical properties of the contents vary with changes in the measurand.
US08331740B2

Image data of a zone in a response form that has a plurality of response bubbles in the zone is processed. The image data of the zone has at least one response bubble that is well-formed and at least one response bubble that is not well-formed. Well-formed response bubbles are located in the zone from image data of the zone. The locations of the well-formed response bubbles in the zone are compared to a form template that defines the zone and contains data regarding locations of all expected response bubbles in the zone. It is determined from the comparison whether sufficient information exists to determine that the well-formed response bubbles constitute a specific part of the form template zone. If so, then the well-formed response bubbles are processed from the image data of the zone.
US08331730B2

Systems and methods are disclosed that determine a largest patch size to traverse a digital image, analyze the digital image to detect one or more first objects of a size approximately the same as the largest patch size, and discontinue analyzing the digital image when the digital image includes the first object(s) of a size approximately the same as the largest patch size. The patch size is decremented to progressively smaller patch sizes if the first object(s) of a size approximately the same as the largest patch size is not detected and the digital image is further analyzed to detect one or more first objects of a size approximately the same as the smaller patch size until the first object(s) are detected or the patch size is decremented below a predetermined smallest size.
US08331729B2

A block-based object counting apparatus and a block-based object counting that improves the counting of objects by using a camera. The object counting apparatus includes: a camera acquiring an image; a storage unit for storing average sizes and error data of an object in units of image blocks; and a control unit having a data inputter for receiving the acquired image for input, an object size determinator for determining appearance of the object by comparing a current image with a previous image and then determining the size of the object, a block determinator for determining a block where the object is located, and a counter for counting the object and fixing the counting of the object by comparing the size and location data of the object with data stored in a storage unit.
US08331713B2

An image processing apparatus includes: a blur removing processing section configured to carry out a blur removing process for an input image using a plurality of blur removal coefficients for removing blur of a plurality of different blur amounts to produce a plurality of different blur removal result images; a feature detection section configured to detect a feature from each of the different blur removal result images; a blur amount class determination section configured to determine blur amount classes representative of classes of the blur amounts from the features; and a prediction processing section configured to carry out mathematic operation of pixel values of predetermined pixels of the input image and prediction coefficients learned in advance and corresponding to the blur amount classes to produce an output image from which the blur is removed.
US08331712B2

A method for designing computational optical imaging system, including a step for setting a target; a step for designing an optical module; and a step for designing an image restoration module; wherein by using the similarity and blur minimization of the optical module and the image restoration module to gather the optimization judgment standard, the step for designing an optical module and the step for designing an image restoration module operate individually synchronously or in sequence, and by a software product to design an optical imaging system so as to reduce the quantity and time of calculation and save repairing costs.
US08331708B2

Methods and apparatuses for compressing and decompressing digital data. The method for compressing digital data comprises a number of steps: a) generating a vector-valued dataset according to the digital data, b) transforming the vector-valued dataset into multiwavelet coefficients, and c) entropically coding the multiwavelet coefficients. The method for decompressing digital data is substantially made up of the same steps as the method for compressing digital data but functioning in a reverse manner.
US08331704B2

Provided are methods and apparatuses for coding a motion vector by a multimedia image codec. The method including: calculating and storing difference vectors which represent differences between adjacent motion vectors of image data; selecting a central axis of the stored difference vectors based on trend information of the difference vectors; transforming the difference vectors based on the central axis of the difference vectors; and performing bit coding using the axis-transformed difference vectors.
US08331697B2

Disclosed are a system and a method for a computerized automatic placement of objects in media files in post-production. Embodiments of the present invention enable the automatic placement of objects which appear in a media file, such as a digital video file. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the disclosed system and method allow the replacement of a specific pattern which appears in a given video file with a new image, in a fully transparent manner. According to embodiments of the present invention the makers of the media file place a designated pattern in the media file, such as a sticker on an object. Embodiments of the present invention enable the replacing of a new image on the designated pattern on the sticker with a new image.
US08331696B2

To provide an update region detection device capable of accurately detecting an update region from plot data on a computer screen. In an update region detection unit (125), a pixel comparison unit (601) compares a difference between values of pixels at the same position in each of a reference frame and a current frame, with a first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being a value greater than the first threshold. An update region extraction unit (602) extracts, an update region, a group including a pixel where a difference greater than the second threshold has been detected, from among a group of pixels where a difference greater than the first threshold has been detected.
US08331693B2

An information retrieval apparatus includes an obtaining unit configured to obtain dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of a target object to be retrieved and dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of each of comparison objects to be compared with the target object, the dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of the target object and the dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of the comparison objects being obtained as a result of adaptive dynamic range coding; a distance computation unit configured to compute distances between the target object and the comparison objects using the obtained dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of the target object and the obtained dynamic ranges or re-quantization codes of the comparison objects; and a comparison unit configured to compare the distances between the target object and the comparison objects to select one of the comparison objects having a minimum distance.
US08331675B2

A first multi-dimensional digital image of a scan region is generated. The scan region is included in a materials-detection apparatus and is configured to receive and move containers through the materials-detection apparatus. A pre-defined background range of values is accessed, the background range of values representing a range of values associated with non-target materials and the background range of values being distinct from values associated with the target materials. A value of a voxel included in the multi-dimensional digital image is compared to the background range of values to determine whether the value of the voxel is within the background range of values. If the value of the voxel is within the background range of values, the voxel is identified as a voxel representing a low-density material. A second multi-dimensional digital image that disregards the identified voxel is generated to compress the first multi-dimensional digital image.
US08331672B2

Disclosed is a method and an apparatus for recognizing a character and efficiently removing a misrecognized character. The method includes detecting character regions including at least one character in an input image, converting the input image into a binary image, discriminating the characters from a non-character, re-classifying the character region including a number of characters equal to or less than a threshold into a non-character region, and outputting only the characters present in the character region.
US08331671B2

A region separation unit separates an inputted color document image into a plurality of types of regions such as a character region, a clip art region and a photo image region, and a clip art region extraction unit identifies the clip art region from among the separated regions. A clip art region dividing unit divides the clip art region based on the color features of the clip art region, and a clip art background identify unit identifies the background portion of the clip art region from among the divided regions. A filling unit for filling portions other than the background of a clip art fills a portion of the clip art other than the background with the background color, and a JPEG compression unit compresses the result obtained from the process for filling a clip art portion.
US08331670B2

A document alteration detection method compares a target image with an original image by comparing character shape features without actually recognizing the characters. Bounding boxes for the characters are generated for both images, each enclosing one or more connected groups of pixels of one character. The bounding boxes in the original and target images are matched into pairs. Addition and deletion of text is detected if a bounding box in one image does not have a matching one in the other image. Each pair of bounding boxes is processed to compare their shape features. The shape features include the Euler numbers of the characters, the aspect ratio of the bounding boxes, the pixel density of the bounding boxes, and the Hausdorff distance between the two characters. The two characters are determined to be the same or different based on the shape feature comparisons.
US08331668B2

An image processing device that processes multivalue image data includes: a histogram storage section that stores an appearance frequency of each of gradation values; a palette storage section that stores the gradation value that corresponds to each of index values; an output section that accesses the histogram storage section data and outputs the appearance frequency of the gradation value of the piece of pixel data; a histogram generator that accesses the histogram storage section for each piece of the pixel data included in the image data and adds one to the appearance frequency of the gradation value of the piece of pixel data; and a palette generator that assigns, when the appearance frequency that is output from the output section indicates 0, the index value to the gradation value and accesses the palette storage section and stores the gradation value that corresponds to the index value.
US08331666B2

Systems and methods are provided for reducing eye coloration artifacts in an image. In the system and method, an eye is detected in the image and a pupil color for the eye in the image and a skin color of skin in the image associated with the eye are determined. At least one region of artifact coloration in the eye in the image is then identified based on the pupil color and the skin color, and a coloration of the region is modified to compensate for the artifact coloration.
US08331657B2

A computer-implemented pattern recognition method, system and program product, the method comprising in one embodiment: creating electronically a linkage between a plurality of models within a classifier module within a pattern recognition system such that any one of said plurality of models may be selected as an active model in a recognition process; creating electronically a null hypothesis between at least one model of said plurality of linked models and at least a second model among said plurality of linked models; accumulating electronically evidence to accept or reject said null hypothesis until sufficient evidence is accumulated to reject said null hypothesis in favor of one of said plurality of linked models or until a stopping criterion is met; and transmitting at least a portion of the electronically accumulated evidence or a summary thereof to accept or reject said null hypothesis to a pattern classifier module.
US08331642B2

A method for determining a contour of an object in a digital image includes determining a preliminary object center and determining contour candidate image points. The contour candidate image points are determined as image points on a plurality of paths leading away from a preliminary object center by detecting a change from a first section to a second section on a feature space based on the image point value range of the digital image or by detecting the exceeding of a predetermined strength of a feature change in the feature space, wherein the contour candidate image points have a distance to the preliminary or to an improved object center and are ordered according to a polar angle. Further, the method includes determining zones of neighboring contour candidate image points within which a change of the distance of the contour candidate image points lies above a threshold value and an elimination of contour candidate image points which lie between the zones of neighboring contour candidate image points. Finally, a determination of the contour is executed on the basis of the remaining contour candidate image points.
US08331634B2

In a method for virtual adaptation of an object to be medically inserted in a patient, to a body part of the patient, the object is shown in a desired view on a monitor, the body part is shown in 3D on the monitor, the body part in its unchanged 3D-imaging context, is automatically displaced relative to the object until the object is adapted to the body part with the orientation of the object relative to the monitor remaining unchanged.
US08331630B2

Detecting with good precision an eye inside corner position and an eye outside corner position as face feature points even when the eye inside corner and/or the eye outside corner portions are obscured by noise. First eyelid profile modeling is performed with a Bezier curve expressed by a fixed control point P3 indicating an eye inside corner first position detected in an image, a fixed control point P4 indicating an eye outside corner first position, a control point P1 corresponding to an upper eyelid position candidate (first parameter), and a control point P2 corresponding to a lower eyelid position candidate (second parameter). Then in a second eyelid profile model with fixed P1 and P2 of the first eyelid profile model having the highest fitting evaluation value λ to the eyelid profile in the image, the values of a control point P3 indicating an eye inside corner position candidate (third parameter) and a control point P4 indicating an eye outside corner candidate (fourth parameter) at a maximum of a fitting evaluation value λ when changing the values of the control point P3 and control point P4 are determined as an eye inside corner second position and an eye outside corner second position, respectively.
US08331629B2

A perfect non-contact type vein authentication apparatus is provided with a light source for emitting infrared light; an input interface equipped with an imaging unit for photographing a vein image of a living body by the infrared light emitted from said light source; a unit for controlling intensity of light to be illuminated; an image calculating unit for performing a feature extracting operation and a feature authenticating operation with respect to an image; and a positioning unit for presenting the living body. More specifically, the light source is provided in front of the living body. Both the light source and the imaging unit are installed in such a positional relationship that the light of the light source gives no adverse influence to the imaging unit. Also, the light source is installed in such a direction that the light of the light source gives no adverse influence to the imaging unit.
US08331625B2

A distance measuring device (1) is included of a feature point detecting element (31) for detecting a set of feature points from a plurality of images (2) picked up at a plurality of places (a, b) by a pickup element, a change detecting element (33) for detecting relative changes among images with respect to the detected set of the feature points, and a first specifying element (8) for specifying rotation quantities of the image pickup element among the places in accordance with the detected changes. Here, the feature point detecting element detects a set of points (P1, P2, P3, P4) composing lines (310, 320) that belong to a stationary object and that are substantially perpendicular to the optical axis of the image pickup element as a set of feature points.
US08331623B2

The invention relates to a method for image processing, which can be used to calibrate the background quickly. When the external environment is changed due to the switch of light, the color of background is calibrated quickly, and the background can be updated together. The method not only is used to update the background, but also can be used to eliminate the convergence of background again.
US08331619B2

By a method such as foreground extraction or facial extraction, the area of a target object is detected from an input image, and the feature amount such as the center of gravity, size, and inclination is acquired. Using the value of a temporarily-set internal parameter, edge image generation, particle generation, and transition are carried out, and a contour is estimated by obtaining the probability density distribution by observing the likelihood. Comparing a feature amount obtained from the estimated contour and a feature amount of the area of the target object, the temporarily setting is reset by determining that the value for the temporary setting is not appropriate when the degree of matching of the both is smaller than a reference value. When the degree of matching is larger than the reference value, the value of the parameter is determined to be the final value.
US08331614B2

A method and apparatus for tracking a listener's head position for virtual stereo acoustics. The method of tracking the head position of a listener includes: obtaining face images of the listener using two image pickup units; tracking the skin color of an image, thereby obtaining the two-dimensional (2D) coordinate value of the listener's position; and obtaining the distance between the image pickup units and the listener using triangulation.
US08331611B2

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, a method for geotagging an image includes receiving an image of a real-world scene. Location information may be received corresponding to the image. The location information may identify the location of the real-world scene. The image may be synchronized with the location information corresponding to the image such that a two-dimensional point on the image corresponds to a three-dimensional location in the real world at the real-world scene. A geotag may be received. The geotag may tag the image at the image at the two-dimensional point and provide additional information concerning the real-world scene. The geotag and the three-dimensional location in the real world at the real-world scene may be stored in a geotag database.
US08331603B2

A wireless headset comprises a body portion and a boom pivotably coupled to the body portion. The boom is resiliently biased from a first position towards a second position relative to the first headset portion. The headset includes a sensor for detecting movement of the boom between the second to the first position.
US08331601B2

A housing sub-assembly for mounting a microphone sub-assembly to a vehicle includes, but is not limited to a main body portion that is adapted to be mounted to an interior surface of the vehicle. The main body portion is configured to connect to the microphone sub-assembly and to support the microphone sub-assembly in a position such that a portion of the microphone sub-assembly protrudes beyond an end of the main body portion when the main body portion is connected to the microphone sub-assembly.
US08331597B2

In order to connect a hearing device to a carrying hook, a connecting element is used, which has to satisfy high demands with regards to its precision and stability. To ensure this, the connecting element is designed as a powder injection molded part, in particular as a ceramic injection molded part or metal part, which is manufactured in a ceramic injection molding process or a metal injection molding process.
US08331596B2

A behind-the-ear hearing aid (1) comprises a housing (4), an ear piece (3) and a custom earplug (2), the custom earplug being adapted to fit the ear canal of an individual hearing aid user, the ear piece having a connector for connecting with the custom earplug, the connector and the earpiece having means for snap fitting engagement and means for defining the mutual rotational orientation. The invention further provides a custom earpiece for a hearing aid.
US08331592B2

A remote control unit includes an RF transceiver that complies with a Bluetooth® standard and an RF transmitter that does not comply with the Bluetooth® standard, whereby the remote control unit serves as a wireless gateway between Bluetooth® compliant devices and the hearing aid. The hearing aid can further include a transmitter and the remote control unit can further include a receiver, neither of which comply with the Bluetooth® standard. The transmitters operate in the ISM band at low power, minimizing power dissipation within a hearing aid.
US08331583B2

A noise reducing apparatus includes: a voice signal inputting unit inputting an input voice signal; a noise occurrence period detecting unit detecting a noise occurrence period; a noise removing unit removing a noise for the noise occurrence period; a generation source signal acquiring unit acquiring a generation source signal with a time duration corresponding to a time duration corresponding to the noise occurrence period; a pitch calculating unit calculating a pitch of an input voice signal interval; an interval signal setting unit setting interval signals divided in each unit period interval; an interpolation signal generating unit generating an interpolation signal with the time duration corresponding to the noise occurrence period and alternately arranging the interval signal in a forward time direction and the interval signal in a backward time direction; and a combining unit combining the interpolation signal and the input voice signal, from which the noise is removed.
US08331581B2

A pattern detection circuit detects a pattern in a received bit stream, for example a repetitive 8-bit silence pattern in a stream of digital audio data. Summing circuitry forms during first alternate time periods a sum of a first sequence comprising a predetermined number of alternate bits in the bit stream; and forms during second alternate time periods an inverse of a sum of a second sequence comprising the predetermined number of alternate bits in the bit stream. It is then determined whether successive sums formed by the summing circuitry are equal.
US08331577B2

An electronic device includes an enclosure for the electronic device and a duct extending from an interior to an exterior of the enclosure to exhaust airflow from the enclosure. The electronic device further includes an active noise control mechanism. The active noise control mechanism includes an internal sensor, an external sensor, and an acoustic wave generator. The internal sensor is arranged within the enclosure to sense a noise and generate an internal sensor output, and the external sensor is arranged outside of the enclosure to detect sounds and generate an external sensor output. Based on the internal sensor output and the external sensor output, the acoustic wave generator generates an acoustic wave within the duct to reduce the noise.
US08331574B2

An automatic external defibrillator produces audible prompts for a user by providing the audible information with default audio characteristics in response to a first ambient noise condition and providing the audible information having different audio characteristics than the default audio characteristics in response to a second ambient noise condition. An automatic external defibrillator provides voice prompts by selecting one of a plurality of different levels of sound quality at which to playback the voice prompts and playing back the voice prompts at the selected level of sound quality.
US08331569B2

The present invention relates to a method for generating a downlink frame includes: generating a first short sequence and a second short sequence indicating cell group information; generating a first scrambling sequence determined by a first synchronization signal; generating a second scrambling sequence determined by a group to which the first short sequence belongs, the wireless communication system using a plurality of short sequences and the plurality of short sequence being divided into a plurality of groups; scrambling the first short sequence with the first scrambling sequence; scrambling the second short sequence with at least the second scrambling sequence; and mapping a second synchronization signal including the scrambled first short sequence and the scrambled second short sequence in the frequency domain.
US08331568B2

In Transport Layer Security (TLS) or other communication protocols, the load on the server may be lowered by reducing the number of expensive decryption operations that the server has to perform. When a client contacts a server, the client sends the server the client's public key. The server chooses a secret value, encrypts the value with the client's public key, and sends the encrypted value to the client. When the client decrypts the secret, the server and client share a secret value, which may be used to derive an encryption key for further messages. In many key agreement schemes, the client chooses and encrypts the secret value, and the server recovers the value with an expensive decryption operation. By instead having the server choose the value and send it to the client, an expensive decryption operation is redistributed from the server to the client, thereby freeing server resources.
US08331565B2

A process for transmitting a message between a first electronic device and a second electronic device of an energy distribution network is described. The process includes generating, by the first electronic device, a first data encryption key identifying the second electronic device on the basis of a main data encryption key and an identification code of the second electronic device. The process further includes generating, by the first electronic device and the second electronic device, a communication key on the basis of said first data encryption key and a reference datum.
US08331560B2

Published resources are made available in an encrypted form, using corresponding resource keys, published through resource key files, with the publications effectively restricted to authorized peer systems only by encrypting the resource keys in a manner only the authorized peer systems are able to recover them. In one embodiment, the resource keys are encrypted using encryption public keys of the authorized peer systems or the groups to which the authorized peer system are members. In one embodiment, the encryption public keys of individual or groups of authorized peer systems are published for resource publishing peer systems through client and group key files respectively. Group encryption private keys are made available to the group members through published group key files. Further, advanced features including but not limited to resource key file inheritance, password protected publication, obfuscated publication, content signing, secured access via gateways, and secured resource search are supported.
US08331551B2

A system 10 and method for identifying a caller using associated voice or sound announcements is disclosed. An associated voice announcement or announcements may be in calling party's own voice. The system 10 is capable of playing a different announcement in place of each ring. The different announcements may be played sequentially, randomly, or pseudo-randomly. Alternatively, a single announcement may be played in lieu of a single selected ring or in lieu of all rings after a specified ring.
US08331540B2

In one embodiment, a method for ensuring quality of a media message is provided. The method includes receiving information for a media message. At least a portion of the media is analyzed to determine a media quality for the media message. The method then determines if the media quality is acceptable. If the media quality is not acceptable, then an alert may be sent regarding the media quality of the media message. For example, a caller may be prompted to re-record a media message.
US08331528B2

An improved intraoral x-ray system that includes a dental tray with the shape of a dental arch and can be positioned within the oral cavity, for accommodating image detectors at the lingual (or, palatal) side of the tray; an image processing system, situated external to said oral cavity, for converting the image data detected by the image detector to a viewable image; a mechanism for transferring the image data to the image processing system; and a display unit for displaying the image.
US08331527B2

An X-ray tube 1 is heated under an X-ray scan condition (tube voltage V, tube current I, exposure time width t) and thus a focal point is shifted. Artifact occurs in a reconstructed image due to the focal point shift. The present invention has an object to enable correction of the focal point shift caused by heating the tube. The applicant and inventor of this application has confirmed that the focal point shift amount of the tube 1 varies in accordance with whether it is in a heating direction or cooling direction when viewed from a past sequence. Therefore, the sequence record and the focal point shift amount based on the heating and cooling directions are stored as data in a storage device 13. A just near past sequence record when viewed from now is stored in a storage unit 16, and the tube temperature is detected by a tube temperature detector 15. On the basis of this temperature and the data in the storage unit 16, heating or cooling and the present accumulated heat capacity are determined in a determining unit 17, and the storage device 13 is accessed to determine a focal point shift amount. The position of the tube is corrected on the basis of this shift amount.
US08331523B2

A nuclear reactor in which a primary coolant is contained, the primary coolant moves upwardly from the core by an operation thereof. An annular steam generator is arranged in an upper side of the core into which the upwardly moving primary coolant flows and transfers heat in the primary coolant into water therein to generate a steam. A passage structure defines a coolant passage for the primary coolant to an outside of the core. The heat-transferred primary coolant in the annular steam generator flows downwardly in the coolant passage so as to flow into the core, thereby moving upwardly. A reactor vessel is arranged to surround the coolant passage so as to contain the core, the annular steam generator and the passage means therein.
US08331519B2

A frequency detector includes an error measurement unit measuring a time interval between zero-crossing points of an input signal that is modulated. An error conversion unit quantizes the measured time interval using one of modulation time intervals. An error calculation unit calculates a frequency error based upon a difference between the measured time interval and the quantized time interval. An error generation control unit controls whether to output the frequency error based upon the quantized time interval, the calculated frequency error, and a predetermined critical value.
US08331518B2

A wireless communication apparatus is provided for receiving packets transmitted with delay amounts different for the respective transmission branches. The wireless communication apparatus includes a plurality of reception branches, a synchronous processing unit for detecting synchronous timing independently for the respective reception branches; and a signal processing unit for performing decoding processing and other kinds of processing subsequent to the synchronous timing for the respective reception branches.
US08331517B2

A method and apparatus of clock recovery is disclosed. The apparatus comprising: a first delay circuit for receiving an input data signal and outputting a delayed data signal; an edge extraction circuit for outputting an edge signal by detecting a transition in the input data signal; an clock generator for generating a first clock signal based on an injection of the edge signal, wherein the first clock signal comprises a plurality of phase signals; a second delay buffer for outputting a second clock signal according to the first clock signal; a sampler for outputting a plurality of samples based on sampling the delayed data signal in accordance with the phase signals; and a decision circuit for generating a decision in accordance with the second clock signal based on the three samples and a previous decision.
US08331513B2

A clock data restoration device 1, which restores a clock signal and data on the basis of an inputted digital signal, comprises an equalizer 10, a sampler 20, a clock generator 30, an equalizer controller 40, and a phase monitor 50. A clock signal CK or CKX as a clock signal restored on the basis of the input digital signal is generated through loop processing by the sampler 20 and the clock generator 30. The level adjustment amount of a high frequency component of the digital signal by the equalizer 10 is controlled through loop processing by the equalizer 10, the sampler 20 and the equalizer controller 40.
US08331501B2

An equalizing structure and method for a wireless communication system receiving device, in which two or more transmit signals transmitted in parallel from one or more transmitters are received in received signal vectors representing two or more received data streams, the signals including information modulated onto carrier signals according to a modulation scheme, all possible transmit signals being represented by candidate constellation values in the signal constellation of the modulation scheme. A metric value calculator calculates metric values based on the received signal vectors and the product of channel estimation values with candidate signal vectors using absolute value calculations, each candidate signal vector including a candidate constellation value for each of the two or more transmit signals. A maximum likelihood detector detects one of the candidate signal vectors having a minimum Euclidean distance to a respective receive signal vector as a most likely transmit signal vector based on metric values.
US08331495B2

As disclosed herein, a “super receiver” structure enriches the information provided for decoding modem bits included in a received sequence of symbols. In particular, an equalizer circuit provides joint metrics to a decoder circuit, where the joint metrics advantageously reflect joint bit probabilities. However, the metrics are computed without need for complex joint probability calculations. The decoder circuit “fuses” the joint metrics with corresponding side information, which indicates the likelihood that one or more bits represented by the joint metric take on a particular value. Such fusing biases the soft value estimation for the other bits represented by the joint metric, thus enabling the decoder to operate on refined soft values in its bit decoding operations.
US08331481B2

The present invention relates to a channel state transmission method using time domain coefficient quantization. A terminal measures channel information in the time domain and transmits it to a base station. In this instance, a multipath frequency selective fading channel is displayed in a tapped delay line format configured with a per-path path delay value and a path gain in the time domain, differentiates a quantization level for each path gain for more efficient transmission, quantizes the same, and transmits it to a transmitter. Therefore, while the amount of bandwidths required for transmitting state information from the terminal to the base station is reduced, the base station can efficiently acquire channel state information on the entire bandwidths. Also, the base station transmits signals to many terminals through beamforming by using the acquired reliable channel state information, thereby increasing the terminal's signal receiving performance.
US08331478B2

A system is provided for transmitting a low code rate spatially multiplexed channel on multiple antennas. The system includes a transmitter and a processor. The processor is configured such that the processor encodes a block of information bits to form channel coded bits, wherein the ratio of the number of channel coded bits to the number of information bits is greater than one; and the processor maps the channel coded bits to modulation symbols, and each channel coded bit is mapped once to a modulation symbol. The transmitter is configured to transmit a first portion of the modulation symbols using a spreading sequence on a first antenna of the multiple antennas and to transmit a second portion of the modulation symbols using the spreading sequence on a second antenna of the multiple antennas.
US08331474B2

The transmission apparatus performs orthogonalization processing to each of the signal sequence obtained by dividing each of the more than one transmission streams into more than one signal sequence based on the orthogonality of wireless resources. The signal sequence is then sent from multiple antennas. The reception apparatus performs the orthogonal separation processing based on the above orthogonality to the received signals to separate multiple reception signal sequence having the orthogonal characteristic, and applies a predetermined signal separation scheme based on the propagation path estimation matrix between the reception apparatus and the transmission apparatus to any one of the pairs of the separated reception signal sequence, thereby separating a signal sequence before subjected to the above orthogonalization processing.
US08331473B2

Provided is a reception apparatus and method of a Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) system that receives a plurality of different data streams in a multiple cell environment. The reception apparatus for receiving a plurality of different data streams in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna system includes a data stream detector for detecting each data stream by removing interference between the different data streams while maintaining channel information; and a cochannel interference (CCI) remover for removing cochannel interference from each data stream detected in the data stream detector. The present invention can remove cochannel interference and increase channel capacity to thereby acquire both diversity gain and multiplexing gain.
US08331458B2

A method for composite noise filtering is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating a selection value in response to a stationary check identifying one of a plurality of blendings for a current item of a current field, (B) generating a filtered item in response to one of (i) a first of the blendings between the current item and a first previous item co-located in a first previous field having an opposite phase of composite artifacts from the current field and (ii) a second of the blendings between the current item and a first motion compensated item from the first previous field and (C) switching between the first blending and the second blending in response to the selection value.
US08331457B2

An information processing apparatus controls an encoder which performs encoding processing on each of data items in access units forming video data while switching encoding types. The apparatus includes a detector which controls the encoder to perform first path encoding on the video data in accordance with first encoding conditions, the first path encoding being included in the encoding processing, and which detects, as information for use in second path encoding being to be performed on the video data and being included in the encoding processing, encoding types and data amounts of data items in the access units forming the resultant first encoded video data obtained by controlling the encoder to perform the first path encoding.
US08331454B2

The present invention is directed to video coding/decoding and discloses a method for transforming to/from transform coefficients and residual pixel data in moving pictures by a set of semi-orthonormal basis vectors. The basis vectors are derived from conventional DCT or KTL matrixes, but relaxes to some extend the requirements for orthogonality, norm equality and element size limitation. In this way the present invention provides improved coding efficiency and lower complexity compared to previously used integer transforms.
US08331447B2

A decoding apparatus includes a standard predicted image generating unit which generates a standard decoded image and a standard predicted image of standard image quality; a non-standard decoded image generating unit which generates a non-standard decoded image different in image quality based on a prediction error information; a non-standard predicted image generating unit which generates a non-standard predicted image different in image quality based on the non-standard decoded image; and a correction value calculating unit which calculates correction values corresponding to differences between the standard and non-standard predicted images. The non-standard decoded image generating unit includes a predicted image reconstructing unit which corrects the non-standard predicted image, and a decoding unit which inverse-quantizes the prediction error information and adds the inverse-quantized prediction error information and the corrected non-standard predicted image to generate the non-standard decoded image.
US08331445B2

A method, apparatus, and system for providing distributed source coding techniques that improve data coding performance, such as video data coding, when channel errors or losses occur. Errors in the reconstruction of the data is eliminated or reduced by sending extra information. Correlation between a predicted sequence and an original sequence can be used to design codebooks and find the cosets required to represent the original image. This information may be sent over another channel, or a secondary channel.
US08331434B2

A method and apparatus for video encoding, predecoding, and video decoding for video streaming services. The video encoding method includes encoding first and second video sequences into first and second bitstreams using scalable video coding, wherein at least one of resolution, frame rate, and image quality of the second video sequence is different from that of the first video sequence, and combining the first and second bitstreams into a super bitstream.
US08331429B2

Apparatus and methods for improved high-speed communication by exchanging low-speed information regarding the high-speed exchanges over the same communication medium. In one exemplary embodiment, a communication device includes a high-speed transceiver adapted to exchange high-speed data with another device via a communication medium using high-frequency signals. The device also includes a low-speed component adapted to exchange low-speed information over the same communication medium as low-frequency signals. The low-frequency signals may be applied as common mode signals to a differential communication path so as to not interfere with the high-speed data exchanges. In another embodiment, a high-pass filter may be included in the device to remove the low-frequency signals before the high-speed data is applied to the high-speed transceiver. Responsive to receipt of the low-speed information, a device may adjust parameters of the transceiver to improve the high-speed data exchanges.
US08331426B2

A method, a system, and an apparatus for improving throughput performance of an SDMA system are disclosed herein. The method includes BTS receiving feedback information sent by a UE, where the feedback information comprises an ID of a preferred beam of the UE in a pre-coding codebook, information related to a channel vector modulus value, and information about phase difference between a channel vector and the preferred beam of the UE, and the BTS using a set estimation algorithm to estimate sum throughputs supported by a current SDMA system in each sending mode according to the received feedback information and information about space correlation between multiple antennas of the BTS, selecting a maximum sum throughput among the estimated sum throughputs, and using the sending mode corresponding to this sum throughput to send data. The method, system, and apparatus provided herein improve transmitting performance of the SDMA system.
US08331410B2

A light emitting device with a μ-cavity including a first spacer of single crystal dielectric material and an active area including single crystal erbium dielectric material positioned on the first spacer. The erbium dielectric material and the single crystal dielectric material of the first spacer are substantially crystal lattice matched at their juncture. A second spacer of single crystal dielectric material is positioned on the active area. The erbium dielectric material and the single crystal dielectric material of the second spacer are substantially crystal lattice matched at the second surface. The high-κ erbium dielectric provides a high gain μ-cavity that emits increased amounts of light in either spontaneous or stimulated modes of operation.
US08331407B2

An apparatus and a method for providing a white board service in a mobile communication system are provided, wherein a bit stream received from a counterpart node is demuxed into data of a logic channel and data of a control channel using a demuxing protocol. The demuxed data is decoded for output.
US08331403B2

A method and nodes for providing adaptive segmentation in a higher protocol layer interacting with a lower protocol layer. An adaptable segmentation limit (200, 204), defining a threshold of a largest Protocol Data Unit (PDU) that is to be submitted to a lower protocol layer, is deployed at a higher protocol layer interacting with the lower protocol layer. For each Service Data Unit (SDU; 201, 203) arriving at the higher protocol layer, it is determined if the respective SDU can fit into the segmentation limit or not. Each SDU that do not fit into the segmentation limit is segmented into PDUs (205, 206) which are smaller than or equal to the segmentation limit, while no segmentation is performed on SDUs that fit into the segmentation limit.
US08331398B2

The present invention relates to a method of constructing a resource allocation map in a mobile communication system. In a method of constructing a map in a hierarchial pattern method in a case where a localized resource block (localized RB) and a distributed resource block (distributed RB) need to be simultaneously allocated in regards to a radio resource allocated in a previous frame or reserved with a fixed allocation, a radio resource that is reserved or not used and a radio resource that is newly allocated in a map of a current frame are classified and represented. Then, in regards to a radio resource that is allocated in a current frame, a localized RB and a distributed RB are classified and represented. As for the localized RB, allocation information is represented in an index pattern method, and as for the distributed RB, resource allocation information is represented in a toggle pattern method.
US08331395B2

A communication apparatus which performs a carrier detection and is connected to a transmission line includes: a carrier detecting unit which detects a first preamble signal for the carrier detection and a second preamble signal for the carrier detection; a comparing unit which compares carrier detecting results obtained by the carrier detecting unit; and a control unit which controls at least one of a symbol length of the first preamble signal and a symbol length of the second preamble signal based upon a comparison result obtained by the comparing unit.
US08331393B1

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method comprising determining, by a processor, at least an indication of a size of a de-interleaved symbol from a frame within a frame buffer, estimating, by the processor, a target transport channel buffer in a channel buffer for the de-interleaved symbol, and writing, by the processor, the de-interleaved symbol in the channel buffer based on the estimated target transport channel buffer.
US08331390B2

A method and a data-transmission system for transmitting data encoded in a signal between a transmitting user and a receiving user of the data-transmission system via a network structure of the data-transmission system. The data encoded in the signal are serially transmitted bit-by-bit in data frames having a defined structure. Each bit of the data encoded in the signal is sampled in the receiving user. Due to the transmission via the network structure, the signal is delayed asymmetrically. To compensate for the asymmetrical delay on the physical layer in the transmission channel, it is provided that the asymmetrical delay of the signal is determined at at least one point in the network structure, and is at least partially compensated prior to the receiving user sampling the bits of the data encoded in the signal. A measuring and compensating device is provided to measure and compensate for the asymmetrical delay.
US08331388B2

A circuit arrangement and a method of operating a circuit arrangement. The circuit arrangement includes an amplifier having an output port, a duplexer having an input port coupled to the output port of the amplifier and having a combined input/output port to couple to an antenna, and a switch configured to create an impedance load mismatch at the input port of the duplexer independent of the impedance of the output port of the amplifier by acting on a connecting line between the output port of the amplifier and the input port of the duplexer.
US08331384B2

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide femto-based wireless coverage in a communication network. This can involve providing an interworking function that communications with a femto base station or femto cell to provide connectivity to the core network. The interworking function can provide service and mobility management where a femto cell (such as a home node B (HNB)) is served concurrently by an IMS core and a legacy core. The interworking function can also provide service through a femto cell to a variety of mobile nodes such as legacy devices and IMS capable devices. The interworking function also provides the ability for handoffs to occur between the core networks and between a femto cell and a macro cell.
US08331381B2

A method of providing visibility of Ethernet components to a subnet manager in a converged InfiniBand over Ethernet (IBOE) network. If a port of an IBOE gateway corresponds to one or more InfiniBand devices, the subnet manager sends fabric management packets (FMPs) to discover the InfiniBand network and assigns physical local identifiers (LIDs) to the InfiniBand devices. If a port of the IBOE gateway corresponds to one or more Ethernet devices, the subnet manager sends FMPs to discover the Ethernet network. The subnet manager adds the Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) addresses of any responding devices to an LID routing table and assigns LIDs to the Ethernet devices. The subnet manager configures one or more virtual Host Channel Adapters (HCAs) corresponding to the one or more Ethernet MAC addresses in the LID routing table.
US08331378B2

A transmission rate control method according to the present invention includes: transmitting, at a radio base station, an absolute grant channel including a mobile station identifier; judging, at a mobile station, in accordance with the mobile station identifier included in the received absolute grant channel, whether or not the received absolute grant channel is addressed to the mobile station; and controlling, at the mobile station, a transmission rate in an uplink in accordance with the absolute grant channel when the judgment result is affirmative. The mobile station identifier differs based on each of priority levels.
US08331375B2

A generic quality of service (QoS) model that is not dependent on network technology is used to support QoS for communication networks utilizing different network technologies. The generic QoS model may include a superset of all QoS parameters for all network technologies being supported, e.g., 3GPP and 3GPP2. An application at a device may specify QoS for a traffic flow based on the generic QoS parameters in the superset. The generic QoS parameters may be converted to QoS parameters that are specific to a serving network. The converted QoS parameters are exchanged with the serving network and are used while exchanging traffic with the serving network.
US08331360B1

A method and apparatus in provided which enables fast layer 2 reconfiguration in a network that includes Routing Bridges. Each Routing Bridge stores, for each forwarding target, identifiers of a primary next Rbridge and an alternate next Rbridge. The forwarding target may be a network end node, or an Egress Rbridge associated with the network end node. In response to a trigger condition, layer 2 communications are selectively switched from a path that includes the primary next Rbridge device to a path that includes the alternate next Rbridge device.
US08331350B2

To provide An IP telephone auto configuration system capable of conducting setting and change work of IP telephones connected to a LAN efficiently and accurately. The IP telephone auto configuration system includes IP phones, a DHCP server for assigning IP addresses to the IP phones, an FTP server for storing setting data of the IP phones, and a network for connecting the IP phones, the DHCP server and the FTP server. Each of the IP phones acquires an address of the FTP server and a file name of setting data from the DHCP server after being started, acquires setting data from the FTP server and automatically conducts detailed setting in the IP phone.
US08331339B2

A method of routing calls from a mobile unit to a destination location can include registering the mobile unit with a wireless adjunct, wherein the wireless adjunct is in communication with a switching unit and a packet based network and is operable to receive data from the switching unit and place the data, in packetized form, on the packet based network. The method can further include responding to a call setup request from the mobile unit and querying a subscriber database to determine if the mobile unit is a resident or a guest. If the mobile unit is a resident, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through the switching unit to a first destination location. If the mobile unit is a guest, communications data can be routed from the mobile unit through an RF source to a second destination location.
US08331320B2

A serving cell change method and apparatus is provided for efficiently performing the serving cell change in a mobile communication system. The UE receives a cell change control information including an activation time from a serving cell, when a downlink channel status of the serving cell is inferior to a downlink channel status of a target cell, reports a measurement result to the serving cell while performing data communication with the serving cell, monitors receipt of a cell change indicator transmitted by the target cell before the expiration of the activation time while performing the data communication with the serving cell, and when the cell change indicator is received, communicates data with the target cell by sending an acknowledgement in response to the cell change indicator and switching to the target cell.
US08331319B2

Systems, methods, and software are provided to manage a handover of a mobile communication device from a source base station to a target base station. In an embodiment, a method comprises exchanging wireless communications between a plurality of mobile communication devices and a first base station system, processing the communications to determine a plurality of mobility profiles associated with the plurality of mobile communication devices served by the first base station system. A handover request to handover a mobile communication device from a second base station system to the first base station system is received. The plurality of mobility profiles are processed to select a candidate mobile communication device from the plurality of mobile communication devices. A handover of the candidate mobile communication device is initiated from the first base station system to a target base station system.
US08331305B2

The present invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for determining resource indices in a wireless communication system, which explores and implements for at least two control channel elements (CCEs) for a user equipment (UE), maps the CCEs to at least two resource indices for the UE according to a predetermined mapping rule. It can determine multiple resource indices to a UE implicitly according to some embodiments of the present invention.
US08331303B2

Systems, methods, and devices are provided for an adaptive wireless network. A wireless network device for an adaptive wireless network can include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including logic and memory resources coupled to the ASIC. The logic can store information received from a number of clients associated with the wireless network device regarding capabilities of the number of clients in the memory resources. The logic can adapt a guard interval and/or a channel width for transmission of a data stream according to capabilities of a number of clients associated with the wireless network device.
US08331295B2

A base station and a mobile station for processing wireless communication with each other, and a method for controlling the same are provided. The method for controlling a base station which performs radio communication with a mobile station includes starting radio communication via at least one arbitrary mobile station and a predetermined cellular channel; receiving Channel Quality Indication (CQI) information from the mobile station; determining whether a radio communication anomaly occurs between a specific mobile station from among the at least one arbitrary mobile station and the base station by using the received CQI information; and when determining that the radio communication anomaly occurs with the specific mobile station, controlling to interrupt the radio communication via the predetermined cellular channel and perform radio communication via the specific mobile station and either a shared channel or an open channel.
US08331292B2

A method for mapping control channels is discussed. This mapping method according to an embodiment includes calculating a control channel mapping start time of each cell according to the number of control channel groups allocated to each cell, and performing mapping of repetition of the control channel at intervals of a predetermined distance in order to acquire a diversity gain, wherein the mapping begins from the control channel mapping start time. In this case, control channels of several groups are transmitted in each cell. Thus, a resource allocation method during transmission of control channels (e.g., PHICH and PCFICH) is improved such that interference between neighboring cells can be reduced, resulting in the improvement of a control channel throughput.
US08331291B2

A method and a device are provided for data communication between a first instance and a second instance, the method including the step of: The first instance issues a first status report to the second instance either via a third instance or directly.
US08331287B2

A method is provided for managing mobility of an Access Terminal (AT) in a mobile communication system using a Mobile Internet Protocol (MIP). The method includes generating, by an AT that has entered a new network, a Security Parameter Index (SPI) and a security key for mutual authentication with a Home Agent (HA) of the new network, sending, by the AT, a registration request message including authentication information including the SPI, the authentication information being generated using the security key, upon receipt of the registration request message, searching, by the HA, a database for the SPI included in the authentication information, verifying the authentication information according to the search result, upon successful verification of the authentication information, generating, by the HA, mobility binding information of the AT, and sending, by the HA, a registration response message including the HA's IP address.
US08331284B2

A communication system receives attributes associated with access terminals within a cell and groups them in accordance with similarities between the received attributes. Resource assignment messages customized to their respective attributes are transmitted to the groups, thereby ensuring that all groups receive these messages. These groups are formed dynamically as the attributes of the access terminals vary when they traverse through a cell.
US08331282B2

Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adaptive channel hopping in a mesh network. An example embodiment is configured to divide a time period into a plurality of frames; subdivide each of the plurality of frames into a plurality of slots, each of the plurality of slots providing a time segment for local data communication between nodes in a mesh network; enable a first node to dynamically assign itself a first channel for local data communication, the first node using the first channel to receive data communications destined for the first node; and communicate to other nodes of the mesh network information indicative of the first node's dynamic assignment of the first channel.
US08331277B2

In a mesh network, when a wireless mesh link exists between a first mesh access point and a second mesh access point, the first mesh access point can deliver a multicast packet to the second mesh access point through the wireless mesh link. When the second mesh access point determines that the multicast packet from the first mesh access point is a redundant packet, the second mesh access point will send a multi-path notice to the first mesh access point. After receiving the multi-path notice, the first mesh access point stops delivering the multicast packet through the path.
US08331270B2

In one embodiment a method is provided for requesting and receiving network statistics in-band of a data replication exchange. The method includes receiving, at a switch, a request packet, initiated from a data replication system, for in-band delivery of network statistics, modifying the request packet to include a command that can be processed by a data storage device that is periodically accessed in connection with the data replication system, sending the request packet including the command to the data storage device, receiving from the peripheral device, in response to the request packet including the command, a response packet that includes data responsive to the command, deleting from a data field of the response packet the data responsive to the command and adding to the data field network statistics data available to the switch, and sending the response packet including the network statistics data to one of another switch or a host device from which the request packet was sent.
US08331252B2

A first parameter such as an indicator of modulation and coding scheme MCS for a first shared channel SCH codeword and a second parameter for a second SCH codeword are determined. From a locally stored mapping rule a bit sequence that explicitly indicates the first parameter and that implicitly indicates the second parameter is chosen, and a first control channel CCH codeword is transmitted with the explicit bit sequence that explicitly indicates the first parameter for the first SCH codeword and a second CCH codeword is sent companion to the first CCH codeword, wherein the second parameter for the second SCH codeword is implicitly indicated by the explicit bit sequence of the first CCH codeword. The receiving party determines the second parameter by its own locally stored mapping rule, and an indicator in each CCH codeword may be used to inform the receiver that the two (or more) CCH codewords are associated with one another and to use its mapping rule to determine the second parameter.
US08331247B2

The present invention discloses a method for code channel allocation and related multiuser detection in a wireless communication system. The method for code channel allocation includes: establishing a relation between at least one channel estimation window and a channelization code, wherein the at least one channel estimation window corresponding to the channelization code includes the channel estimation windows corresponding to all the spread spectrum code branches of a node in which the channelization code exists; and performing code channel allocation according to the relation established. In the method for code channel allocation of the invention, there exists a one-to-many relation between the channelization code/channelization code number established and the at least one channel estimation window. Therefore, during the multiuser detection, the channelization code/channelization code number determined via the at least one channel estimation window activated is unique. Thereby, the efficiency of the multiuser detection process may be increased.
US08331243B2

Described are methods and communications network for carrying pseudowires over packet-switched network. A communication network includes a packet-switched network (PSN), a first provider edge (PE) device in communication with a second PE device through the PSN, and a pseudowire (PW) established between the PE devices for emulating a service across the PSN. The PW has a Virtual Circuit Connection Verification (VCCV) control channel that carries an Ethernet Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) message. In some embodiments, various data plane encapsulation formats enable a PW to emulate an Ethernet or a non-Ethernet service over an Ethernet PSN. Each encapsulation format includes an Ethernet tunnel header and a PW header that encapsulates an Ethernet or non-Ethernet payload.
US08331242B2

A policing device having a table storing monitored bandwidth, packet history information for each importance level, and the allocation weight of the monitored bandwidth for each importance level, a policing table control circuit for reading out these items of information into each storage of a policing unit when a packet is inputted, and a calculation unit for judging the bandwidth of the input packet as being conformant or non-conformant to the contract on the basis of these items of information, thereby to control the bandwidth at each importance level.
US08331239B2

Upon communication nodes receiving data that is a transfer target, based on a link value corresponding to a communication quality of each communication node that has transferred the data and radio wave strength among the communication nodes, a network system calculates a total link value that indicates a quality of a communication path that is used to transfer the data. The network system determines whether the calculated total link value is greater than or equal to a threshold value and based on a determination result, transfers the data to a destination communication node.
US08331238B2

A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) activating a first timer, when the radio base station (eNB) transmits a downlink data signal to the mobile station (UE) operating in a continuous reception cycle; and (B) changing a reception cycle of the mobile station (UE) from the continuous reception cycle to a first discontinuous reception cycle, and releasing the uplink dedicated resources, when the first timer expires with no downlink data signal transmitted after the activation of the first timer.
US08331237B2

A supervisory control device for a network having a plurality of network elements, includes: a communication interface which is connected to each of a plurality of element groups, wherein the plurality of network elements is grouped into the plurality of element groups; and a controller for controlling supervisory control information in element group units depending on a communication condition change for at least one network element belonging to each element group, wherein the supervisory control is performed according to the supervisory control information.
US08331221B2

An outage notification system is provided which includes a first communication network, a second communication network, a plurality of first communication units communicatively coupled to the first communication network and the second communication network, a network monitoring unit communicatively coupled to the first communication network and configured to detect a failure in at least one of the plurality of first communication units or the first communication network, a plurality of second communication units communicatively coupled to the second communication network and associated with corresponding first communication units, and a message alert unit communicatively coupled to the first and second communication networks and configured to receive an alert notification from the network monitoring unit via the first communication network indicating a failure in at least one of the first communication units or the first communication network.
US08331197B2

A beam forming system includes one or more beam forming elements that are arranged to provide a non-planar doubly ruled radiation surface. The surface is defined by two families of rulings such that the length of the rulings within each family are configured to provide a radiation surface with substantially straight boundary edges, and the beam forming system is arranged to form acoustic beams.
US08331195B1

A computer implemented method, program and system utilizing a number of field-deployed sensors to accurately detect and classify objects/events (targets) of interest within a sensor field including the detection/classification of human beings travelling on-foot or with vehicles and their direction(s) of travel. In particular, the method, computer program and system are operable to determine whether a detected target is an animal, human or vehicle via analysis of received acoustic and sensor data. The analyses performed include comparison/correlation of the sensor data to known seismic cyclostationary signatures, acoustic and seismic characteristics of human footsteps and travel tendencies, and acoustic and seismic characteristics of non-human (animal) footsteps and travel tendencies.
US08331180B2

A static random access memory (SRAM) includes an SRAM cell to store a bit of data. A word line accesses the SRAM cell, which, responsively, during a read, drives either a bit line true (BLT) or a bit line complement (BLC) low. Both BLT and BLC are precharged to a supply voltage, then, subsequently are discharged to a reference voltage, lower than the supply voltage, prior to the word line being activated. Because the bit lines are at a voltage lower than the supply voltage when the SRAM cell is activated, the SRAM cell stability is improved.
US08331179B2

A precharge signal generator having a latch signal generator, an internal signal generator, and a pulse generator is presented. The latch signal generator is configured to generate a latch signal that is activated in response to an auto-precharge command and inactivated in response to an active pulse. The internal signal generator is configured to generate an internal signal activated when a delayed active signal and the latch signal are all activated. The pulse generator is configured to generate a precharge signal including a pulse that is activated in a period for which the internal signal is being active.
US08331172B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor integrated circuit in which the number of bus lines is reduced and current consumption during operation can be lessened. The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a circuit unit (e.g., a memory cell array plate) which is divided into a plurality of banks (bank 1, bank 2) and processes multiple bits of data; a plurality of input/output circuits which perform input and output of multiple bits of data; and a plurality of bus lines which provide electrical coupling between the respective data input/output circuits and the circuit unit. Among the bus lines, two or more bus lines laid to extend laterally along the horizontal sides of the banks and coupled to different banks include a common bus line adapted as a shared bus line into which the middle parts of the bus lines are merged.
US08331170B2

A data transfer circuit includes a first driver configured to drive a first line with data, a pattern alteration unit configured to change a pattern of the data transferred through the first line and produce a pattern-changed data, a second driver configured to drive a second line with the pattern-changed data; and a pattern restoration unit configured to receive the pattern-changed data transferred through the second line and restore the pattern of the data before the pattern change.
US08331169B1

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for comparing threshold voltages of a plurality of flash memory cells to a plurality of reference voltages. A number of flash memory cells having threshold voltages that fall within each bin of a plurality of bins is determined. The plurality of bins each represent a plurality of threshold voltage ranges. A threshold voltage distribution of the plurality of flash memory cells is calculated based at least in part on the number of flash memory cells that fall into each of the bins.
US08331167B2

A data output apparatus includes a driver driving unit configured to generate driving signals by using input data when a data output enable signal is enabled, a data driver unit configured to drive an output terminal to a level corresponding to the input data in response to the driving signals to generate output data, and an output data level control unit configured to open a current path to control a level of the output data, wherein the current path is different from a current path for driving the output terminal to a level corresponding to the input data.
US08331160B2

Some embodiments include methods and devices having a module and memory cells. The module is configured to reduce the amount of electrons in the sources and drains of the memory cells during a programming operation.
US08331159B2

A discharge circuit for a floating gate type MOS memory cell transistor disposed in a memory array region of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, the memory cell region being formed in P-well, the P-well being formed in an N-well, and the N-well being formed in a P-type semiconductor substrate, includes a word line discharge circuit providing a word line control voltage and a bulk discharge circuit providing a voltage to the P-well during a discharge operation. Constant current transistors and switching transistors in the word line discharge circuit and the bulk discharge circuit are simultaneously turned ON during at least a portion of the discharge operation.
US08331158B2

In writing operation, charge pumps of a memory apply any of first to n-th voltages which are different from each other. An application-voltage selector selects voltages to be applied to WLs among the first to n-th voltages. A word-line number register stores the number of WLs to which each of the first to n-th voltages is to be applied for the first to n-th voltages. A storage stores a correspondence table that stores a relationship between the number of WLs for each of the first to n-th voltages and the number of charge pumps allocated to the first to n-th voltages. A generation-voltage selector allocates charge pumps to generate the first to n-th voltages based on the correspondence table according to the number of WLs for each of the first to n-th voltages. Each charge pump generates any of the first to n-th voltages allocated by the generation-voltage selector.
US08331156B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes a first well region of a first conductivity type, a second well region of the first conductivity type, a third well region of a second conductivity type, a bit line and a column decoder. A first cell array including a plurality of memory cells is formed in the first well region. A second cell array including a plurality of memory cells is formed in the second well region. The third well region includes the first and second well regions. The bit line is connected to the memory cells included in the first cell array and the memory cells included in the second cell array. The column decoder is connected to the bit line.
US08331148B2

A memory cell array is configured so that a plurality of memory cells storing one value of an n value (n is a natural number more than 2) are arranged in a matrix. A control circuit controls the voltage of a word line and a bit line in accordance with input data. The control circuit supplies a first voltage to a word line of a selected cell in a write operation, and supplies a second voltage to at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell. Thereafter, the control circuit changes a voltage of the at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell from the second voltage to a third voltage (second voltage
US08331147B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises: a memory cell array configured by a plurality of first and second lines and a plurality of memory cells, each of the memory cells being selected by the first and second lines and being configured to store multiple-bit data in a nonvolatile manner; a data bus configured to transmit write data to be written to the plurality of memory cells, the write data being configured by a plurality of unit data; a column selection unit configured by a plurality of data latches, each of the data latches being configured to directly receive the unit data inputted from the data bus and to retain the unit data; and a control unit configured to control activation/non-activation of the data latches. During a programming operation, for each unit data inputted to the column selection unit, the control unit activates one of the data latches corresponding to a certain one of the memory cells where the unit data is to be stored.
US08331144B2

Disclosed is a program method of a non-volatile memory device which comprises classifying plural memory cells into aggressor cells and victim cells based on program data to be written in the plural memory cells; and programming the aggressor cells by a program manner different from the victim cells.
US08331137B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell includes a variable resistance element and a capacitor connected in series between first and second conductive lines, and a control circuit applying one of first and second voltage pulses to the memory cell. The capacitor is charged by a leading edge of one of the first and second voltage pulses, and discharged a trailing edge of one of the first and second voltage pulses. The control circuit makes waveforms of the trailing edges of the first and second voltage pulses be different, changes a resistance value of the variable resistance element from a first resistance value to a second resistance value by using the first voltage pulse, and changes the resistance value of the variable resistance element from the second resistance value to the first resistance value by using the second voltage pulse.
US08331130B2

In one embodiment, a semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first resistive-change element, a second resistive-change element and a first switching element. The first resistive-change element includes one end having a first polarity connected to a first power source. The first resistive-change element includes another end having a second polarity connected to an output node. The second resistive-change element includes one end having the second polarity connected to the output node. The first switching element includes a first terminal connected to another end of the second resistive-change element. The first switching element includes a second terminal connected to a second power source.
US08331127B2

A memory device comprises an array of memory cells each capable of storing multiple bits of data. The memory cells are arranged in memory strings that are connected to a common source line. Each memory cell includes a programmable transistor connected in parallel with a resistance switching device. The transistor is switchable between a plurality of different threshold voltages associated with respective memory states. The resistance switching device is configured to be switchable between a plurality of different resistances associated with respective memory states.
US08331126B2

Read and write operations of a non-volatile memory (NVM) bitcell have different optimum parameters resulting in a conflict during design of the NVM bitcell. A single bitline in the NVM bitcell prevents optimum read performance. Read performance may be improved by splitting the read path and the write path in a NVM bitcell between two bitlines. A read bitline of the NVM bitcell has a low capacitance for improved read operation speed and decreased power consumption. A write bitline of the NVM bitcell has a low resistance to handle large currents present during write operations. A memory element of the NVM bitcell may be a fuse, anti-fuse, eFUSE, or magnetic tunnel junction. Read performance may be further enhanced with differential sensing read operations.
US08331124B2

One package contains a plurality of memory chips. Each memory chip has an I/O terminal which generates a busy signal. The busy signal enables a busy state when a power supply voltage value reaches a specified and guaranteed range after a power-on sequence. The busy signal maintains the busy state until completion of initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips. The busy signal releases the busy state after completion of all initialization operations for the plurality of memory chips.
US08331121B2

A packaged integrated circuit device includes a substrate including a conductive pad thereon, and a chip stack including a plurality of chips on the substrate. A primary conductive line electrically connects the pad on the substrate to a conductive pad on one of the plurality of chips in the chip stack. Secondary conductive lines electrically connect the pad on the one of the plurality of chips to respective conductive pads on ones of the plurality of chips above and below the one of the plurality of chips in the chip stack. The primary conductive line may be configured to transmit a signal from the pad on the substrate to the pad on the one of the plurality of chips in the chip stack. After receiving the signal at the one of the plurality of chips, the secondary conductive lines may be configured to transmit the signal from the one of the plurality of chips to the ones of the plurality of chips above and below the one of the plurality of chips in the chip stack at a same time. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
US08331115B2

In one aspect, the invention provides a power system for providing power to a load. In some embodiment, the system comprises: a rectifier configured to rectify an AC main signal to produce a rectified AC main signal; a zero cross detector configured to receive the AC main signal and to detect when the AC main signal equals zero; a switching device having (i) a first terminal connected to a first node, wherein a first output terminal of the rectifier is also connected to the first node and (ii) a second terminal connected to a second node; a tank circuit having (i) a first terminal coupled to a third node, wherein a second output terminal of the rectifier is also coupled to the third node and (ii) a second terminal coupled to the second node; a current and/or voltage detector connected to the second node; and a controller in communication with the current detector and zero cross detector and configured to turn on and off the switching device based on, at least in part, information received from the zero cross detector and the current and/or voltage detector.
US08331113B2

The invention discloses a control circuit for an AC-DC converter. The control circuit includes a power control circuit for comparing an input current sensing signal generated by sensing an input current of the AC-DC converter and a power level control input and in response thereto generating a frequency modulation control signal, in which the frequency modulation control signal is used to control the output power of the AC-DC converter and suppress harmonics of the input current, and a square wave generator connected to the power control circuit for generating a driving signal used to drive the switch circuit of the AC-DC converter according to the frequency modulation control signal, in which the frequency of the driving signal is varied with the frequency modulation control signal, thereby suppressing harmonics of the input current and regulating the switching frequency the AC-DC converter, and regulating the output power of the AC-DC converter.
US08331109B2

A circuit arrangement for two serially connected semiconductor switches connected to a voltage supply is provided. Between the semiconductor switches a primary winding of a transformer is connected. A first diode is connected on an anode side to a potential of the voltage supply at a source terminal of the second semiconductor switch and on a cathode side to a first connection terminal facing the first semiconductor switch on the primary winding. A second diode is connected on the cathode side to the potential of the voltage supply at a drain terminal of the first semiconductor switch and on the anode side to a second connection terminal facing the second semiconductor switch on the primary winding. A first secondary winding of the transformer is provided, connected in series between the first diode and the first connection terminal, and a second secondary winding, connected in series between the second diode and the second connection terminal.
US08331107B2

A key button mechanism and a portable electronic device using same are provided. The key button mechanism includes a key button and a capturing element detachably latching with the key button. The key button includes a key body and two spaced-apart latching hooks protruding from the same surface of the key body. The capturing element includes a main body having two assembling holes spacingly defined therethrough, each assembling hole corresponds to one of the two latching hooks of the key button, each latching hook of the key button passes through one of the two assembling holes of the capturing element and detachably latches to the capturing element.
US08331105B2

A printed circuit board includes a source interconnect and a ground interconnect, and the circuit board has a two-dimensional geometry having a corner. Protruding portions are provided in circumferences of the source interconnect and the ground interconnect in regions except the corner in plan view, and the source interconnect and the ground interconnect are connected to a common first decoupling capacitor in each of the protruding portions.
US08331102B2

Chip capacitors are provided in a printed circuit board. In this manner, the distance between the IC chip and each chip capacitor is shortened, and the loop inductance is reduced. In addition, the chip capacitors are accommodated in a core substrate having a large thickness. Therefore, the thickness of the printed circuit board does not become large.
US08331100B2

A device has a first terminal, second terminal and at least four lateral faces provided with contact areas, of which two respective ones each are mutually opposite. The contact areas of the mutually opposite lateral faces are connected to different ones of the first and second terminals.
US08331098B2

A mobile device having a flip-around keyboard includes a housing, a display, and a keyboard rotatably coupled to the housing. The housing has a top end, a bottom end, a front surface, and a back surface. The display is located on the front surface of the housing. The keyboard is rotatably coupled at about the bottom end of the housing. The keyboard has a front face having a plurality of keys and a rear face opposite the front surface. In a first configuration, the rear face of the keyboard faces the display of the housing. In a second configuration, the front face of the keyboard faces the back surface of the housing. The keyboard can be rotatably coupled to the housing by a coupler that permits greater than two hundred seventy degrees of rotation about a lateral axis parallel to an edge of the housing.
US08331088B2

In a storage device accommodating a plurality of memory devices in a general-purpose chassis provided from both of the surface sides thereof, a cooling device is provided on the front of the memory devices. This cooling device is allowed to freely move to leave available the area in front of the memory devices, thereby enabling maintenance and replacement of the memory devices from the both surface sides of the chassis. With such a storage device of a type using a general-purpose chassis, and inserting therein a plurality of memory devices from the both surface sides thereof, even if a cooling device is located on the front of the chassis, the memory devices can be subjected to maintenance and replacement.
US08331085B2

An electronic device includes a chassis, first and second rails, first and second sliding elements and a hard disc module. The chassis has two side plates and a front end. The first and second rails configured in the chassis are parallel to the side plates. The first and second sliding elements are slidably configured on the first and second rails respectively. The hard disc module includes a hard disc frame and hard discs pluggably configured therein. The hard disc frame has a back end and first and second sides parallel to the side plates. The second side has hard disc plugging openings. The first and second sliding elements respectively connect the first side and the back end. The hard disc frame is located between the first and second rails. The hard disc module is suitable for being pulled out from the chassis when the first and second sliding elements slide.
US08331083B2

A battery cover assembly is using for accommodating a battery therein. The battery cover assembly comprises a housing, a battery cover, and a elastic member. The housing has a depressed portion, a space and a latching trough defined therein. The depressed portion is configured for accommodating the battery therein. The battery cover is configured for covering the depressed portion of the housing. The battery cover has a shaft and a latching portion protruding therefrom. The shaft is corresponding to the space of the housing. The shaft is rotatably held in the space to rotatably latching the battery cover with the housing. The latching portion is corresponding to the latching trough of the housing. The latching portion is latched within the latching trough. The elastic member is fixed between the housing and the battery cover. The elastic member provides an elastic force for rotating the battery cover relative to the housing.
US08331076B2

A clad capacitor and method of manufacture includes assembling a preform comprising a ductile, electrically conductive fiber; a ductile, electrically insulating cladding positioned on the fiber; and a ductile, electrically conductive sleeve positioned over the cladding. One or more preforms are then bundled, heated and drawn along a longitudinal axis to decrease the diameter of the ductile components of the preform and fuse the preform into a unitized strand.
US08331074B2

An electrical assembly having an elongated electrical component, such as a surge arrester, coupled to a grading device for distributing an electric field along the electrical component as a continuous operating voltage is applied to the electrical component. The grading device includes a grading body that is coupled to the electrical component. The grading body includes semi-conductive materials. The semi-conductive materials can be nonmetallic. The grading device has improved flashover resistance over conventional metal grading devices.
US08331065B2

Aspects of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus to protect an inverter from failure due to neutral lifting. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of controlling an inverter in a UPS, the inverter being selectively coupled to a power line and comprising an input to receive an input voltage from the power line. The method comprises acts of monitoring the input voltage, detecting based on the act of monitoring, that the input voltage exceeds a predetermined high threshold value, isolating the inverter from the power line responsive to detecting that the input voltage exceeds a predetermined high threshold value, determining whether or not a neutral lifting condition exists on the power line, indicating that the inverter is in a fault state if the neutral lifting condition exists, and reconnecting the inverter to the power line if the neutral lifting condition does not exist.
US08331061B2

A head suspension has a base plate, a load beam, and a piezoelectric element that is centrally located and deforms in response to applied power to precisely move a front end of the load beam. The head suspension includes an opening formed in the base plate to receive the piezoelectric element and a support member joined with the base plate, partly protruding into the opening, and configured to support an electrode of the piezoelectric element. The support member includes a pair of integral supports to support the electrode, and a pair of integral support links to connect the supports to each other outside the piezoelectric element.
US08331060B2

An electrode structure of a piezoelectric element is provided. The piezoelectric element 23a (23b) constitutes a piezoelectric actuator 19 attached to an attaching part 30 of an object, to minutely move a movable part 15 of the object relative to a base part 13 of the object according to deformation occurring on the piezoelectric element in response to a power applied state of the piezoelectric element. The electrode structure includes an electrode 41a formed on one of a pair of electrode forming faces 31a and 31b of the piezoelectric element on an inner side of a peripheral zone 31a1, the peripheral zone being defined along the periphery of the electrode forming face 31a on which the electrode is formed. The electrode structure also includes a non-electrode part 51 formed in the peripheral zone. Even if the peripheral zone 31a1 of the electrode forming face 31a having a short-circuit causing possibility touches the attaching part 30, no short circuit occurs.
US08331043B2

An optical lens includes a lens group and a diaphragm which is located in front of the lens group. The lens group includes three lenses, respectively the first, the second and the third lens, which are sequentially arranged as a “negative-positive-positive” separated focal power system. The first lens is a double concave negative lens, the second lens is a positive meniscus lens, and the third lens is a double convex positive lens. A concave surface of the second lens is towards the diaphragm, and the focal length of the entire optical system is f, the focal lengths of the first, the second and the third lens are respectively f1, f2, and f3, and which satisfies the following requirement: −0.7
US08331034B2

A zoom lens system comprises, from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit; a second lens unit; a third lens unit; a fourth lens unit; and a fifth lens unit having positive refractive power, wherein: in zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first, the second, the third, and the fourth lens units move so that an interval between the first and the second lens units is larger at the telephoto end than that at the wide angle end, an interval between the second and the third lens units is smaller at the telephoto end than that at the wide angle end, and a distance between the third and the fourth lens units varies; and a focal length of the first lens unit, and focal lengths of an entire system at the wide angle end and the telephoto end are appropriately set.
US08331028B2

In an embodiment, a light shelf of the present invention includes at least one panel assembly for reflecting daylight into a space; and at least two structural elements for holding the panel assembly, wherein the structural elements include a spine component having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween; a first mounting component for installing on a structural member and for engaging the proximal end of the spine component; a second mounting component for engaging the distal end of the spine component; and a sleeve component having at least one indentation for holding a side of the panel assembly.
US08331027B2

A diffraction grating structure having ultra-high density of grooves comprises an echellette substrate having periodically repeating recessed features, and a multi-layer stack of materials disposed on the echellette substrate. The surface of the diffraction grating is planarized, such that layers of the multi-layer stack form a plurality of lines disposed on the planarized surface of the structure in a periodical fashion, wherein lines having a first property alternate with lines having a dissimilar property on the surface of the substrate. For example, in one embodiment, lines comprising high-Z and low-Z materials alternate on the planarized surface providing a structure that is suitable as a diffraction grating for EUV and soft X-rays. In some embodiments, line density of between about 10,000 lines/mm to about 100,000 lines/mm is provided.
US08331026B2

The present invention relates to a process for surface structuring, that is to say, for meaning forming at least one array of patterns with a submillimeter scale characteristic lateral dimension on a flat surface of a product comprising a substrate bearing at least one layer resulting from a sol-gel process, where the structuring is done hot with a hydrolyzed sol layer based on alkoxides and/or halide(s) of at least one metal chosen among Si, Ti, Zr, W, Sb, Hf, Ta, V, Mg, Al, Mn, Co, Ni, Sn, Zn, and Ce with a nonreactive organic group, where the structuring is carried out by contact with a structured mask and exerting pressure as needed, and where the structuring is carried out in a temperature range suited for a sufficient condensation threshold ensuring the thermal hold of the structuring, with a total structuring time less than or equal to two hours. The invention also covers the resulting product.
US08331024B1

The present invention relates to a temporal depolarization assembly. The depolarization assembly operates to produce light that, over some period of time, is depolarized. The depolarization assembly includes first and second variable retarders. The variable retarders are operated to produce a retardance that varies in time. In addition, the modulator axis of a first one of the variable retarders is held at an angle to the modulator axis of the second one of the variable retarders. The frequency at which the retardance of the variable retarders varies is selected to be some fraction of the integration time of a sensor associated with the polarization assembly.
US08331011B2

Disclosed is a display device including a substrate having a unit pixel area, a fixed member formed on the substrate to receive a ground voltage, an insulating layer formed on the fixed member, a fixed electrode formed on the insulating layer to receive a common voltage, and a plurality of movable members partially fixed on the insulating layer. The movable members are spaced apart from the fixed electrode at regular intervals, and the plurality of movable members and the fixed electrode are placed within the unit pixel area.
US08331005B2

A method for providing feed forward compensation in a drive signal for a rapid resonant frequency change due to a rapid LASER intensity change upon a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror and/or a surrounding MEMS structure in a MEMS scanner causing a mirror temperature change is provided. The method includes determining an intensity factor for at least one laser beam projected onto the MEMS scanner and adjusting a drive frequency of the drive signal based on the intensity factor. The intensity could represent a single intensity factor for multiple laser beams projected onto the MEMS scanner. The method could also include delaying the adjustment of the drive frequency to allow the resonant frequency change to take affect in the MEMS scanner. Delaying the adjustment could include delaying delivery of the intensity factor such that the intensity factor is provided coincident with the resonant frequency change of the MEMS scanner.
US08330988B1

A scheduling application prints a portable pocket sized hardcopy of information items such as scheduled items and task lists, and prints the information onto the pocket sized hardcopy in a consistent manner on each visible side of the hardcopy by rotating and inverting the printed material in anticipation of subsequent folding. The consistent manner encompasses inverting and arranging portions of the hardcopy along fold lines to enable folding that results in an upright orientation to the displayed text and figures. Conventional scheduling mechanisms are typically unwieldy to quickly initiate and enter a single item or entry. Electronic mediums need to be powered on, a keystroke, stylus, or pointing device sequence applied to access the corresponding scheduling or notepad application, and the information entered. Conventional paper mediums tend to be bulky and thus typically in a briefcase or purse, and often have binders or covers as well as page tabbing systems that need to be navigated.
US08330987B2

An interface device backs up printer settings and operating history data of printer so that the settings and history data can be easily restored. A nonvolatile memory 109 in the printer 101 stores printer settings data. Commands from a host 161 are passed by the interface device 131 and received by a receiver 103 within the printer. If the command data is a print command, the print mechanism 108 prints the specified text or image. If the command data is a command for updating the settings data, the corresponding settings data in the nonvolatile memory 109 is updated and at an appropriate backup time the updated settings data is copied to a nonvolatile memory 135 in the interface device 131. The settings data backed up into the interface device 131 can then be restored back to the printer's nonvolatile memory 109 at an appropriate data restore time.
US08330976B2

To enable data in a WWW server on a network to be directly obtained without passing through an information processing apparatus and to reduce a load which is applied to the network when the data obtained from the WWW server is printed, a digital copier has a function, namely, a Web Pull Printing function for actively accessing to the WWW server, obtaining data of an HTML format in the WWW server, and printing by a self printer. A Web print request to the digital copier by the user is executed through a print utility which is operating on a client.
US08330970B2

An image processing device has a normal output mode for output at a normal image density and a color material save mode for reducing color material consumption. The image processing device includes at least one of plural image processing units configured to perform color space conversion processing, black processing, γconversion processing, and halftone processing, respectively. The at least one of the plural image processing units for color space conversion processing, black processing, γconversion processing, and halftone processing includes plural processing units including a processing unit of low processing speed for relatively high image quality and a processing unit of high processing speed for relatively low image quality. In the color material save mode, one or more of the at least one of the plural image processing units for color space conversion processing, black processing, γconversion processing, and halftone processing execute the processing unit of high processing speed.
US08330969B2

A print data generation apparatus includes a pattern data registration unit, a pattern data conversion unit and an image conversion unit. The pattern data registration unit registers pattern data corresponding to a print image readable by an electronic pen printed on a recording medium. The pattern data conversion unit converts the print image into the pattern data registered in the pattern data registration unit. The image conversion unit converts the pattern data converted by the pattern data conversion unit into drawing data of the print image.
US08330967B2

A host on the World Wide Web acquires a variety of facilities as subscribers and then proceeds to undertake control of the printing of images captured at the various subscribing facilities. A user is enabled to select the quality of image content captured by a digital camera. An implementation for capturing said image content at a facility controlled by a facility host includes a user computer station connected to said Web, apparatus for printing the captured image content associated with the user computer station, the user is enabled to select a level of image print quality for said captured image, the user computer station controlling the printing is connected to the remote facility host and a control implementation enables the facility host to permit said printing means to print the captured image at the user selected image print quality.
US08330965B2

A multi-functional multi-engine print platform engines schedules and processes job in order to minimize visibility of image defects. The print platform includes at least two marking engines that process jobs, a marking engine analyzer that determines image quality defects of the at least two marking engines, and a scheduler that creates a plan to process a job with the at least two marking engines based at least on the image quality defects each of the at least two marking engines in order to minimize visibility of the defects in images reproduced by the at least two marking engine.
US08330964B2

The invention relates to a method for detecting objects in which a light pattern is beamed by a plurality of transmitting modules into an observation zone, the transmitting modules being spaced to each other, in which light radiated back from the observation zone is detected by at least one spatially resolving detector unit, in which a surface contour of an object located in the observation zone is determined on the basis of the detected light according to the light section principle, in which a maximum spatial resolution is caused by the intervals at which the transmitting modules are spaced from each other. The method is characterized in that in an overview measurement, a first selection of transmission modules is activated, a first spatial resolution is defined by the first selection of transmission modules, in an object measurement, a second selection of transmission modules is activated, a second spatial resolution is defined by the second selection of transmission modules or by the second selection of transmission modules together with at least a selected number of the transmission modules pertaining to the first selection, which second spatial resolution is greater than the first spatial resolution.
US08330958B2

An optochemical detector for detecting various chemical compounds and comprising a flow cell incorporating the sensory element constructed of an organic-inorganic emissive nanocomposite which luminescence spectral response is specific to exposed target vapors and particulates. The change in the luminescent spectral response is measured during this exposure. The detector is equipped with air-jet sampling system functioning in real-time mode for delivery of vapors and particulates to sensory element.
US08330950B2

Excitation light is irradiated onto a GaN layer on a silicon carbide substrate constituting a layered product that is set on a stage. Then light is emitted from a defective part caused by a structural defect of the silicon carbide substrate out of the GaN layer. By using this light luminescence phenomena, a position of a defective part of the silicon carbide substrate can be detected.
US08330939B2

The present invention provides an exposure apparatus can suppress the occurrence of residual liquid. An exposure apparatus comprises: a first stage that holds the substrate and is movable; a second stage that is movable independently of the first stage; and a liquid immersion mechanism that forms a liquid immersion region of a liquid on an upper surface of at least one stage of the first stage and the second stage; wherein, a recovery port that is capable of recovering the liquid is provided to the upper surface of the second stage.
US08330935B2

A microlithographic projection exposure apparatus includes a projection lens that is configured for immersion operation. For this purpose an immersion liquid is introduced into an immersion space that is located between a last lens of the projection lens on the image side and a photosensitive layer to be exposed. To reduce fluctuations of refractive index resulting from temperature gradients occurring within the immersion liquid, the projection exposure apparatus includes heat transfer elements that heat or cool partial volumes of the immersion liquid so as to achieve an at least substantially homogenous or at least substantially rotationally symmetric temperature distribution within the immersion liquid.
US08330933B2

A liquid crystal (LC) lens structure and a method of driving same are disclosed. The LC lens structure includes an upper substrate, a lower substrate, a liquid crystal and polymer composite film, and an LC layer. The upper substrate is provided with a first conducive layer and a first alignment layer; and the lower substrate is provided with a second conductive layer and a second alignment layer. The liquid crystal and polymer composite film is arranged at one side of the first alignment layer to form a first lens, and the LC layer is arranged between the liquid crystal and polymer composite film and the second alignment layer to form a second lens. By building the liquid crystal and polymer composite film in the LC lens structure, it is able to realize an LC lens with low operating voltage and large focusing range.
US08330914B2

The present invention provides an anti-reflection film which weakens color in reflection light and prevents an occurrence of color unevenness. The anti-reflection film has a value in the range of 0.5-1.5% as an average luminous reflectance, a value in the range of 0.2-0.9% as a difference between the maximum and the minimum of spectral reflectance in the visible light region, a value in the range of 0.5-3.0% as an absorption loss in average luminous transmittance, a value in the range of 0.5-4.0% as a difference between the maximum and the minimum of absorption losses in light transmittance at all wavelengths within the visible light region, and a magnitude relation of Q450>Q550>Q650, where Q450, Q550 and Q650 is an absorption loss in light transmittance of said anti-reflection film at wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm 650 nm.
US08330913B2

A first substrate (20) is subjected to an alignment treatment for controlling an alignment direction of liquid crystal molecules of a liquid crystal layer, an alignment control region (R60) is provided in at least a part of a Y-direction interelectrode region (R52) between respective adjacent pixel electrodes (60), and an extension direction (D10) of the alignment control region (R60) is at an angle of not less than −15° and not more than +15° with a direction in which the alignment treatment is carried out (D20).
US08330909B2

A liquid crystal display device (1) includes (i) an opening (22a) which is provided on a color filter (22) in a transmissive region and (ii) a light sensor (14) which is provided in the transmissive region for detecting an intensity of light which enters the liquid crystal display device (1), the light directly entering the light sensor (14) through the opening (22a). This makes it possible to provide (1) a liquid crystal display device in which each dot region includes a light detection element and which prevents a decrease in aperture ratio of a transmissive region and (ii) an electronic device.
US08330886B2

A thin film transistor array substrate includes a plurality of pixel areas defined by scan lines and data lines; a pixel electrode disposed on each of pixel areas; and a thin film transistor disposed on the each scan lines includes a gate electrode; a source electrode; a first drain electrode and a second drain electrode disposed along the source electrode and on the opposite sides; and an insulating layer over the source electrode, the first drain electrode, the second drain electrode and data lines. The insulating layer has a contact hole to electrically connect with the pixel electrode and the first drain electrode; and the second drain electrode extends to a portion adjacent the pixel electrode and electrically insulated with each other by the insulating layer. The present repair method is to irradiate a laser beam to short the second drain electrode and the pixel electrode at the adjacent pixel area.
US08330884B2

A pixel array substrate includes a pixel region and a circuit region adjacent to the pixel region. A plurality of display pixel units are disposed in the pixel region and a plurality of dummy pixel units are disposed in the circuit region. Each of the dummy pixel units includes a data line, a scan line, a plurality of switching elements and a plurality of pixel electrodes. The switching elements are electrically connected to the scan line and data line. The pixel electrodes are electrically connected to the switching elements. Particularly, electrostatic currents in the pixel region can be dissipated by the dummy pixel units in the circuit region. The dummy pixel units preserve the continuity of electricity in the pixel array substrate and function as an inner short ring. Therefore, the area of the circuit region on the pixel array substrate is larger.
US08330878B2

A portable storage device having a memory and a wireless remote control receiver is equipped for connection to a digital content player, which is controllable by a wireless remote control transmitter. The memory stores digital content data. The remote control transmitter communicates with the remote control receiver to play the digital content data on the digital content player. Accordingly, an additional remote control transmitter is not necessary for the remote control playing of digital content data residing on the portable storage device. The digital content data may be loaded from an external source, such as a personal computer. The personal computer can also be controlled to play the digital content data by using remote control transmitter using a known protocol. Thus, a user wishing to play the digital content data stored in the portable storage device does not need to acquire an additional specially-matched remote control transmitter.
US08330866B2

This disclosure describes a number of techniques for processing multimedia data that can improve multi-program “picture-in-picture” viewing, particularly in a wireless mobile apparatus setting. In one example, a method includes receiving multiple channels of the multimedia data, decoding frames associated with two or more of the channels, presenting first frames of a first channel at a first frame rate, and presenting second frames of a second channel at a second frame rate while presenting the first frames, wherein the second frame rate is lower than the first frame rate. In another example, method includes receiving multiple channels of the multimedia data, receiving channel switch frames (CSFs) associated with the multiple channels, and simultaneously presenting the CSFs associated with two or more of the multiple channels to a user.
US08330854B2

A hermetically sealed digital electronic camera that is designed to operate both on land and underwater to great depths, and method of making same. The present invention is a camera which is hermetically sealed by being totally encapsulated, preferably by being cast in plastic, with no seals, holes, joints, penetrating pins, wires or other objects. Wireless means are used for communicating information, electrical power and control signals. The invention is impervious to atmospheric contamination and absolutely incapable of leaking under water to great depths and pressures. In an alternate embodiment camera optics are not encapsulated but are immersed in water when the encapsulated digital camera is placed in water.
US08330845B2

An image processor that can get a number of image files resized collectively is provided in order to realize a more user-friendly resizing function.The image processor includes: a control section configured to select a particular set of resizing conditions from a plurality of sets of resizing conditions in accordance with a user's instruction; and an image processing section configured to perform resizing processing on each of a plurality of images in accordance with the selected particular set of resizing conditions. Each set of resizing conditions specifies a plurality of estimated resized image sizes. Each estimated resized image size is associated with a respective image aspect ratio. For said each of the plurality of images to be resized, the image processing section selects an estimated resized image size from the selected particular set of resizing conditions according to the aspect ratio of said each of the plurality of images and performs the resizing processing on said each of the plurality of images in accordance with the selected estimated resized image size.
US08330842B2

An amplifier control device controls an amplifier which amplifies a first signal supplied from an image-pickup element, and supplies a second signal acquired by amplification of the first signal to a signal processing unit which is a following stage. The amplifier control device comprises a control unit which changes a current supplied to the amplifier depending on whether or not the first signal supplied to the amplifier is used for image data.
US08330841B2

A solid-state image capturing apparatus includes: a pixel array unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor that transfers charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit, and a charge discharging transistor that selectively discharges the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit; and a driving unit that performs driving for reading signals from each pixel of the pixel array unit, and drives the charge discharging transistor by using a signal for the driving.
US08330840B2

Image sensors are provided for electronic imaging devices. An image sensor can be formed from an array of image pixels. Bragg-type multilayer interference filters can be formed for the image sensor using dielectric layers with alternating high and low indices of refraction. The multilayer interference filters can be configured to form band-pass filters of desired colors and infrared-blocking filters. Dielectric layers with non-flat bulk absorption properties may be used to tune the absorption of the filters. The interference filters may be provided in a uniform pattern so that an image sensor exhibits a monochrome response or may be arranged in a multicolor color filter array pattern such as a Bayer pattern.
US08330837B2

An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager outputs an image signal that is based on electric charges produced on an imaging surface having an optical black area. A clamper clamps the image signal outputted from the imager by referring to a signal level of the optical black area. A processor processes the image signal outputted from the clamper by referring to a parameter setting. A restrictor restricts behavior of the clamper corresponding to a specific area allocated to the optical black area. An adjustor adjusts the parameter setting based on an output of the clamper corresponding to the restricting process of the restrictor.
US08330826B2

A method for measuring a photographer's progress over time toward producing images with a high level of aesthetic quality by assessing the aesthetic quality of a set of digital images captured by the photographer comprising: providing a set of digital images captured by a particular photographer, each digital image having and associated capture times captured by a particular photographer; using a processor to compute an aesthetic quality parameters for each digital image in the set; and producing an indication of the photographer's progress toward producing images with a high level of aesthetic quality using the aesthetic quality parameters for each digital image in the set and the corresponding associated capture times.
US08330822B2

Various embodiments are disclosed for setting a depth camera light source operating temperature in a thermal tuning mode executed during a depth camera manufacturing process. One embodiment of a method includes illuminating a target with light from a light source at a plurality of light source temperatures; for each light source temperature, sensing an intensity of reflected light received at a light sensor through a light filter positioned intermediate the target and the light sensor; approximating a frequency response relationship between a light filter cutoff frequency and a light source emission wavelength based on a comparison of the sensed intensities and stored reference data; generating a temperature set point so that the light source emission wavelength does not overlap the light filter cutoff frequency by more than a predetermined overlap threshold; and programming a temperature controller to control the light source to the temperature set point during depth camera operation.
US08330820B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods and apparatus for infrared imagers including fast electrostatic shutters and offset compensation. Fast electrostatic shutters are used for video image correction including image offset compensation where temporal noise and scene nonuniformity are corrected. This method provides a shutterless experience for the user because the image will be blocked for only one frame at a time. A method of manufacturing an electrostatic infrared shutter includes a conductive infrared-transparent substrate, covering it with an insulating layer, depositing adhesive and a thin film stack, delineating a working area, providing contacts, heat-treating the assembly, and making the polymer non-reflective in the infrared.
US08330819B2

A computer-implemented method for for matching objects is disclosed. At least two images where one of the at least two images has a first target object and a second of the at least two images has a second target object are received. At least one first patch from the first target object and at least one second patch from the second target object are extracted. A distance-based part encoding between each of the at least one first patch and the at least one second patch based upon a corresponding codebook of image parts including at least one of part type and pose is constructed. A viewpoint of one of the at least one first patch is warped to a viewpoint of the at least one second patch. A parts level similarity measure based on the view-invariant distance measure for each of the at least one first patch and the at least one second patch is applied to determine whether the first target object and the second target object are the same or different objects.
US08330817B1

A sting trailer has a camera scaffold concealing hidden cameras in a cargo compartment of the trailer. The camera scaffold conceals cameras and wiring so that the cameras are not visible from the interior of the trailer.
US08330815B2

The present invention has an object to provide a vehicle-mounted camera system capable of preventing the occurrence of only a smear in an area without a mask image on a picked up image, and substantially reducing a ghost and stray light. The vehicle-mounted camera system according to the present invention includes an imaging element (30a), an imaging lens (30c) disposed in front of the imaging element (30a), a superimposing means for superimposing a mask image on part of a picked up image of the imaging element (30a), and a light-shielding part (31b) arranged in a range corresponding to the mask image within the angle of view of the imaging lens (30c) for shielding part of incident light from the exterior.
US08330796B2

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for the recording and display of images of a scene and/or an object. They are suitable especially for the spatially perceived display of the recorded images. The problem of finding a new way of recording, with the least possible effort, images of real scenes or objects and subsequently displaying them three-dimensionally in two or more views by autostereoscopy is solved, according to the invention, in such a way that at least one main camera of a first camera type and at least one satellite camera of a second camera type are provided for the recording of images, with an image conversion device and a 3D image display device being arranged downstream of the cameras. The two camera types differ in at least one parameter; and a total of at least three cameras are provided. The invention also comprises a method for the transmission of 3D information.
US08330792B2

A method of measuring video latency between a sender and a receiver in a video conference system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes initiating an electrical signal from a first location in a video conference system, transmitting the electrical signal through the video components of the video conference system, reflecting the electrical signal back through the video components of the video conference system and measuring the latency of the electrical signal at the first location related to the transmission and reflection of the electrical signal.
US08330789B2

A receiver device for use in conjunction with an MCDN includes a computer readable storage resource, a controller to execute stored instructions, a network interface coupling the device to the MCDN, and a decoder to decode streaming multimedia content received via the network interface. The receiver includes a remote control interface to detect a remote control command from a remote control device and a handset interface to communicate audio data with a handset device. A local video interface receives video data from a camera or other local video resource. The stored instructions include, a remote control application to execute remote control commands, a handset module to communicate audio date with the handset device, and a session initiation module to establish a video conferencing session. A video conferencing module integrates the audio data and the video data and communicates the integrated data via the video conferencing session.
US08330785B2

An apparatus for switching and controlling the intensity of a laser beam directed toward a beam detect sensor for an image forming device. A printing power reference signal and a beam detect power reference signal is selectively connected to a laser driver through a first switch. A printing power reference holding capacitor and a beam detect power reference holding capacitor is selectively connected to the laser driver through a second switch that is controlled in tandem with the first switch. During each scan cycle, the output laser power is monitored and used to adjust one of the two holding capacitors based such that both the printing power and the beam detect power have a controlled reference.
US08330775B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to merging and splitting intersecting geometry-only solids and surfaces in an intuitive manner. One embodiment is a method of merging and cutting geometry-only format CAD objects without related history information, using a single geometry modification tool and interface. In response to receiving a group selection from the user, of a plurality of CAD objects, the method infers a merge operation and automatically merges the plurality of CAD objects into a single merged CAD object. In response to receiving an individual selection from the user of a CAD object, the geometry modification tool enters a merged state when the subsequent second selection from the user is selected in a manner indicating a merger operation, or alternatively, enters a cut state when the subsequent second selection from the user is selected in a manner indicating a cut operation.
US08330765B2

A multithreaded rendering software pipeline architecture utilizes a rolling context data structure to store multiple contexts that are associated with different image elements that are being processed in the software pipeline. Each context stores state data for a particular image element, and the association of each image element with a context is maintained as the image element is passed from stage to stage of the software pipeline, thus ensuring that the state used by the different stages of the software pipeline when processing the image element remains coherent irrespective of state changes made for other image elements being processed by the software pipeline. Multiple image elements may therefore be processed concurrently by the software pipeline, and often without regard for synchronization or serialization of state changes that affect only certain image elements.
US08330762B2

Embodiments of the invention as described herein provide a solution to the problems of conventional methods as stated above. In the following description, various examples are given for illustration, but none are intended to be limiting. Embodiments include a frame processor module in a graphics processing system that examines the intra-coded and inter-coded frames in an encoded video stream and initiates migration of decoding and rendering functions to a second graphics processor from a first graphics processor based on the location of intra-coded frames in a video stream and the composition of intermediate inter-coded frames.
US08330759B1

A facility for delivering a user segment displays an ordered set of steps making up a process, and receives user input selecting one of the displayed steps of the process. In response to receiving the user input, the facility creates a new user segment definition. The created user segment definition establishes a segment to include those users that complete the displayed process through the selected step.
US08330752B2

A data line driving circuit for a display panel includes a plurality of output circuits, a bias circuit, and a plurality of switches. Each of the plurality of output circuits includes an electric current source which supplies electric current in response to a bias signal, and supplies a data voltage by using the electric current to a corresponding one of a plurality of data lines arranged in the display panel. The bias circuit generates the bias signal, and supplies the bias signal to the plurality of output circuits through bias wirings. The plurality of switches is provided between the bias circuit and the plurality of output circuits, and cuts off the bias wirings in response to a control signal.
US08330746B2

Addressing method for multiple chips is provided. Each chip includes an input enable terminal, an output enable terminal, a data input terminal, and a clock terminal. The output enable terminal of a previous stage is connected to the input enable terminal of a next stage. The method includes setting an initial address to an address of each chip via a system; setting a state of each chip to a disable state; enabling the state of a first-one chip among the chips to an enable state, and setting the first chip as a previous-stage chip; updating the address of the previous-stage chip; enabling a next-stage chip connected after the previous-stage chip, in which the system controls the output enable terminal of the previous-stage chip to output an enable signal to enable the next-stage chip, according to the address of the previous-stage chip; and the updating the address of the next-stage chip.
US08330735B2

A capacitive touch circuit includes a single comparator, a reference voltage control unit, a resistance adjusting unit, a delay unit, and a relaxation oscillation control unit. The comparator has a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The reference voltage control unit is electrically connected to the second input terminal and includes a high level voltage source, a low level voltage source, and a voltage switching controller. The voltage switching controller electrically connects either the high level voltage source or the low level voltage source to the second input terminal of the single comparator according to an output signal of the single comparator. The relaxation oscillation control unit is electrically connected to the resistance adjusting unit, the delay unit, and the reference voltage control unit. The relaxation oscillation control unit outputs a relaxation oscillation signal, and the frequency of the relaxation oscillation signal varies according to the resistance set by the resistance adjusting unit.
US08330731B2

Scrolling or other user interface functions are provided in response to two-dimensional inputs produced by a touchpad or other input device. The user initially touches the touch sensor in an area near a periphery of the touch sensor and moves his or her finger along the periphery of the device, and then provides a subsequent motion of the finger across the touch sensor in a direction that departs from the periphery. The amount of scrolling produced on the computing system may be determined as a function of a distance moved by the user's finger.
US08330728B2

The present invention discloses an information input device for a portable electronic apparatus comprising a touch unit for perceiving the touch from a user and generating a change in current, a current detection unit for detecting said change in current and sending associated detection signal, an input information generating unit for generating input information based on said detection signal and an output interface for transferring said input information to said electronic apparatus, which further comprises: an input state acquisition unit for acquiring the input state when the user uses said portable electronic apparatus; and an input switch unit for parsing said input state and control the on and off of trackpad-type input of said portable electronic apparatus based on said input state. An information input control method for a portable electronic apparatus is also disclosed.
US08330721B2

An optical navigation device with a phase grating for beam steering. The optical navigation device includes a light source, and image sensor, and a beam steering element. The light source directs a light beam toward a navigation surface. The image sensor receives light along an imaging path and generates a navigation image of the navigation surface from the light received along the imaging path. The beam steering element is disposed between the navigation surface and the image sensor. The beam steering element receives reflected light from the navigation surface along a specular reflection path. The beam steering element directs a first portion of the reflected light along the imaging path toward the image sensor. The beam steering element directs a second portion of the reflected light along a beam steering path away from the imaging path.
US08330705B2

A method of driving a light source includes; driving a plurality of light source strings in response to a plurality of driving signals, when a light source module having the plurality of light source strings connected in parallel with each other receives a driving voltage, detecting a detection voltage from channel input terminals of a multichannel current control part, wherein the multichannel current control part controls a resistance difference of the plurality of light source strings based on the plurality of driving signals, and controlling a level of the driving voltage via adjusting a current applied to a feedback terminal of a driving voltage generating part, wherein the driving voltage generating part generates the driving voltage.
US08330703B2

An information handling system is disclosed and includes a display, a lamp back lighting the display, and a lamp control system coupled to the lamp. The lamp control system is configured to boost a maximum luminance of the lamp as the lamp ages.
US08330702B2

An object of the present invention is to suppress deterioration in the thin film transistor. A plurality of pulse output circuits each include first to eleventh thin film transistors is formed. The pulse output circuit is operated on the basis of a plurality of clock signals which control each transistor, the previous stage signal input from a pulse output circuit in the previous stage, the next stage signal input from a pulse output circuit in the next stage, and a reset signal. In addition, a microcrystalline semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer serving as a channel region of each transistor. Therefore, degradation of characteristics of the transistor can be suppressed.
US08330700B2

In an active matrix display device, one source line is arranged for every two pixels arranged along a gate line direction, and each two pixels which are adjacent to each other along the gate line direction across one of the source lines share the source line and are each connected to different gate lines. A gate driver block performs a first driving control which sequentially selects, in a first order, the gate lines in a pair of two gate lines corresponding to two pixels which are adjacent to each other along the gate line direction and are connected to different source lines. The gate driver block also performs a second driving control which sequentially selects, in a second order which is opposite to the first order, the gate lines in such a pair of two gate lines.
US08330685B2

In an organic light emitting diode display, a plurality of sub-pixels sharing a select scan line that extends in a row direction forms a unit pixel, and the plurality of sub-pixels are arranged in a column direction in the unit pixel. A field is divided into a plurality of subfields, and corresponding one of the plurality of sub-pixels emits light in each of the plurality of subfields.
US08330680B2

A light-emitting display device includes a pixel circuit that transmits a data signal using switches responding to control signals. The pixel circuit of the light-emitting display device includes first and second switching transistors serially coupled to a data line. A capacitor is charged with charges in response to a data signal from the data line through the first and second switching transistors. A driving transistor outputs a current corresponding to the charges in the capacitor. A light-emitting diode emits light corresponding to the current. One of the first and second switching transistors is turned on in response to a select signal from a first scan line and the other one is turned on in response to a control signal for controlling an operation of a second pixel circuit.
US08330679B2

Aspects of the invention can provide an electronic circuit that can include a first transistor having a first and second terminal between which a first channel region can be formed, and a second transistor having a third and fourth terminal between which a second channel region can be formed. In the electronic circuit, a gate voltage of the first transistor can be based on a programming current flowing from the first terminal to the second terminal during a first step, a reproducing current flowing from the second terminal to the first terminal during a second step, and a current level of the reproducing current corresponding to the gate voltage determined during the first step.
US08330668B2

An antenna adapted for wireless networks and having a variably controlled stagger antenna array architecture is disclosed. The antenna array contains a plurality of driven radiating elements that are spatially arranged having each radiating element or element groups orthogonally movable relative to a main vertical axis so as to provide a controlled variation of the antenna array's azimuth radiation pattern.
US08330660B2

The present invention relates to a method of tuning a glass antenna that is capable of analyzing the sensitivity of each point, and forming a structure of a glass antenna by making use of a common simulation tool so as to perform tuning depending on a priority that is determined by data obtained by analyzing the sensitivity.
US08330659B2

An apparatus including a wireless communications device has an internal antenna system located within the wireless communications device. The internal antenna system includes a passive antenna set comprising at least one antenna element having at least one multilevel structure, a feeding point to the at least one antenna element and a ground plane. The feeding point and a point on the ground plane define an input/output port for said passive antenna set. The passive antenna set provides a similar impedance level and radiation pattern at two or more frequency bands such that the passive antenna set is capable of both transmitting and receiving wireless signals on selected channels. The selected channels are selectable from a plurality of channels throughout an entire frequency range within each of said two or more frequency bands.
US08330658B2

A portable communication device includes a first housing and a second housing that are slidably placed one on another and can shift between an open state and a closed state, a wireless circuit installed in the first housing, a first antenna installed in the second housing, and a noncontact switching member that connects together the first antenna and the wireless circuit in a noncontact manner in the open state and disconnects the noncontact between the first antenna and the wireless circuit in the closed state.
US08330650B2

A radar system, apparatus, and method includes at least one radar transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic waveform; a receiving antenna comprising a plurality of receiving antenna elements and delay lines, each of the plurality of receiving antenna elements receiving the return signal operatively associated with a predetermined delay line; each delay line having a delay length which produces a different phase delay in the return signal; the different phase delays producing substantially different antenna patterns for the received signal at a given frequency; at least one processor operatively connected to receive data from the plurality of delay lines; the at least one processor operating to analyze the substantially different beam patterns for a given frequency; whereby the processing of the data produces results indicating the presence and location of a target.
US08330641B2

An electronic countermeasure (ECM) transceiver including a receiver for sequentially receiving a plurality of signals in respective frequency sub-bands. A processor sequentially receives the plurality of signals and identifies the received signals as threats. The processor then generates ECM signals based on the threats and sequentially outputs the ECM signals to a transmitter. The transmitter simultaneously transmits the ECM signals in the respective frequency sub-bands to address the threats.
US08330638B2

A remote control for a wireless load control system comprises a housing having a length and a width slightly smaller than the length and the width of an opening of a standard faceplate, respectively, such that the housing is adapted to be received within the opening of the standard faceplate. The remote control comprises a controller, a radio-frequency transmitter coupled to the controller, and a battery coupled to provide power to the controller and the radio-frequency transmitter, which are all contained within the housing. The remote control may be provided with multiple mounting means. For example, the remote control may be coupled to a lanyard, clipped to a car visor, rested on a table top, or mounted to a wall.
US08330636B2

An electric signal digitizing device includes a line of propagation through which the signal travels and a plurality of samplers (141, . . . , 14N) connected at separate points on the line of propagation, such that each one samples the signal value at the connection point thereof. The device further includes an analog matrix memory including a line of which at least some elements are each connected to a sampler of the plurality of samplers to receive the value sampled by the sampler, and a means for the line-to-line shifting of stored values. An analog-digital conversion means is also provided for the analog-digital conversion of the stored values.
US08330626B1

A system for providing location information of a vehicle includes a communications interface and a correlation logic that correlates location information of a communications device to location of the vehicle. The communications interface communicates electronic signals including: a first signal including data representing a request for the location of the vehicle, a second signal transmitted to a location information provider corresponding to a party or device other than the communications device including data representing a request for location information of the communications device, a third signal received from the location information provider corresponding to the party or device other than the communications device including data representing the location information of the communications device, and a fourth signal including data representing the location of the vehicle.
US08330617B2

An intelligent well system may include a first main bore transmission assembly disposed in a main bore and a first lateral bore transmission assembly disposed in a lateral bore. The first main bore transmission assembly may include a first main bore transmission unit, and the first lateral bore transmission assembly may include a first lateral bore transmission unit. The first main bore transmission unit and the first lateral bore transmission unit may be configured to establish a wireless connection there between, such that at least one of power or telemetry can be wirelessly transmitted. The first main bore transmission assembly may be configured to be communicatively connected to a surface communication device.
US08330610B2

A system, method, and apparatus for detecting wear in a screening arrangement is disclosed. The system, method, and apparatus can include a sensor that is configured to provide a notification signal when a surface of a screen panel has worn to a threshold level. The threshold level can be based at least in part on the amount of wear that requires replacement of a screen panel to prevent breakthrough or contamination. The notification signal provided by the sensor can be used to identify which screen panel or region of screen panels has been worn to the threshold level so that the screen panels can be replaced in a timely manner. The sensor may be coupled to a conductor embedded in one of the screen panels that is altered when a screen panel has worn to a threshold level, triggering the sensor to provide the notification signal.
US08330605B2

A system is described for providing real time locating and gas exposure monitoring. The system may include a memory, interface, and processor. The memory may store an alarm data item including an amount of gas exposure and a location identifier. The processor may receive the alarm data item from a sensor device of a first user. The processor may identify a relative location of the first user based on the location identifier. The processor may determine a second user located within a proximity of the first user. The processor may communicate to the second user the relative location of the first user and the gas exposure of the first user. The processor may receive, from the second user, an indication of whether an emergency responder should be contacted. The processor may initiate communication with an emergency responder if the indication indicates an emergency responder should be contacted.
US08330601B2

Three dimensional RF tag signatures may be obtained from a three dimensional RF tag or multiple two or three dimensional RF tags so that information in addition to presence information may be obtained. In one embodiment, a three dimensional RF tag having two or more power coils disposed in non-coplanar planes enables the coils to experience different levels of excitation from an electromagnetic field. This information may be transmitted along with the RF tag response to enable the orientation of the RF tag relative to an RF tag reader to be determined. In another embodiment, multiple RF tags (either standard RF tags or three dimensional RF tags) may be used on a given article and a response signature from the article as a whole may be recorded. The three dimensional response signature thus collected may be compared with previous versions of the response signature to determine if the article has been altered.
US08330592B2

A collision warning device for motor vehicles includes a locating sensor, a lane recognition module for detecting the number of traffic lanes in the road on which the vehicle is traveling, and a decision unit to output a warning signal if a danger parameter (ttc) determined using the data from the locating sensor exceeds a threshold value, the threshold value being variable depending on the number of traffic lanes in such a way that the warning signal is issued earlier when the number of lanes is greater.
US08330591B2

A system for adjusting components in an automobile to compensate for impinging sunlight includes a solar data generator configured to generate solar data concerning a current location, heading, date and time of a vehicle. A solar data calculator is coupled to the solar data generator and configured to receive solar data and determine a vehicle component affected by impinging sunlight. A body control manager is coupled to the solar data calculator and operable to control the vehicle component to compensate for impinging sunlight.
US08330588B2

A repeater circuit is disclosed. The repeater circuit includes an input circuit coupled to receive a data input signal and a clock signal, and an output circuit configured to, when activated, drive an output signal on an output node. The input circuit is further configured to activate the output circuit in order to initiate a logical transition of the data output signal. A deactivation circuit is configured to deactivate the output circuit at a delay subsequent to activation. A latch is coupled to the output circuit and it is configured to change a latch output state responsive to activation of the output circuit. The latch is configured to hold a state of the output node subsequent to deactivation of the output circuit. The input circuit is configured to activate the output circuit dependent on the clock signal. The deactivation circuit is configured to deactivate the output circuit independent of the clock signal.
US08330573B2

Systems, methods, and kits for automatically activating a garage door opener. A garage door opener system is supplemented with motion sensor technology or RFID technology to allow for automatic activation of a garage door opener. An automobile that is moving near or is proximate to a garage associated with at least one garage door opener can cause the garage door opener to be automatically activated to open or close a garage door that is operatively connected to the garage door opener.
US08330572B2

A multiple barrier control system includes a plurality of barrier operators configured to move associated access barriers between limit positions. Each of the barrier operators are enabled to communicate with one or more local transmitters. The local transmitters may maintain an all-close button, an all-open button, and an all-stop button, which are associated with corresponding functions maintained by the barrier operators. Upon the actuation of one of the buttons, the associated function is simultaneously carried out by each of the associated barrier operators. Additionally, a portable network control may invoke the simultaneous control of functions at each of the barrier operators via an associated communication network. Moreover, scenes may be created wherein the barrier operators and other accessories, such as lights and appliances, may be moved or actuated to a desired status upon actuation of a scene button on either the local transmitter or the portable network control.
US08330563B2

A high-frequency member assembly has two high-frequency members of which surfaces are attached to each other. Each member has a rectangular waveguide hole penetrating through the member and two choke grooves opened on the attaching surface. The waveguide holes communicate with each other to form a rectangular waveguide. An electromagnetic wave is transmitted through the waveguide. Each choke groove extends straight along a side of an end of the waveguide hole opened on the attaching surface to be away from the end of the waveguide hole by one quarter of the wavelength of the wave. The depth of each choke groove is equal to one quarter of the wavelength. The choke grooves of one member communicate with the choke grooves of the other member to substantially surround the waveguide with the choke grooves in an attaching area between the member.
US08330558B2

There is provided a filter including a first resonator, a second resonator in which an excitation efficiency is reduced more than the first resonator, and an inductor connected in parallel with the second resonator.
US08330551B2

Disclosed herein is a dual band high frequency amplifier using a composite right/left handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL). Accordingly, a CRLH TL structure having a dual band characteristic is inserted into an input matching circuit and/or an output matching circuit in the high frequency amplifier, and a matching circuit is designed so that impedance matching is performed at two frequencies, thereby obtaining both gain and matching characteristics at the two frequencies.
US08330546B2

A power amplification circuit includes a power amplifier, an RF detector, an error amplifier, a saturation detector, and an offset circuit. The power amplifier provides an amplified signal based on an input signal and a gain control signal. The RF detector provides a detection signal indicative of a logarithm of the power of the amplified signal. The error amplifier provides the gain control signal based on an amplification control signal and the detection signal. The saturation detector provides a saturation signal in response to the gain control signal differing from a reference signal by less than a first predetermined voltage. The offset circuit decreases a voltage level of the amplification control signal by up to a second predetermined voltage in response to the saturation signal and the amplification control signal differing from the detection signal by less than the second predetermined voltage.
US08330535B2

An equalizer includes an oversampling logic unit, a direct current setting unit, and an alternating current setting unit. The oversampling logic unit oversamples data from a channel to generate a plurality of direct current terms and a plurality of alternating current terms according to an oversampling clock, and outputting a plurality of direct current terms corresponding to an output clock and a plurality of alternating current terms corresponding to the output clock according to the output clock. The direct current setting unit adjusts a direct current setting of the equalizer according to a plurality of direct current terms inputted by the oversampling logic unit within a first predetermined time. And the alternating current setting unit adjusts an alternating current setting of the equalizer according to a plurality of alternating current terms inputted by the oversampling logic unit within the first predetermined time.
US08330532B2

Circuits and methods for power efficient generation of supply voltages and currents in an integrated circuit by reducing the power consumption of all core analog circuit blocks by a pulsed operation mode are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the invention has been applied to a power management chip. Pulsed Mode of Operation of ALL core analog blocks—internal LDO/s, VREF an IBIAS generators, results in significantly reduced power consumption. New circuit realizations and control algorithms to improve the ON/OFF ratio of the Pulsed Mode Operation yield in better power efficiency. Innovative circuit implementation consisting of an additional Top Up Buffer Amplifier stage ensures a fast recharge of VREF output, thus allowing shorter ON times and respectively even better power efficiency. Bypassing a low bandwidth and slow to start LDO with a fast Bypass Comparator supplies a LDO rail in Pulsed Mode of operation. A Dynamic Control of the Commutating Components ensures least disturbance of the voltage potentials, thus allowing shorter ON times and respectively better power efficiency. The invention can also be applied to reference voltage and to bias current generator circuits.
US08330531B2

An internal negative voltage generation device includes a first internal negative voltage generation block configured to generate a first internal negative voltage which is lower than a ground voltage; a second internal negative voltage generation block configured to generate a second internal negative voltage according to the first internal negative voltage, the second internal negative voltage being higher than the first internal negative voltage and lower than the ground voltage; and an initial driving block configured to additionally drive a second internal negative voltage terminal to the first internal negative voltage during an initial set time interval of an active operation time interval.
US08330530B2

Apparatuses and methods for disabling well bias are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) switch having a gate, a drain, a source, and a well. The source and drain are formed in the well. The gate is formed adjacent the well between the source and drain, and the source is configured to receive a bias voltage from a power amplifier. The apparatus further includes a well bias control block for biasing the well voltage of the first switch and a disable circuit for disabling the well bias control block so as to prevent the well bias control block from biasing the well. The well bias control block can bias the well voltage of the first switch to at least two voltage levels.
US08330516B2

A start circuit adapted to start a reference circuit including a plurality of bias nodes is provided. The start circuit includes a current source, a current mirror, a load device, and a control device. The current source determines whether or not to generate an internal current according to a plurality of bias voltages on a part of the bias nodes. The current mirror duplicates the internal current to produce a mirrored current. The load device adjusts a control voltage according to the mirrored current. The control device determines whether or not to generate a start voltage according to the control voltage, and transmits the start voltage to one of the part of the bias nodes, so as to break the reference circuit away from a zero-current state.
US08330515B2

Repeater circuits including an inverting zipper repeater circuit and an inverting gain-enhanced repeater circuit are described.
US08330513B2

A voltage hold circuit includes four switches, an operational amplifier and a capacitor. By turning the switches on and off, the operational amplifier functions as a unity-gain buffer. In the normal operation mode, the positive input end of the operational amplifier is coupled to a node, and the output end of the operational amplifier is coupled to the capacitor. Thus the voltage of the capacitor is equal to the voltage of the node. In the power off mode, the positive input end of the operational amplifier is coupled d to the capacitor, and the output end of the operational amplifier is coupled to the node. Thus the voltage of the node is equal to the voltage of the capacitor. Therefore, the voltage hold circuit is able to hold the voltage of the node in the power down state.
US08330509B2

The disclosed invention provides a structure and method for improving performance of a phase locked loop by suppressing low-frequency noise produced by a phase detector. This is achieved by up-conversion of the in-band frequency components in the phase difference between reference signal and feedback signal to a higher frequency range where noise performance of a phase detector is improved. The up-converted phase difference is provided to a phase detector that is configured to determine an error signal based upon this phase difference. The error signal is output to a down-converter configured to down-convert the error signal (e.g., back to the original frequency range), thereby intrinsically up-converting the error signal's low-frequency noise (produced by the phase detector), prior to being provided to a filter configured to filter the up-converted noise, thereby resulting in an improved PLL noise performance.
US08330508B2

Embodiments of phase-generation circuitry and methods for generating a multiphase signal with duty-cycle correction are generally described herein. The phase-generation circuitry may include a plurality of controllable delay stages arranged in series and phase detector circuitry. Each delay stage may be configured to phase shift a differential signal based on a control signal. The phase detector circuitry may be configured to generate the control signal based on a first time difference and a second time difference. The first time difference may be a time difference between rising edges of a first component of the differential signal and a second component of a phase-shifted signal. The second time difference may be a time difference between falling edges of the first component of the differential signal and the second component of the phase-shifted signal. Other circuits, systems, and methods are described.
US08330507B2

A driving controller for use in stabilizing transient voltages from power supplies is presented. The driving controller includes a first pulse generator, a second pulse generator, and a control signal generator. The first pulse generator is configured to generate a power-up pulse signal including a pulse activating at a time of terminating a power-up period. The second pulse generator is configured to generate a detection pulse signal including a pulse that is being active from a time when an internal voltage reaches a predetermined level. The control signal generator is configured to generate an operation control signal, which controls a driving controller activating the internal voltage, in response to the power-up pulse signal and the detection pulse signal.
US08330503B2

A signaling circuit having reduced parasitic capacitance. The signaling circuit includes a plurality of driver circuits each having an output coupled to a first output node, and a plurality of select circuits each having an output coupled to a control input of a corresponding one of the driver circuits. Each of the select circuits includes a control input to receive a respective select signal and a plurality of data inputs to receive a plurality of data signals. Each of the select circuits is adapted to select, according to the respective select signal, one of the plurality of data signals to be output to the control input of the corresponding one of the driver circuits.
US08330496B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique of reducing the leakage current of a drive circuit for driving a circuit that must retain a potential (or information) when in its standby state.A semiconductor integrated circuit device of the present invention includes a drive circuit for driving a circuit block. This drive circuit is made up of a double gate transistor with gates having different gate oxide film thicknesses. When the circuit block is in its standby state, the gate of the double gate transistor having a thinner gate oxide film is turned off and that having a thicker gate oxide film is turned on. This arrangement allows a reduction in the leakage currents of both the circuit block and the drive circuit while allowing the drive circuit to deliver or cut off power to the circuit block.
US08330494B2

A semiconductor device includes a first transistor included in a latch circuit, a second transistor that is included in the latch circuit and is formed in a well in which the first transistor is formed, the second transistor having a conduction type identical to that of the first transistor, and a well contact that is provided between the first transistor and the second transistor and connects a power supply to the well.
US08330492B2

To provide a circuit used for a shift register or the like. The basic configuration includes first to fourth transistors and four wirings. The power supply potential VDD is supplied to the first wiring and the power supply potential VSS is supplied to the second wiring. A binary digital signal is supplied to each of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. An H level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VDD, and an L level of the digital signal is equal to the power supply potential VSS. There are four combinations of the potentials of the third wiring and the fourth wiring. Each of the first transistor to the fourth transistor can be turned off by any combination of the potentials. That is, since there is no transistor that is constantly on, deterioration of the characteristics of the transistors can be suppressed.
US08330491B2

An electronic device is provided with a high-voltage tolerant circuit. The high-voltage tolerant circuit comprises an input terminal for receiving an input signal (VIN), a first node (A) and a second node (B), wherein the second node (B) is coupled to an input of a receiver (R). The high-voltage tolerant circuit furthermore comprises a first NMOS transistor (N1) and a first PMOS transistor (P1) coupled in parallel between the input terminal and the second node(B). Furthermore, a second PMOS transistor (P2) is coupled between the input terminal and node A and a second NMOS transistor is coupled with one of its terminals to the first node. The gate of the first NMOS transistor (N2) is coupled to a supply voltage (VDDE). The gate of the first PMOS transistor (P1) is coupled to the first node (A). The gate of the second NMOS transistor (N2) and the gate of the second PMOS transistor (P2) are coupled to the supply voltage (VDDE).
US08330484B2

An integrated circuit and method of testing the integrity of the electrical connection of the integrated circuit to external equipment are provided. The integrated circuit comprises an output port including output contacts for coupling the integrated circuit to external equipment, via external connectors. The output port receives internal operational signals and routes the operational signals to the output contacts for connection of the operational signals to external equipment. A connection test signal store is dynamically loadable with test signals. Signals sent to the output port can be switched between the test signals and operational signals. External equipment monitors the integrity of an electrical connection between the output contacts and the external connectors by detecting expected transitions in the test signals.
US08330476B2

A supply voltage management system and method for an integrated circuit (IC) die are provided. The supply voltage management system includes one or more temperature sensing elements located on the IC die and configured to sense temperature of the die and to output a sensed temperature value for the die. A dynamic voltage controller is located on the die and is configured to receive the sensed temperature value for the die and to identify a technology process category of the die. Based on the sensed temperature value and the identified technology process category of the die, the dynamic voltage controller adjusts an output voltage to at least one circuit of the die.
US08330473B2

Method and apparatus for the measurement of mass or density and/or for the measurement of the humidity in a plurality of portioned units in a non-metallic carrier material, which provides the following: a microwave measuring instrument, consisting of at least one microwave resonator for generating at least one resonance mode in a spatially limited measurement area and an analyzing unit for analyzing at least one variable of the at least one resonance mode, a conveying device for the carrier material, which transports the carrier material with the portioned units through the measurement area, the microwave measuring instrument measures at least one variable of the at least one resonance mode at a time when only the carrier material without portioned unit is in the measurement area, and at a time when the portioned unit is at least partially in the measurement area, the analyzing unit subtracts the variable measured for the carrier material from the measurement values for the portioned unit, and determines a value of the humidity and/or of the mass or density of the portioned unit from at least one difference by way of an input-output map.
US08330469B2

A battery voltage monitoring apparatus monitoring an assembled battery voltage, the assembled battery including a plurality of battery cells, includes a voltage sensor detecting potential of the plurality of battery cells; an output logic circuit outputting a potential detect signal based on an output of the voltage sensor, the potential detect signal representing that abnormal potential is detected; and a delay circuit adding certain delay to the output of the voltage sensor and outputting the delayed voltage detect signal to the output logic circuit; wherein, the voltage sensor comprises at least one comparator having hysteresis characteristic, and detects the potential of the battery cell based on an output of the comparator.
US08330464B2

Disclosed herein is a three dimensional small bin electromagnetic consecutive array data acquisition method used in oil exploration comprising the steps of recording data using small bin lattices on execution of arrangement electrodes, each acquisition station (Ex, Ey) records the natural electromagnetic field time series data with the same acquisition parameter simultaneously; interference is removed first, for recorded data processing to get interference-free data; for border points and center point, the recording point serves as center point, and the same component from adjacent two points to total points area added together to obtain the average value of electric field data at time domain for each observation point; for corner points, the average values of the same electric field component from adjacent two points to total survey points toward bin direction is calculated; the electric field components acquired in maximum space serve as the new electric field values respectively; new time series data acquired in which the noise and the static shift effect have been suppressed, and apparent resistivity and phase curves of each point are acquired after processing with conventional method.
US08330461B2

Embodiments of the present invention relate to accelerated dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, more particularly, to imaging situations where the temporal-encoding strategy is disrupted by time-related events, such as breathing motion.
US08330445B2

Provided herein are circuits and methods to generate a voltage proportional to absolute temperature (VPTAT) and/or a bandgap voltage output (VGO) with low 1/f noise. A first base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a first base-emitter voltage (VBE1). A second base-emitter voltage branch is used to produce a second base-emitter voltage (VBE2). The circuit also includes a first current preconditioning branch and/or a second current preconditioning branch. The VPTAT is produced based on VBE1 and VBE2. A CTAT branch can be used to generate a voltage complimentary to absolute temperature (VCTAT), which can be added to VPTAT to produce VGO. Which transistors are in the first base-emitter voltage branch, the second base-emitter voltage branch, the first current preconditioning branch, the second current pre-conditioning branch, and the CTAT branch changes over time. The current preconditioning branches are used to appropriately precondition transistors with an appropriate amount of current as they are switched into and out of the various other circuit branches.
US08330443B2

A circuit arrangement for controlling power converters with a microcontroller comprises a digitally controlled pulse width modulation unit having an output, at which a switching signal for switching a power converter switch is present, wherein the circuit arrangement has an analog circuit part for switching on a power converter switch if the voltage across the power converter switch is substantially zero. A method for controlling a power converter with a microcontroller that comprises a digitally operating pulse width modulation unit for regulating the power converter, said unit having an output, at which a switching signal for switching a power converter switch is present, wherein the power converter switch is switched on in the operating state of the quasi resonant mode of the power converter by means of a fast analog circuit.
US08330430B2

An alternator comprises a regulator configured to control the electric current to a field coil. The regulator includes a field driver circuit, the field driver circuit configured to deliver the electric current to the field coil at a switching frequency. The regulator further includes a controller configured to vary the switching frequency of the field driver circuit between a plurality of different switching frequencies. The alternator further comprises a sensor configured to detect a predetermined alternator condition, and the controller is configured to adjust the switching frequency of the field driver circuit in response to the sensed predetermined condition such as, for example, a rotor speed, a pulse width from the field driver circuit, an efficiency of the alternator, a temperature within the alternator, a temperature outside of the alternator, or magnetic noise of the alternator.
US08330406B2

This invention provides a motor drive circuit, which makes it possible to prevent braking when a power supply voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage while suppressing at a low cost a rise in a voltage on a power supply line when a kickback occurs. The motor drive circuit is formed to include first and second power supply lines connected with and shunted from a power supply, an H-bridge circuit, and a means to control the H-bridge circuit. The means controls the H-bridge circuit so that a regeneration path is not created in the H-bridge circuit when the power supply voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage.
US08330388B2

A dimming controller for controlling power of a light source has a monitoring terminal, a dimming terminal, and a control terminal. The monitoring terminal is operable for receiving a current monitoring signal indicating a current flowing through the light source. The dimming terminal is operable for receiving a ramp signal. The voltage of the ramp signal increases if a power switch coupled between a power source and the light source is turned on. The control terminal is operable for providing a control signal to control a control switch coupled in series with the light source based on the current monitoring signal and the ramp signal. An average current of the light source increases as the ramp signal increases until the average current reaches a predetermined level.
US08330385B2

A light bar system for a vehicle compartment includes a circuit board having a plurality of capacitive-type, user-activated switches, an electrical power source coupled to the circuit board, a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the circuit board, and a light bar affixed to the circuit board. The user-activated switches are coupled to a vehicle accessory to control the level of operation of the vehicle accessory. The most recently actuated one of the user-actuated switches is detected by the circuit board and the circuit board provides a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal to the LED with a duty cycle of the PWM signal based on the most recently actuated switch. A higher duty cycle PWM signal corresponds to a higher setting of the accessory.
US08330382B2

An electronic ballast for powering a discharge lamp includes an asymmetry determination circuit functional to determine whether positive and negative polarities of an AC output current to the lamp are symmetrical. An inverter having a plurality of switching elements is coupled to a DC power source and converts the DC power to the AC output current. A control circuit is functional to control the plurality of switching elements dependent upon an operating mode and an output from the asymmetry determination circuit. The control circuit controls the switching elements in a normal mode upon receiving a determination of symmetrical current from the asymmetry determination circuit, and controls the switching elements in a restart mode for a predetermined period of time upon receiving a determination of asymmetrical current from the asymmetry determination circuit.
US08330361B2

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to an OLED display. The OLED display according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes: a substrate; a plurality of pixel electrodes on the substrate; a pixel defining layer on the substrate and having a plurality of openings exposing the plurality of pixel electrodes; a plurality of organic emission layers on corresponding pixel electrodes of the plurality of pixel electrodes; a sealing member including a plurality of concave lens containers and covering the plurality of organic emission layers and the pixel defining layer; and at least one condenser in the plurality of lens containers. The at least one condenser is configured to form a condensing area on the pixel defining layer for each of the plurality of lens containers.
US08330355B2

The present invention relates to illumination means (10) based on organic light diodes (OLED), having a layer arrangement (15) with at least one organic light-emitting diode layer (OLED layer), and at least one anode layer and one cathode layer on a carrier, and contact means (22) for the electrical contact of the electrode layers. According to the invention, the OLED layer and at least one electrode layer are attached to the inner side of a dimensionally stable rotation surgace serving as the carrier. According to the invention, the inner surface of a substantially or entirely closed hollow body (11) made of glass, plastic, or another light-transmissice material can serve as a carrier. The invention creates a novel illumination means (10) based on organic light diodes, having a shape that is compatible with a conventional light bulb or fluorescent lamp, and consequently can be exchanged for the same.
US08330349B2

The present invention is directed to phosphors and white light emitting diodes and a method for preparing a Ce3+ doped calcium silicate phosphor represented by a chemical formula of (Ca1-yMy)2-x-zSiO4:Ce3+x,N+z, wherein x is 0
US08330348B2

An apparatus device such as a light source is disclosed which has an OLED device and a structured luminescence conversion layer deposited on the substrate or transparent electrode of said OLED device and on the exterior of said OLED device. The structured luminescence conversion layer contains regions such as color-changing and non-color-changing regions with particular shapes arranged in a particular pattern.
US08330343B2

A plasma display device includes a plasma display panel, a chassis disposed on the plasma display panel with a heat-conducting sheet in between, a small-signal processing circuit board disposed on a rear face of the chassis, a thermal sensor, a thermal sensor fixture for installing the thermal sensor, a front frame, and a back cover having a ventilation area with multiple ventilating holes. The thermal sensor fixture has a shielding wall around the thermal sensor and is disposed on a rear face of the small-signal processing circuit board. The thermal sensor is disposed at an intermediate position between the plasma display panel and the back cover at a position facing the back cover.
US08330337B2

An LED lamp includes a light source including LEDs and a heat dissipation device. The heat dissipation device includes a heat absorption board contacting the light source to absorb heat generated by the LEDs, a fin assembly located over the heat absorption board, two heat pipes thermally connecting the heat absorption board and the fin assembly, a fan and a fan holder fixing the fan on the fin assembly. The fan holder includes a supporting board supporting the fan and supporting posts connecting an outer edge of the heat dissipation board and an outer edge of the supporting board. The supporting posts are embedded in the fin assembly.
US08330326B2

A piezoelectric motor that includes a rotor and a stator having a surface on which a driving member that is in contact with the rotor for rotating the rotor is disposed. The stator includes a stator body, a plurality of piezoelectric elements disposed on a surface of the stator body, and an electrode wiring plate integrally formed with the stator body. The piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to a plurality of electrodes formed on the electrode wiring plate through a plurality of wiring lines. The wiring lines are constituted by an electroconductive film extending from a surface of the stator body to the electrodes.
US08330324B2

An apparatus, system and method for controlling drive patterns is disclosed. A digital engine for controlling drive patterns may include a profile controller to program characteristics of one or more drive patterns for one or more piezoelectric actuators. The digital engine may further include a register array to store profile information for the one or more drive patterns. Each drive pattern may comprise a plurality of pulses with each pulse having a slope. The digital engine may also include a digital pattern generator to generate the one or more drive patterns based upon the profile information stored in the register array. The digital engine may further include a slope shaping circuit to modify one or more signals based upon an input from the digital pattern generator.
US08330323B2

A source signal is converted into a time-variant temperature field with transduction into mechanical motion. In one embodiment, the conversion of a source signal into the time-variant temperature field is provided by utilizing a micro-fabricated fast response, bolometer-type radio frequency power meter. A resonant-type micromechanical thermal actuator may be utilized for temperature read-out and demodulation.
US08330322B2

The present invention provides an actuator which suppresses the inflow of water and the like, and is unlikely to cause cracking and peeling even when repeatedly driven. An actuator having a conductive layer and an ion-conducting layer includes: a first layer which is provided in contact with the actuator and is formed from a polymer that suppresses the permeation of water; and a second layer which is provided in contact with the first layer, has a lower tensile elastic modulus than that of the first layer, protects the first layer, and is formed from a polymer. The first layer and the second layer can cover the whole actuator.
US08330318B2

A rotating electrical machine includes: a stator that has a stator core and a stator coil; and a rotor disposed rotatably on an inner circumferential side of the stator core. The stator core includes a plurality of slots opening on the inner circumferential side and the slots are each formed as an open slot with a width of an inner circumferential-side opening thereof ranging along a circumferential direction set substantially equal to or greater than a width of a bottom side measured along the circumferential direction. The stator further includes a slot insulator disposed between inner wall of each of the slots at the stator core and the stator coil and a holding member constituted with a nonmagnetic material and inserted in each of the slots at the stator core so as to hold the slot insulator between two side surfaces present along the circumferential direction at the slot. The stator is formed by winding the stator coil through the plurality of slots.
US08330316B2

Various embodiments relate generally to electrodynamic machines and the like, and more particularly, to rotor assemblies and rotor-stator structures for electrodynamic machines, including, but not limited to, outer rotor assemblies. In some embodiments, a stator assembly including field pole members arranged about an axis of rotation and including pole faces at the ends of the field pole members, subsets of the pole faces being disposed within a boundaries of conically-shaped spaces having apexes disposed on the axis of rotation. The rotor assemblies include interior regions in which the subsets of the pole faces are disposed, the interior regions having surfaces external to the boundaries of the conically-shaped spaces. The rotor assemblies also include subsets of magnets interleaved circumferentially with the subsets of magnetically permeable structures and boost magnets disposed adjacent the subsets of magnetically permeable structures. Further, rotor assemblies include flux conductor shields disposed adjacent the boost magnets.
US08330306B2

A magneto-plasma-dynamic (MPD) generator, comprising: a conveying duct shaped for conveying a high velocity, conductive fluid; a magnetic field generator arranged to generate a magnetic field across the conveying duct, substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the fluid, such that the fluid passes through the magnetic field (2) when conveyed by the duct; electrodes provided in the conveying duct to conduct a current induced in the fluid as it is conveyed by the conveying duct through the magnetic field; and an electrode supplying mechanism configured to supply a conductive liquid for replenishing the electrodes.
US08330305B2

A system and method for protecting devices from impact damage is provided. Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made. If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or substantially eliminate damage to the device.
US08330297B2

There is provided a system for supplying power to a site having a load. The system comprises a number n of power source units, the value of n being greater than or equal to 3. The system further comprises a number t≦tmax of loads groups, each load group having a number i of inputs. The value of i is greater than or equal to 2 and less than the value of n. Each load group receives power from i power source units, such that each load group is connected to a unique combination of i power source units. tmax is such that every possible combination of i power source units is connected to a unique load group.
US08330287B2

A device (1) making it possible to convert the undulation and/or the oscillations of a liquid in which it is at least partially immersed into usable energy. The device (1) includes a float (3) guided by a guide device (2) anchored in the sea bed, with the aid of guide element (12) and including conversion element making it possible to convert the relative movements between the float (3) and the guide device (2) into usable energy such as electric energy.
US08330280B1

A bump structure comprises a first polymer block, a second polymer block, a first groove, an under bump metallurgy layer and a connection metal layer, wherein the first polymer block and the second polymer block are individual blocks. The first polymer block and the second polymer block are located at two sides of the first groove, the first polymer block comprises a first connection slot, and the second polymer block comprises a second connection slot communicated with the first connection slot and the first groove. The under bump metallurgy layer covers the first polymer block and the second polymer block to form a second groove, a third connection slot and a fourth connection slot communicated with each other. The connection metal layer covers the under bump metallurgy layer to form a third groove, a fifth connection slot and a sixth connection slot communicated with each other.
US08330279B2

A semiconductor device includes a supporting board having a protection film thereon; a semiconductor chip provided on the supporting board; a first internal connecting terminal formed on the supporting board; a second internal connecting terminal formed on the semiconductor chip; a first insulation layer for covering an upper surface of the supporting board and upper and lateral surfaces of the semiconductor chip; a wiring pattern provided on the first insulation layer, the wiring pattern connecting the first and second internal connecting terminals; a solder resist layer provided on the first insulation layer and the wiring pattern, the solder resist layer having an opening part; an external connecting terminal provided so as to connect to the wiring pattern through the opening part; a groove part formed on outer peripheries of the supporting board, the protection film, and the first insulation layer; and a resin layer formed in the groove part.
US08330277B2

A semiconductor element built-in device includes: a first substrate having a first pad thereon; a semiconductor element on the first substrate; a second substrate having a second pad thereon and mounted on the first substrate via a solder terminal having a solder coated thereon; a resin layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate such that the solder terminal and the semiconductor element are embedded in the resin layer; and a dam provided at least partially around at least one of the first and second pads, the dam being configured to restrain the solder flowing from the solder terminal.
US08330271B2

A semiconductor element that is excellent in both mechanical reliability and electrical reliability and a mounting structure for the semiconductor element are provided.The semiconductor element includes: a substrate; an electrically conductive layer on the substrate; a protective layer having an opening on the electrically conductive layer; a barrier metal layer in contact with the electrically conductive layer in the opening; and an electrically conductive bump on the barrier metal layer. The barrier metal layer contains phosphorus and has a phosphorus-rich portion that has a higher phosphorus content than the remaining portion has. The phosphorus-rich portion is located in the surface of the barrier metal layer facing the electrically conductive bump, and the thickness thereof in the periphery of the region where the electrically conductive bump is formed is larger than at the center of the region.
US08330252B2

An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor chip and a control chip at different supply potentials. A lead chip island includes an electrically conductive partial region and an insulation layer. The semiconductor chip is arranged on the electrically conductive partial region of the lead chip island and the control chip is cohesively fixed on the insulation layer.
US08330250B2

A vertically oriented p-i-n diode is provided that includes semiconductor material crystallized adjacent a silicide, germanide, or silicide-germanide layer, and a dielectric material arranged electrically in series with the diode. The dielectric material has a dielectric constant greater than 8, and is adjacent a first metallic layer and a second metallic layer. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08330248B2

A semiconductor device includes a circuit portion including at least one real feature, and a plurality of dummy feature groups each including a plurality of dummy features spaced apart from each other by a first distance. The plurality of dummy feature groups are spaced apart from each other by a second distance larger than the first distance, and the circuit portion and the plurality of dummy feature groups are spaced apart from each other by the second distance.
US08330247B2

The invention relates to a semiconductor arrangement and method for production thereof, wherein the semiconductor arrangement is provided with an integrated circuit arranged on a substrate. The integrated circuit is structured on the front face of the substrate and at least one capacitor is connected to the integrated circuit, wherein the at least one capacitor is designed as a monolithic deep structure in trenches. The trenches are arranged in at least one first group and at least one second group, the trenches of a group running essentially parallel to each other and the first and second group are at an angle to each other, essentially at right angles to each other.
US08330240B2

A multi-state current-switching magnetic memory element has a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), for storing more than one bit of information. The MTJ includes a fixed layer, a barrier layer, and a non-uniform free layer. In one embodiment, having 2 bits per cell, when one of four different levels of current is applied to the memory element, the applied current causes the non-uniform free layer of the MTJ to switch to one of four different magnetic states. The broad switching current distribution of the MTJ is a result of the broad grain size distribution of the non-uniform free layer.
US08330238B2

A method of packaging a micro electro-mechanical structure comprises forming said structure on a substrate; depositing a sacrificial layer over said structure; patterning the sacrificial layer; depositing a SIPOS (semi-insulating polycrystalline silicon) layer over the patterned sacrificial layer; treating the SIPOS layer with an etchant to convert the SIPOS layer into a porous SIPOS layer, removing the patterned sacrificial layer through the porous layer SIPOS to form a cavity including said structure; and sealing the porous SIPOS layer. A device including such a packaged micro electro-mechanical structure is also disclosed.
US08330230B2

A semiconductor device pad is configured to have the same voltage level as that of a semiconductor substrate. The pad includes a semiconductor substrate having a junction area doped with a high concentration of impurity ions, a polylayer portion at least a portion of which is electrically connected to the junction area and a metal layer portion electrically connected to the polylayer portion and receiving a voltage externally applied. The metal layer is configured to transfer the received voltage to the semiconductor substrate.
US08330228B2

A Ge and Si hybrid material 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 circular-shaped cross section and are formed of n-type Ge and p-type Si, 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. In an inversion mode, current flows through the overall cylindrical channel, so as to achieve high carrier mobility, reduce low-frequency noises, prevent polysilicon gate depletion and short channel effects and increase the threshold voltage of the device.
US08330225B2

NMOS transistors having controlled channel strain and junction resistance and methods for the fabrication of same are provided herein. In some embodiments, an NMOS transistor may include a transistor stack comprising a gate dielectric and a gate electrode formed atop a p-type silicon region; and a source/drain region disposed on both sides of the transistor stack and defining a channel region therebetween and beneath the transistor stack, the source drain region including a first silicon layer having a lattice adjusting element and one or more second silicon layers having a lattice adjusting element and an n-type dopant disposed atop the first silicon layer.
US08330207B2

A flash memory device including a lower tunnel insulation layer on a substrate, an upper tunnel insulation layer on the lower tunnel insulation layer, and a P-type gate on the upper tunnel insulation layer, wherein the upper tunnel insulation layer includes an amorphous oxide layer.
US08330201B2

There is provided a non-volatile semiconductor memory having a charge accumulation layer of a configuration where a metal oxide with a dielectric constant sufficiently higher than a silicon nitride, e.g., a Ti oxide, a Zr oxide, or a Hf oxide, is used as a base material and an appropriate amount of a high-valence substance whose valence is increased two levels or more (a VI-valence) is added to produce a trap level that enables entrance and exit of electrons with respect to the base material.
US08330200B2

A semiconductor device includes a P-body layer formed in an N-epitaxial layer; a gate electrode formed in a trench in the P-body and N-epitaxial layer; a top source region formed from the P-body layer next to the gate electrode; a gate insulator disposed along a sidewall of the gate electrode between the gate electrode and the source, between the gate electrode and the P-body and between the gate electrode and the N-epitaxial layer; a cap insulator disposed on top of the gate electrode; and an N+ doped spacer disposed along a sidewall of the source and a sidewall of the gate insulator. The source includes N+ dopants diffused from the spacer. A body contact region containing P-type dopants is formed from the N-epitaxial layer. The contact region touches one or more P-doped regions of the P-body layer and the source. Methods for manufacturing such a device are also disclosed. Embodiments of this invention may also be applied to P-channel devices.
US08330196B2

A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor layer; source and drain regions in the semiconductor layer; a magnetic metal semiconductor compound film on each of the source and drain regions, the magnetic metal semiconductor compound film including the same semiconductor as a semiconductor of the semiconductor layer and a magnetic metal; a gate insulating film on the semiconductor layer between the source region and the drain region; a gate electrode on the gate insulating film; a gate sidewall formed at a side portion of the gate electrode, the gate sidewall being made of an insulating material; a film stack formed on the magnetic metal semiconductor compound film on each of the source and drain regions, the film stack including a magnetic layer; and an oxide layer formed on the gate sidewall, the oxide layer containing the same element as an element in the film stack.
US08330190B2

A semiconductor device includes a first metal layer disposed on a semiconductor substrate; an insulating layer disposed on the first metal layer; and a second metal layer disposed on the insulating layer and having an electrode pad surface exposed to the outside, wherein a recess is disposed in the insulating layer and the second metal layer; and at least the second metal layer is disposed in the recess of the insulating layer.
US08330189B2

A one time programmable nonvolatile memory formed from metal-insulator-semiconductor cells. The cells are at the crosspoints of conductive gate lines and intersecting doped semiconductor lines formed in a semiconductor substrate.
US08330187B2

A GaN-based field effect transistor (MOSFET) is comprised of a channel layer comprised of p-type GaN, an electron supply layer, a surface layer having band gap energy smaller than that of the electron supply layer, sequentially laminated on a substrate, and recess section is formed by removing a part of the drift layer, the electron supply layer, and the surface layer down to a depth that reaches to the channel layer. A source electrode and a drain electrode are formed so that the recess section positions between them, a gate insulation film is formed on the surface layer and on inner-surface of the recess section including the channel layer, and a gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film in the recess section.
US08330184B2

In one embodiment, a bidirectional voltage-regulator diode includes first to fifth semiconductor layers formed on an inner surface of a first recess formed in a semiconductor substrate of an N-type in the order. The first semiconductor layer of the N-type has a first impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor layer of a P-type has a second impurity concentration. The third semiconductor layer of the P-type has a third impurity concentration higher than the second impurity concentration. The fourth semiconductor layer of the P-type has a fourth impurity concentration lower than the third impurity concentration. The fifth semiconductor layer of the N-type has a fifth impurity concentration.
US08330182B2

The light emitting device has a light emitting element 101, and translucent material 102 that passes incident light from the light emitting element 101 and emits that light to the outside. The sides of the translucent material 102 perimeter are inclined surfaces 107 that become wider from the upper surface to the lower surface. The area of the lower surface of the translucent material 102 is formed larger than the area of the upper surface of the light emitting element 101. The lower surface of the translucent material 102 and the upper surface of the light emitting element 101 are joined together, and the part of the lower surface of the translucent material 102 that is not joined with the light emitting element 101 and the inclined surfaces 101 are covered by light reflecting resin 103.
US08330181B2

A semiconductor light-emitting device capable of increasing an amount of light irradiated to the outside is provided.A semiconductor light-emitting device (1) includes a substrate (2), an n-type semiconductor layer (3), a light-emitting layer (4), a p-type semiconductor layer (5), an n-side pad electrode (6), an n-side pad electrode (7), a p-side electrode (8), a reflecting layer (9), and a p-side pad electrode (10). The n-side pad electrode (7) is electrically connected to the n-type semiconductor layer (3) via the n-side pad electrode (6). The p-side pad electrode (10) is electrically connected to the p-type semiconductor layer (5) via the p-side electrode (8). A connection surface (7a) of the n-side pad electrode (7) connected to the n-type semiconductor layer (3) is arranged in a first area (Ar1) closer to a short side (2b) on an arrow B direction-side, and a connection surface (10a) of the p-side pad electrode (10) connected to the p-type semiconductor layer (5) is arranged in a fourth area (Ar4) closest to a short side (2b) on an arrow A direction-side among the first area (Ar1) to the fourth area (Ar4) formed by equally dividing the substrate (2) into four.
US08330172B2

An organic light emitting diode display capable of reducing the shortening of image stacking lifetime caused by the residue of the barrier ribs produced during the forming of the barrier ribs is provided. The display includes: a substrate; a first pixel electrode formed on the substrate; barrier ribs formed on the substrate, and having an opening exposing the first pixel electrode; a second pixel electrode formed on the first pixel electrode; an organic light emitting member formed on the second pixel electrode; an organic light emitting member formed on the second pixel electrode; a common electrode formed on the organic light emitting member; and a thin film encapsulation member covering the common electrode. The width of the second pixel electrode is greater than the exposure width of the first pixel electrode exposed through the opening of the barrier ribs.
US08330156B2

In a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor, an oxide cluster having higher electrical conductance than the oxide semiconductor layer is formed between the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate insulating layer, whereby field effect mobility of the thin film transistor can be increased and increase of off current can be suppressed.
US08330155B2

Semiconductor devices include a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer, a first channel layer pattern, a second channel layer pattern and first and second metallic patterns. The gate electrode is on a substrate. The gate insulation layer is on the gate electrode. The first channel layer pattern is on the gate insulation layer, and has a first conductivity level. The second channel layer pattern is on the first channel layer pattern, and has a second conductivity level that is lower than the first conductivity level. The first and second metallic patterns are on the gate insulation layer and contact respective sidewalls of the first and second channel layer patterns.
US08330151B2

The organic electroluminescent element of the present invention includes at least a pair of electrodes, at least one organic light-emitting layer between the pair of electrodes, and at least one lens A on a light-extracting surface of the pair of electrodes, wherein one of the pair of electrodes is a reflective electrode, and the other is a semi-transmissive/semi-reflective electrode, and wherein a real part n1 of a refractive index of the organic light-emitting layer and a real part n2 of a refractive index of the lens A satisfy the relationship n1>n2, and the real part n2 is represented by Expression (1) described below: n2≦n3 sin θ2  Expression (1).
US08330150B2

An organic light-emitting display device, which may be configured to prevent moisture or oxygen from penetrating the organic light-emitting display device from the outside is disclosed. An organic light-emitting display device, which is easily applied to a large display device and/or may be easily mass produced is further disclosed. Additionally disclosed is a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device. An organic light-emitting display device may include, for example, a thin-film transistor (TFT) including a gate electrode, an active layer insulated from the gate electrode, source and drain electrodes insulated from the gate electrode and contacting the active layer and an insulating layer disposed between the source and drain electrodes and the active layer; and an organic light-emitting diode electrically connected to the TFT. The insulating layer may include, for example, a first insulating layer contacting the active layer; and a second insulating layer formed of a metal oxide and disposed on the first insulating layer.
US08330141B2

A light-emitting device includes an n-type silicon thin film (2), a silicon thin film (3), and a p-type silicon thin film (4). The silicon thin film (3) is formed on the n-type silicon thin film (2) and the p-type silicon thin film (4) is formed on the silicon thin film (3). The n-type silicon thin film (2), the silicon thin film (3), and the p-type silicon thin film (4) form a pin junction. The n-type silicon thin film (2) includes a plurality of quantum dots (21) composed of n-type Si. The silicon thin film (3) includes a plurality of quantum dots (31) composed of p-type Si. The p-type silicon thin film (4) includes a plurality of quantum dots (41) composed of p-type Si. Electrons are injected from the n-type silicon thin film (2) side and holes are injected from the p-type silicon thin film (4) side, whereby light is emitted at a silicon nitride film (3).
US08330139B2

Some embodiments include a memory device and methods of forming the same. The memory device can include an electrode coupled to a memory element. The electrode can include different materials located at different portions of the electrode. The materials can create different dielectrics contacting the memory elements at different locations. Various states of the materials in the memory device can be used to represent stored information. Other embodiments are described.
US08330134B2

Various embodiments related to monitoring for optical faults in an optical system are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides, in an optical system comprising a light source, a light outlet, and an optical element disposed between the light source and the light outlet, a method of monitoring for optical system faults. The method includes detecting, via a light sensor directed toward an interface surface of the optical element closest to the light source, an intensity of light traveling from the interface surface of the optical element to the light sensor, and comparing an intensity of light detected to one or more threshold intensity values. The method further includes identifying an optical system fault condition based on comparing the intensity of light detected to one or more threshold values, and modifying operation of the optical system.
US08330133B2

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a support frame for alleviating the weight and stress inflicted upon the shoulders and neck of individual caused by wearing a radiation shield garment and methods of use thereof. In one embodiment, the support frame comprises an elongated upper vertical back members slidably coupled to a lower vertical back member to provide vertical height adjustment; a lower back support panel coupled to the lower vertical back member to provide lower back support to the wearer; and a pair of shoulder members attached to the upper top end of the elongated vertical back member to support shoulder regions of the radiation shield garment.
US08330125B2

A beam line ion implanter includes an ion source configured to generate an ion beam, a scanner configured to scan the ion beam to produce a scanned ion beam having trajectories which diverge from a scan origin, and a focusing element having a focusing field positioned upstream of the scanner configured to focus the ion beam to a focal point at the scan origin. A method of ion beam tuning includes generating an ion beam, focusing the ion beam to a focal point positioned at a scan origin, and scanning the ion beam to produce a scanned ion beam having trajectories which diverge from the scan origin.
US08330114B2

Systems that increase the position resolution and granularity of double sided segmented semiconductor detectors are provided. These systems increase the imaging resolution capability of such detectors, either used as Compton cameras, or as position sensitive radiation detectors in imagers such as SPECT, PET, coded apertures, multi-pinhole imagers, or other spatial or temporal modulated imagers.
US08330101B2

A method of replacing an ion source in a mass spectrometer (MS) system is provided, where the ion source includes an ionization volume, at least one ionizing element and at least one focusing element, and where the mass MS system includes the ion source, a vacuum chamber that houses the ion source, and an interlock chamber. The method includes opening a valve between the interlock chamber and the vacuum chamber, moving the ion source into the interlock chamber through the opened valve and closing the valve, and removing the ion source from the interlock chamber. The ion source may further include means for plugging into a docking station in substantially one action, where the docking station provides sufficient electrical connection, upon plugging with the ion source, for operation of the ion source.
US08330089B2

It is intended to provide a CMOS image sensor with a high degree of pixel integration. A solid-state imaging device comprises a signal line formed on a Si substrate, an island-shaped semiconductor formed on the signal line, and a pixel selection line. The island-shaped semiconductor includes: a first semiconductor layer connected to the signal line; a second semiconductor layer located above and adjacent to the first semiconductor layer; a gate connected to the second semiconductor layer through an insulating film; and a charge storage section comprised of a third semiconductor layer connected to the second semiconductor layer and adapted, in response to receiving light, to undergo a change in amount of electric charges therein; a fourth semiconductor layer located above and adjacent to the second and third semiconductor layers. The pixel selection line is connected to the fourth semiconductor layer formed as a top portion of the island-shaped semiconductor.
US08330084B2

A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire. When the heating wire's temperature increases, the forward square-wave signal output by the second forward square-wave signal generation circuit is changed so as to render these input square-wave signals non-simultaneously logic high and not to trigger the switch in order to stop the heating wire's heating and keep the heating wire at a certain temperature range.
US08330081B2

A heating device for an optical fiber may include a crucible body having an optical fiber receiving slotted passageway therein for receiving the optical fiber therein, and a heating element receiving passageway therein adjacent the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway and spaced apart therefrom. The heating device may include a respective electrically powered resistance heating element enclosed within the heating element receiving passageway for heating the optical fiber within the optical fiber receiving slotted passageway.
US08330072B2

A substrate processing system includes a first, movable surface tension gradient device, a dicing device and a system controller. The first, movable surface tension gradient device is capable of supporting a first process within a first meniscus. The first meniscus being supported between the first surface tension gradient device and a first surface of the substrate. The first movable surface tension gradient device capable of being moved relative to the first surface of the substrate. The dicing device is oriented to a desired dicing location. The desired dicing location being encompassed by the meniscus. The system controller is coupled to the dicing device and the surface tension gradient device. The system controller includes a process recipe. A method for dicing a substrate is also described. The method of dicing a substrate including placing a substrate in a substrate dicing system, forming a meniscus between a proximity head and a first surface of the substrate, dicing the substrate at a desired dicing location and simultaneously capturing any particles and contaminants generated by dicing the substrate within the meniscus, the meniscus including the desired dicing location and moving the meniscus in a desired dicing direction.
US08330071B2

Generating pulsed discharge between an end surface of an electrode and an end face portion of a metallic plate, to attrite the electrode, to form in the end surface of the electrode a recess conforming to a shape of the end face portion of the metallic plate, having the electrode making a relative movement in a direction perpendicular to a lateral side of the metallic plate, generating pulsed discharge between an internal side face of the electrode recess and a lateral face of the end face portion of the metallic plate, to form an auxiliary coat on the lateral face of the end face portion of the metallic plate, and generating pulsed discharge between a bottom face of the electrode recess and a top face of the end face portion of the metallic plate, to form a cladding layer on the end face portion of the metallic plate.
US08330067B2

The apparatus, which serves for the optical inspection of workpieces, comprises a transport device driven by a drive unit, which transport device is supplied with workpieces delivered by a loading device, which workpieces are transported by the transport device to at least one inspection position, where an optical inspection is performed, and further to at least one discharge position, where the inspected workpieces are selectively extractable by a discharge device. According to the invention, a plurality of transparent receiving bodies are firmly mounted or rotatably supported on the transport device, each of the receiving bodies comprising a recess, into which the workpieces can be inserted individually or in groups, and wherein an inspection radiation can be guided through each receiving body in order to image the held workpieces.
US08330060B2

A weighing station for weighing and sorting objects to be weighed, comprising a rotating conveyor element for transporting the objects further in that, in a conveying step, said conveyor element can rotate by a specifiable angle of rotation about its axis.
US08330057B2

The food calorie counting system relates to a calorie counting system that utilizes a container with at least one chamber for holding food materials, sensitive scales integrated into the chambers to weigh the food, and a processor to calculate the number of calories in the food items based on weight, type of food and method of preparation. The number of calories is then displayed on a display device to a user. The system may be used as a stand-alone device, or may further utilize an external central control unit where information from the container is transmitted to the external control unit for processing, food calorie calculation and transmission back to the containers for display.
US08330052B2

A method for producing a joined structure, containing: after placing an anisotropic conductive film in the predetermined manner, placing a wiring member containing a wiring plate formed thereon, where the wiring plate has a resist region in which the wiring plate is covered with a resist layer, and a second electrode region in which the wiring plate is not covered with the resist layer, so that the edge of the resist region at a boundary with the second electrode region comes above the chamfer part of the substrate; and heating and compressing the anisotropic conductive film from the side of the wiring member to melt and make the anisotropic conductive film flow into the side of the resist region to thereby cover the second electrode region with the anisotropic conductive film, so as to electrically connect the first electrode region and the second electrode region.
US08330047B2

A first insulating layer is formed on a suspension body and a wiring trace is formed on the first insulating layer. In addition, a ground trace is formed on the first insulating layer so as to extend along the wiring trace on one side of the wiring trace with a spacing therebetween. A second insulating layer is formed on the first insulating layer to cover the wiring trace and the ground trace. On the second insulating layer, a wiring trace is formed at a position above the wiring trace. A third insulating layer is formed on the second insulating layer to cover the wiring trace. The width of the wiring trace is set larger than the width of the wiring trace. At least a partial region of the ground trace and at least a partial region of the wiring trace are opposite to each other with part of the second insulating layer sandwiched therebetween.
US08330040B2

Photovoltaic cells and methods for the manufacture of photovoltaic cells are described. Operative layers of the photovoltaic cell are deposited onto a superstrate having a plurality of spaced ramps, allowing for the individual cells to be connected in series with minimal loss of the efficiency due to dead space between the cells.
US08330034B2

A musical accompaniment system is described including a fretted, stringed electric musical instrument, a floor unit, interface units and connecting cables. Designated frets of the instrument are divided into sections that output to a switching component that sends MIDI note # data to a synthesizer when strings of instrument contact designated fret sections. The floor unit includes actuators that output to the synthesizer when tapped by the user. The user taps on the actuators with his or her feet and thereby actuates accompaniment notes that are generated in the rhythms in which they are tapped. Accompaniment notes generated by the process are designated by notes and chords being fingered on the instrument. Methods are described that facilitate the actuating and generating of accompaniment notes in the musical style of traditional bass accompaniment through the use of the system. A method is described to facilitate the system that includes string/fret coordinates that designate appropriate MIDI note # data and accompaniment note for fingering formations of traditional guitar chords used in popular music. Additional methods are described that obviate the generating of extraneous accompaniment notes normally associated with fretted guitar-like instruments. An additional actuator is described that actuates a designated user-programmable bass note or accompaniment sound with each tap by the user on the actuator.
US08330025B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH816791. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH816791, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH816791 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 CH816791.
US08330024B1

A novel maize variety designated X8M147 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X8M147 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8M147 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8M147, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8M147. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8M147.
US08330022B1

A novel maize variety designated X18A642 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X18A642 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18A642 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18A642, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18A642. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18A642.
US08330019B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH227660. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH227660, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH227660 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 CH227660.
US08330010B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH117231. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH117231, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH117231 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 CH117231.
US08330009B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH676009. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH676009, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH676009 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 CH676009.
US08330005B2

A potato cultivar designated FL 2137 is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar FL 2137, to the seeds of potato cultivar FL 2137, to the plants of potato FL 2137, to the plant parts of potato cultivar FL 2137 and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar FL 2137 with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety FL 2137, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar FL 2137 and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar FL 2137 with another potato cultivar.
US08330004B2

A potato cultivar designated FL 2126 is disclosed. The invention relates to the tubers of potato cultivar FL 2126, to the seeds of potato cultivar FL 2126, to the plants of potato FL 2126, to the plant parts of potato cultivar FL 2126 and to methods for producing a potato plant produced by crossing potato cultivar FL 2126 with itself or with another potato variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a potato plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic potato plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to potato cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from potato variety FL 2126, to methods for producing other potato cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from potato cultivar FL 2126 and to the potato plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid potato tubers, seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing potato cultivar FL 2126 with another potato cultivar.
US08330003B2

A soybean cultivar designated S080093 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080093, to the plants of soybean S080093, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080093, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080093 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080093, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080093, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080093 with another soybean cultivar.
US08330001B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XBP27002 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XBP27002, cells from soybean variety XBP27002, plants of soybean XBP27002, and plant parts of soybean variety XBP27002. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XBP27002 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic, mutant trait, and/or native trait into soybean variety XBP27002, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XBP27002. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XBP27002 are further provided.
US08329999B2

A soybean cultivar designated S080104 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S080104, to the plants of soybean S080104, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S080104, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S080104 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S080104, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S080104, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S080104 with another soybean cultivar.
US08329995B2

Non-naturally occurring soybean plants and seeds having reduced isoflavones are provided. A series of independent non-transgenic human-induced mutations found in one or more isoflavone synthase genes of soybean; soybean plants having these mutations in one or more isoflavone synthase genes; and a method of creating and finding similar and/or additional mutations of the isoflavone synthase gene by screening pooled and/or individual DNA of soybean plants. The results are soybean plants and seeds having reduced isoflavones.
US08329992B2

Polynucleotides encode polypeptides for increasing the rate of growth of plants. Introduction of the polynucleotides into plants produces plants having altered characteristics, such as increased growth, increased leaf area and reduced fertility. Expression of polypeptides in plants or plant cells promotes cell division. Expression of the polynucleotides in plants in the antisense orientation produces plants that are sterile or have smaller leaves.
US08329990B2

A novel crop grain filling gene (GIF1) and the applications thereof are presented in the invention. The GIF1 gene can be applied to control grain filling, enhance crop yield or quality, or improve disease resistance or storage stability of crop grains. A method for improving crops is also presented in the invention. The GIF1 gene shows valuable potentials in controlling crop yield, quality, storage, and resistance to diseases.
US08329989B2

The present invention provides a transgenic soybean event MON87705, and cells, seeds, and plants comprising DNA diagnostic for the soybean event. The invention also provides compositions comprising nucleotide sequences that are diagnostic for said soybean event in a sample, methods for detecting the presence of said soybean event nucleotide sequences in a sample, probes and primers for use in detecting nucleotide sequences that are diagnostic for the presence of said soybean event in a sample, growing the seeds of such soybean event into soybean plants, and breeding to produce soybean plants comprising DNA diagnostic for the soybean event.
US08329988B2

The invention relates to a method of increasing the resistance to one or more penetrating pathogen(s) in a monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous plant or a part of a plant, for example in an organ, tissue, a cell or a part of a plant cell, for example in an organell, wherein a DNA sequence which codes for an armadillo repeat ARM1 protein and which mediates an increased pathogen resistance, preferably an increased resistance to fungal pathogens, is increased into, and expressed in, the plant or plant cell; or wherein an endogenous DNA sequence which codes for an armadillo repeat ARM1 protein and which mediates an increased pathogen resistance, preferably an increased resistance to fungal pathogens, is increased in the plant or plant cell in comparison with the original, or wild-type, plant, or wherein the endogenous gene sequence or preferably the 5′-untranslated region (5′UTR) is modified in comparison with the original sequence. The invention also relates to plants, to parts of a plant, for example an organ, tissue, a cell or a part of a plant cell, for example an organelle, which are obtained by the above methods, and to corresponding propagation material.
US08329985B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH861515. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH861515, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH861515 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 CH861515.
US08329983B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH136255. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH136255, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH136255 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 CH136255.
US08329981B2

A genetically modified mouse characterized in that it does not comprise a nucleic acid sequence which itself encodes any endogenous immunoglobulin heavy chain constant region locus polypeptide.
US08329967B2

A process for producing a blended fuel from a paraffin rich component and a cyclic rich component, where each of the components are generated from a renewable feedstock, is presented. The paraffin rich component is generated from glycerides and free fatty acids in feedstocks such as plant and animal oils. The cyclic rich component is generated from biomass derived pyrolysis oil. The source of the animal or plant oil and the biomass may be the same renewable source.
US08329966B2

Synthetic base oil composition comprising dialkyl aromatic compound with alkyl side chain carbon number from C10 to C28, or preferably C11 to C24, or even more preferably, C12 to C18, wherein the branching characteristics of the alkyl side chain has a total methyl number (TMN) determined by C13 NMR spectroscopy to be from more than 2.1 to less than 3.5, or preferably from 2.15 to 3.25, or even more preferably from 2.2 to 3.0, or a branching index (BI) from more than 0.1 to less than 1.5, or more preferably, 0.15 to 1.25, or even more preferably, 0.2 to 1.0. The synthetic base oil composition has a combination of high viscometric index, low volatility, superior low temperature properties, and improved thermal/oxidation stability, and is particularly suitable to be used as a premium synthetic base stock, second base oil component, or additive for lubricant and additive package applications.
US08329962B2

Methods and systems for the synthesis of alcohol are described herein. The methods and systems incorporate the novel use of a high shear device to promote dispersion and solubility of olefins in water. The high shear device may allow for lower reaction temperatures and pressures and may also reduce reaction time. In an embodiment, a method of making an alcohol comprises introducing an olefin into a water stream to form a gas-liquid stream. The method further comprises flowing the gas-liquid stream through a high shear device so as to form a dispersion with gas bubbles having a mean diameter less than about 1 micron. In addition, the method comprises contacting the gas-liquid stream with a catalyst in a reactor to hydrate the olefin gas and form an alcohol.
US08329955B2

Amino compounds are continuously prepared by hydrogenation of nitrile compounds in the presence of a catalyst, and more particularly diamines are prepared by the continuous hydrogenation of dinitrile compounds in the presence of a Raney metal catalyst and in the absence of an alcoholic solvent; the subject process includes extracting a portion of the catalyst present in the reaction medium, the extracted portion of the catalyst is submitted to a regeneration for providing a catalyst having a catalytic activity lower than that of a fresh catalyst but still high and the regenerated catalyst is recycled to the reaction medium together with fresh catalyst according to a predetermined ratio, whereby the consumption of catalyst is reduced per ton of amines produced.
US08329953B2

Provided are a cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound and an organic EL device using the same. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is easy to prepare and excellent in solubility, color purity, and color stability. The cyclopentaphenanthrene-based compound is useful as a material for forming an organic layer, in particular, a light-emitting layer in an organic EL device, and as an organic dye or an electronic material such as a nonlinear optical material.
US08329945B2

The present invention concerns the discovery that proteins encoded by a family of genes, termed here HDx-related genes, which are involved in the control of chromatin structure and, thus in transcription and translation. The present invention makes available compositions and methods that can be utilized, for example to control cell proliferation and differentiation in vitro and in vivo.
US08329943B2

A method of stabilizing a hem protein which is effective against the denaturation and degradation of a hem protein typified by hemoglobin and a storage solution therefor. A method of stabilizing a hem protein and a storage solution therefor characterized in that an iminocarboxylic acid or its salt is made to coexist in a sample containing the hem protein, wherein the above-described iminocarboxylic acid is a compound represented by the following general formula (1) wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group; and X's represent each a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal or an ammonium group.
US08329936B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing cyanoacrylic acid esters. The method is based substantially on a transesterification reaction, wherein the transesterification reaction is performed in the presence of at least one transition metal catalyst that is formed by reacting at least one hydroxyl group-containing support material with at least one transition metal alkoxide.
US08329935B2

A process for efficiently producing through a small number of steps an N-substituted 2-amino-4-(substituted-oxymethylphosphinyl)-2-butenoic ester which is an intermediate for herbicide L-AMPB. The process comprises reacting a compound represented by the following formula (1): (where R1 represents C1-4 alkyl group) with a compound represented by the following formula (2): (wherein R2, R2′, and R3 each represents C1-4 alkyl and R4 represents benzyloxycarbonyl) in the presence of a base.
US08329933B2

The present invention provides an organosilicon composition comprising diethoxymethylsilane, a concentration of dissolved residual chloride, and a concentration of dissolved residual chloride scavenger that does not yield unwanted chloride salt precipitate when combined with another composition comprising diethoxymethylsilane.
US08329931B2

A catalyst for obtaining isopulegol of high diastereoselectivity by highly selective cyclization reaction of citronellal is provided. The present invention relates to an organoaluminum compound obtained by reacting at least one organoaluminumoxy compound selected from the group consisting of chain aluminoxanes, cyclic aluminoxanes and bis(dialkylaluminumoxy)alkylboranes, with at least one hydroxy compound selected from the group consisting of diarylphenols, bis(diarylphenol) compounds, biaryldiols, dimethanols and silanols.
US08329924B2

The present invention provides novel compounds represented by formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof useful for treating flaviviridae viral infection.
US08329919B2

The invention relates to new forms of salts of valsartan or crystalline, also partly crystalline and amorphous salts of valsartan, the respective production and usage, and pharmaceutical preparations containing such a salt.
US08329913B2

An object of the present invention is to provide novel carbazole derivatives, solvates thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof having an excellent adipose tissue weight reducing effect, hypoglycemic effect, and hypolipidemic effect, which are useful as a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for fatty liver, obesity, lipid metabolism abnormality, visceral adiposity, diabetes, hyperlipemia, impaired glucose tolerance, hypertension, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, and the like.The above-mentioned object can be achieved by carbazole derivatives, solvates thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the carbazole derivatives are represented by the following general formula (I): (In the formula (I), the ring A represents phenyl group or the like; X represents —O— or the like; Y represents ═N— or the like; a and b represent methylene group or the like; both V and Z represent —O— or the like; W represents a C1-C10 alkylene group whose 1 or 2 hydrogen atoms may be substituted by a phenyl group or a C1-C6 alkyl group; 1,2-phenylene group; 1,3-cyclohexyl group; or the like; R1 represents methyl group or the like; R2 represents methoxy group or the like; and R3 represents carboxy group or the like.).
US08329911B2

The invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, p, W, A, X1, R1, R2, R3, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08329904B2

The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein n, m, A, R1 and R2 have the significance given in the description. The compounds are useful as HSL inhibitors and may be used in the treatment or prophylaxis of diabetes, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis or obesity.
US08329888B2

The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical and therapeutic compositions which comprise RNA complexes comprising an antisense strand and a discontinued passenger strand capable of regulating gene expression. The use of a discontinued passenger strand reduces off target effects of the RNA complexes and also has other advantages.
US08329883B2

Methods for regulating the serine protease of Plasmodium. Recombinant DNA constructs which express the Plasmodium serine protease, especially those comprising a sub2 3′UTR and coding segment which express a SUB2 a serine protease. Recombinant Plasmodium containing such constructs and exhibiting increased virulence. Methods for detecting virulent Plasmodium strains by detecting the presence or amount of sub2 3′UTR sequences, sub2 mRNA or cDNA, SUB2 polypeptide expression, or other Plasmodium proteins, such as AMA1 or MSP1, which have been post-translationally modified by SUB2.
US08329878B2

The present invention discloses improved methods of disaggregating protein aggregates, and refolding denatured proteins, using high pressure. In particular, the present invention provides for the use of agitation, high temperature, “stepped” depressurization, dialysis and dilution under pressure to increase the speed and extent of aggregate dissolution and protein refolding.
US08329877B2

The object of the present invention is a procedure for the distribution, separation and purification in aqueous solution of recombinant proteins, based on the utilization of polypeptides with choline affinity. The invention is based on a phenomenon consisting of that two aqueous solutions with determinated components can be mixed, being distributed finally in two phases with different density. The fusionated proteins to said polypeptides with choline affinity are preferably located in one of the phases, while most of the cell extract proteins tend to go to the opposite phase. After a series of washings for removing the rest of the not desired material, this location can be inverted through the addition of a soluble molecule with affinity by the polypeptide fusionated to the protein of interest. This procedure allows modulating at convenience the presence of the protein or polypeptide of interest in one phase or another, possibiliting its purification with a high yield and purity grade. The invention represents an economic and scalable way of recombinant protein separation labelled preferably with choline-binding domains.
US08329873B2

Bispecific single chain antibody molecules are disclosed which may be used to advantage to treat various forms of cancer associated with the overexpression of members of the EGFR protein family.
US08329870B2

The present invention provides water-soluble reactive esters of carboxy polysaccharides and derivatives thereof. The reactive carboxy polysaccharide derivatives are useful per se in aqueous solutions or specifically for the formation of water-soluble covalent fibrinogen conjugates. A preferred conjugate is a hyaluronic acid-fibrinogen conjugate and fibrin adhesive, clot or matrix derived from it. Methods of preparation and methods of use in tissue repair and regeneration are also disclosed.
US08329865B2

An antimicrobially active peptide comprises the DCD protein or a fragment of DCD, preferably derived from the C-terminal region.
US08329858B2

A method of controlling oil-absorbing properties of a silicone rubber powder characterized by keeping a silicone rubber powder in hot storage at a temperature in the range of 40° C. to 150° C. or in cold storage at a temperature in the range of 0° C. to 10° C.
US08329855B2

Disclosed are new semiconductor materials prepared from thienocoronene-imide-based small molecule and/or polymeric compounds. Such compounds can exhibit high carrier mobility and/or good current modulation characteristics. In addition, the compounds of the present teachings can possess certain processing advantages such as solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions.
US08329850B2

Golf equipment including compositions including castable formulations that have low material hardness and increased shear resistance. The compositions may be used in any layer of a golf ball including cores, intermediate layers, and covers and result in high spin rates.
US08329849B2

An organic silicon compound includes a specific alkoxyorganopolysiloxane portion, a portion including an alkoxysilane group, the portion being bonded to the polysiloxane portion, and a portion including a resin-compatible chain or a reactive functional group, the portion being bonded to the polysiloxane portion.
US08329848B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel ethylene-α-olefin copolymer excellent in crosslinking properties; a foamed molded article having a low specific gravity and a low compression set (CS) and a composition capable of producing the foamed molded article, footwear parts composed of a foamed molded article; an ethylenic copolymer composition excellent in balance between weather resistance and mechanical strength, and an electric wire coating material and an electric wire sheath using the ethylenic copolymer composition; and a thermoplastic elastomer capable of producing a molded article excellent in balance between mechanical strength and toughness. The ethylenic copolymer (A) of the present invention is a copolymer composed of only ethylene and an α-olefin having 3 to 20 carbon atoms, and is characterized in that vinyl-group content (a) per 1000 carbon atoms as measured by infrared absorption spectroscopy, MFR10/MFR2.16 (b), and the specific gravity (c) are within a specific range.
US08329845B2

The present invention provides a divided redox-curing type composition including a first part in which at least an oxidizing agent (b) is dissolved in a first radical monomer including a radical monomer (a) having an acidic group and/or a hydrophilic group; and a second part in which at least an aromatic sulfinate (d) is dispersed in a second radical monomer including a radical monomer (c) having neither an acidic group nor a hydrophilic group. According to the present invention, a redox-curing type composition capable of securing a time necessary for an adhesion operation and exhibiting high bond strength not only at the initial stage of adhesion but also over a long period of time thereafter in application to a wetting material such as a tooth or a bone as well as a tooth crown repairing material such as a metal or porcelain.
US08329840B2

The present invention relates to a photo-reactive norbornene-based copolymer which has superior miscibility to various organic solvents or additives while exhibiting superior liquid crystal alignment property and can be preferably used to an alignment layer of liquid crystal display device, a method of preparing the same, and an alignment layer including the same.
US08329828B2

A heat-shrinkable polyester film is provided which exhibits a high shrinkability in a high-temperature range with a main shrinking direction oriented in a longitudinal direction thereof, though not shrinking in the longitudinal direction in a low-temperature range, possesses an extremely high mechanical strength in a transverse direction orthogonal to the main shrinking direction, and, in particular, can be utilized suitably as a film for forming a jacket label of a battery or in similar applications.
US08329827B2

A sulfonated block copolymer which is solid and non-dispersible in water having at least two polymer end blocks A and at least one interior block B wherein each A block is a polymer block resistant to sulfonation and each B block is a polymer block susceptible to sulfonation, wherein the A and B blocks do not contain any significant levels of olefinic unsaturation. Each A block includes one or more segments selected from polymerized (i) ethylene, (ii) monomers of conjugated dienes having a vinyl content less than 35 mol percent prior to hydrogenation, and (iii) mixtures thereof; and each B block comprising segments of one or more polymerized vinyl aromatic monomers selected from (i) unsubstituted styrene monomers, (ii) ortho-substituted styrene monomers, (iii) meta-substituted styrene monomers, (iv) alpha-methylstyrene, (v) 1,1-diphenylethylene, (vi) 1,2-diphenylethylene and (vii) mixtures thereof.
US08329815B2

A silicon-containing polymer which is represented by general formula (5) below and has a weight-average molecular weight in the range from 500 to 500,000: (In the formula, A2 is an organic group of 2-10 carbons, having a carbon-carbon unsaturated group; R3 is an alkylene group of 1-20 carbons, a bivalent aromatic group of 6-20 carbons, or a bivalent alicyclic group of 3-20 carbons; n is 0 or 1; R4 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group of 1-10 carbons (R4 in one molecule may be the same type or a combination of two or more different types.); each of x and y is a positive number; each of w and z is 0 or a positive number; 0≦z/(w+x+y)≦2; and 0.01≦y/(w+x)≦5), and the heat-resistant resin composition comprising the silicon-containing polymer.
US08329814B2

Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include ink formulation and modified pigments. One exemplary modified pigment, among others, includes a pigment A represented by the formula in FIG. 3.
US08329813B2

A process for reducing the fluoroether carboxylic acid or salt content of aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion. The fluoroether carboxylic acid or salt employed comprises fluoroether carboxylic acid or salt having the formula below: [R1—O-L-COO−]Y+ wherein R1 is a linear, branched or cyclic partially or fully fluorinated aliphatic group which may contain ether linkages; L is a branched partially or fully fluorinated alkylene group which may contain ether linkages; and Y+ is hydrogen, ammonium or alkali metal cation. The process comprises adding stabilizer to the aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to form a stabilized aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion and heating the stabilized aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion to decarboxylate the fluoroether carboxylic acid or salt to produce a fluoroether byproduct. At least a portion of the fluoroether byproduct is removed.
US08329806B2

The method for producing flaky-glass granules of the present invention is a method for producing flaky-glass granules by allowing a plurality of glass flakes to be bonded to each other so as to be granulated. The method includes the steps of: (I) adding at least one liquid selected from water and a volatile organic solvent to the plurality of glass flakes and stirring a resultant mixture, and (II) drying the plurality of glass flakes stirred with the liquid added thereto. Unlike conventional flaky-glass granules, the flaky-glass granules produced by this method contain neither a binder nor a surface treatment agent for bonding the glass flakes to each other. Thus, when mixed into a thermoplastic resin to be molded at a high temperature, the flaky-glass granules cause neither foam inclusion nor discoloration in a molded article of the resin.
US08329801B2

The invention provides a self-adhesive composition in powder form for the coating of metallic substrates, composed of homopolyamide (A) selected from PA11 and PA12, copolyamide (B), calcium carbonate and, optionally, at least one component selected from a pigment or dye, an anti-crater agent or spreading agent, a reductant, an antioxidant, a reinforcing filler, a UV stabilizer, a fluidizing agent and a corrosion inhibitor, said composition being devoid of silane-type adhesion promoter or of an adhesion promoter containing an epoxy, alcohol and/or carboxylic acid function, or derivatives thereof, and having a dry-state modulus and/or a wet-state modulus of greater than or equal to 2200 MPa [Standard NF EN ISO 527]. The invention also relates to a composite material comprising a metallic substrate directly coated with a coating film resulting from the melting of said composition, the adhesion of the coating film to the metallic substrate being greater than 3 after 2000 hours of salt fog before and after drying, in accordance with Standard NFT 58-112.
US08329794B2

A polymer composition of a compatibilized silica in blends of acrylonitrile butadiene polymer and styrene butadiene polymer comprising six to ninety percent by weight of a compatibilized silica, at least one percent by weight of a coupling agent, at least one percent by weight of a styrene butadiene polymer, and at least one percent by weight of an acrylonitrile butadiene polymer is described herein. The polymer composition can have a minimum amount of at least ten percent by weight of 15:50 ratio, acrylonitrile to butadiene polymer, with the remainder being compatibilized silica.
US08329788B2

The present invention includes rubber compositions, rubber articles and tires formulated to prevent ozone attack. A particular embodiment of the present invention includes a tire comprising a rubber structure, the rubber structure comprising an essentially unsaturated rubber elastomer, between 0.1 and 0.45 phr (parts by weight per hundred parts by weight of the rubber elastomer) of a particular compound 2,4,6-Tris-(N-1,4-dimethylpentyl-p-phenylenediamino)-1,3,5-triazine and between 0.5 and 2 phr of a phenolic resin.
US08329782B2

A process for reducing fluorosurfactant content of a stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising contacting the stabilized fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion with an anion exchange resin comprising a polymer and quaternary ammonium functional groups to reduce fluorosurfactant content, the functional groups being resistant to degradation which releases trialkylamines. The anion exchange resin is separated from the dispersion after the fluorosurfactant content has been reduced.
US08329779B2

The invention relates to a translucent or transparent, colored enamel that contains metal nanoparticles that lost their natural tendency to aggregate with each other, and having a color essentially provided by the reflection of light. The nanoparticles have lost their natural capability to aggregate with each other due to the application of a coating, or because they have been functionalised electrostatically or using highly sterically hindered entities or using hydrophilic entities located at the surface thereof. The nanoparticles may be gold nanoparticles that impart an intense and deep red to said enamel.
US08329775B2

Azo compounds that block visible light are disclosed. These light absorbers are particularly suitable for use in intraocular lens materials.
US08329767B2

The present invention is a method for forming a hydrophilic polymer membrane for use in a membrane electrode assembly, comprising the polymerization of a material or materials from which the membrane may be formed, wherein the polymerization is by UV curing.
US08329765B2

Process for converting synthesis gas to hydrocarbons in a slurry reactor in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst comprising cobalt and zinc oxide. The process is carried out by a) activating the Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with a reducing gas consisting of hydrogen and an inert gas at a temperature between 330 and 400° C., and b) contacting the activated Fischer-Tropsch catalyst from step a) with synthesis gas in the slurry reactor in order to convert the synthesis gas into hydrocarbons.
US08329751B2

The invention relates to aryl-sulphonamido compounds endowed with inhibitory activity against metallo proteases MMP, having formula (I) below wherein R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, n and m have the meanings reported in the specification; the invention also refers to the process for their preparation, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use as therapeutic agents, particularly in the treatment of degenerative disorders.
US08329750B2

Methods for treating vasomotor symptoms associated with menopause are described.
US08329746B2

A method and composition for treating osteoarthritis with ion-channel regulators is disclosed. The ion-channel regulators are used alone or in combination with other osteoarthritis treatment agents, including but not limited to injectable agents such as viscosupplements and steroids. A composition comprising one or more ion-channel regulator(s) and one or more osteoarthritis treatment agent(s) is also disclosed.
US08329743B2

The present invention provides a composition comprising polyisoprenylated benzophenone derivative and at least one component selected from stilbene derivative and anthocyanins. The composition inhibits adipogenesis and is therefore useful in treating obesity or weight loss.
US08329728B2

This invention provides for compounds, compositions, and methods that involve anti-proliferative and anti-neoplastic activity in cancer cells. In particular, a series of benzimidazole, purine, imidazopyridine, and imidazopyrizine compounds having selected substitution patterns are disclosed, and the activity of various subject compounds is demonstrated. In particular, the disclosure provides for substituted imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine compounds having the general formula their salts, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of treatment using the subject compounds and compositions.
US08329725B2

The invention relates to annelated pyrrolidin sulfonamides with oxadiazolone headgroup and to their physiologically acceptable salts and physiologically functional derivatives showing PPARdelta or PPARdelta and PPARalpha agonist activity. What is described are compounds of the formula (I), in which the radicals are as defined, and their physiologically acceptable salts and processes for their preparations. The compounds are suitable for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of fatty acid metabolism and glucose utilization disorders as well as of disorders in which insulin resistance is involved and demyelinating and other neurodegenerative disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system.
US08329704B2

The present invention concerns aryl and heteroaryl substituted pyrazinone derivatives having antagonistic melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) activity, in particular MCH-1 activity according to the general Formula (I) a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt thereof, a stereochemically isomeric form thereof, an N-oxide form thereof or a quaternary ammonium salt thereof, wherein the variables are defined in Claim 1. It further relates to their preparation, compositions comprising them and their use as a medicine. The compounds according to the invention are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to anxiety, eating disorders, mood disorders, such as bipolar disorders and depression, psychoses, such as schizophrenia, and sleeping disorders; obesity; diabetes; sexual disorders and neurological disorders.
US08329702B2

The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of ion channels. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various disorders.
US08329700B2

Pyrazine compounds of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein m, n, p, R1, R2, R3, R4, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, X9, X10, X11, Y and Z are defined in the specification, and compositions containing them, and processes for preparing such compounds. Provided herein also are methods of treating disorders or diseases treatable by inhibition of PDE10, such as obesity, non-insulin dependent diabetes, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the like.
US08329697B2

The present invention is directed to AHCY inhibitors of formula (I) which are useful in the treatment of diseases characterized by high homocysteine levels, such as Alzheimer's disease. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, and to the use of the compounds and compositions in the treatment of diseases characterized by high homocysteine levels.
US08329695B2

The present invention relates to a crystalline form a dihydropteridione derivative, namely a crystalline form of the free base N-[trans-4-[4-(cyclopropylmethyl)-1-piperazinyl]cyclohexyl]-4-[[(7R)-7-ethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-5-methyl-8-(1-methylethyl)-6-oxo-2-pteridinyl]amino]-3-methoxy-benzamide, to a process for the manufacture thereof, and to the use thereof in a pharmaceutical composition.
US08329692B2

Compounds selected from the group according to Claim 1 are inhibitors of tyrosine kinases, in particular of Met kinase, and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of tumours.
US08329690B2

Methods of using compounds which are progesterone receptor agonists for contraception and the treatment of progesterone-related maladies alone or in combination with an estrogen receptor agonist or progesterone receptor antagonist are provided. These compounds have the structure: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and Q1 are defined herein.
US08329689B2

The invention relates to novel substituted indoles, to the use thereof in the form of pharmacological composition substances and to use of said composition for producing medicinal preparations used for preventing and treating viral diseases, in particular caused by viruses of infectious hepatitis (HCV, HBV), human immune deficiency (HIV), atypical pneumonia (SARS) and bird flu. The invention proposes novel substituted indoles of general formula (1) or the racemates or the optical isomers or the pharmaceutically acceptable salts and/or hydrates thereof, wherein R1, R14 and R24 independently of each other are an aminogroup substituent selected for hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclyl, or R14 and R24 together with a nitrogen atom, with which they are bound, form through R14 and R24 optionally substituted azaheterocyclyl or guanidyl; R2 is analkyl substituent selected from hydrogen, an optionally substituted mercaptogroup, optionally substituted aminogroup and optionally substituted hydroxyl; R3 is lower alkyl, R5 is an hydrogen atom or R5 together with an oxygen atom with which it is linked or R24 together with a nitrogen atom with which it is linked close, via R5 and R24 an oxazine cycle; R6 is a cyclic system substituent selected for hydrogen, a halogen atom, cyanogroup, optionally substituted aryl or substituted heterocyclyl.
US08329688B2

Compounds of a formula entitled, trans-4-[[(5S)-5-[[[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl](2-methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl)amino]-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,9-dimethyl-1H-1-benzazepin-1-yl]methyl]-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, as a free acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and hydrates and other solvates in crystalline form; pharmaceutical formulations; and methods of use are disclosed.
US08329687B2

The present invention provides a compound having a superior serotonin 5-HT2C receptor activating action, which is represented by the formula wherein A is —OR1 or —S(O)pR2, R1 and R2 are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group optionally having substituent(s), or a heterocyclic group to optionally having substituent(s), and p is 0, 1 or 2, or a salt thereof.
US08329686B2

Novel isatin analogues, including isatin analogues comprising Michael Acceptors (IMAs) are disclosed. Further disclosed are methods of synthesis of the isatin analogues, and uses of the analogues, including inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-7, and in vivo imaging of apoptosis by Positron emission tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT).
US08329684B2

The present invention relates to novel cephalosporin derivatives represented by Chemical Formula 1. Wherein, X, Y, L, R1, and R2 are as same as defined in the description of the invention. The present invention also relates to pharmaceutical antibiotic compositions comprising a novel celphalosporin derivative represented by Chemical Formula 1, a prodrug thereof, a hydrate thereof, a solvate thereof, an isomer thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient. Compounds of the present invention are effective ingredients for the broad spectrum of antibiotic resistance, exhibit low toxicity, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria, which can be useful with strong antimicrobial activity.
US08329683B2

The present invention provides compounds of formulae Ia, Ia′, IIa, IIa′, IIIa, IIIa′, IVa, or Va and the therapeutic use thereof. The present invention also includes methods of treating NF2-deficient or NF1-deficient cells or neurodegenerative diseases with radicicol or its derivatives, such as one or more compounds of formula I, II, III, IV, V, Ia, Ia′, IIa, IIa′, IIIa, IIIa′, IVa, or Va. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to methods of inhibiting the growth of NF2-deficient or NF1-deficient tumors. The methods comprise contacting NF2-deficient or NF1-deficient tumor cells with radicicol or its derivatives, such as one or more compounds of formula I, II, III, IV, V, Ia, Ia′, IIa, IIa′, IIIa, IIIa′, IVa, or Va. The present invention is also directed to the combinational use of radicicol or its derivatives, such as one or more compounds of formula I, II, III, IV, V, Ia, Ia′, IIa, IIa′, IIIa, IIIa′, IVa, or Va with at least one additional active agent, such as one or more HSP90 inhibitors.
US08329675B2

The present invention provide compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, encompassed by the formulae (I), (II) or (III). The present invention also provides methods for treating an FAAH mediated disease, disorder or condition by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a provided compound of the formulae (I), (II) or (III), or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, to a patient in need thereof. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for inhibiting FAAH in a patient by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the formulae (I), (II) or (III), or a pharmaceutical composition thereof, to a patient in need thereof.
US08329672B2

Compositions for oral and/or topical administration of a prebiotic and a physiologically active fatty acid, or a salt or ester thereof, are disclosed. The compositions are disclosed as enhancing the body's population of beneficial microorganisms for improving health and well-being.
US08329665B2

Provided herein are compounds used to inhibit the deamination enzyme responsible for the inactivation of therapeutic compounds, and methods of using them.
US08329663B2

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for the treatment and elimination of chronic intracellular infections in cells or organisms. The compositions may include one or more acidic substances and one or more antimicrobial substances, administered in combination or separately. The methods may include administering an amount of one or more such compositions to an infected cell or organism for a period of time ranging from days to years, until the infection is substantially eliminated.
US08329660B2

The invention relates to isolated polypeptides and nucleic acids encoding polypeptides which comprise a tim-3 IgV domain and a tim-3 intracellular domain, wherein the polypeptides do not comprise a tim-3 mucin domain or a tim-3 transmembrane domain. In addition, the invention relates to methods of modulating immune responses in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that modulates tim-3 activity. Immune responses include, but are not limited to, immune tolerance, transplantation tolerance, Th1 responses and Th2 responses.
US08329649B2

A stable aqueous composition containing follicle-stimulating hormone, which comprises follicle-stimulating hormone and histidine as a stabilizing agent.
US08329635B2

The present invention relates to new compounds useful for the stimulation of the production of antibodies. Said compounds comprises a saccharidic tumor antigen and a polymeric scaffold. The present invention also encompasses conjugated compounds useful in ELISA assay for the selection of antibodies against saccharidic antigens.
US08329634B2

A paint thinner and cleaner includes a methyl soy ester and dibasic ester and satisfies a less than 25 grams per liter Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) rating which permits the thinner and cleaner to be used for cleaning and thinning in government regulated areas. Requirements for reducing VOCs are well recognized. The paint thinner and cleaner of the present invention performs as well as products (for example, hydrocarbon based thinners) having greater than 25 grams per liter VOC products. Further, the paint thinner and cleaner according to the present invention has less than one tenth of the hazardous ingredients present in the other paint thinners. The paint thinner and cleaner is suitable for reducing water and oil based coatings and material.
US08329632B2

New detergent compositions and the use of enzyme combinations therein are disclosed. The compositions have enhanced stability of non protease enzymes present in the compositions.
US08329623B2

The present invention provides a grease composition (7) which has a low friction and a low viscosity and is durable at a high temperature and a grease-sealed bearing (1) in which the grease composition is enclosed. The grease composition contains base oil, a thickener, and an additive. The base oil contains an ionic liquid consisting of a cation component and an anion component. The additive contains a corrosion inhibitor such as nitrites, molybdates or dibasic acid salts. The thickener is fluorine resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene. The grease composition (7) is applied to a periphery of each rolling element (4) of the grease-sealed bearing (1).
US08329619B2

Substituted quinolinones of the formula I in which the variables are defined according to the description, their agriculturally suitable salts, processes and intermediates for preparing the compounds of the formula I, compositions comprising them and their use as herbicides, i.e. for controlling harmful plants, and also a method for controlling unwanted vegetation which comprises allowing a herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound of the formula I to act on plants, their seed and/or their habitat.
US08329617B2

This invention relates to the control of plant pests, such as aphid and whitefly by treating plants with a compound which inhibits the plant pest's ability to overcome plant defense responses, such as piperonyl butoxide or propyl gallate, in combination with a compound which activates plant defense responses, such as cis-Jasmone or beta-amino butyric acid.
US08329610B2

The present invention relates to a hydrogenation catalyst composition, process for preparing the same and use thereof. The composition comprises a hydrogenation catalyst, an organonitrogen compound in an amount of 0.01%-20% by weight of the catalyst, a sulfiding agent in an amount of 30%-150% by weight of the sulfur-requiring amount calculated theoretically of the hydrogenation catalyst, and an organic solvent in an amount of 0.1%-50% by weight of the catalyst. The preparation process comprises introducing the required substances onto the hydrogenation catalyst in oxidation state. By introduction of the organonitrogen compound, sulfur and organic solvent, the hydrogenation catalyst composition of the present invention may further increase the sulfur-maintaining ratio of the catalyst during the activation, slow down the concentrative exothermic phenomenon, decrease the rate of temperature rise of the catalyst bed layer, and improve the activity of the catalyst. The process of the present invention may be used for the treatment before the application of various hydrogenation catalysts.
US08329609B2

A process for preparing an alkoxylation catalyst wherein a catalyst precursor which is formed from an alkoxylated alcohol and an alkaline earth metal compound to form a dispersion of an alkaline earth metal species is reacted with propylene oxide to propoxylate at least a portion of the ethoxylated alcohol.
US08329607B2

Provided are diesel exhaust components where palladium is segregated from a molecular sieve, specifically a zeolite, in a catalytic material. In the catalytic material, therefore, there are at least two layers: a palladium-containing layer that is substantially free of a molecular sieve and a hydrocarbon trap layer that comprises at least one molecular sieve and is substantially free of palladium. The palladium is provided on a high surface area, porous refractory metal oxide support. The catalytic material can further comprise a platinum component, where a minor amount of the platinum component is in the hydrocarbon trap layer, and a majority amount of the platinum component is in the palladium-containing layer. Systems and methods of using the same are also provided.
US08329598B2

Methods of forming a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell and methods of improving quality of a top oxide around a charge storage material layer of a memory cell are provided. The method can involve providing a charge storage layer on a semiconductor substrate, a nitride layer on the charge storage layer, and a first poly layer on the nitride layer, and converting at least a portion of the nitride layer to a top oxide. By converting at least a portion of a nitride layer to a top oxide layer, the quality of the resultant top oxide layer can be improved.
US08329593B2

Polymer is removed from the backside of a wafer held on a support pedestal in a reactor using an arcuate side gas injection nozzle extending through the reactor side wall with a curvature matched to the wafer edge and supplied with plasma by-products from a remote plasma source.
US08329582B2

A semiconductor device comprises insulating layer including damascene patterns and formed over a semiconductor substrate, conductive line formed higher than the insulating layer within the respective damascene patterns, and interference-prevention grooves formed within the damascene patterns between sidewalls of the conductive line and the insulating layer.
US08329576B2

Methods of improving the uniformity and adhesion of low resistivity tungsten films are provided. Low resistivity tungsten films are formed by exposing the tungsten nucleation layer to a reducing agent in a series of pulses before depositing the tungsten bulk layer. According to various embodiments, the methods involve reducing agent pulses with different flow rates, different pulse times and different interval times.
US08329574B2

Flash memory devices include a pair of elongated, closely spaced-apart main active regions in a substrate. A sub active region is also provided in the substrate, extending between the pair of elongated, closely spaced-apart main active regions. A bit line contact plug is provided on, and electrically contacting, the sub active region and being at least as wide as the sub active region. An elongated bit line is provided on, and electrically contacting, the bit line contact plug remote from the sub active region.
US08329570B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising, forming a first gate electrode in a first region of a semiconductor substrate and forming a second gate electrode in a second region of the semiconductor substrate, forming a first sidewall along a lateral wall of the first gate electrode and forming a second sidewall along a lateral wall of the second gate electrode, forming an oxide film to cover the semiconductor substrate, the first gate electrode, the second gate electrode, the first sidewall and the second sidewall, forming a resist above the oxide film to cover the first region, removing the oxide film in the second region by etching the oxide film with the resist serving as a mask, removing the resist, and executing a plasma process by using a gas containing chlorine with respect to the semiconductor substrate and the oxide film in the first region.
US08329568B1

In one embodiment of the present invention, a field effect transistor device is provided. The field effect transistor device comprises an active area, including a first semiconductor material of a first conductivity type. A channel region is included within the active area. A gate region overlays the channel region, and the first source/drain region and the second source/drain region are embedded in the active area and spaced from each other by the channel region. The first source/drain region and the second source/drain region each include a second semiconductor material of a second conductivity type opposite of the first conductivity type. A well-tap region is embedded in the active area and spaced from the first source/drain region by the channel region and the second source/drain region. The well-tap region includes the second semiconductor material of the first conductivity type. The first source/drain region and the second source/drain region and the well-tap region are epitaxial deposits.
US08329560B2

Disclosed are a laser processing apparatus and method that can effectively remove a low-k material formed on a wafer. A laser processing apparatus of the invention is a laser processing apparatus that processes a subject on which a low-k material is formed. The laser processing apparatus includes a laser generating unit that emits a laser beam; and an optical system that splits the laser beam emitted from the laser generating unit into two and irradiates the split laser beams onto the subject In this case, the optical system includes a pair of condensing lenses in which cut surfaces that are cut at a predetermined distance from central axes to be parallel to the central axes contact with each other, and the interval between the two split laser beams is the same as the interval between two edges of the low-k material in a removal subject region. According to the invention, after splitting a laser beam into two laser beams and primarily removing the edges of the low-k material in the removal subject region using the laser beams, the remaining low-k material between the edges is removed. As a result, it is possible to improve processing quality.
US08329549B2

Sophisticated gate stacks including a high-k dielectric material and a metal-containing electrode material may be covered by a protection liner, such as a silicon nitride liner, which may be maintained throughout the entire manufacturing sequence at the bottom of the gate stacks. For this purpose, a mask material may be applied prior to removing cap materials and spacer layers that may be used for encapsulating the gate stacks during the selective epitaxial growth of a strain-inducing semiconductor alloy. Consequently, enhanced integrity may be maintained throughout the entire manufacturing sequence, while at the same time one or more lithography processes may be avoided.
US08329548B2

A field transistor for electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection and method for making such a transistor is described. The field transistor includes a gate conductive layer pattern formed on a field oxide layer. Since the gate conductive layer pattern is formed on the field oxide layer, a thin gate insulating layer having a high possibility of insulation breakdown is not used. To form an inversion layer for providing a current path between source and drain regions, a field oxide layer is interposed to form low concentration source and drain regions overlapped by the gate conductive layer pattern.
US08329539B2

In a semiconductor device having a recessed gate electrode and a method of fabricating the same, a channel trench is formed in a semiconductor substrate by etching the semiconductor substrate. A first semiconductor layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate that fills the channel trench. A second semiconductor layer is formed on the first semiconductor layer, the second semiconductor layer having a lower impurity concentration than the first semiconductor layer.
US08329535B2

A memory device having at least one multi-level memory cell is disclosed, and each multi-level memory cell configured to store n multiple bits, where n is an integer, wherein the multiple bits are stored in a charge storage layer trapping charge carriers injected by application of a voltage to set or reset a threshold voltage Vt of the memory cell to one of 2n levels. Each memory cell may be programmed to one of 2n multiple levels, wherein each level represents n multiple bits.
US08329529B2

A method for fabricating an integrated circuit device includes providing a semiconductor substrate having a first region and a second region, e.g., peripheral region. The method forms a stop layer overlying the first and second regions and a low k dielectric layer (e.g., k<2.9) overlying the stop layer in the first and second regions. The method forms a cap layer overlying the low k dielectric layer. In an embodiment, the method initiates formation of a plurality of via structures within a first portion of the low k dielectric layer overlying the first region and simultaneously initiates formation of an isolated via structure for in the second region of the semiconductor substrate, using one or more etching processes. The method includes ceasing formation of the plurality of via structures within the first portion and ceasing formation of the isolated via structure in the second region when one or more portions of stop layer have been exposed.
US08329526B2

Dielectric cap layers of sophisticated high-k metal gate electrode structures may be efficiently removed on the basis of a sacrificial fill material, thereby reliably preserving integrity of a protective sidewall spacer structure, which in turn may result in superior uniformity of the threshold voltage of the transistors. The sacrificial fill material may be provided in the form of an organic material that may be reduced in thickness on the basis of a wet developing process, thereby enabling a high degree of process controllability.
US08329523B2

A method of fabricating an array substrate for a display device includes: forming a buffer layer on a substrate having a pixel region; sequentially forming a gate electrode of impurity-doped polycrystalline silicon, a gate insulating layer and an active layer of intrinsic polycrystalline silicon on the buffer layer in the pixel region; forming an interlayer insulating layer of an inorganic insulating material on the active layer; sequentially forming a source barrier pattern, a source ohmic contact layer and a source electrode on the interlayer insulating layer, sequentially forming a drain barrier pattern, a drain ohmic contact layer and a drain electrode on the interlayer insulating layer, and sequentially forming a first dummy pattern, a second dummy pattern and a data line on the interlayer insulating layer; forming a first passivation layer on a surface of the interlayer insulating layer including the source electrode, the drain electrode and the data line formed thereon; forming a gate line on the first passivation layer; forming a second passivation layer on a surface of the first passivation layer including the gate line formed thereon; and forming a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer.
US08329518B1

The present invention provides methods for manufacturing a thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate and a display panel. The method for manufacturing the TFT array substrate comprises the following steps: forming a plurality of gate electrodes, a gate insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, an ohmic contact layer, an electrode layer and a first photo-resist layer on a transparent substrate in sequence; patterning the first photo-resist layer; etching the ohmic contact layer and the electrode layer; coating a second photo-resist layer on the patterned first photo-resist layer and in the channels; removing the second photo-resist layer on the patterned first photo-resist layer and to allow the second photo-resist layer in the channels to remain therein; etching the semiconductor layer; removing the patterned first photo-resist layer and the second photo-resist layer; forming a passivation layer on the channels, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes; and forming a pixel electrode layer on the passivation layer. The present invention can reduce an amount of the required masks in the fabrication process, and only one wet etching is required to etch the metal material on the TFT array substrate.
US08329517B2

A method for manufacturing a pixel structure includes providing a substrate including a transistor region and a pixel region, forming at least one gate electrode on the transistor region, forming an insulating layer on the substrate to overlay the gate electrode, and forming a patterned semi-conductive layer on the surface of a portion of the insulating layer disposed on the transistor region and the pixel region. A patterned first protective layer is formed on a portion of the patterned semi-conductive layer corresponding to the gate electrode, and the patterned semi-conductive layer is doped without being overlaid by the patterned first protective layer.
US08329513B2

A method of forming a memory array includes forming first and second strings of serially-coupled memory cells respectively on first and second sides of a conductive pillar. Forming the first string of memory cells includes forming a first control gate on the first side of the conductive pillar and interposing a first charge trap between the first side of the conductive pillar and the first control gate. Forming the second string of memory cells comprises forming a second control gate on the second side of the conductive pillar and interposing a second charge trap between the second side of the conductive pillar and the second control gate. The first and second charge traps are electrically isolated from each other, and the first and second control gates are electrically isolated from each other.
US08329510B2

A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing a post, a base, an ESD protection layer and a metal layer, wherein the post extends above the base and the ESD protection layer is sandwiched between the base and the metal layer, mounting an adhesive on the base including inserting the post into an opening in the adhesive, mounting a conductive layer on the adhesive including aligning the post with an aperture in the conductive layer, then flowing the adhesive upward between the post and the conductive layer, solidifying the adhesive, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad, a terminal and a selected portion of the conductive layer, providing a heat spreader that includes the post, the base, the ESD protection layer and an underlayer that includes at least a portion of the metal layer, then mounting a semiconductor device on the post, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08329507B2

One embodiment of a semiconductor package described herein includes a substrate having a first through-hole extending therethrough; a conductive pattern overlying the substrate and extending over the first through-hole; a first semiconductor chip facing the conductive pattern such that at least a portion of the first semiconductor chip is disposed within the first through-hole; and a first external contact terminal within the first through-hole and electrically connecting the conductive pattern to the first semiconductor chip.
US08329503B1

A photovoltaic solar concentrator is disclosed with one or more transverse-junction solar cells (also termed point contact solar cells) and a lens located above each solar cell to concentrate sunlight onto the solar cell to generate electricity. Piezoelectric actuators tilt or translate each lens to track the sun using a feedback-control circuit which senses the electricity generated by one or more of the solar cells. The piezoelectric actuators can be coupled through a displacement-multiplier linkage to provide an increased range of movement of each lens. Each lens in the solar concentrator can be supported on a frame (also termed a tilt plate) having three legs, with the movement of the legs being controlled by the piezoelectric actuators.
US08329497B2

A backside illuminated imaging sensor includes a semiconductor layer and an infrared detecting layer. The semiconductor layer has a front surface and a back surface. An imaging pixel includes a photodiode region formed within the semiconductor layer. The infrared detecting layer is disposed above the front surface of the semiconductor layer to receive infrared light that propagates through the imaging sensor from the back surface of the semiconductor layer.
US08329491B2

A mechanical quantity sensor includes a first structure having a fixed portion with an opening, a displaceable portion arranged in the opening and displaceable relative to the fixed portion, and a connection portion connecting the fixed portion and the displaceable portion, a second structure having a weight portion joined to the displaceable portion and a pedestal arranged surrounding the weight portion and joined to the fixed portion, the second structure being arranged and stacked on the first structure, a first base connected to the fixed portion and arranged and stacked on the first structure, and a second base connected to the pedestal and arranged and stacked on the second structure. The weight portion is adjusted in thickness after the first structure is made and before the second base and the second structure are joined.
US08329482B2

Methods and devices for light emitting diode (LED) chips are provided. In one embodiment of a method, a pre-formed capping wafer is provided, with the capping wafer comprising a conversion material. A wire-bond free LED wafer is fabricated comprising a plurality of LEDs. The capping wafer is bonded to the LED wafer using an adhesive. The LED chips are later singulated upon completion of all final fabrication steps. The capping wafer provides a robust mechanical support for the LED chips during fabrication, which improves the strength of the chips during fabrication. Additionally, the capping wafer may comprise an integrated conversion material, which simplifies the fabrication process. In one possible embodiment for an LED chip wafer, a submount wafer is provided, along with a plurality of LEDs flip-chip mounted on the submount wafer. Additionally, a capping wafer is bonded to the LEDs using an adhesive, and the capping wafer comprises a conversion material. At least some of the light emitted from the LEDs passes through the capping wafer where at least some of the light is converted by the conversion material.
US08329478B2

The present invention relates to a magnetic tunnel junction device and a manufacturing method thereof. The magnetic tunnel junction device includes i) a first magnetic layer having an switchable magnetization direction, ii) a nonmagnetic layer provided on the first magnetic layer, iii) a second magnetic layer provided on the nonmagnetic layer and having a fixed magnetization direction, iv) an oxidation-preventing layer provided on the second magnetic layer, v) a third magnetic layer provided on the oxidation-preventing layer and fixing the magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer through magnetic coupling with the second magnetic layer, and vi) an antiferromagnetic layer provided on the third magnetic layer and fixing a magnetization direction of the third magnetic layer.
US08329477B2

A method and system for releasing active ingredients into the surrounding atmosphere is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispersion rate of the active ingredient through the membrane is passively regulated by adjusting the porosity of the membrane. In another embodiment, materials with microfluidic channels of various diameters are interposed together so that the configuration of the channels approximates a venturi, thereby improving the flow of the solution through the microfluidic channels. In another embodiment, heat is applied to the top membrane layer to further accelerate the rate at which fluid is dissipated through the membrane structure. Devices incorporating membranes with the disclosed properties are also presented.
US08329473B2

Column which includes a first column with an upper layer of H2SO4 silica gel and a lower layer AgNO3 silica gel and a second column packed with alumina, connected detachably to a lower end of the first column. An oily liquid containing polychlorinated biphenyls, is added to the upper layer and heated. An aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent is supplied to the upper layer, whereby polychlorinated biphenyls captured by the first column are dissolved in the aliphatic hydrocarbon and then flow to the second column. The polychlorinated biphenyls are captured by the alumina which is located near the inlet of the second column, which is then detached from the first column. A hydrophobic solvent is passed through the second column in a direction opposite to the direction in which the aliphatic hydrocarbon was passed, providing an extract containing the polychlorinated biphenyls dissolved in a small amount of the hydrophobic solvent.
US08329472B2

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for suppressing foam formation by identifying a gene involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium and reducing or deleting the function of a protein encoded by the gene, a method for more efficiently producing vinegar that contains a high concentration of acetic acid by using an acetic acid bacterium in which foam formation has been suppressed by the above method, and vinegar produced by the above production method. An acetic acid bacterium with suppressed foam formation was obtained by isolating a gene encoding a protein involved in foam formation during culture of an acetic acid bacterium, then by altering the gene by a modification to reduce or delete the function of a protein involved in foam formation. Further provided is a method for efficiently producing vinegar with higher concentration of acetic acid with the use of the acetic acid bacterium.
US08329467B2

Methods for altering pancreatic and liver cell function are provided, wherein the compositions and methods are based on use of netrin-4 or on altering the activity of netrin-4.
US08329462B2

The present invention provides HIV-derived lentivectors which are safe, highly efficient, and very potent for expressing transgenes for human gene therapy, especially, in human hematopoietic progenitor cells as well as in all other blood cell derivatives. The lentiviral vectors comprise a self-inactivating configuration for biosaftey and promoters such as the EF1α promoter as one example. Additional promoters are also described. The vectors can also comprise additional transcription enhancing elements such as the wood chuck hepatitis virus post-transcriptional regulatory element. These vectors therefore provide useful tools for genetic treatments such as inherited and acquired lympho-hematological disorders, gene-therapies for cancers especially the hematological cancers, as well as for the study of hematopoiesis via lentivector-mediated modification of human HSCs.
US08329455B2

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for digestion of solid waste that simplify solids handling. In certain embodiments, anaerobic methane extraction takes place for a period of time (e.g., from 1 to 4 weeks), after which an aerobic composting process begins in the same chamber. The organic waste remains in place and oxygen (e.g., in air) is forced into the chamber for an additional period of time (e.g., from 2 to 4 weeks). At the conclusion of the aerobic phase, the process yields a rough compost product that is stable and pathogen free. The rough compost can be further processed and blended to create high value engineered soils.
US08329453B2

Disclosed is a compact, microprocessor-controlled instrument for fluorometric assays in liquid samples, the instrument having a floating stage with docking bay for receiving a microfluidic cartridge and a scanning detector head with on-board embedded microprocessor for controlling source LEDs, emission signal amplification and filtering in an isolated, low noise, high gain environment within the detector head. Multiple optical channels may be incorporated in the scanning head. In a preferred configuration, the assay is validated using dual channel optics for monitoring a first fluorophore associated with a target analyte and a second fluorophore associated with a control. Applications include molecular biological assays based on PCR amplification of target nucleic acids and fluorometric assays in general, many of which require temperature control during detection. Sensitivity and resistance to bubble interference during scanning are shown to be improved by use of a heating block with reflective mirror face in intimate contact with a thermo-optical window enclosing the liquid sample.
US08329447B2

The invention provides a naturally occurring strain of Lactobacillus crispatus with advantageous characteristics. The strain colonizes mucosal surfaces, particularly vaginal surfaces. The strain is also capable of rapid growth in a number of conditions and is highly viable after desiccation. Moreover, the strain is capable of preventing and reducing pathogenic infection of vaginal mucosa.
US08329442B2

Disclosed herein are is a novel bacteriophage which has specific bactericidal activity against one or more Salmonella bacteria selected from the group consisting of Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Gallinarum, and Salmonella Pullorum without affecting beneficial bacteria. Disclosed are also compositions, animal feeds or drinking water, cleaners and sanitizers for preventing and treating the infectious diseases caused by Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella Gallinarum or Salmonella Pullorum including salmonellosis, Salmonella food poisoning, Fowl Typhoid, and Pullorum disease or for controlling the salmonella bacteria.
US08329440B2

The present invention provides a novel nucleic acid sequence, designated ELIP, encoding a lipolytic enzyme and the corresponding encoded amino acid sequences. The invention also provides expression vectors and host cells comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding at least one novel lipolytic enzyme, recombinant lipolytic enzyme proteins and methods for producing the same.
US08329429B2

The present invention provides a method of enhanced protein production that comprises the step of expressing a recombinant gene encoding the protein in eukaryotic cells under conditions in which cleavage of the pro-domain of the protein is inhibited or eliminated. Generally the method of the present invention includes the step of inhibiting or altering the cleavage of a pro-domain of a recombinant protein of interest in order to increase the amount of recombinant protein secreted from a eukaryotic cell. Recombinant proteins that can be prepared using the method of this invention include members of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily, such as bone morphogenetic proteins. Also provided are genetically engineered cells and polynucleotides for performing the method of the invention.
US08329427B2

The invention relates to a method and device for the cross-referencing of identification (1) of tissue slice supports (2), for microtomised analytical samples still to be mounted thereon, with identification information (3) of a tissue sample holder (4) of a tissue sample (5) which is not yet microtomised. The conventional problem of cross-referencing is improved in a simple manner, whereby the identification information (3) for the tissue sample holder (4) is automatically detected when positioned in the microtome (6) and an identification (1) corresponding thereto is automatically transferred to at least one tissue slice support (2) and that tissue slice support (2), provided with the identification (1), is dispensed for application of the tissue sample slice at the moment when a tissue sample slice must be applied to a tissue slice support (2).
US08329423B2

The present invention provides liquid crystal-based devices and methods for bioagent detection. In certain aspects, the present invention is directed to devices and methods utilizing liquid crystals and membranes containing polymerized targets that can report the presence of bioagents including, but not limited to, enzymes, antibodies, and toxins.
US08329422B2

The methods and reagents described in this invention are used to analyze circulating tumor cells, clusters, fragments, and debris. Analysis is performed with a number of platforms, including flow cytometry and the CELLSPOTTER® fluorescent microscopy imaging system. Analyzing damaged cells has shown to be important. However, there are two sources of damage: in vivo and in vitro. Damage in vivo occurs by apoptosis, necrosis, or immune response. Damage in vitro occurs during sample acquisition, handling, transport, processing, or analysis. It is therefore desirable to confine, reduce, eliminate, or at least qualify in vitro damage to prevent it from interfering in analysis. Described herein are methods to diagnose, monitor, and screen disease based on circulating rare cells, including malignancy as determined by CTC, clusters, fragments, and debris. Also provided are kits for assaying biological specimens using these methods.
US08329417B2

Methods that permit the rapid release of one or more analytes from head or body hair or other keratinized structures of an individual (who may previously have ingested one or more of the analytes) are provided. The methods can include contacting the keratinized structure with a reducing agent but not with a proteolytic agent. The methods can further include identification and quantification of the one or more analytes by known analytical techniques such as immunoassays. The described methods do not damage the analyte and do not cause harmful effects on a subsequently-used analyte detection probe (e.g., an antibody).
US08329415B2

The invention provides a lysis reagent and method for preparing a test sample for use in an assay, wherein the method yields a homogeneous lysis mixture suitable for use in automated pipetting systems without the need for a centrifugation step. The lysis reagent includes a glycol and non-specific animal immunoglobulins. Other aspects of the invention include related immunoassays and test kits.
US08329414B2

The purpose of the invention is to provide an antibody which recognizes OPN N-half but does not recognize the full-length OPN, and its use. A monoclonal antibody which is characterized in that it recognizes a protein or polypeptide in which the C-terminal amino acid sequence is YGLR (SEQ ID NO: 1) and it substantially does not recognize a protein or polypeptide which has an amino acid sequence of YGLR outside of the C-terminal, as well as a method for measuring OPN N-half utilizing the said antibody, a method for diagnosing diseases relating to OPN N-half, a method for judging the severity of said disease, and a method for treating said diseases, are provided.
US08329412B2

The invention relates to covalent modification of proteins through their conjugation with other proteins. More particularly, the invention relates to the modulation of such conjugation involving the protein NEDD8. The invention provides compositions and methods for detecting and/or modulating the activation and/or conjugation of NEDD8, as well as compositions and methods for discovering molecules which are useful in detecting and/or modulating the activation and/or conjugation of NEDD8. The present invention arises from the purification and characterization of novel NEDD8 activating and conjugating enzymes.
US08329409B2

The present invention relates to novel methods and compositions useful for detecting whole parathyroid hormone at a physiological level and parathyroid fragments in a mammalian sample. Such detections may be useful to different parathyroid diseases or disorders in a subject, such as hyperparathyroidism and related bone diseases, from normal or non-disease states. One detects whole or non-fragmented (1 to 84) parathyroid hormone in a biological sample and optionally one or more of a selection of non-whole parathyroid hormone peptide fragments that may or may not function as a parathyroid hormone antagonists. By either comparing values or using independently the value of either the one or more of a selection of non-whole parathyroid hormone peptide fragments, the whole parathyroid hormone, or the combination of these values one is able to differentiate parathyroid and bone related disease states, as well as differentiate such states from normal states.
US08329408B2

The present invention also relates to biomarkers and the use of biomarkers for the prediction and prognosis of cancer as well as the use of biomarkers to monitor the efficacy of cancer treatment. Specifically, this invention relates to the use of HER-2, EGFR, VEGF, u-PA, p-PAI-1, and soluble forms thereof, as biomarkers for cancer, especially for subjects treated with sorafenib.
US08329405B2

The invention provides an amplification system for the simultaneous detection of mutant alleles, and identification of the specific mutated sequence. A sample is enriched and simultaneously genotyped by the presence of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) probes in an homogeneous single tube amplification reaction, by detecting the cleavage of a fluorophore quencher from the 5′-end of PCR products and, concurrently, selecting DNA that includes specific mutations relative to wild type, by employing a thermostable endonuclease that will only cleave an amplicon formed on a mutation bearing template strand. Oligonucleotides and kits for conducting the amplification system are also provided.
US08329401B2

The invention is directed to enhanced methods for detecting an analyte of interest in situ, by immunoassay, or by hybridization comprising binding an enzyme-labeled conjugate molecule to an analyte of interest in the presence of a redox-inactive reductive species and a soluble metal ion. The enzyme catalyzes the conversion of the inactive reductive species to an active reducing agent, which in turn reduces the metal ion to a metal atom thereby providing an enhanced means of detecting the analyte via metal deposition.
US08329395B2

The present invention provides a method for producing thiamin products using a microorganism containing a mutation that causes it to overproduce and release thiamin products into the medium. Biologically pure cultures of the microorganisms and isolated polynucleotides containing the mutations are also provided. In addition, methods for detecting a pathogenic microorganism in a clinical sample, assays for identifying an antibiotic, as well as, antibiotics identified by such assays are provided.
US08329383B2

A negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor have an outermost imageable layer that includes an oxygen scavenger and shelf-life stabilizer that is represented by either Structure (I) or Structure (II) below: HOOC—Ar—N(R1)(R2)  (I) HOOC—R5—N(R6)(R7)  (II) wherein Ar is a phenylene or naphthylene group, R1 and R2 are independently alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, phenyl, phenoxy, —R5OH, —CH2—C(═O)—R3, or —CH2—C(═O)O—R4 groups, R3 is hydrogen or an alkyl or phenyl group, R4 is an alkyl or phenyl group, R5 is an alkylene group, R6 and R7 are independently hydrogen or an alkyl, —R5OH, —R5C(═O)—R8, or —R5C(═O)OR9 group, R8 is hydrogen or an alkyl group, and R9 is an alkyl group, provided that the oxygen scavenger has no more than one carboxyl group.
US08329382B2

Imageable elements can be imaged and then processed using a solution containing core-shell particles that are designed to complex with non-coalesced particles in the non-exposed regions of imaged element. A separate development step is not needed, but the non-coalesced particles and complexed core-shell particles can be removed from the resulting printing plate before using the resulting lithographic printing plate for printing.
US08329379B2

Provided is an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition, a resist film formed with the composition, and a pattern-forming method using the same. The actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes (P) a resin that contains the following repeating units (A), (B) and (C); and a solvent having a boiling temperature of 150° C. or less, (A) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming an acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, (B) a repeating unit containing a group capable of decomposing and forming a carboxylic acid by the action of an acid, and (C) a repeating unit containing a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond.
US08329371B2

A non-magnetic toner, including a binder resin; a wax present dispersing in the toner in the shape of a particle; and a colorant, wherein the wax having a particle diameter not less than 2.0 μm and less than 3.0 μm is not less than 20% and less than 40% by number based on total number thereof; the wax has a mode value not less than 1.5 μm and less than 2.0 μm in a frequency distribution of 0.1 μm width; and the following relationship is satisfied: 45
US08329370B2

An image forming apparatus including: a latent electrostatic image bearing member, a charging unit, an exposing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit, and a fixing unit, wherein the toner contains at least a binder resin and a colorant, the binder resin contains a polyester resin obtained by polycondensation of an alcohol component with a carboxylic acid component containing a rosin compound, the amount of the rosin compound contained in the carboxylic acid component is 5% by mass or more based on the total mass of the alcohol component and carboxylic acid component, and the amount of an abietic acid contained in the toner is 1% by mass or less.
US08329362B2

An extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask includes a quartz substrate including an absorption region and a reflection region, first and second multi-layered thin films formed on the quartz substrate, and a structure pattern disposed between the first and second multi-layered thin films.
US08329354B2

An ejector and a fuel cell system using the ejector which can improve a control of an ejection pressure of a fluid.The ejector 50 includes a body 60, a nozzle 80, a needle 70, a diffuser 90 which sucks a second fluid by a negative pressure generated by a first fluid ejected from the nozzle 80, and a first, a second and a third diaphragms 100, 110, 120 which are movable in the axial direction against the needle 70. The first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110 have the same effective area, and an effective area of the third diaphragm 120 is different from those of the first diaphragm 100 and the second diaphragm 110.
US08329351B2

There is provided a fuel cell system capable of suppressing the increase of a control error of a motor. The system includes a fuel cell which generates a power by an electrochemical reaction between a fuel gas and an oxidizing gas, a motor driven by the generated power of the fuel cell, and a control unit which controls the generation state of the fuel cell. The control unit performs high-potential avoiding control to prevent the total voltage of the fuel cell from exceeding a predetermined high-potential avoiding voltage threshold value. In a vehicle velocity region where the control switching of the traction motor is caused, the high-potential avoiding volume is inhibited.
US08329340B2

A negative electrode for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided. The negative electrode includes: an electro-conductive base; a first layer provided on the electro-conductive base; and a second layer provided on the first layer. The first layer includes at least a graphitic material as a negative active material. The second layer includes at least a non-graphitizable carbonaceous material as a negative active material.
US08329339B2

Disclosed herein is a cathode active material based on lithium nickel oxide represented by Formula 1, wherein the lithium nickel oxide has a nickel content of at least 40% among overall transition metals and is coated with a polymer having a melting point of 80 to 300° C. at a surface thereof. A lithium secondary battery having the disclosed cathode active material has advantages of not deteriorating electrical conductivity while maintaining high temperature stability, so as to efficiently provide high charge capacity.
US08329337B2

An electrode and method for preparing the same in which droplets of a first electrode ink composition and droplets of a second electrode ink composition are ejected from an ink jet device onto a base material and the first electrode ink composition contains at least one electrode active material and the second electrode ink composition contains at least one binder material. The resulting electrode is suitable for use in a battery.
US08329327B2

An electrochemical cell in one embodiment includes a first electrode, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, a separator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode, an active material within the second electrode, and a variable volume reservoir in fluid connection with the active material, such that changes in the volume of the active material cause changes in volume of the variable volume reservoir.
US08329326B2

An electrochemical device 1A has first and second electrode pads 5a and 5b on the upper surfaces 11 of protrusions 3a and 3b, and has first and second electrode pads 7a and 7b on the lower surfaces 13 of the protrusions 3a and 3b. First and second foil electrode terminals 261a and 261b of an electrochemical element 251 are electrically connected to the first and second electrode pads 5a and 5b, respectively. First and second foil electrode terminals 262a and 262b of an electrochemical element 252 are electrically connected to the first and second electrode pads 7a and 7b, respectively.
US08329325B2

A battery pack cooling system may utilize a shroud defining a throat and a body, which may contain a battery pack. An evaporator may be arranged against the battery pack. A liquid coolant delivery pipe may deliver liquid coolant from a reservoir to the throat section with the aid of gravity, a pump, or an ultrasonic misting device. A spray nozzle may also deliver liquid coolant into the throat. When in the throat, liquid coolant mixes with air blown by a fan. Gaps in the battery pack may align with gaps of the evaporator to permit liquid and air to be blown completely through the battery pack and through the evaporator. A refrigeration system including a refrigerant compressor, a condenser and an expansion device work to cool the evaporator to condense, cool and remove liquid coolant from the liquid and air mixture, and deposit it in the reservoir.
US08329324B2

Disclosed herein is a voltage sensing member for sensing voltages of battery cells constituting a battery module, the voltage sensing member including (a) a pair of supporting parts, i.e., a front supporting part and a rear supporting part, mounted to a bottom of the battery module at regions (a front part and a rear part of the battery module) corresponding to electrode terminal connections of the battery cells, (b) a connection part for electrically interconnecting the front supporting part and the rear supporting part, (c) conductive sensing parts having one-side ends coupled to the corresponding supporting parts via wires, each of the conductive sensing parts having a larger contact surface than each of the wires, and (d) a connector mounted on the front supporting part or the rear supporting part for transmitting the sensed voltages of the battery cells to a battery control device, wherein the conductive sensing parts are connected to the electrode terminal connections of the battery cells in a surface contact manner.
US08329319B2

The invention relates to a phase change magnetic composite material for use in an information recording medium, said material comprising a phase change material component, and a ferromagnetic material component, wherein said material exhibits both magnetic effects and phase change effects, and is usable for optical media, phase change random access memory (PCRAM) devices, magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices, solid state memory devices, sensor devices, logical devices, cognitive devices, artificial neuron network, three level device, control device, SOC (system on chip) device, and semiconductors.
US08329312B2

A superplastically formed structural assembly is provided, as is an associated preform and method for forming such an assembly. The assembly includes a skin member and a support member that are joined to define a space between the members and between the joints. The assembly can be produced by joining the members in a flat configuration, and then forming the resulting preform to a predetermined shape of the structural assembly. The support member defines at least one aperture in communication with the space between the members. Thus, the skin member can be formed by delivering a pressurized fluid through the support member to the skin member, e.g., to superplastically form the skin member against a die that defines a contour surface corresponding in shape to the predetermined configuration of the assembly. The support member can extend in a substantially direct configuration between opposing portions of the skin member.
US08329308B2

A cementitious article and a method of making a cementitious article are disclosed. The cementitious article comprises a cementitious component that comprises a polyvinyl acetate type polymer, a monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid. Cementitious articles, such as board, are prepared such that the polyvinyl acetate type polymer, the monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid can be present in the cementitious core, and/or in dense layers if present. The concentration of the polyvinyl acetate type polymer, monobasic phosphate, and optionally boric acid in the cementitious article can increase from a central region A to peripheral regions B and C, respectively. In some embodiments, the polyvinyl acetate type polymer is a polyvinyl alcohol and the monobasic phosphate is monoammonium phosphate.
US08329296B2

The invention relates to primary particles of oxide-ceramic material, wherein the primary particles have an average particle size in the range from 10 to 1000 nm and are coated with a chromophoric component, a process for their preparation and their use in particular in the preparation of ceramic moldings and dental restorations. The invention further relates to a suspension based on oxide-ceramic material which contains the primary particles, and a process for the preparation of a ceramic moldings.
US08329290B2

A silicone resin composition containing (i) a silicone resin and (ii) fine metal oxide particles without having a reactive functional group or with a protected reactive functional group on the surface thereof (fine metal oxide particles B), wherein the silicone resin is obtained by carrying out a polymerization reaction between a silicone derivative having an alkoxysilyl group at an end of a molecule and a molecular weight of from 200 to 3000, and fine metal oxide particles having a reactive functional group on the surface thereof (fine metal oxide particles A), and wherein the fine metal oxide particles B are dispersed in the silicone resin (Embodiment 1); a silicone resin.
US08329280B2

A chopped fiber bundle includes a large number of unidirectionally arranged reinforced fibers. The length of each of the reinforced fibers is in the range of 5 to 100 mm. The chopped fiber bundle has a transition segment in which the number of the reinforced fibers increases toward the central part of the chopped fiber bundle in the aligned direction of the reinforced fibers with both ends in the aligned of the reinforced fibers in the chopped fiber bundle being a starting point. The level of a change in total sectional area of the large number of reinforced fibers is not more than 0.05 mm2 per mm in the aligned direction of the reinforced fibers over the whole area in the longitudinal direction of the chopped fiber bundle.
US08329269B2

A tubular film for foodstuff casings, which film is produced from a polymer composition containing a thermoplastic polyester that has a complex shear viscosity η* of at least 3000 Pa·s measured ISO 6721-10:1999 at 240° C. and 0.1 rad/s. Also claimed is a foodstuff casing produced from the tubular film.
US08329260B2

A substrate is implanted with a species to form a layer of microbubbles in the substrate. The species may be hydrogen or helium in some embodiments. The size at which the microbubbles are stable within the substrate is controlled. In one example, this is by cooling the substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is cooled to approximately between −150° C. and 30° C. This cooling also may reduce diffusion of the species in the substrate and will reduce surface roughness when the substrate is cleaved along the layer of microbubbles.
US08329259B2

An electrostatic painting apparatus for electrostatically painting a door on a vehicle body. The painting apparatus uses a robot arm that opens/closes the door. A high voltage is applied to the robot arm and the amount of any current between an electrode pin on the robot arm and the door is measured to determine the positional relationship between the door and the robot arm.
US08329254B2

Disclosed is a method for producing an ink-jet head which enables the formation of an ink-repellent layer having excellent ink ejection stability, excellent adhesion to a head base material and excellent pressure resistance in a simple manner. The method for producing an ink-jet head is characterized by applying a coating solution comprising a compound represented by Formula (1) and an aqueous dispersion of a fluororesin to an ink-ejecting surface of an ink-jet head to form an ink-repellent layer on the ink-ejecting surface.
US08329252B2

A method is described for the growth of high-quality epitaxial silicon carbide (SiC) films and boules, using the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique, which comprises the steps of supplying original species SiH4 and CCl4 into a growth chamber, decomposing at elevated temperatures, producing decomposition product SiH2, SiH, Si, CCl3, or CCl2, producing interaction product HCl, CH3Cl, CH4, or SiH2Cl2, etching by one of the byproducts HCl to suppress Si nucleation, providing main species SiCl2 and CH4 at a cooled insert located on sides of a substrate holder and at a shower-head located on top of the substrate holder, in the growth chamber, with proper Si to C atom ratio and Si to Cl atom ratio, to suppress parasitic deposits, and depositing SiC on a substrate at a proper growth substrate temperature (1500 to 1800 centigrade range).
US08329247B2

A method for producing a multi-layer photonic structure having at least one group of alternating layers of high index material and low index material may include, determining a characteristic property function for the multi-layer photonic structure, determining a thickness multiplier for the at least one group of alternating layers based on a comparison of the characteristic property function to a target profile, adjusting the characteristic property function with the determined thickness multiplier, and comparing an adjusted characteristic property function to the target profile, wherein, when the adjusted characteristic property function does not approximate the target profile, at least one additional group of layers is added to the multi-layer photonic structure.
US08329240B2

A method of improving the flow properties or cold solubility of a milk powder and use of the modified powder in beverage distribution machine for delivering, in particular, cold beverages. The method includes controlling glycation of proteins in the range of 10 to 35% blocked lysine and lactose crystallization between 5 and 50%. The resulting powder also represents an embodiment of the invention.
US08329238B2

Novel cooling compositions having a natural status are object of the present invention. These compositions comprise a combination of menthol, together with a nature identical ingredient and at least one natural extract. They can be added to flavoring compositions to impart cooling sensations devoid of mentholic flavoring notes.
US08329236B2

The present invention relates to a low sodium salt composition and the methods used to make it. The low sodium salt composition includes sodium chloride and a modified chloride salt composition. The modified chloride salt composition includes a homogenous amalgamation of chloride salt, food grade acidulant, and carrier, which does not contain sodium chloride. The low sodium salt composition is made using a two step. The first step includes making a modified chloride salt composition and the second step includes combining the modified chloride salt composition with sodium chloride to form a low sodium salt composition.
US08329227B2

The present invention provides formulas for producing compositions for the structural/functional nutritional support for those who struggle with poor focus, concentration and/or memory. In addition, the present invention provides compositions comprising nutritional/botanical factors helpful to those who subjectively experience transient mental fatigue or poor cognitive function. The compositions of this invention consist primarily of the following ingredients B-complex vitamins, antioxidants, minerals, phosphatidyl serine (PS), choline, dimenthyl-aminoethanol (DMAE), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), L-pyroglutamic acid, as well as herbal extracts from Bacopa monniera, Vinca minor, and Huperzia serrata. The present invention also relates to the administration of these compounds to alleviate mental fatigue or poor cognitive function.
US08329220B2

The present invention provides stable, self-assembling, biocompatible and biodegradable hydrogel formulations, into which one or more compounds may be incorporated allowing for delayed release or controlled release of the incorporated compounds as the hydrogel is degraded in the body.
US08329217B2

A dosage form that provides a controlled release of at least two different active agents is provided. Particular embodiments include a dosage form that provides therapeutically effective levels of a first active agent and a second active agent in a mammal for an extended period of time following oral administration. An osmotic device containing a bi-layered core is provided. The osmotic device provides a dual controlled release of both drugs from the core. The layers of the core are in stacked, substantially concentric or substantially eccentric arrangement.
US08329197B2

The present invention provides immunostimulatory combinations. Generally, the immunostimulatory combinations include a TLR agonist and a TNF/R agonist. Certain immunostimulatory combinations also may include an antigen.
US08329195B2

Provided herein are compositions designed to reduce or prevent pneuomococcal infections, nasal carriage, nasal colonization, and central nervous system invasion. Provided herein is a composition comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19 or a variant thereof that can elicit an anti-neuraminidase immune response. Further provided are methods of making and using the compositions disclosed herein. Specifically provided are methods of generating antibodies in a subject comprising administering to the subject an agent or composition taught herein. Also provided are methods of reducing or preventing nasal carriage or pneumococcal infection in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition taught herein.
US08329192B2

The present invention provides isolated metal regulated polypeptides obtainable from a Campylobacter spp., and compositions including the polypeptides. The present invention also includes methods for using the compositions disclosed herein, including methods for treating in infection in a subject, for treating a condition caused by a Campylobacter spp., and for decreasing colonization of an animal.
US08329177B2

We found that FIZZ1/RELMα is inducible by hypoxia in lung. The hypoxia-upregulated expression of FIZZ1/RELMα was located in the pulmonary vasculature, bronchial epithelial cells, and type II pneumocytes. Recombinant FIZZ1/RELMα protein stimulates rat pulmonary microvascular smooth muscle cell (RPSM) proliferation dose-dependently. Therefore, we renamed this gene as hypoxia-induced mitogenic factor (HIMF). HIMF strongly activated Akt phosphorylation. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 inhibits HIMF-activated Akt phosphorylation. It also inhibits HIMF-stimulated RPSM proliferation. Thus, the PI3K/Akt pathway, at least in part, mediates the proliferative effect of HIMF. HIMF also has angiogenic and vasoconstrictive activity. Notably, HIMF increases pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance more potently than either endothelin-1 or angiotensin II.
US08329175B2

The invention features methods and compositions for treating and preventing angiogenic disorders and endothelial cells disorders using HspA12B antagonist and HspA12B agonist compounds, respectively.
US08329174B2

Monoclonal antibodies are provided that selectively bind human hepcidin-25 and are characterized as having high affinity for human hepcidin-25 and strong human mature hepcidin neutralizing properties. The antibodies of the invention are useful therapeutically for increasing serum iron levels, reticulocyte count, red blood cell count, hemoglobin, and/or hematocrit in a human and for the treatment and diagnosis of mature hepcidin-promoted disorders such as anemia, in a human subject.
US08329168B2

Novel thrombin/prothrombin protease/zymogen variants which have anticoagulation activity and methods of use thereof are disclosed.
US08329166B2

Disclosed is a cultured pluripotent animal cell that is prepared from nasal polyps. Also disclosed are methods for making the cell and methods of treating a brain tissue damage or of promoting cerebral angiogenesis, cerebral neurogenesis, stem cell homing to the brain, neurotrophic factor expression in the brain.
US08329159B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US08329156B2

This invention relates to thermoplastic elastomers comprising at least one silicone ionomer. These thermoplastic elastomers may be reprocessed and/or recycled.
US08329152B2

Agents for temporarily shaping keratin fibers having a very high degree of hold. These agents impart a feeling of providing flexible and conditioned hair while also being pleasant to the touch. Agents according to the invention contain, in a cosmetically acceptable carrier, at least one copolymer A having at least one structural unit according to formula (I), and at least one further structural unit according to formula (II), wherein X+ is a physiologically acceptable cation, and further contains at least one further structural unit according to formula (III) and at least one silicone oil and/or silicone rubber.
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