US08363333B2
A macro lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, and a negative fourth lens group, in that order from the object. Upon focusing from an infinite photographic distance to a life-sized photographic distance, the first lens group remains stationary with respect to the imaging plane, and the second and third lens groups move along the optical axis direction. The macro lens system satisfies the following condition: −4.6
US08363328B2
A liquid lens including at least two phase liquids covered with a protection member having transparent portions allowing transmission of light includes an elastic film configured to separate the at least two phase liquids within the protection member, a connection portion configured to connect the protection member to the elastic film, and a movement unit configured to move the connection portion within the protection member.
US08363327B2
A projection lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, and a third lens group. The first lens group is composed of a first lens. The first lens has a concave surface and a convex surface, and the concave surface of the first lens faces a reducing side of the projection lens. The second lens group has positive refractive power, and includes a second lens having positive refractive power and a third lens having negative refractive power. The second lens is a biconvex lens, and the third lens has a concave lens facing the reducing side. The third lens group is composed of a fourth lens, and the fourth lens has a convex surface facing a magnifying side of the projection lens. The first lens group, the second lens group, and the third lens group include at least two aspheric lenses.
US08363320B2
A method and apparatus for decorrelating coherent light from a light source, such as a pulsed laser, in both time and space in an effort to provide intense and uniform illumination are provided. The techniques and apparatus described herein may be incorporated into any application where intense, uniform illumination is desired, such as pulsed laser annealing, welding, ablating, and wafer stepper illuminating.
US08363302B2
Disclosed is an electrochromic device that includes a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other, an electrochromic layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, and an electrolyte between the first electrode and the second electrode and being in contact with the electrochromic layer. The electrochromic layer may include a plurality of oxide semiconductor particles, a metal oxide on the surface of the oxide semiconductor particles, and an electrochromic material. An energy bandgap of the oxide semiconductor particles is in a range of about 3 eV to about 5 eV and an energy bandgap of the metal oxide is in a range of about 3 eV to about 5 eV, and a difference of conduction band energy levels of the oxide semiconductor particles and the metal oxide is about 0.5 eV or less. A method of manufacturing the electrochromic device may also be provided.
US08363294B2
Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved.
US08363291B2
In a method of scanning an image on an original, an optical sensor including sensor elements for each of a number of basic colors is used to generate pixel values of rows of pixels of the scanned image. The sensor elements are used to generate grey scale pixel values representing different parts of the image. A first sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of odd pixels of rows on the original, and a second sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of even pixels of rows of the original. Each grey scale pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and a pixel value of at least one of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.
US08363289B2
An image reading apparatus for use in an office machine includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The first image sensor is disposed in an automatic document feeder of the office machine for sensing and reading a first side of a document. The first image sensor includes a first optical module, a first correction element and an elastic sustaining element. The first optical module includes a first light source, a first light-sensing element and a glass surface. The first correction element is arranged at an opposite side of the first optical module. The elastic sustaining element has a free end sustained against the glass surface of the first optical module, thereby facilitating a close contact between the document and the glass surface. The second image sensor is disposed in an office machine main body for sensing and reading a second side of the document.
US08363270B2
An image processing method displays a simulation image of an image formed on a print medium under a first light-source color on a display under a second light-source color. The method includes an acquisition step of acquiring image data to be simulated in a format according to the second light-source color, a step of calculating a reflective color obtained when the acquired image data is processed to represent an image corresponding to the image data illuminated by an achromatic light-source color, a step of converting the first light-source color into the format according to the second light-source color, and calculating a glossy color of the image data based on the converted first light-source color, and a generation step of generating an image to be displayed by adding the reflective color calculated in the reflective color calculation step and the glossy color calculated in the glossy color calculation step.
US08363261B1
Methods, software, circuits and apparatuses for detecting a malfunction in an imaging device. The methods generally comprise orienting an image at an angle on an image detecting device; detecting the image; determining an error in the image; and correlating the error to a malfunction in the imaging device. Software instructions can be adapted to determine an orientation angle of an image; analyze the image to detect an error; and calculate a location of a malfunction in the imaging device. The circuits generally include a memory element; logic configured to calculate the orientation of an image; a processor configured to analyze the image and locate a fault; and logic configured to determine a location of the fault in the image and correlate the fault to a malfunction in an imaging device. The present invention advantageously provides a lower cost technique for detecting a malfunction in a high resolution imaging device.
US08363256B2
An image processing apparatus includes an input unit inputting image data, a memory having a storage region for storing the image data inputted by the input unit, a printer printing the image data in response to an user's instruction of printing the image data stored in the storage region, a transmitting unit transmitting set information indicating setting of the storage region to an other image processing apparatus, and a control unit controlling the transmitting unit not to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when a pass word for accessing the storage region is included in the set information, and to transmit the set information to the other image processing apparatus when the pass word for accessing the storage region is not included in the set information.
US08363242B2
An image processing apparatus which has a reading unit configured to read an image of a document and generate image data acquires a process definition file which defines a content of reading processing to be executed and a content of transmission processing for transmitting the generated image data, causes the reading unit to execute the reading processing to generate image data according to a definition described in the acquired process definition file, requests an external apparatus to transmit the generated image data according to the definition described in the acquired process definition file, adds, to the acquired process definition file, a description for causing the external apparatus to execute processing for notifying a result of the transmission by the external apparatus, and makes the request by transmitting, to the external apparatus, the generated image data and the process definition file to which the description is added.
US08363241B2
An image acquiring unit acquires an image. A storage unit stores therein the image acquired by the image acquiring unit. An information embedding unit embeds first information in the image acquired by the image acquiring unit. An information extracting unit extracts second information from the image stored in the storage unit. An information registering unit registers the first information in association with second information extracted from an image in which the first information is embedded.
US08363240B2
A method an apparatus for responding to an access request, the method and apparatus including storing ordinary display data and simplified display data used to respond to an access request, storing the simplified display data, accepting an access request, determining whether a power consumption state is in a power saving or ordinary power consumption state when receiving the access request, and responding to the access request using either the ordinary display data or the simplified display data depending on the power consumptions state.
US08363236B2
An information processing apparatus is provided in which a device driver configured to control a plurality of devices is installed. The information processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire function information relating to a function of the device, a storage unit configured to store the acquired function information in a storage medium, a determining unit configured to determine whether the device driver controls the devices, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the device through the device driver based on the stored function information. When the determining unit determines that the device driver controls the plurality of devices, function information acquired by the acquisition unit after the determination is made is abandoned without being stored in the storage medium and/or the acquisition unit is prohibited from acquiring function information.
US08363229B2
A method for height triangulation measurement particularly for measuring the height of an object on a surface, the method includes: a) illuminating said object from a known angle with a narrow strip of light, having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip; b) imaging said object from a known angle having a large numerical aperture along said light strip and a small numerical aperture perpendicular to said light strip, having an image of said object illuminated by said light strip; and c) calculating the height of said object from the location of said light strip on said image.
US08363228B2
Provided is a device for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure, such as a teeth segment, including a scanner for providing depth data for points along a two-dimensional array substantially orthogonal to the depth direction, and an image acquisition means for providing color data for each of the points of the array, while the spatial disposition of the device with respect to the structure is maintained substantially unchanged. A processor combines the color data and depth data for each point in the array, thereby providing a three-dimensional color virtual model of the surface of the structure. A corresponding method for determining the surface topology and associated color of a structure is also provided.
US08363221B2
The present invention relates to a method for the assessment of quantity and quality parameters of biological particles in a liquid analyte material. The method comprises applying a volume of a liquid sample to an exposing domain from which exposing domain electromagnetic signals from the sample in the domain can pass to the exterior, and exposing, onto an array of active detection elements such as CCD-elements, a spatial representation of electromagnetic signals having passed from the domain, the representation being detectable as an intensity by individual active detection elements, under conditions permitting processing of the intensities detected by the array of detection elements during the exposure in such a manner that representations of electromagnetic signals from the biological particles are identified as distinct from representations of electromagnetic signals from background signals. The size of the volume of the liquid sample is sufficiently large to permit the assessment of the quantity and quality parameters to fulfill a predetermined requirement to the statistical quality of the assessment based on substantially one exposure.
US08363216B2
The present invention provides a system and method for continuous measurement of acid gas concentration or amine loading in a basic solution using Raman spectroscopy.
US08363213B2
A method is provided for detecting not fully set coatings and liquid or smearing impurities on a surface, in which in a first step a film is pressed onto a surface of a coating using a predefined press-on pressure, the film having a relative motion with respect to the surface of the coating, thereafter the film is pulled off the surface of the coating and finally it is determined whether impurities are adhering to the film. A device is also provided for performing the method, including at least one film, which may be pressed against a surface to be tested, at least one press-on roller having a surface by which the film is pressed against the coating, and at least one device for determining whether there are impurities adhering to the film.
US08363212B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods to produce a high performance, feature rich TOF system, phase-based or otherwise using small TOF pixels, single-ended or preferably differential, as well as TOF systems so designed. IC chip area required for pixels is reduced by intelligently off-loading or removing from within the pixel certain components and/or functionality. In some embodiments during a single TOF system capture period, analog values from each pixel are repeatedly sampled and converted to digital values, which are combined and manipulated on the sensor chip. Combining this plurality of values enables appropriately compact data from the sensor chip. Embodiments of the present invention implement a TOF system with high ambient light resilience, high dynamic range, low motion blur and dealiasing support, while advantageously reducing pixel area size relative to prior art TOF pixels.
US08363197B2
The occurrence of the poor electric connection between the outer circuit and the liquid crystal display device can be reduced in the manufacturing method of the outer circuit and liquid display device of this invention. The liquid crystal display device has the pixel region 100P and the outer connection region 107. There are the gate metal layer 15 disposed on the gate insulating film 12, the interlayer insulating film 16 covering the gate metal layer 15, the first conductive layer 19 covering the gate metal layer 15 located on the interlayer insulating film 16, the passivation film 20 with the second opening 22 exposing the part of the first conductive layer 19 that covers the gate metal layer 15, and the second conductive layer 26 covering the first conductive layer 19 exposed from the second opening 22 in the outer connection region. The metal bump 50 of the outer circuit is connected on the second conductive layer 26 through thermal pressure treatment.
US08363194B2
In a liquid crystal display panel, a pixel electrode includes at least a main electrode strip and a plurality of sub electrode branches. The sub electrode branches extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip. The main electrode strip includes at least a node-controlling portion, the controlling width of the node-controlling portion are different from a trunk width of the main electrode strip. Otherwise, a plurality of first sub electrode branches and a plurality of second sub electrode branches are extend outwardly from two opposite edges of the main electrode strip respectively. Relating to the position of the first sub electrode branches, the second sub electrode branches has a position-shift amount along the extending direction of the main electrode strip. The position-shift amount is smaller than the branch width of the first or second sub electrode branch.
US08363190B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a method of fabricating the same includes a gate line arranged in one direction, a data line arranged in a perpendicular direction to the gate line, a pixel electrode arranged in a pixel region defined by the gate and data lines and having a diagonal side adjacent to a crossing portion of the gate and data lines, and a light blocking pattern arranged in a parallel direction with respect to the diagonal side of the pixel electrode and preventing light leakage.
US08363187B2
The present invention provides a color liquid crystal panel in an o-mode of an IPS mode, which has a multi-gap structure, and in which a contrast in an oblique direction is enhanced.A first polarizer 1 is provided on a color filter 6 side of a liquid crystal cell 10 and a second polarizer 8 is provided on a liquid crystal layer 5 side of the liquid crystal cell 10. Further, a retardation film 2 is provided between the second polarizer 8 and the liquid crystal cell 10. The liquid crystal cell 10 has a configuration in which the color filter 6 is laminated on a glass substrate 3, and a liquid crystal layer 5 is interposed between the color filter 6 and a glass substrate 7. Regarding the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 5, a thickness dB of a region in contact with the blue color filter 6B is smallest, and a thickness dG of a region in contact with the green color filter 6G and a thickness dR of a region in contact with the red color filter 6R increase in this order. That is, the liquid crystal cell 10 has a multi-gap structure in which the thickness of the liquid crystal layer 5 varies depending upon the colors of the color filter 6.
US08363183B2
The present invention is a lengthy-shaped polarizing plate comprising a linearly-polarized light separation element, a linear light polarizing film and a protection film in this order, wherein said linearly-polarized light separation element includes a layer composed of a resin A whose inherent birefringence value is negative and has a linearly-polarized light transmission axis in a crosswise direction.
US08363182B2
The color gamut of a liquid crystal display device of the field sequential system is sufficiently improved.A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal display device of the field sequential system including: an illumination element including a first light source for emitting light of a first color, a second light source for emitting light of a second color which is different from the first color, and a third light source for emitting light of a third color which is different from the first and second colors, the illumination element being capable of emitting light of the first, second, and third colors independently by time division; and a liquid crystal display panel for modulating the light emitted from the illumination element. The liquid crystal display panel of the liquid crystal display device according to the present invention includes a first color filter exhibiting a high transmittance for light of the first color.
US08363180B2
A liquid crystal display device performs suitable overshoot drive, even if a panel temperature is changed due to a change of the backlight emission luminance. The liquid crystal display device includes: a temperature sensor which detects the temperature in the device; an emphasis conversion section, which obtains, after the elapse of one vertical display period, an emphasis conversion parameter for making the transmissivity of the liquid crystal panel reach the transmissivity specified by input image signals, and which outputs applying voltage signals for the liquid crystal panel on the basis of the emphasis conversion parameter; and a main microcomputer which corrects the panel temperature of the liquid crystal panel on the basis of the changed light emission luminance when the light emission luminance of the backlight is changed. The emphasis conversion section variably controls the emphasis conversion parameter on the basis of the panel temperature corrected via the main microcomputer.
US08363176B2
With a display device using a pixel which includes a sub-pixel, the display device with improved viewing angle and quality of moving image display is provided without increase in power consumption by driving of the sub-pixel. A circuit which can change conducting states by a plurality of switches is provided, and charge in a plurality of sub-pixels and a capacitor element is transported mutually, so that desired voltage is applied to the plurality of sub-pixels without applying voltage in plural times from external. Moreover, a period in which each sub-pixel displays black is provided in accordance with transfer of charge.
US08363166B2
A Gaussian filter 2 having a first cutoff frequency extracts a low frequency component signal of a video signal. A subtracter 3 extracts a high frequency component signal by subtracting the low frequency component signal from the video signal. A low pass filter 5 having a second cutoff frequency higher than the first cutoff frequency extracts a lower high frequency component signal, which is a low-frequency-side signal of the high frequency component signal. A multiplier 6 generates a corrected component signal by multiplying the lower high frequency component signal by a predetermined gain G1. An adder 7 adds the corrected component signal to the video signal.
US08363162B2
A video display system for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The video display system includes a display screen configured for single display mode and dual display mode. The display screen further includes a left image portion and a right image portion associated with a left external input port and a right external input port, respectively.
US08363154B2
Provided are a digital image processing device and an operation method therefor, and more particularly, a focus error adjusting apparatus and a method therefor whereby a focus error can be adjusted when a digital image processing device is manufactured or used. The focus error adjusting apparatus includes a photographing unit photographing a first image whose focus is adjusted, and photographing a plurality of images by changing movement values of a focus motor by referring to the first image; and a digital signal processing unit outputting a focus motor control signal to the photographing unit for the photographing, detecting an image having the greatest evaluation value of a high frequency component from among the first image and the plurality of images, and adjusting movement of the focus motor by as little as a variation value of the focus motor with respect to the image having the greatest evaluation value of the high frequency component.
US08363152B2
A method for focusing the shooting lens of a motion picture or video camera onto a moving or stationary object, which is imaged on a monitor of a display instrument is provided.
US08363142B2
An apparatus includes a plurality of pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit and a pixel amplification unit for amplifying a signal transmitted from the photoelectric conversion unit and outputting an amplified signal, a sequential averaging unit configured to sequentially average signals read a plurality of times via the pixel amplification unit, and a memory configured to store a signal obtained by sequential averaging.
US08363137B2
An image sensing apparatus comprising on a single semiconductor substrate: a pixel array; a vertical scanning unit; a horizontal scanning unit; a counter which starts a counting operation to count the number of the clocks before a start of the first period, and stops the counting operation before a start of the second period during the first period; and a generation unit which generates a first control signal for causing the vertical scanning unit to drive a pixel, the generation unit including a signal generation unit which generates a second control signal in accordance with the counted value output from the counter, and a delay unit which delays the second control signal to generate the first control signal and output the first control signal to the vertical scanning unit.
US08363128B2
An image processing apparatus and image processing method generate a motion picture with smooth zooming changes when a user manually operates a zoom lens while the motion picture is being captured. The image capturing apparatus includes a recording unit in which a plurality of images that are captured while a zoom lens, which enlarges or reduces images of an object, is manually operated by a user, and in which focal lengths corresponding to the plurality of images are recorded; a focal length calculating unit that calculates smoothing focal lengths based on the recorded focal lengths for smooth chronological variations of focal lengths; and an image generating unit that generates smoothing images having a viewing angle corresponding to the smoothing focal length based on the smoothing focal length, the recorded focal lengths, and the recorded image data.
US08363127B2
A movement signal generation apparatus is disclosed which can convert an analog position signal of an optical adjustment unit into digital signals representing a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit and output the digital signals. The movement signal generation apparatus includes an analog signal output section which outputs an analog signal in accordance with the position of the optical adjustment unit, and a digital signal generation section which generates two digital signals in accordance with a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit based on the analog signal.
US08363117B2
A digital cinematographic and projection process that automatically adjusts for object motion within motion pictures in order to eliminate blur while increasing perceived impact of fast motion. The process includes, capturing an image having static and moving elements at a first frame rate, analyzing the image for motion/velocity components to detect the fast moving elements, reducing the static elements to a second frame rate, the second frame rate being slower than the first frame rate and retaining the fast moving element at the first frame rate.
US08363115B2
The invention concerns a method for digital image stabilization for removing jitter from an original sequence of images (10) generated by a camera. The original sequence (10) is applied to a stabilization algorithm (11). The global motion of a camera is estimated and filtered (110) using a default motion filter. Predetermined parameters (13, 140, 141) are extracted from both the original (10) and stabilized (12) sequences of images. A measure value is computed in order to evaluate (15) the stabilization quality and compared to a threshold. Depending on the results of the evaluation (O15, O′15) the stabilization algorithm (11) uses an alternative filter, in order to improve stabilization quality, or continues to use the default filter.
US08363103B2
A drive assist display apparatus displays the backward or frontward of a vehicle. It is assumed that planes are perpendicular with the front-back direction, the downward, leftward and rightward directions being perpendicular with the front-back direction. Square subjects assumed to be on the planes are displayed as squares or rectangles having equal to one another on respective regions in accordance with the direction. The regions include a forward correction image display region in the vicinity of other display regions. The vicinity area has the same display image corresponding to a straight line coincident with a vertical straight line with respect to the ground surface or being in the vehicle front-back direction. The bottom side of a leftward or rightward correction image display region and the left or right side of a downward correction image display region are straight lines coincident with respective vehicle front-back direction straight lines.
US08363096B1
A sample and hold display such as a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) monitor that is capable of displaying video signals at a high frame rate, usually at over 120 frames per second, is described. The goal of the monitor is to enable the end user to view stereoscopic 3D images with the use of circular polarized glasses. The display switches between a left perspective view displayed with left handed circular polarization and a right perspective view displayed with right handed circular polarization as stereoscopic 3D images that are viewed with passive analyzing glasses. A horizontally segmented impulse backlight is used to control the timing of the images displayed in synchrony with a horizontally segmented liquid crystal modulator that performs the circular polarization. The impulse backlight and LC modulator eliminate crosstalk while maintaining brightness and high image contrast. Additionally, a unique driving scheme eliminates the appearance of individual segments.
US08363090B1
A system and method for stereoscopic pair layers includes aligning a left eye image and a right eye image of a first stereo image pair layer according to a first calibrated offset to produce an aligned first stereo image pair layer that appears at a first depth in a display environment. A left eye image and a right eye image of a second stereo image pair layer are aligned according to a second calibrated offset to produce an aligned second stereo image pair layer that appears at a second depth in the display environment that is different than the first depth. The aligned first stereo image pair layer and the aligned second stereo image pair layer combined to produce a calibrated stereoscopic image that is suitable for display.
US08363089B2
Any given part is cut out from a distorted circular image photographed by use of a fisheye lens and converted into a planar regular image with less distortion. A virtual sphere H having a radius R on a distorted circular image S on an XY plane is defined, thereby allowing a user to designate a cut-out center point P, a magnification m, and a planar inclination angle φ. A visual line vector n passing through an intersecting point Q immediately above the point P is determined to define an UV orthogonal coordinate system having an orientation depending on the angle φ on a plane orthogonal to a visual line vector n at a point G in which a distance between two points OG is given as m·R. The UV orthogonal coordinate system is curved along the side face C of a “virtual cylindrical column in which the point G forms one point on the side face to have a straight line V′ parallel to the V axis and also passing through the point O as a central axis,” thereby defining the UV curved coordinate system. Correspondence relationship equations between a point Ci (ui, vi) on the UV curved coordinate system and a point Si (xi, yi) on the XY coordinate system are used to obtain an image in the vicinity of a point P on the UV curved coordinate system, and the image is expanded on a plane T to obtain a planar regular image.
US08363082B2
Laser printers are plagued with an assortment of alignment issues. In color laser printers the issues are exacerbated. Variations in distance from the mirror to the drum can lines in different color planes to vary in size. Variations in angles in the facets of the mirror can cause alignment issues between lines. Even lack of synchronization between the dot clock and start of line indication can cause misalignment between rows. In addition, a cosine distortion occurs due to the non-constant linear velocity of the laser scan of a single line. A very high speed master clock can drive the laser scanning unit. By using a very high speed clock, the control circuitry has the resolution to compensate for many of these distortion types, by appropriately counting clock cycles and indicating such to the laser modulator.
US08363080B2
A multi-beam image forming apparatus and a method using the same. The image forming apparatus includes: an image process module to divide first image data into a plurality of second image data; a light scanning unit to scan the plurality of second image data using a plurality of laser beams; and a controller to control the formation of an electrostatic latent image of the first image data on a photosensitive body in an overlapping manner, using at least two of the plurality of laser beams.
US08363072B2
An organic electroluminescent display device includes: first and second substrates facing and spaced apart from each other, the first and second substrates including at least one pixel region having first, second and third sub-pixel region; a gate line and a data line on the first substrate, the gate line and the data line crossing each other to define the at least one pixel region; a first electrode on the first substrate in each of the first, second and third sub-pixel regions; first, second and third organic patterns on the first electrode in the first, second and third sub-pixel regions, respectively, the first, second and third organic patterns having a zigzag shape along a first direction parallel to the gate line with respect to a virtual line passing through a central portion of each of the first, second and third sub-pixel regions; and a second electrode on the first, second and third organic patterns.
US08363066B2
A method allowing display of time-varying merged high resolution and low resolution image data with a smooth frame rate. In one embodiment the high resolution data is structural image data and the low resolution image data is functional image data. The functional image data is gathered (20) into groups and each group is rendered and merged (24) together. The merged images produced are then stored (28) in a First In First Out (FIFO) buffer for display. While the merged images are displayed the next set of functional image data is merged and rendered and supplied to the FIFO buffer, allowing a smooth frame rate to be achieved. A computer program and a medical imaging apparatus using the method are also disclosed.
US08363057B2
A method for real-time, goal-directed performed motion alignment for computer animated characters. A sequence of periodic locomotion may be seamlessly aligned with an arbitrarily placed and rotated non-periodic performed motion. A rendering application generates a sampling of transition locations for transition from a locomotion motion space to a performed motion space. The sampling is parameterized by control parameters of the locomotion motion space. Based on the location and rotation of a goal location at which the performed motion is executed, a particular transition location may be selected to define a motion plan to which a performed motion sequence may then appended. Advantageously, by utilizing a look-up of pre-computed values for the control parameters of the motion plan, the rendering application may minimize the computational cost of finding the motion plan to move the character to a location to transition to a performed motion.
US08363053B2
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for rendering outlines of multimedia character images for rendering the outlines. The method consists of: (a) detecting parameter values that include a screen width, a two-dimensional screen point, a three-dimensional view point, and a field of view on both ends of the screen width from a position of a user, which are associated with the character to be displayed on the screen from the driven multimedia contents; (b) calculating positional information on an x-axis direction of the character for a two-dimensional screen, on which the character is displayed, based on the parameter values; (c) calculating outline thickness factor of the character in three dimensions, based on the positional information of the x-axis direction of the character on the two-dimensional screen; and (d) performing and processing an outline rendering on the character based on the calculated outline thickness.
US08363052B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products feature providing a rendering of a three-dimensional assembly of components. An explosion sequence for separating first components of the assembly is determined. The explosion sequence comprises stages in which each stage represents a different spatial relationship between two or more of the first components. A first input is received from an interactive control. A first stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the first input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the first input, to show the first stage of the explosion sequence. A second input is received from the interactive control. A different second stage in the explosion sequence is selected based on the second input. The rendering of the assembly is updated, responsive to the second input, to show the second stage of the explosion sequence.
US08363051B2
A computer implemented method, a tangible computer storage medium, and a data processing system generate a non-real-time image snapshot in a virtual world. A backend rendering system receives a scene description from a virtual world server. The backend rendering system then retrieves a high fidelity graphics from a visual database. The visual database contains both the high fidelity graphics and a lightweight graphics. The lightweight graphics are utilized to render the virtual world at a virtual world client application. The backend rendering system then renders the non-real-time image snapshot, and processes the non-real-time image snapshot into the desired format. The non-real-time image snapshot can then be delivered to a client.
US08363045B2
In a class AB amplifier circuit, an input stage circuit includes a first differential pair configured to receive a differential signal and a first current mirror circuit connected with the first differential pair through a first node. A middle stage circuit includes a floating constant current source connected with the first node, a first transistor whose gate is applied with a bias voltage, and a first constant current source connected with the first node through the first transistor. A last stage circuit includes a first output stage transistor whose gate is connected with the first node and which controls a voltage of an output terminal. A first phase compensation capacitance has one end connected with a first connection node between the first constant current source and the first transistor and the other end connected with the output terminal.
US08363036B2
A stylus retaining mechanism for portable electronic device includes a housing and a locking assembly. The housing includes a fixing portion, an opening and a receiving chamber communicating with the opening. The receiving chamber is configured to receive a stylus, the housing included. The locking assembly is attached to the fixing portion, and includes a button and an elastic member. The button defines a passage to allow the stylus to extend through and slide along a landscape orientation of the stylus. A protrusion is formed in the passage. The stylus is locked in the stylus retaining mechanism by engagement between the latching portion and the protrusion. The latching portion is disengaged from the protrusion when the button is depressed.
US08363028B2
A flexible pressure sensor has a first set of substantially parallel conductors in the x direction, a second set of substantially parallel conductors in the y direction, and a composite material disposed between the first set and second set of conductors. The composite material is capable of returning to substantially its original dimensions on release of pressure. The composite material includes conductive particles at least partially embedded in an elastomeric layer that have no relative orientation and are disposed within the elastomeric layer for electrically connecting the first set and second set of conductors in the z direction under application of sufficient pressure there between.
US08363027B2
Displays with touch sensing circuitry integrated into the display pixel stackup are provided. An integrated touch screen can include multi-function circuit elements that can operate as circuitry of the display system to generate an image on the display, and can also form part of a touch sensing system that senses one or more touches on or near the display. The multi-function circuit elements can be, for example, capacitors in display pixels that can be configured to operate as storage capacitors/electrodes, common electrodes, conductive wires/pathways, etc., of the display circuitry in the display system, and that may also be configured to operate as circuit elements of the touch sensing circuitry.
US08363023B2
An electronic analysis circuit of a multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor including an electrical supply mechanism powering one of two axes of the matrix, and a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at intersections between the two axes. The supply axis and the detection axis are alternated. A multicontact passive-matrix tactile sensor includes an electrical supply mechanism powering one of the two axes of the matrix, a mechanism detecting electrical characteristics along the other axis of the matrix, at the intersections between the two axes, and such an electronic circuit.
US08363016B2
A transparent touch panel comprises a transparent first substrate (110) and a second substrate (130) that each has a transparent electro-conductive layer (111, 131) on one surface and that are arranged with a predetermined interval between each other such that the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) are facing each other. Each of the transparent electro-conductive layers (111, 131) has a pair of electrodes (112, 112) and (132, 132) disposed on each end. Lead-out terminals (114, 114) and (134, 134) are connected to each electrode (112, 132) through surrounding circuits (113, 133) formed on the peripheral edges of the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130). Lead-out terminals (114, 134) are arranged on each of the opposing surfaces of the transparent first substrate (110) and of the transparent second substrate (130), and a plurality of holding members (80, 80), (81, 81) for holding the edges of the transparent first substrate (110) is provided. Each holding member (80, 81) is formed of an electro-conductive material. That portion of the holding member that is inserted between the transparent first substrate (110) and the second substrate (130) is disposed so as to be in contact with each lead-out terminal (114, 134). The transparent touch panel can be reduced in size and cost.
US08362995B2
A multi-domain LCD panel includes data lines, scan lines and pixels. Each pixel includes first and second sub-pixels respectively having first and second storage capacitors. A first data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the first capacitor and one of the data lines. A second data switch is selectively coupled to a first terminal of the second capacitor and one of the data lines. First and second bias lines are respectively coupled to second terminals of the first and second capacitors. When a corresponding scan line is enabled, the first and second data switches turn on such that a signal on the data line is transmitted to the first and second sub-pixels. After the scan line is disabled, levels of the first and second bias lines are changed such that pixel voltages of the first and second sub-pixels differ from each other.
US08362993B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display panel having a narrower frame region than in the conventional art. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal layer 42 interposed between a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 20, and a sealant portion 32 that surrounds the liquid crystal layer, the sealant portion 32 being made of a sealant containing a photocurable resin and conductive beads. The first substrate 10 includes a recess 14a in which an organic insulating film 14 is not present in a non-display region. At least a portion of a black matrix 22a overlaps the recess 14a. A portion of the sealant portion 32 is disposed in the recess 14a. An opposite electrode 24 is not formed in a region of the second substrate 20 that faces the recess 14a.
US08362992B2
A dual view display system to display two different images in substantially opposite direction using a single transparent display to time-multiplex the images and shutter devices to alternately block each side from being viewed according to the image being displayed.
US08362979B2
In a plasma display panel, a protective layer of a front plate includes a base protective layer and a particle layer. The base protective layer is formed of a thin film containing magnesium oxide. The particle layer is formed by sticking, to base protective layer, agglomerated particles in which a plurality of single-crystal particles of magnesium oxide are agglomerated. A panel driving circuit drives the panel in a manner that subfields are temporally disposed so that a luminance weight is monotonically decreased from a subfield in which an all-cell initializing operation is performed to a subfield immediately preceding a subfield in which a next all-cell initializing operation is performed.
US08362978B2
A plasma display is disclosed. The display includes driver circuitry which drives the display so that a low level luminance can be generated in a subfield despite high luminance efficient pixels.
US08362969B2
An adjustable antenna baffling system includes a mounting plate for antenna radiating elements, baffles, connecting links that connect the baffles to the mounting plate, limit brackets that limit movement of the connecting links, an actuator and a housing. Pushing or pulling a handle on the actuator rotates the connecting links and extends or retracts the baffles to adjust the beamwidth. The housing encloses the components of the system except the handle and a lock tab on the mounting plate. The handle is secured to the lock tab to lock the baffles in the selected position.
US08362967B2
An antenna architecture with enhanced emission directivity is disclosed. The antenna comprises a dielectric structure positioned over a plurality of radiator elements. The dielectric structure comprises columns of dielectric disks positioned above each radiator element. The antenna is driven by beam forming networks to form multiple, simultaneously steerable beams or a single main beam that can be dynamically steered.
US08362963B2
A satellite antenna for transmitting and receiving an electromagnetic signal has at least one parabolic reflector, a source arm, and a high-power amplifier, in which antenna the high-power amplifier includes a traveling wave tube on the source arm and a high-voltage power supply off the source arm and adapted to supply power to the tube. A satellite mobile telecommunications station includes such a satellite antenna and a storage structure into which the antenna is folded and in which the high-voltage power supply sits.
US08362962B2
An antenna comprising an IMD element, and one or more parasitic and active tuning elements is disclosed. The IMD element, when used in combination with the active tuning and parasitic elements, allows antenna operation at multiple resonant frequencies. In addition, the direction of antenna radiation pattern may be arbitrarily rotated in accordance with the parasitic and active tuning elements.
US08362952B2
Radiolocalization receiver with a massively parallel array of correlators, comprising a data compression module (199) to compress the incoherent integration values accumulated into the incoherent integration memories (176). By compressing incoherent integration values, relevant memory saving can be obtained or, in alternative, loss of data by excessive prescaling can be avoided or attenuated. The invention proposes a simple compression scheme based on offset subtraction which allows save memory size.
US08362948B2
A long range millimeter wave imaging radar system. Preferred embodiments are positioned to detect foreign object debris objects on surface of the runway, taxiways and other areas of interest. The system includes electronics adapted to produce millimeter wave radiation scanned over a frequency range of a few gigahertz. The scanned millimeter wave radiation is broadcast through a frequency scanned antenna to produce a narrow scanned transmit beam in a first scanned direction (such as the vertical direction) defining a narrow, approximately one dimensional, electronically scanned field of view corresponding to the scanned millimeter wave frequencies. The antenna is mechanically pivoted or scanned in a second scanned direction perpendicular to the first scanned direction so as to define a two-dimensional field of view.
US08362945B2
Systems and methods for detecting and tracking a gun using millimeter waves are provided. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for detecting and tracking a gun using radio frequency waves at millimeter wavelengths, the method including storing empirical data, for up to N types of guns, including information indicative of a resonant frequency of a barrel of each of the N guns, generating pulse energy including at least one sequence of pulses at millimeter wave frequencies for each of the N guns, transmitting the pulse energy, receiving reflected pulse energy, filtering the reflected pulse energy to a preselected bandwidth for each of the N guns, determining a first maximum value of the filtered reflected pulse energy in each of the preselected bandwidths that exceeds a preselected threshold, determining a second maximum value among the first maximum values, and correlating a frequency of the second maximum value with the stored resonant frequencies of the N guns to identify a gun.
US08362937B2
An integrated circuit that is capable of converting an analog signal to at least one digital signal is provided. The integrated circuit includes a first input end capable of receiving a first analog signal. A first set of 2n-1 inverters are capable of quantizing the first analog signal and outputting a first set of 2n-1 digital values. Each of the first set of 2n-1 digital values is either 0 or 1. A first adder is coupled with the first set of 2n-1 inverters. The first adder is capable of summing the first set of 2n-1 digital values, outputting a first integer value that is capable of corresponding to at least one digital signal.
US08362935B2
The present invention relates to device and method for controlling a reference voltage of a digital-to-analog converter for minimizing variation of output voltages among LED driving chips which drive an LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlight.
US08362931B2
Functionality is described for compressing and decompressing mass spectrometry data, therefore making it easier to store, retrieve, transfer, and process the mass spectrometry data. The functionality operates by mapping data values (e.g., mass-to-charge data values or intensity data values) into index values, and then mapping the index values into delta values. The functionality then uses an encoding algorithm (such as a coding tree) to represent the delta values in compressed form. In a decoding stage, the functionality can interpret each encoded delta value with reference to a chain of preceding delta values, which ultimately link to an initial data value that is expressed in non-relative form. In one implementation, the functionality can define multiple such initial data values which correspond to multiple access points in a stream of compressed mass spectrometry data.
US08362930B2
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device and an external keyboard thereof. The portable electronic device comprises a first port comprising a circular earphone plug and a keyboard plug. The external keyboard comprises a main body, a keyboard array and a second port. The keyboard array is disposed on the main body and comprises a plurality of scan signal lines. The second port is electrically coupled to the scan signal lines of the keyboard array, and is capable of inserting into the first port of the portable electronic device so as to electrically couple to the keyboard plug. Therefore, the external keyboard can be connected to an earphone jack in a plug-and-play fashion without necessarity to add a new port such that the external keyboard is convenient to use and carry and can be freely rotated in any angle.
US08362923B2
A traffic control system and device is provided. The traffic control system of the instant invention permits two-way communication between a plurality of traffic signal devices and/or other devices or locations. Each traffic signal device locally controls the state of the traffic signals, while communication between the traffic signal devices is used to synchronize the internal timers or clocks of the plurality of traffic control devices.
US08362920B2
A method and device for locating each of the wheels of a pair of twinned wheels mounted on a vehicle. Each twinned wheel is equipped with an electromagnetic receiving antenna, and these two twinned wheels are provided with elements of relative blocking rotation-wise designed to make it possible to obtain an offset by a predetermined angle (α), such that (α) is different from 0° and 180°, between the receiving antennas with which the two twinned wheels are equipped. The vehicle is equipped with a fixed source of emission of an electromagnetic signal suitable for covering an area passed through by the receiving antennas, and the electromagnetic field received by each of the receiving antennas is measured, so as to deduce, from the analysis of the time offset between the variations of the two measured electromagnetic fields, the location of each of the twinned wheels.
US08362911B2
Device for vehicle seat occupancy detection, wherein a base frame which can be adjusted in the height direction of a vehicle seat and which is composed of at least two scissors arms which are connected to one another is arranged between a seat part of the vehicle seat and a vehicle body part, the device comprising a first detector which is attached to at least one of the scissors arms and which, when the vehicle seat is occupied by a minimum weight, detects a predefinable height setting of the scissors arm which is lower than a maximum possible height setting, and at least one spring which is fixed to at least one of the scissors arms and the predefinable pretensioned spring force of which corresponds at most to the downward-acting weight force due to the minimum weight and counteracts the latter.
US08362903B2
A system and method for providing enhanced weight alert notification during automated patient management is presented. A plurality of weight measurements in an automated patient environment from a weight monitoring device for a patient during an observation period is remotely obtained. A raw baseline weight for the patient is determined based on a function of the weight measurements. Irregularities in the weight measurements are identified. The raw baseline weight is processed into a baseline weight by application of a correction coefficient to the irregularities. Weight remotely measured in the automated patient environment for the patient on a substantially regular basis is obtained. Changes in the weight are identified by periodic comparison to the baseline weight. An alert notification is generated in response to the change in weight.
US08362902B2
A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader may extract a reception from the extracted reception power, and analyze the power pattern. Next, the RFID reader may determine whether the RFID tag is identified based on an power from a tag signal transmitted from an RFID tag, generate a power pattern analysis result of the power pattern.
US08362901B2
A system and method for controlling the surveillance conducted by lost or stolen electronic devices dependent upon the location of such electronic devices is provided. A data repository contains data that specifies, for each of a plurality of geographic regions (e.g. legal jurisdictions), a set of surveillance methods that are permissible in the respective region. At least some of the geographic regions have different respective sets of permissible surveillance methods than others. A computer system is operable to communicate with the devices over a computer network, and programmed to use received information regarding a location of a potentially lost or stolen device, in combination with the data in the computer data repository, to cause the potentially lost or stolen device to initiate surveillance according to the set of permissible surveillance methods (and/or other actions) corresponding to the location.
US08362900B2
A satellite aided location tracking and data services with user interface. A graphical user interface is provided that enables users to monitor the status of movable assets. Detailed information in a position history enables the user to obtain status information (e.g., starts and stops) at each position report. This status information promotes visibility into the journey of each movable asset.
US08362897B2
A method and a device for locating tires mounted on a vehicle. High frequency signals are captured by way of a first transmit/receive device arranged on a vehicle, said high-frequency signals originating from a wheel electronic system arranged on the vehicle, said wheel electronic system interacting with tires of a first tire group that are mounted on the vehicle. A trigger signal having a frequency that is clearly lower than the frequency of the high frequency signal, is emitted by the first transmit/receive device. The first transmit/receive device is arranged on the vehicle in such a manner that the tires of the first tire group are mounted on the vehicle and the level of the first trigger signal is selected in such a manner that only one part of the wheel electronic system, which is associated with the tires of the first tire group, captures the first trigger signal and the high frequency signals which originate from the part of the wheel electronic system of the tires of the first wheel group that has captured the first trigger signal, contains information on the obtained first trigger signal.
US08362887B2
A geo-fence is defined and established automatically based on a current location of an asset along with some range or distance, avoiding the need for a user to manually specify a location by drawing a perimeter, specifying a point location, or by any other means. Once established, the geo-fence can be activated so as to notify the owner of the asset and/or some other entity of movement of the asset beyond the boundary specified by the geo-fence. In one embodiment, the geo-fence can be automatically activated upon certain conditions, or can be manually activated, or any combination thereof.
US08362886B2
A remote control system for a vehicle of a type including a data communications bus extending throughout the vehicle and connecting a plurality of vehicle devices within the vehicle may include a remote transmitter and a vehicle remote function controller being responsive to the remote transmitter. The vehicle remote function controller may include a controller data link interface. The remote control system may include a multi-controller data bus adaptor for adapting the vehicle remote function controller to communicate via the data communications bus and may include an adaptor data link interface coupled to the controller data link interface. The multi-controller data bus adaptor may be operable with a given set of controller codes for the vehicle remote controller from among a plurality of different sets of controller codes for a plurality of different vehicle function controllers.
US08362884B2
A device provides a radiant electromagnetic energy output. During standby operation of the device, the output is provided at one or more frequencies selected to dissipate excess power through atmospheric absorption. Circuitry is included to tune the output of the device to a second frequency different than the first frequency for various directed energy applications that make use of the excess power. The circuitry can be arranged to further utilize frequency agility for power dissipation, to provide different operating modes involving a radiant output, or the like.
US08362879B2
Provided are a reader-tag integrated RFID apparatus and a method for controlling the same. The apparatus includes a tag unit for communicating with an external reader, and transmitting a response signal and data corresponding to a signal transmitted from the external reader to the external reader, a reader unit for selecting a channel between other reader and the reader-tag integrated RFID apparatus with a different delay time, and communicating with an external tag using a random value to minimize collision; and a controller for selectively activating one of the tag unit and the reader unit if it necessary.
US08362876B2
A network of interlocks and input devices and a system for tracking their use and control, in which each interlock and input device is associated with a machine which performs a process. Machines are associated with input devices by reading machine identifications from Data Storage Devices (DSDs) with input devices. To disarm an interlock prior to using a machine, the input device is used to read one or more DSDs containing information required to track the process. The input device sends the DSD data to a CPU which then sends an authorization signal to a machine interface. Upon receiving the signal, the machine interface enables the machine to be turned on. The CPU logs the process and DSD data. Once the operator turns off the machine, it cannot be restarted until the operator reads the DSDs required by the machine.
US08362875B2
A secure system for user authentication comprised of an authentication interface having a character dial and alignment markers is provided. A passcode input module receives user commands to move the character dial with respect to the alignment markers and to record a configuration of the characters with respect to the alignment markers, thereby creating alignment configuration data. A passcode generation module receives at least one of said alignment configuration data from passcode input module and generates a plurality of passcode hypotheses. An authentication module receives the passcode hypotheses and compares the passcode hypotheses with the passcodes of registered users stored in a data store. The passcode hypotheses are updated after each new alignment configuration data entered by the user. The authentication module authenticates a user upon finding a passcode hypothesis matching a stored passcode.
US08362869B2
A thermistor based on a composition having the general formula (I): Re2-x-yCraMnbMcEyOz wherein Re is a rare earth metal or a mixture of two or more rare earth metals, M is a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, magnesium and mixtures thereof, E is a metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, barium and mixtures thereof, x is the sum of a+b+c and is a number between 0.1 and 1, and the relative ratio of the molar fractions a, b and c is in an area bounded by points A, B, C and D in a ternary diagram, wherein point A is, if y<0.006, at (Cr=0.00, Mn=0.93+10−y, M=0.07−10−y), and, if y≧0.006, at (Cr=0−00, Mn=0.99, M=0.01), point B is, if y<0.006, at (Cr=0.83, Mn=0.10+10−y, M=0.07−10−y), and, if y≧0.006, at (Cr=0.83, Mn=0.16, M=0.01), point C is at (Cr=0.50, Mn=0.10, M=0.40) and point D is at (Cr=0.00, Mn=0.51, M=0.49), y is a number between 0 and 0.5−x, and z is a number between 2.5 and 3.5.
US08362867B2
A multi-winding inductor includes a first foil winding and a second foil winding. One end of the first foil winding extends from a first side of the core and wraps under the core to form a solder tab under the core. One end of the second foil winding extends from a second side of the core and wraps under the core to form another solder tab under the core. Respective portions of each solder tab are laterally adjacent under the magnetic core. A coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first and a second end magnetic element and a plurality of connecting magnetic elements disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. A respective first and second single turn foil winding is wound at least partially around each connecting magnetic element. Each foil winding has two ends forming respective solder tabs.
US08362861B2
Electromagnetic actuator having an armature unit which is axially guided in a housing and movable by passing current through a coil device and in particular against a return force of a return spring out of a first stop position defined by means for limiting the stroke, the means for limiting the stroke having a stop element which is mounted terminally in the housing and manufactured by a shaping, stamping, sintering and/or injection molding method, and which is designed to cooperate with a plunger unit which can be actuated outside the housing and is designed for mechanically moving the armature out of the first stop position.
US08362858B2
An electromagnetic switch includes an electromagnetic coil, a fixed core, a movable core, and a diode. The electromagnetic coil is configured to form an electromagnet when energized. The fixed core is arranged to be magnetized by the electromagnet. The movable core is arranged to be attracted by the magnetized fixed core to move in a movement direction toward the fixed core. The diode is electrically connected in parallel with the electromagnetic coil. The diode includes a main body and has a pair of leads respectively extending from a pair of ends of the main body which are opposite to each other in a lead arrangement direction of the diode. The lead arrangement direction of the diode is parallel to the movement direction of the movable contact.
US08362851B2
A high isolation power divider is disclosed, which includes a substrate, a first split arm, a second split arm, a signal input unit, a connection unit, a ground layer, a slit. The signal input unit is coupled to the first split arm and the second split arm for receiving an input signal and dividing the input signal to the first split arm and second split arm. The connection unit is coupled to the first split arm and the second split arm, wherein the connection unit, the first split arm, and the second split arm are deposited on a first plane of the substrate, and surround a first area. The ground layer is deposited on the second plane of the substrate for providing grounding. The slit is formed in the ground layer, wherein at least a part of the slit is formed within a second area corresponding to the first area.
US08362850B2
A circuit includes a first node, a second node, a third node between the first and second nodes, a first field effect transistor coupled between the first and third nodes, a second field effect transistor coupled to the third node including a second gate terminal coupled to a second resistor, a third field effect transistor coupled to the third node including a third gate terminal coupled to a third resistor, a first capacitor coupled to the second field effect transistor, a second capacitor coupled to the third field effect transistor, a third capacitor coupled between the second and third nodes, and a fourth field effect transistor coupled between the second and third nodes.
US08362849B2
In some embodiments, the technology includes a balun. The balun includes an un-balanced line, a balanced line, a double-y transition section, a first connection section, and a second connection section. The un-balanced line includes a ground trace and a signal trace. The balanced line includes a first and second signal trace. The double-y transition section includes a first slot trace and a second slot trace. The first slot trace couples the ground trace of the un-balanced line to the first signal trace of the balanced line. The second slot trace couples the signal trace of the un-balanced line to the second signal trace of the balanced line. The first connection section couples the first slot trace to the first signal trace of the balanced line. The second connection section couples the second slot trace to the second signal trace of the balanced line.
US08362848B2
A supply-regulated VCO exhibits reduced or no supply sensitivity peaking. The VCO includes an oscillator whose supply current is regulated to control the oscillating frequency of the oscillator. A VCO input signal controls the supply current so that there is a relationship between the input signal and the oscillator output frequency. Power supply noise that might otherwise affect oscillator operation is shunted from a supply current input lead of the oscillator to ground by a bypass capacitor. In one example, an auxiliary circuit supplies an auxiliary supply current to the oscillator, thereby reducing the amount of supply current a supply regulation control loop circuit must supply. In another example, a supply regulation control loop circuit supplies a control current to a main oscillator, but the bypass capacitor is not coupled to this oscillator but rather is coupled to a slave oscillator that is injection locked to the main oscillator.
US08362847B2
Noise immunity of an oscillator circuit is improved by either increasing the oscillation amplitude of the core's oscillating signal or configuring a built-in low pass filter.
US08362844B2
A delay circuit includes a delay unit having a first and a second power supply terminals, a pair of differential signal input terminals and a pair of differential signal output terminals. The signals entered to the pair of differential signal input terminals are delayed and output at the pair of differential signal output terminals. The delay circuit also includes a current controller that exercises control to cause a current of a current source, controlled by a current control terminal, to flow through the first and second power supply terminals of the delay unit. The delay circuit also includes a voltage controller that exercises control to provide for a constant potential difference between the first and the second power supply terminals (FIG. 1).
US08362837B2
A system and a method are provided. The system may include (A) a measurement circuit arranged to measure at least a current power level of the input signal; (B) multiple non-linear power amplifiers; wherein different non-linear power amplifiers are associated with different power ranges; (C) a control circuit arranged to: (a) select at least one selected non-linear power amplifier to be used to amplify a second signal based on at least: (i) the current power level of an input signal; (ii) an association between the different power ranges and the different non-linear power amplifiers; (iii) an identity of at least one previously selected non-linear power amplifier; and (b) assist in an activation of the at least one selected non-linear power amplifier; and (D) a signal processing module, configured to process the input signal to provide the second signal such as to at least partially compensate for a non-linearity of each of the at least one selected non-linear power amplifier.
US08362836B2
An amplifier includes an amplifier section having selectable signal paths to provide discrete gain settings, and logic to incrementally select the signal paths. The logic may be configured to increment the gain in response to digital gain control signals or an analog gain control signal. Another amplifier has an input section with one or more input cells and an output section with one or more output cells. Either the input section or the output section includes at least two cells that may be selected to provide discrete gain settings. A loop amplifier is configured in a feedback arrangement with the input section. The input and output sections may have multiple selectable cells to provide coarse and fine gain steps. The gain of the loop amplifier may be coordinated with the gain of the input section to provide constant bandwidth operation.
US08362824B2
Described herein are switched capacitor charge pump designs for a 2n× voltage converter. The 2n× voltage converter is constructed by cascading n units of substantially identical unit cells, which are respectively composed of cross-coupled single cell doubler circuits. Dynamic inverters are used to completely activate and deactivate the power switches in the respective unit cells to increase area efficiency. The charge pump designs described herein are implemented with standard high-voltage CMOS processes without requiring MOSFET transistors with different threshold voltages, giving the charge pump a regular structure that simplifies design and layout and reduces production costs. In addition, techniques for constructing a charge pump according to the designs provided herein are described.
US08362818B2
A clock adjustment circuit includes: first and third switching elements to be in a conductive state when in-phase and reverse-phase clock signals in a high level are applied to input terminals, respectively; second and fourth switching elements whose input terminals are connected to output terminals of the first and third switching elements, respectively, which become in the conductive state when the in-phase and reverse-phase clock signals in a low level are applied to output terminal, respectively; first and second capacitor elements whose one terminal is connected to an output terminal of the first and third switching element, respectively; and a shift detection unit detecting potential difference between the output terminals of the first and third switching elements and outputs the detection signal as a signal for adjusting a duty ratio of the clock signal.
US08362817B2
The present disclosure provides a phase comparator including, a first latch, a second latch, a first detection circuit, a second detection circuit, and a charge-pump circuit having the function of a changeover switch.
US08362805B2
In an embodiment, an integrated circuit may include one or more power managed blocks and a power manager circuit. The power manager circuit may be configured to generate a block enable for each power managed block and a block enable clock. The power managed block may generate local block enables to various power switches in the power managed block, staggering the block enables over two or more block enable clock cycles. In particular, the power managed block may include a set of series-connected flops that receive the block enable from the power manager circuit. The output of each flop may be coupled to a respective set of power switches and may enabled those switches. The change in current flow due to enabling and/or disabling the power managed block may thus be controlled. In an embodiment, the frequency of the block enable clock may be set to a defined value independent of process, voltage, and temperature conditions in the integrated circuit.
US08362803B2
A voltage translator circuit includes an input stage adapted for receiving an input signal referenced to a first voltage supply, a first latch circuit adapted for connection with a second voltage supply and operative to at least temporarily store a logic state of the input signal, and a voltage clamp coupled between the input stage and the first latch circuit. The voltage clamp is operative to set a maximum voltage across the input stage to a prescribed level. The voltage translator circuit generates a first output signal at a first output formed at a junction between the first latch circuit and the voltage clamp. A second latch circuit is connected to the first output in a feedback configuration. The second latch circuit is operative to retain a logical state of the first output signal as a function of at least a first control signal supplied to the second latch circuit regardless of a state of the first voltage supply.
US08362800B2
A three dimensional semiconductor device is described with two transistor layers overlaid. The first transistor layer comprises a plurality of flip-flops each having an input and an output, wherein the inputs are selectively coupleable to the second transistor layer.
US08362797B2
A wafer translator and a wafer, removably attached to each other, provides the electrical connection to electrical contacts on integrated circuits on a wafer in such a manner that the electrical contacts are substantially undamaged in the process of making such electrical connections. Various embodiments of the present invention provide a gasketless sealing means for facilitating the formation by vacuum attachment of the wafer/wafer translator pair. In this way, no gasket is required to be disposed between the wafer and the wafer translator. Air, or gas, is evacuated from between the wafer and wafer translator through one or more evacuation pathways in the gasketless sealing means.
US08362791B2
A test apparatus includes: test modules that communicate with the device under test to test the device under test; additional modules connected between the device under test and the test modules, each additional module performing a communication with the device under test, the communication being at least one of a communication performed at a higher speed and a communication performed with a lower latency, in comparison with a communication performed by the test modules; a test head having a plurality of connectors that connect the test modules and the additional modules, respectively, the test modules and the additional modules are mounted on the test head; a performance board placed on the test head that connects between at least a part of terminals of the plurality of connectors and the device under test. The test modules are connected to the additional modules without through the performance board.
US08362785B2
A semiconductor device includes: a well of a second conductive type formed on or above a semiconductor substrate of a first conductive type; a first diffusion layer of the second conductive type formed in a surface portion of the well; a second diffusion layer of the first conductive type formed separately from the first diffusion layer in the surface portion of the well; first to third first-layer conductive layers formed above the well; and first to third second-layer conductive layers formed above the first to third first-layer conductive layers. The first second-layer conductive layer, the first first-layer conductive layer, the first diffusion layer and the well are conductively connected as a first conductive path. The second second-layer conductive layer, the second first-layer conductive layer, and the second diffusion layer are conductively connected as a second conductive path. The third second-layer conductive layer, and the third first-layer conductive layer are conductively connected as a third conductive path.
US08362782B2
A shear wave is generated at a borehole wall. A static magnetic field is applied with a radial direction and an oscillating magnetic field is applied tangential to the borehole wall. The frequency of the oscillating field is varied until a resonance condition occurs. Motion of the formation under resonance provides an indication of a resistivity property of the earth formation.
US08362774B2
A magnetic resonance apparatus includes a static field magnet, a gradient field coil, a cover which forms, inside the static field magnet and the gradient field coil, an internal space in which a bed top and a subject placed on the bed top are to be inserted, a radio frequency coil unit which includes a cylindrical base portion and first electronic elements and second electronic elements and is placed in the internal space, a first flow path which is formed between the base portion and the cover to cool the first electronic elements, a second flow path which is formed between the base portion and the cover and communicates with the first flow path to cool the second electronic elements, and a cooling unit which cools the radio frequency coil unit by generating a cooling gas flow flowing from the first flow path to the second flow path.
US08362772B2
In a magnetic resonance imaging system having a scanner having a magnetic field system, a radio frequency system and a control device, and a method for operating such a system, the control device generates a control signal sequence on the basis of a control protocol for the purpose of executing a number of scan procedures and a number of adjustments for adjusting the magnetic field system and/or the radio frequency system, at least the scan procedures are predetermined by the control protocol. The control protocol furthermore contains a number of local scan transition indicators assigned to the scan procedures, and on the basis of the scan transition indicators, in each case the control device checks to determine if, directly prior to a scan procedure, an adjustment may be applied. The control signal sequence is then automatically generated by the control device such that, if for a scan procedure the necessary adjustment may not be applied prior to that scan procedure, then the relevant adjustment will be executed in advance and/or adjustment parameter values from previously executed existing adjustments will be used.
US08362771B2
A fast, efficient, qualitatively high-grade shim is enabled in a magnetic resonance apparatus having a displaceable patient bed and an examination region of the patient that is to be examined is larger than an imaging region of the magnetic resonance apparatus. Field inhomogeneities are measured while the examination region is moved through the imaging region by a continuous displacement of the patient bed with the patient positioned thereon. Information representing field inhomogeneities is acquired at multiple positions of the patient bed from respective magnetic resonance signals received at these positions, by excitation of multiple respective slices before the readout of the echo of the first of these slices, with one echo train composed of multiple echoes being generated per excitation signal. Shim parameters of the magnetic resonance apparatus are adjusted dependent on the measured information.
US08362765B2
The invention relates to a method and a sensor device (1) for measuring a magnetic field comprising a first circuit (4) including a magneto sensitive sensor element (2) and a current source (5) and a second circuit (6) including a signal generator (7) and a coil (3) producing a excitational magnetic field at the sensor element (2), wherein the output signal of the sensor element is processible such that a second derivative of the sensor signal and the signal of the signal generator are derivable which are processible such that a countable signal is resulting being a measure of the magnetic field.
US08362754B2
A discharge control device in an electric power conversion system mounted to a motor vehicle turns off a relay in order to instruct an electric power conversion circuit to supply a reactive current into a motor generator, and thereby to decrease a capacitor voltage to a diagnostic voltage. After this process, the discharge control device outputs an emergency discharging instruction signal dis in order to turn on both power switching elements at high voltage side and a low voltage side in the electric power conversion circuit. This makes a short circuit between the electrodes of the capacitor in order to discharge the capacitor, and executes a discharging control to detect whether or not an emergency discharging control is correctly executed and completed. The discharge control device detects whether or not the electric power stored in the capacitor is discharged on the basis of the voltage of a voltage sensor.
US08362741B2
Disclosed is a method for use by a device to distinguish between a Charging Downstream Port (“CDP”) and a Dedicated Charging Port (“DCP”). The method comprises detecting that the device is attached to a charging port, and determining whether the charging port is the CDP or the DCP without causing a host coupled to the CDP to be able to detect the device if the charging port is the CDP.
US08362737B2
A blower motor assembly having a variable speed motor that is suitable for direct, drop-in replacement in a residential HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system that employs a PSC motor. The blower motor assembly includes at least a neutral input and two hot AC line connections, one for connection to the heating power source and the other to the cooling power source. A sensing circuit senses which of the inputs is energized by sensing either voltage or current on the inputs. The sensing circuit delivers a corresponding signal to a motor controller to control the speed of the variable speed motor. The blower motor assembly may also be equipped with additional hot AC inputs, more than one neutral line, and several sensing circuits for sensing current or voltage in the hot inputs and/or the neutral lines for controlling various aspects of the variable speed motor.
US08362735B2
A device for improving efficiency of an induction motor that soft-starts the motor by applying a voltage to the motor that is substantially less than the rated voltage then gradually increasing the voltage while monitoring changes in current drawn by the motor, thereby detecting when maximum efficiency is found. Once maximum efficiency is found, the nominal motor current is found and operating ranges are set. Now, the voltage to the motor is increased/decreased by measuring the phase angle between the voltage and the current to the motor and increasing the voltage when the phase angle is less than a minimum phase angle (determined during soft-start) and decreasing the voltage when the phase angle is greater than or equal to the minimum phase angle as long as the voltage does not fall below a minimum voltage determined during soft-start.
US08362730B2
In a synchronous machine starting device, an AC voltage detection unit detects AC voltage supplied to an armature of a synchronous machine through an electric power line from a power conversion unit. The AC voltage detection unit has a first output end and a second output end isolated from the electric power line, transforms AC voltage supplied through the electric power line at a first ratio to output the transformed voltage from the first output end, and transforms AC voltage supplied through the electric power line at a second ratio and then limits the transformed voltage to a prescribed positive voltage value or lower and a prescribed negative voltage value or higher for output from the second output end. Then, a detected voltage selection unit selects one of the voltage received from the first output end and the voltage received from the second output end, and outputs the selected one to a rotor position detection unit. The rotor position detection unit detects a rotor position of the synchronous machine based on the voltage received from the detected voltage selection unit. A power conversion control unit controls the power conversion unit based on the detected rotor position.
US08362728B2
A method of operating a WFSM in a motoring mode determines a relative position of a PMG rotor with respect to the WFSM rotor. A PMG is coupled to the WFSM via a coupling shaft. A relative difference between the WFSM rotor position and the PMG rotor position is determined based on carrier injection sensorless (“CIS”) stimulation signals. The relative difference between the PMG rotor and the WFSM main machine in conjunction with the PMG rotor position is used to determine the WFSM rotor position during motoring operation of the main machine. A stator of the WFSM main machine is energized to maintain operation of the WFSM in response to the detected main rotor position.
US08362726B2
When an output pattern (LLL or HHH) due to a signal with a prescribed logic level corresponding to a ground short or instantaneous interruption of an output signal line of Hall ICs 17 is supplied via the output signal lines, and if output patterns based on detection signals supplied before and after the output pattern are found to be different by comparing them, a decision is made that there is a possibility that a shift of a rotor 11 from a target position and counterrotation of the rotor 11 involved with it can occur.
US08362725B2
A motor control system for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications is described. The motor control system includes a thermostat and an electronically commutated motor (ECM) coupled to the thermostat. The ECM is configured to retrofit an existing non-ECM electric motor included in an HVAC application and to operate in one of a plurality of HVAC modes. The HVAC modes include at least one of a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a continuous fan mode. The HVAC mode is determined based at least partially on outputs provided by the thermostat.
US08362719B2
In an embodiment, an actuator includes a plurality of stator windings adapted to produce a first stator magnetic field that translates along a stator axis, and to produce a second stator magnetic field that rotates around the stator axis. In addition, the actuator includes a rotor, coupled to a shaft, and positioned within a central stator channel. The rotor is adapted to produce a first rotor magnetic field that translates along a shaft axis and to produce a second rotor magnetic field that rotates around the shaft axis. An actuator system includes an actuator and an actuator controller unit, which is adapted to produce actuator inputs. An embodiment of a method for controlling the actuator includes providing actuator inputs to produce a translating magnetic field in the stator, a translating magnetic field in the rotor, a rotating magnetic field in the stator, and a rotating magnetic field in the rotor.
US08362709B2
There are provided a current balance circuit having a protection function that prevents the current balance circuit from being damaged during a preset time period by maintaining a constant level of power being supplied to the lamp, and a power supply. The current balance circuit having the protection function includes a current balance unit maintaining current balance of lamp driving power supplied to a lamp unit including a plurality of lamps, and a protection unit detecting the lamp driving power supplied to the lamp unit from the current balance unit, cutting-off the lamp driving power after a preset time period when the lamp operates abnormally, and controlling a voltage level of the lamp driving power to a preset reference voltage level or lower during the preset time period.
US08362704B2
The present invention relates to a capacitance reducing method for a pulsed activated device and associated devices, especially to a pulsed activated device having a capacitor, which improves power factor as well as eliminating the need for large capacitance. The method comprises acts of rectifying an AC voltage to a pulsating DC voltage, sensing a zero-crossing point of the pulsating DC voltage, synchronizing the pulsating DC voltage, setting pulse duration in a pulse period and turning ON and OFF of a pulsed activated device. The device comprises a load, a rectifier, a capacitor, a driver, a controller and an optional PFC circuit.
US08362693B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reliable display device and a method for manufacturing the display device reducing the number of manufacturing steps, and with higher yield. A display device according to the invention includes a plurality of display elements each having a first electrode, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode. The display device further includes a heat-resistant planarizing film over a substrate having an insulating surface, a first electrode over the heat-resistant, planarizing film, a wiring covering an end portion of the first electrode, a partition wall covering the end portion of first electrode and the wiring, a layer containing an organic compound, and a second electrode over the layer containing an organic compound.
US08362690B2
The present invention relates to a sealing method for a display element, and more particularly, to a sealing method for a display element which fundamentally prevents an error due to contact between light emitting bodies of upper and lower sealing members by protecting a surface of a light emitting layer and an electrode with a curing body of a photocurable transparent composition, enhances workability of a display element sealing, provides good moisture resistance and adhesiveness and improves an aperture ratio of a display element by making a top emission available to thereby make a thinner, larger display element.
US08362675B2
Mechanical resonating structures are described, as well as related devices and methods. The mechanical resonating structures may have a compensating structure for compensating temperature variations.
US08362660B2
An electric generator device includes a magnetic stator assembly, opposed coils, and a rotary-to-linear converter (e.g., cam). The coils are configured to reciprocate relative to the magnetic stator assembly or to linearly translate in a common direction relative to the magnetic stator assembly. The coils are coupled to the cam and, upon rotary or linear motion of the cam, reciprocate or linearly translate relative to the magnetic stator assembly. The reciprocation or linear translation of the coils creates an electric current flowing through the coils, which may then be harvested.
US08362658B2
A method for determining a load capability of a direct current (“DC”) voltage source connectable to an alternating current (“AC”) power grid having a predetermined frequency via an inverter and a grid disconnect switch includes controlling, while the grid disconnect switch is in an open position, the inverter so as to convert a DC input voltage to a test frequency different than the predetermined frequency of the AC power grid so as to increase a test load acting on the DC voltage source above an internal consumption of the inverter at the predetermined frequency. The DC input voltage is measured while the grid disconnect switch is in the open position.
US08362657B2
The size of a wireless chip is often determined according to an antenna circuit thereof. Power source voltage or power supplied to the wireless chip can be more easily received with a larger antenna. On the other hand, there has been an increasing demand for a compact wireless chip, and it is thus necessary to downsize an antenna. In view of this, the invention provides a wireless chip capable of data communication with a small antenna, namely a compact wireless chip having an improved communicable distance. A power source circuit of an ID chip of the invention generates a higher power source voltage than a power source voltage generated in a conventional ID chip, by using a boosting power source circuit having a boosting circuit and a rectifier circuit.
US08362648B2
An electric power supply system is provided for feeding an output of a DC power source to a load at high efficiency and, without complicated controlling, for allowing for interchange of electric power among a commercial power system, a DC power source and a load.An electric power supply system includes a DC bus line for connecting a DC generator, a load and system power. The electric power supply system comprises a DC/DC converter connected between the DC generator and the DC bus line for controlling an output voltage to the DC bus line at a voltage V1; an inverter connected between the system power and the DC bus line for operating a control in response to an input voltage V2 from the DC bus line; and an AC/DC converter connected between the system power and the DC bus line for controlling an output voltage to the DC bus line at a voltage V3, wherein the respective voltages are set as V1>V2>V3.
US08362647B2
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system includes an AC input configured to be coupled to an AC power source, an AC output configured to be coupled to a load, a power conversion circuit comprising a first converter circuit configured to receive power from a variably available power source, a second converter circuit coupled to the AC output, a DC link coupling the first and second converter circuits, and a switching circuit, e.g., a bypass circuit, configured to selectively couple and decouple the AC input and the AC output. The UPS system further includes a control circuit operatively associated with the power conversion circuit and the switching circuit and configured to cause concurrent transfer of power to a load at the AC output from the AC power source and the variably available power source via the switching circuit and the power conversion circuit, respectively.
US08362642B2
A method of adjusting a voltage supply to an electronic device coupled to a wired communication link in accordance with a performance metric associated with the wired communication link. A voltage adjust signal is generated based on the performance metric. The voltage adjustment signal is then used for updating the voltage supply to the electronic device.
US08362626B2
An SiP (semiconductor device) using a stacked packaging method for stacking a microcomputer IC chip over a driver IC chip in which circuits sensitive to heat or noise, including an analog to digital conversion circuit, a digital to analog conversion circuit, a sense amplifier circuit of a memory (RAM or ROM), or a power supply circuit of a microcomputer IC chip, are prevented from two-dimensionally overlapping with a driver circuit of the lower-side driver IC chip to reduce, during the operation, the effect of heat or noise, which the circuits sensitive to heat or noise of the microcomputer IC chip receive from the driver circuit of the lower-side driver IC chip, thereby improving the operation stability of the SiP (semiconductor device) using the stacked packaging method.
US08362616B2
A semiconductor device includes first and second wirings formed in a first wiring layer and extending parallel to an X direction, third and fourth wirings formed in a third wiring layer and extending parallel to a Y direction; fifth and sixth wirings formed in a second wiring layer positioned between the first and second wiring layers, a first contact conductor that connects the first wiring to the third wiring; and a second contact conductor that connects the second wiring to the fourth wiring. The first and second contact conductors are arranged in the X direction. According to the present invention, because the first and second contact conductors that connect wiring layers that are two or more layers apart are arranged in one direction, a prohibited area that is formed in the second wiring layer can be made narrower. Therefore, the flexibility of the layout of the second wiring layer is enhanced and the restriction on the wiring density can be relaxed.
US08362614B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor chip in which a plurality of semiconductor components and a plurality of pads are arranged, a plurality of external connection contacts arranged in grids, and a plurality of wires for electrically connecting the pads and the external connection contacts. The pads include a plurality of pad groups including a pair of electrode pads connected to the plurality of semiconductor components in common and a plurality of signal pads respectively connected to the semiconductor components connected to the electrode pads. In each pad group, each signal pad is arranged adjacently to one of the electrode pads; and each wire extending from each signal pad is extended along a wire extended from the electrode pad adjacent to each signal pad.
US08362610B2
An electronic component mounting configuration in which an electronic component chip having a plurality of protrusion-shaped electrodes distributed on its entire mounting surface is mounted through protrusion-shaped electrodes on a printed circuit board is provided which is capable of improving reliability of an electronic component by relieving thermal stress. The solder bumps are arranged so that intervals between solder bumps adjacent to one another become smaller from a central portion of a mounting surface of the electronic component chip toward the peripheral portion thereof. For example, an interval between the solder bump “1A” arranged in the central portion of the semiconductor chip and the solder bump “1B” arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P1. An interval between the solder bump “1B” and the solder bump “1C” formed arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P2 and an interval between the solder bump “1C” and the solder bump “1D” formed arranged in an outer side thereof, adjacent to each other, is set to a pitch of P3 (P1>P2>P3).
US08362602B2
A layered chip package includes a main body, and wiring that includes a plurality of wires disposed on a side surface of the main body. The main body includes: a main part including a plurality of layer portions; a plurality of first terminals disposed on the top surface of the main part and connected to the wiring; and a plurality of second terminals disposed on the bottom surface of the main part and connected to the wiring. Each layer portion includes a semiconductor chip. The plurality of second terminals are positioned to overlap the plurality of first terminals as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the top surface of the main body. A plurality of pairs of first and second terminals that are electrically connected via the wires include a plurality of pairs of a first terminal and a second terminal that are positioned not to overlap each other.
US08362586B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device provided with a structure, which prevents withstand voltage deterioration and may be manufactured at a low cost, is provided. The semiconductor device is provided with a semiconductor substrate, a first conductive type semiconductor layer formed of silicon carbide formed on the substrate, an active region formed on a surface of the semiconductor layer, a second conductive type first semiconductor region formed on the surface of the semiconductor layer so as to surround the active region, a second semiconductor region provided on the surface of the semiconductor layer so as to contact the outside of the first semiconductor region to surround the first semiconductor region in which a second conductive type impurity region having impurity concentration and a depth identical to those of the first semiconductor region is formed into a mesh shape, a first electrode provided on the active region, and a second electrode provided on a backside of the semiconductor substrate.
US08362580B2
A system and method for forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) storage element utilizes a composite free layer structure. The MTJ element includes a stack comprising a pinned layer, a barrier layer, and a composite free layer. The composite free layer includes a first free layer, a superparamagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layer interspersed between the first free layer and the superparamagnetic layer. A thickness of the spacer layer controls a manner of magnetic coupling between the first free layer and the superparamagnetic layer.
US08362578B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a triple-axis accelerometer, which further includes a proof-mass formed of a semiconductor material; a first spring formed of the semiconductor material and connected to the proof-mass, wherein the first spring is configured to allow the proof-mass to move in a first direction in a plane; and a second spring formed of the semiconductor material and connected to the proof-mass. The second spring is configured to allow the proof-mass to move in a second direction in the plane and perpendicular to the first direction. The triple-axis accelerometer further includes a conductive capacitor plate including a portion directly over, and spaced apart from, the proof-mass, wherein the conductive capacitor plate and the proof-mass form a capacitor; an anchor electrode contacting a semiconductor region; and a transition region connecting the anchor electrode and the conductive capacitor plate, wherein the transition region is slanted.
US08362569B2
A semiconductor device fabrication method including: forming a gate conductor including a gate for a transistor in the first region, and a gate for a transistor in the second region, and a first film over a first stress film for covering the transistors; etching the first film from the second region by using a mask layer and etching the first film under the mask layer in the direction parallel to the surface of the semiconductor substrate by a first width from an edge of the first mask layer, and the first stress film from the second region; forming a second stress film covering the first stress film and the first film; etching the second stress film so that a portion of the second stress film overlaps a portion of the first stress film and a portion of the first film; and forming a contact hole connected with the gate conductor.
US08362567B2
In a semiconductor device, the degree of flatness of 0.3 nm or less in terms of a peak-to-valley (P-V) value is realized by rinsing a silicon surface with hydrogen-added ultrapure water in a light-screened state and in a nitrogen atmosphere and a contact resistance of 10−11 Ωcm2 or less is realized by setting a work function difference of 0.2 eV or less between an electrode and the silicon. Thus, the semiconductor device can operate on a frequency of 10 GHz or higher.
US08362563B2
In a thin film transistor, an increase in off current or negative shift of the threshold voltage is prevented. In the thin film transistor, a buffer layer is provided between an oxide semiconductor layer and each of a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer. The buffer layer includes a metal oxide layer which is an insulator or a semiconductor over a middle portion of the oxide semiconductor layer. The metal oxide layer functions as a protective layer for suppressing incorporation of impurities into the oxide semiconductor layer. Therefore, in the thin film transistor, an increase in off current or negative shift of the threshold voltage can be prevented.
US08362549B2
A trench gate semiconductor device is disclosed which has a trench gate structure including an insulator in the upper portion of a first trench, the insulator being on a gate electrode; a source region having a lower end surface positioned lower than the upper surface of the gate electrode; a second trench in the surface portion of a semiconductor substrate between the first trenches, the second trench having a slanted inner surface providing the second trench with the widest trench width at its opening and a bottom plane positioned lower than the lower end surface of the source region, the slanted inner surface being in contact with the source region; and a p-type body-contact region in contact with the slanted inner surface of the second trench. The trench gate semiconductor device and its manufacturing method facilitate increasing the channel density and lowering the body resistance of the parasitic BJT.
US08362547B2
A semiconductor device formed on a semiconductor substrate includes: an epitaxial layer overlaying the semiconductor substrate; a drain formed on back of the semiconductor substrate; a drain region that extends into the epitaxial layer; and an active region. The active region includes: a body disposed in the epitaxial layer, having a body top surface; a source embedded in the body, extending from the body top surface into the body; a gate trench extending into the epitaxial layer; a gate disposed in the gate trench; an active region contact trench extending through the source and the body into the drain region; an active region contact electrode disposed within the active region contact trench, wherein the active region contact electrode and the drain region form a Schottky diode; and a Schottky barrier controlling layer.
US08362546B2
Methods of forming an array of memory cells and memory cells that have pillars. Individual pillars can have a semiconductor post formed of a bulk semiconductor material and a sacrificial cap on the semiconductor post. Source regions can be between columns of the pillars, and gate lines extend along a column of pillars and are spaced apart from corresponding source regions. Each gate line surrounds a portion of the semiconductor posts along a column of pillars. The sacrificial cap structure can be selectively removed to thereby form self-aligned openings that expose a top portion of corresponding semiconductor posts. Individual drain contacts formed in the self-aligned openings are electrically connected to corresponding semiconductor posts.
US08362543B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor device and method having a plurality of series-connected memory cells with floating and control gate electrodes, and a first insulating layer formed between the gate electrodes. One of the memory cells has the floating gate formed to contact the control gate electrode through an aperture in the insulating layer. The insulating layer is removed to form spaces between the gate electrodes. A second insulating film is formed in the spaces between the gate electrodes. The dummy electrode supports the series of gate electrodes to maintain the spaces between the electrodes. The second insulating layer is formed to be continuous in the spaces and on side surfaces of the gate electrodes. The second insulating layer may have a stacked structure with n layers in the spaces and (n−1)/2 layers on the side surfaces.
US08362534B2
Flux-closed spin-transfer torque memory having a specular insulative spacer is disclosed. A flux-closed spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a multilayer free magnetic element including a first free magnetic layer anti-ferromagnetically coupled to a second free magnetic layer through an electrically insulating and electronically reflective layer. An electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separates the free magnetic element from a reference magnetic layer.
US08362528B2
A logic switch intentionally utilizes GIDL current as its primary mechanism of operation. Voltages may be applied to a doped gate overlying and insulated from a pn junction. A first voltage initiates GIDL current, and the logic switch is bidirectionally conductive. A second voltage terminates GIDL current, but the logic switch is unidirectionally conductive. A third voltage renders the logic switch bidirectionally non-conductive. Circuits containing the logic switch are also described. These circuits include inverters, SRAM cells, voltage reference sources, and neuron logic switches. The logic switch is primarily implemented according to SOI protocols, but embodiments according to bulk protocols are described.
US08362522B2
In a semiconductor film having a heterojunction structure, for example a semiconductor film including a SiGe layer and a Si layer formed on the SiGe layer, impurity concentration is controlled in such a manner that the concentration of impurity in the lower, SiGe layer becomes higher than that in the upper, Si layer by exploiting the fact that there is a difference between the SiGe layer and the Si layer in the diffusion coefficient of the impurity. The impurity contained in the semiconductor film 11 is of the conductivity type opposite to that of the transistor (p-type in the case of an n-type MOS transistor whereas n-type in the case of a p-type MOS transistor). In this way, the mobility in a semiconductor device including a semiconductor film having a heterojunction structure with a compression strain structure is increased, thereby improving the transistor characteristics and reliability of the device.
US08362516B2
An excellent light emitting element capable of improving problems caused by a material having high light-reflectivity and susceptible to electromigration, especially Al used for the electrode. FIG. 2A depicts semiconductor light emitting element having a first and second electrodes 20 and 30 disposed at a same surface side respectively on a first and second conductive type semiconductor layer 11 and 13. In the electrode disposing surface, the first electrode 20 comprises a first base part 23 and a first extended part 24 extending from the first base part, and a plurality of separated external connecting parts 31 of the second electrode 30 arranged side by side in extending direction of the first extended part.
US08362507B2
An optic assembly is provided. The assembly includes a housing having an upstream end and a downstream end. An LED is positioned in the upstream end of the housing. The LED is configured to generate excitation light therefrom. The excitation light has a first wavelength. An optic is positioned in the downstream end of the housing. The optic is positioned remotely from the LED so that a cavity is formed between the LED and the optic. The excitation light generated from the LED passes downstream through the cavity to the optic. Quantum dots are positioned on the optic. The excitation light excites the quantum dots so that the quantum dots produce emitted light having a second wavelength that is different than the first wavelength of the excitation light.
US08362501B2
The application illustrates a light-emitting device including a contact layer and a current spreading layer on the contact layer. A part of the contact layer is a rough structure and a part of the contact layer is a flat structure. A part of the current spreading layer is a rough structure and a part of the current spreading layer is a flat structure. The rough region of the contact layer and the rough region of the current spreading layer are substantially overlapped.
US08362498B2
A light emitting device array includes a first supporting member, at least two bonding layers disposed on the first supporting member, a second supporting member disposed on each of the at least two bonding layers, a light emitting structure disposed on the second supporting member, the light emitting structure comprising a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer and an active layer disposed between the first conductivity type semiconductor layer and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, and a first electrode disposed on the light emitting structure.
US08362489B2
A method for producing an organic EL display device is disclosed. The display device comprises a substrate, a transistor disposed on the substrate, a flattened inter-layer insulation film covering the transistor, a pixel electrode, and an organic EL layer.
US08362488B2
The present invention is directed to a flexible backplane for direct drive display devices and methods for its manufacture. The flexible backplane has many advantages. Because there is no need for a polyimide layer and only one layer of metal foil is used, the backplanes may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.
US08362487B2
A light emitting element having an organic compound, which can be extended its longevity is provided. According to the present invention, there is provided a constitution in which, in order to protect a light emitting element from moisture, an inorganic insulating film 312a, a stress relaxation layer 312b having transparency and a hygroscopic property, and an inorganic insulating film 312c are repeatedly laminated over a cathode. The stress relaxation layer 312b having transparency and the hygroscopic property uses at least one film selected from the group consisting of a film comprising a same material as that of a layer 310, containing an organic compound, sandwiched between a cathode and an anode, a layer capable of being formed by vapor deposition, and a layer capable of being formed by coating.
US08362479B2
A semiconductor device which comprises a channel layer formed from a semiconductor channel component material in the form of crystalline micro particles, micro rods, crystalline nano particles, or nano rods, and doped with a semiconductor dopant.
US08362473B2
A manufacturing method of an organic EL device, comprising: providing a substrate on which a pixel electrode is arranged, forming a liquid repellent organic film on the substrate and the pixel electrode, radiating a light selectively to an area of the pixel electrode to be coated with an organic functional layer, to oxidize a surface of the pixel electrode, and to change the liquid repellent organic film on the area to a lyophilic organic film or to remove the liquid repellent organic film on the area, applying an ink containing an organic functional material on the area defined by the liquid repellent organic film to form the organic functional layer on the pixel electrode.
US08362462B2
A gated resonant tunneling diode (GRTD) that operates without cryogenic cooling is provided. This GRTD employs conventional CMOS process technology, preferably at the 65 nm node and smaller, which is different from other conventional quantum transistors that require other, completely different process technologies and operating conditions. To accomplish this, the GRTD uses a body of a first conduction type with a first electrode region and a second electrode region (each of a second conduction type) formed in the body. A channel is located between the first and second electrode regions in the body. A barrier region of the first conduction type is formed in the channel (with the doping level of the barrier region being greater than the doping level of the body), and a quantum well region of the second conduction type formed in the channel. Additionally, the barrier region is located between each of the first and second electrode regions and the quantum well region. An insulating layer is formed on the body with the insulating layer extending over the quantum well region and at least a portion of the barrier region, and a control electrode region is formed on the insulating layer.
US08362454B2
A resistive random access memory and a method for fabricating the same are provided. The method includes providing a bottom electrode formed on a substrate. A metal oxide layer is formed on the bottom electrode. An oxygen atom gettering layer is formed on the metal oxide layer. A top electrode is formed on the oxygen atom gettering layer. The previous mentioned structure is subjected to a thermal treatment, driving the oxygen atoms of the metal oxide layer to migrate into and react with the oxygen atom gettering layer, thus leaving a plurality of oxygen vacancies of the metal oxide layer.
US08362452B2
In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.
US08362451B2
A hand carry type portable curing apparatus using a long-arc UltraViolet (UV) lamp for concentrating the external air on the long-arc UV lamp and enhancing cooling efficiency by disposing a fan at a tilt angle and in addition installing a means for forcibly inducing a flow of air inside is provided. The apparatus includes a housing having an accepting part therein, the long-arc UV lamp installed in the accepting part of the housing, and a fan installed in the housing and cooling the long-arc UV lamp. The fan is installed on the slant to tilt toward the front in a front surface of the housing.
US08362447B2
The present invention is a low-cost, easily deployed, degradable taggant that can be dispersed over a wide area to serve as a witness to activity in the area and for queuing of other sensors. The taggant enables nearly real-time change detection within the treated area using one or more simple optical sensing techniques.
US08362444B2
A patterned beam of radiation is projected onto a substrate. A reflective optical element is used to help form the radiation beam from radiation emitted from a plasma region of a plasma source. In the plasma source, a plasma current is generated in the plasma region. To reduce damage to the reflective optical element, a magnetic field is applied in the plasma region with at least a component directed along a direction of the plasma current. This axial magnetic field helps limit the collapse of the Z-pinch region of the plasma. By limiting the collapse, the number of fast ions emitted may be reduced.
US08362442B2
A corrector (10) for an electron microscope is proposed which is less sensitive to fluctuations of the electrical power supply if a stigmatic intermediate image (9) of the axial fundamental rays (xα, yβ) is produced in the quadrupole field (1′) of a first quadrupole element (1) and this quadrupole field (1′) is set such that astigmatic intermediate images (12, 13) of the off-axial fundamental rays (xγ, yδ) are produced in the region of the center of the quadrupole fields (3′, 4′) of a third (3) and fourth multipole element (4) and there also, due to the setting of the quadrupole field (2′) of a second quadrupole element (2), the axial fundamental rays (xα, yβ) of the same section (x, y) as that, in which the intermediate images (12, 13) of the off-axial fundamental rays (xγ, yδ) are located, each exhibit a maximum.
US08362441B2
The present invention relates to a projection lens assembly module for directing a multitude of charged particle beamlets onto an image plane located in a downstream direction, and a method for assembling such a projection lens assembly. In particular the present invention discloses a modular projection lens assembly with enhanced structural integrity and/or increased placement precision of its most downstream electrode.
US08362436B1
Systems and methods determine the level, density, and/or temperature of a fluid based on the fluorescence of a material within an optical waveguide slab at least partially immersed in the fluid.
US08362432B2
The inventive optical sensor consists of an LED semiconductor material and elements (herein after the LED components) surrounded by a transparent encapsulant that allows much of the light produced by the LED components to pass while a certain small percentage of the light is internally reflected. The percentage of light internally reflected, depends upon whether at least a front face of the encapsulant is immersed in liquid or in air. The optical liquid sensor also consists of a strategically placed photo sensor that detects the intensity of light that is internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulant surrounding the LED. The photo sensor is able to detect the change in intensity of light being internally reflected by at least the front face of the encapsulated LED when the front face, for example, emerges from immersion in a liquid.
US08362429B2
The invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of hydrocarbons near an unmanned offshore oil platform. The method steps include monitoring reflected atmospheric and thermal radiation, detecting the presence of hydrocarbons, and generating an alert based on the presence of hydrocarbons.
US08362428B2
A transmission electron microscope has a target body position on the electron optical axis of the microscope, and an electrically conductive body off the axis of the microscope. The microscope also has an electron source for producing an axial electron beam. In use, the beam impinges upon a target body located at the target body position. The microscope further has a system for simultaneously producing a separate off-axis electron beam. In use, the off-axis electron beam impinges on the electrically conductive body causing secondary electrons to be emitted therefrom. The electrically conductive body is located such that the emitted secondary electrons impinge on the target body to neutralise positive charge which may build up on the target body.
US08362427B2
According to one embodiment, an electron beam irradiation apparatus comprises an objective lens configured to irradiate a specimen surface with an electron beam, an electron detector which is provided between the objective lens and the specimen surface and which is configured to detect reflected electrons or secondary electrons emitted from the specimen surface, and an antireflection mechanism which is provided between the electron detector and the specimen surface. The antireflection mechanism has a plurality of holes following spiral trajectories of reflected electrons or secondary electrons emitted from the specimen surface and is configured to prevent the reflected electrons or secondary electrons from being re-reflected toward the specimen surface and to direct a part of the reflected electrons or secondary electrons to the electron detector.
US08362426B2
The SEM has a dynamic range reference value setting unit for setting dynamic range reference values, a dynamic range adjustment unit for receiving an observation image signal delivered out of a secondary electron detector, adjusting the dynamic range of the observation image signal on the basis of the dynamic range reference values and outputting the thus adjusted observation image signal as an observation image signal after adjustment, a display image generation unit for determining luminous intensity levels of individual pixels of an image to be displayed based on the observation image signal after adjustment to generate a display image, a histogram generation unit for generating a histogram of luminous intensity levels of the display image and extracting, as a luminous intensity peak value, at which the frequency of luminous intensity is maximized, and a display unit for displaying the generated histogram and the extracted luminous intensity peak value.
US08362405B2
A reference heater energization delay time is established according to an engine conditions (shift range, cooling water temperature, intake-air temperature, ambient temperature, and oil temperature) during starting period. An extension delay time is established according to an engine condition after starting period. A final heater energization delay time is established by adding the extension delay time to the reference heater energization delay time. Until an elapsed time after starting period of engine reaches the final heater energization delay time, an energization of a heater of an exhaust gas sensor is inhibited. When the elapsed time after starting period of engine reaches the final heater energization delay time, the energization of the heater is started to heat a sensor element.
US08362402B2
A fluid warmer is disclosed. The fluid warmer includes a support surface, a heating element configured to selectively heat the support surface, and a switch assembly extending through the support surface. The switch assembly includes a switch, a movable switch plate, and a thermocouple. The switch has at least two states, one of which indicates the presence of an item on the support surface. The movable switch plate operably links to the switch to move the switch between the states and further includes a contact surface that contacts an item placed on the support surface. One or more thermocouples are embedded in the movable switch plate below the contact surface. The movable switch plate comprises a material having a thermal conductivity that permits the thermocouple(s) embedded in the switch plate to measure a temperature of an item placed on the support surface within a predetermined period of time.
US08362391B2
A high energy, high repetition rate workpiece surface heating apparatus is disclosed which comprise a XeF laser producing a laser output light pulse beam, an optical system narrowing the laser output light pulse beam in the short axis of the laser output light pulse beam and expanding the laser output light pulse beam to form in a long axis of the beam a workpiece covering extent of the long axis, the optical system focuses the laser output light pulse beam at a field stop with a magnification sufficient to maintain an intensity profile that has sufficiently steep sidewalls to allow the field stop to maintain a sufficiently steep beam profile at the workpiece.
US08362390B2
A method of laser welding of two members by their respective edges, on a first surface of a slideway section, wherein at least a first one of said members is welded by application of two parallel laser beams from a second surface of the slideway section, with a distance between the beams approximately corresponding to the thickness of the first member, to obtain a laser transmission welding in a single run.
US08362383B2
A multi-position switch includes a base and a cover. The base and the cover form a receiving space having a lateral surface. The cover defines a through hole and includes a bottom surface and a number of ratchet teeth protruding from the bottom surface and arranged around the through hole. A number of positive contacts and a negative contact are arranged on the lateral surface. The button includes a button body having a side surface and a number of protrusions protruding from the side surface. The button body passes through the through hole and is external to the cover. Each protrusion is located between two neighboring ratchet teeth and has a sloping end. A conductive member is arranged under the button body and includes a conductive rod having two ends configured for respectively contacting one of the positive contacts and the negative contact.
US08362377B2
A control key assembly for an electronic device includes a housing and a control key. The housing forms a receiving portion defining an opening having two spaced-apart arms. The control key is received in the receiving portion. The control key includes a first hook and a second hook. The first hook and the second hook are slidably engaged in the opening, and alternatively latch with the two arms when the control key is slid between first and second positions.
US08362375B2
A diaphragm-actuated pressure differential switch assembly includes a blade spring for switching an electrical circuit. The blade spring comprises a proximal end portion configured for electrically conductive attachment to an electrical terminal, a plurality of flexible tension arms extending from the proximal end portion, a pressure contact region configured to accept transmission of a physical force to bend at least one of the plurality of flexible tension arms, a distal end portion integral with the flexible tension arms, the distal end portion including an electrical contact, and a compression spring integral with the distal end portion extending generally proximally from the distal end portion, the compression spring including a first leg and a second leg. Methods of constructing and using the diaphragm-actuated pressure differential switch assembly and the blade spring are also disclosed.
US08362374B2
An apparatus is disclosed for mutual interlocking of two switches, in particular circuit breakers. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes two plungers which each engage in one of the two switches and can be moved in the plunger longitudinal direction, wherein, when one switch is being switched on, the plunger which engages in this switch is moved by pivoting of a control disk from its nil-point position to its opening position. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a blocking device which blocks pivoting of the other control disk by moving the plunger to its opening position. In order to achieve a maintenance-free apparatus, in at least one embodiment it is proposed that at least one blocking element of the blocking device is moved by the plunger when this plunger is being moved to its opening position, such that pivoting of the other control disk with respect to the other plunger, which is located in the nil-point position, is blocked.
US08362373B2
Keys may be formed for keyboards. The keyboards may be attached to electronic devices such as computers or may be formed within a portable computer or other electronic equipment. A keyboard may be provided with a planar housing member such as a top plate. The top plate may have openings through which key caps protrude. Each key cap may be attached to a respective spring mechanism. The spring mechanism for each key may have first and second diving-board structures that flex about respective parallel flex axes. A dome switch may be mounted under each spring mechanism. The dome switch is compressed when the key cap is pressed and the first diving-board structure moves towards the dome switch. The top plate may have edge portions surrounding each key opening that form upstop structures that prevent the key caps and spring mechanisms from tilting when the dome switch is compressed.
US08362368B2
The system contains a substrate having at least one electrical trace formed thereon. An opening is formed in the substrate. The opening comprising at least one wall. An electrically conductive fill is formed in the opening. The electrically conductive fill is chemically bonded to the wall and electrically contacted with the electrical trace.
US08362363B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prepreg with a carrier, comprising: a sheet-like base member; a first insulating resin layer provided to cover a surface of the sheet-like base member; a first carrier provided to cover the first insulating resin layer; a second insulating resin layer provided to cover a back surface of the sheet-like base member; and a second carrier provided to cover the second insulating resin layer, wherein the first and the second insulating resin layers have different resin compositions or the first and the second insulating resin layers have different thicknesses, and a front surface and a back surface of the prepreg with the carrier is visually identifiable.
US08362354B2
A photovoltaic apparatus includes a second groove so formed as to cut at least an intermediate layer, an insulating member so formed as to cover at least a cut portion of the intermediate layer in the second groove and extend along an upper surface of a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a third groove so formed as to pass through a first photoelectric conversion layer, the intermediate layer, the second photoelectric conversion layer and the insulating member on a region opposite to a first groove with respect to the second groove, wherein the insulating member is so formed as to extend up to at least a region opposite to the first groove with respect to the third groove.
US08362351B2
According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a TEG module, in particular for a power source (10), comprising a space (14) at least partially delimited by walls (16), at least one thermoelectric generator (20) for the conversion of heat into electricity, in which at least one electrically insulated wall part is in thermally conducting contact with a first side (52) of the thermo-electric generator (20), and the second side (54) is in heat-exchanging connection with an electrically insulated discharge element (12) for discharging heat used by the thermoelectric generator, as well as electrical conductors connected to the first and second side respectively (52, 54) for the conduction of generated electricity, with thermally conducting pressure means for applying pressure to the said second side being provided between the second side (54) and the discharge element (12), the said means comprises a thermally conducting flexible container (50), which is filled with a pressure medium in a state of over-pressure.
US08362350B2
A Wearable Trigger Electronic Music System that can simulate any kind of music, anywhere and at any time. For example one can create all the benefits of the percussion instrument, such as a drum kit, without its cost and burden. The same also applies to string, wind, and other types of instruments of any nation, culture, motif, era, age, etc. The system includes constituent components, including sensors, transducers, electronics, music modules, pre-amps, and amplifiers, wired or wireless, with connections for intra- and inter-modules, including final enjoyment by wired or wireless headphones or speakers. Also delineated is the process of creating music for the DIY enthusiast.
US08362339B1
A novel maize variety designated X8M130 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 X8M130 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X8M130 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X8M130, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X8M130. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X8M130.
US08362336B1
A novel maize variety designated PH13HA and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH13HA with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH13HA through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH13HA or a locus conversion of PH13HA with another maize variety.
US08362331B1
A novel maize variety designated X7M626 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 maize variety X7M626 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X7M626 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X7M626, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X7M626. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X7M626.
US08362330B2
A hybrid sorghum, designated CB 7520 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of hybrid sorghum CB 7520, to the plants of hybrid sorghum CB 7520 and to methods for producing a sorghum plant by crossing the hybrid CB 7520 with itself or another sorghum plant that is not a plant of sorghum hybrid CB 7520. The invention further relates to hybrid sorghum seeds and plants. The invention further relates to methods for producing a sorghum plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic plants produced by that method and to methods for producing other hybrid sorghum derived from sorghum hybrid CB 7520.
US08362318B2
The present invention is related to biosynthetic oil compositions and methods of making thereof. In some embodiments, the invention relates to the use of endogenous enzymes in plants capable of synthesizing oil. In preferred embodiments, said plants are algae. In further embodiments, said algae are from the family Chlamydomonas, Nannochloropsis, Dunaliella, Chlorella and Scenedesmus. In still further embodiments, said endogenous enzymes are diacylglycerol acyltransferases.
US08362317B2
The present invention relates to excision of explant material comprising meristematic tissue from seeds, and storage of such material prior to subsequent use in plant tissue culture and genetic transformation. Methods for tissue preparation, storage, and transformation are disclosed, as is transformable meristem tissue produced by such methods, and apparati for tissue preparation.
US08362313B2
In various embodiments, the present disclosure describes processes and systems for recovery of styrene from a styrene-rich feedstock. The processes and systems maintain performance of an extractive solvent used in the styrene recovery. In general, the processes include introducing a styrene-rich feedstock to an extractive distillation column, removing a styrene-rich stream from the extractive distillation column, introducing the styrene-rich stream to a solvent recovery column, removing a styrene-lean stream from the solvent recovery column, separating and treating a portion of the styrene-lean stream to form a treated extractive solvent and recycling the treated extractive solvent. In some embodiments, the treating process also includes steam stripping. Styrene-recovery systems including an extractive distillation column, a solvent recovery column, a solvent treatment apparatus having at least one equilibrium stage and a continuous circulation loop connecting these components are also disclosed herein.
US08362308B2
A C4-olefin mixture having a 1,3-butadiene content of from 100 to 500 ppm and a content of 1,2-dienes of less than 10 ppm is described. The present invention further provides a process for preparing this C4-olefin mixture and provides for its use in a metathesis reaction for preparing 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene.
US08362307B2
Processes and reactor systems are provided for the conversion of oxygenated hydrocarbons to hydrocarbons, ketones and alcohols useful as liquid fuels, such as gasoline, jet fuel or diesel fuel, and industrial chemicals. The process involves the conversion of mono-oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, furans, carboxylic acids, diols, triols, and/or other polyols, to C4+ hydrocarbons, alcohols and/or ketones, by condensation. The oxygenated hydrocarbons may originate from any source, but are preferably derived from biomass.
US08362306B2
A process for upgrading an organic acid includes neutralizing the organic acid to form a salt and thermally decomposing the resulting salt to form an energy densified product. In certain embodiments, the organic acid is levulinic acid. The process may further include upgrading the energy densified product by conversion to alcohol and subsequent dehydration.
US08362302B2
Isopropyl alcohol is a very useful chemical that is widely used in the industry as a solvent. Economical and easy process to make ispopropyl alcohol using novel composite catalyst is described in the instant application. Production of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) from dimehtyl ketone (DMK) and hydrogen (H2) in gas-phase using a ruthenium nano-particle-supported on activated charcoal/nano-zinc oxide composite catalyst is described. Gas phase production of isopropyl alcohol using DMK and hydrogen is also described using optimal time on stream, temperature, catalyst ratio and DMK/H2 ratio. Ruthenium nano-zinc oxide composite catalyst is formulated using different ratios of ruthenium activated charcoal and n-ZnO is described. CAT-IV is shown to be the best performer for the efficient production of isopropyl alcohol.
US08362298B2
Hydrolyzed nitrilotriacetonitrile compositions are disclosed prepared by a method characterized by a one-shot addition of an amount of nitrilotriacetonitrile to a solution containing an acid catalyst, where the reaction is complete in a time period of less than an hour. The method is also characterized by adjusting the pH of the reaction mixture to a pH of at least 8. The method is also characterized by oxidatively removing free cyanide to a desired low level through the addition of an oxidizing agent the produces environmentally benign by-products to the crude hydrolyzed NTAN to form hydrolyzed NTAN compositions having minimized, negligible, or substantially no free cyanide levels.
US08362295B2
Drilling fluids comprising graphenes and nanoplatelet additives and methods for production thereof are disclosed. Graphene includes graphite oxide, graphene oxide, chemically-converted graphene, and functionalized chemically-converted graphene. Derivatized graphenes and methods for production thereof are disclosed. The derivatized graphenes are prepared from a chemically-converted graphene through derivatization with a plurality of functional groups. Derivatization can be accomplished, for example, by reaction of a chemically-converted graphene with a diazonium species. Methods for preparation of graphite oxide are also disclosed.
US08362290B2
A compound having the formula: Each R1 is C1-C3 alkyl group or fluoridated C1-C3 alkyl group. The value n is a positive integer. Each R2 is alkylene group or polyethylene glycol group. Y1 is hydrogen, quaternary ammonium-containing group, or phenol-containing group. Y2 is quaternary ammonium-containing group or phenol-containing group. The quaternary ammonium-containing group is non-aromatic and contains no more than one quaternary ammonium.
US08362285B2
Synthetic methods for preparing deoxycholic acid and intermediates thereof are provided.
US08362278B2
The present invention discloses processes for producing substituted pyrrole compounds, such as 2,5-disubstituted pyrroles. Synthetic processes which directly convert substituted furan compounds to substituted pyrrole compounds, via a reaction of the substituted furan compound with ammonia and/or an ammonium salt in the presence of a catalyst, also are described.
US08362259B2
There is provided a process for preparing purified esomeprazole magnesium, comprising the steps of: providing esomeprazole magnesium; contacting said esomeprazole magnesium with a non-solvent comprising an aqueous component up to a maximum content defined by water saturation in the non-solvent; and recovering purified esomeprazole magnesium formed from the contacting step. The process is particularly suitable to obtain esomeprazole magnesium dihydrate, especially form A. The esomeprazole magnesium obtained is remarkably pure, stable and is resistant to form interchangeability.
US08362249B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1 to R6, A, B, X, Y and n are as defined herein. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of using these compounds in the treatment of various diseases and disorders, processes for preparing these compounds and intermediates useful in these processes.
US08362245B2
Provided are processes for preparing intermediates of pemetrexed.
US08362235B2
Disclosed are carboxamide compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use. One embodiment is a compound having the structure in which R1, R2, R3, R4, T, p, q, w and x are as described herein. In certain embodiments, a compound disclosed herein activates the AMPK pathway, and can be used to treat metabolism-related disorders and conditions.
US08362225B2
Methods and compositions for modulating plant response, development and yield under varying environmental conditions are provided. Methods employing MAPKKK are provided. The MAPKKK sequences are used in a variety of methods including modulating root development, modulating leaf and/or shoot development, modulating tolerance under abiotic stress and modulating yield. Transformed plants, plant cell, tissues, seed and expression vectors are also provided.
US08362223B2
The inventors succeeded in isolating a novel hemopoietin receptor gene (NR10) using a sequence predicted from the extracted motif conserved in the amino acid sequences of known hemopoietin receptors. It was expected that two forms of NR10 exists, a transmembrane type and soluble form. Expression of the former type was detected in tissues containing hematopoietic cells. Thus, NR10 is a novel hemopoietin receptor molecule implicated in the regulation of the immune system and hematopoiesis in vivo. These novel receptors are useful in screening for novel hematopoietic factors capable of functionally binding to the receptor, or developing medicines to treat diseases related with the immune system or hematopoietic system.
US08362204B2
Described herein are methods for forming two or more dicarba bridges, as well as new compounds containing dicarba bridges.
US08362203B2
Described herein are methods of screening one of the RNA hairpins in the small ribosomal subunit of bacteria to identify peptides that bind to it. The RNA hairpin target may be the 970 loop (aka helix 31 (h31)) or a modified version thereof. The identified peptides may inhibit protein synthesis and, therefore, may be used as a model for new antibiotics.
US08362201B2
A series of potent and highly specific insecticidal toxins characterized by an amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 2-35.
US08362196B2
A thermally processable graft copolymer formed from a water soluble polymer and a water insoluble polymer, wherein the graft copolymer forms a hydrogel upon exposure to water.
US08362194B2
Disclosed is a polymerizable composition comprising Component (a): a polythiocarbonate polythiol, Component (b): an episulfide compound, and optionally Component (c): an organic compound having a functional group that is reactive to the episulfide compound. The polymerizable composition can be cured to provide a polythioether having excellent optical properties (a high refractive index and a high Abbe's number) as well as excellent mechanical properties (a high bending distortion and a high glass transition temperature) and thus exhibiting excellent properties as an optical material.
US08362185B2
The invention relates to linear copolymers of monomer units having both ammonium groups and polysiloxane groups. Amine oxide groups may be substituted for ammonium groups. The polymer backbone includes side chains having high densities of quaternary ammonium groups. The copolymers impart softening, antistatic, quick-drying and setting properties in the appropriate settings.
US08362178B2
The present invention provides 1-alkene-acrylate based copolymer prepared by a method comprising step of a radical polymerization reaction of 1-alkene and acrylate based monomer under presence of a metal oxide or Lewis acid. The 1-alkene-acrylated based copolymer according to the present invention is a random copolymer of 1-alkene and a polar monomer, and an amount of a polar group contained in the copolymer is very high so that the alkene is not crystalline. Accordingly, when the copolymer is processed into a polymer film, a transparency of the polymer is not affected. Due to such a feature, the copolymer can be used for optical products.
US08362177B1
High refractive index copolymers with reduced tack are disclosed. The copolymers, which are particularly suitable for use as ophthalmic device materials, comprise a benzhydryl methacrylate or benzhydryl methacrylate derivative monomer.
US08362172B2
The invention provides an infiltrant for dental application that comprises crosslinking monomers. In accordance with the invention the infiltrant has a penetration coefficient PC>50 cm/s, and comprises 0.05%-20% by weight of acid-group-containing monomers.
US08362168B2
The present invention provides an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion having good mechanical characteristics and storage stability and containing substantially no fluorinated surfactant. The present invention is related to an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion comprising a dispersed fluoropolymer particle with an average primary particle diameter of 50 to 400 nm, a surface layer of the dispersed fluoropolymer particle being obtained by emulsion polymerization of a monomer composition consisting of 99.999 to 98 mole percent of tetrafluoroethylene and 0.001 to 2 mole percent of a modifier monomer, a fluorinated surfactant content being not higher than 50 ppm, a fluoropolymer content being 20 to 75% by mass, and a nonfluorinated nonionic surfactant content being 2 to 15% by mass relative to 100% by mass of the fluoropolymer.
US08362167B2
The invention provides a compound and tautomeric forms thereof having the formula: wherein Rf1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, a straight chain, branched secondary or branched tertiary C1-C20 perfluoroalkyl group optionally containing ether or thioether linkages and C1-C10 perfluoroalicyclic group optionally containing ether or thioether groups; Rf2 is a straight or branched C1-C20 perfluoroalkylene group optionally substituted with ether and thiother linkages; and X is selected from the group consisting of fluorine and The invention also provides perfluoroelastomeric compositions cured with the perfluoroimidoylamidines of the invention as well as combinations of perfluoroimidoylamidines and other curing agents.
US08362163B2
A supported metal complex comprising the reaction product of a transition metal complex of a polyvalent heteroaryl donor ligand containing at least one ortho-metallated aromatic ligand group and an ethylenically or poly(ethylenically) functionalized particulated organic or inorganic solid, a method for preparing the same and the use thereof as an addition polymerization catalyst.
US08362161B2
A method of treating a polymerization reactor effluent stream comprising recovering the reactor effluent stream from the polymerization reactor, flashing the reactor effluent stream to form a flash gas stream, separating the flash gas stream into a first top stream, a first bottom stream, and a side stream, wherein the side stream substantially comprises hexane, separating the first top stream into a second top stream and a second bottom stream, wherein the second bottom stream substantially comprises isobutane, and separating the second top stream into a third top stream and a third bottom stream; wherein the third top stream substantially comprises ethylene, and wherein the third bottom stream is substantially free of olefins.
US08362158B2
A polyglycolic acid resin composition having improved moisture resistance is obtained by adding a carboxyl group-capping agent and a polymerization catalyst-deactivation agent to a polyglycolic acid resin.
US08362145B2
A composition comprising a blend of a polyolefin, polylactic acid, and a reactive modifier. A method of producing an oriented film comprising reactive extrusion compounding a mixture comprising polypropylene, polylactic acid, a reactive modifier to form a compatibilized polymeric blend, casting the compatibilized polymeric blend into a film, and orienting the film. A method of preparing a reactive modifier comprising contacting a polyolefin, a multifunctional acrylate comonomer, and an initiator under conditions suitable for the formation of an epoxy-functionalized polyolefin wherein the epoxy-functionalized polyolefin has a grafting yield of from 0.2 wt. % to 15 wt. %.
US08362143B2
Disclosed herein is a non-glossy rubber modified aromatic vinyl-vinyl cyanide copolymer and a method for continuously preparing the same. The copolymer comprises about 80 to about 93% by weight of an aromatic vinyl-vinyl cyanide copolymer grafted onto about 7 to about 20% by weight of a diene-based rubber, and a dispersed phase of the copolymer has an average rubber particle diameter of about 6 to about 20 μm and a span of about 1.2 to about 2.8.
US08362126B2
A method for preparing a functionalized polymer comprising the steps of preparing a polymer by polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a lanthanide-based catalyst, wherein the lanthanide-based catalyst comprises (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an alkylating agent, and (c) a source of halogen, and reacting the pseudo-living polymer with at least one amide-containing functionalizing agent.
US08362112B2
The present invention relates to cure accelerators useful for anaerobic curable compositions, such as adhesives and sealants. The cure accelerators are constructed as urethane/urea/thiourethane (meth)acrylate resins from diols and include a unit embraced within structure A where X is C1-20 alkyl, C2-20 alkenyl, or C7-20 alkaryl, any of which may be interrupted by one or more hereto atoms, and which are functionalized by at least one and preferably at least two groups selected from —OH, —NH2 or —SH and z is 1-3.
US08362107B2
An ink set includes at least a cyan ink composition containing a self-dispersible pigment, a magenta ink composition containing a self-dispersible pigment, and a yellow ink composition containing a pigment coated with a water-insoluble polymer.
US08362106B2
Linear block copolymers that have at least one hydrophilic block and at least one hydrophobic block, wherein the hydrophilic block of the copolymer has at least one carboxylic acid functionality (or salt thereof) that can readily decarboxylate. These copolymers are useful as binders and/or dispersants in inkjet inks.
US08362101B2
A multifunctional Type II photoinitiator according to Formula (I): wherein X represents a structural moiety according to Formula (II): wherein: A represents a Norrish Type II initiating group; and L represents a divalent linking group positioning the Norrish Type II initiating group A and the CR2R3-group in a 1-5 to a 1-9 position wherein position 1 is defined as the first atom in the aromatic or alicyclic ring of A to which L is covalently bonded and the position 5 to 9 is defined as the carbon atom of the CR2R3-group to which L is covalently bonded, with the proviso that L does not contain an amine. Radiation curable compositions and inks include the multifunctional Type II photoinitiator.
US08362095B2
The invention relates to the defoaming of ionic liquids and also to compositions comprising at least one ionic liquid and at least one antifoam and, if appropriate, a solvent and/or further auxiliaries or additives.
US08362088B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for encapsulating a homeopathic ingredient with a second ingredient. A homeopathic carrier is prepared by applying the homeopathic ingredient to at least one element. The element is selected from the second ingredient, an excipient, and a capsule assembly. The second ingredient is encapsulated in a closed capsule assembly. The closed capsule assembly comprises the homeopathic carrier.
US08362086B2
The application relates to long acting injectable (LAI) formulations for combating ectoparasites and endoparasites in mammals. In particular, this invention provides for a LAI formulation comprising a subcutaneously volatile solvent, a biologically acceptable polymer, a bioactive agents and optionally one or more anti-ectoparasitically or anti-endoparasitically acceptable additive or excipient. Surprisingly, the liquid long acting injectable formulations of the invention solve the problems associates with previous injectable formulations by having long term stability, being able to accommodate smaller needle diameters and achieving long acting effects in the control of pests in a mammal. The unique formulations of the invention also allow for combating ectoparasites and endoparasites which have become resistant to macrolide antibiotics.
US08362085B2
The invention provides methods for administering memantine to a subject. Memantine in an extended release form containing 22.5 to 30 mg memantine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt is administered to a patient suffering from a neurological condition, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease or dementia. The extended release form achieves particular pharmacokinetic criteria such as change in plasma concentration of memantine over time and ratio of maximum memantine plasma concentration to mean memantine plasma concentration.
US08362078B2
The present invention relates to the use of polyunsaturated fatty acids and one or more components which have a beneficial effect on total methionine metabolism selected from the group consisting of vitamin B12 and precursors thereof, vitamin B6 and derivatives thereof, folic acid, zinc and magnesium, in the manufacture of a preparation for improving the action of receptors. This preparation is advantageously applied in patients suffering from Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, epilepsy, schizophrenia, paranoia, depression, sleep disorders, impaired memory function, psychoses, dementia and ADHD.
US08362076B2
Ascorbic acid esters of resveratrol and topical compositions containing same.
US08362073B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula I, wherein A, Y, Z, R3 to R6, R20 to R22 and R50 have the meanings indicated in the claims, which are valuable pharmaceutical active compounds. Specifically, they are inhibitors of the endothelial differentiation gene receptor 2 (Edg-2, EDG2), which is activated by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and is also termed as LPA1 receptor, and are useful for the treatment of diseases such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and heart failure, for example. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I, their use and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08362071B2
Vitamin E succinate derivatives according to formula I: are described. These compounds can be included in pharmaceutical compositions, and can be used for the treatment of cancers such as metastatic cancer and as antiadhesive agents.
US08362070B2
The invention relates to the new usage of puerarin in the field of pharmaceutical products, in other words, it relates to the application of puerarin in the preparation of drugs for P2X3 mediated pain/nervous system diseases. The experiment shows that puerarin can inhibit pain-related behavioral responses, subsequently immunohistochemical analysis, in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, protein blotting and other techniques were utilized to observe the inhibition of puerarin on mRNA and protein expression of P2X3 receptor in dorsal root ganglion of rats with neuropathic pain and in dorsal root ganglion and sensory nerve ending in the burn model of rats, it was found by using whole-cell patch clamp technique that puerarin can significantly reduce the electric current activated by P2X3 receptor agonist in the neuron of dorsal root ganglion of rats with neuropathic pain. The experiment proves that the mechanism for the inhibitory effects of puerarin on acute and chronic pain is to block the transmission of pain sense information that is mediated by P2X3 receptor in primary sensory neurons. The invention provides a kind of new method for the prevention and treatment on acute and chronic pain, and it also indicates that puerarin can act as a antagonist for P2X3 receptor, which will be helpful for the application of drugs in the prevention and treatment on P2X3 receptor involved nervous system diseases.