US08442581B2
A system for the coexistence between wireless communication modules sharing an antenna is disclosed. A wireless communication chipset includes a first wireless communication module capable of transmitting and receiving first wireless communication signals, a second wireless communication module capable of transmitting and receiving second wireless communication signals and a combine-separate unit capable of generating a first combined signal and separating a second combined signal. The switching device is configured to selectively transmit the first combined signal or receive the second combined signal. The connection device has a first port coupled to an antenna, a second port connected to the first port for transmitting the first combined signal or receiving the second combined signal, and a third port connected to the first port for transmitting or receiving the second wireless communication signals via the second path and the antenna.
US08442578B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, for generating feedback. In one aspect, a method includes receiving sensor data from a plurality of sensors, wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is associated with a mobile device of a user; aggregating the received sensor data to generate aggregated sensor data; processing the aggregated sensor data to determine an aggregated metric; comparing the aggregated metric to a target associated with the user to determine a measure of performance; and generating feedback based on the determined measure of performance. Further, the mobile device can comprise a mobile personal services device that includes one or more of an audio sensor, a video sensor, an environmental sensor, a biometric sensor, a location sensor, an activity detector, and a health monitor. The feedback can be displayed on the mobile personal services device. The feedback also can be displayed in near real-time.
US08442572B2
Method and apparatus for adjustments for delta-based power control in wireless communication systems
Systems and methodologies are described that provide techniques for performing adjustments for delta-based power control and interference management in a wireless communication system. A terminal can utilize one or more delta-based power control techniques described herein upon engaging in a reverse link transmission after a predetermined period of silence or after receiving indications of interference from neighboring access points. A delta value can be computed through open-loop projection, based on which transmission resources such as bandwidth and/or transmit power can be increased or decreased to manage interference caused by the terminal. A delta value, other feedback from the terminal, and/or indications of interference caused by the terminal can also be communicated as feedback to a serving access point to allow the access point to assign transmission resources for the terminal.
US08442570B1
What is disclosed is a method of operating a wireless communication device. The method includes entering an active state in a first wireless communication mode that requires tuning to a first frequency spectrum, and in response, setting a timer for monitoring a second wireless communication mode. If the timer expires during the active state in the first wireless communication mode, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to a second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring information for the second wireless communication mode. If the wireless communication device transitions from the active state to an idle state in the first wireless communication mode before the timer expires, then the method includes tuning away from the first frequency spectrum to the second frequency spectrum for the second wireless communication mode and monitoring the information for the second wireless communication mode.
US08442569B2
In a case where a second reference signal for a second communication system is transmitted in addition to a first reference signal for a first communication system, resources that affect a reception apparatus compatible only with the first communication system can be minimized, and the throughput can be prevented from being deteriorated. As resources for a reference signal CSI-RS, DVRB resources in which a resource unit defined in a frequency-time domain is divided in a time direction and distributedly allocated at predetermined frequency intervals are used and CSI-RS is allocated in a resource ID of a part of DVRB resources and transmitted when a reference signal 4RS for LTE is transmitted to a reception apparatus in addition to transmitting CSI-RS for LTE-A. The reception apparatus receives CSI-RS allocated in DVRM resources on the basis of DVRB setting information for CSI-RS, measures channel quality such as CQI, PMI or RI by using CSI-RS, and transmits and reports feedback information containing channel quality information to a transmission apparatus.
US08442562B2
End to end acknowledgment of SMS messages based on sending an acknowledgement back to the sender of the SMS that the message was received after successful delivery.
US08442558B2
A system, method and computer readable medium comprised of in-vehicle passive monitoring and information management system elements which together detect, identify, report and discourage unsafe wireless device use by the operator of a vehicle. An in-vehicle monitoring device determines the vehicle's operational state and location, identifies wireless device transmitter emissions within the vehicle and communicates to a remote information management system using a wireless network, or after-the-fact, using a local network to a locally-installed software version of the information management system. The information management system collects information retrieved from in-vehicle devices and correlates this information with other database information to provide users with timely alerts, tracking, and records of unsafe wireless device use.
US08442556B2
A device sends, to a mobile device, instructions to collect location-based data associated with calls conducted by the mobile device over a wireless access network and receives, from the mobile device, the location-based data, where the location-based data includes a three-dimensional location and a time associated with each of multiple calls conducted by the mobile device over the wireless access network. The device combines the location-based data with other location-based data from other mobile devices and identifies, based on the combined location-based data and other location-based data, a localized area of congestion for the wireless access network.
US08442542B2
System(s), method(s), and device(s) that facilitate managing resources associated with communication devices are presented. A mobile device(s) at cell edge identifies its in-use resource blocks (RBs) to a neighbor base station, or in-use RBs of a neighbor base station to the serving base station. In the former instance, the neighbor base station sorts RBs in ascending order based on signal strengths respectively associated with the RBs and mobile devices; in the latter instance, the serving base station ranks RBs in ascending order based on signal strengths respectively associated with the RBs and neighbor base stations. RBs having weakest signal strength are reused first for mobile devices at cell edge. Base station establishes a direct wireless radio path with another base station facilitated by employing a sequence of subframes where all subframes but a specified subframe are blanked, and data is transmitted between base stations during the specified subframe.
US08442519B2
The present Spectrum Sharing System implements spectrum reuse between aircraft-based Air-To-Ground (ATG) communication systems and Geostationary Satellite Service systems. This is accomplished by managing the radio frequency transmissions in the volume of space in which the aircraft operates, with interference between the Spectrum Sharing System and the Geostationary Satellite Service system being reduced by implementing reversed uplink and downlink radio frequency paths in the common spectrum. The Spectrum Sharing System also avoids interfering with Geostationary Satellite Services' earth stations which are pointed towards the satellites' orbital arc by relying upon a combination of the earth stations' highly directive antenna patterns and the Spectrum Sharing System ground station antenna pattern, and to avoid interfering with satellites in their orbital arc by assuring that power levels radiated in that direction by the Spectrum Sharing System ground stations are below the level that would create interference.
US08442514B2
A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of a control networks on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with the control network. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network may have user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network may also include a wide area network interface, allowing diagnostic information for the control network to be retrieved or parts to be ordered from remote vendor sites. The system may also include wireless handheld, portable equipment for allowing service personnel to perform diagnostic analysis, maintenance, and testing of the mobile conveyance control network.
US08442513B2
A method in a mobile station for measurement reporting in a wireless system includes detecting the presence of a cell, applying a first filter to a first number of measurement samples of a first measurement quantity of the cell wherein the first number of measurement samples are determined from a switch point, and applying a second filter to a plurality of measurement samples obtained from measurements made subsequent to the first number of measurement samples.
US08442508B2
A system for logging performance of a driver operating a vehicle that has a vehicle information system from which least one vehicle operating parameter may be obtained. The vehicle operating parameter collected through the vehicle information system and operator information collected from a portable device are wirelessly communicated to a remote host through a network such as the Internet.
US08442499B2
Methods and apparatus for over-the-air (OTA) subscriptions. A method is provided for performing over-the-air subscriptions in a data network. The method comprises establishing an overhead notification mechanism, and transmitting a package database to a device using the overhead notification mechanism, wherein the package database identifies one or more service packages. The method also comprises receiving a request from the device to subscribe to one or more selected service packages.
US08442498B2
This disclosure details the implementation of methods, systems and computer program products for remote digital video recorder (DVR) interface provisioning (hereinafter, “DIP”). DIP systems allow for authentication, validation, and registration of users and/or user devices as well as management of identifiers associated with those users and devices. Through interaction with DIP systems, users may associate different devices with each other and/or with one or more underlying service systems and/or accounts to allow integrated use of multiple devices in association with those services. In one implementation, DIP systems may be employed to register one or more mobile and/or remote devices (e.g., mobile phones) with DVR systems to allow for remote manipulation of video recording schedules, content management, parental control management, and/or the like DVR features. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed, comprising: providing a provisioning interface for display to a user, the provisioning interface including an interface element configured to receive a mobile device identifier; receiving a mobile device identifier input to the provisioning interface; receiving a local media receiver device identifier; querying a service account based on the local media receiver device identifier; retrieving a service account activation code based on the query; and storing the mobile device identifier in association with the activation code in a database.
US08442496B2
A method for creating and managing a distribution list can include creating a distribution list at a voicemail system. The distribution list can include at least one recipient and at least one language preference for one or more of the at least one recipients. The method can further include selecting the created distribution list and recording an audio message to be sent to the at least one recipient. Translating the audio message into the at least one language preference for one or more of the at least one recipients thereby creating at least one translated audio message and sending the at least one translated audio message to the at least one recipient.
US08442484B2
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for implementing mobile device-based bandwidth throttling. In one aspect, a method includes receiving policy from a wireless carrier that specifies one or more data usage thresholds allotted by the wireless carrier for data transferred over a wireless carrier network during a predetermined period of time, determining an amount of data that has been transferred by the mobile device over the wireless carrier network during the predetermined period of time, determining that the amount exceeds one or more of the data usage thresholds, and throttling the bandwidth of a mobile device over the wireless carrier network based on determining that the amount exceeds one or more of the data usage thresholds.
US08442478B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed that controls voice call quality by networks and maintains the optimal voice call quality in a portable terminal. The voice call quality control method includes: identifying a network, connected to the portable terminal when the portable terminal enters a voice call mode, and a value for applying voice call quality of the network; changing a value for setting voice call quality, performed in the network, by the value for applying voice call quality; and controlling voice call quality of a voice call mode in the network by the altered value for setting voice call quality.
US08442473B1
Data transmitted via a combination of radio frequency RF signals using carrier aggregation CA is received, each RF signal occupying a respective RF band, the bands being arranged in two groups separated in frequency by a first frequency region, the first of the two groups occupying a wider frequency region than the second group. Inphase and quadrature components of the RF signals are filtered using a first bandpass filter bandwidth to give first bandpass filtered components and filtered using a second bandpass filter bandwidth, different from the first bandpass filter bandwidth, to give second bandpass filtered components. A reconfigurable receiver is configurable to a first mode to receive the combination of RF signals, and is also configurable to at least a second mode. A filter is configured, in different modes, to use a first or a lowpass bandpass filter bandwidth.
US08442471B2
An agile RF tuner circuit capable of converting a wide portion of RF signal into an IF signal suitable for analog-to-digital conversion. The circuit up converts a received RF signal to a high IF signal and then down converts the high IF signal to a low IF signal. Embodiments of the RF circuit incorporate harmonic reject mixers to suppress harmonics and intermodulations typically associated with the frequency conversion process.
US08442467B1
In a wireless communication device, circuitry selects a first frequency band for a first wireless communication and transfers a pair of radio frequency signals at the first frequency band. An antenna receives and orthogonally transmits the radio frequency signals over a first patch antenna element that is resonant at the first frequency band. The circuitry selects a second frequency band for a second wireless communication and transfers a pair of radio frequency signals at the second frequency band and including a voltage component. The antenna receives the radio frequency signals including the voltage component, couples a second patch antenna element to the first patch antenna element in response to the voltage component, and orthogonally transmits the radio frequency signals over the coupled patch antenna elements that together are resonant at the second frequency band.
US08442453B2
A radio communication transceiver achieving impedance matching when the transceiver operates in an output state and an input state respectively in a manner of switching a switch includes a transformer, a switch, a power amplifier (PA), and a low noise amplifier (LNA). The transformer has a primary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint and a secondary winding including a first endpoint and a second endpoint. The switch has a gate, a drain, and a source, wherein the gate receives a control signal, the drain is connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding, and the source is connected to the second endpoint of the secondary winding. The PA has an output terminal connected to the first endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer. The LNA has an input terminal connected to the second endpoint of the primary winding of the transformer.
US08442446B2
A radio communication device and multifunction device are provided. The radio communication device includes a radio communicating unit which receives data according to a radio communication method using one of a plurality of radio channels provided in a frequency band and changes the radio channel according to a period; a data processing unit which performs processing using the data; a communication status determining unit which determines, for each channel, whether a communication status of the radio channel is good; a ratio changing unit which changes a ratio of setting a good channel whose communication status is determined as good, and a ratio of setting a not-good channel whose communication status is determined as not-good; and a setting unit which sets either the good channel or the not-good channel as the radio channel in the radio communication method according to the ratios changed by the ratio changing unit.
US08442440B2
The present disclosure generally describes methods and systems for spectrum sensing within a cognitive radio. Example methods may include but are not limited to scanning radio frequencies within an initial portion of the radio frequency spectrum and analyzing the frequencies scanned within the initial portion. Example methods may also include but are not limited to dividing the initial portion into first and second portions, and selecting one of the first and second portions for further analysis.
US08442437B1
One embodiment includes a method for designating, at a first device, one of a first plurality of wireless channels as a bind channel, then transmitting a channel change request message using a second plurality of wireless channels, wherein the channel change request includes which one of the plurality of wireless channels is a designated bind channel, transmitting a bind request message using the designated bind channel, and then receiving a bind response message from a second wireless device using the designated bind channel.
US08442430B2
An apparatus and method for processing signals in a distributed antenna system. The method includes receiving, by a Base Station (BS), Channel State Information (CSI) from Mobile Stations (MSs) located within a coverage area of the BS or a coverage of Relay Stations (RSs) connected to the BS; multiplying signals for transmission to the MSs by beamforming vectors by using the CSI; and transmitting the multiplied signals to the MSs.
US08442423B1
A digital media item, such as an electronic book (eBook), may include testing content. The testing content may include questions about the content of the digital media item. When is user is viewing the digital media item on an electronic device, such as an eBook reader, the user may be allowed to select whether the testing content is displayed. The user may also be allowed to select a particular mode of testing, such as automatic testing, selective testing, etc. If the user chooses to display the testing content, the user may also be allowed to provide answers to the testing questions.
US08442420B2
An intermediate transfer belt is built in an electro-photographic image forming apparatus. A toner image formed on a photosensitive element is primary transferred on the intermediate transfer belt. The intermediate transfer belt secondary transfers the primary transferred toner image on a recording medium being conveyed at a secondary transfer unit. The intermediate transfer belt has streaks formed by surface roughening on the surface thereof and directed so as to have an angle relative to the driving direction of the intermediate transfer belt within a range from 40 to 140 degree. This angle setting enables stable transfer of an image without causing any character missing.
US08442418B2
An image forming apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey a sheet, a first door that can make the conveyance unit accessible, a rotation shaft configured to rotatably support the first door, and a second door which is provided to the first door in an openable/closable manner, wherein the second door can make the conveyance unit near the rotation shaft accessible.
US08442414B2
A seal member covers a space between a developing roller and a casing of a developing device. The seal member includes a flexible sheet and a reinforcing member fixed to the sheet. The reinforcing member is fixed to the casing. Notches are provided in the reinforcing member in a direction perpendicular to the length of the reinforcing member.
US08442402B1
A wide band digital RF receiver includes an RF front end configured to convert a RF signal into an IF signal. A wide band digital receiver also includes a photonic Analog-to-Digital Converter (pADC), and a digital processor. The pADC includes a photonic sampler that phase-encodes a stream of optical pulses with the IF signal to obtain phase-encoded optical pulses, and that amplitude-encodes an identical stream of optical pulses with the IF signal to obtain amplitude-encoded optical pulses. The pADC also includes a photonic processor and an electronic quantizer. The photonic processor processes the phase-encoded optical pulses by way of an I channel and a Q channel, and processes the amplitude-encoded optical pulses by way of an amplitude channel.
US08442394B2
An imaging apparatus for performing wireless communication with an external device. An instruction transmitting unit transmits an operation instruction to the external device. A response signal receiving unit receives a response signal from the external device. A first controlling unit starts a first operation relating to an imaging process in a case that a first time passes from a point of receiving the response signal by the response signal receiving unit. The external device executes a second operation relating to the imaging process in a case that a second time passes from a point of transmitting the response signal from the external device to the imaging apparatus.
US08442384B2
Automated video digest system and method. The system decomposes video and audio portions of video media into low-level descriptors, producing a large number of such descriptors for each video image and scene. These descriptors are optimized to be both compatible with rapid automated descriptor creation, and also to have some positive or negative statistical correlation with the viewing preferences of typical human viewers. By comparing the number of descriptors correlated with positive human viewing preferences, versus the number of descriptors correlated with negative human viewing preferences, the automated system may analyze an unknown video program and make educated guesses as to which portions of the program are likely to be most interesting to the viewer on playback. Less interesting portions may be skipped or fast-forwarded though. The method may also be optimized to individual viewers. Such methods are useful for controlling the playback of digital video recorders and other systems.
US08442383B2
An image capturing apparatus selects one of image capturing conditions to be used for capturing images as a reference condition when a total of image capturing time of one frame in each image capturing condition to be used for capturing images is longer than one frame period at a predetermined frame rate, and captures images at the predetermined frame rate under the reference condition, and captures images at a frame rate lower than the predetermined frame rate under the other image capturing conditions. A playback apparatus detects a motion between frames of a moving image captured under the reference condition when the image capturing condition of the playback moving image is not the reference condition, and generates an interpolation frame for interpolating between frames of the playback moving image based on the detected motion.
US08442377B2
An audio/video recording method and system is provided. The method includes receiving by a processor of an audio/video recording device, a request for recording broadcast audio/video data. The processor analyzes audio/video presentation capabilities for audio/video presentation devices and formats of a first group of broadcast audio/video files associated with the broadcast audio/video data. Results of the analysis are compared and in response a first audio/video file is selected from the first group of broadcast audio/video files. The first audio/video file includes a first format requiring a first amount of storage space within a storage device of the audio/video recording device. The first format is associated with the audio/video presentation capabilities of a first audio/video presentation device and the first audio/video file is recorded.
US08442370B2
An optical fiber cable is comprised of: a slotted core elongated along an axis of the optical fiber cable, the slotted core including a slot running in parallel with the axis and a groove accessible through the slot; one or more optical fibers placed in the groove; a sheath enclosing the slotted core and the optical fibers; a bonding portion where the slotted core is bonded with the sheath; a first strength member embedded in the slotted core and running in parallel with the axis; and a second strength member embedded in the sheath and running in parallel with the axis, wherein the first and second strength members are aligned on a plane including the axis.
US08442368B1
Development of Integrated Optical Circuits depends greatly on progress in coupling light to and between chip devices. Exemplary disclosed embodiments provide a system and method of fabricating couplers for optical chips that may allow for access to devices on the entire chip surface. Cantilever couplers comprising optical waveguides are deflected out-of-plane creating access to remote portions of devices. An exemplary system and method may provide waveguides with tunable angles of deflection creating greater flexibility in optical coupling options.
US08442367B2
An apparatus includes a waveguide including a core layer having curved edges shaped to reflect light to a focal point, and a grating positioned adjacent to or imbedded in the core layer, wherein at least a portion of the grating is positioned between the curved edges and adjacent to or imbedded in a portion of the core layer that is not traversed by light reflected from the curved edges. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided.
US08442364B2
An optical waveguide device includes an optical branch device for branching a first input light and outputting the branched first input light to a first and a second optical waveguides, another optical branch device, arranged between the first and the second optical waveguides, for branching a second input light and outputting the branched second input light to a third and a fourth optical waveguides, an optical coupler which couples the lights traveling along the first and the third optical waveguides, then branches the coupled lights, and outputs them; and another optical coupler which couples the lights traveling along the second and the fourth optical waveguides, then branches the coupled lights, and outputs them, wherein optical path lengths of either a pair of the first and the second optical waveguides or a pair of the third and the fourth optical waveguides are set to be equal.
US08442357B2
Two-dimensional chemical maps of a layered nanostructure are reconstructed from selected spectroscopy line scans in a scanning electron microscope. Embodiments include fast two-dimensional scanning a layered nanostructure to form a structure image having multiple layers, slow-rate spectroscopy scanning the nanostructure along selected scanning lines to form chemical profiles, warping the structure image into a warped structure image by flattening each of the layers in the structure image, aligning chemical profiles to the warped structure image, forming warped chemical maps, and inversely transforming the warped chemical maps into two-dimensional chemical maps.
US08442348B2
Disclosed are methods, devices, and computer program products for image noise reduction. In one example embodiment, a method for reducing noise in a digital image includes several acts. First, one or more objects are identified in an input image. Next, the input image or a portion thereof is processed to produce another image, which may be a blurred version of the input image. Finally, one or more objects in the processed image that correspond to the one or more objects identified in the input image are evaluated to determine whether to discard the one or more objects identified in the input image. For example, if an amount of energy preserved in an object after blurring is less than a threshold, the object may be discarded as noise.
US08442345B2
A method and apparatus for processing imager pixel signals to reduce noise. The processing includes receiving a target pixel signal, receiving at least one neighboring pixel signal, formulating a dynamic noise signal based at least in part on a value of the target pixel signal, and controlling a noise reduction operation using the dynamic noise signal.
US08442340B2
At least one approximation image is created of the image at one or multiple scales. Translation difference images are created by pixel-wise subtracting the values of an approximation image at scale s and the values of a translated version of the approximation image. A non-linear modification is applied to the values of the translation difference image (s) and at least one enhanced center difference image at a specific scale is computed by combining the modified translation difference images at that scale or a smaller scale with weights Wi,j. An enhanced image is computed by applying a reconstruction algorithm to the enhanced center difference images. The non-linear modification of the values of the translation difference images is steered by the values of an orientation map which comprises for each pixel a local direction of interest. In addition or alternatively, at least one enhanced center difference image is computed by anisotropic weighing of the enhanced translation differences with weights steered by the orientation map.
US08442329B2
A method, system, and machine-readable medium for classifying an image element as one of a plurality of categories, including assigning the image element based on a ratio between an unoccluded perimeter of the image element and an occluded perimeter of the image element and coding the image element according to a coding scheme associated with the category to which the image element is classified. Exemplary applications include image compression, where categories include image foreground and background layers.
US08442321B1
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for labeling images. In one aspect, a method includes automatically identifying an object in an image using a deep model-based and data-driven hybrid architecture.
US08442314B2
An object input unit extracts the area of an object as an object area, and a mesh generation unit divides the object area into a plurality of meshes to obtain position information, gradient information, and color information of respective vertices that form the meshes. An optimization unit determines the position information, gradient information, and color information of the vertices by dividing each of the meshes into a plurality of small areas, and performing processing for changing the position information, gradient information, and color information of the vertices so as to locally minimize the differences between color information within the small areas and that within portions of the object area corresponding to the small areas. To divide each of the meshes into a plurality of small areas, the optimization unit changes the number or size of small areas in accordance with the number of times of changing processing.
US08442311B1
A method and apparatus for encoding an image is disclosed. A decomposition circuit comprises a set of pixel filters used to identify picture pixels, background pixels and text pixels of the image. An image encoding circuit comprises a lossy discrete transform encoder for encoding the picture pixels, a constant color lossless encoder for encoding the background pixels, and a discrete color lossless encoder for encoding the text pixels.
US08442301B2
A method and system for nondestructively detecting and quantifying material anomalies within materials, including composite articles. The method entails performing a three-dimensional imaging scan technique, such as a computed tomography scan, of the material and a reference standard such that a test image of the material and a reference image of the reference standard appear in a plurality of two-dimensional scan views generated by the scan technique. The reference images are located in the scan views and normalized to determine at least an average value of the pixel data for the reference images. Values of pixel data of the test image are determined in each scan view, and then compared to the pixel data of the reference images to detect the presence of an anomaly in the test images. The detected anomaly in at least one of the test images of the scan views is then compared to a requirement standard for the material.
US08442295B2
A system includes an imager that images an object, which includes a marker that is visually obscured, a marker identifier that identifies markers in the image of the object, and an image processor that combines the image of the object and a visual representation for the identified marker into a combined image, wherein a presence of a visual representation for the marker included with the object in the combined image indicates the object is authentic. A method includes imaging an object that includes a visually obscured marker and generating an image of the object, identifying the marker in the image of the object, generating a combined image that includes the image of the object and a visual representation of the identified marker, presenting the combined image, wherein the object is authenticated as not counterfeit in response to the visual representation of the marker corresponding to a reference authentication marker for the object.
US08442292B2
An X-ray CT apparatus that can efficiently set a scanning condition in a scanning operation of a periodically moving internal organ such as a heart or the like is provided. The X-ray CT apparatus collects electrocardiographic information by using a periodic motion measuring device 6 (S1). Subsequently, an operator input a time resolution rate corresponding to time resolution expected in a target examination (S2). Subsequently, the X-ray CT apparatus calculates a scanning condition under which the input time resolution rate can be implemented (S3). Subsequently, the X-ray CT apparatus images a heart under the scanning condition calculated in S3 (S4). Subsequently, the X-ray CT apparatus reconstructs an electrocardiographic-synchronous image by using the scanning data obtained in S4 and the electrocardiographic information (S5). Subsequently, the X-ray CT apparatus displays the electrocardiographic-synchronous image reconstructed in S5 on a display device 5 (S6).
US08442286B2
There is provided a technique for adaptively acquiring, from a tomogram of an eye region, diagnosis information data of the eye region which is used for the diagnosis of a plurality of kinds of diseases, without increasing load on a user. A layer acquisition unit (331) acquires a predetermined layer area from the tomogram of the eye region. A changing unit (332) changes an algorithm for the acquisition of diagnosis information data as information used for the diagnosis of the eye region from the tomogram based on the information data extracted from the layer area. A quantifying unit (336) acquires diagnosis information data from the tomogram based on the changed algorithm.
US08442285B2
This invention relates to medical image registration. Specifically, the invention relates to a combined feature ensemble mutual information (COFEMI) for robust inter-modal, inter-protocol image registration.
US08442284B2
A method of performing spectral OCT imaging on a target involves repeatedly scanning said target along a transverse scanning line with an object beam derived from an OCT interferometer having a narrowband source. The wavelength of the narrowband source is modulated over a range of wavelengths at a rate that is slow relative to the rate of scanning the target. The object beam returned from the target is detected to produce a set of data obtained from multiple scans along said scanning line over the entire range of wavelengths. The data is then processed to extract an OCT image (typically a B-scan) of the target containing depth information.
US08442281B2
A method and system are described for generating a pattern indicating at least medical information related to an individual's body; and invoking circuitry for displaying at least the generated pattern on one or more surfaces on the individual's body.
US08442277B1
Embodiments of the invention relate to systems, methods, and computer program products for authenticating the identity of an authorized custodian of a dependent individual visiting a facility. In particular, the identity of an authorized custodian of a dependent individual visiting a facility is authenticated by: recording an image of an iris of the authorized custodian in a database; capturing an image of an iris of an individual attempting to accompany the dependent individual when the dependent individual exits the facility; and verifying, prior to allowing the dependent individual to exit the facility, that the captured image of the iris of the individual attempting to accompany the dependent individual matches the recorded image of the iris of the authorized custodian.
US08442276B2
A method and computer product are presented for identifying a subject by biometric analysis of an eye. First, an image of the iris of a subject to be identified is acquired. Texture enhancements may be done to the image as desired, but are not necessary. Next, the iris image is radially segmented into a selected number of radial segments, for example 200 segments, each segment representing 1.8° of the iris scan. After segmenting, each radial segment is analyzed, and the peaks and valleys of color intensity are detected in the iris radial segment. These detected peaks and valleys are mathematically transformed into a data set used to construct a template. The template represents the subject's scanned and analyzed iris, being constructed of each transformed data set from each of the radial segments. After construction, this template may be stored in a database, or used for matching purposes if the subject is already registered in the database.
US08442275B2
Particularly applicable to the implementation of sustainability requirements concerning on the promotion of the use of bioproduct from renewable sources, through the system and method described is possible to ensure that the origin of raw materials is sustainable (according to a previously defined sustainability requirements), avoiding travel to the area of interest, thus saving time and economic costs and preventing errors and fraud. More specifically, the system and method object of the invention are particularly applicable for identifying those areas that comply with said sustainability requirements. Said sustainability requirements state that raw material intended for bioproduct shall not be made from lands with a high biodiversity, high carbon stock or peatlands, and bearing in mind additionally the land use requirement.
US08442274B2
Included are systems and methods for providing data. At least one embodiment of a method includes accessing, by a computing device, a plurality of images for a geographic location; determining which of the images has a predetermined geographic accuracy; determining which of the image has a predetermined image clarity; determining a common point on the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy and the image with the predetermined image clarity; utilizing the common point to merge the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy with the image with the predetermined image clarity; and providing one or more location services on the image with predetermined image clarity, utilizing geographic location data from the image with the predetermined geographic accuracy.
US08442266B2
A device for identifying mail items includes a memory for storing mail item information of a mail item and characteristic image features of the mail item. A control unit assigns the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, the control unit carries out the assignment with the aid of an identification code associated with the mail item.
US08442264B2
Methods and apparatuses for searching for a control signal in streaming video or streaming audio that indicates the presence of a watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. The streaming video or streaming audio is received and searched for a control signal. The detection of a control signal indicates the presences of a digital watermark in the streaming video or streaming audio. An indicator is triggered based upon detecting the control signal.
US08442260B2
A ribbon transducer (101) is disclosed, comprising: a ribbon made of conductive material (2), a damping system (4) arranged at least at one end of the conductive ribbon (2), and two rigid supports (103) where the ends of the ribbon (2) are fixed. The damping system (104) comprises a suspension composed of at least one wire (105), anchoring means (107) to connect said ribbon (2) to said wire (105), and elastic means (150) operatively connected to said wire to generate mechanical stress.
US08442256B2
A base having a flat shape; a support provided on a bottom surface of the base; a microphone unit incorporated in the base and converts sound into an electric signal; and a pressure sensitive switch with which an output signal from the microphone unit is turned on and off are included. At least one such pressure sensitive switch is provided to be pressed between the base and the support.
US08442255B2
A boundary microphone includes: a metal mesh; a base made of metal; a cover made of metal on which a plurality of holes through which a sound wave is passed is formed; and a microphone unit that is installed on the base and converts sound into an electrical signal. The metal mesh is welded onto the base with a metal material of the base entering a space of the metal mesh. The microphone unit is covered by the metal mesh.
US08442247B2
The invention relates to a hearing aid system comprising an input transducer for converting an input sound signal comprising an information signal part of a known waveform and a background noise part to an electrical analogue input signal, optionally an A/D converter for converting the electrical input signal to a digital input signal. The invention further relates to a method of making a critical gain measurement. The object of the present invention is to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal to be measured or detected in a hearing instrument compared to prior art solutions. The problem is solved in that a matched filter receiving said analogue or digital input signal and optimized to improve the identification of the information signal part from the noisy input signal. An advantage of the invention is that it provides an alternative scheme for improving signal to noise ratio of a hearing aid. The invention may e.g. be used for the customization of hearing aid parameters in cooperation with fitting software and/or for improving signal to noise ratio of a detected or measured signal.
US08442246B2
A hearing aid device includes a plurality of microphones which converts picked sound to audio signals, an inter-signal phase difference calculation unit which calculates a phase difference between a first audio signal and a second audio signal, a hand placement determination unit, a directivity sound pickup unit which generates an output signal, a nonlinear amplification unit which controls the signal level of the output signal acquired from the directivity sound pickup unit, and a hearing aid process control unit which, when the hand placement determination unit determines that a state where a phase difference is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value continues for a first time, controls the directivity sound pickup unit such that at least one of the sensitivity-frequency characteristic and the frequency characteristics of the audio signals becomes nondirective, and controls the nonlinear amplification unit to amplify the signal levels of the acquired audio signals.
US08442241B2
An audio signal processing device is provided whereby, from two systems of audio signals in which audio signals of multiple audio sources are included, the audio signals of the multiple audio sources can be suitably separated. The audio signal processing device divides each of two systems of audio signals into a plurality of frequency bands, calculates a level ratio or a level difference of the two systems of audio signals, at each of the divided plurality of frequency bands, and extracts and outputs frequency band components of and nearby values regarding which the level ratio or the level difference calculated at the level comparison means have been determined beforehand. The frequency band components have a level ratio or level difference at and nearby the values determined beforehand which are different one from another.
US08442239B2
An audio system for a vehicle that includes a system for allowing an occupant of the vehicle to adjust a balance setting of each audio source (116). The audio system includes a plurality of audio sources (102) that are connected to an amplifier (104). The amplifier is connected to a head unit (106) that adjusts the balance setting of each audio source based on predetermined parameters or user preferences (112). Audio output signals from the audio sources are thus reproduced with different balance settings.
US08442238B2
A device in a headset having a throat microphone and ear speakers soundproofing against the auditory meatus. The device has a separate microphone connected to the ear speaker for picking up the sound of the surroundings that is transmitted to the car speaker. Furthermore, noise-suppressing means are included, which limit the sound level of the sound of the surroundings. The throat microphone communicates via a communication unit. The soundproofing ear speaker and the microphone are arranged so that the headset can be housed in a safety helmet.
US08442232B2
A system includes a first wireless-enabled device that transparently stores confidential information and a second wireless-enabled device that stores the same confidential information. The confidential information is to be used to secure a wireless communication link between the first device and the second device. One or both of the first device and the second device is to delete the confidential information upon fulfillment of one or more conditions related to the communication link. The conditions include general timeout, device inactivity, loss of connection over the communication link, a decline in signal strength, and a predefined number of transactions having occurred between the first device and the second device.
US08442229B2
An apparatus and method for providing security in a Passive Optical Network (PON) using an Enhanced Security Control management entity (ME). In one embodiment, an optical network unit (ONU) comprising: a processor coupled to a memory and configured to exchange security information between the ONU and an optical line terminal (OLT) by using a plurality of attributes in an Enhanced Security Control management entity (ME) in the ONU via an ONU management control interface (OMCI) channel; wherein the plurality of attributes comprise: an OLT crypto capabilities attribute, an ONU selected crypto capabilities attribute, an OLT random challenge table attribute, an ONU authentication result table attribute, an ONU random challenge table attribute, an OLT authentication result table attribute, and a master session key name attribute.
US08442228B2
A multi-class switching system that includes a coder/decoder for converting voice between analog and digital; a first switch coupled to the coder/decoder to isolate non-secure entities in a dial-up network, including fiber optic ports to pass classified and unclassified data to one of a classified IP network and an unclassified IP network, an encryption device coupled to the first switch to encrypt digitized voice, a second switch coupled to the encryption device and directly to the first switch, wherein the second switch receives encrypted digital voice from the encryption device connection and unencrypted digital voice from the direct connection, and wherein the first switch and the second switch operate in a plurality of states including secure, non-secure, and cut-off, a fiber optic (F/O) switch coupled to the coder/decoder, and at least one controller to control states of the first switch, the second switch, and the fiber optic (F/O) switch.
US08442219B2
Methods are disclosed for improving public key cryptography schemes, such as RSA and its variants, to allow for decryption of messages using less than all of the prime factors of the modulus that is used for encryption of said messages.
US08442216B2
A system and method are provided enabling implicit redundancies such as constant differences and points that should be on the same curve, to be checked at the beginning, end and intermittently throughout the computation to thwart fault injection attacks. This can be implemented by checking the constant difference in point pairs during point multiplication, by checking constant scalings in exponentiation pairs, and by checking that any intermediate point is on the curve and/or in the correct subgroup of the curve.
US08442199B2
A method for real-time communication among two or more individuals separated in space. The method includes the steps of determining that a first individual is likely to be interested in communicating with a second individual via a first communications link; retrieving information via the first communications link about one or more additional individuals from electronic memory means associated with the second individual; and establishing communication with at least one of the additional individuals based on the retrieved information.
US08442189B2
A unified communications appliance provides integration of various types of information, regardless of the modality, in a common, centralized interface where the various types of information are grouped based on what they are related to. For example, as is common with most modalities of information exchange, there exists a “subject” that is present in one of the fields of communication. The ability to associate all of the types of communication with a common “subject” (or conversation) and provide an interface that allows access to the various types of information, regardless of the modality is provided by the unified communications interface.
US08442187B2
A security method and system. The method includes receiving by a computing system, a telephone call from a user. The computing system comprises an existing password/passphrase and a pre-recorded voice sample associated with the user. The computing system prompts the user to enter a password/passphrase using speech. The computing system receives speech data comprising a first password/passphrase from the user. The computing system converts the speech data to text data. The computing system first compares the text data to the first password/passphrase and determines a match. The computing system compares the speech data to the pre-recorded voice sample to determine a result indicating whether a frequency spectrum associated with the speech data matches a frequency spectrum associated with the pre-recorded voice sample. The computing system transmits the result to the user.
US08442183B2
An object is to provide a pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit. A pulse signal output circuit according to one embodiment of the disclosed invention includes first to tenth transistors. The ratio W/L of the channel width W to the channel length L of the first transistor and W/L of the third transistor are each larger than W/L of the sixth transistor. W/L of the fifth transistor is larger than W/L of the sixth transistor. W/L of the fifth transistor is equal to W/L of the seventh transistor. W/L of the third transistor is larger than W/L of the fourth transistor. With such a structure, a pulse signal output circuit capable of operating stably and a shift register including the pulse signal output circuit can be provided.
US08442178B2
A linear phase detector includes an up/down pulse generator operating in response to received data signals and a recovered clock signal. The phase detector generates up and down pulses that have pulse widths proportional to the phase differences between transitions of the received data signals and edges of the recovered clock signal. By generating up and down pulses using a linear phase detector in proportion to a phase error, data signals are effectively recovered, even data signals with significant jitter.
US08442172B1
The present invention provides a communications system, node and method of operation for forming a wireless network from independently operating nodes that have the ability to self-synchronize with each other, independently determine master and slave modes of operation to cooperate as a network, and independently vary those functions to adjust to changes in the network.
US08442169B2
An SIR estimate of a communication signal in a wireless communication system receiver is calculated based on soft bit values output by a nonlinear detector. The average amplitude of the detector output soft bits is estimated. The average power of the detector output soft bits is estimated, e.g., as a mean-square or variance. An SIR of the communication signal is estimated based on the soft bit amplitude and power estimates. In particular, the SIR is estimated as the ratio of the square of soft bit amplitude to the difference between the mean square soft bit power and the square of soft bit amplitude, or the ratio of the square of soft bit amplitude to the variance. In either case, the SIR estimate may be scaled to obtain the desired units. The communication signal may be a received signal, or a simulated signal generated using channel estimates obtained from, e.g., a pilot channel.
US08442163B2
Two decoding algorithms are introduced for the decoding of multi-level coded modulation and other types of coded modulation involving component codes and interleaving operations. An improved hard iterative decoding (IHID) algorithm is presented that improves upon a hard iteration decoding technique by adding a stopping criterion. Also, a list Viterbi hard iteration decoding (LV-IHID) algorithm is presented that employs list decoding in conjunction with the IHID algorithm. Both of these decoding algorithms improve upon conventional multi-stage decoding by reducing the effective error multiplicity that is observed at the lowest coding level. It is demonstrated that the LV-IHID algorithm performs close to soft iterative decoding. The computational and delay complexity of the proposed decoding algorithms compare favorably with soft iterative decoding strategies. Also, a novel labeling strategy for MLC design is presented.
US08442156B2
A method and apparatus for aligning I- and Q-signals in a quadrature receiver based on an squared signal. A correction is evaluated in an iterative manner by finding an average of the squared signal. The average squared signal may be the received signal, in which case the iterations are applied in a feed forward manner. Alternatively, the average squared signal is the aligned signal in which case the iterations are applied in a feed back manner. The correction may include the evaluation of an normalization or, in the feed back case, this can be implicitly included in the manner in which the iteration is applied. Various parameters to the iteration can be set to accommodate the operating environment of the receiver and characteristics of the received signal.
US08442150B1
Systems and methods for measuring transmitter and/or receiver I/Q impairments are disclosed, including iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using shared local oscillators, iterative methods for measuring transmitter I/Q impairments using intentionally-offset local oscillators, and methods for measuring receiver I/Q impairments. Also disclosed are methods for computing I/Q impairments from a sampled complex signal, methods for computing DC properties of a signal path between the transmitter and receiver, and methods for transforming I/Q impairments through a linear system.
US08442148B2
A method codes data in a transmitted signal. The transmitted signal comprises multiple subcarriers with orthogonal frequencies. The signals are modulated corresponding to a given subset of the subcarriers of the transmitted signal in order to encode information. The signal is modulated corresponding to least one reserved subcarrier depending on at least one optimization criterion relating to a quality of the overall transmitted signal. In order to enhance the quality of the transmitted signal, the optimization criterion depends on at least one first quantity relating to a peak-to-average-power ratio of the transmitted signal and on at least one second quantity relating to an out-of-band power of the transmitted signal.
US08442143B2
The present invention provides feedback control information for the multiple base stations multiple input multiple output (MIMO). The feedback control information according to the present invention includes a target resource unit (TRU) indicating a frequency resource unit to be measured for a feedback. A mobile station according to the present invention transmits feedback information worked on the latest best subbands reported for single base station MIMO.
US08442142B2
A method and system for beamforming signal transmission under a per-antenna power constraint is presented. In one aspect, a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) transmitting station may compute a per-antenna power gain factor for each of a plurality of transmit chain signals. The transmit chain signals may be concurrently transmitted by a plurality of transmitting antennas at the MIMO transmitting station. The plurality of transmit chain signals may correspond to beamforming signals, which are generated by performing spatial mapping on a plurality of space-time signals. The plurality of power gain factors may be computed based on a per-antenna power constraint. Alternatively, the plurality of power gain factors may be computed based on joint per-antenna power and total-power constraints. Each of the transmit chain signals may be amplified or attenuated based on the corresponding antenna gain factor. The amplified or attenuated signal is then transmitted by the corresponding transmitting antenna.
US08442141B1
A method for processing a preamble of a data unit transmitted via a communication channel includes receiving a signal via a plurality of antennas, applying a plurality of distinct steering vectors to the received signal to generate a plurality of respective outputs, and using the plurality of outputs to perform at least one of carrier sensing and symbol timing synchronization associated with the preamble.
US08442140B2
Provided herein is a method of designing a network codebook that may be shared by a plurality of base stations. Also provided herein is a feedback method of a terminal using the network codebook. The network codebook design method may design the network codebook by processing a pre-defined first codebook based on large scale fading of the base stations. The terminal may more effectively feed back a preferred matrix indicator with respect to the network codebook.
US08442138B2
A method select a codebook for transmit beamforming. The method constructs an estimated channel matrix based on a codebook, selects a channel submatrix from the estimated channel matrix, calculates a selection matrix from the channel submatrix; and assigns a steering matrix based on the selection matrix. There may be multiple codebooks and the method may construct an estimated channel matrix, select a channel submatrix, and calculate a selection matrix for each of the codebooks, then select an optimal codebook. The steering matrix is assigned based on the optimal codebook. The steering matrix may be used in steering a transmitted packet. The method may also calculate a post-MIMO equalizer signal-to-noise ratio for a data stream, based on the estimated channel matrix and the selected codebook. A related system is also disclosed. Other embodiments are provided, and each of the embodiments described herein can be used alone or in combination with one another.
US08442130B2
A communication apparatus carries out multicarrier communication with another communication apparatus through a transmission channel. The communication apparatus includes a first communication unit which carries out communication using a subcarrier at a first frequency band; a second communication unit which carries out communication using a subcarrier at a second frequency band higher than the first frequency band; and a third communication unit which carries out communication by synchronizing the first communication unit with the second communication unit and concurrently using the first and second frequency bands.
US08442128B2
A signal transmitting device and a method for transmitting via a signal transmitting device is disclosed. In one embodiment the transmitting device comprises a first resonant circuit with a resonant circuit inductance and a resonant circuit capacitance and a second resonant circuit with a resonant circuit inductance and a resonant circuit capacitance, a coupling element which couples the first resonant circuit to the second resonant circuit, a first excitation circuit, coupled to the first resonant circuit, and at least one further excitation circuit coupled to the second resonant circuit.
US08442125B2
Systems, methods, devices, and computer program products provide social and interactive applications for mass media based on real time ambient-audio and/or video identification. In some implementations, a method includes: receiving descriptors identifying ambient audio associated with a media broadcast; comparing the descriptors to one or more reference descriptors; and determining a rating for the media broadcast based at least in part on the results of the comparison.
US08442123B2
By generating a transmission signal containing information on a video signal containing information on a video signal encoded in units of a video signal of a predetermined number of vertical periods and adding a flag indicating the header of the transmission signal to the header of the transmission signal, it is possible to extract the flag indicating the header of the transmission signal added to the header of the transmission signal which has been radio-received and decode the encoded video signal contained in the transmission signal at the timing in accordance with a reference signal outputted at the timing when the flag is extracted.
US08442119B2
A moving image decoding apparatus for decoding moving image data, where the apparatus includes a receiving unit for receiving moving image data, a decoding processing unit for decoding and controlling a display of decoded data, and an output control unit for outputting image data.The decoding processing unit includes an intra-block line determination unit for selecting a macroblock line in a frame of the moving image data as an intra-macroblock line; a refresh control unit for identifying an area refreshed during one circulation of an intra-macroblock line, wherein the intra-macroblock line is made to periodically circulate in units of a macroblock line for each frame; an error detection unit for detecting a decoding error; an error judgment unit for judging whether the error is within the refreshed area; and a restore point determination unit for determining a restore point to update an image.
US08442117B2
Motion estimation is efficient to reduce redundant information among successive frames in video compression applications. The blocks in the current frame can be replaced with the neighboring blocks in the spatial directions in the previous frame with small errors. Many types of motion estimation methods such as Block Matching Algorithm are widely used to take a balance between a good image quality and the computation complexity. A Block Matching Algorithm named as New Cellular Search (NCS) Algorithm utilizes two particular search patterns: HCSP and VCSP, in the horizontal and vertical directions to search the best motion vector. Three performance measurements including peak signal to noise ration (PSNR), Average Search Point (ASP), and Mean Square Error (MSE) are used to compare this new search algorithm with some major motion estimations like FS, TSS, CS, and NCDS. The NCS is very efficient in computation reduction while keeping the almost same picture quality.
US08442115B2
The transmitting end of a content distribution system selectively employs a redundancy mechanism to encode video data. In the event that a particular frame contains information upon which the decoding of multiple frames may depend, the transmitting end can apply a redundancy mechanism to redundantly distribute the data of the frame throughout a set of data segments, each of which is separately transmitted via the network to the receiving end. Otherwise, in the event that a particular frame to be transmitted does not contain substantial information upon which the decoding of multiple frames may depend, the loss of some or all of the data of the frame may not appreciably affect the presentation of the video content at the receiving end and thus the transmitting end can forgo application of the redundancy mechanism to such frames so as to avoid unnecessary processing and reduce the overall network bandwidth used.
US08442114B2
A moving picture encoding apparatus divides a moving picture signal into key frames and non-key frames, encodes the key frames, predicts the non-key frames from the encoded key frames, determines a final encoding rate for each non-key frame, encodes each non-key frame, and outputs an error-correcting code at the final encoding rate as encoded data of the non-key frame. To determine the final encoding rate, the number of error-correcting bits needed to correct prediction errors is estimated by a first method and one or more second methods. The second methods are used to decide whether to use the number of bits estimated by the first method as the final encoding rate, or whether to supplement the estimated number of bits by adding an encoding rate correction. As a result, the encoding rate is not supplemented unnecessarily and the encoding efficiency is improved.
US08442111B2
An encoder provided according to an aspect of the present invention uses different encoding techniques depending on an amount of power available in the corresponding durations. Due to the ability to use such different encoding techniques, power may be optimally utilized. The optimization is further enhanced by dynamically switching between encoding techniques according to power amount availability in corresponding durations. In an embodiment, each encoding technique estimates motion vectors at corresponding level of precision (thereby consuming a corresponding level of power) and the precision level is chosen to correspond to available power budget. The circuitry not required for a desired precision level may be switched off.
US08442105B1
In an embodiment of an equalizer, a demodulator for MMSE-SIC receives a symbol vector to provide first information. A decoder receives the first information to provide second information to the demodulator. The decoder iteratively processes the first information to provide the second information. The demodulator and decoder are coupled in a loop for feeding back the second information for iteratively refining the first information. A detection-cancellation block of the demodulator receives the symbol vector to provide an equalized vector. A channel pre-processor block of the demodulator receives an initial vector output of the detection-cancellation block for the symbol vector for a demodulating-decoding iterative sequence to provide a weight vector. The channel pre-processor block provides an approximation using a fixed matrix to generate the weight vector. The detection-cancellation block receives the weight vector for equalization of the symbol vector in order to provide the equalized vector.
US08442098B2
Provided are a distributed repeater for repeating output signals identical to input signals through a channel different from that of main transmitter signals but identical to channels of other distributed repeaters, and a distributed repeating method thereof. The distributed repeater includes: a pre-processing unit configured to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted from an external device and demodulate the RF signal into a baseband signal; an equalizer configured to equalize the baseband signal to correct a distortion occurring on a transmission channel; an identification signal generation and insertion unit configured to generate an identification signal for identification of the distributed repeater and network conditioning, and insert the identification signal in the equalized baseband signal; and a post-processing unit configured to convert the baseband signal from the identification signal generation and insertion unit into an RF signal, and send the RF signal.
US08442095B2
Methods and apparatus for code phase processing in a wireless communication device are described herein. A wireless device performs code phase search on a pseudo random code spread signal received over a wireless channel. A correlator correlates the received signal to a plurality of code phases in each of a plurality of frequency hypothesis. A maximum peak and a second peak are determined from the correlation results. Cross correlation processing is performed on the maximum peak and the maximum peak is discarded in favor of the second peak for position processing based on the results of the cross correlation.
US08442094B2
A spread spectrum receiver configured to perform cell searching can include a cell search system and a searcher. The cell search system is configured to perform primary and secondary synchronization, thereby identifying a scrambling code group. The searcher is configured to determine a scrambling code from the scrambling code group identified by the cell search system.
US08442088B1
Optical resonators and optical devices based on optical resonators that implement diffractive couplers for coupling light with the optical resonators.
US08442086B2
A laser structure is provided in which an influence caused by a concave-convex structure on laser characteristics is reduced when the Epitaxial Lateral Overgrowth (ELO) technique is applied to a photonic-crystal surface emitting laser. The laser structure includes a first layer, a second layer, a mask structure, a fourth layer, and a photonic crystal. An optical film thickness of the mask structure is not an integer multiple of a half of an oscillation wavelength λ, and reflectivity taken when laser light enters a multilayer structure including the first layer, the second layer, the mask structure, and the fourth layer from the fourth layer side is lower than reflectivity at an interface between the second layer and the first layer.
US08442079B2
Provided is a driving method of a mode-locked semiconductor laser device comprising a laminated structure in which a first compound semiconductor layer, a third compound semiconductor layer having an emission region and a second compound semiconductor layer are successively laminated, a second electrode, and a first electrode. The laminated structure is formed on a compound semiconductor substrate having polarity, the third compound semiconductor layer includes a quantum well structure having a well layer and a barrier layer. The well layer has a depth of 1 nm or more and 10 nm or less. The barrier layer has an impurity doping density of 2×1018 cm−3 or more and 1×1020 cm−3 or less. An optical pulse is generated in the emission region by passing a current from the second electrode to the first electrode via the laminated structure.
US08442075B2
Disparate clock domains are resynchronized after circuits in one of the clock domains awake from a reduced power state. Parallel test data is routed from a core circuit to a parallel-to-serial converter in an input/output (I/O) circuit. The parallel-to-serial converter clocks the parallel test data in response to a load signal. The load signal is varied until the clock domains are synchronized.
US08442071B2
There is provided a relay device for relaying first wireless communication and second wireless communication. The first wireless communication is based on a process control wireless communication standard, and the second wireless communication is based on another wireless communication standard than the process control wireless communication standard. The device includes: a superframe management unit configured to receive a first superframe of the first wireless communication from the outside and generate a second superframe of the second wireless communication based on the first superframe; and a transmission unit configured to transmit the second superframe to a wireless communication terminal performing the second wireless communication.
US08442064B2
Access switches in a switching system may use virtual aggregated links. When a link between an aggregation switch and an access switch fails, the link failure may be reflected in the virtual aggregated link and data traffic to another access switch may be switched away from the failed switch. A forwarding table in the access switch stores a number of entries that each define a correspondence between destination addresses and an output identifier for the switch. At least a first output identifier includes an aggregated link that represents a first set of possible output links. At least a second output identifier includes a virtual aggregated link, associated with a second network switch that represents a second set of possible output links. Destination addresses in the forwarding table for the virtual aggregated link correspond to network devices connected to the second network switch.
US08442061B2
There is provided a gateway apparatus connected to at least one or more terminal devices in the same network, including a signaling module that relays transmission and reception of information until a communication session between a terminal device in the same network and a terminal device in another network has been established, a communication capability database in which capability information including at least information relating to communication capability of a plurality of terminal devices is registered, and a communication-capability determining module that caches the information relayed by the signaling module until the communication session between the terminal device in the same network and the terminal device in the another network has been established, and registers and manages, in the communication capability database, the capability information of the terminal device in the another network.
US08442053B2
A first Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Internet Protocol (IP) data network transmits data to a second MPLS IP network via a legacy network, which would not otherwise be able to handle the required user network interface (UNI) protocol by configuring the legacy network and its network management system (TNMS) so that they emulate an MPLS network. When a first network element (NE) receives a connection (UNI) request from the MPLS network under a UNI protocol, the UNI request is passed to the TNMS, which then sets the required connection across the legacy network via a second edge NE to an NE of the second network. Once the connection has been set, the TNMS instructs the edge NE to send a return signal to the requesting network indicating that the connection has been successfully set. Data packets may then be transmitted across the network.
US08442050B2
Provided are a method and apparatus of controlling a Label Switched Path (LSP) of a Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) protocol, which may define an available label in an End-to-End range when a label is not changed by transit nodes, and is determined only by an external management system or a manager, or an ingress node or an egress node, thereby more simply and effectively operating the RSVP-TE protocol, and removing limitations in functions of nodes such as path calculating.
US08442038B2
Method and network unit for setting up a connection in a second network (16) from a first user terminal (21) to a second user terminal (22), when a connection in a first network (15) is present between the first user terminal (21) and at least the second user terminal (22). The connection in the second network (16) is initiated using a context dependent second network address, the context dependent second network address identifying a combinational service in the second network (16). The combinational service comprises retrieving the second network address of the second terminal (22) using a common part (17) of the first and second network (15, 16), and completing the set up of the second connection using the second network address of the second terminal (22).
US08442036B2
An image communication apparatus comprises: a call connection control unit that establishes a session with a communication partner using an SIP message; and an image communication control unit that controls an image communication, wherein (i) when the call connection control unit receives, as a calling party, from a called party, an INVITE SIP message in which a T.38 communication and a first priority transport are specified in a session description protocol, and when a second priority transport is set in the image communication apparatus of the calling party, the call connection control unit opens the second priority transport, and (ii) when no priority transport is set in the image communication apparatus of the calling party, the call connection control unit opens the first priority transport specified by the called party, and performs a T.38 communication using the opened transport.
US08442031B2
The invention includes a method and apparatus for regenerative signaling. Specifically, the method includes receiving at least one base protocol message formatted in accordance with at least one base protocol, obtaining service information associated with at least one network service, and generating, in response to the at least one base protocol message, at least one companion protocol message formatted in accordance with at least one companion protocol. The at least one base protocol message is associated with at least one service endpoint. The service information associated with at least one network service is obtained using the at least one base protocol message. The at least one companion protocol message is generated using at least a portion of the service information. The at least one companion protocol message is operable for controlling the at least one network service in a manner substantially transparent to the at least one service endpoint.
US08442016B1
A method for transmitting one or more first wireless local area network (WLAN) packets and one or more first Bluetooth (BT) packets. The method includes: prior to transmission of the one or more first wireless local area network (WLAN) packets, predicting a first time at which the transmission of the one or more first wireless local area network (WLAN) packets is going to end, and predicting a second time at which reception of one or more second Bluetooth (BT) packets is going to start; and simultaneously transmitting the one or more first wireless local area network (WLAN) packets and the one or more first Bluetooth (BT) packets in response to the first time being predicted to occur prior to the second time.
US08442010B2
A method and apparatus for improving handover in an IEEE 802.21 compliant communication network. A query is transmitted from a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) to a media independent handover (MIH) server (MIHS). The WTRU includes a target point of attachment (PoA) and/or a preferred mobile inter protocol (MIP) method. The WTRU receives a response from the MIHS indicating the MIP method supported by the target PoA. Based on the received response, the WTRU may make an informed decision regarding handover.
US08442000B2
A new protocol data unit is used in communications in a radio access network. When a user equipment requests a radio resource controller connection, the UE includes its identity in the request message. In establishing the connection to UE, a serving radio network controller allocates a logical channel to the UE for communications and identifies the logical channel in the header of the protocol data unit so as to allow a receiver of the PDU to know the UE identity in an out-of-band signaling fashion, depending upon a state of the transmitter of the PDU. When the transmitter changes its state, the receiver can change state accordingly. The new PDU structure allows continuous reception of the HS-DSCH downlink channel during state transition form CELL_FACH or CELL_PCH or URA_PCH to CELL_DCH and vice versa. This new PDU structure also allows continuous HS_DSCH retransmissions.
US08441996B2
A method and apparatus of monitoring a control channel in a multiple carrier system is provided. A user equipment monitors a plurality of candidate control channels within a control region of a subframe and receives reference control information on a reference control channel which is successfully decoded. The user equipment monitors the control region on a basis of the reference control information and receives link control information on a linked control channel which is successfully decoded. The link control information includes resource assignment information used to receive or transmit data packets via a plurality of component carriers.
US08441991B2
A method and apparatus are provided for the selection of sequences used for the transmission of signals from user equipments in a cellular communication system. The sequences can be selected either through planning or through pseudo-random hopping among a set of sequences. With planning, the serving Node B signals the sequence assignment for each cell, which remains invariable in time. With pseudo-random sequence hopping, which has the same pattern in all cells, the serving Node B signals the initial sequence, from a set of sequences, which can be different among cells. The signals can be transmitted either through a data channel or through a control channel. The initial sequence used in the control (or data) channel is signaled by the serving Node B. The initial sequence used in the data (or control) channel is selected to be the sequence in a set of sequences with number equal to a shift value relative to the first sequence as signaled by the serving Node B for the control (or data) channel.
US08441954B2
A router and method distinguishes real-time packets in the router. The router reads information of reference packets and a packet length of a test packet. A packet arrival rate of the test packet, an inter-arrival time standard deviation of the test packet, and a packet length standard deviation of the test packet are calculated according to the information of the reference packets. The router marks the test packet as the real-time packets in response to a determination that the packet length of the test packet falls in the allowable range, the packet arrival rate of the reference packets falls in the allowable range, the inter-arrival time standard deviation of the test packet falls in the allowable range, and the packet length standard deviation of the test packet falls in the allowable range.
US08441953B1
A device reorders first cells of a first conversation; determines whether a reorder window size is exceeded a first time based on the first conversation; subjects the first conversation to a fast time out when the reorder window size is exceeded the first time; reorders second cells of a second conversation while subjecting the first conversation to the fast time out; prepares a packet based on the first conversation; and transmits the packet to a PFE of another device.
US08441950B2
User-networks having more than one type of access system are connected to networks having multi-access technology. Interference is measured between the connected, active access systems and the active systems are prioritized. A priority value is assigned to each of the active access systems based on the interference between systems. According to the assigned priority value, the access system with the highest value is enabled. Remaining systems are then compared with the enabled access system and an interference threshold. If the level of interference exceeds the threshold, the offending access system is disabled. If the threshold is not exceeded, the number of simultaneously operating access systems is compared to a predetermined number and the access systems below that number are then disabled.
US08441947B2
A packet controller for simultaneous processing of data packets transmitted via a plurality of communication channels includes a plurality of inputs to receive a respective plurality of signals, such that each of the plurality of signals is indicative of a presence of a data packet on a respective one of the plurality of communication channels, a clock source to supply a periodic clock signal, a plurality of independent processing modules coupled to the respective plurality of inputs to simultaneously process the plurality of signals, such that each of the plurality of independent processing modules implements a respective state machine driven by the periodic clock signal to process the respective signal independently of every other one of the plurality of processing modules, and an output to transmit an output signal indicative of a presence of at least one data packet on one or more of the plurality of communication channels.
US08441946B2
In a network for digital data packet transmission, quality records are stored in a memory. Each of the quality records is indicative for a reception quality being sensed of one or more received data packets. Thereupon, upon overflow of the memory, one or more of the quality records is discarded from the memory. For at least one of the quality records, discarding weights are generated as a function of at least one of the quality records and associated to the quality records. Hereby, upon such overflow, the discarding weights are taken into account in predefined rules and conditions according to which the discarding of the quality records is performed.
US08441937B2
A method and network are described herein for provisioning Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) entities for a connection when setting-up the connection between an ingress edge node and an egress edge node.
US08441935B2
A method and apparatus for capturing signaling data exchanged across multiple interfaces of a network via a distributed network analyzer, selectively manipulating the captured signaling data for parallel real time distributed analysis by a plurality of signaling analyzers, and transmitting the selectively manipulated signaling data to each of the plurality of signaling analyzers for the parallel real time distributed analysis by the signaling analyzers. The transmitted signaling data includes at least one of network signalizing data, user signalizing data, and application signaling data. Further, the captured signaling data analyzed by the signaling analyzers includes information needed for Quality of Service analysis of end user traffic. Accordingly, a method and apparatus for parallel real time distributed analysis of signaling data is provided, reducing complexity and cost of tools for analysis of signaling data.
US08441926B2
This invention presents a new FAC framework that keeps the stateless property of the Internet, allows statistical multiplexing gains, and is capable of handling admission control of both TCP and UDP flows.One of the key inventions of the patent is the solution for the signaling/data path divergence problem inherent in a session layer FAC scheme. The solution consists of two components. First, we keep the paths in the network symmetric (i.e. the forward and the backward path are the same) so that we only need to monitor SETUP packets in new flow detection. Second, we select either a tree or a nonblocking mesh topology for the network. Various topologies for constructing nonblocking networks for the proposed FAC architecture are also disclosed.
US08441921B2
A method of providing protection switching on a backbone network includes configuring a service instance table for a first port of a first bridge. The service instance table includes a Virtual Local Access Network (VLAN) identifier entry for one or more service instances. The method also includes mapping data traffic received at the first bridge onto a first trunk by setting a VLAN identifier entry for a first service instance and transmitting data traffic to a second bridge on the first trunk in accordance with the mapping and monitoring the first trunk for faults by exchanging continuity check messages with the second bridge over the first trunk. The method additionally includes, upon detecting a fault, remapping data traffic for the first service instance by changing the VLAN identifier entry for the first service instance and transmitting data traffic to the second bridge in accordance with the remapping.
US08441913B2
Systems and methods are provided for enhancing signal quality at receivers in a wireless network. In one embodiment, an antenna is selected from a subset of antennas based on a signal quality parameter such as received signal power or signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). In another embodiment, multiple antennas are applied to independent signal processing paths for the respective antennas where output from the paths is then combined to enhance overall signal quality at the receiver.
US08441907B2
In an optical head device which performs recording/reading of data in/from a high-density optical disc using an objective lens with a large NA, a saw-tooth shape diffraction element is used for also performing recording/reading of data in/from a conventional optical disc, such as DVD, CD, or the like. A step difference that produces an optical path length for blue light which is equal to or longer than the wavelength of the blue light and optical path lengths for red and infrared light which are shorter than the wavelengths of the red and infrared light is utilized so as to exert an inverse action on the blue light to those exerted on the red and infrared light. The effect of increasing the working distances for CD and DVD enables multiple compatibility. The optical element is integrally combined with the objective lens to perform a tracking servo following operation.
US08441905B2
This invention allows super-resolution reproduction with which a better bER value is attainable, when information is recorded by a random pattern including a mark length not longer than a resolution limit, by use of a highly versatile signal decoding method.Information is recorded as marks and spaces coded by RLL(1,7) modulation, which each of the marks and spaces have one of a plurality of lengths, and 2T marks and 2T spaces of the marks and spaces being formed are shorter than 0.12 μm. An information recording layer (20) includes a reproduction film (21) and a reflective film (22) which are provided in this order from a side from which reproducing light is incident, which reproduction film is made of (i) zinc oxide, (ii) strontium titanate, (iii) titanium oxide, (iv) cerium oxide, or (v) a material including at least one of the (i) through (iv), and which reflective film is made of tantalum or titanium.
US08441897B2
An optically-readable disk includes a device that disrupts readability of the disk when the disk is spun at an angular velocity substantially greater than required to play the disk in its intended playing device, or when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded. The device may include a fluid container that disperses a data-disruptive fluid. The device may include a membrane or layer that is disrupted when the disk is rotated above a defined angular velocity, or when a defined integral of velocity and time is exceeded. The device may include an electro-optical material that is activated by an electrical signal from a controller in response to an input from a sensor responsive to motion of the disk.
US08441894B2
A watch, in particular a wristwatch, having a watch case that has a viewing opening oriented towards an observer, a movement, and one or more components with light-receiving regions on their surfaces. The movement and the components with regions of light-receiving surface are arranged in the watch case and are covered by a light-transmissive covering part in the direction of the observer. The covering part is transmissive for ultraviolet light and is at least largely opaque for light in the visible spectrum.
US08441886B2
A method is disclosed for operating a memory device, including providing a timing signal comprising a plurality of clock cycles, providing an activate signal, and providing a bank address signal. An activate command executes on every first duration of clock cycles, and the bank address signal is high for at least a portion of the first duration of clock cycles. In one embodiment, the first duration of the activate signal is at least four clock cycles, and the bank address signal is at least one clock cycle. A memory device having a row decoder and an active driver is also provided.
US08441885B2
A word line driver circuit and corresponding methods are disclosed. An apparatus, comprising a decoder circuit coupled to receive address inputs, and having a decoder output; and a word line clock gating circuit coupled to the decoder output and to a word line clock signal, configured to selectively output a word line signal responsive to an edge on the word line clock signal; wherein the address inputs have a set up time requirement relative to the edge of the word line clock signal, and the address inputs have a zero or less hold time requirement relative to the edge of the word line clock signal. Methods for providing a word line signal from a word line driver are disclosed.
US08441883B2
A memory arrangement is provided having a plurality of memory elements, the elements being associated with a memory space that can be addressed in a row and column fashion during a write or a read access. The memory arrangement further includes a first macro bank comprising a first plurality of memory cells comprising a first subset of the memory elements and a second macro bank comprising a second plurality of memory cells comprising a second subset of the memory elements. The memory arrangement further includes an address resolution stage for addressing the memory cells in the respective macro banks. The memory cells are arranged so that the memory space is partitioned into a plurality of non-overlapping basic matrices, whereby each basic matrix is mapped to a given macro bank and wherein the memory cells are arranged logically so that the memory space is partitioned into a plurality of non-overlapping logic matrices of a given size, each logic matrix being of a size equal or larger than a basic matrix.
US08441882B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed, such as those involving a memory device. One such memory device includes a memory array including a sub-array that includes a first number of columns of memory cells, and one or more global input/output (I/O) lines shared by the first number of columns for data transmission. The memory device also includes one or more multiplexers/demultiplexers, wherein each of the multiplexers/demultiplexers is electrically coupled to one or more, but not all, of the global I/O lines. The memory device further includes a plurality of local I/O lines, each configured to provide a data path between one of the multiplexers/demultiplexers and one or more, but less than the first number, of the columns in the sub-array. This configuration allows local I/O line repairability with fewer redundant elements, and shorter physical local I/O lines, which translate to improved speed and die size reduction.
US08441876B2
A memory module including a plurality of ranks. Each of the ranks includes a parallel test apparatus for simultaneous testing and a parallel test control unit. In response to a parallel test mode control signal, the parallel test apparatus generates first parity data for write data including a plurality of bits and generating first data obtained by replacing a bit value of at least one bit of the plurality of bits of the write data with the first parity data during a write operation, and generates second parity data for the first data and transmitting the second parity data as read data during a read operation. The parallel test control unit controls the write operation and the read operation in a parallel test mode by generating the parallel test mode control signal. Combinations of read data from the plurality of ranks correspond to different bits of the write data.
US08441875B2
A mat compress circuit includes a pre-control signal generator that generates a first pre-control signal and a second pre-control signal alternatively activated in response to an up/down bank selection address in a mat compression test, and a control signal transmitter that inverts and transfers the first and second pre-control signals in response to a switching signal activated when there is an input of a block selection address in the mat compression test.
US08441869B2
Some embodiments of the present invention provide data storage systems including a plurality of memories and a control circuit coupled to the plurality of memories by a common channel. The control circuit is configured to sequentially transfer respective units of data to respective memories within each of a plurality of predetermined groups of the plurality of memories over the common channel and to transition from transferring units of data to a first one of the groups to transferring units of data to a second one of the groups based on an attribute of the units of data. The attribute may be related to a programming time associated with a unit of data. For example, the attribute may include a bit significance of the unit of data.
US08441866B2
The invention provides methods for programming a floating gate. A floating gate tunneling device is used with an analog comparing device in a circuit having a floating reference node and an offset-mitigating feedback loop for iteratively programming a floating gate, or multiple floating gates.
US08441865B2
An electrically programmable non-volatile memory device being integrated on a chip of semiconductor material is proposed. The memory device includes a plurality of sectors of memory cells each one being formed in a respective well of the chip; each sector includes a plurality word lines each one for accessing a corresponding block of memory cells of the sector; the memory device includes a first biasing line of the wells and a second biasing line of the word lines, biasing circuitry for providing a first bias voltage to the first biasing line and a second bias voltage to the second biasing line, selection circuitry for selectively connecting the first biasing line to the well of at least one selected sector and for selectively connecting the second biasing line to at least one selected word line of each selected sector, first charge transfer circuitry for bringing the first biasing line from the first bias voltage to a target voltage according to a pilot transient trend, the target voltage being between the first bias voltage and the second bias voltage, second charge transfer circuitry for bringing the second biasing line from the second bias voltage to the target voltage. The second charge transfer circuitry includes circuitry for binding the second biasing line to bring itself from the second bias voltage to the target voltage according to a transient trend being scaled with respect to the pilot transient trend.
US08441860B2
Methods and memories having switching points for changing Vstep increments according to a level of a multilevel cell being programmed include programming at a smaller Vstep increment in narrow threshold voltage situations and programming at a larger Vstep increment where faster programming is desired.
US08441854B2
Various exemplary embodiments of a nonvolatile memory apparatus are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the memory apparatus may include: a page buffer; an even bit line connected to the page buffer; an odd bit line connected to the page buffer; an even memory cell string installed on the even bit line; an odd memory cell string installed on the odd bit line; and a bit line select unit configured to selectively generate a signal read path between the even bit line and the even memory cell string or between the odd bit line and the odd memory cell string.
US08441843B2
The invention provides a semiconductor integrated circuit device provided with an SRAM that satisfies the requirements for both the SNM and the write margin with a low supply voltage. The semiconductor integrated circuit device include: multiple static memory cells provided in correspondence with multiple word lines and multiple complimentary bit lines; multiple memory cell power supply lines that each supply an operational voltage to each of the multiple memory cells connected to the multiple complimentary bit lines each; multiple power supply circuits comprised of resistive units that each supply a power supply voltage to the memory cell power supply lines each; and a pre-charge circuit that supplies a pre-charge voltage corresponding to the power supply voltage to the complimentary bit lines, wherein the memory cell power supply lines are made to have coupling capacitances to thereby transmit a write signal on corresponding complimentary bit lines.
US08441838B2
Nonvolatile memory elements are provided comprising switching metal oxides. The nonvolatile memory elements may be formed in one or more layers on an integrated circuit. Each memory element may have a first conductive layer, a metal oxide layer, and a second conductive layer. Electrical devices may be coupled in series with the memory elements. The first conductive layer may be formed from a metal nitride. The metal oxide layer may contain the same metal as the first conductive layer. The metal oxide may form an ohmic contact or a Schottky contact with the first conductive layer. The second conductive layer may form an ohmic contact or a Schottky contact with the metal oxide layer. The first conductive layer, the metal oxide layer, and the second conductive layer may include sublayers. The second conductive layer may include an adhesion or barrier layer and a workfunction control layer.
US08441831B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a first semiconductor chip including a first output circuit which is enabled in a first operation mode and outputs a first output signal and a second output circuit which is enabled in a second operation mode and outputs a second output signal; a second semiconductor chip including a first input circuit which is enabled in the first operation mode and receives the first output signal and a second input circuit which is enabled in the second operation mode and receives the second output signal; and a common through chip via arranged to vertically penetrate through the semiconductor chip, be coupled with the first and second output circuits in one end and coupled with the first and second input circuits in the other end, and interface transfer of the first and second output signals which are enabled in different operation modes, including the first and second operation modes.
US08441828B2
The present invention provides a content addressable memory capable of higher frequency operation than conventional. When a search enable signal supplied from a search control circuit is asserted, each of search line drivers transfers search data to each CAM cell of a CAM memory array via a search line pair. The search line enable signal is transmitted to the search line drivers via a single control signal line coupled to the search control circuit. The control signal line is coupled to the search line drivers in such a manner that the search line enable signal passes through coupling nodes between the search line drivers and the control signal line in an arrangement order of the search line drivers from the side far away as viewed from match amplifiers.
US08441815B2
A switching circuit for use in a power supply includes a first active switch coupled to a first terminal of a primary winding of a transformer. A second active switch is coupled to a second terminal of the primary winding of the transformer. An output capacitance of the first active switch is greater than an output capacitance of the second active switch. A first passive switch is coupled to the second active switch and to the second terminal of the primary winding. A second passive switch is coupled to the first active switch and to the first terminal of the primary winding. A reverse recovery time of the first passive switch is greater than a reverse recovery time of the second passive switch. A recovery circuit is coupled to receive a current from the first passive switch.
US08441813B2
A maximize efficiency method for resonant converter with self-adjusting switching points is disclosed. The method is operated by a resonant converter, which comprises a transformer and a field effect transistor (FET). When the transistor is turned on, energy is stored in the transformer. When the transistor is turned off, a resonant signal is generated at a drain of the transistor. At this time, a suitable trigger time has to be found to turn on the transistor, so as to reduce switching power loss. The method measures the slope of the resonant signal at the trigger time. This is used as a reference to adjust the next cycle's trigger time. If the slope is negative at the time of trigger, a delta time is added to the trigger time in the next cycle, If the slope is positive, a delta time is subtracted from the trigger time for the next cycle.
US08441811B2
An AC-DC converter is disclosed. The AC-DC converter includes an OFF-time clamping circuit. The OFF time clamping circuit outputs a triggering signal when a main switch circuit of the AC-DC converter is switched from ON state to OFF state. When an input AC voltage is too small, and a terminal voltage at a first current-conducting terminal of the main switch circuit of the AC-DC converter is lower than a specific voltage such that a switching control circuit can not turn on the main switch circuit again, the switching control circuit can still turn on the main switch circuit again by the triggering signal. Therefore, the OFF time of the main switch circuit is clamped. The switching control circuit can control the switching operation of the main switch circuit.
US08441809B2
A microelectronic package comprises a substrate (110), a silicon patch (120) embedded in the substrate, a first interconnect structure (131) at a first location of the silicon patch and a second interconnect structure (132) at a second location of the silicon patch, and an electrically conductive line (150) in the silicon patch connecting the first interconnect structure and the second interconnect structure to each other.
US08441806B2
A circuit board comprises a first conductive post for electrically connecting to the first electrode of the semiconductor device, a first metal plate connecting to the first conductive post, a second conductive post for electrically connecting to the second electrode of the semiconductor device, a second metal plate connecting to the second conductive post, a third conductive post for electrically connecting to the third electrode of the semiconductor device, and a third metal plate connecting to the third conductive post.
US08441805B2
A structure for mounting a compound circuit on a circuit board is provided. The compound circuit includes a high voltage circuit and a low voltage circuit whose supply voltages are different from each other. The structure includes: a main circuit board on which constituents of the low voltage circuit are mounted; and a hybrid IC which includes a sub circuit board on which at least a part of constituents of the high voltage circuit is mounted and a moisture preventing agent coating the sub circuit board, and is arranged over the main circuit board. Both an insulation distance between terminals provided on the main circuit board for connecting to the hybrid IC and an insulation distance between terminals provided on the hybrid IC for connecting to the main circuit board are larger than a minimum insulation distance between terminals provided on the constituents mounted on the sub circuit board.
US08441804B2
A semiconductor device and method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. One embodiment provides an electrically conductive carrier. A semiconductor chip is placed over the carrier. An electrically insulating layer is applied over the carrier and the semiconductor chip. The electrically insulating layer has a first face facing the carrier and a second face opposite to the first face. A first through-hole is in the electrically insulating layer. Solder material is deposited in the first through-hole and on the second face of the electrically insulating layer.
US08441795B2
A high power band pass RF filtering device having a housing defining an interior chamber and having one or more walls for substantially dividing the interior chamber into one or more sections. A circuit with filtering components for achieving strong attenuation of out-of-band signals is disposed within the interior chamber, certain components of the circuit being separated from one another by the walls. Ports on the housing electrically connect to a respective input node and output node of the circuit and also connect to surge protection elements for dissipating surge conditions present at the ports. A non-surge signal can travel between the ports and through the filtering components. An oil or other fluid is disposed and completely contained within the housing and contacts the circuit components for cooling the circuit components.
US08441791B2
In embodiments of double hinge radial cams, a portable device includes a first housing integrated with a display device, and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing. The first housing is operable to open and close relative to the second housing, and the first and second housings can be rotated from a closed position at approximately zero degrees (0°) to an open position at approximately one-hundred and eighty degrees (180°). A double hinge is operable to movably couple the first housing and the second housing. The double hinge includes radial cams that apply a holding torque in the open position that resists the first and second housings closing.
US08441790B2
There are provided systems, devices and methods for related to an electronic device housing having input functionality. Specifically, in one embodiment, the electronic device includes a housing and one or more acoustic transducers positioned within the housing each operative to generate an electrical signal in response to detecting a sound resulting from an impact with the housing. Additionally, the electronic device includes a microprocessor coupled to the one or more acoustic transducers and configured to receive the electrical signals generated by the one or more acoustic transducers. The microprocessor operative to interpret the generated electrical signals as input to the electronic device.
US08441776B2
An aspect of the invention provides a solid electrolyte capacitor that comprises: an anode body; a dielectric layer formed on the surface of the anode body; a first polymer film formed on the dielectric layer and containing a first polymer; a second polymer film formed on the first polymer film and containing a second polymer that is different from the first polymer; a conducting polymer layer formed on the second polymer film and containing a conducting polymer that is different from the second polymer; and a cathode layer formed on the conducting polymer layer, wherein the first polymer film has a larger work function than that of the conducting polymer layer.
US08441772B2
An electrostatic chuck includes a metal base member and an insulating substrate having an opposite surface to an attraction surface joined onto the base member via an adhesive layer. In the substrate, an electrode layer to which a direct current voltage for attraction is applied is embedded in a portion of the substrate, close to the attraction surface. In addition, a plurality of independent RF electrode layers to which different radio frequencies for plasma control are fed, respectively, are embedded in portions of the substrate, at an opposite side of the first electrode layer to the attraction surface. The RF electrode layers are arranged separately in different layers which are not on an identical plane in such a manner as to partially overlap each other in a plan view.
US08441766B2
An output termination board for a safety system is disclosed herein. The termination board provides simplified wiring between the output modules and the remote devices operated by the controller in the system. Redundant output signals are generated within each pair of output modules and combined such that one control signal is sent to each remote device. In addition, a program executing on the controller of the safety system performs a test to determine if each output module is operating normally. If the program detects a fault in either output module, the safety system may alternately shut down according to a fail-safe procedure or continue operating under a fault-tolerant mode of operation.
US08441758B2
Methods of defining servo patterns and data patterns for forming patterned magnetic media are described. For one method, a lithographic process is performed to define a servo pattern in servo regions on a substrate. The lithographic process also defines a first data pattern in data regions of the substrate. The first data pattern is then transferred to (i.e., etched into) the data regions. Self-assembly structures are then formed on the data pattern in the data regions to define a second data pattern. The servo pattern is then transferred to the servo regions and the second data pattern is transferred to the data regions. Thus, the servo pattern is defined through lithographic processes while the data pattern is defined by a combination of lithographic processes and self-assembly.
US08441754B2
A servo master having a pattern capable of being magnetically transferred as a servo pattern to a magnetic recording medium, wherein the servo master is formed of a material having a magnetic anisotropic constant perpendicular to a surface of the magnetic recording medium. The magnetic transfer method can include preparing a servo master patterned with a servo pattern to be formed on a magnetic recording medium, and arranging the servo master on the magnetic recording medium and applying an external magnetic field to the servo master in a first direction perpendicular to a recording surface of the magnetic recording medium, and in a second direction parallel to the recording surface of the magnetic recording medium.
US08441751B1
A receiving device may be configured to derive an oversampled dibit pulse response estimate using symbols sampled at substantially the read channel symbol rate of the receiving device. The receiving device may include a data acquisition circuit configured to digitize data derived from a memory medium, a symbol timing loop and read circuit, as well as a dibit pulse estimation circuit configured to estimate the oversampled dibit pulse response using symbols sampled at the read channel rate of the receiving device without disturbing the symbol timing loop and read circuit.
US08441738B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a rear group including one or more lens units. An aperture stop is included on the image side of the second lens unit, and the second lens unit and at least one of the lens units included in the rear group move during zooming. The Abbe number νdj1 and the partial dispersion ratio θgFj1 of a material of a refractive optical element j1 having a negative refractive power included in the second lens unit, the focal length fj1 of the refractive optical element j1, the focal length f2 of the second lens unit, and the anomalous partial dispersion ratio ΔθgFj1 of the refractive optical element j1 are set appropriately.
US08441737B2
The invention provides a variable focus lens formed from a ring with a front surface and a rear surface, a flexible membrane is attached to a radially inner part of the front surface, and a front cover is attached to a radially outer part of the front surface, a rear cover is provided on the rear surface of the ring, preferably integral with the ring, so that a variable volume cavity is defined between the flexible membrane, the ring and the rear cover, second flexible membrane can be provided between the ring and the rear cover, where the invention also provides a method of filling a variable focus lens, and an adjustment mechanism for varying the focus of the lens.
US08441729B2
An optical arrangement includes a light source which emits coherent light of a wavelength λ, and a diffraction grating which has a multiplicity of diffraction structures which follow one another periodically at the spacing of a grating period d and are arranged along a base surface, the individual diffraction structures respectively having a blaze flank and an antiblaze flank, the blaze flanks being arranged at an angle β and the antiblaze flanks being arranged at an angle α to the base surface, and respectively neighbouring blaze and antiblaze flanks enclosing an apex angle γ, and an incident light beam being arranged at a Littrow angle θL relative to a grating normal of the diffraction grating. The angle β of the blaze flanks to the base surface is selected as a function of the Littrow angle θL such that the diffraction efficiency is at least approximately maximal in one of the largest diffraction orders m, which still fulfils the condition (2((m+1)/m)−1)sin θL≧1, and for at least one polarization direction.
US08441724B2
An optical filter composite is provided having effective filtering of infrared emissions, such as solar or laser emissions, while providing very high visible light transmission, preserving the ability to differentiate and recognize colors and providing a pleasing overall color as compared to the prior art. The present invention provides for filters that are formed by lamination, infusion and/or coating processes using filtering assemblies having a neutral color with high visible light transmission while also producing high levels of filtration in the infrared and near infrared range to provide effective protection against harmful emissions in these ranges while also producing a filter that has a color that is more pleasing and desirable to the wearer.
US08441723B2
One embodiment of the present method and apparatus encompasses an apparatus that may have: a predetermined length, the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide having first and second opposed sides; quantum wells disposed within the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide along the length of the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide, the quantum wells being formed of a quantum well gain material; microchannel cooler that extends substantially the width of the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide, the microchannel cooler located adjacent the first side of the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide; and a plurality of pump arrays arranged along the microchannel cooler opposed from the first side of the self-imaging semiconductor waveguide; wherein the quantum well gain material is photopumped through the microchannel cooler.
US08441721B2
An example method includes receiving power measurements for a plurality of optical channels. Deviation measurements representing a difference between respective power measurements and corresponding power targets for the plurality of optical channels are created. Correctable deviations for the plurality of optical channels are determined based on the deviation measurements. The correctable deviations may be determined by projecting the measured deviations into a space that defines Raman gain profiles achievable with a set of channels and pumps. Pump settings for a plurality of pumps are determining based upon the correctable deviations for each channel by solving an optimization problem. The pump setting so determined may be applied to the plurality of pumps.
US08441717B2
The PLC-type delay demodulation circuit includes a planar lightwave circuit that is provided on one PLC chip and demodulates a DQPSK signal. The planar lightwave circuit includes a Y-branch waveguide that branches a DQPSK-modulated optical signal into two optical signals and first and second MZIs that delay the branched optical signals by one bit. A wave plate is provided in central portions of first and second arm waveguides of the first MZI and first and second arm waveguides of the second MZI in such a manner that the wave plate intersects all of the four arm waveguides, the four arm waveguides being close to one another in a portion where the wave plate is provided.
US08441715B2
An electronic paper unit including a flexible substrate, a thin film transistor layer, an electronic ink layer, a waterproof layer, and a sealant is provided. The thin film transistor layer is disposed on the flexible substrate. The electronic ink layer is disposed on a surface of the thin film transistor layer. The waterproof layer is disposed on the electronic ink layer. An edge surface of the waterproof layer and an edge surface of the electronic ink layer form a side wall where there is a first acute angle or a first obtuse angle between the side wall and the surface of the thin film transistor layer. The sealant is coated and covered on the side wall and the surface. A method for fabricating the electronic paper unit is also provided.
US08441706B2
An optical module includes a mirror which reflects input light and which outputs output light; and a mirror control section which is opposite to the mirror and which controls, at the time of the input light being reflected from a reflecting surface of the mirror, the reflecting surface by distorting the reflecting surface according to voltage applied to the mirror so as to output the output light an optical coupling characteristic of which changes. By using this optical module, the optical coupling characteristic of the output light changes.
US08441699B2
An image forming device includes an image forming unit forms an image based on image data by using at least one of a plurality of colors of developer. A test image forming unit controls the image forming unit to form a test image based on test image data. A measuring unit measures density of the test image. A color density correction data creating unit creates the color density correction data based on the measured density. A color order setting unit sets a color order. A performing unit performs a process to create color density correction data for the plurality of colors in the color order by controlling the test image forming unit, the measuring unit, and the color density correction data creating unit. A print image data acquiring unit acquires print image data while the performing unit is performing a color density correction data creating process for a current color.
US08441689B2
A host PC that creates image data used in an ink-jet printer capable of landing ink with a multi-pass method includes an image data creation means that creates the image data so that the ink-jet printer forms an image with a halftone dot which is configured so that a relationship between a pass number and a dot pitch in a vertical scanning direction of an ink-jet head does not become an integral multiple relationship when the pass number is odd number, and a dot pitch does not become even number when the pass number is even number.
US08441688B2
A halftone screen applicable to an electrophotographic printer is created. Hence, minimum and maximum sizes of a halftone dot and a cluster size are input. When the halftone-dot size reaches the minimum size, the number of blackened pixels in the halftone dot is calculated. When the halftone-dot size is smaller than the minimum size, or when the number of blackened pixels doesn't reach the cluster size, and the halftone-dot size is smaller than the maximum size, the halftone dot is. When the number of blackened pixels becomes equal to or larger than the cluster size or when the halftone-dot size reaches the maximum size, a halftone screen is partitioned into polygons to have centroids of the halftone dots as kernel points. Then, each halftone dot is grown by blackening pixels to have the centroid as the center of growth.
US08441682B2
A color correction method includes displaying an expected print image of a test image of the image forming apparatus on a monitor, outputting the test image to the image forming apparatus, performing color matching between the output test image and an expected print image on the monitor, changing an ICC profile of the monitor according to the performed color matching, and generating a print data using the changed ICC profile. Also a print controlling terminal which performs the color correction method.
US08441681B2
A printing apparatus, which prints a composite image formed of an enlargement portion and a non-enlargement portion of an original image on a printing medium, includes: an enlargement portion determining section which determines the enlargement portion, of the original image, which is to be enlarged in the composite image; an enlargement rate determining section which determines an enlargement rate of the enlargement portion with respect to the original image; a print data generating section which generates print data for printing the composite image based on image data of the original image, the enlargement portion determined by the enlargement portion determining section, and the enlargement rate determined by the enlargement rate determining section; and a printing mechanism which prints the composite image on the printing medium based on the print data generated by the print data generating section.
US08441677B2
A velocity calculation device disclosed includes a computation section that, using as a reference period at each of plural predetermined points in time a individual period detected most recently by a detection section for one or another of plural generating sections, computes for each of the reference periods an average value of the reference period and one or more individual periods for other generating sections of the plural generating sections, detected separately prior to detecting the respective reference period for pulse signals nearest to the reference period; and a calculation section that calculates a velocity related to rotation of the rotation body based on the plural average values computed by the computation section, the number of individual generating sections, and a predetermined rotation angle.
US08441675B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image processor which generates printing data of a document displayed as a preview image and a controller which controls the image processor to generate the printing data from which a hidden region is excluded, the hidden region not being displayed when the document is previewed.
US08441671B2
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods and systems for configuring modules and sub-modules in a control area network (CAN) of a printer system using machine data and network protocols. The machine data includes a file that describes the board types and application types for possible modules and sub-modules of a printer system. The machine data facilitates the process of identifying modules and the process of differentiating sub-module boards from other modules. Customization of printer configurations is enhanced through plug-and-play support allowing for dynamic sub-module re-configuration for the disconnection and reconnection of boards that may form part of replaceable units. A configuration process allows non-configured boards to be placed, when the printer system is idle, properly into the network and to be associated with the proper module.
US08441665B2
An image-forming apparatus is capable of communicating with a server apparatus for performing a workflow. The image-forming apparatus includes a receiving unit configured to receive definition information of a flow defined in a workflow from the server apparatus and a control unit configured to control display of a screen of the image-forming apparatus based on the flow definition information received by the receiving unit. The image-forming apparatus further includes a notification unit configured to notify the server apparatus of a completion of the flow by the image-forming apparatus.
US08441661B2
An image processing apparatus includes a platform and plugins installed in the platform to cause devices to perform functions, wherein the platform includes a power control unit to control supply of power to the devices and a first power control interface to transmit to the plugins an advanced notice of shutdown, wherein each of the plugins includes a second power control interface to receive the advanced notice of shutdown and a power processing control unit to make a preparation for shutdown in response to the advanced notice of shutdown received through the second power control interface, and to send information about the preparation to the power control unit through the second power control interface, wherein the power control unit controls supply of power to at least one of the devices based on the information about the preparation received from at least one of the plugins.
US08441656B2
A PDL data processing device may obtain PDL data including plural sets of drawing part data and a set of deletion part data. The set of the deletion part data may include timing information and data information indicating a target set of the drawing part data of a deletion target. The PDL data processing device may store the PDL data in a memory, create drawing data by utilizing the plural sets of the drawing part data, and delete from the memory the target set of the drawing part data indicated by the data information included in the set of the deletion part data, regardless of the timing indicated by the timing information included in the set of the deletion part data, at a specific timing which is subsequent to the timing indicated by the timing information.
US08441649B2
A multi-beam interferometer displacement measuring system has a light source module, a resonator module and a detecting device. The light source module has an emitter and a polaroid sheet. The emitter emits a non-polarizing beam. The polaroid sheet receives and transforms the non-polarizing beam into a polarizing beam. The resonator module receives the polarizing beam and has a coated glass panel, a corner cube prism and a wave-delay plate. The coated glass panel receives and reflects the polarizing beam. The corner cube prism receives and reflects the polarizing beam to the coated glass panel to form a resonant cavity. The wave-delay plate is mounted between the coated glass panel and the corner cube prism to receive the polarizing beam. The detecting device faces the coated glass panel to receive the interferential stripes formed in the resonator module and has a polarizing beam splitter, two power detectors and a signal processor.
US08441648B2
A calibration jig allowing simple and repeatable calibration of a probe optical tomographic apparatus is disclosed. The jig includes a holding member removably attachable to an attachment section of the apparatus and a reflective surface held by the holding member. The reflective surface reflects measurement light emitted from an emitting section of the attachment section and directs reflected light back to the emitting section. If a probe of the apparatus is covered with a sheath, the jig may include a light transmitting member, which generates the same dispersion as dispersion at the sheath, between the emitting section and the reflective surface. The reflective surface may be a single reflective surface disposed within an area corresponding to twice a coherence length of the laser light with a zero path position of the reflective surface being the center of the area.
US08441647B2
An apparatus and method for detecting a foreign material within a pouch type battery by performing a light scattering method on a surface of a battery case are provided. The apparatus for detecting a foreign material within a pouch type battery includes: a light source irradiating linear light to a surface of a battery case at a pre-set incident angle; a sensor unit sensing light reflected from the battery case; and a foreign material detection unit detecting the presence or absence of a foreign material and the position of the foreign material within a battery through the reflected light sensed by the sensing unit. A foreign material within a battery can to be quickly and accurately detected.
US08441640B2
A substrate processing system includes an optical measurement assembly coupled to an exterior of a processing chamber that has a portion that is transparent. The processing chamber includes a reference object and a pedestal for supporting a work piece. The optical measurement assembly measures a lateral location, a height and a tilt of the pedestal by transmitting light into the processing chamber through the transparent portion of the processing chamber and detecting a reflected light from both the reference object and the portion of the pedestal after the reflected light leaves the chamber through the transparent portion of the processing chamber. A method of adjusting a pedestal includes analyzing the reflected light and leveling the pedestal, translating the pedestal, calibrating the pedestal height to a preheat ring level, and checking the level and location of the pedestal in response to the analyzed reflected light.
US08441635B2
A mass sensor is provided for determining the mass of small objects. The mass sensor has a plurality of nanostructures attached to a substrate. The nanostructures and the substrate are irradiated with an electromagnetic wave to determine a first mechanical-electromagnetic resonant frequency of the mass sensor. After a particle is attached to the nanostructures, the substrate and the nanostructures to which the particle is attached are irradiated with an electromagnetic wave to determine a second mechanical-electromagnetic resonant frequency of the mass sensor. A mass of the particle is determined based on a difference between the first and second mechanical-electromagnetic resonant frequencies.
US08441634B2
The invention provides a method of calibrating measurement device using a Raman-active composition, wherein the composition is active, in one embodiment, in a wavelength region that ranges from about 300 nm to about 1200 nm, and in another embodiment, from about 550 nm to about 650 nm. The method is especially useful in the calibration of fluorescent measurement devices. The method of the invention provides several advantages, such as, in facile identification of problems with the device when it occurs, in not having to tune and adjust the device very often, and neutralizing variations between different runs and different instruments. In another aspect, the invention also provides a device that is calibrated using the method of the invention. In one embodiment, the Raman-active composition useful in the invention is a derivative of 1,4-bis(2-methyl-styryl)-benzene.
US08441630B2
System and method are disclosed for in-situ monitoring of a specimen while undergoing a defined process. The system includes a processing system adapted to perform the defined process on the specimen, and a coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS) microscopy system adapted to in-situ monitor the specimen. In another aspect, the CARS microscopy system is adapted to in-situ monitor the specimen simultaneous with the defined process being performed on the specimen by the processing system. In still another aspect, the CARS microscopy system is adapted to perform a measurement of the specimen while the defined process being performed on the specimen is paused or temporarily halted.
US08441594B2
A liquid crystal display device has an improved end reinforcing structure of a chassis. The liquid crystal display device comprises: a liquid crystal panel for realizing an image; a backlight unit for irradiating a backlight on the liquid crystal panel; a mold frame for storing the backlight unit; a first chassis for supporting the mold frame and including a hemming processor which is bent at an end of the first chassis so as to have a double thickness; and a reinforcing member installed so that the thickness of the hemming processor is increased. Accordingly, the intensity of the end of the first chassis may be increased, thereby guaranteeing strong durability against an external shock.
US08441592B2
A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) array substrate comprises: forming a gate line and a gate electrode on a base substrate, and then depositing a gate insulating layer on the base substrate; forming an active layer, a data line, a source electrode, and a drain electrode on the gate insulating layer, and removing the gate insulating layer in the region other than the regions of the active layer, the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode; forming a first via hole, a second via hole and a third via hole in a photoresist layer by an exposing and developing process; and forming a pixel electrode, a first connection electrode and a second connection electrode on the photosensitive resin layer. The pixel electrode is connected with the drain electrode through the third via hole.
US08441588B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a transformer disposed under the display panel and including a primary winding and a secondary winding which are separated from each other and an insulating section between the primary winding and the secondary winding, and a lower housing member on which the display panel is placed and to which the transformer is fixed. A first region corresponding to the insulating section of the transformer is defined in the lower housing member, and at least one hole is disposed in the first region of the lower housing member.
US08441580B2
One embodiment sets forth a method of scanning a frequency channel, which includes receiving a radio-frequency signal in a selected frequency channel, performing a carrier recovery process, and evaluating a control signal generated during the carrier recovery process to determine the presence of program content in the selected frequency channel.
US08441578B2
A slicer level calculator including a signal detector, a moving average calculator, a sync-tip voltage sample circuit, a blanking voltage sample circuit, a slicer level calculator, and a rear-end processor is disclosed. The signal detector determines whether an input video signal satisfies a low signal to noise ratio (SNR) criterion. If so, the first signal detector further enables a low SNR control signal. The moving average calculator obtains a moving average voltage level of the input video signal. The sync-tip voltage sample circuit, the blanking voltage sample circuit and the slicer level calculator obtain a sync-tip voltage level, a blanking voltage level, and a slicer voltage level, respectively. The rear-end processor selectively executes low-pass filtering operation on the slicer voltage level in response to the low SNR control signal.
US08441571B2
A control method for an image sensing apparatus is provided with an operation unit for receiving input from a user and a communication unit for communicating with an external processing device, and having a power saving mode for stopping the supply of electrical power to at least a part of the image sensing apparatus if no input to the operation unit is performed for a predetermined time period is disclosed. The control method selects one of a plurality of operation modes including at least image sensing mode and playback mode, and controls a shift to the power saving mode depending on the selected operation mode and a state of communication with the external processing apparatus using the communication unit.
US08441570B2
An image pickup apparatus and a lens apparatus capable of photographing high-grade still images even where an interlace type image pickup element is used are to be provided. When an instruction to photograph a still image is entered, a camera microcomputer generates a timing to intercept light coming incident on a lens according to the aperture value of an iris, and transmits this timing to a lens microcomputer. The lens microcomputer supplies a control signal to an aperture control circuit according to the received timing, and a mechanical shutter is caused to operate as the aperture control circuit closes the iris at high speed.
US08441565B2
An image pickup apparatus that makes it possible to achieve both high picture quality and a wide dynamic range is provided. Each pixel unit included in the image pickup apparatus includes: four photodiodes; four transfer transistors; a charge storage portion (four floating diffusions) for storing electric charges generated at the photodiodes; an amplification transistor; a select transistor; and a reset transistor. The image pickup apparatus further includes multiple coupling transistors. Each coupling transistor couples together the charge storage portions of two pixel units of the pixel units. A scanning circuit switches on or off the coupling transistors according to read mode.
US08441564B2
In the solid-state imaging apparatus, the carrier holding portion is arranged at a position in a first direction from a photoelectric conversion portion, a floating diffusion region is arranged at a position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from the carrier holding portion with a transfer portion sandwiched between the floating diffusion region and the carrier holding portion, the carrier holding portion included in the first pixel is arranged between the photoelectric conversion portion included in the first pixel and the photoelectric conversion portion included in the second pixel, the carrier holding portion included in the first pixel is covered with a light shielding portion, and the light shielding portion extends over a part of each of the photoelectric conversion portions included in the first and second pixels.
US08441562B1
In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining a phase alignment of a Bayer color filter array is provided. A quincunx lattice of the color filter array corresponding to a first color component is determined from an input frame of image data. Elements of the color filter array corresponding to first and second rectangular lattices of the color filter array are selected. Second and third color components corresponding to elements of the first and second rectangular lattices are determined from the sample values in an input frame of image data.
US08441561B2
An image pickup apparatus that make it possible to perform image processing under appropriate conditions and secure appropriate image qualities of taken images. The image pickup device has a photoelectric conversion element portion that generates signal electric charge according to the amount of received light, a first optical black unit having a light-shielded photoelectric conversion element structure and having first output characteristics, and a second optical black unit having a light-shielded photoelectric conversion element structure and having second output characteristics different from the first output characteristics. A dark current value is measured based on an output from the first optical black unit and an output from the second optical black unit. Whether or not to perform image processing is determined according to the measured dark current value.
US08441550B2
A video camera includes an imager. An imager outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface. A detector detects a plurality of luminance change amounts respectively corresponding to a plurality of timings based on the object scene image outputted from the imager. A determiner determines generation/non-generation of a flicker by referring to a difference between a sine wave depicted along a time axis and the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector. A first adjuster adjusts an angular frequency of the sine wave to a frequency corresponding to a drive system of the imager. A second adjuster adjusts an initial phase and an amplitude of the sine wave based on the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector.
US08441547B2
In a digital still camera, when the reproducing mode is selected, an indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed on an indicating device, and if the command dial is not operated until 16 seconds elapses after the indication has been started, the supply of source voltage to the various parts of the camera is stopped, to achieve a reduction in power consumption. If the command dial is operated within 16 seconds, image signals are output to an external monitor and also an indication to the effect that reproduction is in progress is displayed on the indicating device. If the command dial has been operated within three minutes after reproduction of a given photographic frame has been started, reproduction of the following frame is performed, but if the command dial has not been operated until the three minutes have elapsed, the indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed again. If the sensitivity changeover switch and the command dial are operated together during reproduction or standby for reproduction, the photographic frame to be reproduced is determined in correspondence to the quantity and direction of the rotation of the command dial and the frame number of the frame thus determined is displayed on the indicating device.
US08441545B2
An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor 104 in which at least part of pixels arranged in two dimensions are configured as focus detection pixels with divided-pupil, a memory control circuit 113 configured to read out from a memory position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 stored in the memory, and a correction circuit 110 configured to identify positions of the focus detection pixels 401, 402 in the image sensor 104 based on the position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 and to correct a defective focus detection pixel signal using defect-free focus detection pixel signals.
US08441544B2
An electronic camera is characterized by including an imaging part shooting a figure image; an area detection part detecting a flesh-colored area including a face portion and a portion other than a face; a color judgment part judging color information of the flesh-colored area; a color difference calculation part determining a color difference between first color information of the face portion and second color information of the flesh-colored area of the portion other than the face; a correction coefficient calculation part determining color correction coefficients based on the color difference; an area appointment part appointing an area on which a color conversion is performed; and a color conversion part performing, when the color difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the color conversion on the area appointed by the area appointment part by using the color correction coefficients.
US08441540B2
A computer-implemented method for controlling an image sensor includes loading an image file having data sets associated with multiple image sensors respectively, identifying the image sensor if identification data included in one of the data sets matches to the image sensor, and configuring the image sensor according to configuration data included in the data set matching to the image sensor. The identification data indicates an identity of the image sensor. The configuration data indicates operation parameters of the image sensor.
US08441539B2
Provided is an imaging apparatus that can achieve a clear image in which motion blur is reduced even when a moving subject is photographed in a dark environment. The imaging apparatus (1) is equipped with multiple photoelectric conversion element groups, whereby a pickup image is generated based on intermediate image data read from each of the photoelectric conversion element groups. The apparatus (1) is equipped with an exposure time setting portion (12b) that sets the exposure time for each element group during imaging, and an exposure time for carrying out multiple exposures during one imaging cycle is set for at least one element group. In addition, the apparatus (1) is equipped with a motion detecting portion (12c) that detects motion information for images from multiple intermediate image data read corresponding to the multiple exposures by said element group, and a motion blur compensating portion (12d) that corrects the intermediate image data read from the other element groups using said motion information, and a pickup image is generated based on the multiple intermediate image data and the corrected intermediate image data.
US08441530B2
A method and system for detection of intestinal contraction may include detecting an obstructed portion of an image frame captured in-vivo. The obstructed portion of the image frame may include an area within an image frame that is obstructed by turbid intestinal content. The method and system may set a threshold for the area of the obstructed portion in the image frame, to determine an invalid frame and may remove the invalid frame from an image stream.
US08441517B2
In a network system for sending data to a plurality of terminals, a data processing apparatus has a plurality of coding units that code outgoing data including at least video or voice data for transmission to terminals over a network. The data processing apparatus obtains information about the terminals, groups the terminals according to the information, and transmits the coded outgoing data obtained from each coding unit to a different group of terminals. Appropriate grouping of the terminals conserves both network and coding resources and enables the quality of the data transmitted to the terminals to be improved at a low cost.
US08441510B2
A printing apparatus that receives a supply of an image receiving medium and includes a platen arranged to feed the image receiving medium selectively in one of a forward and reverse direction. A print head arranged to print an image on the image receiving medium while the medium is fed in the forward direction and an arcuate guide portion partially encasing the platen and movable relative to the surface of the platen. The guide portion having an inoperative position in which it is spaced from the print head to permit a supply of image receiving medium to be received and an operative position wherein the guide portion is moved to be proximate to the print head whereby the guide portion in the operative position restricts movement of the image receiving medium in a direction perpendicular to the forward and reverse direction.
US08441506B2
The present disclosure relates to a liquid crystal display device including a field programmable gate array (or “FPGA”) and a method for initializing the FPGA in stable. The present disclosure suggests a liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal display panel including a plurality of data lines and a plurality of gate lines crossing each other; a backlight unit configured to radiate backlight to the liquid crystal display panel; a backlight driving circuit configured to turn on and off light sources of the backlight unit according to a backlight dimming data; a data driving circuit configured to convert digital video data into positive and negative data voltages and to supply the positive and the negative data voltages to the plurality of data line; a gate driving circuit configured to supply a gate pulse to the plurality of gate line sequentially; a field programmable gate array configured to set circuit configurations of a built-in gate array logic part according to a gate array connection data downloaded from a non-volatile memory in order to modulated an input video data and to generate the backlight dimming data; and a timing controller configured to control operating timings of the data driving circuit and the gate driving circuit.
US08441500B2
A system for processing image files includes a palette module, an image file disposal module, and an image file rebuild module. The palette module defines a plurality of colors. The image file disposal module processes a RGB image, and acquiring RGB values of all pixels of the RGB image. The image file rebuild module converts the RGB image to a new image displayed by the plurality of colors defined by the palette module.
US08441492B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide for improved timing control in 2-D image processing to maintain a constant rate of memory fetches and pixel outputs even when the processing operations transition to a new line or frame of pixels. A one-to-one relationship between incoming pixel rate and outgoing pixel rate is maintained without additional clock cycles or memory bandwidth as an improved timing control according to the present invention takes advantage of idle memory bandwidth by pre-fetching a new column of pixel data in a first pixel block of a next line or frame while a new column of an edge pixel block on a current line is duplicated or zeroed out. As the edge pixel block(s) on the current line are processed, the data in the first pixel block of the next line or frame become ready for computation without extra clock cycles or extra memory bandwidth.
US08441486B2
Positions of avatars in a virtual world may be communicated to clients using multiple bitcode resolutions to minimize required communication bandwidth between a virtual world server and virtual world clients, thereby allowing transmission of all avatars' positions to every other player. Lower resolution bitcodes may be based on a lower resolution grid overlaid on the virtual world, whereas higher resolution bitcodes may be based on a higher resolution grid overlaid on the virtual world. In one example, a virtual world server may determine the bitcode resolution to use based on a distance between an avatar to which the position information is to be sent and other avatars in the virtual world. Resolution may include spatial resolution, where nearer avatars' locations are provided with higher resolution bitcodes, or temporal resolution, where the transmission frequency of position information is greater for nearer avatars. Position information in a transmission stream may further be condensed by using run length encoding.
US08441484B2
In one embodiment, a technique for efficient display of trouble ticket information is provided. The technique involves presenting a single view of disparate sets of data as a multi-dimensional graph. A weighting function may be applied to branches of the graph and the graph updated to reflect the results of application of the weighting function.
US08441474B2
A computing system with a graphical windowing server displaying to a display, and a method for setting the resolution of a display to which a computing device displays. The method comprises running a graphical windowing server with a digital connection enabled between the display and a graphics adapter for the display, querying the display with the digital connection for display modes supported by the display, receiving returned mode data, the mode data being indicative of one or more display modes supported by the display, shutting down the graphical windowing server, composing a modeline for the display according to the returned mode data and a desired resolution, running the graphical windowing server with the digital connection disabled and the modeline, and loading a graphics specification corresponding to the resolution indicated by the modeline.
US08441462B2
This invention offers a signal processing circuit of an electrostatic capacity type touch panel which is capable of switching between a differential input mode and a single input mode and has an extended adjustable range of an offset in the single input mode. The signal processing circuit of this invention includes a first sensor circuit of a differential input type, a second sensor circuit of a single input type, a third and fourth electrostatic capacitors that are variable capacitors for calibration to adjust the offset in an output voltage of the first sensor circuit, and a switching control circuit to control so as to put in operation one of the first and second sensor circuits. The switching control circuit also controls so that the third and fourth electrostatic capacitors for calibration are connected in parallel to each other when the second sensor circuit is put in operation.
US08441432B2
The invention is directed to compositions of display cell structure and electrode protecting layers for improving the performance of display devices. The composition comprises a polar oligomeric or polymeric material having a glass transition temperature below about 100° C., and the resulting display cells or electrode protecting layer have an average crosslinking density of below about 1 crosslink point per 80 Dalton molecular weight.
US08441431B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight unit. The backlight unit includes a first transistor generating a power voltage supplied through a power line as a driving current based on a driving voltage supplied to a gate electrode of the first transistor, a light emitting element emitting light by the first transistor, a second transistor connected to the first transistor in a current mirror form, a capacitor storing, and at least two switching transistors that equally respond to a selection signal supplied through a selection line and form the same discharge path, so that the power voltage supplied through the power line is sunk to a constant current unit and the driving voltage is stored in the capacitor.
US08441428B2
The invention relates to a power supply for a liquid crystal display using a light emitting diode for a backlight unit, and more particularly, to a power supply combining a DC power supply outside the liquid crystal display with a driving power supply inside the liquid crystal display into a single power supply. The power supply for a liquid crystal display according to an aspect of the invention may include: a power conversion section converting commercial AC power into at least one operating power having a predetermined voltage level through a switching operation; a backlight driving section switching the operating power from the power conversion section into backlight driving power; and a power switching control section controlling the switching operation of the power conversion section on the basis of a first feedback signal having a voltage level of the operating power from the power conversion section and a second feedback signal having a voltage level of the backlight driving power from the backlight driving section, wherein the power conversion section, the backlight driving section and the power switching control section are mounted on a single printed circuit board.
US08441423B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device in which problems such as an increase of power consumption and increase of a load of when light is emitted are reduced by using a method for realizing pseudo impulsive driving by inserting an dark image, and a driving method thereof. A display device which displays a gray scale by dividing one frame period into a plurality of subframe periods, where one frame period is divided into at least a first subframe period and a second subframe period; and when luminance in the first subframe period to display the maximum gray scale is Lmax1 and luminance in the second subframe period to display the maximum gray scale is Lmax2, (1/2) Lmax2
US08441422B2
A system comprising a stack of layers configured to display an image and including multiple elements configured to sense light. The system is configured to obtain a first reference image based on output from the multiple elements in a dark lighting condition associated with the system, and calibrate object detection based on output from the multiple elements using the obtained reference image. Additionally, a system comprising a display having a stack of layers configured to display an image and including a first and second set of elements. Each of the elements in the first set is configured to sense light, and each of the elements in the second set is configured to sense a dark current. The system is configured to perform object detection based on output from the elements in the first set, and calibrate the object detection based on output from the elements in the second set.
US08441420B2
An organic electroluminescent (EL) display device having a plurality of pixel circuits formed at crossing points of a plurality of scan lines and a plurality of data lines is provided. Each pixel circuit includes at least two driving transistors connected to a first power voltage line, the at least two driving transistors receiving a data signal through at least one of the data lines and outputting a driving current corresponding to the data signal; and an organic light emitting diode having at least two first electrodes respectively connected to the at least two driving transistors and emitting a light corresponding to the driving current. The organic light emitting diode has the at least two first electrodes and a common second electrode per pixel in order to prevent the whole pixel from not operating due to a short circuit occurring between one of the first electrodes and the second electrode.
US08441415B2
The present invention relates to a method for processing data of a picture to be displayed on a display panel with persistent luminous elements in order to reduce load effect in said display means. The method comprises the following steps: computing, for each subfield, the amount of activated luminous elements in each line of luminous elements of the display panel, called line load, calculating, for each subfield, the maximal difference of line loads of two consecutive lines of the display panel, and selecting, for each subfield, a sustain frequency in accordance with its maximal load difference in order to reduce line load effect.
US08441411B2
An integrated electronic device, and its method of manufacture, are provided. The integrated electronic device can include an electronic assembly, such as an active RFID assembly, that is electrically coupled to a thin printed flexible electrochemical cell. In one example, the electronic assembly and the electrochemical battery are provided on a single substrate. In one example method of manufacture, the entire cell to be made on a printing press to integrate the battery directly with the electronic assembly.
US08441408B2
A miniaturized multiple input multiple output (MIMO) antenna includes a first antenna element disposed in a first side of a substrate in a round form; a second antenna element in a round form symmetrically with the first antenna element and disposed in the first side of the substrate; and a ground disposed in a second side of the substrate. The first antenna element and the second antenna element are disposed such that electro magnetic waves resonating in the first antenna element and the second antenna element are orthogonally polarized. Accordingly, the antenna size can be reduced. The miniaturized antenna facilitates the component design in the small terminal.
US08441402B2
A measuring instrument for measuring a measurand of an object under measurement is provided. The measuring instrument includes a functional member for converting the measurand into a metered value, a housing and an antenna, in which at least part of the housing and/or part of the functional member form a component part of the antenna.
US08441395B2
An electronic scanning radar apparatus includes a transmission unit configured to transmit a transmission wave, a receiving unit including a plurality of antennas receiving an incoming wave coming from a target, a beat signal generation unit configure to generate beat signals in response to the transmission wave and the incoming wave, a frequency resolution processing unit obtaining complex number data calculated from beat frequencies having signal levels obtained by performing a frequency resolution for the beat signals based on a predetermined frequency width, a peak detector detecting an existence of a present target by detecting peak signal levels of the beat frequencies, a target link unit associating between the present target detected in a present detecting cycle and a past target detected in past detecting cycles; and a direction detecting unit calculating a direction of the incoming wave based on the weighted averaging process.
US08441388B2
A remote control device comprising a motion detector consisting of a single accelerometer, means for receiving data from the motion detector and mapping the received motion detector data to at least one user instruction, and means for transmitting a signal indicative of the at least one user instruction.
US08441380B2
A method for converting a sampled analog signal into digital is provided. An input signal is sampled at a sampling instant to generate a sample voltage. A first current is then applied to a node to change a voltage on the node, and a first interval to change the voltage on the node to a reference voltage from the sample voltage using the first current is determined. A second current is then applied to the node to change a voltage on the node prior to a subsequent sampling instant, and a determination of a second interval to change the voltage on the node to the reference voltage from the sample voltage using the second current is made.
US08441379B2
A device (10) for generating a digital output signal by digitizing an analog input signal is disclosed. The device (10) comprises a first signal path comprising a first ADC (20a) arranged to convert a first component of the analog input signal, residing in a first frequency band (40), to a first digital signal, and a second signal path comprising a second ADC (20b) arranged to convert a second component of the analog input signal, residing in a second frequency band (50), to a second digital signal. The first and the second frequency band (40, 50) overlap, such that there is a common frequency sub band (60), which is comprised in both the first and the second frequency band (40, 50). The device (10) comprises a combination unit (30). The combination unit (10) is adapted to determine, based on signal content of the first and second digital signal in the common frequency sub band (60), at least one parameter indicating a mismatch between the first and the second signal path in the common frequency sub band (60). Furthermore, the combination unit (10) is adapted to generate a first compensated digital signal and a second compensated digital for compensating the mismatch between the first and the second signal path in the common frequency sub band (60). Moreover, the combination unit (10) is adapted to combine the first compensated digital signal and the second compensated digital signal for generating the digital output signal. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.
US08441377B2
A method of dynamically adjusting a long-press delay time, an electronic device using the method, and a computer-readable medium are provided, wherein the electronic device has a plurality of keys. When a pressed time corresponding to a key of the electronic device exceeds a long-press delay time of the key, the electronic device executes a long-press function corresponding to the key. In the present method, a plurality of key inputs is first received. Then, the long-press delay time of the key is set according to the input rate related to the received key inputs. Thereby, the electronic device can respond appropriately according to the typing speed of a user, so as to offer the user a smooth operating experience.
US08441370B2
A downhole tool system includes a first downhole tool and a second downhole tool. The first downhole tool includes a first controller operable to receive an actuation signal including a tone. The first controller actuates the first downhole tool if the tone is a first specified frequency and changes the first downhole tool to communicate the actuation signal to the second downhole tool if first downhole tool is not actuated in response to the actuation signal. A second downhole tool includes a second controller operable to receive the actuation signal. The second controller actuates the second downhole tool if the tone is a second specified frequency. The second frequency is different from the first frequency.
US08441369B2
A remote user interface system and method for effectively controlling functions of a client device and remote user interface rendered on the client device by means of a client-specific or content-specific control user interface rendered on a remote control device is provided. A method for controlling a remote user interface device with a remote control device includes broadcasting, at the remote control device, a discovery message for discovering the remote user interface device; performing, when a response is received, a capability exchange and matching with the remote user interface device; rendering a control user interface transmitted by the remote user interface device and displaying the rendered control user interface on a screen; and transmitting, when an input is detected on the control user interface, a control command corresponding to the input to the remote user interface device.
US08441365B2
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to weight monitoring systems for recovering, processing, monitoring, and managing various commodities or products stored in a container.
US08441357B2
An alcohol concentration detecting device for a vehicle includes an alcohol sensor to detect alcohol component contained in an expiration of an occupant of the vehicle, a gas sensor to detect gas components other than the alcohol component contained in the expiration, and a controller to calculate alcohol concentration based on detection value of the alcohol sensor. The controller corrects the calculated alcohol concentration based on detection value of the gas sensor. The alcohol sensor and the gas sensor are configured to further detect a state of air in a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
US08441356B1
A mobile terminal is used to assist individuals with disabilities. A mobile terminal such as a “smartphone” or other commercially available wireless handheld device may be loaded with software. The software may be configured to: (i) store criteria for managing communications between a disabled user of the mobile terminal and a remote caregiver, (ii) determine whether a criterion is satisfied, and if so (iii) initiate a communication from the mobile terminal to the remote caregiver, and (iv) receive a response from the remote caregiver. Thus, through this software, the mobile terminal may dynamically facilitate communications with specific remote caregivers based on specific situations that may confront disabled individuals.
US08441349B1
Systems and methods for detecting one or more changes in a monitored environment are provided. A method includes transmitting interrogation signals to sensors distributed in a monitored environment at a substantially constant power. A first set of the interrogation signals is transmitted to a first sensor. The method also includes receiving first response signals from the first sensor in response to the first set of interrogation signals transmitted to the first sensor. The method also includes determining an average parameter of the first response signals from the first sensor. The method also includes comparing the average parameter of the first response signals to an average parameter of baseline signals corresponding to the first sensor. The method also includes determining a statistical significance of the average parameter of the first response signals based on the comparison, and generating a change detection indicator based on the statistical significance.
US08441342B2
An electric circuit for a transponder (110) for communication with a base station (120), the electric circuit comprising a memory unit (111) adapted for storing communication related information, and a processor unit (112) adapted for altering an authentification code necessary for the base station (120) to get access to the memory (111) in accordance with a pseudo-random authentification code altering scheme.
US08441332B2
The invention is directed to inter-helix inductor devices. The inter-helix inductor device includes a dielectric substrate. An input end is disposed on the first surface of the dielectric substrate. A clockwise winding coil has one end connecting to the input end and at least one winding turn through the dielectric substrate. A counter clockwise winding coil includes at least one winding turn through the dielectric substrate, wherein the clockwise and counter clockwise winding coils are connected by an interconnection. An output end is disposed on the dielectric substrate, connects one end of the counter clockwise winding coil, and is adjacent to the input end.
US08441329B2
An I/O system and device for use with superconducting device provides multi-stage filtering using superconducting electrical pathways, while providing good thermal conductivity to maintain low temperature of the various components and allowing the easy mounting and dismounting of a device sample from a refrigerated environment. Filtering may include a lumped element filter assembly including multiple plates each carrying a number of lumped element filters. Filtering may include a metal powder filter assembly including multiple metal power filters formed in passages of a substantially non-magnetic portions. A device sample holder assembly secures a device sample, for example a superconducting quantum processor, and provides signals, ground and good thermal conduction.
US08441318B2
A push-pull low noise amplifier (LNA) includes at least one amplifier block. Each amplifier block includes a bypass stage and at least one gain cell. The bypass stage has a first node and a second node. The gain cell has an input terminal and an output terminal, comprising a loading stage and a driving stage. When the push-pull LNA is in a first gain mode, the loading stage is enabled and the bypassing stage is disabled; and when the push-pull LNA is in a second gain mode, the loading stage is disabled and the bypassing stage is enabled.
US08441316B2
In one embodiment the present invention includes a switching circuit. The circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a boost circuit. The first transistor couples a first power source to a first intermediate node during a first phase of operation and the second transistor couples a second intermediate node to the first intermediate node during a second phase of operation. The boost circuit is coupled to the second intermediate node and provides a second power source by a transferring of energy from the first power source. The transferring of energy includes an inductor receiving energy from the first power source during the first phase of operation and providing a portion of said energy to the boost circuit during the second phase of operation. The boost circuit provides a biasing to enable deactivation of the second transistor during the first phase of operation.
US08441313B2
A current-mode analog baseband apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a current-mode low-order filter, a current-mode programmable gain amplifier (PGA) unit and a high-order filter. The input impedance is smaller than the output impedance in the current-mode low-order filter. An input terminal of the current-mode PGA unit is connected to an output terminal of the current-mode low-order filter. An input terminal of the high-order filter is connected to an output terminal of the current-mode PGA unit.
US08441311B2
A voltage regulation circuit includes: a first voltage divider that divides a regulation voltage with a predetermined division ratio to generate a division voltage; a first current driving force control unit configured to compare a reference voltage with the division voltage and generate a first control signal; a current driving unit configured to generate a driving current with a variable driving force based on the first control signal and a second control signal, and generate the regulation voltage; and a second current driving force control unit configured to generate the second control signal in accordance with a level variation of the regulation voltage.
US08441310B2
According to an example embodiment, an apparatus for controlling a power supply voltage for an integrated circuit may be provided, which may include a plurality of different types of process region detection circuits, each process region detection circuit configured to identify a respective process region of a plurality of process regions. The apparatus may also include a voltage selection circuit configured to determine a highest voltage among the voltages associated with the identified process regions and to select a power supply voltage for the integrated circuit that is equal to the highest voltage, one or more functional test circuits configured to perform a functional test using the selected power supply voltage, and a voltage adjuster circuit configured to increase the selected power supply voltage if the functional test fails.
US08441309B2
A temperature independent reference circuit includes first and second bipolar transistors with commonly coupled bases. First and second resistors are coupled in series between the emitter of the second bipolar transistor and ground. The first and second resistors have first and second resistance values, R1 and R2, and third and second temperature coefficients, TC3 and TC2, respectively. The resistance values being such that a temperature coefficient of a difference between the base-emitter voltages of the first and second bipolar transistors, TC1, is substantially equal to TC2×(R2/(R1+R2))+TC3×(R1/R1+R2)), resulting in a reference current flowing through each of the first and second bipolar transistors that is substantially constant over temperature. A third resistor coupled between a node and the collector of the second bipolar transistor has a value such that a reference voltage generated at the node is substantially constant over temperature.
US08441308B2
An electronic device generates a current with a predetermined temperature coefficient. The circuit comprises a temperature coefficient (TC) component receiving a bias current, a differential amplifier providing a buffered output voltage based on the voltage across the TC component and a resistor receiving an TC current based on the differential amplifier output voltage. The differential amplifier has a predetermined input related offset which decreases the voltage drop across the resistor. The temperature coefficient component could have either a negative temperature component (NTC) or a positive temperature component (PTC).
US08441307B2
A charge pump circuit comprises a plurality of subcircuits, where the subcircuits are connected to each other in a single or a dual array having a repeating pattern. Each of the subcircuits comprises one or more of the following: an X-channel device having an X-gate terminal, an X-source terminal and an X-drain terminal, a Y-channel device having a Y-gate terminal, a Y-source terminal and a Y-drain terminal, and a capacitor; wherein a first end of the capacitor, the X-drain terminal, and the Y-drain terminal are connected with each other to form the common drain terminal; and wherein a second end of the capacitor is the clock terminal.
US08441299B2
Dual path level shifter methods and devices are described. The described level shifter devices can comprise voltage-to-current and current-to-voltage converters.
US08441298B1
In one example, a chip includes an integrated analog component configured to communicate over an internal analog bus of the chip. A plurality of I/O pads located on the chip is configured to provide a connected device access to the integrated analog component. A plurality of transmission gates configured to selectively connect the I/O pads to a bus line of the analog bus.
US08441293B2
An integrated control circuit according to aspects of the present invention includes an oscillator, a capacitor, and a logic gate. The oscillator generates a periodic timing signal that cycles between a first logic state for a first time duration and a second logic state for a second time duration. The capacitor receives a charge current in response to the periodic timing signal transitioning to the first logic state, where a voltage on the capacitor increases for the first time duration to an initial value. The logic gate generates a periodic output signal having a duty ratio that is responsive to a time that it takes the capacitor to discharge from the initial value to a reference voltage. A period of the periodic output signal is the period of the periodic timing signal.
US08441290B2
A half bridge converter includes a transformer with a high side switch coupled between a first input terminal and a primary winding of the transformer. A low side switch is coupled between a second input terminal and the primary winding. A first control circuit is coupled to the first input terminal and the primary winding to control the high side switch in response to a rate of voltage change with respect to time across the high side switch while the high side switch is off. A second control circuit coupled to the primary winding and the second input terminal to control the low side switch in response to a rate of voltage change with respect to time across the low side switch while the low side switch is off.
US08441287B2
Circuits that operate with power supplies of less than 1 Volt are presented. More particularly, circuits that operate with supply voltages near or lower than the threshold voltage of the transistors in those circuits are presented. Various circuits and embodiments such as operational transconductance amplifiers, biasing circuits, integrators, continuous-time sigma delta modulators, track-and-hold circuits, and others are presented. The techniques and circuits can be used in a wide range of applications and various transistors from metal-oxide-semiconductor to bipolar junction transistors may implement the techniques presented herein.
US08441286B2
Quad-state logic elements and quad-state memory elements are used to reduce the wiring density of integrated circuits. The resulting reduction in wiring interconnects between memories and logic elements results in higher speed, higher density, and lower power integrated circuit designs.
US08441284B1
Various techniques are provided to flexibly update data fields stored in multi-bit registers. In one example, a method of updating a control register within an integrated circuit includes storing a plurality of initial bit values in the control register within the integrated circuit. The method also includes receiving a data set comprising one or more corrective bit values and one or more non-corrective bit values. The method also includes performing a logic operation on the received data set and the initial bit values to provide updated bit values. The method also includes replacing the initial bit values with the updated bit values in the control register.
US08441283B2
An integrated circuit includes: an on-die-termination (ODT) circuit configured to drive an input signal with drivability adjusted according to an impedance calibration code and a reference voltage; and an input buffer configured to buffer the input signal in response to the reference voltage and generate an output signal.
US08441275B1
An electronic device test fixture deploys a plurality of contact elements in a dielectric housing. The plumb arrangement of contact elements each include an armature or transversal configured to first depress and then slide laterally when urged downward by the external contacts of a device under test. The rotary movement of the transversal is optimized via the configuration of a surrounding forked regulator such that surface oxide deposition on the external device under test terminal is disrupted to reliably minimize contact resistance without damaging or unduly stressing the electrical junction of the device under test.
US08441270B2
There is provided an alternating current (AC) detection circuit for power supply, the AC circuit including: a rectifying part rectifying an AC voltage; a voltage division part dividing the voltage rectified by the rectifying part according to a preset division ratio; a voltage stabilization circuit part stabilizing the voltage divided by the voltage division part; and a first square wave generating part comparing the voltage stabilized by the voltage stabilization circuit part with an internal reference voltage, and generating a first square wave signal having a duty ratio according to comparison results between the stabilized voltage and the internal reference.
US08441259B2
A magnetic resonance coil comprises a first set of coil elements (54, 56, 80) operatively connectable with a transmit channel (66, 74) to couple with a transmit region of sensitivity for a selected load at a magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla, and a second set of coil elements (52, 54, 82) operatively connectable with a receive channel (66, 74) to couple with a receive region of sensitivity for the selected load at the magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla. The first set of coil elements is arranged proximate to but not surrounding the transmit region of sensitivity, and the second set of coil elements is arranged proximate to but not surrounding the receive region of sensitivity. The first set of coil elements and the second set of coil elements having at least one coil element (52, 56) not in common. The first and second sets of coil elements define transmit and receive regions of sensitivity for the selected load at the magnetic field strength greater than 3 Tesla that are substantially similar.
US08441245B2
A hysteretic power converter wherein an additional adjustment circuit, implemented as an offset correction loop, adds an offset to the comparator detection function to reduce the difference between the average output voltage and the regulation set point voltage. The adjustment circuit lies outside the main hysteretic regulation loop and therefore does not substantially impact the response time of the hysteretic loop, and is slow acting responsive to a low pass filter.
US08441244B2
A control system for a switching DC-DC converter is proposed. The converter includes an input terminal for receiving an input voltage from a source, a control terminal adapted to receive a switching control signal, and an output terminal for providing to a load an output voltage generated from the input voltage according to the control signal. The control system includes detecting means for detecting a reaching condition of a predetermined value by a current provided to the load by the converter and control means for controlling the control signal according to the output voltage. The control system further includes disabling means for disabling the supply of the control signal to the control terminal according to the detection of the reaching condition. The disabling means includes selection means for controlling the disabling according to a time relationship between the detection of the reaching condition and the control signal.
US08441241B2
Methods and systems to generate a digital error indication of an input signal relative to a reference signal, using resistors, comparators, and latches. The digital error indication may indicate that the input signal is within a range of the reference signal, above the range, or below the range. The methods and systems may be implemented within a multi-phase digital voltage regulator to generate a digital error indication for each of a plurality of phase currents relative to an instantaneous average of the phase currents. The digital voltage regulator may be fabricated on an integrated circuit die with a corresponding load, such as a processor. The digital voltage regulator may include a plurality of multiplier or look-up based gain modules, each to receive a corresponding one of the digital error signals and to output one of three values. Outputs of each gain module may be integrated over time.
US08441239B2
A comparator type power supply controller that controls an output voltage. The power supply controller includes a comparator that compares a feedback voltage, which corresponds to the output voltage, with a reference voltage, wherein the comparator instructs power supply when the feedback voltage decreases when the feedback voltage decreases from the reference voltage. An offset application circuit is coupled to the comparator. The offset application circuit controls an input offset voltage of the comparator and decreases the input offset voltage as time elapses when the feedback voltage becomes lower than the reference voltage after the power supply ends. An amplifier amplifies a voltage difference of the feedback voltage and the reference voltage. The offset application circuit increases a change speed of the input offset voltage as the voltage difference increases in accordance with an output voltage of the amplifier.
US08441230B2
An energy-efficient and compact battery charger. The battery charger includes, among other things, a charging port, a power supply module, a battery charger control module or controller, a power control safety module, a battery charger switch, and an indicator. The controller, the power control safety module, and the battery charger switch work in conjunction with each other to control the operation of the battery charger. The controller is configured to execute a charging control process which detects the insertion of a battery pack into the charging port, controls the charging of the battery pack, and controls the illumination or display of the indicator. The power control safety module includes a power control safety circuit that is configured to prevent the charging current and/or the charging voltage from damaging the battery charger or battery pack during a malfunction.
US08441223B2
Disclosed herein is a torque control method for a high-speed Switched Reluctance Motor (SRM), which controls a torque in the high-speed operation of a 2-phase SRM. In the torque control method for a high-speed SRM, a positive torque (T*mA) of an active phase (A phase) of the two phases of the SRM is compensated for based on a negative torque attributable to an inactive phase (B phase) of two phases during a compensation control enable interval (ENA) ranging from a time point at which the active phase (A phase) is turned on to a time point at which tail current of the inactive phase (B phase) remains. Accordingly, the present invention can remarkably reduce a torque ripple occurring in high-speed operation mode in consideration of the influence of a negative torque attributable to tail current.
US08441222B2
A system for measuring current in an H-Bridge motor drive circuit and using that current to determine the output of a device powered by the motor. A particular embodiment is disclosed for a motor-driven fluid pump. Motor current is measured at predetermined pump pressures and flow rates to create calibration tables relating motor current to pump pressure. Once calibrated, the system determines pump pressure based on motor current by referring to the calibration tables. In an embodiment, the pump is driven to achieve a predetermined fluid dispense profile. The system monitors pump pressure by measuring motor current and determines if the dispense profile is being achieved and sets alarms if predetermined thresholds are not maintained. The system also detects pump wear based on the current measurements and issues warnings to the user in such conditions.
US08441207B2
An LED streetlight circuit includes an AC power supply, a switching circuit, an output controller and an LED array connected to the output controller. The switching circuit includes an EMI filter connected to the AC power supply, a power factor corrector connected to the EMI filter, a transformer connected to the power factor corrector, a rectifier/filter connected to the transformer, a standby power supply connected to the power factor corrector, a controller connected to the transformer, an luminance regulator connected to the controller, an optical coupler controlling loop connected to the controller and the rectifier/filter, and an optically controlled switch for connecting the standby power supply to the optical coupler controlling loop. The output controller includes a CC/CV controller connected to the rectifier/filter and the optical coupler controlling loop, an output voltage regulator connected to the CC/CV controller, and an output current regulator connected to the CC/CV controller.
US08441204B2
A power supply device according to one embodiment is configured to control a lighting of semiconductor light-emitting elements, wherein a dimming signal is canceled during a predetermined time period (T) from a timing immediately after power-ON, so as to light on light-emitting diodes to have a predetermined light amount, for example, a minimum light amount. After an elapse of the predetermined time period (T), cancellation of the dimming signal is released to light on the light-emitting diodes to have a light amount instructed by the dimming signal.
US08441201B2
An LED driving apparatus comprises a power supply unit that includes a transformer having a primary coil and a plurality of secondary coils and outputs alternating power from the plurality of secondary coils; a current balancing unit and a first rectification smoothing unit connected to a first secondary coil of the plurality of secondary coils; an LED load group that includes a plurality of LEDs connected in series and to which power smoothed from the first rectification smoothing unit is supplied; a power control unit that controls power to be supplied to the first and second LED loads, based on currents flowing in the first and second LED loads; and a direct current load that is connected to both ends of a second secondary coil of the plurality of secondary coils. The power supplying unit controls the alternating power, based on the power supplied to the direct current load.
US08441195B2
An illumination adjustment circuit includes a light sensitive unit, an amplification unit, a switch unit, and a light emitting unit. The switch unit includes a plurality of electronic switches with increasing threshold voltages. The light emitting unit includes a plurality of sets of light emitting diodes corresponding to the electronic switches. Each set of the light emitting diodes is connected to the amplification unit through one of the electronic switches corresponding thereto. The light sensitive unit detects the brightness of ambient light, outputting a first voltage to the amplification unit accordingly. The amplification unit amplifies the first voltage to a second voltage and outputs the second voltage to the switch unit, so that the electronic switches with the threshold voltages lower than the second voltage are turned on, and the set of light emitting diodes connected to the electronic switch becomes luminous.
US08441191B2
The present invention relates to the formation of a vacuum electronics circuit by the fusion bonding of multiple substrate wafers, e.g., silicon, copper, or other suitable conductive material, each etched using DRIE, cut using EDM, or machined by other suitable means. Other aspects of the invention relate to the alignment of a cathode with tube by fusion bonding the cathode wafer to a tube built using the fabrication methods described herein. Yet other aspects involve the alignment of dies or wafers during the fabrication of a vacuum electronics device using the “lego” technique outlined herein. In yet other aspects, fabrication methods are described.
US08441188B2
An organic light emitting diode display and a method for manufacturing the same are provided. The organic light emitting diode display includes a display substrate having an organic light emitting diode, an encapsulation substrate arranged opposite to the display substrate, and a sealant is applied between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate to bond and form a hermetically sealed enclosed space therein. A filler may also be provided in some of the enclosed space. Spacers are formed on at least one of the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate to maintain a predetermined gap between the display substrate and the encapsulation substrate. The heights of the spacers are gradually increased from a central portion of the display substrate toward edges of the display substrate.
US08441182B2
An organic light emitting diode display that includes a substrate defined with a plurality of pixels, an organic light emitting diode formed at each pixel with a first electrode, an organic emissive layer, and a second electrode, a driving circuit with a thin film transistor electrically connected to the organic light emitting diode, and a wire electrically connected to the driving circuit with a gate line, a data line, and a common power line to transmit external signals to the driving circuit. The data line and the common power line are formed in different geometric planes.
US08441179B2
Lighting devices include a semiconductor light emitting device and first and second spaced-apart lumiphors. The first lumiphor has a first surface that is positioned to receive radiation emitted by the semiconductor light emitting device and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second lumiphor has a first surface that is positioned to receive radiation emitted by the semiconductor light emitting device and radiation emitted by the luminescent materials in the first lumiphor. The first lumiphor is a leaky lumiphor in that the luminescent materials therein wavelength convert less than 90% of the radiation from the semiconductor light emitting device light that is incident on the first lumiphor.
US08441175B2
A piezoactuator has multilayer construction. Piezoelectric layers and electrode layers are alternatingly disposed one over the other in a stack. A number of the electrode layers are electrically conductively connected to a contact pin. A continuation is electrically conductively disposed on the contact pin. The continuation has a contact point with the contact pin and a free end for producing an electrical connection of the piezoactuator. A straight line extending through the contact point and the free end of the continuation encloses an angle with the longitudinal axis of the contact pin that is greater than 0° and less than 180°.
US08441174B2
In a multilayer piezoelectric element in which a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers are stacked alternately, the plurality of metal layers include a plurality of low-filled metal layers having a lower filling rate of metal composing the metal layers than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. In a multilayer piezoelectric element in which a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers are stacked alternately, the plurality of metal layers include a plurality of thin metal layers having a smaller thickness than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction. In a multilayer piezoelectric element in which a plurality of piezoelectric layers and a plurality of metal layers composed mainly of an alloy are stacked alternately, the plurality of metal layers include a plurality of high-ratio metal layers having a higher ratio of a component constituting the alloy than oppositely disposed metal layers adjacent to each other in a stacking direction.
US08441172B2
An oscillator apparatus and method for vibration energy harvesting includes a nonlinear oscillator (e.g. piezoelectric, magnetic or liquid oscillator) configured in association with a potential energy profile to enhance a desirable nonlinear effect with a larger displacement and a wider spectrum response. A cantilever beam associated with a vibrating structure generates a mechanical energy in response to vibration forces. A mechanical-to-electrical power converter can be coupled to the nonlinear oscillator to convert the mechanical power into an electrical power. The frequency response of the nonlinear oscillator adapts to varying ambient vibrations and auto-tunes with respect to the ambient vibration change for wireless and MEMS applications.
US08441170B2
An ultrasonic motor includes a stator. The stator includes a seat and a driving unit. The driving unit includes a generally semi-elliptical driving mechanism formed integrally with the seat, and two spaced-apart piezoelectric actuators disposed between the seat and the driving mechanism. Each of the piezoelectric actuators has a first end abutting against the driving mechanism, and a second end opposite to the first end and abutting against the seat.
US08441166B2
A device (10) for connecting together end winding parts (1) of stator bars (2) of an electric generator includes a first and a second element (11, 12) having sloped facing surfaces (13) defining two trapezoidal seats each housing a trapezoidal cursor (14), and one or two screws (15), axially fixed and rotatably movable with respect to the first and second element (11, 12) and having a threaded portion inserted in a threaded through hole (17) of the cursor (14).
US08441156B2
An electrically conductive module is provided. The module includes a panel configured to engage with one or more conductive structural elements. The module further includes conductive layers formed on or in the panel. Each conductive layer has a terminal configured to be in electrical communication with at least one of the conductive structural elements. In one embodiment of the present invention, a first terminal is configured to be in electrical communication with a first conductive structural element and a second terminal is configured to be in electrical communication with a second conductive structural element. In another embodiment of the present invention, both a first terminal and a second terminal are configured to be in electrical communication with a first conductive structural element. In this embodiment, the first and second terminals are respectively configured to be in electrical communication with first and second conductive portions of the first conductive structural element.
US08441152B2
The power generation and transmission device and method is able to be used to harness power such as solar and/or wind power and then transmit the power to a device on the other side of a physical structure such as a house, a car, a umbrella, a tent, and an awning.
US08441151B2
A power supply with arc flash protection mechanism for providing power to a load is disclosed. The power supply comprises a first power connector including a plurality of power terminals and a first detecting terminal, a power conversion circuit, a control unit and a connection status detection circuit. The power terminals of the first power connector are configured to couple with a plurality of power terminals of a second power connector, and the first detecting terminal is configured to couple with a second detecting terminal of the second power connector and provide a detecting signal indicative of whether the second power connector is being disconnected with the first power connector. When the first detecting terminal is disconnected with the second detecting terminal, a power connection status signal of the connection status detection circuit is under disable status and the control unit controls the power conversion circuit not to generate or output the output voltage to the load.
US08441138B2
For optimising annual energy production in a wind turbine, the invention provides a method by which operation of the turbine in accordance with different pre-specified modes depending on the wind direction towards the turbine is enabled. The modes may include pitch and/or power control strategies. The invention further provides a control system for a wind turbine adapted to operate in accordance with the method, and a wind turbine with such a control system.
US08441122B2
A semiconductor device includes a first protection film for covering a first metal wiring. A second protection film is disposed on the first protection film, which is covered with a solder layer. Even if a crack is generated in the second protection film before the solder layer is formed on the second protection film, the crack is restricted from proceeding into the first protection film.
US08441121B2
A manufacturing method of a package carrier is provided. A first opening communicating an upper surface and a lower surface of a substrate is formed. A heat-conducting element having a top surface and a bottom surface is configured in the first opening and fixed into the first opening via an insulation material. A first insulation layer and a first metal layer are laminated onto the upper surface. A second insulation layer and a second metal layer are laminated onto the lower surface. A second opening and a third opening respectively exposing portions of the top and the bottom surfaces are formed. At least one through via passing through the first metal layer, the first insulation layer, the substrate, the second insulation layer and the second metal layer is formed. A third metal layer covering the first and second metal layers and an inner wall of the through via is formed.
US08441118B2
A nano-sized metal particle composite includes a first metal that has a particle size of about 50 nanometer or smaller. A wire interconnect is in contact with a reflowed nanosolder and has the same metal or alloy composition as the reflowed nanosolder. A microelectronic package is also disclosed that uses the reflowed nanosolder composition. A method of assembling a microelectronic package includes preparing a wire interconnect template. A computing system includes a nanosolder composition coupled to a wire interconnect.
US08441105B2
A semiconductor device includes an element forming region including at least one semiconductor element formed on at least one compound semiconductor layer formed on a substrate and a trench formed between an outer edge of the semiconductor device and the element forming region. The trench spatially separates the compound semiconductor layer, and the trench is formed at least to reach the substrate.
US08441103B2
Trench capacitors and methods of manufacturing the trench capacitors are provided. The trench capacitors are very dense series capacitor structures with independent electrode contacts. In the method, a series of capacitors are formed by forming a plurality of insulator layers and a plurality of electrodes in a trench structure, where each electrode is formed in an alternating manner with each insulator layer. The method further includes planarizing the electrodes to form contact regions for a plurality of capacitors.
US08441101B2
Ferroelectric capacitors (42) are formed over a semiconductor substrate (10), then, a barrier film (46) directly covering the ferroelectric capacitors (42) is formed. Thereafter, wirings (56a etc.) connected to the ferroelectric capacitors (42) are formed. Further, a barrier film (58) is formed at a position higher than the wirings (56a etc.). In forming the barrier film (46), a film stack is formed, the film stack including at least two kinds of diffusion preventive films (46a and 46b) having different components and preventing diffusion of hydrogen or water.
US08441098B2
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip and a passive element. The semiconductor chip has a semiconductor chip body which possesses a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface, and a circuit section is formed in the semiconductor chip body. The passive element includes passive element bodies which are disposed in through-electrodes passing through the semiconductor chip body and connection members which are disposed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface of the semiconductor chip body and which electrically connect to at least one of the passive element bodies.
US08441097B2
Methods to form memory devices having a MIM capacitor with a recessed electrode are described. In one embodiment, a method of forming a MIM capacitor with a recessed electrode includes forming an excavated feature defined by a lower portion that forms a bottom and an upper portion that forms sidewalls of the excavated feature. The method includes depositing a lower electrode layer in the feature, depositing an electrically insulating layer on the lower electrode layer, and depositing an upper electrode layer on the electrically insulating layer to form the MIM capacitor. The method includes removing an upper portion of the MIM capacitor to expose an upper surface of the electrode layers and then selectively etching one of the electrode layers to recess one of the electrode layers. This recess isolates the electrodes from each other and reduces the likelihood of a current leakage path between the electrodes.
US08441084B2
A horizontal heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) includes doped single crystalline Ge having a doping of the first conductivity type as the base having an energy bandgap of about 0.66 eV, and doped polysilicon having a doping of a second conductivity type as a wide-gap-emitter having an energy bandgap of about 1.12 eV. In one embodiment, doped polysilicon having a doping of the second conductivity type is employed as the collector. In other embodiments, a single crystalline Ge having a doping of the second conductivity type is employed as the collector. In such embodiments, because the base and the collector include the same semiconductor material, i.e., Ge, having the same lattice constant, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the collector and the base. In both embodiments, because the emitter is polycrystalline and the base is single crystalline, there is no lattice mismatch issue between the base and the emitter.
US08441072B2
A non-planar semiconductor structure includes a substrate, at least two fin-shaped structures, at least an isolation structure, and a plurality of epitaxial layers. The fin-shaped structures are located on the substrate. The isolation structure is located between the fin-shaped structures, and the isolation structure has a nitrogen-containing layer. The epitaxial layers respectively cover a part of the fin-shaped structures and are located on the nitrogen-containing layer. A non-planar semiconductor process is also provided for forming the semiconductor structure.
US08441056B2
An array of memory cells configured to store at least one bit per one F2 includes substantially vertical structures providing an electronic memory function spaced apart a distance equal to one half of a minimum pitch of the array. The structures providing the electronic memory function are configured to store more than one bit per gate. The array also includes electrical contacts to the memory cells including the substantially vertical structures. The cells can be programmed to have one of a number of charge levels trapped in the gate insulator adjacent to the first source/drain region such that the channel region has a first voltage threshold region (Vt1) and a second voltage threshold region (Vt2) and such that the programmed cell operates at reduced drain source current.
US08441045B2
The present application discloses a semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same. Wherein, the semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a stressor embedded in the semiconductor substrate; a channel region disposed on the stressor; a gate stack disposed on the channel region; a source/drain region disposed on two sides of the channel region and embedded in the semiconductor substrate; wherein, surfaces of the stressor comprise a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, the side walls comprising a first side wall and a second side wall, the first side wall connecting the top wall and the second side wall, the second side wall connecting the first side wall and the bottom wall, the angle between the first side wall and the second side wall being less than 180°, and the first sidewall and the second side wall being roughly symmetrical with respect to a plane parallel to the semiconductor substrate. Embodiments of the present invention are applicable to the stress engineering technology in the semiconductor device manufacturing.
US08441043B2
Semiconductor-based electronic devices and techniques for fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a device is provided comprising a first pad; a second pad and a plurality of nanowires connecting the first pad and the second pad in a ladder-like configuration formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layer over a buried oxide (BOX) layer, the nanowires having one or more dimensions defined by a re-distribution of silicon from the nanowires to the pads. The device can comprise a field-effect transistor (FET) having a gate surrounding the nanowires wherein portions of the nanowires surrounded by the gate form channels of the FET, the first pad and portions of the nanowires extending out from the gate adjacent to the first pad form a source region of the FET and the second pad and portions of the nanowires extending out from the gate adjacent to the second pad form a drain region of the FET.
US08441039B2
Techniques for incorporating nanotechnology into electronic fuse (e-fuse) designs are provided. In one aspect, an e-fuse structure is provided. The e-fuse structure includes a first electrode; a dielectric layer on the first electrode having a plurality of nanochannels therein; an array of metal silicide nanopillars that fill the nanochannels in the dielectric layer, each nanopillar in the array serving as an e-fuse element; and a second electrode in contact with the array of metal silicide nanopillars opposite the first electrode. Methods for fabricating the e-fuse structure are also provided as are semiconductor devices incorporating the e-fuse structure.
US08441034B2
A method of fabricating a single crystal gallium nitride substrate the step of cutting an ingot of single crystal gallium nitride along predetermined planes to make one or more single crystal gallium nitride substrates. The ingot of single crystal gallium nitride is grown by vapor phase epitaxy in a direction of a predetermined axis. Each predetermined plane is inclined to the predetermined axis. Each substrate has a mirror polished primary surface. The primary surface has a first area and a second area. The first area is between an edge of the substrate and a line 3 millimeter away from the edge. The first area surrounds the second area. An axis perpendicular to the primary surface forms an off-angle with c-axis of the substrate. The off-angle takes a minimum value at a first position in the first area of the primary surface.
US08441014B2
In an electro-optical device substrate, first and second pixel switching elements each include a gate electrode formed of a first conductive film, a gate insulation film formed of a first insulation film, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode formed of a second conductive film, and a drain electrode formed of the second conductive film. A first storage capacitor includes a first storage capacitor electrode formed of the second conductive film, a protective film formed of a second insulation film so as to over at least the first storage capacitor electrode, and a pixel electrode formed so as to overlap with the first storage capacitor electrode at least partially with the protective film interposed therebetween.
US08441012B2
The present invention provides an array substrate, a method for manufacturing an array substrate, and a display device which are such that reflow failure of a resist mask does not occur readily at the time of manufacture of the array substrate, so the array substrate can be manufactured reliably. At the time of forming a TFT, third wiring 37 between source wiring 13 and the source electrode 22 of the TFT is provided with a narrow portion 38 that is formed with a narrow width by narrowing a midpoint at a portion of the wiring in planar shape, and the resist film on the source electrode 22 and a drain electrode 23 is reflowed so as to cover the surface of a channel region Q, thus forming a reflowed resist film 42. A semiconductor film 20 is etched using this as the etching mask in a state in which the area between the source and the drain is protected, thus making the semiconductor film 20 into an island shape.
US08441008B2
Provided is a solution composition for manufacturing a metal oxide semiconductor including aluminum salts, metal acetylacetonate and a solvent. In addition, provided is a method for manufacturing a metal oxide semiconductor, including: manufacturing of a metal oxide semiconductor by performing heat treatment after coating a solution composition for manufacturing the metal oxide semiconductor above a substrate. In addition, provided is a thin film transistor, including: a gate substrate; a metal oxide semiconductor manufactured to be overlapped with the gate substrate; a source electrode electrically connected to the metal oxide semiconductor; and a drain electrode that is electrically connected to the metal oxide semiconductor and faces the source electrode.
US08441003B2
A phosphorescent polymer compound including structural units that are derived from a compound represented by Formula (1): wherein R1 to R8 and L are as defined herein.
US08440998B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe structures and techniques to increase carrier injection velocity for integrated circuit devices. An integrated circuit device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first barrier film coupled with the semiconductor substrate, a quantum well channel coupled to the first barrier film, the quantum well channel comprising a first material having a first bandgap energy, and a source structure coupled to launch mobile charge carriers into the quantum well channel, the source structure comprising a second material having a second bandgap energy, wherein the second bandgap energy is greater than the first bandgap energy. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
US08440992B2
A reconfigurable device and a method of creating, erasing, or reconfiguring the device are provided. At an interface between a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, an electrically conductive, quasi one- or zero-dimensional electron gas is present such that the interface presents an electrically conductive region that is non-volatile. The second insulating layer is of a thickness to allow metal-insulator transitions upon the application of a first external electric field. The electrically conductive region is subject to erasing upon application of a second external electric field.
US08440985B2
An imaging method and a device for detecting the fluorescence of a biochip by illuminating chromophores associated with probes (14) of a substrate (12) placed on a sensor (10) having photodetectors, e.g. of the CCD or CMOS type, a stop filter that rejects the excitation light of the chromophores being provided between the probes (14) and the sensor, the substrate (12) being separable from the sensor (10) after use so as to enable the sensor to be reused.
US08440982B1
The present invention relates to a cryo transfer holder for TEM including: a specimen support having a specimen rod with a specimen cradle provided on one side end thereof, while being airtightly inserted reciprocatingly on the other side end thereof into a cooling tube of a thermal insulating container, and a thermal insulating pipe configured to be fixed to the thermal insulating container on one side thereof and to surround the specimen rod except the specimen cradle at the time of observation. The thermal insulating container in which a cooling medium is contained has the cooling pipe penetrated thereinto. A specimen rod-reciprocating means is configured to be coupled to the side of the thermal insulating container to allow the specimen rod to be reciprocated relative to the thermal insulating container.
US08440979B2
An apparatus for performing UV light exposure testing of solar panels, also known as PV modules, with superior exposure uniformity, equipment throughput, and floor space requirements, consisting of a chamber including a plurality of UV lamps in a lamp array, at least one target plane, and reflective panels positioned within the chamber to redirect UV light to the target plane(s).
US08440978B2
A multi-layered mega-voltage digital imager is disclosed. In one embodiment, the radiation to particle conversion and particle to electricity conversion is paired as a modular entity. The entity is replicated on top of each other as a layered unit to build an imager with increased resolution and efficiency. Due to this paired replication, sub-images from each replicated pair may be selectively combined and processed to enhance the quality of the image. By varying and adding components at each layer, a different dose rate, and increased resolution, energy sensitivity and efficiency are achieved. The multilayered approach is cost effective and removes problems associated with traditional high efficient MV imagers used for high energy radiations.
US08440971B2
In an examining apparatus or method, values of thickness and characteristic of an object, or distributions thereof can be simultaneously acquired. The examining apparatus includes a portion 9 for irradiating an object 2 with radiation, a portion 10 for detecting the radiation from the object, an acquiring portion 26, a storing portion 21 and a calculating portion 20. The acquiring portion acquires transmission time associated with detection time of radiation, and amplitude of the radiation. The storing portion beforehand stores relationship data between the transmission time and amplitude, and representative values of characteristic of the object. The calculating portion obtains values of thickness and characteristic of the object based on the transmission time, amplitude and relationship data.
US08440968B2
An ion-mobility analyser is disclosed comprising a plurality of axially segmented upper electrodes, a plurality of axially segmented lower electrodes, a first plurality of axially segmented intermediate electrodes and a second plurality of axially segmented intermediate electrodes which together define an ion pathway. An asymmetric voltage waveform is applied to the upper electrodes and a DC compensating voltage is applied to the lower electrodes in order to separate ions in a vertical radial direction according to their rate of change of ion mobility with electric field strength. At the same time, a DC axial voltage gradient is maintained along the axial length of the analyser in order to separate ions axially according to their ion mobility.
US08440963B2
A new pulsed multiple reaction monitoring process and system are disclosed that uses a pulsed ion injection mode for use in conjunction with triple-quadrupole instruments. The pulsed injection mode approach reduces background ion noise at the detector, increases amplitude of the ion signal, and includes a unity duty cycle that provides a significant sensitivity increase for reliable quantitation of proteins/peptides present at attomole levels in highly complex biological mixtures.
US08440961B2
An instrument for performing measurements downhole, includes an irradiator oriented to irradiate sub-surface materials surrounding the instrument, the irradiator including at least one neutron source disposed proximate to a moderator for providing a source of inelastic gamma photons and also disposed proximate to a material for providing a source of capture gamma photons; and a first detector and a second detector, each detector for detecting gamma rays and oriented in a relationship to the irradiator for receiving gamma photons from at least one of the irradiator and the formation. A method for irradiating sub-surface materials is provided.
US08440960B2
Water salinity and water saturation measurements are enhanced by systems and methods for logging salt concentration in formation fluids. Some tool embodiments augment a neutron porosity logging tool with a gamma ray detector configured to measure the rate at which hydrogen nuclei capture neutrons from a neutron source. The ratio of the hydrogen-capture gamma ray count rate to the neutron flux can be combined with a porosity measurement to derive the salt concentration in the formation fluids. When the salt concentration is further combined with resistivity measurements, the water salinity and water saturation can be derived. Some tool embodiments employ a continuous neutron source, Helium-3 filled neutron detectors, and a gamma ray detector that is the same distance from the source as one of the neutron detectors.
US08440958B2
An underwater data transmission system including arrays of nano-meter scaled photon emitters and sensors on an outer surface of an underwater platform. For the emitters, a laser is pulsed to correlate with data packets, providing a beam of photons at a prescribed frequency. Nano-scaled collecting lenses channel the incoming photons to photo-receptors located at a focal plane for the frequency at the base of each lens. A coating on the lenses absorbs photons at the frequency that are not aligned with the longitudinal axes of the lenses or tubes. Nano-wires connect the photo-receptors to a light intensity integrator. The integrator integrates the intensity over a surface area. The output of the integrator is fed to a signal processor to track and process the arriving digital packets.
US08440957B2
The present invention provides an array of pixels for the detection of a flash of electromagnetic radiation or a cloud of impinging high energy particles. Each pixel in the array comprises a radiation receptor for converting the electromagnetic radiation or impinging high energy particles into a radiation signal, and a converter for converting the radiation signal into pulses. The array further comprises a circuit for comparing one or more of the criteria pulse amplitude, pulse arrival time, time to convert a pulse in a digital signal, pulse duration time, pulse rise and fall time or integral of pulse over time for pulses coinciding on pixels in a predetermined neighborhood. The array also comprises a circuit for suppressing those pulses that are compared negatively versus the corresponding pulses in another pixel of the neighborhood for the same one or more criteria. A corresponding method is also provided.
US08440940B2
An ice dam remediation apparatus comprises a photovoltaic cell panel DC power source (9) directly connected electrically to a low-voltage electrical heat tape or wire cable (8). The heat tape or wire cable (8) is arranged near the eave (6) of a rooftop (2) in an orientation that will create a plurality of runoff channels or tunnels (11) through the ice or snow covering the roof. The channels or tunnels (11) are oriented along the dip of the rooftop, thus permitting water to drain off the edge (6) of the rooftop (2) instead of freezing and contributing to the formation of an ice dam along the edge (6) of the rooftop (2). Preferably, the photovoltaic cell (9) is situated on a sunny roof surface (3), so as to provide maximum power to the heat tape or wire cable (8), which is situated on a shady portion (2) of the roof, where ice dam formation is most likely.
US08440930B2
Disclosed is a vacuum circuit breaker. A rotation link provided between a rotation shaft which transfers a rotation force of a driving force, and a moveable link which performs a linear motion by a rotation force of the rotation shaft is configured to receive a tensile force to be pulled to a direction of the rotation shaft when a driving unit performs a closing operation. This may prevent the moveable link from being buckled during a closing operation, and thus prevent lowering of the reliability due to deformation of sliding levers.
US08440928B2
In a rotary electronic component, the rotor includes a flange with the first face on which grooves are formed radially and the second face. The plate spring with a ring shape in the top view, includes resilient arms and flat parts. The upper member has the bottom face covering the plate spring and the first face, and retains the flat part such that the flat part can be attached to or detached from the bottom face of the upper member while preventing the plate spring from rotating responsive to rotation of the rotor. A spring constant of the resilient arms and the shape of the flat part are set to achieve the state such that the resilient, arms bend and the flat part is partially released from the bottom face of the upper member when the resilient arms go over a position between adjacent grooves.
US08440926B2
Electronic devices may include electronic device structures such substrates, structures with cavities, and housing structures. Tape may be used to seal components to the surface of a substrate or within a cavity. The tape may have a nonstick polymer layer such as a layer of parylene and one or two layers of adhesive. The nonstick layer may be formed in a pattern so that some of the layer of adhesive is uncovered by the nonstick layer. The nonstick layer may be oriented so that the adhesive is interposed between the nonstick layer and a sealed component or may be oriented so that the nonstick layer is interposed between the adhesive layer and the sealed component. The component that is sealed by the tape may be an electrical component such as a dome switch or other mechanical or electrical component.
US08440916B2
A method of fabricating a substrate core structure comprises: providing first and second patterned conductive layers defining openings therein on each side of a starting insulating layer; providing a first and a second supplemental insulating layers onto respective ones of a first and a second patterned conductive layer; laser drilling a set of via openings extending through at least some of the conductive layer openings of the first and second patterned conductive layers; filling the set of via openings with a conductive material to provide a set of conductive vias; and providing a first and a second supplemental patterned conductive layer onto respective ones of the first and the second supplemental insulating layers, the set of conductive vias contacting the first supplemental patterned conductive layer at one side thereof and the second supplemental patterned conductive layer at another side thereof.
US08440913B2
A pole assembly for a three phase breaker includes a center pole and a pair of outer poles positioned on opposed sides of the center pole. A pair of brackets are positioned at opposed ends of the pole, and include a center groove and a pair of outer grooves. The center pole is positioned in the center groove. The outer poles are secured in the outer groove in a shipping configuration and an installed configuration. When in the shipping configuration the bushings of all the poles are parallel. When in the installed configuration the bushings of the outer poles are angled away from the bushings of the center pole.
US08440911B2
A flexible flat cable having good flexibility and bending resistance without deterioration of a good electrical characteristic of a strip structure and capable of enhancing cost effectiveness is provided. The flexible flat cable includes: a first shield member and a second shield member disposed in such a manner as to cover a surface of a cable body including a plurality of conductors arranged in parallel with a prescribed pitch therebetween. Each of the first and second shield members includes a metal member formed by placing a conductive adhesive layer placed between a plurality of metal layers, and allows one of outer most layers of the metal layers to be conductively connected with a ground layer.
US08440901B2
A musical score position estimating apparatus includes a sound feature quantity generating unit configured to generate a feature quantity of an input sound signal, and, a score position estimating unit configured to calculate a weight coefficient based on the feature quantity of the sound signal and a feature quantity of musical score information and estimates a musical score position using a virtual musical score position and a virtual tempo corresponding to the weight coefficient.
US08440900B2
A system, method, and computer readable storage medium generates an audio fingerprint for an input audio clip that is robust to differences in key, instrumentation, and other performance variations. The audio fingerprint includes a sequence of intervalgrams that represent a melody in an audio clip according pitch intervals between different time points in the audio clip. The fingerprint for an input audio clip can be compared to a set of reference fingerprints in a reference database to determine a matching reference audio clip.
US08440890B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1D0D and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1D0D with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1D0D 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 PH1D0D or a locus conversion of PH1D0D with another maize variety.
US08440883B2
A soybean cultivar designated S100004 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S100004, to the plants of soybean S100004, to plant parts of soybean cultivar S100004, and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar S100004 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars, or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean variety S100004, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S100004, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar S100004 with another soybean cultivar.
US08440871B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a tetramer production apparatus. The apparatus can include a fractionation zone and an oxygenate removal zone. The fractionation zone can produce a distillation product including one or more C6 hydrocarbons for producing one or more C12 compounds. The oxygenate removal zone may remove one or more oxygenate compounds from the distillation product passed through the oxygenate removal zone.
US08440859B2
The invention relates to a method for producing bioresourced propionic acid from glycerol. The invention also relates to a composition comprising more than 85 mass % of bioresourced propionic acid, and to the use of the propionic acid obtained from the method as a solvent, as a food preservative, for producing herbicide or for preparing vinyl propionate.
US08440853B2
An ester compound represented by formula (1): wherein R2 represents hydrogen, fluorine, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkoxy, C1-C4 alkoxymethyl, or C1-C4 alkylthiomethyl; and R2 represents C1-C4 alkyl, has an excellent pest control effect and is therefore useful as an active ingredient of a pest control agent.
US08440852B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) by hydrogenation of diethylenetriaminediacetonitrile (DETDN) over a catalyst. If appropriate, DETDN can also be present as a constituent of an amino nitrile mixture which additionally comprises diethylenetriaminemonoacetonitrile (DETMN).
US08440849B2
The present disclosure relates to the use of a nitroaniline derivative of Formula (I) for the production of nitric oxide and for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of a disease wherein the administration of nitric oxide is beneficial. The present disclosure furthermore relates to a method for the production of NO irradiating a nitroaniline derivative of Formula (I), a kit comprising a nitroaniline derivative of Formula (I) and a carrier and to a system comprising a source of radiations and a container associated to a nitroaniline derivative of Formula (I). In Formula (I), R and RI are each independently hydrogen or a C1-C3 alkyl group; RII is hydrogen or an alkyl group.
US08440847B2
The present invention provides a method of converting free fatty acid (FFA) from oil to methyl ester, the method includes the steps (a) esterifying the FFA using an acidic catalyst dissolved in an alcohol, (b) separating excess alcohol, solid acid catalyst, water, glycerol, soap and other non-lipid soluble impurities from oil obtained from step (a), (c) neutralizing the oil from step (b), (d) drying the oil from step (c) and (e) transesterifying the oil from step (d) using an alkaline catalyst and an alcohol.
US08440846B2
The invention is a process for epoxidizing an olefin with hydrogen and oxygen in a solvent comprising acetonitrile in the presence of an quinone-acid salt and a catalyst comprising a titanium zeolite and a noble metal. The process results in higher productivity and improved selectivity to propylene oxide from hydrogen and oxygen, as compared to processes that use only a quinone.
US08440842B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) or salts thereof wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and other variables enumerated under one or more of same are as defined herein. Compounds of Formula I have activity as antimicrobial agents. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating and preventing microbial infections in mammals, for example, a tuberculosis or leprosy infection, which employ compounds of Formula (I) or salts thereof.
US08440838B2
An aryl (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) compound is useful for producing a 3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phenylsulfide compound (useful, e.g., as an insecticide). Also disclosed is a process for producing the compound. The aryl (1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) compound is represented by the general formula (1), below, wherein R represents a C1-C6 alkyl group or a cyclic C3-C6 alkyl group; A1 represents a hydrogen atom, an amino group, a mono(C1-C6 alkyl amino group or a di (C1-C6 alkyl) amino group; A2 represents a halogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group or a cyclic C3-C6 alkyl group; and Z represents a hydrogen atom, a halo-sulfonyl group or a mercapto group.
US08440835B2
The present invention generally relates to environment-sensitive fluorophores, including environment-sensitive fluorophores for reporting protein/protein and peptide/protein interactions. In one aspect, the present invention is directed to compounds and salts thereof, compositions and methods useful in determining biological interactions. In some cases, the compounds of the present invention are environment-sensitive fluorophores that have spectroscopic behavior that may depend on factors such as the physicochemical properties of the surrounding environment. The compounds of the present invention can be used, in certain embodiments, to monitor ions, small molecules, and biological processes such as protein folding, protein-protein interactions and phosphorylation events.
US08440833B2
HPV inhibitors of formula (I) in which G1 is —NHCO(CH2)n-, where n is an integer between 1 and 4, R3 is —CW(CH2)m—NR4R5 or —CW(CH2)mCH3 or —CN, where W is O, S or NH and m is an integer between 0 and 5, or R3 is one of the following groups: and A is an optionally substituted aryl group and B is an aryl group, preferably a phenyl which is substituted.
US08440828B2
Disclosed are thionated fused-ring (aromatic) imides and diimides that can exhibit desirable electronic properties and can possess processing advantages including solution-processability and/or good stability at ambient conditions.
US08440825B2
This invention provides a novel dicarboxylic acid salt forms of varenicline, namely varenicline fumarate, and methods for making same. Varenicline salts are useful for treating smoking addition. In one embodiment of the instant invention, the varenicline fumarate shows an XRD pattern (2θ)) (±0.2° having characteristic peaks at 10.6, 11.9, 13.2, 16.2, 16.6, 18.0, 21.5, 22.6, 25.7, 28.5 and 29.1°. In another embodiment, the varenicline fumarate is prepared by (i) contacting varenicline with fumaric acid, optionally in the presence of a suitable solvent, and removing the solvent when necessary, or (ii) contacting varenicline fumarate salt with a suitable solvent, and removing the solvent.
US08440824B2
To provide a method for producing pyrimidine compound useful as an intermediate for agricultural chemicals or pharmaceuticals, which is simple in operation, presents high yield and produces only a small amount of by-products.The method comprises reacting a compound represented by the formula (I) with a compound represented by the formula (II) in the presence of a pyridine compound to produce a compound represented by the formula (III), a compound represented by the formula (IV) or their mixture.
US08440821B2
Described is a method for the synthesis and/or purification of a high purity diaminophenothiazinium compound of the following formula: characterized by a purity of greater than 98% and less than 1% Azure B, 0.15% Azure A, 0.15% Azure C and 0.05% Methylene Violet Bernthsen (MVB), as impurities. Also described are related high purity compounds, compositions, and methods of using such compounds and compositions. The compounds and compositions are useful in the treatment of diseases caused by tau aggregation, such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, and infection.
US08440820B2
This invention provides, but is not limited to, novel oleanolic acid derivatives having the formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions.
US08440808B2
RpoB gene sequences of various species of Acinetobacter bacteria, and a method of detection by molecular identification of various species of Acinetobacter bacteria using rpoB gene sequences.
US08440806B2
A humanized antibody derived from mouse monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody B-F5 is able to activate CD25+CD4+ regulatory T cells and is useful for preparing immunosuppressive compositions.
US08440790B2
The invention relates to a crystal of the CC2-LZ domain of the NEMO protein, in which the three-dimensional structure has been determined by X-ray diffraction at a resolution of about 3.25 A. The invention also relates to methods for the crystallization of the CC2-LZ domain. The CC2-LZ crystals and the information derived from the crystalline structures thereof are used for identifying and designing compounds interacting with CC2-LZ.
US08440789B2
A cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition, and particularly dermatological composition, comprising, in a physiologically adapted medium, as active principle, polypeptides or peptides, and methods of administering a composition capable of increasing cell energy and to protect the skin from oxidative damage. Also, a cosmetic treatment procedure aimed at protecting the skin and the skin appendages from external aggressions and to combat skin aging.
US08440780B2
A wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester contains 2.0 to 15.0 mole percent of a hydroquinone-derived structural unit relative to a total amount of structural units. The wholly aromatic liquid crystalline polyester has sum of an amount (a) of terminal hydroxyl group and an amount (b) of terminal acetyl group in a range of 50 to 350 equivalents/(g·10−6), and has a ratio [(a)+(b)]/(c) of the sum of the amount (a) of terminal hydroxyl group and the amount (b) of terminal acetyl group to an amount (c) of terminal carboxyl group in a range of 1.05 to 2.00.
US08440778B2
A polyureasulfone polymer having a high cohesive energy density and tensile strength, and method of making.
US08440777B2
A fluoropolyether adhesive composition comprising (A) a linear polyfluoro compound having at least two alkenyl groups and a perfluoropolyether structure in its main chain, (B) a fluorinated organohydrogensiloxane containing at least two SiH groups, but not alkoxy and epoxy groups, (C) a platinum group metal-based catalyst, (D) an organosilicon compound having at least one silicon-bonded alkoxy group, and (E) a hydrolytic catalyst can be cured to metal and plastic substrates through addition reaction.
US08440771B2
Phosphorus-containing compounds useful for flame retardant epoxy resins are disclosed. The flame retardant epoxy resins may be used to make electrical laminates. This invention is particularly useful in end use applications in which a low bromine or low halogen content is required or desired.
US08440769B2
A copolyester composition comprising units of residues of a) about 1-40 mole % of trans 3,3′, trans 4,4′ stilbene dicarboxylic acid and the combination thereof, b) about 99-60 mole % of cis,trans, and the combination thereof of 1,4 cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid, and c) about 50-100 mole % of cis, trans, and the combination thereof of 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol. The resulting copolyester may be characterized by its clarity, as well as enhanced heat performance due to the presence of the stilbene moiety.
US08440766B2
The present invention describes a method for the manufacturing of a multi-stage polymer by the following steps: a) polymerizing monomer mixture (A) comprising a-i) vinyl acetate and a-ii) at least one vinyl ester of an aromatic carboxylic acid via free radical emulsion polymerization to obtain copolymer (A); and b) polymerizing monomer mixture (B) comprising b-i) vinyl acetate and b-ii) at least one vinyl ester of aliphatic branched or unbranched carboxylic acids having at least 3 carbon atoms, via free radical emulsion polymerization in the presence of copolymer (A) to obtain the multi-stage polymer with the proviso that said monomer mixture (B) can also be polymerized first to obtain a copolymer (B) and subsequently monomer mixture (A) is polymerized in the presence copolymer (B) to obtain the multi-stage polymer.
US08440755B2
Cationic techniques can be used to polymerize monomers that include a class of hydroxyaryl compounds so as to provide polymers that exhibit desirable properties including, but not limited to, reduced hysteresis. Compositions such as vulcanizates in which such polymers can be utilized and products such as tire components that incorporate and/or are manufactured from such compositions also are provided.
US08440754B2
The invention resides in the use, as an agent reducing the viscosity of a thermoplastic or thermosetting paste filled with a calcium carbonate, of a calcium carbonate characterized in that it is obtained by dry-grinding, firstly, and in that it is dry-ground in the presence of a grinding aid agent which is a copolymer of (meth)acrylic acid with a monomer containing an alcoxy or hydroxy polyalkyleneglycol group, secondly. The invention also concerns the filled thermoplastic and thermosetting pastes obtained in this manner.
US08440751B2
The invention provides an aqueous floor coating composition, comprising water, at least one polymer film forming agent, and a plasticizing agent, wherein at least a portion of the plasticizing agent is a synergistic combination of tributoxyethyl phosphate and a benzoate ester blend. Such compositions have reduced phosphorus content, yet retain the leveling and gloss of tributoxyethyl phosphate plasticizers and also exhibit improved soil resistance.
US08440745B2
Disclosed is a nonaqueous inkjet ink composition having excellent ink ejection stability, which does not clog a nozzle of a printer head portion when used for printing by an inkjet printer, thereby enabling achievement of a printed matter having excellent print quality. The nonaqueous inkjet ink composition is characterized by containing a pigment, a resin, a pigment dispersing agent, an organic solvent, and additionally a rust inhibitor.
US08440743B2
The present invention provides an oil-based ink composition for ink-jet recording comprising at least a coloring material, an organic solvent and a non-aqueous resin emulsion.
US08440740B2
A hardening composition comprising a particulate glass, said glass comprising 10-35% by weight of silica, 10-35% by weight of alumina, 3-30% by weight of zinc oxide, 4-30% by weight of P2O5 and 3-25% by weight of fluoride, and an acidic copolymer reactive with the particulate glass under aqueous conditions. An aqueous polymer solution comprising 10 to 65% by weight of the acidic copolymer of the hardening composition with a mean molecular weight of from 50,000 to 200,000, obtainable by a process comprising the copolymerization of a mixture containing acrylic acid and an acrylic acid ester (I) and/or a compound of the formula (II) and, optionally, a compound of the formula (III): wherein k is an integer of from 1 to 5; h is an integer from 0 to (5−k); n is an integer of from 1 to 3; R1 is hydrogen or a C1-6 alkyl group, and; R2 and R3 independently represent hydrogen, a C1-6 alkyl group or a moiety of the following formula (IV): wherein m independently is an integer of from 0 to 3, and L is —CH2— or —CH═CH—; provided that at least one of R1, R2 or R3 is not hydrogen.
US08440738B2
Embodiments of silicone hydrogels, ophthalmic lenses made therefrom, and methods of making the same are described. Fully hydrated silicone hydrogels have relatively high water content and oxygen permeability, along with relatively low modulus of elasticity. Embodiments of the silicone hydrogels in substantially dehydrated condition are adapted to lathe cutting at or above room temperature. Variations of the silicone hydrogels include silicon-containing monomers in an amount greater than 25% by weight, a hydrophilic substituted N-vinyl acetamide monomer in an amount greater than 30% by weight, and a hydrophilic non-acetamide monomer in an amount resulting in a hydrophilic substituted N-vinyl acetamide monomer to hydrophilic non-acetamide monomer weight to weight ratio of greater than 2.1 to 1.
US08440734B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a positive photosensitive resin composition which produces no scum and has high sensitivity and high resolution, a cured film, a protecting film, an insulating film, a semiconductor device using the same. The positive photosensitive resin composition of the present invention comprises a specific polyamide resin (A) and a photosensitive agent (B) comprising an ester of a specific phenolic compound with at least one of 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-4 sulfonic acid and 1,2-naphthoquinonediazide-5-sulfonic acid. The cured film of the present invention comprises a cured product of the positive photosensitive resin composition. The protecting film and insulating film of the present invention comprise the cured film each. The semiconductor device and display device of the present invention have the cured film each.
US08440732B2
A foamable polymeric composition can comprise a polymer, a blowing agent cage material, and a blowing agent. The blowing agent cage material is selected from the group consisting of zeolite imidazolate framework, metal organic framework, carbon cage structure, and combinations comprising at least one of the foregoing. In one embodiment, the composition can be formed by mixing the polymer with the blowing agent cage material to form a mixture, introducing a blowing agent to the mixture, and forming the mixture into pellets.
US08440729B2
The invention provides for a method of forming methanol by combining a mixture of methane, water and carbon dioxide under specific reaction conditions sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide which are then reacted under conditions sufficient to form methanol. The molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide is at least two moles of hydrogen to one mole of carbon monoxide and the overall molar ratio between methane, water and carbon dioxide is about 3:2:1. Methane, carbon dioxide and water are bi-reformed over a catalyst. The catalyst includes a single metal, a metal oxide, a mixed catalyst of a metal and a metal oxide or a mixed catalyst of at least two metal oxides.
US08440727B2
A method and system for recovering fluid (e.g. liquid) hydrocarbons from both naturally-occurring and man-made mixtures of hydrocarbons and mineral substrates by the exploiting of buoyant beads.
US08440724B2
This document relates to compounds as well as methods and materials involved in modulating neurotransmitter reuptake. For example, compounds, methods for synthesizing compounds, and methods for inhibiting neurotransmitter reuptake are provided.
US08440722B2
Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine together with one or more second active agents, e.g., verapamil, are disclosed. Such methods reduce the dangers commonly associated with such concomitant administration and provide additional benefits. Methods of notifying health care practitioners and patients regarding appropriate dosing for concomitant administration of colchicine together with second active agents are also provided.
US08440721B2
Methods for concomitant administration of colchicine together with one or more second active agents, e.g., ketoconazole and ritonavir, are disclosed. Such methods reduce the dangers commonly associated with such concomitant administration and provide additional benefits. Methods of notifying health care practitioners and patients regarding appropriate dosing for concomitant administration of colchicine together with second active agents are also provided.
US08440714B2
The present application discloses an acid labile lipophilic molecular conjugate of cancer chemotherapeutic agents and methods for reducing or substantially eliminating the side effects of chemotherapy associated with the administration of a cancer chemotherapeutic agent to a patient in need thereof.
US08440704B2
This invention relates to a composition containing quercetin, vitamin B3, and vitamin C. Also disclosed is a method of using the composition for enhancing physical or mental performance or treating various diseases or disorders.
US08440690B2
Quinuclidine carbonate derivatives act as muscarinic receptor antagonists and are effective for the prevention and/or treatment of a broncho-obstructive or inflammatory diseases.
US08440687B2
The invention provides compounds that are chemically modified by covalent attachment of a water-soluble oligomer. A compound of the invention, when administered by any of a number of administration routes, exhibits characteristics that are different from those of the compound not attached to the water-soluble oligomer.
US08440680B2
A chemical compound having the following structural formula wherein optionally at least one of the phenyl —C6H5 groups bound to the Carbon atoms in position 2 and 6 is independently substituted with a methyl —CH3 or ethyl —C2H5 group, and wherein optionally the ═CH2 group in position 10 is substituted with a sulphinyl ═SO or sulphonyl ═SO2 group. Subject-matter of the invention is also a process of manufacture of 2,6-diphenyl-4,8-diazoadamantan-1-one and the use of this chemical compound and above-mentioned derivatives thereof as components for the formulation of solutions with sterilizing and disinfectant effect. The figure shows the IR spectrum of 2,6-diphenyl-4,8-diazoadamantan-1-one.
US08440674B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds capable of modulating Raf kinase and, accordingly, useful for treatment of Raf kinase mediated diseases, including melanomas, tumors and other cancer-related conditions. The compounds have a general Formula I wherein R1 is and A1, A2, A3, A4, X, Z, Z′, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are defined herein. The invention further comprises pharmaceutical compositions, methods for treatment of Raf kinase mediated diseases, and intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the invention.
US08440669B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of diabetes or obesity comprising as active ingredients a compound which inhibits the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a hydrate thereof, or a solvate thereof, and one or more other antidiabetic or antiobesity agents. The pharmaceutical composition exhibits excellent glucose tolerance and may be useful in the prevention and treatment of diabetes, obesity, and the like by effectively inhibiting blood glucose levels and reducing fat mass.
US08440668B2
The present invention is directed to compounds which are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme (“DP-IV inhibitors”) and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved, such as diabetes and particularly type 2 diabetes. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved.
US08440660B2
A method for treating a disease related to the glucocorticoid receptor involving administering a pharmacologically effective amount of a 1,2-hydroquinoline compound.
US08440656B2
Disclosed are methods of treating or preventing a pulmonary disease or disorder in a subject, the methods comprising administering an effective amount of an compound that inhibits Calmodulin Kinase II (CaMKII) activity, either directly or indirectly, thereby treating or preventing the pulmonary disease or disorder in the subject.
US08440652B2
Compounds for the inhibition of mammalian Ste20-like kinase 1 (MST1) are disclosed, along with compositions comprising them and methods of their use in the treatment, management or prevention of an inflammatory or autoimmune diseases or disorders. Particular compounds are of the formula:
US08440645B2
Provided are a drug, a cosmetic, etc. for promoting production of ceramide.Provided is a ceramide production promoter including a compound represented by the formula (1) or salts thereof as an active ingredient (in the formula, R1 represents a phosphono group or a hydrogen atom, R2 represents an alkyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms or an acyl group having 8 to 24 carbon atoms, and R3 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 24 carbon atoms when R1 represents a phosphono group or represents a phosphono group when R1 represents a hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof as an active ingredient.
US08440640B2
The invention provides methods for, and compositions effective for, treating obesity, inhibiting weight gain, treating diabetes mellitus, inhibiting atherosclerosis and treating related disorders and conditions comprising administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of at least one compound capable of inhibiting AC5 to a patient. The compound capable of inhibiting AC5 may be administered singly or in combination with another agent. In some embodiments, the AC5 inhibiting compound is 9-β-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (AraAde). The compounds may be administered in an amount of about 1 to about 200 mg/kg/day, about 1 to about 100 mg/kg/day, about 10 to about 80 mg/kg/day, about 12 to about 40 mg/kg/day or about 15 to about 25 mg/kg/day. In some embodiments, the compound is administered orally.
US08440636B2
The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.
US08440630B2
The present invention is to provide a polypeptide specifically inhibiting the activity of Akt (Protein Kinase B), the DNA thereof, the antibody thereof, an inhibitor of Akt activity or an antitumor agent, and the like. The polypeptide comprises polypeptides (SEQ ID NO: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 of the sequence listing) that contain an amino acid sequence corresponding to any of the position of amino acid residue 10-24 of human TCL1, amino acid residue 8-22 of human TCL1B, amino acid residue 5-19 of human MTCP1, and amino acid residue 9-24 of mouse or rat TCL1; and the derivatives. Further, the present invention includes DNA encording the polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 of the sequence listing), and the antibodies specifically binding to the polypeptides. The polypeptide of the present invention can be used for an inhibitor of Akt activity, an antitumor agent, or the like.
US08440627B2
The invention relates generally to G protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and in particular to GPCR agonists and antagonists, use of these compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions, e.g., in the treatment, modulation and/or prevention of physiological conditions associated with GPCRs, such as in treating conditions in which chemokine receptors play a role, e.g., sepsis, arthritis, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.
US08440619B2
The object is to provide a novel application of D-allose (e.g., use for prevention of hypertension or hypercardia). Thus, disclosed is a composition for preventing the increase in blood pressure which comprises D-allose as an active ingredient; or a composition containing D-allose and/or a derivative thereof, preferably in an amount of 0.1 to 50% by weight. Preferably, the composition is in a form selected from the group consisting of a food additive, a food material, a beverage/food, a health beverage/food, a pharmaceutical and a feeding stuff which can be used for the prevention and treatment of a cardiovascular system disorder (e.g., hypertension, hypercardia). The increase in blood pressure may be caused by salt-sensitive hypertension. Also disclosed is use of D-allose for preventing the increase in blood pressure (excluding medical practices).
US08440617B2
This invention relates to methods for treating chronic dermal ulcers using hyperbaric treatment in combination with progenitor cells and chemokine homing factors. Specifically, the invention relates to treatment of chronic wounds resulting from diabetes mellitus using compositions comprising EPC and SDF-1A, under hyperbaric condition to accelerate wound healing.
US08440602B2
The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprising abrasive cleaning particles, wherein said abrasive cleaning particles comprise a divinyl benzene cross-linked styrene polymer, wherein said abrasive cleaning particles are non-spherical and have a mean particles size D(v,0.9) of at least about 10 μm and wherein said liquid, cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprises from about 0% to about 30% by weight of the composition of an organic solvent.
US08440599B2
A composition comprising one or more water soluble organic solvents comprising a glycol ether; water; a fluoride containing compound provided that if the fluoride containing compound is ammonium fluoride than no additional fluoride containing compound is added to the composition; optionally a quaternary ammonium compound; and optionally a corrosion inhibitor is disclosed herein that is capable of removing residues from an article such as photoresist and/or etching residue. Also disclosed herein is a method for removing residues from an article using the composition disclosed herein.
US08440577B2
To provide a reliable, efficient method for reducing oxidized metals used upon manufacturing of the multilayer interconnection structure, semiconductor device, etc. With this method vapor containing at least a carboxylic acid ester is hydrolyzed by water vapor to reduce oxidized metal. The multilayer interconnection manufacturing method of the present invention includes at least film formation step, interconnection formation step, and reduction step using the metal reduction method of the present invention. The multilayer interconnection structure of the present invention is manufactured by the multilayer interconnection structure manufacturing method of the present invention. The semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention includes at least film formation step, patterning step, interconnection formation step, and reduction step using the metal reduction method. The semiconductor device of the present invention includes at least multilayer interconnection structure of the present invention and is formed using the semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention.
US08440576B2
A method for patterning a material is provided. The method includes patterning a second material over a first material over a substrate. A surface portion of the patterned second material is converted to form a third material and a remaining patterned second material, wherein the third material is around the remaining patterned second material. One of the remaining patterned second material and the third material is removed to form a mask. The first material is patterned by using the mask.
US08440575B2
A method includes: forming an device isolation region in a substrate to divide the device isolation region into first and second diffusion regions; forming a target film on the substrate; forming a hard mask layer and a first resist layer on the film; forming a first pattern on the first resist layer; etching the hard mask layer by using the first pattern as a mask; forming a second resist layer on the hard mask layer; forming a second pattern including a first space on the second resist layer for isolating the first pattern; forming a third pattern including a second space shrunk from the first space on the hard mask layer by carrying out size conversion etching by using the second pattern formed on the second resist layer as a mask; and etching the film to be processed by using the third pattern formed on the hard mask layer.
US08440553B2
Method of producing a vertically inhomogeneous platinum or gold distribution in a semiconductor substrate with a first and a second surface opposite the first surface, with diffusing (100) platinum or gold into the semiconductor substrate from one of the first and second surfaces of the semiconductor substrate, removing (102) platinum- or gold-comprising residues remaining on the one of the first and second surfaces after diffusing the platinum or gold, forming (104) a phosphorus- or boron-doped surface barrier layer on the first or second surface, and heating (105) the semiconductor substrate for local gettering of the platinum or gold by the phosphorus- or boron-doped surface barrier layer.
US08440551B2
A plasma doping method capable of introducing impurities into an object to be processed uniformly is supplied. Plasma of a diborane gas containing boron, which is a p-type impurity, and an argon gas, which is a rare gas, is generated, and no bias potential is applied to a silicon substrate. Thereby, the boron radicals in the plasma are deposited on the surface of the silicon substrate. After that, the supply of the diborane gas is stopped, and bias potential is applied to the silicon substrate. Thereby, the argon ions in the plasma are radiated onto the surface of the silicon substrate. The radiated argon ions collide with the boron radicals, and thereby boron radicals are introduced into the silicon substrate. The introduced boron radicals are activated by thermal processing, and thereby a p-type impurity diffusion layer is formed in the silicon substrate.
US08440530B2
In one example, a method disclosed herein includes the steps of forming a first liner layer above a substrate and above gate structures for both a PMOS transistor and an NMOS transistor, and, after forming extension implant regions and halo implant regions, forming a first spacer proximate the gate structures of both the PMOS and NMOS transistors, forming deep source/drain implant regions in the substrate for the PMOS and NMOS transistors, removing the first spacer and, after removing the first spacer, forming a layer of material between the adjacent gate structures, wherein the layer of material occupies at least the space formerly occupied by the first spacer.
US08440528B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes: forming a stacked body by alternately stacking a plurality of interlayer insulating films and a plurality of control gate electrodes; forming a through-hole extending in a stacking direction in the stacked body; etching a portion of the interlayer insulating film facing the through-hole via the through-hole to remove the portion; forming a removed portion; forming a first insulating film on inner faces of the through-hole and the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a floating gate electrode in the portion in which the interlayer insulating films are removed; forming a second insulating film so as to cover a portion of the floating gate electrode facing the through-hole; and burying a semiconductor pillar in the through-hole.
US08440524B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a semiconductor substrate composed of silicon carbide, an upper surface electrode which contacts an upper surface of the substrate, and a lower surface electrode which contacts a lower surface of the substrate, the method including steps of: (a) forming an upper surface structure on the upper surface side of the substrate, and (b) forming a lower surface structure on the lower surface side of the substrate. The step (a) comprises steps of: (a1) depositing an upper surface electrode material layer on the upper surface of the substrate, the upper surface electrode material layer being a raw material layer of the upper surface electrode, and (a2) annealing the upper surface electrode material layer. The step (b) comprises steps of: (b1) depositing a lower surface electrode material layer on the lower surface of the substrate, the lower surface electrode material layer being a raw material layer of the lower surface electrode, and (b2) annealing the lower surface electrode material layer with a laser to make an ohmic contact between the lower surface electrode and the substrate.
US08440522B2
A method for increasing an electrical resistance of a resistor that is within a semiconductor structure. A fraction of a surface layer of the resistor is oxidized with oxygen particles. In an embodiment, the fraction of the surface layer is heated by a beam of particles, such that the semiconductor structure is within a chamber that includes the oxygen particles as gaseous oxygen-comprising molecules. In an embodiment, the semiconductor structure is immersed in a chemical solution which includes the oxygen particles, wherein the oxygen particles includes oxygen-comprising liquid molecules, oxygen ions, or an oxygen-comprising gas dissolved in the chemical solution under pressurization. In an embodiment, the resistor is tested to determine whether the electrical resistance of the resistor after being oxidized with the oxygen particles is within a tolerance of a predetermined target resistance.
US08440521B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device having a p-type field effect transistor and an n-type field effect transistor includes the steps of: forming an interface insulating layer and a high-permittivity layer on a substrate in the stated order; forming a pattern of a sacrifice layer on the high-permittivity layer; forming a metal-containing film containing metal elements therein on the high-permittivity layer in a first region where the sacrifice layer is formed and a second region where no sacrifice layer is formed; introducing the metal elements into an interface between the interface insulating layer and the high-permittivity layer in the second region by conducting a heat treatment; and removing the sacrifice layer by wet etching, wherein in the removing step, the sacrifice layer is etched easily more than the high-permittivity layer. With this configuration, the semiconductor device excellent in reliability is obtained.
US08440520B2
Method of forming a semiconductor device includes providing a substrate with defined NMOS and PMOS device regions and an interface layer on the NMOS and PMOS device regions, depositing a high-k film on the interface layer, depositing a first cap layer on the high-k film, and removing the first cap layer from the high-k film in the PMOS device region. The method further includes depositing a second cap layer on the first cap layer in the NMOS device region and on the high-k film in the PMOS device region, performing a heat-treating process to diffuse a first chemical element into the high-k film in the NMOS device region and to reduce or eliminate the interface layer by oxygen diffusion from the interface layer into the second cap layer, removing the first and second cap layers from the high-k film, and depositing a gate electrode film over the high-k film.
US08440518B2
A manufacturing method of a semiconductor element from a pattern formed body capable of attaining patterning efficiently with a high precision. The method includes a photoresist pattern formation step, a hydrophilicity imparting step and a photoresist pattern peeling step.
US08440514B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided. A gate structure is formed on a substrate. A first dopant implantation and a first strain atom implantation are performed. Thereafter, spacers are formed on sidewalls of the gate structure. A second dopant implantation and a second strain atom implantation are performed. A solid-phase epitaxy annealing process is performed to form source and drain regions made of a semiconductor compound solid-phase epitaxial layer beside the gate structure.
US08440506B2
A microelectronic package includes first substrate (120) having first surface area (125) and second substrate (130) having second surface area (135). The first substrate includes first set of interconnects (126) having first pitch (127) at first surface (121) and second set of interconnects (128) having second pitch (129) at second surface (222). The second substrate is coupled to the first substrate using the second set of interconnects and includes third set of interconnects (236) having third pitch (237) and internal electrically conductive layers (233, 234) connected to each other with microvia (240). The first pitch is smaller than the second pitch, the second pitch is smaller than the third pitch, and the first surface area is smaller than the second surface area.
US08440492B2
An assembly technique for assembling solar cell arrays is provided. During the fabrication of a solar cell, openings through the semiconductor layer are etched through to a top surface of the backmetal layer. The solar cells include an exposed top surface of the backmetal layer. A plurality of solar cells are assembled into a solar cell array where adjacent cells are interconnected in an electrically serial or parallel fashion solely from the top surface of the solar cells.
US08440490B2
A method for manufacturing a pixel sensor cell that includes a photosensitive element having a non-laterally disposed charge collection region. The method includes forming a trench recess in a substrate of a first conductivity type material, and filling the trench recess with a material having second conductivity type material. The second conductivity type material is then diffused out of the filled trench material to the substrate region surrounding the trench to form the non-laterally disposed charge collection region. The filled trench material is removed to provide a trench recess, and the trench recess is filled with a material having a first conductivity type material. A surface implant layer is formed at either side of the trench having a first conductivity type material. A collection region of a trench-type photosensitive element is formed of the outdiffused second conductivity type material and is isolated from the substrate surface.
US08440487B2
The present disclosure provides methods for manufacturing a radio frequency (RF) powder including a plurality of RF particles, each of which includes a circuit element. A plurality of circuit elements, each corresponding to a different RF particle, may be formed on a first surface of a substrate. Grooves may be etched into the first surface of the substrate between the plurality of circuit elements. A protection film may be formed on each of the plurality of circuit elements and a portion of the substrate between a second, opposite surface of the substrate and bottoms of the grooves may be removed so that each of the plurality of circuit elements is associated with the remaining portion of the substrate.
US08440466B2
The nitrogen oxide analyzer obtains the ozone concentration-luminescence response characteristics that show the relationship between the ozone concentration and the light intensity by chemiluminescent response obtained by varying the ozone concentration alone in a steady state, and sets the relationship of the parameter that determines an average period of the sample gas passing the reactor so that the luminescence response is generated in the reactor alone even though the ozone concentration of the ozone-containing gas changes within a predetermined range based on the ozone concentration-luminescence response characteristics.
US08440461B2
The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming a somatic cell to pluripotency by administering into the somatic cell at least one or a plurality of potency-determining factors. The invention also relates to pluripotent cell populations obtained using a reprogramming method.
US08440460B2
The present provides methods for affecting and/or altering the differentiation state of a cell. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods to transdifferentiate a cell into an endothelial cell or a hematopoietic cell. In the practice of the invention, a demethylating agent (e.g., 5-azacytidine) is used to affect and/or alter the differentiation state of a cell. The invention demonstrates the transdifferentiation of numerous cell types, including cell populations that are themselves somewhat differentiated (e.g., normal fibroblasts) into distinct cell types, including hematopoietic cells and endothelial cells, which transdifferentiation is effected further through the selection of particular growth factors which, together with the demethylating agents, directs the differentiation path. The invention provides a novel approach to providing useful cell types for many types of medical applications.
US08440459B2
Compositions for platelet rich plasma (PRP) are provided. Generally, these compositions comprise a higher concentration of platelets and white blood cells than whole blood. The concentrations of the platelets and/or the white blood cells may be two to eight times the respective concentrations in whole blood. These compositions may have depressed concentrations of red blood cells and hemoglobin. In some variations, the compositions may be useful to treat damaged connective tissue and/or to slow or stop cardiac apoptosis after a heart attack. The PRP composition may be delivered in conjunction with reperfusion therapy.
US08440458B2
The invention relates to a process for the culturing of cells, preferably E1-immortalized HER cells, more preferably PER.C6 cells in a reactor in suspension in a cell culture medium, wherein the cells produce a biological substance, preferably an antibody, wherein at least one cell culture medium component is fed to the cell culture and wherein the cell culture comprising the cells, the biological substance and cell culture medium is circulated over a separation system and wherein the separation system separates the biological substance from substances having a lower molecular weight than the biological substance and wherein the biological substance is retained in or fed back into the reactor. Preferably part of the substances of lower molecular weight is continuously removed from the cell culture.
US08440452B2
Systems and methods for automatically controlling conditions of a process are disclosed. In one example, a controller is programmed with a sequence of steps and parameters required to carry out a bioreactor process. A sensor system interacts with the bioreactor to receive information related to a condition of the bioreactor and/or receive a sample from the bioreactor, which it analyzes. The sensor system sends data signals related to the information and/or the sample to a controller, which determines a control signal based on the received information. The controller sends the control signal to the sensor system which, based on the control signal, performs an action that affects a condition of the bioreactor or affects the sensor system itself.
US08440446B2
Novel bacteriophage strains are disclosed and their use in the production of preparations for use in the treatment of bacterial infections, particularly with drug resistant strains of bacteria of the genus Enterococcus, particularly those belonging to the species Enterococcus faecalis.
US08440444B2
The present invention relates to hybrid polypeptides having a first amino acid sequence having endo-amylase activity and a second amino acid sequence having carbohydrate binding activity. The present invention also relates to the use of the hybrid polypeptides in starch processing and baking.
US08440443B1
The present invention provides, inter alia, crystals of the MEK1 polypeptide which are particularly useful for structure based drug design as well as methods of use thereof.
US08440439B2
Described are methods, apparatus, and a system for robust and long-term sequestration of carbon. In particular, described is the sequestration of carbon as carbonates, using coccolithophorid algae grown using land-based aquaculture. Also described are methods of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTCE).
US08440420B2
The invention features methods and compositions for assessing risk, particularly immediate risk, of thrombotic events in patients with suspected or known vascular disease, and more particularly to assessing risk of thrombotic events in patients with coronary artery disease, particularly acute myocardial infarction, stroke, unstable angina, stable angina, or restenosis. Risk of thrombosis can be assessed by analysis of platelet reactivity and/or velocity of thrombin or fibrin formation, and determining whether the patient has a score associated above a risk threshold value. In other embodiments, risk of thrombosis in a patient is evaluated in the context of a profile generated from values obtained from one or more assays that evaluate various factors associated with thrombosis and/or atherosclerosis.
US08440414B2
The present invention is to provide meiosis-specific novel kinetochore protein Sgo1 (shugoshin) derived from fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and a homologue or paralogue thereof having a regulatory activity of chromosome segregation; and DNAs encoding them; as a factor ensuring the retention of unidirection and cohesion in sister centromere at meiosis I in cooperation with cohesin. To elucidate the proteins protecting Rec8 during anaphase, the present inventor screened in fission yeast genes for a gene that inhibits mitotic growth and prevents sister chromatid from the separation at anaphase, when co-expressed with Rec8. In this approach, meiosis-specific protein Sgo1 that protects (Shugo) centromeric Rec8 from the degradation at anaphase I was indentified. Further, a budding yeast Sgo1 homologue and a fission yeast mitotic paralogue Sgo2 were identified.
US08440412B2
The present invention provides a complex of an antigen and IgE binding to the antigen, a composition including an antigen and IgE binding to the antigen, and a method of using the complex or the composition to screen candidate therapeutics for TH-2 type diseases, for example in animal models.
US08440411B2
Methods of inhibiting pathological angiogenesis in a subject are disclosed. In particular examples, the method includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition to a subject wherein the composition includes a specific binding agent that preferentially binds to one or more pathological angiogenesis marker proteins including Vscp, CD276, ETSvg4 (Pea3), CD137(4-1BB), MiRP2, Ubiquitin D (Fat10), Doppel (prion-PLP), Apelin, Plgf, Ptprn (IA-2), CD109, Ankylosis, and collagen VIIIα1. In additional examples, methods to deliver a therapeutic agent to a brain or liver endothelial cell are also disclosed.
US08440409B2
The present invention provides a protein-based biomarker, Protein C Inhibitor (PCI) that is useful in qualifying prostate cancer status in a patient. In particular, the biomarker of this invention is useful to classify a subject sample as prostate cancer or non-prostate cancer. The biomarker can be detected by SELDI mass spectrometry.
US08440404B2
The present invention regards a variety of methods and compositions for obtaining epigenetic information, such as DNA methylation patterns, through the preparation, amplification and analysis of Methylome libraries. In particular, the method employs preparation of a DNA molecule by digesting the DNA molecule with at least one methylation-sensitive restriction enzyme; incorporating a nucleic acid molecule into at least some of the digested DNA molecules by either (1) incorporating at least one primer from a plurality of primers that have a 5′ constant sequence and a 3′ variable sequence, wherein the primers are substantially non-self-complementary and substantially non-complementary to other primers in the plurality; or (2) incorporating an oligonucleotide having an inverted repeat and a loop under conditions wherein the oligonucleotide becomes blunt-end ligated to one strand of the digested DNA molecule, followed by polymerization from a 3′ hydroxyl group present in a nick in the oligonucleotide-linked molecule; and amplifying one or more of the DNA molecules.
US08440401B2
single-stranded extension having a desired length and sequence composition. Methods for forming single-stranded extensions include: the use of a cassette containing at least one nicking site and at least one restriction site at a predetermined distance from each other and in a predetermined orientation; or primer-dependent amplification which introduces into a polynucleotide molecule, a modified nucleotide which is excised to create a nick using a nicking agent. The methods and compositions provided can be used to manipulate a DNA sequence including introducing site specific mutations into a polynucleotide molecule and for cloning any polynucleotide molecule or set of joined polynucleotide molecules in a recipient molecule such as a vector of choice.
US08440396B2
This invention relates to the use of tumor-derived or associated extracellular ribonucleic acid (RNA) found circulating in the plasma or serum fraction of blood for the detection, monitoring, or evaluation of cancer or premalignant conditions. Specifically, this invention enables the extraction of circulating RNA from plasma or serum and utilizes nucleic acid amplification assays for the identification, detection, inference, monitoring, or evaluation of any neoplasm, benign, premalignant, or malignant, in humans or other animals, which might be associated with that RNA. Further, this invention allows the qualitative or quantitative detection of tumor-derived or associated extracellular RNA circulating in the plasma or serum of humans or animals with or without any prior knowledge of the presence of cancer or premalignant tissue.
US08440392B2
A method of conducting a droplet-based enzymatic assay is provided. The method generally makes use of a droplet actuator. A droplet comprising an enzyme of interest is provided on the droplet actuator along with a droplet comprising a substrate which is potentially modified in the presence of the enzyme. The method involves executing droplet operations on the droplet actuator to combine the droplets, thereby yielding an assay droplet, and detecting modification of the substrate by the enzyme in the assay droplet on the droplet actuator. The enzyme of interest may, for example, be a potentially mutated or improperly folded enzyme exhibiting altered enzyme activity as compared to a corresponding normal enzyme.
US08440390B2
Method for preserving tissue including immersing the tissue in a solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight, a cooling step where the tissue is cooled to a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution having a cryoprotectant concentration of at least 75% by weight and −20° C., a storage step where the tissue is stored at a temperature between the glass transition temperature of the solution and −20° C., a rewarming step, where the tissue is warmed, and a washing step.
US08440386B2
A pattern is formed by applying a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an acid labile group-substituted hydroxyl group, an acid generator, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, prebaking the composition to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation to define exposed and unexposed regions, baking, and developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer to form a negative pattern wherein the unexposed region of film is dissolved and the exposed region of film is not dissolved.
US08440384B2
A compound has a partial structure shown by a following formula (1), wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Rf represents a fluorine atom or a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, L represents an integer from 0 to 4, n represents an integer from 0 to 10, and m represents an integer from 1 to 4.
US08440383B2
Thermal imaging donors are useful for thermal transfer patterning of a metal layer and optionally, a corresponding proximate portion of an additional transfer layer onto a thermal imaging receiver. The compositions are useful for dry fabrication of electronic devices. Also provided are patterned multilayer compositions comprising one or more base film(s), and one or more patterned metal layers. These include electromagnetic interference shields and touchpad sensors.
US08440379B2
The present disclosure is drawn to a liquid electrophotographic ink, comprising a carrier liquid, and a pigment-polymer blend composition dispersed in the carrier liquid, the pigment-polymer blend composition comprising a pigment and a polymer blend of three distinct polymers. The polymer blend can comprise a first polymer having a melt flow rate of about 20 to about 70 g/10 min and a Vicat softening point of about 60° C. to about 70° C., a second polymer having a melt flow rate of about 80 to about 120 g/10 min, and a third polymer having an acidity of about 160 to about 230 mg KOH/g and a melt flow rate of at least 500 g/10 min. The liquid electrophotographic ink is typically formulated for printing from a liquid electrophotographic printer.
US08440369B2
The present invention discloses nanowires for use in a fuel cell comprising a metal catalyst deposited on a surface of the nanowires. A membrane electrode assembly for a fuel cell is disclosed which generally comprises a proton exchange membrane, an anode electrode, and a cathode electrode, wherein at least one or more of the anode electrode and cathode electrode comprise an interconnected network of the catalyst supported nanowires. Methods are also disclosed for preparing a membrane electrode assembly and fuel cell based upon an interconnected network of nanowires.
US08440368B2
Disclosed herein is a stainless steel separator for a fuel cell and method of manufacture. The stainless steel separator includes a stainless steel sheet, a first coating layer comprising metal/metal nitride films (M/MNx) (0.5≦x≦1) on a surface of the stainless steel sheet, and a second coating layer comprising a metal oxynitride film (MOyNz) (0.05≦y≦2, 0.25≦z≦1.0).
US08440367B2
A solid oxide fuel cell that is resistant to seal delamination is disclosed. The solid oxide fuel cell comprises, either individually or in combination, a solid electrically non -conductive frame, a seal structure comprising a material capable of preventing a transfer of charge across the seal during fuel cell operation, and a seal comprising a glass frit that is substantially free of oxides of lithium, sodium, or both lithium and sodium. Methods for manufacturing a solid oxide fuel cell are also disclosed.
US08440366B2
Disclosed is a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane comprising an anion exchange membrane that contains a hydrocarbon-based anion exchange resin, wherein the water permeability at 25° C. is 1400 g m−2 hr−1 or greater, the anion exchange capacity is 0.2 to 5.0 mmol·g−1, the percentage of water content at 25° C. is 7% by weight or greater, and the thickness is 3 to 50 μm. It is especially preferable as a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell membrane when said anion exchange membrane is an ion exchange membrane with a 5 to 15 μm-thick porous membrane substrate, wherein the voids in said porous membrane are filled with a hydrocarbon-based anion exchange resin.
US08440365B2
An electrolyte having a structure where a fluorinated hydrophilic segment A represented by -E2-[Rf-E1]m- and a hydrocarbon hydrophobic segment B are alternately bonded to each other through chemical bond and a production process therefor, and an electrolyte membrane, a production process therefor, a catalyst layer and a fuel cell using the same. Rf is a linear or a branched perfluoro chain having one or more carbon atoms, E1, and E2 are each a proton conductive portion represented by Formula —(CONM)i1(CO)i2(SO2NM)i3(SO2)i4— (0≦i1, 0≦i2≦1, 0≦i3, 0≦i4≦1, 0
US08440362B2
A modular fuel cell system includes a base, at least four power modules arranged in a row on the base, and a fuel processing module and power conditioning module arranged on at least one end of the row on the base. Each power module includes a separate cabinet which contains at least one fuel cell stack located in a hot box. The power modules are electrically and fluidly connected to the at least one fuel processing and power conditioning modules through the base.
US08440352B2
A negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery of the present invention includes a negative active material including a plate-shaped carbon powder particle agglomerated in a primary structure in which the plate-shaped particle is oriented in a plane direction and laminated. Fine carbon powder particles are then agglomerated to form a secondary structure on the surface of the primary structure such that the resulting particles include fine pores formed on the surface.
US08440351B2
A rechargeable lithium ion battery including a positive electrode a positive active material and including a negative electrode having a negative active material. The positive active material includes a lithium-manganese-based compound core and a heat resistant polymer disposed on the lithium-manganese-based compound core. The heat resistant polymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from about 80 to about 400° C.Alternatively, the positive active material may include a lithium-manganese-based compound core and an inorganic metal compound as well as the heat resistant polymer with a glass transition temperature (Tg) ranging from about 80 to about 400° C. disposed on the lithium-manganese-based compound core.
US08440350B1
Lithium-ion battery electrode constructions use an array of nanowires (or of other long thin shapes) of active electrode material anchored at one end to a surface of a metal current collector sheet in an electrode assembly or construction. This form of active electrode material permits good contact with a liquid lithium-ion containing electrolyte that infiltrates the closely-spaced thin shapes. Stresses arising from volume changes in the long shapes with lithiation and de-lithiation of the active material is mitigated by strategic placement of shape memory apply forms between attachment surfaces of the active electrode material and other members of the electrode assembly.
US08440346B2
A protection circuit board for a secondary battery includes an insulation substrate, a protection circuit part including an electrode tap connection terminal and a charge/discharge terminal, arranged on the insulation substrate, and a printed circuit board including a passive element and a positive element, connected to a printed circuit board pattern. A static electricity absorbing part is arranged at a periphery of the printed circuit board pattern.
US08440340B2
A battery latching assembly is used for a portable electronic device. The battery latching assembly includes a base body and a latching member. The base body defines a first hole and a second hole. The latching member is attached to the base body. The latching member includes a resisting block, a button portion and a bent arm. The resisting block is received in the first hole configured for abutting against a battery. The button portion is received in the second hole. The bent arm is deformed to allow the resisting block to separate from the first hole to releasably latch the battery.
US08440328B2
In one aspect, coated cutting tools are described herein which, in some embodiments, can demonstrate improved wear resistance in one or more cutting applications. In some embodiments, a coated cutting tool described herein comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising an inner layer deposited by physical vapor deposition and an outer deposited by physical vapor deposition over the inner layer.
US08440327B2
A method of producing hard wear resistant layer with improved wear resistance. The method is a reactive arc-evaporation based process using a cathode including as main constituent at least one phase of a refractory compound Mn+1AXn (n=1, 2 or 3), wherein M is one or more metals selected from the groups IIIB, IVB, VB, VIB and VIIB of the periodic table of elements, A is one or more elements selected from the groups IIIA, IVA, VA and VIA of the periodic table of elements, and wherein X is carbon and/or nitrogen.
US08440326B2
Novel materials are provided, having a single phenyl or chain of phenyls where there is a nitrogen atom on each end of the single phenyl or chain of phenyls. The nitrogen atom may be further substituted with particular triphenylene groups. Organic light-emitting devices are also provided, where the novel materials are used as a hole transport material in the device. Combinations of the hole transport material with specific host materials are also provided.
US08440319B2
A heat resistant film that comprises at least one layer that comprises a high crystallinity propylene polymer having a melt flow rate of from 0.5 g/10 min. to 15 g/10 min. and a xylene solubles of less than 3.5%. The propylene polymer may have a melting point above 158° C. The heat resistant film may further comprise at least a second layer, which may be a heterophasic random copolymer. The heat resistant film may be, for example, a blown film, a cast film, or an oriented film, and may be used in such articles of manufacture as construction films, retort packaging, and laminated articles.
US08440314B2
The present disclosure is directed to cutting tools. The disclosed cutting tools may have a wear resistant coating on a substrate. The substrate may have hard particles cemented in a binder phase. The binder may have a near-surface concentration gradient of at least one platinum group element and/or rhenium. Processes for producing cutting tools are also disclosed.
US08440298B2
The present invention provides a product obtained by a method of dry milling a mineral material in at least one milling unit: (i) in the presence of at least one polyalkylene glycol polymer having monomer units forming a backbone, where at least 90% of the monomer units forming the backbone of the polymer are constituted by ethylene oxide, propylene oxide or their mixtures, and where the polymer has a molecular weight of at least equal to 400 g/mole, and (ii) in a quantity of water that is less than 10% in dry weight of the material in the milling unit.
US08440285B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a composite with sufficiently reliable bonding and adequately minimized generation of fluff from flaking resin dust and fibers. This object is achieved by the composite (100) of the invention that comprises a fiber sheet (101) impregnated with a resin composition (102), wherein the 20° C. storage elastic modulus of the cured resin composition (102) is 100-2000 MPa. The composite (100) optionally contains perforations (103).
US08440283B2
The information recording medium 3 comprises an information layer having a metal layer 5 on a substrate 4, wherein concavo-convex portion is formed in the substrate to give main information such as image and voice, and the metal layer contains Al, Si and M (wherein M is at least one element selected from a group consisting of Cr and Ni) and enables sub-information to be additionally recorded therein at low cost by laser-beam 7 irradiation.
US08440280B2
The invention is directed to a multi layer film to be used as a flexible packaging material for enclosing and containing one or more compressible products in a sealed condition. The 5 layer film according to the invention consists of I. a first layer comprising low density polyethylene, II. a second layer comprising high density polyethylene, III. a third layer comprising linear low density polyethylene, IV. a fourth layer comprising high density polyethylene and V. a fifth layer comprising linear low density polyethylene.
US08440273B2
A coating composition for forming a glossy, inkjet-receptive coating on a substrate includes (a) a cationic polymer, and (b) colloidal silica having an average particle size in the nanometer range.
US08440263B2
A method for forming a metallic pattern, which is provided with a printing process to print a pattern portion on a substrate by means of an inkjet method utilizing ink containing a precursor of a nonelectric plating catalyst and a plating process to form a metallic pattern by nonelectric plating on said pattern portion, wherein the surface of said substrate is constituted of ink non-absorptive resin and has been subjected to a plasma treatment, and said ink has a pH value at 25° C. of not less than 9.0.
US08440259B2
A combinatorial processing chamber and method are provided. In the method a fluid volume flows over a surface of a substrate with differing portions of the fluid volume having different constituent components to concurrently expose segregated regions of the substrate to a mixture of the constituent components that differ from constituent components to which adjacent regions are exposed. Differently processed segregated regions are generated through the multiple flowings.
US08440248B2
Citrus juice beverage products and their method of production are formulated to reduce the sugar content of the beverage while the beverage products have sensory, taste, mouth feel and texture characteristics that mimic those of whole citrus juice. Orange juice beverage products are especially preferred. The beverage products have a relatively low Brix, on the order of between about 7 and about 8 Brix. Also included in the beverage products is a sweetener which does not add a significant caloric load to the beverage product. A sinking pulp added to the beverage product in an amount to achieve texture and other sensory characteristics of a whole juice.
US08440244B2
The invention relates to a method of producing a chocolate drink containing at least 2% cacao. The inventive method includes a step involving inserting a capsule containing a concentrate of the chocolate drink into a coffee machine of the type which allows the pressure percolation of a dose of coffee. The invention also relates to the concentrate which is used to prepare the chocolate drink and to the capsules containing said concentrate.
US08440241B1
A alcohol metabolizing assisting supplement includes a mixture which includes humic and fulvic acids, L-Cysteine, L-Glutamine, thiamine mononitrate, and vitamins. The mixture is ingested after the consumption of alcohol to assist the body in quickly metabolizing the alcohol and to resist the negative effects of metabolizing alcohol.
US08440238B2
The present invention discloses a sulfated derivative of polysaccharide extracted from gastrodia elata BL., the preparation method thereof and the use thereof in preparing antineoplastic medicaments, wherein, the gastrodia elata polysaccharide has the following structure: wherein, x and y are each an integer, and x+y=16, “n” is and integer, and the mean molecular weight of the polysaccharide from gastrodia elata is estimated as 2.8×105, the specific rotation of the polysaccharide is +95° in a 0.5 mg/mL aqueous solution thereof; the sulfated position is mainly at 6-hydroxy of the gastrodia elata polysaccharide, with mean molecular weight of 6.5×104 and a specific rotation of +150.0° in a 0.5 mg/mL aqueous solution thereof. In vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that the sulfated derivative of gastrodia elata polysaccharide can inhibit the tumor growth by suppressing the expression of Id1 to inhibit angiogenesis, and therefore has an obvious antitumor activity, and shows almost nontoxicity to endothelial cells, thereby having a good prospect of being developed into antineoplastic medicaments.
US08440235B2
Compositions having a combination of specific biological components have been found to exert a number of useful effects in mammalian cells, including modulating TGF β signaling, apoptosis, and proliferation of mammalian cells, as well as decreasing inflammation in mice. These components can be obtained commercially, or can be prepared from biological tissues such as placental tissues. Placental amniotic membrane (AM) preparations described herein include AM pieces, AM extracts, AM jelly, AM stroma, and mixtures of these compositions with additional components. The compositions can be used to treat various diseases, such as wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis-related diseases.
US08440234B2
Bee venom may be administered in a standardized formulation with or without relatively small amounts of anesthetic. In particular, the results of the combination of venom and anesthetic dramatically decreased pain and discomfort for patients undergoing apitherapy.
US08440233B2
The present inventors discovered that microfiltration retentates of whey, and products obtained by treating whey using centrifugation and/or ammonium sulfate precipitation, have the activity of inhibiting rotavirus infection. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of preventing rotavirus infection, comprising administering to a subject a composition that comprises a whey cream serum obtained by treating whey by centrifugation, or a dehydrated product thereof, wherein the antiviral activity of said composition is retained after heat treatment.
US08440231B2
Swellable particles for delivery of a drug or other working agent to the pulmonary system are provided. The swellable particles include a dehydrated (dry) aerodynamic particle diameter of 5 μm or less to enable delivery to the respiratory tract, such as for example to the tracheo-bronchial airways of the upper respiratory tract and/or to the alveolic regions of the deep lung, and a hydrated particle diameter that is greater than 6 μm volume mean diameter to retard or prevent their phagocytosis by the macrophages present in airways of the respiratory tract.
US08440224B2
A multi-component pharmaceutical dosage form comprising a plurality of drug substance—containing sub-units, being capsule compartments and/or solid sub-units comprising a solid matrix of a polymer which contains a drug substance, the sub-units being connected together in the assembled dosage form by a weld between parts of the assembled dosage form.
US08440221B2
The invention concerns a transdermal delivery system for controlled dispensing of an active substance to and through a porous surface. A certain amount of fluid comprising at least one active substance and at least one solvent is dispensed into an administration reservoir. In the administration reservoir the at least one solvent is separated from the administration reservoir by a solvent recovery means such that the active substance achieves a certain level on an interface device which is permeable for the one active substance. Thereby the active substance is absorbable via diffusion from the interface device by a porous surface to be treated.
US08440219B2
The present invention provides compositions for and methods of delivering a therapeutically-effective dose of a malodorous, sulfide or disulfide group-containing compound, for example glutathione (reduced) and/or glutathione disulfide, in a vehicle that is effective to reduce the unpleasant odor and/or taste of the compound. The invention further provides methods for reducing the amount of oxidation occurring when sulfide group-containing compounds, such as glutathione, are incorporated into sugar and or sugar-free hard candies without subjecting the glutathione to thermal and or moisture degradation where degradation is expressed as oxidation. The invention further provides vehicle compositions including the protected sulfide group-containing compounds and their use as medicaments. The sulfide group-containing compounds are protected from degradation by their dispersion into fats, oils, and/or fractionated or partially hydrogenated oils prior to their blending into the vehicle.
US08440214B2
Implantable or insertable medical devices are described, which include one or more polymeric regions and one or more therapeutic agents. The polymeric regions, which regulate the release of one or more therapeutic agent from the medical device, contain copolymer molecules, each of which includes one or more soft segments and one or more uniform hard segments (e.g., polyamide segments that do not vary in length from molecule to molecule, among others).
US08440212B2
The present invention relates to treatment of water, and more specifically to treatment of water using a stable formulation of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) and a liquid or solid zinc salt for the application and prevention algae in recirculated and stagnant water systems. The invention also encompasses methods of treating water that already contains PHMB.
US08440211B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising, in a physiologically acceptable medium, a volatile silicone fatty phase comprising at least one non-cyclic volatile silicone oil, wherein the volatile silicone fatty phase has an evaporation profile such that the mass of the at least one volatile silicone oil evaporated after 30 minutes is from 2 mg/cm2 to 9 mg/cm2. The invention also relates to making up and caring for human keratin materials using the inventive compositions.
US08440207B2
A live bacterium, having a DNA construct stabilized against transduction of other bacteria, having a promoter sequence and encoding a fusion peptide, comprising a bacterial secretion peptide portion and a non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion, having a nucleotide sequence coding for the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion which has at least one codon optimized for bacterial expression. The bacterium has a secretion mechanism which interacts with at least the bacterial secretion peptide portion to cause a secretion of the fusion peptide from the bacterium, and a genetic virulence attenuating mutation. The bacterium is adapted to act as an animal vaccine, to transiently infect a tissue of the animal, and cause an immunity response to the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion in the animal to a non-bacterial organism associated with the non-bacterial immunogenic polypeptide portion.
US08440193B2
The invention is directed to a method of inhibiting bone resorption. The method comprises administering to a human an amount of sclerostin inhibitor that reduces a bone resorption marker level for at least 2 weeks. The invention also provides a method of monitoring anti-sclerostin therapy comprising measuring one or more bone resorption marker levels, administering a sclerostin binding agent, then measuring the bone resorption marker levels. Also provided is a method of increasing bone mineral density; a method of ameliorating the effects of an osteoclast-related disorder; a method of treating a bone-related disorder by maintaining bone density; and a method of treating a bone-related disorder in a human suffering from or at risk of hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, a human in which treatment with a parathyroid hormone or analog thereof is contraindicated, or a human in which treatment with a bisphosphonate is contraindicated.
US08440184B2
Compositions and methods for the treatment of cancer are described, and, more preferably, to the treatment of cancers that do not express, or are otherwise deficient in, argininosuccinate synthetase, with enzymes that deplete L-Arginine in serum. In one embodiment, the present invention contemplates an arginase protein, such as a human Arginase I protein, comprising at least one amino acid substitution and a metal cofactor, said protein comprising an increased catalytic activity when compared with a native human Arginase I.
US08440172B2
The invention concerns preparations, particularly cosmetic or pharmaceutical/dermatological preparations, containing phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid (i.e. 2-phenylbenzimidazole-5-sulfonic acid) neutralised with basic amino acids such as arginine, lysine, ornithine and histidine so that the pH of the preparation can be at or below 7.0 without incurring crystallization of the phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid.
US08440169B2
The present invention herein provides, for instance, a stable isotope-labeled phenylalanine wherein a carbon atom of the phenyl group linked to an amino acid residue is 13C, 2 to 4 carbon atoms of the remaining 5 carbon atoms constituting the phenyl group are 12C atoms to which deuterium atoms are bonded, and the remaining carbon atoms are 13C atoms to which hydrogen atoms are linked, and a stable isotope-labeled tyrosine wherein a carbon atom of the phenyl group linked to an amino acid residue is 13C, the carbon atom bonded to the hydroxyl group (OH group) of the phenyl group is 12C or 13C, 2 to 4 carbon atoms of the remaining 4 carbon atoms constituting the phenyl group are 12C atoms to which deuterium atoms are bonded, and the remaining carbon atoms are 13C atoms to which hydrogen atoms are linked. The stable isotope-labeled amino acid permits the elimination of such a conventional problem concerning the complexity of the NMR signals ascribed to aromatic rings, the complexity being a principal cause of making the NMR analysis difficult, encountered when using the conventional uniformly labeled amino acid residue. Moreover, the isotope-labeled amino acid likewise permits the substantial improvement of the sensitivity thereof to the NMR spectroscopic analysis.
US08440164B2
This disclosure relates to a method for continuously and proportional adding of lime to a water flow through in a plant, wherein a number of slakers are used for batchwise slaking of burnt lime, and wherein lime slurry with a greater degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time is produced. A first slaker empties completely slaked and diluted lime slurry after the weight principle proportional to the water flow through of the plant, until a predetermined mass of slurry weight is left, which is used for mixing with a next batch. A second slaker, which is ready for its emptying sequence, starts emptying completely slaked and diluted lime slurry after the weight principle proportional to the water flow through of the plant, when the first slaker has finished emptying, until a predetermined mass of slurry weight is left, which is used for mixing with a next batch. After flushing with flushing water via valves of respective slakers, production of a new batch is started, this is ready for its emptying sequence when the active slaker has finished its emptying.
US08440162B1
The invention relates to nanomaterials and assemblies including, a micrometer-scale spherical aggregate comprising: a plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures comprising titanium and oxygen, wherein the one-dimensional nanostructures radiate from a hollow central core thereby forming a spherical aggregate.
US08440161B2
The invention is directed to ammonium paratungstate decahydrate containing at least 75% of crystals having a length of at least 200 μm and having a ratio of length to width of less than 4.5:1.
US08440158B2
A pre-plating solution for making a printed circuit board includes carbon nanotubes of 0.01-3 wt %, a surfactant of 0.01-4 wt %, an alkaline substance of 0.01-1 wt % and a solvent. A method for preparing a pre-plating solution comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of carbon nanotubes; purifying the carbon nanotubes; treating the purified carbon nanotubes with an acid; mixing the treated carbon nanotubes, an alkaline substance and a solvent to form suspension; and adding surfactant into suspension.
US08440157B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for casting silicon for photovoltaic cells and other applications. With these methods, an ingot can be grown that is low in carbon and whose crystal growth is controlled to increase the cross-sectional area of seeded material during casting.
US08440156B2
The invention relates generally to molecular sieve SSZ-28 and its use in the reduction of oxides of nitrogen in a gas stream such as the exhaust from an internal combustion engine.
US08440149B2
The present relates to a system and method for preventing or reducing unwanted heat in a microfluidic of the device while generating heat in selected regions of the device. Current can be supplied to a heating element through electric leads that are designed so that the current density in the leads is substantially lower than the current density in the heating element. Unwanted heat in the microfluidic complex can be reduced by thermally isolating the electric leads from the microfluidic complex by, for example, running each lead directly away from the microfluidic complex. Unwanted heat can be removed from selected regions of the microfluidic complex using one or more cooling devices.
US08440130B2
The manufacturing apparatus includes: a mold member including a mold formed in a depressed shape on a predetermined face and moves along a first direction; a supply duct arranged at a predetermined position in the first direction that supplies air towards the predetermined face; a partitioned-space-forming member that is disposed at a position opposite to the supply opening forming an enclosed space; and an air intake duct. As the mold passes the supply opening, the air in the supply duct is sucked into the closed space and the liquid absorbent material in the air is deposited onto the mold. The suction opening of the air intake duct is arranged opposite to the predetermined face in the closed space. Concerning at least a pcrtion that is included in the air intake duct and is housed in the closed space, a central-axis direction of the portion has a component parallel to a moving direction in which the mold is moving at a central position of the suction opening.
US08440128B2
Flexible magnetic sheets made with high-energy strontium ferrite and oriented magnetic particles of strontium ferrite and barium ferrite, such as to decrease thickness while maintaining a strong magnetic energy as well as flexibility.
US08440126B2
A carrier mold having prongs that produces shaped tampons is provided. A carrier mold comprising an outer surface, an inner surface, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a body, and two or more prongs, each prong having a proximal base and a distal end; wherein at least one prong is in partial contact with at least one other prong; wherein the inner surface defines an inner cavity for producing a shaped tampon; wherein the inner cavity is structured to define or mirror the desired shape of the shaped tampon; and wherein the shaped tampon has a length and comprises various perimeters along its length. A method of forming a shaped tampon using the carrier mold is also provided.
US08440123B2
A manufacturing process for making short fiber low denier unitized composite fabrics with abrasive features includes steps of depositing an assembly comprising one or more layers of fibrous material and optionally one or more layers of non-fibrous material, at least one of the outer layers containing a multicompartment synthetic fiber, and activating at least one component of the multicomponent fiber to impart an abrasive attribute to the outer surface.
US08440119B2
A fabric for thermal management including the cooling of an object, such as a person's skin. The fabric is formed of a plurality of materials including at least one liquid transport enhancing material and at least one evaporative transport impeding material. When the fabric is in use, the transport enhancing material is located near an object to be cooled, while the evaporation impeding material is spaced away from the object. The fabric is peached so that there is an entanglement of the two materials. Peaching is performed on both sides of the fabric, but initially on the side with the transport enhancing material such that a portion of the evaporation impeding material is pulled into the fabric core. A method of making the fabric is also described.
US08440114B2
This invention relates to methods for materials using compounds, polymeric compounds, and compositions used to prepare semiconductor and optoelectronic materials and devices including thin film and band gap materials. This invention provides a range of compounds, polymeric compounds, compositions, materials and methods directed ultimately toward photovoltaic applications, transparent conductive materials, as well as devices and systems for energy conversion, including solar cells. This invention further relates to thin film CA(I,G,A)S, CAIGAS, A(I,G,A)S, AIGAS, C(I,G,A)S, and CIGAS materials made by a process of providing one or more polymeric precursor compounds or inks thereof, providing a substrate, depositing the compounds or inks onto the substrate; and heating the substrate at a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 650° C.
US08440113B2
The present invention aims at providing lithium manganate having a high output and an excellent high-temperature stability. The above aim can be achieved by lithium manganate particles having a primary particle diameter of not less than 1 μm and an average particle diameter (D50) of kinetic particles of not less than 1 μm and not more than 10 μm, which are substantially in the form of single crystal particles and have a composition represented by the following chemical formula: Li1+xMn2−x−yYyO4 in which Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg and Co; x and y satisfy 0.03≦x≦0.15 and 0.05≦y≦0.20, respectively, wherein the Y element is uniformly dispersed within the respective particles, and an intensity ratio of I(400)/I(111) thereof is not less than 33% and an intensity ratio of I(440)/I(111) thereof is not less than 16%.
US08440108B2
A composition of matter and method of forming a radiation shielding member at ambient temperatures in which the composition of matter includes a ‘cold-fired’ chemically bonded oxide-phosphate ceramic cement matrix; with one or more suitably prepared and distributed radiation shielding materials dispersed in the ‘cold-fired’ chemically bonded oxide-phosphate ceramic cement matrix.
US08440106B2
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to inorganic phosphors based on silicate compounds having improved stability under a resulting radiation load and resistance to atmospheric humidity, which are capable of converting higher-energy excitation radiation, i.e. ultraviolet (UV) or blue light, with high efficiency into a longer-wavelength radiation which may be in the visible spectral range. A calcium molar fraction x having a value between 0 and 0.05 is added to a silicate phosphor having the general formula Sr3-x-y-zCaxMIIySiO5:Euz.
US08440100B1
A ternary hydrogen storage system having a constant stoichiometric molar ratio of LiNH2:MgH2:LiBH4 of 2:1:1. It was found that the incorporation of MgH2 particles of approximately 10 nm to 20 nm exhibit a lower initial hydrogen release temperature of 150° C. Furthermore, it is observed that the particle size of LiBNH quaternary hydride has a significant effect on the hydrogen sorption concentration with an optimum size of 28 nm. The as-synthesized hydrides exhibit two main hydrogen release temperatures, one around 160° C. and the other around 300° C., with the main hydrogen release temperature reduced from 310° C. to 270° C., while hydrogen is first reversibly released at temperatures as low as 150° C. with a total hydrogen capacity of 6 wt. % to 8 wt. %. Detailed thermal, capacity, structural and microstructural properties have been demonstrated and correlated with the activation energies of these materials.
US08440097B2
A chemical mechanical polishing composition useful for chemical mechanical polishing a semiconductor wafer containing an interconnect metal is provided, comprising, as initial components: water; an azole inhibitor; an alkali metal organic surfactant; a hydrotrope; a phosphorus containing agent; optionally, a non-saccharide water soluble polymer; optionally, a water soluble acid compound of formula I, wherein R is selected from a hydrogen and a C1-5 alkyl group, and wherein x is 1 or 2; optionally, a complexing agent; optionally, an oxidizer; optionally, an organic solvent; and, optionally, an abrasive. Also, provided is a method for making a chemical mechanical polishing composition of the present invention and a method for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate is a semiconductor wafer having copper interconnects; providing a chemical mechanical polishing composition of the present invention; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad; creating dynamic contact at an interface between the chemical mechanical polishing pad and the substrate with a down force of 0.69 to 34.5 kPa; and, dispensing the chemical mechanical polishing composition onto the chemical mechanical polishing pad at or near the interface between the chemical mechanical polishing pad and the substrate; wherein the chemical mechanical polishing composition exhibits a pH adjusted to a pH of 2 to 6 through the addition of at least one of phosphoric acid, magnesium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide.
US08440096B2
Deicing compositions comprised of hydroxyl-containing organic compounds and/or organic acid salts are disclosed.
US08440088B2
A priming method for a filter, whereby the outlet of a spent filter is connected to the inlet of a fresh filter, and the spent filter is inverted. A drain in the spent filter is then opened to allow air to enter the spent filter and fluid to drain from the clean side of the spent filter into the fresh filter.
US08440086B2
A process for continuous or quasi-continuous purification of a multi-component mixture by means of at least four individual chromatographic columns through which the mixture is fed by means of at least one solvent, is given, wherein the multi-component mixture is to be separated into an integer number n of fractions, wherein n is at least 5.
US08440083B2
One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.
US08440081B2
An apparatus, system, and method for a quick-drain filter includes a cylindrical filter element, a cylindrical interior volume disposed axially through the element, an end plate disposed on an axial end of the element, and a housing within which the element and end plate are disposed, the housing and element having a common axis. A stand pipe is disposed axially through the housing and configured to extend into the interior volume. A service drain passage is disposed at an axial end of the housing, the drain passage being configured to be disposed axially adjacent the end plate, and a plug is disposed on the end plate, the plug being configured to plug the drain passage.
US08440075B2
A chemical release system. Implementations may utilize implementations of a first cartridge that include a body coupled with a cartridge head at a first end and coupled with an end plug at a second end where the cartridge head includes a through hole configured to engage with an annular flange in a main head. The body may have an internal cross section. The first cartridge may also include a flow restrictor plate disposed within the body between the first end and the second end where the flow restrictor plate is oriented substantially parallel to the cartridge head within the body, includes only one opening therethrough, and substantially conforms with the internal cross section of the body. The body may include one or more through holes in a side of the body located between the flow restrictor plate and the cartridge head.
US08440074B2
The present invention provides a system and method for treating wastewater in which the majority of solids and biological oxygen demand compounds are separated from the wastewater feed using a primary separation process, to produce a solids phase and a water phase. The solids phase is irradiated to reduce the level of pathogens such that it is safe to use as a soil substitute and/or additive so that the solids can thus be disposed of in an environmentally-friendly manner. In additional embodiments, the solids that have been disinfected by radiation are mixed with a suitable inert filler material to produce a soil substitute, fertilizer, compost, or other soil additive. The liquid phase is treated in a substantially smaller system than would be required for treating the full-strength wastewater that can include a suspended media biological regeneration reactor system. The liquid treatment system can include a high flux adsorbent material treatment system integrated with a low flux adsorbent material biological regeneration reactor.
US08440072B2
Method of removing metals from hydrocarbon feedstock using esters of carboxylic acids, and additives for the same, are provided, wherein hydrocarbon stream including crude oil containing metals and salts thereof, wherein metal is calcium and its salt is calcium naphthenate, is mixed with an effective metal-removing-amount of an aqueous extraction-solution of non-precipitating and non-fouling additive comprising a chemical compound selected from a group consisting of methyl or ethyl or propyl or isopropyl mono- and/or di-esters of any one of the carboxylic acids selected from the groups consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, and fumaric acid, or an appropriate combination of said esters, or an appropriate combination of any of said esters with any of said carboxylic acids to form a hydrocarbonous phase and an aqueous phase containing the metal ions; and separating aqueous phase.
US08440062B2
A miniature, lightweight, inexpensive, environmental monitoring system containing a number of sensors that can simultaneously and continuously monitor fluorescence, absorbance, conductivity, temperature, and several ions. Sensors that monitor similar parameters can cross-check data to increase the likelihood that a problem with the water will be discovered.
US08440050B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a vacuum evacuable processing chamber, a first electrode divided into an outer electrode and an inner electrode, a second electrode, a first and a second high frequency power application unit for applying to the second electrode a first and a second high frequency power having a relatively high frequency and a relatively low frequency, respectively, a first and a second DC voltage application circuit apply a DC voltage to the outer and the inner electrode, respectively, and a processing gas supply unit. A space between the first electrode and the second electrode serves as a plasma generation space, and frequency-impedance characteristics of the outer electrode are set such that the impedance increases at the frequency of the second high frequency power and decreases at the frequency of the first high frequency power as the DC voltage applied to the outer electrode increases.
US08440046B2
The invention relates to a novel method for fastening at least one plate, such as a glass panel, in a profile, which has an assembly groove for peripherally receiving an edge of the glass panel. The method is characterized in that on at least one of the glass panels and an inside of the assembly groove oriented parallel thereto an assembly rubber seal is disposed, on the surface of which facing the glass panel a double-sided adhesive tape having a cover film that covers the side of the double-sided adhesive tape facing the glass panel is attached, wherein the glass panel is inserted into the assembly groove and is pressed against the double-sided adhesive tape in the assembly groove by at least one counter element disposed on the opposite side of the glass panel, or by the opposite inside of the assembly groove, and wherein the cover film is removed when the glass panel is inserted into the assembly groove.
