US08462907B2
A network component comprising a first adaptation component, a second adaptation component, a system Phase-Locked-Loop (PLL) coupled to the first adaptation component, a comparison and voting logic component coupled to the first adaptation component and the system PLL component, a compensation logic component coupled to the comparison and voting logic component, and a positive/negative delay component coupled to the second adaptation component and the compensation logic component. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a comparison and voting logic function block configured to compare a plurality of internal timing references in a system PLL synchronization area, a compensation logic function block configured to calculate an offset value if any of the internal references substantially deviates from an expected value in a deterministic outcome, and a delay function block configured to add the calculated offset value to a timing reference that is forwarded to a subsequent node.
US08462906B1
One embodiment relates to an integrated circuit which includes a transmitter buffer circuit, a duty cycle distortion (DCD) detector, correction logic, and a duty cycle adjuster. The DCD detector is configured to selectively couple to the serial output of the transmitter buffer circuit. The correction logic is configured to generate control signals based on the output of the DCD detector. The duty cycle adjuster is configured to adjust a duty cycle of the serial input signal based on the control signals. Another embodiment relates to a method of correcting duty cycle distortion in a transmitter. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
US08462904B2
A noisy frequency-domain channel estimate enhancer includes an over-sampler configured to transform the noisy frequency-domain channel estimate into a time-domain channel estimate that is virtually over-sampled by an integer factor m. The over-sampler is connected to a de-interleaver configured to divide the time-domain channel estimate into m de-interleaved sub-vectors. The de-interleaver is connected to a suppressor configured to suppress noisy taps from each de-interleaved sub-vectors to form m noise suppressed sub-vectors. The suppressor is connected to a selector configured to select a noise suppressed sub-vector associated with a highest signal-to-noise ratio. The selector is connected to a discrete Fourier transformer configured to transform the selected noise suppressed sub-vector into a noise suppressed preliminary frequency-domain channel estimate. The discrete Fourier transformer is connected to a phase-shifter configured to phase-adjust the taps of the noise suppressed preliminary frequency-domain channel estimate to form an enhanced frequency-domain channel estimate.
US08462898B2
Systems and methods of correcting for a transmitter IQ imbalance are disclosed. Various embodiments collect statistics related to a received packet on a transceiver. These statistics include one or more transmitter imbalance parameters. In some embodiments, an estimated inversion matrix is calculated based on the imbalance parameter and a correction for the IQ imbalance is made by applying the inversion matrix to a sub-carrier and the sub carrier's image.
US08462896B2
A reception unit receives data from communication apparatuses. A transmission unit transmits data to the communication apparatuses. A control unit determines, in an adaptive way, which modulation and coding schemes to use to transmit and receive data. At a first stage, a modulation and coding scheme with a low transmission rate or a modulation and coding scheme that minimizes power requirements is selected from among a plurality of candidates therefor. At a second stage, the modulation and coding scheme of at least one of the communication apparatuses is changed to another scheme having a higher transmission rate, when it is impossible to allocate sufficient resources for the modulation and coding schemes selected at the first stage.
US08462895B2
A receiver receives data from a sequence of OFDM symbols transmitted via a channel, each OFDM symbol comprising a plurality of data bearing sub-carriers and a plurality of pilot bearing sub-carriers. The receiver includes a channel estimator for estimating the channel and an equalizer for reducing the effects of the channel so that the data can be recovered from the received OFDM symbols. The channel estimator includes a notch processor which is arranged in operation to detect a notch in a received OFDM symbol, the notch providing a plurality of the sub-carriers of the received OFDM symbol within a frequency range which were not transmitted by the transmitter, to determine one or more missing pilot sub-carriers which would have been transmitted within the notch sub-carriers of OFDM symbols according to a pilot sub-carrier pattern, and to generate one or more replacement pilot data symbol for a missing pilot data sub-carrier.
US08462889B2
A system and method for receiving a RF signal, comprising a device for digitizing, without prior alteration of frequency, an analog RF representation of each of a plurality of RF signals to produce a respective plurality of digital RF signals having a respective associated RF digital clock, the plurality of digital RF signals having a sufficiently high respective associated clock rate to preserve an information content of an information communication present in the analog RF representation; a switch matrix adapted to concurrently switch the plurality of digital RF signals and associated digital RF clock to ones of a plurality of digital signal processors; and a control adapted to selectively automatically control the concurrent switching of a plurality of digital signals and associated digital clock to the respective plurality of digital signal processors; wherein the digital signal processors produce processed representations of information contained in respective analog RF representations.
US08462871B2
A method and system are provided for minimizing errors by retransmitting packets in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) space-time coded packet radio. A packet is transmitted using a first STC code mapping, the mapping including well-known symbol operations, and optional signal weighting. When transmission errors are detected the packet is re-transmitted using STC code mappings selected in turn from a deterministic sequence of STC code mappings. The STC code mappings are chosen in accordance with one or more principles.
US08462868B2
Sub-carrier selection methods and receiver architectures for receiving an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing band sensed by a plurality of antennas (101-10N). Filtering is applied to separately pass portions of the predetermined Orthogonal Division Multiplexing frequency band. Each separate portion encompasses one or more sub-bands of the predetermined Orthogonal Division Multiplexing frequency band. For each of the separate portions of the predetermined Orthogonal Division Multiplexing frequency band, the signal received from one of the plurality of antennas is selected. The selected signals for each separate portion are then combined in the time (analog) domain.
US08462865B2
Methods of transmitting an receiving symbols by a Mobile Subscriber Station (MSS) and a Base Station (BS) are provided. The method for receiving symbols by the MSS includes receiving symbols from the BS, wherein the symbols are mapped onto data sub-carriers using a sequence, wherein the sequence includes result values, the result values being generated by applying, to a basic sequence, an offset and a number of cyclic shifting, the basic sequence having a length identical to the number of data sub-carriers. The method for transmitting symbols by the MSS includes transmitting symbols to the BS, wherein the symbols are mapped onto data sub-carriers using a sequence, wherein the sequence includes result values, the result values being generated by applying, to a basic sequence, an offset and a number of cyclic shifting, the basic sequence having a length identical to the number of data sub-carriers.
US08462861B2
Methods and apparatus for mitigating multipath signal interference comprising transmitting a first signal and second signal that is a copy of the first signal, transmitting the first signal centered at a first frequency, transmitting the second signal centered at a second frequency separated from the first frequency by a selected distance, receiving at a receiving node the first and second signals, estimating a signal quality of the received first and second signals, and decoding a first one of the received first and second signals based upon the estimated signal qualities of the received first and second signals.
US08462855B2
In one embodiment of the invention, video data is received in a buffer and parsed for a first and second start code to determine whether a complete video picture is present. After failing to identify the second start code, additional video data is added to the buffer and parsed beginning from a subsequent starting point, which is based on the first ending point.
US08462847B2
In a packet based multicast video streaming network, a method for minimizing delay in displaying video on a TV set in response to a viewer changing the channel is disclosed. For each live multicast video stream, one or more reference frames and corresponding compressed frames are temporarily stored in a memory in anticipation of the viewer switching to that particular program. When the viewer changes channels, the previously stored reference and compressed frames are immediately read from the memory and rendered for display on the TV. This eliminates the need to wait for the next available reference frame. In other words, this eliminates a temporary blank TV screen each time the channel is changed. Certain compressed frames are dropped and blank frames can be inserted in order to catch up to and synchronize with the live video broadcast. The particular frames to be dropped and the number of blank frames to be inserted is a function of the bandwidth limitation imposed by the last mile of the network.
US08462845B2
A method for determining an order of values for an encoding parameter of a hybrid encoding scheme for each frame of a frame sequence for use for encoding the frame sequence by means of the hybrid encoding scheme is described. Using the hybrid encoding scheme, resulting distortions and compression rates for the frames of the frame sequence are established for the case of the complete encoding of the frame sequence, and for the case of the incomplete encoding of a real partial sequence of the frame sequence. Thereupon, establishing of estimated distortions and compression rates for frames of the frame sequence takes place, followed by determining the order of values for the encoding parameter of the hybrid encoding scheme based on the established resulting and estimated distortions and compression rates.
US08462832B1
Methods and apparatus for dynamically allocating processing resources between low rate, e.g., standard rate, and high rate data channel processing chains are described. This allows for different numbers of high data rate and standard data rate uplink users to be supported at different times using the same set of hardware.
US08462828B1
A system is provided to generate coherent single-frequency and single transverse mode light pulses. A laser produces a linearly-polarized continuous wave beam defined by a single longitudinal and transverse mode. A first rotator processes the beam such that optical polarization is rotated during a first time period and not rotated during a second and third time period. A second rotator is operated during the first period to rotate optical polarization of the beam, during the second period to not rotate the beam, and during the third period to rotate the beam. An optical loop amplifies the beam during the first and second periods. An amplifier device can be added to the loop for amplification. A first beam splitter allows the beam to enter the loop and a second splitter directs the beam along the loop during the first and second periods and out of the loop during the third period.
US08462822B2
An photonic device, comprising one section of a material which is different from the material of another section such that the two sections present different optical birefringent index values. This causes a first set of polarization modes to move in a spectral space with a different velocity than a second set of polarization modes. A bias current, or voltage, is used for controlling the overall birefringence effect in the device. The biasing for controlling the birefringence effect is performed such the TE modes and the TM modes of the device are made to coincide in their respective spectral position. Thus the device is made insensitive, or presents substantially reduced sensitivity, to the polarization of any incoming optical signal.
US08462812B2
This invention related to a bandwidth estimation method which is easily implementable on network nodes and enables to be made better routing decisions (for example the link with higher residual bandwidth should be favored in routing decisions) and/or estimates the flow admission control (for example accept a new flow only if there is enough available path residual bandwidth) by enabling estimation of availability of the communication capacity estimates.
US08462807B2
A method of reducing the load on a first node in a cellular telecommunications network, which network includes a plurality of nodes, each of the nodes serving a plurality of telecommunications devices by providing communication resources thereto is disclosed. The method includes selecting a target telecommunications device for handover from the first node to a second of said nodes; handing over the target device to the second node; allocating communication resources to the target device to enable the second node to serve the target device; selecting a matched telecommunications device that is served by the first node; and adjusting the communication resources allocated to the matched device, which resources enable the first node to serve the matched device, so that they correspond to the resources allocated to the target device, which resources enable the second node to serve the target device.
US08462799B2
IP-based messages composed by distributed applications on-board an aircraft are routed to ground destinations through non-IP based communication interfaces that use packet data transmission. Addressable routing daemons resident in on-board computers are used to route messages from an on-board TCP/IP network to a selected communication interface. A communications management controller routes the messages to the communication interfaces by addressing the routing daemon associated with the communication interface selected to transmit the message.
US08462797B2
A method and apparatus are provided for transmitting, over a wireless link, video that is coded in multiple layers such that higher priority for the use of the transmission resources may be given to the lower layers of the layered video stream. The level of priority is signified by the session identification parameters, i.e., by the source and destination ip addresses and port numbers. These parameters are assigned to the base layer and to the one or more additional layers, respectively, such that at least two of said layers are assigned different parameter sets. At least the base layer is then transmitted on the wireless link.
US08462795B2
A method and device for transmitting a control message based on a multi-ring Ethernet are provided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: control virtual local area networks of a main ring and a sub-ring are configured (S1002); and a main ring node receives a sub-ring control message from the sub-ring, forwards the sub-ring control massage to the other main ring nodes on the main ring via a data plane, and synchronously realizes the blocking or opening of the sub-ring control message and a data message in the data plane (S1004). The present disclosure solves the problem that the time for the main ring node to process the sub-ring control message is too long during existing control message transmission process, avoids the control message loop situation caused by the transmission of the sub-ring control message over the main ring, and improves the network performance.
US08462789B2
A network processor of an embodiment includes a packet classification engine, a processing pipeline, and a controller. The packet classification engine allows for classifying each of a plurality of packets according to packet type. The processing pipeline has a plurality of stages for processing each of the plurality of packets in a pipelined manner, where each stage includes one or more processors. The controller allows for providing the plurality of packets to the processing pipeline in an order that is based at least partially on: (i) packet types of the plurality of packets as classified by the packet classification engine and (ii) estimates of processing times for processing packets of the packet types at each stage of the plurality of stages of the processing pipeline. A method in a network processor allows for prefetching instructions into a cache for processing a packet based on a packet type of the packet.
US08462788B2
The present invention relates to communications technologies and discloses a method, a system, and a label switching router for setting up a Label Switching Path (LSP). The method includes: an ingress edge node sends a label request packet to a downstream node, where the label request packet carries an Equal Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) property flag of a Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC); the downstream node that receives the label request packet sends the label request packet to a next-hop node according to the property flag; and the node that receives the label request packet performs label mapping according to a path of the label request packet, binds a label to the FEC, and sets up an LSP. An ECMP property flag indicating setting up an ECMP route is permitted is introduced in the process of setting up an LSP. Therefore, setup of an ECMP route is prevented for the FEC that imposes special requirements, and management and maintenance of the network are facilitated.
US08462780B2
High-speed processing of packets to, and from, a virtualization environment can be provided while utilizing hardware-based segmentation offload and other such functionality. A hardware vendor such as a network interface card (NIC) manufacturer can enable the hardware to support open and proprietary stateless tunneling in conjunction with a protocol such as single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) in order to implement a virtualized overlay network. The hardware can utilize various rules, for example, that can be used by the NIC to perform certain actions, such as to encapsulate egress packets and decapsulate packets.
US08462776B2
A communication interface element for a communication module is provided, which module contains a message memory and a first data path to and from the message memory via which data and/or messages are transmitted to and from the message memory. The communication interface element provides an additional, second data path in the communication module and includes switching arrangement configured in such a way that predefinable data and/or messages of the first data path are transmitted over the additional, second data path.
US08462771B2
To change between a packet-oriented PTT session and a circuit-oriented telephone connection as selectable communication connections between at least one first connected radio communication appliance and at least one second connected radio communication appliance in a radio communication system, a first of these two communication connections is selected and set up by at least one connected radio communication appliance and/or by at least one control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system. A change is made from this first communication connection, which has been set up, to the second communication connection under the control of a radio communication appliance which is connected to the first communication connection and/or under the control of that control unit in the radio network in the radio communication system which is connected to the first communication connection by activating the second communication connection while the first communication connection still exists.
US08462768B2
A device receives information associated with an outbound call from a calling party via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), and generates a request for the outbound call from the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) using a remote procedure call (RPC) interface. The device also enables communication, via the remote procedure call (RPC) interface, of the outbound call with a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based device associated with a called party.
US08462759B2
Systems and methods are provided herein for interfacing a first multi-media digital device with a second multi-media digital device. An exemplary method includes the steps of: (i) converting a plurality of differential digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device into a plurality of single-ended digital content channels; (ii) transmitting the plurality of single-ended digital content channels from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device via one or more coaxial cables; and (iii) receiving the single-ended digital content channels from the one or more coaxial cables and converting the single-ended digital content channels back into a plurality of differential digital content channels that are supplied to the second multi-media digital device. Additional steps of the exemplary method may include: (i) transmitting one or more auxiliary channels between the first multi-media digital device and the second multi-media digital device; and (ii) combining the one or more auxiliary channels with at least one of the plurality of digital content channels to form a combined channel to be transmitted from the first multi-media digital device to the second multi-media digital device.
US08462757B2
A description is given for a method for operating a wireless multichannel CDMA transmitter, wherein a power metric based on a particular signal configuration is determined, the power metric being determined as a function of power weighting factors used in the channels of the particular signal configuration, and wherein the transmitter output power is adjusted based on the power metric.
US08462756B2
A symbol-level adaptation method to adapt at least one coefficient of an equalizer, the method comprising the steps of: a) executing an adaptive algorithm that calculates the value of the equalizer coefficient, the adaptive algorithm having a tunable parameter that determines how close the calculated coefficient value is to the optimal solution, b) modifying the value of the equalizer coefficient according to the calculated coefficient value at an intermediate instant tΔ strictly between two consecutive instants tA and tB, instants tA and tB corresponding to the beginning and the end of a pilot symbol period, respectively, and c) adjusting the value of the tunable parameter according to a number Δ representing the number of chips yet to be received before instant tB or already received since instant tA.
US08462753B2
Provided is a mobile tri-band antenna system having low profile. The antenna system includes a tri-band feeding unit for dividing a satellite broadcasting signal by a signal channel in an azimuth angle and an elevation angle, and transmitting/receiving the satellite communication signal through distinguishing the satellite communication signal; a beam shaping unit for dividing the satellite broadcasting signals into a first channel signal and a second channel signal, combined power thereof through channel switching; an antenna controlling unit for driving an antenna system in an azimuth and elevation angle to direct the satellite according to the power combined second channel signal from the beam shaping unit; a first triplexer unit for outputting the power combined first channel signal to a rotary joint unit; a second triplexer unit for converting the first channel signal inputted to a downlink frequency and providing the converted first channel signal to the indoor apparatus.
US08462750B2
The present invention allows originating endpoints to obtain reachability information from a directory service, which collects contact and related information from available users. When initiating a peer-to-peer communication session to an endpoint of a destination user, the originating endpoint will access the directory service to obtain reachability information for the destination user. The reachability information may contain one or more addresses, one of which will be a peer-to-peer communication session address. From the reachability information, the originating terminal will determine an appropriate address to initiate communications with the destination user. The reachability information may identify multiple addresses, where only certain of the addresses may be peer-to-peer communication addresses and other addresses may be used to establish other types of sessions through disparate types of networks.
US08462748B2
A method and apparatus to enable IP networking for mobile hosts without requiring changes to be made to the TCP/IP stack in the operating system installed on the mobile hosts. The apparatus is an “intelligent device” that can be installed on or connected to a mobile host, and may comprise a software-only logical module, physical hardware, or a combination of both. To a mobile host, the intelligent device emulates a network interface such as an Ethernet card or a telephone modem. The intelligent device appears to an access network just like any regular IP host connected to the access network through a physical network interface device. The intelligent device handles all mobile networking functions for the mobile host, and may control multiple different physical network interface devices to enable a connection to the “best” access network available to the mobile user at his location.
US08462746B2
A terminal (24) for use in a wireless network (20) includes a radio frequency (RF) receiver (30), which is configured to receive and downconvert a RF signal. The RF signal includes downlink frames, each downlink frame including at least an allocation zone followed by a data zone. The allocation zone contains an indication of a time allocation in the data zone during which downlink data will be transmitted to the terminal. An analog/digital (A/D) converter (36) converts the output signal from the RF receiver into a stream of digital samples. A digital processing circuit (40, 52, 54, 56) processes the digital samples so as to identify the time allocation and to recover the downlink data transmitted during the identified time allocation, while shutting down the RF receiver during at least one interval during the downlink frame that is outside the identified time allocation.
US08462745B2
The disclosed subject matter relates to a method and system for increasing the accuracy of a WLAN based position estimate using cellular positioning information. In some embodiments, the method can include determining a set of possible WLAN location solutions for a WLAN and cellular enabled device based on one or more WLAN access points, obtaining cellular measurements from at least one cell tower, and determining the best WLAN location solution from the set of possible WLAN location solutions using the cellular measurements. In one embodiment, the method can include using the cellular measurements from the at least one cell tower to provide a cellular based location estimate for the WLAN and cellular enabled device.
US08462742B2
Disclosed is a method and system of deriving new keys for accessing a new system. The method enables an optimized authentication procedure during handover form an existing system to a new system by using the existing system access keys. The user equipment that is accessing the new system receives a temporary ID during handover preparation which enables the user equipment to perform a fast re-authentication. The method uses existing system access keys to derive system access keys for the new network.
US08462740B2
A control channel generation method, a control channel decoding method, and a BS and an MS for implementing the methods are provided. The control channel generation method includes placing a frame control header (FCH) and a MAP within a TTI and generating a control channel for an enhanced communication system at a position after the MAP within the TTI. Another control channel generation method includes generating a control channel for the enhanced communication system and placing an FCH and a preamble at a position after the control channel. These methods enable implementation of an enhanced system that overcomes problems of the legacy system while minimizing influence exerted upon legacy MSs in the case where the base station generates a new control channel for a new MS or where an MS decodes a new control channel.
US08462734B2
Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed to enable out-of-band communications to be used in out-of-band initialization methods for simplified configuring of an in-band wireless docking environment for wireless devices. An example embodiment of the invention includes composing a wireless configuration for a plurality of devices in an in-band short-range wireless docking environment, by using out-of-band connections from a mobile device to the plurality of devices to send in-band short-range communication connection parameters including a timer value related to an expected completion time of a connection handover to in-band short-range communication.
US08462729B2
One determines (101, 102) that a given wireless mobile two-way communications platform is updating its network location (using, for example, an 802.16(e)-compatible protocol) at a time when there is no downlink traffic to provide to the platform and at a time when the platform should conduct at least one of an authenticator relocation process and an Internet Protocol address renewal process. In response to such determinations, one then automatically provides (103) to the platform, as part of updating the network location for the platform, an indication (such as, for example, a downlink traffic pending (DTP) flag) that the platform has pending downlink traffic notwithstanding that there is, in fact, no downlink traffic to provide to the wireless mobile two-way communications platform. Subsequent to this, one can then automatically cause (104) the platform to effect at least one of the authenticator relocation process and the Internet Protocol address renewal process.
US08462728B2
The invention involves a method for achieving local anchoring of a mobile node (MN) in a wireless system comprising a plurality of radio access networks (RANs), a plurality of gateways (GWs), each capable of acting as a serving gateway, and a home server, with each RAN being connected to a GW, and a user profile relating to the MN being stored in the home server. According to the method, when the mobile node has a radio link with a first RAN which is connected to a first GW, the first GW is assigned as a local anchor for the MN, and the user profile relating to the MN in the home server is updated with an indication of the first GW. And when the mobile node moves to a second RAN which is also connected to the first GW, the indication of the first GW is retrieved from the user profile relating to the MN in the home server, and the first GW assigned is kept as a local anchor for the MN, based on the retrieved indication of the first GW.
US08462716B1
Systems and/or methods are described for use of progressively higher-resolution codebooks for communication with one or more receivers within a cell of a base station.
US08462710B2
A traffic plane entity (e.g., user plane entity (UPE), serving gateway (S-GW)) and method are described herein for allocating a unique identifier (e.g., UPE/S-GW UE-Context-Id) which identifies and unifies a set of bearers within a UE context that is associated with a given UE. In operation, the traffic plane entity can then send the allocated unique identifier to another entity (e.g., mobility management entity (MME)) which at a subsequent time re-sends the unique identifier back to the traffic plane entity along with a request to have the traffic plane entity perform a specific operation or procedure on the bearers associated with the UE context of the given UE. Upon receiving the request, the traffic plane entity uses the unique identifier to perform the requested operation or procedure simultaneously on all of the bearers associated with the UE context of the given UE.
US08462706B2
The subscriber station of claim 15, wherein the uplink data includes data to be transmitted, and a header having information on the data and the subscriber, and the uplink data generator adds the subheader includDisclosed is a method and device for requesting and reporting channel quality information in a mobile communication system. An uplink radio resource for a subscriber station having data to transmit is allocated and a CQI indicator for requesting channel quality information is added to the allocation information to be transmitted to a subscriber station. The subscriber station having received the uplink radio resource allocation information generates channel quality information by measuring the radio channel quality for communication with the base station according to existence of the indicator and transmits desired uplink data having the generated channel quality information to the base station. As a result, the seamless and efficient channel quality report can be performed in the wireless communication system, and the optical modulation and the channel coding level can be adapted for the subscriber to transmit or receive the data corresponding to the channel quality. ing the channel quality information to the header of the uplink data.
US08462704B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for interoperations between single-radio (channel switching) devices, dual radio devices, and single-radio (always-on) devices in radio communication systems, both with and without a safety channel. The methods and systems may be applied in communication systems for wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE), such as those according to IEEE 802.11p. When there is a safety channel, some embodiments add a Safety Channel Interval within an operation period. Other embodiments disclose how various device types can operate to coordinate safety message transmissions, both with and without a safety channel.
US08462696B2
There is provided a radio system wherein a mobile terminal is configured to detect availability of a local breakout service to an Internet protocol gateway; to start a network entry to the local breakout service; and to configure an Internet protocol stack of the mobile terminal on the basis of received configuration data. A serving base station of the mobile terminal is configured to establish a radio bearer for the local breakout service; to provide a dynamic host control protocol relay function for mapping data of the mobile terminal using a local Internet protocol address to the established radio bearer; and to provide the local breakout service to the Internet protocol gateway while retaining user access control and a remote Internet protocol gateway of a packet core network of the public mobile network for the mobile terminal.
US08462692B2
A system and method for reassembling packets in a packet relay node are provided. A packet relay node located between a transmitting node (i.e., a source node) and a receiving node (i.e., a destination node) inspects received packets to see if they are fragmented packets and reassembles a series of packets decided to be fragmented packets into an original packet, thereby reducing overhead and radio resource waste caused by duplicate transmission of IP headers having the same fragmented-packet information.
US08462679B2
A mobile communication device is associated with a home wireless carrier that is identifiable by a home carrier identification stored in its memory. The mobile device also maintains a stored list of a plurality of carrier identifications, where each carrier identification is stored in association with one of a plurality of top-level domains. The mobile device reads the home carrier identification from the memory, and selects one of the plurality of top-level domains that is stored in association with the home carrier identification. During operation, the mobile device reads a specified domain name in response to a user-initiated request made via a Web browser or search application. Then, the mobile device produces a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request with a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) having the selected top-level domain and a second-level domain corresponding to the specified domain name. The HTTP request with the URL is submitted via the wireless communication network. Advantageously, consistency in accessing web sites, information, and/or search results may be achieved regardless of location of the mobile station.
US08462667B2
A tunneled direct link set-up (TDLS) capable wireless network may comprise a router such as an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STA) including service consumer and service provider station. A service consumer station may generate and send a layer-2 query frame to the plurality of stations. A service provider station may generate a layer-2 service frame in response to receiving the layer-2 query frame. The service consumer station may discover the service provider station and the services offered by the service provider station based on the layer-2 service frame. Also, the service consumer may discover the service provider station using layer-2 query frame and may discover the services offered by the service provider station using higher layer service discovery procedure.
US08462650B2
The present invention discloses a wireless communication method of supporting rapid changes in network topology. The present method may include broadcasting the first protocol message using the first broadcast cycle, the first protocol message being used for establishing a routing information between a node and destination node; and broadcasting the second protocol message using the second broadcast cycle, the second protocol message being used for establishing a link information between the node and a neighbor node, wherein the first broadcast cycle is different from the second broadcast cycle, and the first broadcast cycle is dynamically adjusted depending on a corresponding a detailed message contained in a plurality of segments in the first protocol message so as to reduce a number of broadcast of the first protocol message.
US08462638B2
In an embodiment, a method is disclosed for minimizing soft preemptions of LSPs. Upon receiving a reservation message for an LSP whose requested bandwidth that exceeds the available bandwidth of downstream links, a network node may select a set of LSPs for soft preemption and share the selection with other nodes along their paths, both upstream and downstream. By coordinating the selection of LSPs to soft-preempt among nodes on the path, fewer LSPs may require soft preemption, which may result in minimizing excessive network disruptions, and thus, allowing the network to function more efficiently.
US08462636B2
According to one embodiment, a network element may include one or more network interfaces and a master control unit communicatively coupled to the one or more network interfaces. The one or more network interfaces may include in the aggregate, a plurality of physical ports configured as member ports of a link aggregation group. The master control unit may be configured to maintain a routing table, such routing table including information regarding which of the plurality of physical ports of the link aggregation group is designated as an active port for management traffic egressing via the link aggregation group, wherein the active port carries a communication channel for the management traffic segregated from carrier traffic, and communicate the routing table to each of the one or more network interfaces.
US08462632B1
Information about the transmission of packets or other information can be inferred based at least in part upon the state of one or more queues used to transmit that information. In a networking example, a hook can be added to a free buffer API call from a queue of a NIC driver. When a packet is transmitted and a buffer freed, the hook can cause information for that packet to be transmitted to an appropriate location, such as a network traffic control component or control plane component, whereby that information can be compared with packet, source, and other such information to infer which packets have been transmitted, which packets are pending, and other such information. This information can be used for various purposes, such as to dynamically adjust the allocation of a resource (e.g., a NIC) to various sources based at least in part upon the monitored behavior.
US08462630B2
One or more flow control modules, implemented on various types of network topologies, provide a number of functionalities for controlling the flow of IP packets (such as TCP/IP packets) over a network connection. The flow control modules may be implemented within a sender and/or receiver or may be deployed into a network as a separate device without requiring significant additional resources.
US08462628B2
Public scheduling tables of PCI-Express network devices are remapped into private scheduling tables having different data structures. The private scheduling tables enable the construction of parallel-processing selection engines (ones with look-ahead selection capabilities) that are more compact in size than would have been possible with use of the data structures of the public scheduling tables. In one embodiment, residual weight values are re-shuffled so as to move each winner of an arbitration round away from a winner's proximity bar by a distance corresponding to an initial weight assigned to the winner. The initial weight can be proportional to the reciprocal of a bandwidth allocation assigned to each data source.
US08462619B2
Methods and systems for providing fault detection and management are disclosed. A system includes a web-based interface that allows a user to access all elements of a customer service network, which spans multiple networks, departments, and external partners. The system, and thereby the user, is able to manage almost all aspects of the network, thereby giving the user end-to-end customer experience issue management. Real time and archived events are utilized, in some embodiments, for root cause analysis and/or process and/or performance improvement. Events from differing transport, platform, technology and OSI model levels are correlated for optimal customer experience monitoring alarming and analysis.
US08462615B2
A transmitting apparatus includes an OFDM modulator that generates a first modulation symbol by modulating a first information signal using a first modulation scheme, a signal point of the first modulated information signal being at a first position in an in-phase quadrature-phase plane. A second modulation symbol by modulating a second information signal using the first modulation scheme, and by changing a second position at which a signal point of the modulated second information signal is arranged to a third position in the in-phase quadrature-phase plane, and an OFDM modulation signal including the first modulation symbol and the second modulation symbol, wherein the OFDM modulation signal comprises a plurality of subcarriers.
US08462613B2
The present invention relates to a method of channel estimation comprising two major steps. The first step is the least-squared and minimum mean-square error (MMSE) estimations on the pilot resource elements to generate the channel response estimates at the predefined pilot locations. The second step of the channel estimation, which utilizes the results from the first step to compute the channel response estimates for the remaining resource elements, comprises the following three operations: (i) averaging of each pair of adjacent pilot resource elements in the frequency direction to obtain the channel response estimate of the resource element in the middle of those two pilot resource elements; (ii) MMSE interpolation in the time domain for all the sub-carriers containing pilot signals; and (iii) linear interpolation in the frequency direction for all the sub-carriers not containing any pilot signals.
US08462605B2
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, methods of retrieving information from a data storage device previously deactivated by modification or degradation of at least a portion of the data storage device are disclosed.
US08462580B2
A memory system includes a plurality of non-volatile storage elements that each comprise a diode (or other steering device) in series with reversible resistance-switching material. One or more circuits in the memory system program the non-volatile storage elements by changing the reversible resistance-switching material of one or more non-volatile storage elements to a first resistance state. The memory system can also change the reversible resistance-switching material of one or more of the non-volatile storage elements from the first resistance state to a second resistance state by applying one or more pairs of opposite polarity voltage conditions (e.g., pulses) to the respective diodes (or other steering devices) such that current flows in the diodes (or other steering devices) without operating the diodes (or other steering devices) in breakdown condition.
US08462572B2
An ultra low power sense amplifier circuit for amplifying a low swing input signal to a full swing output signal is disclosed. In one aspect, the amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier stage for pre-amplifying the input signal to an intermediate signal on its internal nodes, a second amplifier stage for amplifying the intermediate signal to the output signal, and a control circuit for sequentially activating the first and second amplifier. The first amplifier has a capacitor for limiting energy consumption and two upsized PMOS transistors without NMOS transistors.
US08462571B2
A dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and a method for testing the DRAM are provided. The DRAM includes a memory cell, a bit line associated with the memory cell, a local buffer, and a bit line sense amplifier (BLSA). The local buffer receives a first power voltage as power supply. The local buffer provides a ground voltage to the bit line when a data signal is de-asserted and provides the first power voltage to the bit line when the data signal is asserted. The BLSA receives a second power voltage as power supply. The BLSA provides the second power voltage to the bit line when the data signal and a wafer level burn-in test signal are both asserted. The second power voltage may be higher than the first power voltage. The wafer level burn-in test signal is asserted when the DRAM is in a wafer level burn-in test mode.
US08462567B2
A semiconductor memory which is capable of performing data reading without a faulty operation irrespective of the span of an address skew period. In detecting whether an address transition has been made and precharging a bit line formed in a memory cell array when a certain delay period has elapsed after the address transition is detected, the delay period is adjusted based on a delay period extension signal.
US08462566B2
A memory component having a first and second interface. The first interface is provided to sample address information in response to a first clock signal. The first interface includes inputs to sample at least two bits of the address information in succession during a clock cycle of the first clock signal. The second interface is provided to sample data in response to a second clock signal, having a frequency that is at least twice the frequency of the first clock signal. The second interface includes inputs to sample at least two bits of data in succession during a clock cycle of the second clock signal.
US08462560B2
The semiconductor device includes a temperature sensor controlled so that temperature measurement is made once at each of a plurality of different reference temperatures at an interval of a preset number of times of refresh operations and a plurality of latch circuits holding the results of temperature measurement. A refresh period is set from outputs of the latch circuits inclusive of the result of temperature measurement carried out last time for each of a plurality of different reference temperatures. After start of measurement, temperature measurements are repeated every wait time corresponding to circulation of the refresh operations. The refresh period is set such that the high-temperature side results of temperature measurement are prioritized (FIG. 2).
US08462554B2
Over-erase verification and repair methods for a flash memory. The flash memory is an NOR type stack flash. The disclosed method performs an over-erased column verification test on a sector of the NOR type stack flash column by column. An over-erased column repair process is individually performed on the columns which do not pass the over-erased column verification test. For the columns processed by the over-erased column repair process but still incapable of passing the over-erased column verification test, an over-erased bit verification test is performed on each bit thereof. The bits incapable of passing the over-erased bit verification test are further processed by an over-erased repair process individually.
US08462550B2
A system and method for storing data uses multiple flash memory dies. Each flash memory die includes multiple flash memory cells. A charge pump is adapted to supply charge at a predetermined voltage to each flash memory die of the flash memory dies, and an interface is adapted to receive instructions for controlling the charge pump.
US08462549B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for read-side intercell interference mitigation in flash memories. A flash memory device is read by obtaining a read value for at least one target cell; obtaining a value representing a voltage stored in at least one aggressor cell that was programmed after the target cell; determining intercell interference for the target cell from the at least one aggressor cell; and obtaining a new read value that compensates for the intercell interference by removing the determined intercell interference from the read value for the at least one target cell. The new read value can optionally be provided to a decoder. In an iterative implementation, one or more intercell interference mitigation parameters can be adjusted if a decoding error occurs.
US08462537B2
The present disclosure relates to the fabrication of non-volatile memory devices. In at least one embodiment, the non-volatile memory of the present disclosure may include a phase change memory and switch (hereinafter “PCMS”) memory cell and a process for resetting the PCMS memory utilizing a “look-up” table to calculate a current required to place a bit above a reference level to maximum threshold voltage.
US08462536B2
The present description relates to non-volatile memory arrays and the operation thereof In at least one embodiment, the non-volatile memory array may include a plurality of memory modules coupled in a daisy chain with enable in/out signals, and a single chip enable signal coupled in parallel to each memory module. With such a configuration, all memory units within each of the memory modules of each memory array may be addressed with the single chip enable signal.
US08462532B1
Quaternary CAM cells are provided that include one or more compare circuits that each has a minimal number of pull-down transistors coupled between the match line and ground potential. For some embodiments, the compare circuit includes two parallel paths between the match line and ground potential, with each parallel path consisting of a single pull-down transistor having a gate selectively coupled to the stored data value in response to a comparand value.
US08462529B2
A power converter assembly is provided. The power converter assembly includes first, second, and third power modules. The second power module is coupled to the first power module such that the second power module is separated from the first power module by a first distance. The third power module is coupled to the first and second power modules such that the third power module is separated from the second power module by a second distance and is separated from the first power module by a third distance. The first, second, and third distances are substantially the same.
US08462523B2
An example controller for a switched mode power supply includes a zero-crossing detector and a drive signal generator. The zero-crossing detector is coupled to generate a zero-crossing signal representative of a phase angle of a dimmer output voltage for a half line cycle of the power supply. The drive signal generator controls switching of a switch to regulate an output of the power supply in response to a feedback signal representative of the output. The drive signal generator further controls switching of the switch to adjust dimming of the output of the power supply in response to the phase angle indicated by the zero-crossing signal.
US08462519B2
There is disclosed a method of shielding a circuit board, a circuit board, an electromagnetic shield and a method of manufacturing an electromagnetic shield. In an aspect, the method comprises placing a first electromagnetic shield over a first area of the circuit board and placing a second electromagnetic shield over a second area of the circuit board. At least one of the electromagnetic shields has at least one projection therefrom that contacts and makes electrical connection with a surface of the other electromagnetic shield when the shields are placed on the circuit board.
US08462518B2
An electronics module docking system includes docking member removably coupled to a photovoltaic module. The docking system includes a first connector port electrically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells of the photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module is selectively coupleable to the docking member. The docking system includes a housing to enclose an electronics module. The housing may include second connector port that is selectively engageable to the power electronics module. The power electronics module and the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled to one another upon selective engagement of the connector ports. The inverter housing is receivable by and removably coupleable to the docking member allowing the inverter housing to be removably coupleable to the photovoltaic module.
US08462515B2
An exemplary electronic includes a casing and a circuit board. The casing includes a bottom plate and two side plates extending upward from two opposite sides of the bottom plate, respectively. Hooks are formed on the bottom plate. Two guiding members are located at the side plates, respectively. The circuit board defines engaging slots corresponding to the hooks of the bottom plate, respectively. During assembly of the circuit board to the casing, the circuit board is inserted into the casing and slides between the side plates with two opposite lateral sides thereof sliding along the guiding members, until the hooks of the bottom plate are received in the engaging slots of the circuit board and the circuit board is thereby secured in the casing.
US08462512B2
A chip card holder is used for assembling a chip card. The chip card holder includes a housing and a latching cover. The housing includes a top wall and a sidewall connected to the top wall. The top wall defines a receiving slot, and the chip card is exposed from the receiving slot. The sidewall defines an opening communicating with the receiving slot. The latching cover is rotatably assembled to the housing to cover the opening.
US08462509B2
A heat-dissipating module for use in an electric device includes a circuit board, at least one heat-generating element, and at least one heat-conducting element. The circuit board has a first surface, a second surface and at least one perforation. The heat-conducting element is disposed in the perforation. The heat-conducting element includes a base and a sidewall. The heat-generating element is disposed on the base or the sidewall of the heat-conducting element so that the heat by the heat-generating element is conducted to the second surface of the circuit board through the heat-conducting element.
US08462507B2
A cooling element for an electronic apparatus can include an inlet for receiving fluid, an outlet for forwarding fluid from the cooling element, and multiple pipes providing parallel fluid paths for passing the fluid from the inlet to the outlet. To obtain a simple and efficient cooling element, multiple base plates for receiving electronic components can be attached to the pipes for conducting heat generated by the electronic components to the fluid in the pipes.
US08462504B2
An air-cooled heat exchanger includes a casing, a first heat-exchanging core, a second heat-exchanging core, a first internal driving device, a second internal driving device and an external driving device. The first internal driving device is used for driving a first internally-circulated airflow to flow along a first internal circulation path. The second internal driving device is used for driving a second internally-circulated airflow to flow along a second internal circulation path. The external driving device is used for driving a first externally-circulated airflow to flow along a first external circulation path and driving a second externally-circulated airflow to flow along a second external circulation path. The first heat-exchanging core is configured to perform heat exchange between the first internally-circulated airflow and the first externally-circulated airflow. The second heat-exchanging core is configured to perform heat exchange between the second internally-circulated airflow and the second externally-circulated airflow.
US08462503B2
An electronic device includes a bottom plate, a circuit board, a fan, and an airflow guide member. The circuit board is fixed to the bottom plate. The fan is arranged at the front of the circuit board. The airflow guide member is arranged between the fan and the circuit board. The airflow guide member includes an airflow guide wall for guiding most of airflow upwards to the top of the circuit board. A number of slots is defined in the airflow guide wall, for allowing only a minimum portion of the airflow to flow underneath the circuit board.
US08462502B2
A storage device mounting structure with excellent handleability for storage devices is provided.A storage device mounting structure according to this invention includes a unit for housing a plurality of storage devices, a chassis for housing the unit, and a guide mechanism for supporting the unit and guiding it into or out of the chassis, wherein the unit has an open area for inserting the plurality of storage devices from a front face of the unit into the unit and is supported by the guide mechanism so that the unit can freely move rotationally to make a surface of the unit, where the open area exists, positioned at the front of the chassis.
US08462497B2
A computer system includes a display, a computer case securing the display, a fan assembly and a cover. A motherboard is attached to the computer case. A chip, a heat dissipating device, and a system fan are located on the motherboard. The fan assembly includes a securing plate and a fan attached to the securing plate. The securing plate covers the plurality of the memory cards. The cover defines a plurality of air intakes and a plurality of air outlets. The plurality of air intakes, the fan, the heat dissipating device, the chip, the system fan and the plurality of air outlets together form an air path for moving air therethrough.
US08462493B2
A mounting mechanism for assembling a storage device includes a pair of parallel brackets and a latching member. Each of the brackets defines a sliding slot and a latching hole therein. A space is defined between the brackets for receiving the storage device. The latching member includes a resisting portion for abutting the storage device and a pair of latching portions formed at opposite ends of the resisting portion. Each of the latching portions includes a hook engaged in the latching hole of the bracket.
US08462491B2
A platform for a military radio with a vehicle adapter amplifier has been developed. The apparatus includes a base for supporting at least one SINCGARS RT-1523 radio. The platform has a first power supply that includes a DC power converter for converting 110/220 alternating current into +28 Volt direct current and a second power supply that converts +28 Volt direct current into +6.75 Volts direct current, +13 Volts direct current and +200 Volt direct current. The platform includes a vehicle adapter power amplifier that provides range extension to said SINCGARS RT-1523 radio.
US08462488B2
An electronic device capable of ejecting a peripheral element is disclosed, including a housing, a first wheel and a driving unit. The housing has a chamber, wherein the peripheral element is stored in the chamber. The first wheel is disposed in the housing, wherein the first wheel contacts the peripheral element. The driving unit is disposed in the housing, the driving unit rotates the first wheel, and the first wheel moves the peripheral element from a first position to a second position.
US08462487B2
A power system for connecting high voltage components includes an enclosure having an interior space. A plurality of high voltage (HV) components are removably coupled to the enclosure and positioned in the interior space of the enclosure. The plurality of HV components are electrically coupled to each other. A motor is positioned outside the enclosure, and the motor is electrically interconnected through the enclosure to one of the HV components. A heat sink is positioned within the interior space for providing thermal heat transfer away from the components.
US08462481B2
An anti-lightning system for a composite structure having an external surface configured to be subjected to an air flow, the aforementioned system including at least one electrically conducting strip and fasteners attaching this strip to the aforementioned structure. According to the disclosed embodiments, with this structure including holes configured to accept the fastenings for the strip, at least some these fastenings comprise an attachment element that attaches the lightning to this structure. This attachment element is configured to be inserted in the hole with its upper part substantially flush with the external surface of the structure, this attachment element being in electrical contact with the electrically conducting strip. The electrically conducting strip is configured to be positioned on the opposite side of the structure to the external surface and electrically earthed.
US08462478B2
A device may include a switch and a circuit coupled to the switch. The switch may include a structure with a top portion and a bottom portion and a material included within the structure. The material is configured to expand within the structure when voltage is applied to the material. The switch may also include a conductive element located in a bottom portion of the structure and connected to the material, wherein the conductive element operates to electrically close the switch when the applied voltage exceeds a threshold. The circuit includes a resistor. The circuit is configured to reduce the voltage supplied to components of the device when the switch is closed.
US08462474B2
There is provided a reclosing system for a power transmission line, which performs high-speed reclosing using protection relays. The protection relays are provided at different terminals of the power transmission line. Each of the protection relays is configured to send the reclosing command to the circuit breaker when a line voltage at the phase with the accident, detected by the metering voltage transformer after the phase with the accident is cut off, falls within an allowable range. The allowable range is determined based on a line voltage assumed at the phase when the phase is normal.
US08462471B2
The present invention provides a circuit interrupting device which comprises a leakage current detection and protection circuit containing a simulated leakage current generation circuit which is capable of automatically generating a simulated leakage current when the circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a tripped state to automatically test the functions of the key components of the circuit interrupting device. The simulated leakage current generation circuit comprises a normally closed switch and a normally open switch. The leakage current detection and protection circuit further comprises a normal status indicator light and a power output indicator light to indicate whether the circuit interrupting device is working properly and/or reverse wired. The circuit interrupting device further comprises a reset switch, a pair of discharged metal pieces, and four pairs of circuit interrupting contacts.
US08462470B2
An automatic power-off and actuation circuit for a fan comprises a drive unit, a detection unit, a voltage-modulating unit, a comparison unit, an auto-restart unit, a regulation unit and a controlled IC, wherein the detection unit is electrically connected to the drive unit, the voltage-modulating unit is electrically connected to the detection unit, the comparison unit is electrically connected to the voltage-modulating unit, the auto-restart unit is electrically connected to the comparison unit, the regulation unit is electrically connected to the auto-restart unit and the drive unit, and the controlled IC is electrically connected to the regulation unit and the drive unit.
US08462463B2
A recording media design having discrete track recording structure where the trenches between tracks are filled with a soft magnetic material is provided. The soft magnetic material provides a low magnetic impedance path to the soft underlayer such that fringe fields from the write head are conducted to the soft underlayer without having a negative effect such as adjacent track erasure. A method of manufacturing the media includes a nano-imprint step and ion milling out the data layer to create the trenches. A B2O3 material allows the data layer to be ion milled out without redeposition bridging the B2O3 layer thus preventing lift off of the mask. The trenches are then filled by ion deposition with the layers of ferromagnetic material separated by an anti-ferromagnetic coupling that causes the flux to be conducted to the soft underlayer and remnant flux to rotate within the island and not into adjacent tracks.
US08462461B2
A spin-torque oscillator (STO) has increased magnetic damping of the oscillating free ferromagnetic layer. The Gilbert magnetic damping parameter (α) is at least 0.05, and preferably greater than 0.05. The free layer may be a any type of conventional ferromagnetic material, but contains one or more damping elements as a dopant. The damping element is selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd and the 15 lanthanide elements. The free layer damping may also be increased by a damping layer adjacent the free layer. One type of damping layer may be an antiferromagnetic material, like a Mn alloy. As a modification to the antiferromagnetic damping layer, a bilayer damping layer may be formed of the antiferromagnetic layer and a nonmagnetic metal electrically conductive separation layer between the free layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. Another type of damping layer may be one formed of one or more of the elements selected from Pt, Pd and the lanthanides.
US08462456B2
The present invention relates providing a magnetic data eraser that is capable of performing magnetizing process for magnetizing magnetic recording medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) is easily and with reduced electric power.The magnetic data eraser includes: holding drawer means for holding a magnetic recording medium which means has a mounting tray for mounting the magnetic recording medium, wherein the mounting tray is inclined a predetermined value of degrees of angle; and magnetizing means for magnetizing the magnetic recording medium, wherein the magnetizing means is covered by a magnetizing coil and has a hollow body portion, the holding drawer means being accommodated in the hollow body portion, and the magnetic recording medium being placed on the mounting tray of the holding drawer means.
US08462453B2
A system and method for magnetic transfer. A magnetic transfer device includes a plurality of pairs of magnetic field generating units that apply a magnetic field to a contact body which includes a master disk in close contact with a magnetic recording medium, wherein the master disk has a pattern of preformatted signals. The magnetic field generating units, falling within a specified length range, are moved in synchrony at a predetermined speed in the directions of the outer periphery while the contact body is caused to rotate by a rotation drive unit. The system and method provide a magnetic transfer method and a magnetic transfer device that, by reducing the area of magnetic field generating units that apply a transfer magnetic field, can reduce an attractive force (or repulsive force) between the magnets, and furthermore, shorten a processing time for the transfer.
US08462452B2
An electromagnetic driving device which is defined with an axis and comprises: a casing, a driven unit and an electromagnetic driving module. The casing has an inner compartment. The driven unit is received in the compartment and is guided by a guiding mechanism such that the driven unit is movable alone the axis inside the casing. The electromagnetic driving module comprises: a plurality of permanent magnets inside the casing, at least one magnetic member fixed to an outer surface of the driven unit, and a coil located between the magnetic member and permanent magnets. When no electric power is provided to the coil, the magnetic forcing between the permanent magnets and magnetic member will result in a friction force to the guiding mechanism, so as to keep the driven unit at its current position inside the compartment.
US08462450B2
The optical apparatus includes a first optical unit and a second optical unit that are movable in an optical axis direction, actuators that respectively move the first and second optical units in the optical axis direction, and a linking mechanism that is configured to link the first and second optical units with each other such that, in a state where the optical axis direction is tilted with respect to a horizontal direction and thereby an obliquely downward force caused by gravity acts on each of the first and second optical units in an obliquely downward direction, one of the first and second optical units works as a counterweight to provide an obliquely upward force acting on the other of the first and second optical units in an obliquely upward direction.
US08462445B2
A lens control apparatus having a zoom lens includes first and second operation members that give a zoom instruction for moving the zoom lens, and a controller that changes a zoom stop position to a first pattern according to the operation of the first operation member, and changes the zoom stop position to a second pattern, which has an interval wider than that in the first pattern, according to the operation of the second operation member.
US08462440B2
An optical system includes at least one lens unit having a negative refractive power disposed closer to an object side than an aperture portion. The lens unit having a negative refractive power includes at least one positive lens and one negative lens. The ratio between the numbers of positive lenses and negative lenses included in the lens unit having a negative refractive power is appropriately set. The lens unit having a negative refractive power includes a plurality of negative lenses each having an appropriate Abbe number and relative partial dispersion and a positive lens having an appropriate Abbe number. A negative lens having the highest dispersion among the negative lenses is located in an appropriate position.
US08462438B2
In constructing a lens for projection substantially consisting of seven lenses, and the reduction side of which is telecentric, a first-lens-group is composed of two lenses including at least one negative lens. A second-lens-group is composed of a positive second-group first-lens having a convex surface facing the magnification side, a negative second-group second-lens having a concave surface facing the magnification side, a positive second-group third-lens having a convex surface facing the reduction side, a positive second-group fourth-lens, and a positive second-group fifth-lens in this order from the magnification side. The formulas (A) and (B) are satisfied: 1.2≦Bf/f≦2.5 (A); and f23/f≦1.5 (B), where Bf is a back focus in air of an entire lens system, f is the focal length of the entire lens system, and f23 is the focal length of an air lens between a reduction-side surface of the second-group second-lens and a magnification-side surface of the second-group third-lens.
US08462435B2
An imaging apparatus includes a light receiving device array having light receiving devices two-dimensionally arranged in both a row direction and a column direction, and a light transmissive filter disposed in front of the light receiving device array, wherein the light transmissive filter includes plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections having respective, different light transmissive characteristics, and the plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections are arranged in sequence in a width direction thereof.
US08462426B1
A method to increase the output power of monolithic narrow-linewidth Yb-doped fiber amplifiers by suppressing simulated Brillouin scattering. The fiber amplifier employs a co-propagating geometry and is seeded with broad- (source 2) and narrow- (source 1) linewidth signals that are sufficiently different in wavelengths to allow for efficient gain competition and favorable temperature profile at the output end of fiber. The broadband seed signal possesses the higher emission and absorption cross sections. If source 2 is also given sufficiently greater input power than source 1, it will be amplified to its maximum value as the seed signals reach the middle portion of the gain fiber. Beyond that portion, the signal having the lower emission and absorption cross sections (signal 1) will continue to experience gain by power transfer from both signal 2 and the pump light, attaining a power output well beyond what the maximum output would have been had the amplifier been illuminated with a single frequency beam. Furthermore, if the two signals are carefully selected such that appreciable quantum defect heating occurs during the power transfer, a steep thermal gradient develops leading to even further increase in output power.
US08462415B2
A connecting structure for micromechanical oscillating devices, in particular micromechanical oscillating mirrors. The connecting structure is at least indirectly connectable to a micromechanical oscillating structure, on the one hand, and to an elastic element, on the other hand, for measuring torsions of the micromechanical oscillating structure, and includes at least one, in particular at least two, preferably three, legs which are situated parallel to a rotation axis of the micromechanical oscillating structure, and at least one further leg which is situated perpendicularly to the rotation axis. The extension of the connecting structure parallel to the rotation axis has at least two-and-a-half times, in particular three times, the extension of the connecting structure perpendicular to the rotation axis, and includes at least one resistance element for measuring torsions of the connecting structure, the resistance element being situated in the area of increased mechanical stress when the connecting structure undergoes torsion.
US08462407B2
Disclosed are methods (900) and apparatuses (600) for determining a location of a graphical object (2220) printed onto a print medium (230), said graphical object comprising a plurality of object marks, the method comprising the steps of superposing a two-dimensional reference pattern (710) having a pre-defined degree of accuracy over the printed graphical object, the two-dimensional reference pattern comprising a plurality of pattern marks (770); scanning the superposed printed graphical object and reference pattern to produce a scanned image (2400); determining a location coordinate (2923) of the graphical object in the scanned image (2400); and refining the location coordinate dependent upon the scanned reference pattern to determine a reference pattern coordinate (2904′) associated with the location coordinate (2923). Also disclosed are methods (1800), apparatuses, and computer program products for determining a head size (420) of a print head (3110) of a printer (3100) using the aforementioned method.
US08462400B2
An image-reading apparatus that optically reads an original, includes: an illuminating section that illuminates the original with light; an imaging unit that creates pixel data on the basis of reflected light reflected from the original; a moving unit that moves the illuminating section and the imaging unit relative to the original in steps of a fixed distance in a scanning direction that points from one end of the original toward another end of the original; an illumination mode controller that, for each unit step of movement out of one entire scanning movement in the scanning direction performed by the moving unit, controls the illuminating section so that the illuminating section is made to operate in each of a plurality of illumination modes.
US08462383B2
An image forming apparatus includes a color converting unit 330 for subjecting the input image data to a color conversion in accordance with ink color, and generating a print image 400; a print data generator 370-x for generating print data of each scan corresponding to multiple scans of the print image generated by the color converting unit 330; print controller 380-x for controlling at least one of the color converting unit 330 or print data generator 370-x based upon the input image data 320 or a position on a scanning line of each dot to be printed in the print image 400 generated by the color converting unit 330; and a printer engine 180 for printing on the print medium based upon the print data generated by the print data generator 370-x.
US08462376B2
Disclosed an image forming apparatus to form an image on a basis of an image data file stored in an external memory, including: an expansion memory to expand the image data file; a memory residual capacity calculating section to calculate a residual capacity of the expansion memory; a memory occupying amount predicting section to predict a memory occupying amount necessary to expand the image data file into the expansion memory; a specification section to specify an image formable image data file which is processable by the image forming apparatus among the image data files stored in the external memory on a basis of the residual capacity of the expansion memory and the memory occupying amount, and a display controlling section to display a file name of the specified image formable image data file in a display section.
US08462370B2
An image forming apparatus simplifies function customization or expansion, and enables accurate reproduction of conditions attached to a stored document without causing a strong dependency among individual components when the stored document is reutilized. The image processing apparatus includes a first filter that controls a data input process, and a second filter that controls a data output process, the first filter and the second filter constructing an application. A setting condition is set for each of the first filter and the second filter. In response to an instruction to register a stored document, a condition ID that is assigned to the setting condition is acquired. The condition ID and the image data are stored in a database in association with one another.
US08462369B2
The present invention provides a hybrid image processing system, which generally includes an image processing unit for receiving image data corresponding to a set of images, generating commands for processing the image data, and sending the images and the commands to an image processing unit of the hybrid image processing system. Upon receipt, the image processing unit will recognize and interpret the commands, assign and/or schedule tasks for processing the image data to a set of (e.g., special) processing engines based on the commands, and return results and/or processed image data to the image interface unit.
US08462366B2
Embodiments disclosed herein can facilitate delivery of a document from a source to a destination over a network where an initial delivery attempt has been unsuccessful. Actions to be taken are based upon input conditions which may include a time-variable set of input conditions such as identifying non-business days and/or hours at the destination. The document can be a fax, an email, or a voice mail. The actions may include resubmitting the document to the network for a next delivery attempt, cancelling the document, sending a request to the source or destination for additional delivery information, identifying the destination as a technical problem, or a combination thereof.
US08462363B1
A method and apparatus for faster monochrome printing in an in-line electrophotographic printer is described. The printer is configured such that it has more light emitting sources for use in an image transfer assembly for black than for image transfer assemblies for any other color in the printer. When printing a color print job, less than all of the light emitting sources in the black image transfer assembly are used. A print controller directs print data for a monochrome print job to all of the available light emitting sources in the black image transfer assembly and increases the print medium transport speed. The system and method may be configured to operate with dedicated data channels for each light emitting source or may share some data channels for monochrome and color print jobs.
US08462362B2
An image formation device capable of forming a plurality of reduced images on an output medium comprises an input data acquisition unit which acquires input data, a recognizability judgment unit which judges whether each reduced image to be formed corresponding to each piece of input data acquired by the input data acquisition unit is recognizable to a user or not based on the input data and size of the reduced image to be formed, and a reduced image formation unit which forms the reduced images that are judged to be recognizable by the recognizability judgment unit on the output medium while prohibiting the formation of the reduced images that are judged to be unrecognizable by the recognizability judgment unit.
US08462361B2
At the start of printing, it is determined whether binary rasterized data is available. If the binary rasterized data is available, execution of binary rasterization processing is designated. When generating print data based on binary data rasterized by binary rasterization processing, it is determined whether a printing apparatus can process binary rasterized data. If the printing apparatus cannot process binary rasterized data, binary rasterized data is processed to generate and output print data.
US08462360B2
A printing device, to be connected to a network system including network devices sharing image data in a particular format, comprises: a print instruction receiving unit which receives print data containing font information from a network device; a query transmitting unit which transmits a supply query, inquiring whether each network device is capable of supplying a printer font regarding the font information as image data in the particular format, to the network devices; a response receiving unit which receives affirmative responses, indicating that the supply of a printer font regarding the supply query as image data in the particular format is possible, from network devices in response to the supply query; and a printing unit which prints out the print data by use of a printer font held by a network device transmitting the affirmative response as image data in the particular format in response to reception of the affirmative response.
US08462358B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for input of movements and/or registration of forces, comprising at least one light source, at least one position sensitive device (PSD) and at least one diaphragm, wherein at least one of these three elements is moveable with respect to the two other elements. The light source is arranged at a mounting so that light from the light source is emitted through an opening in the mounting and through the at least one diaphragm onto the at least one PSD.
US08462355B2
A scanning microscope includes an acousto-optic scanner that produces a scanned beam. A beam separator based on total internal reflection or angle tuning of a dielectric filter separates an unscanned portion of an excitation light flux from a scanned portion. The scanned beam is directed to a specimen, and optical radiation generated in response to the scanned beam is directed to a detector that produces a detected signal that can be used to determine an image. The scanned beam can be directed to the specimen without formation of any intermediate focusing.
US08462351B2
The present invention provides a measurement apparatus including a reflector configured to reflect a light traveling from an optical system, a detector configured to detect a light incident thereon via the reflector and a measurement optical system including one of a reference surface and a wavefront conversion element, and a load application device configured to apply a load to the reflector in an application direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the load application device applying a compression load to a first portion of the reflector below the optical axis, at a magnitude corresponding to an angle and a position of the first portion, in the application direction thereat, and applying a tension load to a second portion of the reflector above the optical axis, at a magnitude corresponding to an angle and a position of the second portion, in the application direction thereat.
US08462349B1
Systems and methods are described herein for a self-referencing interferometer. The interferometer can comprise an improved spatial phase shifter that reduces the number of components, size and complexity of the spatial phase shifter and maintains a common path for a combined reference beam and signal beam. The self-referencing interferometer further comprises a single mode fiber shunt for filtering the reference beam and further reducing the size of the interferometer. The angle of the reference beam can be tilted before being recombined with the single beam which further simplifies the spatial phase shifting component of the interferometer.
US08462341B2
A system, method of configuring, and application a system for introducing a relative phase retardation into orthogonally polarized components of an electromagnetic beam entered thereinto, wherein the system involves a substantially achromatic multiple element retarder system for use in wide spectral range (for example, 190-1700 nm) rotating compensator spectroscopic ellipsometer and/or polarimeter systems.
US08462340B2
A gel particle measuring apparatus detects a gel particle production starting point with high sensitivity, for measurement of a target substance in a sample by a gelation reaction. The gel particle measuring apparatus includes a sample cell accommodating a sample and a solution containing a reagent, a stirring device for stirring a mixed solution including the sample and the solution containing the reagent, a coherent light source that irradiates the mixed solution with coherent light, a transmitted light detecting device outside the sample cell, on the opposite side of the coherent light source, a transmitted light fluctuation detecting device for detecting a fluctuation component of the transmitted light, and a gel particle production determining device for determining at least the production state of gel particles, which leads to timing of phase transition of the mixed solution from a sol phase to a gel phase.
US08462336B2
An apparatus includes a position-sensitive detector to detect intensities of radiation as a function of position on the detector, and an optical system, characterized by a diffraction-limited resolution volume, adapted for imaging light emitted from activated and excited phototransformable optical labels (“PTOLs”) in a sample onto the position sensitive-detector. A first light source provides activation radiation to the sample to activate a subset of the PTOLs that are distributed in the sample with a density greater than an inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume of the optical system. A second light source provides excitation radiation to the sample to excite a portion of the PTOLs in the subset of the PTOLs. A controller controls one both of the activation radiation and the excitation radiation provided to the sample such that a density of PTOLs in the portion of the PTOLs is less than the inverse of the diffraction-limited resolution volume.
US08462332B2
Visual analysis of urine samples is carried out with the use of a slide consisting of three layers containing an enclosed viewing chamber which receives a urine sample deposited by pipette into an opening on the outer layer of the slide. From the inlet opening the sample enters an inlet chamber in the middle layer and passes through a capillary passageway into the viewing chamber where it is inspected for particles and sediments.
US08462319B2
An apparatus and a method for detecting deformations of a vehicle component on a motor vehicle are disclosed, which are capable of unambiguously determining the location and temporal progression of the deformation, as well as the severity of the deformation, within a very short time after the deformation of the vehicle component begins. An emitter unit together with a detector unit is displaced relative to an aperture component disposed on the vehicle component upon deformation of the vehicle component. A beam path of a light beam between the emitter unit and the detector unit is interrupted or opened when the aperture component is displaced relative to the emitter unit, thereby changing an illumination intensity detected by the detector unit. A signal representative of the illumination intensity is transmitted from the detector unit to an evaluation unit.
US08462315B2
A method for improving imaging properties of an optical system and an optical system of this type having improved imaging properties are described. The optical system can have a plurality of optical elements. In some embodiments, an optical element is positioned and/or deformed by mechanical force action and by thermal action. In certain embodiments, one optical element is positioned and/or deformed by mechanical force action and another optical element is deformed by thermal action.
US08462313B2
An immersion lithographic apparatus comprising a surface which is curved such that a surface-tension drainage force acts in a direction on a film of immersion liquid on the surface.
US08462307B2
A LCD device and its fabrication method as discussed. According to an embodiment, the LCD device includes a plurality of gate lines and data lines arranged on a substrate to define a plurality of unit pixels; thin film transistors (TFTs) each formed at an intersecting region of the gate lines and the data lines; a plurality of gate pad portions and data pad portions formed at end portions of the gate lines and the data lines, respectively, at least one of the gate and data pad portions being made up of at least two pad unit portions, each pad unit portion having at least one contact hole such that the contact holes of one of the plurality of gate or data pad portions are arranged in a zigzag or an oblique line format; and pixel electrodes formed at the unit pixels.
US08462297B2
Disclosed is a film having polarization selectivity and diffusibility, and a means for easily producing the film. The polarizing diffuser film is composed of substantially one kind of crystalline resin having an intrinsic birefringence of not less than 0.1, has a total light transmittance to visible light of 50-90%, a transmission haze to visible light of 15-90% and a transition polarization degree to visible light of 20-90%.
US08462293B2
A tandem type backlight comprises plural light-emitting units (11) including at least one point light source (5) and a light guide plate (7) for causing light from the at least one point light source to be diffused and surface-emitted. In each of the light-emitting units (11), a length X of a light guide area (9) is set so that an area, on a boundary surface between a light-emitting area (10) and the light guide area (9), of a cross-section of a light beam that is emitted from the at least one point light source (5) and is diffused in the light guide plate (7) is equal to or larger than an area of the boundary surface (interface). Moreover, a length X, in a length direction D1, of the light guide area is smaller than a length Y, in the length direction D1, of the light-emitting area.
US08462292B2
Images are displayed in response to a video signal using a light emitting assembly having one or more optically transmissive substrates, films or sheets, each having at least one pattern of optical elements on or in the substrates, films or sheets. A plurality of light sources are configured to illuminate one or more output areas of one or more of the substrates, films or sheets. The light emitting assembly is configured to emit light through the pattern of optical elements and produce a predetermined luminance profile of the light emitting assembly. At least one of the light sources is dimmed or boosted in response to an input video signal while operating a liquid crystal display as a light valve to illuminate the liquid crystal display by the light emitting assembly. At least some adjacent substrates, films or sheets may have portions that overlap, and at least one pattern of optical elements on or in at least one side of the substrates, films or sheets may be configured so that discontinuities between the adjacent substrates, films or sheets are minimized. A predetermined light output from the light emitting assembly may be produced by varying the electrical input to at least some of the light sources.
US08462286B2
A method of manufacturing, with high mass productivity, liquid crystal display devices having highly reliable thin film transistors with excellent electric characteristics is provided. In a liquid crystal display device having an inverted staggered thin film transistor, the inverted staggered thin film transistor is formed as follows: a gate insulating film is formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film which functions as a channel formation region is formed over the gate insulating film; a buffer layer is formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of source and drain regions are formed over the buffer layer; and a pair of source and drain electrodes are formed in contact with the source and drain regions so as to expose a part of the source and drain regions.
US08462285B2
A first contact hole formed in a gate driving circuit is covered with an electrically conductive oxide film formed to be connected to the first contact hole and having a first pattern. The periphery of the electrically conductive oxide film is surrounded by an electrically conductive oxide film (a sacrifice electrode) formed simultaneously with the electrically conductive oxide film and having a second pattern form.
US08462279B2
A pair of stereoscopic glasses includes a pair of left and right stereoscopic rims connected to each other and respectively holding stereoscopic optical components used when observing a stereoscopic image, and a stereoscopic frame that includes stereoscopic temples extending rearward from the stereoscopic rims. The stereoscopic frame is provided with an engagement section that is brought into engagement with a rim or a bridge of a frame of glasses already worn by a user in a state where the stereoscopic optical components are positioned in front of lenses of the glasses so that the stereoscopic optical components are positionally maintained in front of the lenses of the glasses.
US08462278B2
A transparent conductive film includes: a transparent film substrate; a transparent conductor layer provided on one or both sides of the transparent film substrate; and at least one undercoat layer interposed between the transparent film substrate and the transparent conductor layer; wherein: the transparent conductor layer is patterned; and a non-patterned portion not having the transparent conductor layer has the at least one undercoat layer.
US08462276B2
An application for a bezel with internal lighting includes at least one illuminated element situated behind a monitor/television bezel. The brightness and color of the illuminating elements and hence the bezel appearance are modified based upon either user preference or an internal or external parameters such as time, content being viewed, recording status, etc.
US08462271B2
A communication system 100 includes a content repository storing a plurality of content files, a content delivery network 280 communicating with a content repository 274, a content management system 221 determining a plurality of publication times respectively corresponding to each of the plurality of content files and a content distribution system 260 communicating with the content management system and content delivery network. The content distribution system determines an earliest publication time and transfers the plurality of content files to the content delivery network in order of publication in response to determining the earliest publication time.
US08462264B2
A video scan converter processes a video stream including a first coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of fields N1 and N2 that has come from a first frame of film video, and a second coding unit, which has been obtained by encoding a pair of a field N3 that has also come from the first frame and a field M1 that has come from a second frame, not the first frame. The video scan converter includes: a decoder, which receives the video stream, decodes the first and second coding units, and sequentially outputs the data of the respective fields N1, N2, N3 and M1; and a scan converter, which generates a frame based on associated two of those fields that have been supplied from the decoder. In outputting a frame associated with the field N3, the scan converter generates the frame based on the fields N1 and N2 without using the data of the field N3.
US08462261B2
An image pickup apparatus for wireless-communicating with a camera accessory which periodically transits to a sleep state, transmits a change signal for changing the setting of a power saving state in an accessory apparatus, to the accessory apparatus in accordance with a first operation for instructing an image pickup preparation to decide an setting for image pickup or a second operation for instructing the image pickup based on the image pickup preparation operation being accepted by an operation unit of the image pickup apparatus, thereby efficiently suppressing stand-by electricity consumption and preventing a delay from occurring in timing when a predetermined process is executed between apparatuses.
US08462260B2
An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel unit divided into at least two regions which generates pixel signals, driving controllers which controls reading of the pixel signals from the regions, a storage unit storing pixel signals for one screen, a timing controller controlling a timing when the pixel signals are read from the storage unit based on a setting value of an input frame rate, and a timing generator which generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals the regions in parallel in terms of time when the frame rate is larger than a predetermined threshold value and generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals from the regions in series in terms of time when the frame rate is not larger than the predetermined threshold value, and which supplies the generated driving signal to the driving controllers.
US08462240B2
An imaging system may include an image sensor array and column randomizing multiplexers. The imaging system may include a data output circuit and image readout circuitry such as analog amplifiers, analog-to-digital converters, and memory circuits. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a first column randomizing multiplexer between the image sensor array and at least some of the image readout circuitry. The first column randomizing multiplexer may randomly connect columns of the image sensor array to the image readout circuitry. The connections made by the first column randomizing multiplexer may be randomized as each row of the image sensor array is read out. The column randomizing multiplexers may include a second column randomizing multiplexer between at least some of the image readout circuitry and the data output circuit. The second column randomizing multiplexer may reorder image data for the image readout circuitry.
US08462234B2
Disclosed are an image pickup apparatus and a dark current correction method that make it possible to correct the dark current at high precision without using a driving pattern of a peripheral circuit or a layout on an image pickup device chip. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device provided with an effective pixel area, an OB part and a drive circuit of the image pickup device. In the dark current correction method, a black level (hereinafter, referred to as “second black level”) included in the detected signal of the effective pixels of the effective pixel area is obtained (steps S3, S6, S7) based on a black level detected from the pixel of the OB pixels by performing a correction computation in accordance with an operation pattern (steps S1, S2, S5) of the drive circuit in which the temperature difference between the light receiving pixel part and the optical black part is occurred, and the second black level as a clamp level is subtracted from the level of the output signal of the effective pixels in accordance with the operation pattern of the drive circuit.
US08462212B1
According to one configuration, a computer environment includes a first monitoring system, a second monitoring system, and an analyzer. The first monitoring system produces video of an item being entered into a point of sale system. The second monitoring system monitors events associated with entering of the item into the point of sale system. The analyzer detects, via a communication from the second monitoring system, an occurrence of at least one event associated with entering of the item. Based on communication, the analyzer correlates the at least one event to a particular time in the video when the at least one event occurred.
US08462207B2
A method for three-dimensional mapping of an object, including projecting with a projector a set of fringes on the object and capturing an image of the object in a camera. The method further includes processing the captured image so as to detect a Moiré pattern associated with the object and so as to extract depth information from the Moiré pattern, and configuring the projector and the camera so that a locally unambiguous characteristic of the Moiré pattern is related to a depth of the object.
US08462193B1
A multimedia conferencing system includes a loud speaker system, one or more microphones for receiving a local audio signal and a remote audio signal, a state machine and an echo canceller that operates in conjunction with two reference signals to remove substantially all of a feedback signal component in the local audio signal that results from reinforcing and playing the local audio signal over the loud speaker system. The state machine operates to detect that only the local audio is active, and if so controls the operation of the echo canceller such that only the feedback component of the local audio signal is removed and the local audio signal is not suppressed.
US08462187B2
A thermal print head includes a substrate, a resistor layer supported on the substrate and provided with a plurality of heating portions arranged along a primary scanning direction, an electrode layer provided with a plurality of individual electrodes arranged along the primary scanning direction, a drive IC configured to selectively apply an electric current to the plurality of heating portions, and a plurality of wires connected to the plurality of individual electrodes and the drive IC, the plurality of individual electrodes including strip-shaped portions electrically connected to the heating portions and arranged along the primary scanning direction and pad portions greater in width in the primary scanning direction than the strip-shaped portions, the pad portions including bonding pads connected to each of the plurality of wires and probe contact pads, the probe contact pads being narrower in width in the primary scanning direction than bonding pads.
US08462179B2
A method and system is provided for performing high-resolution image assembly regardless of observed scene content. An imaging system, including a focal plane array and lenslet array can be calibrated to account for subimage shifts. A calibration module can determine the subimage shifts by calculating an average point source position reference point coordinates for each of the subimages, and then determining the difference between the average point source position and the reference point coordinates for each subimage. The imaging system can then be calibrated utilizing the subimage shifts for each of the plurality of subimages. Finally, an assembly module can perform a high-resolution image assembly with the calibrated imaging system.
US08462172B2
A video display apparatus includes: an area-specific lighting value calculator configured to calculate a lighting value of each of divided light source regions of a backlight and output the lighting value as numerical data; a signal output module configured to output a video signal correlated with the lighting value to a display module; a backlight controller configured to control the backlight based on the lighting value; a correction gain setting module configured to obtain a signal correction coefficient; a frequency separator configured to separate the input video signal; a signal corrector configured to correct the lighting value with respect to a low frequency component or DC component separated from the input video signal to suppress amplification of noise contained in a dark portion and generate an output video signal; and a display controller configured to control the display module to display the output video signal.
US08462160B2
Users in public forums often mention certain topics in the course of their discussions. Member's comments in messages to other members are analyzed to obtain terms that co-occur with topics. Frequencies of co-occurrence of a term with topics are normalized based on frequency of the term in a random sample of message. The terms are ranked by their normalized frequency of co-occurrence with a topic in messages. The top terms are selected based on their rank. Analysis of demographic information associated with members that mentioned top terms associated with a topic is displayed in graphical format that highlights the relationship between the age, gender, and usage of the top terms over time. The demographic information presented includes average age of members that mentioned a top term or their gender information within a selected time interval.
US08462156B1
A method and system for generating shadows for a graphics processing unit. Specifically, the method determines whether a potential blocker occludes light from reaching a point of a scene in an image space. The light is generated from a light source. A width of a corresponding penumbra is determined for the point. The width is based on a width of the light source, a depth of the potential blocker from the light source, and a depth of a receiver from the light source. The receiver includes the point. A percentage closer filtering kernel size is scaled in proportion to the width of the corresponding penumbra. Thereafter, percentage closer filtering is performed for the point using the kernel size that is scaled in order to shade a pixel corresponding to the point.
US08462153B2
The present invention relates to a method of displaying a dynamic 2D annotation associated with an object displayed in a 3D scene. The method includes providing a computer system that includes a display device; establishing a view location and direction; orienting the dynamic 2D annotation substantially perpendicular to the view direction; orienting the dynamic 2D annotation substantially horizontal relative to the 3D scene; positioning the dynamic 2D annotation relative to an attachment point on or near the object; extending an attachment handle between the dynamic 2D annotation and the attachment point; and displaying the dynamic 2D annotation and the attachment handle in the 3D scene on the display device.
US08462145B2
A digital-to-analog converter includes a voltage-to-current converter, a current-mode digital-to-analog converter and an operational amplifier. The voltage-to-current converter generates a first current signal, and the current-mode digital-to-analog converter generates a second current signal. The operational amplifier modulates a drain current in response to the second current signal and generates an output signal having an offset.
US08462144B2
A pixel in a plurality of pixels in an LCD of a system comprises a transmissive part, a reflective part and a latched driving circuit. The driving circuit comprises a transmissive section comprising a transmissive data input coupled to the transmissive part of the pixel, and is configured to drive a transmissive data value from the transmissive data input and to set the transmissive part to a transmissive display state based on the transmissive data value; a reflective section comprising a reflective data input (independent of the transmissive data input) coupled to the reflective part of the pixel, and is configured to drive a reflective data value from the reflective data input and to set the reflective part to a reflective display state based on the reflective data value.
US08462143B2
An integrated circuit device includes: a data driver that drives a plurality of data lines of an electro optical device; and a data distribution circuit that supplies data to the data driver, wherein the data driver includes an odd numbered data line driver circuit for driving odd numbered data lines among the plurality of data lines, an even numbered data line driver circuit for driving even numbered data lines among the plurality of data lines, an odd numbered data line latch circuit provided for the odd numbered data line driver circuit, and an even numbered data line latch circuit provided for the even numbered data line driver circuit; and the data line distribution circuit, upon receiving time serially inputted image data, supplies odd numbered data line image data for the number of multiplexes to the odd numbered data line latch circuit, and supplies even numbered data line image data for the number of multiplexes to the even numbered data line latch circuit.
US08462118B2
A method and apparatus for entering words into a computer system. Letters contained in a desired word are entered by giving approximate location and directional information relative to any specified keyboard layout. The inputs need not correspond to specific keys on the keyboard, a sequence of ambiguous key-entries corresponding to individual words can be used to retrieve a word from the dictionary. The system tracks directional information of movement relative to a/the specific keyboard layout, reducing it to predetermined primary directions and translates this seemingly ambiguous information into accurate words from the dictionary. The system may also capture the user's intention (with regard to text entry) by observing the movements on the keyboard.
US08462116B2
In an aspect, an electronic device includes a housing; a manipulandum positioned in the housing, wherein the manipulandum is moveable in at least one rotary degree of freedom in response to a user moving the manipulandum; a sensor coupled to the manipulandum, the sensor outputs sensor signals associated with the movement of the manipulandum in the at least one rotary degree of freedom by the user's direct contact; a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to output one or more activating signals based on the sensor signals; a first actuator coupled to the manipulandum, wherein the first actuator outputs a contact force to the manipulandum upon receiving a first activating signal; and a second actuator positioned within the housing and separate from the first actuator, wherein the second actuator outputs an inertial force to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal.
US08462109B2
Various embodiments provide systems and methods capable of facilitating interaction with handheld electronics devices based on sensing rotational rate around at least three axes and linear acceleration along at least three axes. In one aspect, a handheld electronic device includes a subsystem providing display capability, a set of motion sensors sensing rotational rate around at least three axes and linear acceleration along at least three axes, and a subsystem which, based on motion data derived from at least one of the motion sensors, is capable of facilitating interaction with the device.
US08462107B2
A pointing device and method include a pad occupying a region, a raised border at a perimeter of the region and an object slidably movable on the pad for contacting the border. A detecting device is configured to detect a physical contact by the object at any position on the border wherein contact with the border generates a signal indicating a contact position on the border.
US08462104B2
A system for one or more portions of one or more regions of an electronic paper assembly having one or more display layers includes, but is not limited to: obtaining information associated with one or more changes in one or more sequences of two or more conformations of one or more portions of one or more regions of the electronic paper assembly and controlling display of one or more portions of one or more display layers of the electronic paper assembly regarding display of second information in response to the information associated with the one or more changes in the one or more conformations of the one or more portions of the one or more regions of the electronic paper assembly. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.
US08462101B2
An apparatus controls a backlight of a display panel of a camera system. The apparatus includes a sub-pixel extracting unit, an ambient light luminance calculating unit, and a backlight controller. The sub-pixel extracting unit extracts sub-pixel luminance values from image data, where the image data is indicative of a current image frame defined by a plurality of pixels, and where each of the pixels includes a plurality of sub-pixels. The ambient light luminance calculating unit calculates an ambient light luminance value of the current image frame from the sub-pixel luminance values extracted by the sub-pixel extracting unit. The backlight controller which generates a backlight control signal based on a comparison between the calculated ambient light luminance value of the current image frame and an ambient light luminance value of a previous image frame.
US08462100B2
A first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor are provided. In the first transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a first wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fifth wiring. In the second transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a third wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to a sixth wiring. In the third transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to a second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the gate terminal of the second transistor; a gate terminal is electrically connected to a fourth wiring. In the fourth transistor, a first terminal is electrically connected to the second wiring; a second terminal is electrically connected to the sixth wiring; a gate terminal is connected to the fourth wiring.
US08462097B2
A gate drive circuit includes a shift register having stages connected to each other in series. An (m)-th stage (‘m’ is a natural number) includes an output part, a discharging part, a first holding part and a second holding part. The output part outputs the first clock signal as a gate signal in response to a first clock signal provided from an external device and discharges the gate signal in response to a second input signal. The output part includes a first transistor having a first channel length. The discharging part discharges a signal of the first node to the second voltage level. The first holding part maintains a signal of the first node at a level of the gate signal, and is discharged to the second voltage level. The first holding part includes a second transistor having a second channel length that is longer than the first channel length. The second holding part maintains a signal of the first node at a level of the second voltage level.
US08462090B2
A display device including a pixel unit, a selection unit, and a control unit is disclosed. The pixel unit includes a driving transistor and a capacitor. The driving transistor includes a gate and a source. The capacitor is coupled between the gate and the source. The selection unit selectively transmits a first voltage or a second voltage to the driving transistor. The control unit controls the selection unit and receives the voltage of the source.
US08462082B2
Disclosed are a new Mercury-free flat light source structure capable of enhancing and adjusting brightness, maintaining stable and uniform discharge, and improving luminous efficiency, and a large flat light source apparatus using the same Mercury-free flat light source structure as a unit cell capable of adjusting the brightness and causing local discharges in selected areas, and a driving method thereof.The flat light source structure according to the present invention includes an upper substrate made of a light transmitting material; a lower substrate separated from the upper substrate by a distance; a barrier rib for maintaining the distance, thereby defining a discharge space filled with a discharge gas with a predetermined pressure; a phosphor coated on at least one of the inner surfaces of the upper substrate and the lower substrate, respectively; a pair of main electrodes disposed at predetermined positions on the surface of the upper or lower substrate and applied with a predetermined driving voltage, frequency and duty ratio to excite the phosphor by plasma generated due to electric field induced in the discharge space; an auxiliary electrode formed at a predetermined position on the lower and/or upper substrate(s) to have a parallel component which is parallel with any one of the main electrodes when viewing the discharge space from the upper substrate and a perpendicular component which traverses the electrodes across the pair of main electrodes.
US08462079B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an ornamental system, apparatus and method that is dynamically modifiable. Embodiments of the ornament system comprise a processor, at least one ornamental member and a data controller. The processor is a computer or similar device that stores data for transmission. The ornamental member is configured to receive and display data stored in a database. Embodiments of the present invention can be coupled to other ornamental systems across a wide area network, wherein users can share data files for display.
US08462076B2
A mounting assembly for an antenna includes a mounting foot, an antenna mast, and two mast positioning components. The foot includes a base that can be attached to a mounting structure, and two opposing sidewall flanges extending from the base. Each sidewall flange has a respective slot formed therein. The antenna mast has a proximal end pivotally coupled to the foot between the sidewall flanges. The first mast positioning component is coupled between the sidewall flanges, it is movable within the slots, and it provides a first adjustable support structure for the antenna mast. The second mast positioning component is coupled between the sidewall flanges, it is movable within the slots, and it provides a second adjustable support structure for the antenna mast.
US08462054B2
A housing includes a first main body and a second main body. The first main body includes laser activator. An antenna radiator is formed on the first main body by laser, and an electro-plating or a chemical plating method. The second main body is formed on the first main body and partially coats the antenna radiator. The antenna radiator is partially exposed from the first main body and the second main body to form a terminal.
US08462052B2
An RFID tag having a tag antenna and an LSI chip, comprising: a power-supply pattern on which the LSI chip is mounted; a patch antenna that functions as the tag antenna; and a high-frequency connection section that makes a high-frequency connection between the power-supply pattern and the patch antenna. The high-frequency connection section is formed, for example, by forming a slot in the patch antenna, layering one end of a small dipole antenna that functions as the power-supply pattern over the slot so that it crosses over the slot, and supplying power from the small dipole antenna to the patch antenna.
US08462044B1
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determining the transmit location of an emitter using a single geostationary satellite. In an embodiment, a signal is received at a ground station from the emitter and relayed by the geostationary satellite. The signal is received at the ground station at a plurality of time instances and has a plurality of observed frequencies, one for each time instance. A plurality of lines of position are determining based on the plurality of observed frequencies. The transmit location of the emitter is determined based on at least one intersection among the plurality of lines of position.
US08462038B2
There is provided a successive-approximation A/D converter in which the binary weighted capacitive D/A converter generates a residual signal for each of cycles assigned to each bit of N bits on the basis of an analog input signal and a reference voltage, the first comparator compares a residual signal at a first time point within a cycle with a predetermined voltage to acquire a first comparison result, the register stores the first comparison result therein, the second comparator compares a residual signal at a second time point later than the first time point within the cycle with the predetermined voltage to acquire a second comparison result, the error determining circuit generates an error detection signal when they differ from each other, and the error-correcting circuit inverts and outputs the first comparison result from the register in a case that the error detection signal has been generated.
US08462032B2
A method for driving a sigma delta modulator, a sigma delta modulator comprising at least one integrator device and one quantizer device, and a readable medium having a computer program stored thereon for performing the method are described. The method comprises setting a sigma delta modulator to an irrational operation mode. The method comprises monitoring at least one output signal of the sigma delta modulator. The method comprises resetting the sigma delta modulator to the irrational operation mode depending on the monitored output signal.
US08462031B2
Continuous time analogue/digital converter, comprising a sigma delta modulator (MSD1) configured to receive an analogue input signal (x(t)) and comprising high-pass filtering means (MF) the chopping frequency of which is equal to half of the sampling frequency (Fs) of the quantization means (QTZ) of the modulator (MSD1).
US08462025B2
An improved transmission protocol is used to transmit a signal between two components of an electronic device. The improved transmission protocol is configured to reduce the number of simultaneous channel transitions that occur when multiple signal channels are transmitted in parallel. Reducing the number of simultaneous channel transitions is beneficial because a signal that is subject to skew, distortion, or electromagnetic interference during transmission may have a shorter settling time when fewer channels undergo a transition simultaneously. When the protocol is used to transmit a signal from a controller to an optical pickup unit in an optical data storage system, the reduced settling times allow for a higher data transmission rate.
US08462013B2
Aspects of the inventions generally provide a method and apparatus for coupling a communication sub to a wired drill pipe. In one aspect, a surface of a coupler head is non threaded and configured to provide a retaining force. In another aspect, a coupler head is coupled to a body, and a support mechanism is coupled to the body and configured to secure the coupler head within a receiving end of the wired drill pipe. In another aspect, a method of placing a communication sub involves inserting the communication sub into the receiving end of the wired drill pipe, adjusting the position of the communication sub until an indication of signal communication between the communication sub and the wired drill pipe is observed, and after the indication of signal communication is observed, retaining the communication sub within the receiving end until removal of the communication sub is desired.
US08462006B2
The invention relates to a GFCI that trips and provides indication at the end of its life. It comprises a leakage signal detection circuit (LSDC) and a failure alarm for providing indication in case of failure. The LSDC includes a leakage signal amplification circuit (LSAC) which amplifies the signal from test and neutral toroidal coils and controls a mechanical tripping mechanism through a silicon control unit and an igniter. The mechanical tripping mechanism is controlled by the LSDC through the silicon control unit by a forcible tripping coil connected thereto. This LSDC is powered by a power unit. Additionally, a failure alarm circuit which triggers and supplies visual indication through an optical display element in the event of failure is connected to the power unit of the LSDC. This alarm circuit also includes a forcible tripping coil to control the mechanical tripping mechanism at the end of the device life.
US08462004B2
A method generates an error signal indicating the location of a ground fault in a line between two line ends. A voltage and a current are measured at both ends of the line, establishing measured values, and the location of the ground fault is determined when or after a ground fault is detected. Accordingly, harmonic indicator variables are established and used for determining the location of the ground fault.
US08462002B2
Exemplary methods, systems and components enable detection and/or monitoring and/or control of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure of target body-related portions of a user operating a telecommunication device. In some embodiments a risk-assessment output is provided based on a safety threshold or predetermined intrusion level of EMR exposure.
US08461998B2
A device to be worn on the human or animal body for detecting body-related data using a detection element for detecting a temperature in or on the device and an element for activating and deactivating the device by taking the detected temperature into account.
US08461987B2
A fingerprint recognition system is presented including a fingerprint collecting module positioned about an electronic device for collecting fingerprint information related to one or more fingerprints; a chemical analysis module for performing a chemical analysis of the fingerprint information collected; and an evaluating module for evaluating the chemical analysis of the fingerprint information collected to provide at least one response. Additionally, a chemical analysis system for performing substantially instantaneous chemical analysis of received fingerprints and providing substantially instantaneous recommendations or feedback or responses based on the chemical analysis of the fingerprints received is presented. The chemical analysis indicates at least one or more of the following: age, gender, race, dietary information, and lifestyle information or a combination thereof.
US08461980B2
The described system and method enable user health monitoring and alerting by providing an arm-mounted sensor wirelessly linked to a wrist-mounted transponder, although the wrist-mounted transponder may be omitted in favor of a user-carried cellular device. In either embodiment of the invention, a remote server is included to receive user health data and alerts, and to log received data and, when necessary, to alert health service providers. Health service providers may include physicians and emergency services providers.
US08461977B2
An electronic circuit includes a node coupled to a load to be driven, and a power device, which can be switched between activation and deactivation and coupled to the node. The circuit further includes a current generator having an output connected to the node and that can be enabled to generate current at least when the power device is deactivated. The circuit also includes a comparator for comparing an electric voltage of the node with a reference voltage and is configured to generate a comparison signal based thereon.
US08461971B2
Provided is an information presentation system installed on a vehicle, and including a robot (100) having a driver unit (120) to drive the robot (100) and an output unit (130) to output information generated according to vehicle conditions, and a robot control device (200) having an information acquirer unit (210) to acquire the information generated according to the vehicle conditions, an action controller unit (220) to cause the driver unit (120) to drive the robot (100) in response to the acquired information, thereby causing the robot (100) to take an action of informing a passenger that information will be presented, and an information presenter unit (230) to cause the robot (100) to take an action of presenting the information after taking the action of informing the passenger that the information will be presented.
US08461968B2
A mattress or support surface including an identifier to enable the mattress or support surface to be associated with a location in the healthcare facility and more particularly a room within the healthcare facility.
US08461963B2
An access authorization method and apparatus for a wireless sensor network comprises at least a base station and a wireless sensor network formed by a plurality of sensor nodes. After having obtained an access authorization of a user, the at least a base station issues a request message to a target sensor node in the wireless sensor network. The target sensor node requests at least a controlling node in the wireless sensor network for sensing data sensed by the at least a controlling node, and checks if the sensing data meets the requirements of the access authorization of the user. Whether the target sensor node responds with the required multimedia or not is based on the checking result.
US08461961B2
A tamper-proof secure card comprising biometric data of an individual for identifying or confirming authority of the individual. Prior to issuing the secure card a cardholder's biometric data is stored in a transparent biometric data section of the secure card. Also, a unique card number is created using a cardholder's biometric data and stored in the card. When the secure card is used the cardholder inputs biometric data. This input biometric data is then compared to the biometric data stored in the card. If the input biometric data matches the stored biometric data the identity of the cardholder is confirmed. If the cardholder's identity has been confirmed the unique card number can be accessed. Without confirmation the unique card number cannot be access. The secure card also comprises a transparent input area to separate the cardholder from an identity verification machine.
US08461953B1
An air cooling system, method, apparatus and kit applied to lower transformer operating temperatures, such as governed by a tank or container of oil, allowing transformer components to run more efficiently at a lower temperature level, e.g., down from the hot level operating temperatures typical in stressed conventional devices. By lowering the operational levels to within or below the nominal operational temperature ranges for the equipment, and recovering heat generated during operation, several advantages are obtained.
US08461951B2
In a bistable magnetic actuator with a polarized magnetic circuit with parallel operating air gaps, wherein between the outer legs of a U-shaped soft-iron yoke a flat permanent magnet is integrated that carries a soft-iron center leg and applies a permanent-magnetically created magnetic flux to a rocking armature supported on the center leg, wherein at each outer leg a separately controllable excitation winding provides swiveling pulses for the rocking armature to swivel from one permanent-magnetically self-holding swivel position into the other, the permanent-magnetically created magnetic flux through the magnetic circuit closed over the rocking armature in each case for an electromagnetic magnetic flux created by the excitation winding of said magnetic circuit in a direction opposed to the permanent-magnetically created magnetic flux commutates into the other parallel magnetic circuit with the electromagnetically not excited excitation winding, swiveling over the rocking armature.
US08461944B2
The present invention relates to a transition arrangement comprising a first surface-mountable waveguide part and a second surface-mountable waveguide part, each of the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts comprising a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, which second and third walls are arranged to contact a dielectric carrier material, all the walls together essentially forming a U-shape, where the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts are arranged to be mounted on the dielectric carrier material in such a way that the first and second surface-mountable waveguide parts comprise ends which are positioned to face each other. The transition arrangement further comprises an electrically conducting sealing frame that is arranged to be mounted over and covering the ends, where the electrically conducting frame has a first wall, a second wall and a third wall, where the second and third walls are arranged to contact the dielectric carrier material, all the walls together essentially forming a U-shape.
US08461941B2
A bulk acoustic wave resonator has an adjustable resonance frequency. A piezoelectric element is provided having first and second electrodes. A switching element is provided in the form of a MEMS structure which is deformable between a first and second position. The switching element forms an additional electrode that is selectively disposed on top of, and in contact with, one of the first and second electrodes. This causes a total thickness of the electrode of the resonator to be changed resulting in a modification of the resonance frequency of the resonator.
US08461937B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for pseudo-differential transmission in interconnections used for sending a plurality of electrical signals.The ends of an interconnection having 4 transmission conductors and a return conductor distinct from the reference conductor are each connected to a termination circuit. Three damping circuits are connected between the return conductor and the reference conductor. The transmitting circuits receive at their inputs the signals from the 4 channels of the two sources, and are connected to the conductors of the interconnection. A transmitting circuit in the activated state produces natural electrical variables, each natural electrical variable being allocated to one and only one channel. The receiving circuits are connected to the conductors of the interconnection, each receiving circuit being such that the 4 channels of a source connected to a transmitting circuit in the activated state are sent to the four channels of the destinations without noticeable echo, internal crosstalk and external crosstalk.
US08461929B2
A power amplifier includes a first amplifier unit, a second amplifier unit, and an attenuator. The second amplifier receives a signal from the first amplifier unit and amplifies the signal. The attenuator is provided between the first and second amplifier units. The attenuator has arms, including at least one parallel arm and at least one series arm, and has switches connected to the arms to switch the electrical connection states of the arms with respect to the first and second amplifier units. The at least one parallel arm and the at least one series arm are alternately arranged, in the order named, as viewed in the direction from the first amplifier unit to the second amplifier unit.
US08461926B2
A differential amplifier circuit includes a first/second field effect transistor including a gate coupled to a first/second differential input signal terminal, a source coupled to a reference potential node, and a drain coupled to a first/second differential output signal terminal, a first variable capacitor coupled between the gate of the first field effect transistor and the drain of the second field effect transistor, a second variable capacitor coupled between the gate of the second field effect transistor and the drain of the first field effect transistor, and a first envelope detector configured to detect an envelope of a signal at the first differential output signal terminal or the second differential output signal terminal, the first variable capacitor and/or the second variable capacitor has a capacitance that varies in accordance with an envelope detected by the first envelope detector.
US08461921B2
An amplifier module with multiple operating modes is described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus includes a plurality of amplifiers. The apparatus may also include a plurality of switches, each switch coupled to an output of an associated amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers and configured to provide an amplified signal in a first mode and bypass the associated amplifier and provide an associated bypass signal in a second mode. Further, the apparatus may include an output circuit including a plurality of matching circuits, each matching circuit coupled to an associated amplifier in the plurality of amplifiers and an associated switch in the plurality of switches.
US08461909B2
A voltage booster device may include a plurality of multiplication stages arranged in a sequence so that an input terminal of each multiplication stage, with the exception of a first multiplication stage, is connected to an output terminal of a previous multiplication stage. Each multiplication stage may include pumping circuitry for accumulating an electric charge proportional to a pump voltage value of the multiplication stage. Each multiplication stage may also include a phase signal generating circuit for switching the multiplication stages between a transfer phase and a maintaining phase. In at least one of the stages, the pumping circuitry may include at least two series connected charge accumulators. A terminal may be shared between the charge accumulators and may be connected through biasing circuitry to an output terminal of a previous multiplication stage for forcing the charge accumulators within a threshold potential drop value.
US08461907B2
A semiconductor device includes a signal output unit, and a decision unit. The signal output unit includes m (≧2) pieces of fuses, a NAND gate, resistance elements, and an output terminal. The decision unit decides whether n or more pieces (m≧n≧2) of fuses are disconnected out of the m pieces of fuses included in the signal output unit, and outputs the result of a decision. When m=n=2, the decision unit is constituted of a NOR gate having two input terminals connected to a respective end of the fuses. Thus, a H-level potential signal is output at an output terminal of the NOR gate when the decision result is affirmative. On the other hand, when the decision result is negative, a L-level potential signal is output at the output terminal.
US08461900B2
An example frequency converting circuit generates a multiplied signal obtained by multiplying a local signal by an amplified signal generated by an amplifying portion. The frequency converting circuit includes a converter which converts the amplified signal into a current signal and a switching circuit which multiplies the current signal by the local signal and generates the multiplied signal. An impedance element supplies a first direct current from the amplifier and a second direct current from the switching circuit to the converter.
US08461894B1
In one embodiment, a configurable delay element has three stages. The first stage has an 8-buffer first delay chain and an (8×1) first mux that selects one of the eight first-delay-chain outputs. The second stage has a 24-buffer second delay chain connected to receive the first-mux output and organized into three 8-buffer sub-chains and a (4×1) second mux that selects one of the four second-delay-chain outputs. The third stage has a 96-buffer third delay chain connected to receive the second-mux output and organized into three 32-buffer sub-chains and a (4×1) third mux that selects one of the four third-delay-chain outputs as the delay-element output signal. A delay-element controller provides glitch-less updates to the signal used to control the delay-element muxes by timing those updates to occur when all delay-element buffers have the same state. The controller bases the update timing on the delay-element output signal.
US08461885B2
A digital PLL may be combined with an analog PLL so that the output of the digital PLL is at a frequency high enough to maintain stability in the analog PLL when an initial reference clock signal is too low to maintain stability in the analog PLL. The digital PLL may include a scaling circuit, such as a frequency divider in the feedback path of the PLL, to generate the higher frequency output signal from the lower frequency reference input signal. The digital PLL may also use an on-chip free run ring oscillator as the clock for the digital PLL engine.
US08461880B2
A pre-drive circuit with an output buffer that may contain a bootstrap circuit is described. The bootstrap circuit may be configured to output a voltage level greater in magnitude than the supply voltage that the bootstrap circuit is coupled with. The pre-drive circuit may contain a timing circuit. The timing circuit may be configured to at least partially determine when the bootstrap circuit outputs a voltage greater in magnitude than the supply voltage. The pre-drive circuit may also contain a pre-drive buffer circuit. This pre-drive buffer circuit may be capable of three outputs: (1) logical zero, or roughly electrical ground; (2) logical one, or roughly the level of the voltage supply, and (3) an outputted voltage greater than the voltage supply.
US08461876B2
A semiconductor device includes two unit circuits and a control unit. A middle point between the unit circuits is coupled with an inductive load. Each unit circuit includes a first switching element and a free wheel diode coupled in inverse-parallel with the first switching element. At least one of the unit circuits further includes a bypass section coupled in parallel with the first switching element and the free wheel diode. The bypass section includes a second switching element and a resistor coupled in series. The controller alternately turns on the first switching elements with a dead time during which both the first switching elements are turned off. The controller controls the second switching element coupled in parallel with one of the first switching elements to be an on-state when the one of the first switching elements transitions from an off-state to an on-state in the dead time.
US08461872B2
First and second devices may simultaneously communicate bidirectionally with each other using only a single pair of LVDS signal paths. Each device includes an input circuit and a differential output driver connected to the single pair of LVDS signal paths. An input to the input circuit is also connected to the input of the driver. The input circuit may also receive an offset voltage. In response to its inputs, the input circuit in each device can use comparators, gates and a multiplexer to determine the logic state being transmitted over the pair of LVDS signal paths from the other device. This advantageously reduces the number of required interconnects between the first and second devices by one half.
US08461857B2
The present invention relates to a distance adjustment system and a solar wafer inspection machine provided with the system. The inspection machine has a conveyer for carrying a solar wafer, an optical inspection system for inspecting the surface and color appearance of the wafer and an illumination inspection system. A holder is provided in the inspection position where the wafer is clamped along its width direction to prevent the wafer from offset. During the opto-electrical inspection, probes are brought into contact with conductive buses of the wafer and light is applied to the wafer to allow the probing of electric energy thus generated. An adjusting device is employed to adjust the clamping gap of the holder and the distance of the probes in accordance with the size of the solar wafer. The data are collected and transmitted to a sorting system for sorting the wafer.
US08461854B2
Techniques for characterizing a molecule are described herein. In one example, a portion of the molecule is trapped in a nanopore, a variable voltage is applied across the nanopore until the trapped portion of molecule is moved within the nanopore, and the molecule is characterized based on the electrical stimulus required to affect movement of at least a portion of the trapped portion of the molecule within the nanopore.
US08461852B2
A method and apparatus for producing particle density map images of fluidised particles by electrical capacitance tomography (ECT) in a fluidized bed apparatus allows for measuring online the liquid content of fluidized particles during the fluidization process and for recalibration of the fluidized particle permittivity during fluidization, allowing for online recalibration of an ECT system when the liquid content of particles changes, such as for fluidized bed drying or granulation processes. Recalibration measurements are made using reference electrodes positioned to measure the capacitance of the densely fluidized particles near the side walls of the fluidized bed. The electrodes of an ECT sensor array may be used to make the recalibration measurements which can be used to provide online liquid content measurement, such as moisture content, for the fluidized particles without stopping out stopping fluidization. The liquid content information may be used for process control. The method may also be used to provide separate images for solids distribution and for total liquid distribution across a plane being imaged.
US08461851B2
A slotted TEM transmission line and an in-situ TEM transmission line are utilized to determine both complex permittivity and permeability of soil. The permittivity and permeability information may be used by underground sensing techniques such as GPR and EMI to enhance information from these techniques. The in-situ probe provides that both complex permittivity and permeability can be measured simultaneously over a broad frequency range without disturbing the soil conditions.
US08461850B2
A test and measurement instrument and method for receiving a radio frequency (RF) signal, digitizing the RF signal using an analog-to-digital converter, downconverting the digitized signal to produce I (in-phase) and Q (quadrature) baseband component information, generating one or more IQ-based time-domain traces using the I and Q baseband component information, and measuring and displaying a variety of measurement values of the IQ-based time-domain traces. The IQ-based time-domain measurement values can be automatically generated and displayed, and/or transmitted to an external device.
US08461842B2
The invention generally relates to stabilizing an MRI power delivery system. In one aspect, a stabilization module that is in electrical communication with the MRI power delivery system is provided. The stabilization module includes a closed loop control system. The closed loop control system is used to modify the at least one characteristic of the input signal. The modified input signal is provided to the MRI power delivery system.
US08461833B2
A method for determining the sensitivity of a sensor provides the following steps: a) first and second deflection voltages are applied to first and second electrode systems of the sensor, respectively, and first and second electrostatic forces are exerted on an elastically suspended seismic mass of the sensor by the first and second electrode systems, respectively, and a restoring force is exerted on the mass as a result of the elasticity of the mass, and a force equilibrium is established among the first and second electrostatic forces and the restoring force, and the mass assumes a deflection position characteristic of the force equilibrium, and an output signal characteristic of the force equilibrium and of the deflection position is measured; and b) the sensitivity of the sensor is computed on the basis of the first and second deflection voltages.
US08461827B2
The invention relates to a roller bearing (01), with a revolving bearing component (05) and a stationary bearing component (04), and with a capacitive sensor unit (02). The capacitive sensor unit (04) comprises a pivoted sensor element (08), which is connected to the revolving bearing component (05), and a stationary sensor element (09). The sensor units (08, 09) form a capacitor. At least one of the sensor elements (08, 09) bears a first material measure (14, 16), so that a change arises in the capacitance of the capacitor when there is a relative motion in the sensor areas (08, 09). The sensor unit also includes a means for generating a periodic electrostatic field between the sensor plates, and a processing and amplifying electronics unit for evaluating the change in capacitance.
US08461823B2
There is disclosed a method of metering electricity that includes calculating a first accumulated in-phase current indicative of a non-voltage component of energy flow to one or more customer premises during a period of time by a distribution transformer meter (DTM) coupled to a distribution transformer (DT) and calculating second accumulated in-phase current (AIPC) indicative of a non-voltage component of energy flow during a period of time by a feeder current meter coupled to a feeder line. The method further includes transmitting the first AIPC and the second AIPC to a data collecting computing device and comparing the first AIPC with the second AIPC to determine if electricity theft has occurred.
US08461819B2
A current detector is comprised of a switch portion having an input node, an output node and a detection node, the switch portion being configured to selectively shift a power current between the input node and the output node and a detection current between the input node and the detection node; a current controller configured to control the detection current so as to equalize voltages at the detection node and the output node, the current controller being coupled with the detection node and the output node and including a transistor and a diode coupled to the transistor in series so as to prevent impression of negative voltage on the transistor, the transistor and the diode being formed within a single monolithic substrate; and a monitor current output portion having a monitor node and being coupled with the current controller, the monitor current output portion being configured to mirror the detection current in the current controller to the monitor node.
US08461808B2
A DC-DC converter includes: a transformer including primary and secondary windings; a switching element that drives the primary winding; a comparator that compares a voltage induced in the secondary winding with a predetermined voltage to detect that the voltage is outside a predetermined voltage range; and a controller. The controller stops switching operation of the switching element when the voltage is outside the predetermined voltage range. Preferably, the DC-DC converter is of a flyback system.
US08461806B2
A cell balancing circuit comprises a first cell having a first voltage, a second cell in series with the first cell and having a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage, and a bypass path in parallel with the second cell for enabling a bypass current for the second cell if a difference between the first voltage and the second voltage is greater than a predetermined threshold. The bypass current is enabled for a balancing time period that is proportional to the difference between the first voltage and the second voltage.
US08461799B2
A battery charger includes a battery attachment section configured to have a rechargeable battery releasably attached thereto. The battery attachment section includes a flat attachment surface having a width corresponding to a width of a bottom surface of a case of the battery to be charged and a length greater than a length of the bottom surface of the case of the battery to be charged; a plurality of locking hooks provided on the attachment surface; a charger terminal configured to contact a terminal of the battery to be charged, the charger terminal including a plurality of plate-shaped contact pieces configured to be inserted into engaging grooves of the battery to be charged; and an attachment projection adjacent to the attachment surface and configured to secure the battery to the charger.
US08461794B2
In a method and apparatus for controlling of a servo-drive, in particular of a solid state actuator in which the servo-drive is controlled during each control process by means of a two-point regulator (R2P), the two-point regulator (R2P) has a power signal (I) as control signal for actuation of the servo-drive. An upper switch point (PO) of the two-point controller (R2P) is allocated to one maximum power value (ÎOn) and a lower switch point (PU) of the two-point controller (R2P) is allocated to one minimum power value (ÎUm). The upper switch point (PO) and the lower switch point (PU) are established during the controlling process so that they are separated in pairs by at least a minimum default spacing (Dmin).
US08461789B2
In response to the determination or estimation of a back EMF zero crossing event for the phase, a time T1 is calculated, T1 being representative of the desired absolute maximum value of the phase current. Current samples are taken by the current sampling unit symmetrically centered around T1. The values of the samples CS[1] to CS[10] are then input into the error function to calculate an error function value. The calculated error function value is input to the lead angle control unit which calculates a value for lead_angle. The value of lead_angle is calculated to be the adjustment in phase angle of the driving voltage profile that will minimize the absolute value of the error function. In generating and adjusting the driving voltage profile the driving voltage generation unit takes into account both lead_angle and the output of the position and speed estimation unit. The estimated motor speed may be used additionally in an outer speed control loop involving speed controller to adjust the amplitude (AMP) of the effective driving voltage.
US08461785B2
A speed controller for a small electric motor is described. The controller is used to control small electric motors such as those used in small power tools such as electric screwdrivers. A series of electrical components are used to allow the motor to remain idle until a load is applied to the motor. When a load is applied to the motor, it increases in speed quickly to its maximum speed and remains there until the load is removed from the motor.
US08461782B2
A mechanism for assigning unique addresses to identical devices attached to a serial bus is presented. Each device has at least one output and is provided with a storage device to provide a configurable portion of a bus address having a fixed portion and a configurable portion. The device is further provided with circuitry, coupled to the storage device and the output, to determine a state of the output and use the state to configure the configurable portion. Once the configurable portion is configured, the bus address uniquely identifies the device. Such configuration allows more than one such device to be coupled to the same serial bus, e.g., an I2C bus.
US08461780B2
A method is intended to make it possible to drive a PTC electrical load element with a switching unit with the highest possible operational reliability. For this purpose, the electric current is switched off if a predetermined current threshold value is exceeded, the magnitude of the current threshold value being determined from the operating parameters of the load element.
US08461777B1
A Light Emitting Diode (LED) driver for preventing shorting has an LED driver circuit. A protection circuit is coupled to the LED driver to detect a fault condition by monitoring a cathode of an LED string of the LED driver, an LED current sense voltage of the LED driver, an LED current feedback error voltage of the LED driver circuit, and a state of a dimming switch of the LED driver.
US08461771B2
An electronic ballast arrangement for a discharge lamp is provided. The electronic ballast arrangement includes an electronic ballast for a discharge lamp with a control application specific integrated circuit, the control application specific integrated circuit having a control input, which is characterized by the fact that the potential present across it sets the operating frequency of the control ASIC when driving the discharge lamp; and a switch; wherein the electronic ballast is connected to the switch, with different switching positions of the switch determining different potentials which are present at the control input, in order to thus set the operating frequency of the control application specific integrated circuit via the switch.
US08461763B2
An apparatus of an electron cyclotron resonance ion source may include: a magnet unit containing a magnet for generating magnetic fields; an ionizing chamber housing unit for generating ions through electron cyclotron resonance from a plasma; a microwave generating unit for injecting microwaves to the ionizing chamber housing unit to generate ions; and a beam integrating and guiding unit for treating the generated ions. The magnet unit may include: a bobbin for winding the magnet; a variable spacer for dividing the bobbin into a plurality of sections; and the magnet which is wound into the form of a wire or a tape in the plurality of sections formed by the variable spacer.
US08461761B2
A lucent plasma crucible having a closed body for enclosing a fill material filled in a void formed within the closed body and enclosed by the closed body, the fill material being excitable by microwave energy to generate a light-emitting plasma. The crucible is dimensioned to have low order TE or TM microwave mode properties. The orders of the modes are 0, 1 or 2. Crucibles may be regular or irregular in shape. For circular cylindrical crucibles having diameter (d) in cm, length (l) in cm, and operating frequency (f) in MHZ, (d/l)2 is between 0 and 100, and (d×f)2 is between 0 and 2×109. Also 0<(d/l)2<20 and 0<(d×f)2<1.5×109 may be used.
US08461750B2
An electrode for a spark plug includes a contact portion. In a particular embodiment, the electrode further includes an annular base and a support portion formed from a different material than the contact portion. The contact portion may be aligned axially with a central axis of the annular base. Further, the contact portion is configured to shield the annular base and the support portion from a second electrode inserted into the annular base.
US08461741B2
A support system is provided for a dynamoelectric machine having a stator and stator bars connected to a connection ring assembly. The support system includes at least one stator bar support bracket and one or more support rings connected to the stator bars. A connection ring support bracket supports the connection ring assembly. A mount is connected to the connection ring support bracket. The mount permits axial movement of the stator bars, the stator bar support bracket, the support rings, and the connection ring assembly due to thermal expansion experienced during operation of the dynamoelectric machine.
US08461722B2
In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a method and system comprising a source resonator optionally coupled to an energy source and a second resonator located a distance from the source resonator, where the source resonator and the second resonator are coupled to provide near-field wireless energy transfer among the source resonator and the second resonator, and where the field of at least one of the source resonator and the second resonator is shaped using conducting surfaces to increase the coupling factor among the resonators.
US08461719B2
Described herein are improved capabilities for a source resonator having a Q-factor Q1>100 and a characteristic size x1 coupled to an energy source, and a second resonator having a Q-factor Q2>100 and a characteristic size x2 coupled to an energy drain located a distance D from the source resonator, where the source resonator and the second resonator are coupled to exchange energy wirelessly among the source resonator and the second resonator.
US08461715B2
The present invention provides an omnidirectional wind collection apparatus. The wind collector includes an outer housing with a peripheral wind inlet circumferentially formed therein. An inner housing disposed within the outer housing has an inner surface with a first opening at a lower end thereof to guide the collected wind to a smaller second opening at the top end. The inner surface is curved between the bottom and top openings to form a progressively narrower passage. The configuration of the inner surface creates a Venturi effect such that the wind is accelerated toward the second opening. A wind pass-through portion is formed above the second opening in the inner housing. Based on the Bernoulli effect, the passage of uncollected wind through this portion creates a low pressure region that expedites flow of collected wind through the first and second openings of the inner housing.
US08461710B1
An electric power plant with a gas turbine engine that drives an electric generator, where the generator is a co-rotating electric generator positioned between the turbine and the compressor such that the turbine drives the compressor through the electric generator, and where the co-rotating generator includes a rotor and a stator that both rotate in the same direction but with a differential rotational speed of around 3000 or 3,600 rpm in order to produce 50 or 60 hertz electrical power. A wire brush makes contact with a rotating surface of the generator to carry away electricity, and the wire brush is continuously fed to make up for wear.
US08461709B2
An asynchronous power generator for a wind turbine is provided. The asynchronous power generator includes a voltage supply and a stator with stator coils supplied with an alternating voltage by the voltage supply. The voltage supply is configured to adjust the voltage supplied to the stator coils based upon an output power generated by the wind turbine. Further, a method of voltage control is provided.
US08461704B2
A gas turbine engine arrangement comprises a core engine, a power turbine and a propulsor. The core engine comprises at least one compressor and at least one turbine arranged to drive the at least one compressor and the core engine is arranged in a casing. The power turbine is positioned downstream of the at least one turbine and the power turbine is arranged to drive the propulsor. An electrical machine is arranged upstream of the at least one compressor. The electrical machine comprises a stator and a rotor and the electrical machine comprises a motor/generator. A first clutch selectively connects the rotor of the electrical machine to the power turbine and a second clutch selectively connects the rotor of the electrical machine to the at least one compressor of the core engine.
US08461703B1
A engine-generator is provided which has a rotary engine formed with an engine housing having an output surface portion and an output shaft on a central axis extending externally of the engine housing. A generator has a stator secured to the output end of the shaft and has a surface in a confronting relation with the engine housing. Permanent magnets and windings are secured to the respective surface portion of the engine housing and stator at a radial distance from the axis. Each magnet and winding has a corresponding pole face lying in a corresponding one of a pair of first planes orthogonal to the central axis. The magnets and windings are rotatable with respect to each other and periodically align in a confronting relationship to define an air-gap between the parallel planes. The windings produce electrical output in response to rotation of the magnets relative to each other.
US08461695B2
Micro-addition of a metal to a Sn-based lead-free C4 ball is employed to enhance reliability. Specifically, a metal having a low solubility in Sn is added in a small quantity corresponding to less than 1% in atomic concentration. Due to the low solubility of the added metal, fine precipitates are formed during solidification of the C4 ball, which act as nucleation sites for formation multiple grains in the solidified C4 ball. The fine precipitates also inhibit rapid grain growth by plugging grain boundaries and act as agents for pinning dislocations in the C4 ball. The grain boundaries enable grain boundary sliding for mitigation of stress during thermal cycling of the semiconductor chip and the package on the C4 ball. Further, the fine precipitates prevent electromigration along the grain boundaries due to their pinned nature.
US08461689B2
A packaging structure having an embedded semiconductor element includes: a substrate having opposite first and second surfaces and at least an opening penetrating the first and second surfaces; a first metallic frame disposed around the periphery of the opening on the first surface; a semiconductor chip received in the opening and having an active surface formed with a plurality of electrode pads and an opposite inactive surface; two first dielectric layers formed on the active surface and the inactive surface of the chip, respectively; a first wiring layer formed on the first dielectric layer of the first surface; and a first built-up structure disposed on the first dielectric layer and the first wiring layer. A shape of the opening is precisely controlled through the first metallic frame around the periphery of the predefined opening region, thereby allowing the chip to be precisely embedded in the substrate.
US08461688B2
Even when a stiffener is omitted, the semiconductor device which can prevent the generation of twist and distortion of a wiring substrate is obtained. As for a semiconductor device which has a wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip by which the flip chip bond was made to the wiring substrate, and a heat spreader adhered to the back surface of the semiconductor chip, and which omitted the stiffener for reinforcing a wiring substrate and maintaining the surface smoothness of a heat spreader, a wiring substrate has a plurality of insulating substrates in which a through hole whose diameter differs, respectively was formed, and each insulating substrate contains a glass cloth.
US08461687B2
A semiconductor device having a cell area and a peripheral area includes a semiconductor substrate, a cell insulating isolation region delimiting a cell active region of the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a word line disposed within the semiconductor substrate in the cell area, a bit line contact plug disposed on the cell active region, a bit line disposed on the bit line contact plug, a peripheral insulating isolation region delimiting a peripheral active region of the semiconductor substrate in the peripheral area, and a peripheral transistor including a peripheral transistor lower electrode and a peripheral transistor upper electrode. The bit line contact plug is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor lower electrode, and the bit line electrode is formed at the same level in the semiconductor device as the peripheral transistor upper electrode.
US08461684B2
An interconnect structure for integrated circuits incorporates a layer of cobalt nitride that facilitates the nucleation, growth and adhesion of copper wires. The cobalt nitride may deposited on a refractory metal nitride or carbide layer, such as tungsten nitride or tantalum nitride, that serves as a diffusion barrier for copper and also increases the adhesion between the cobalt nitride and the underlying insulator. The cobalt nitride may be formed by chemical vapor deposition from a novel cobalt amidinate precursor. Copper layers deposited on the cobalt nitride show high electrical conductivity and can serve as seed layers for electrochemical deposition of copper conductors for microelectronics.
US08461683B2
Processes of forming an insulated wire into an interlayer dielectric layer (ILD) of a back-end metallization includes thermally treating a metallic barrier precursor under conditions to cause at least one alloying element in the barrier precursor to form a dielectric barrier between the wire and the ILD. The dielectric barrier is therefore a self-forming, self-aligned barrier. Thermal processing is done under conditions to cause the at least one alloying element to migrate from a zone of higher concentration thereof to a zone of lower concentration thereof to further form the dielectric barrier. Various apparatus are made by the process.
US08461674B2
A thermal plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable planar thermal zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the planar heater zones. Each planar thermal zone uses at least one Peltier device as a thermoelectric element. A substrate support assembly in which the thermal plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode layer and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the thermal plate include bonding together ceramic or polymer sheets having planar thermal zones, positive, negative and common lines and vias.
US08461656B2
A device structure is made using a first conductive layer over a first wafer. An isolated conductive region is formed in the first conductive layer surrounded by a first opening in the conductive layer. A second wafer has a first insulating layer and a conductive substrate, wherein the conductive substrate has a first major surface adjacent to the first insulating layer. The insulating layer is attached to the isolated conductive region. The conductive substrate is thinned to form a second conductive layer. A second opening is formed through the second conductive layer and the first insulating layer to the isolated conductive region. The second opening is filled with a conductive plug wherein the conductive plug contacts the isolated conductive region. The second conductive region is etched to form a movable finger over the isolated conductive region. A portion of the insulating layer under the movable finger is removed.
US08461647B2
A semiconductor device is provided that, in an embodiment, is in the form of a high voltage MOS (HVMOS) device. The device includes a semiconductor substrate and a gate structure formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate structure includes a gate dielectric which has a first portion with a first thickness and a second portion with a second thickness. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. A gate electrode is disposed on the first and second portion. In an embodiment, a drift region underlies the second portion of the gate dielectric. A method of fabricating the same is also provided.
US08461643B2
A flash memory cell stack includes a semiconductor substrate; a control electrode formed in a vertical pillar shape on a surface of the semiconductor substrate; an insulating film formed between the control electrode and the semiconductor substrate; a gate stack formed on a side surface of the control electrode; a plurality of first insulating films formed as layers on a side surface of the gate stack; a plurality of second doping semiconductor areas formed as layers on a side surface of the gate stack; and a first doping semiconductor area formed on a portion of side surfaces of the first insulating films and the second doping semiconductor areas and formed on side surfaces facing each other in a first direction. The first insulating films and the second doping semiconductor areas are alternately provided on the side surface of the gate stack.
US08461641B2
Monolithic three dimensional NAND string includes a semiconductor channel having a U-shaped pipe shape. A plurality of control gate electrodes having a strip shape extends substantially parallel to the major surface of the substrate. The plurality of control gate electrodes include at least a first control gate electrode located in a first device level and a second control gate electrode located in a second device level located over the major surface of the substrate and below the first device level. A cut area separates the plurality of control gate electrodes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the major surface of the substrate. A blocking dielectric is located in contact with the plurality of control gate electrodes, a charge storage region located in contact with the blocking dielectric and a tunnel dielectric is located between the charge storage region and the semiconductor channel.
US08461632B2
A method of manufacturing an SiC semiconductor device according to the present invention includes the steps of (a) by using a single mask, etching regions of an SiC semiconductor layer which serve as an impurities implantation region and a mark region, to form recesses, (b) by using the same mask as in the step (a), performing ion-implantation in the recesses of the regions which serve as the impurities implantation region and the mark region, at least from an oblique direction relative to a surface of the SiC semiconductor layer and (c) positioning another mask based on the recess of the region which serves as the impurities implantation region or the mark region, and performing well implantation in a region containing the impurities implantation region.
US08461628B2
A MOS transistor with a laser-patterned metal gate, and methods for its manufacture. The method generally includes forming a layer of metal-containing material on a dielectric film, wherein the dielectric film is on an electrically functional substrate comprising an inorganic semiconductor; laser patterning a metal gate from the metal-containing material layer; and forming source and drain terminals in the inorganic semiconductor in locations adjacent to the metal gate. The transistor generally includes an electrically functional substrate; a dielectric film on at least portions of the electrically functional substrate; a laser patterned metal gate on the dielectric film; and source and drain terminals comprising a doped inorganic semiconductor layer adjacent to the metal gate. The present invention advantageously provides MOS thin film transistors having reliable electrical characteristics quickly, efficiently, and/or at a low cost by eliminating one or more conventional photolithographic steps.
US08461627B2
In a stack array structure for a semiconductor memory device, a first semiconductor layer includes a plurality of first cell strings, and a second semiconductor including a plurality of second cell strings. Bit-line contact plugs are configured to couple a bit-line to two adjacent first cell strings aligned in series in a bit-line direction, and to further couple the bit-line to two adjacent second cell strings respectively located over the two adjacent first cell strings. Common source line contact plugs are configured to couple a common source line to the two adjacent first cell strings and the two adjacent second cell strings. Pocket p-well contact plugs are located at positions corresponding to a layout of the bit-line plugs and/or common source line plugs, and are configured to couple a pocket p-well line to the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer.
US08461624B2
Photodetectors operable to achieve multiplication of photogenerated carriers at ultralow voltages. Embodiments include a first p-i-n semiconductor junction combined with a second p-i-n semiconductor junction to form a monolithic photodetector having at least three terminals. The two p-i-n structures may share either the p-type region or the n-type region as a first terminal. Regions of the two p-i-n structures doped complementary to that of the shared terminal form second and third terminals so that the first and second p-i-n structures are operable in parallel. A multiplication region of the first p-i-n structure is to multiply charge carriers photogenerated within an absorption region of the second p-i-n structure with voltage drops between the shared first terminal and each of the second and third terminals being noncumulative.
US08461623B2
A power semiconductor module (1) includes a first MOS transistor (16) connected to a positive side power supply terminal via a first conductor pattern (11), a first free wheeling diode (17) connected to the positive side power supply terminal via a second conductor pattern (12), a second MOS transistor (18) connected to a negative side power supply terminal via a third conductor pattern (13), and a second free wheeling diode (19) connected to the negative side power supply terminal via a fourth conductor pattern (14). These semiconductor elements (16-19) are connected to a load side output terminal via a common fifth conductor pattern (15). The semiconductor element (16, 17) connected to the positive side power supply terminal and the semiconductor element (18, 19) connected to the negative side power supply terminal are arranged alternately, substantially linearly.
US08461620B2
An optically triggered semiconductor switch includes an anode metallization layer; a cathode metallization layer; a semiconductor between the anode metallization layer and the cathode metallization layer and a photon source. The semiconductor includes at least four layers of alternating doping in the form P-N-P-N, in which an outer layer adjacent to the anode metallization layer forms an anode and an outer layer adjacent the cathode metallization layer forms a cathode and in which the anode metallization layer has a window pattern of optically transparent material exposing the anode layer to light. The photon source emits light having a wavelength, with the light from the photon source being configured to match the window pattern of the anode metallization layer.
US08461619B2
An LED chip includes a substrate, a first type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer, a second type semiconductor layer, a first electrode and a second electrode formed on the substrate in sequence. A surface of the first type semiconductor layer away from the substrate comprises an exposed first area and a second area covered by the light-emitting layer. The first electrode is formed on the exposed first area of the substrate. A number of recesses are defined in the second area of the surface of the first type semiconductor layer. The recesses are spaced apart from each other and arranged in sequence in a direction away from the first electrode; depths of the recesses gradually decrease following an increase of a distance between the recesses and the first electrode. The second electrode is formed on the second type semiconductor layer.
US08461614B2
A packaging substrate device includes: a first laminate including a first ceramic substrate and a first copper pattern disposed on an upper surface of the first ceramic substrate; and a second laminate disposed over the first copper pattern and including a second ceramic substrate, a second copper pattern that is disposed on an upper surface of the second ceramic substrate, and a through hole extending through the second ceramic substrate and the second copper pattern to expose a copper portion of the first copper pattern. A light emitting semiconductor die can be mounted on the copper portion within the through hole. Efficient heat dissipation can be achieved through the first laminate.
US08461601B2
A method for producing a plurality of optoelectronic devices is specified, comprising the following steps: providing a connection carrier assemblage having a plurality of device regions, wherein at least one electrical connection region is provided in each of the device regions, providing a semiconductor body carrier, on which a plurality of separate semiconductor bodies connected to the semiconductor body carrier are arranged, wherein the semiconductor bodies each have a semiconductor layer sequence having an active region, arranging the connection carrier assemblage and the semiconductor body carrier relative to one another in such a way that the semiconductor bodies face the device regions, mechanically connecting a plurality of semiconductor bodies to the connection carrier assemblage in a mounting region of a device region assigned to the respective semiconductor body, electrically conductively connecting the respective semiconductor body to the connection region of the device region assigned to the semiconductor body, and separating from the semiconductor body carrier the semiconductor bodies that are to be connected or are connected to the connection carrier assemblage, and dividing the connection carrier assemblage into a plurality of separate optoelectronic devices each having a connection carrier, which has the device region, and a semiconductor body arranged on the connection carrier and electrically conductively connected to the connection region.
US08461595B2
A semiconductor apparatus having a substrate and a laminate structure formed on the substrate, the laminate structure including an insulating film made of a metal oxide and a semiconductor thin film, both the insulating film and the semiconductor thin film being crystallized.
US08461594B2
Provided are a thin film transistor that is capable of suppressing desorption of oxygen and others from an oxide semiconductor layer, and reducing the time to be taken for film formation, and a display device provided therewith. A gate insulation film 22, a channel protection layer 24, and a passivation film 26 are each in the laminate configuration including a first layer 31 made of aluminum oxide, and a second layer 32 made of an insulation material including silicon (Si). The first and second layers 31 and 32 are disposed one on the other so that the first layer 31 comes on the side of an oxide semiconductor layer 23. The oxide semiconductor layer 23 is sandwiched on both sides by the first layers 31 made of aluminum oxide, thereby suppressing desorption of oxygen and others, and stabilizing the electrical characteristics of a TFT 20. Moreover, since the second layer 32 is made of an insulation material including silicon (Si), the time to be taken for film formation can be reduced compared with a single layer made of aluminum oxide.
US08461589B1
An integrated circuit (IC) includes a heated portion. The heated portion/IC includes a substrate having a topside semiconductor surface having circuitry configured to provide a circuit function. A pre-metal dielectric (PMD) layer is on the topside semiconductor surface. A metal interconnect stack is on the PMD. A trim portion includes one or more temperature sensitive circuit components which affect a temperature behavior of the IC. The heated portion extends over and beyond an area of the trim portion having an integrated heating structure including at least a first heater formed from a metal interconnect level that includes a first plurality of winding segments which have a varying pitch. A heat spreader formed from a second metal interconnect layer is between trim portion and the first heater. Thermal plugs are lateral to the temperature sensitive circuit components and thermally couple the heat spreader to the topside semiconductor surface.
US08461574B2
An organic electroluminescence device including opposite anode and cathode, and a hole-transporting region, an emitting layer and an electron-transporting region in sequential order from the anode between the anode and the cathode, wherein the emitting layer includes a red emitting portion, a green emitting portion, and a blue emitting portion; the blue emitting portion includes a host BH and a fluorescent dopant FBD; the triplet energy ETfbd of the fluorescent dopant FBD is larger than the triplet energy ETbh of the host BH; the green emitting portion includes a host GH and a phosphorescent dopant PGD; the electron-transporting region includes a common electron-transporting layer adjacent to the red emitting portion, the green emitting portion and the blue emitting portion; the common electron-transporting layer includes a material having a triplet energy ETel larger than ETbh; and the difference between the affinity of the host GH and the affinity of the material constituting the common electron-transporting layer is 0.4 eV or less.
US08461570B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a multiple quantum well structure having a large number of pairs can be efficiently grown while maintaining good crystalline quality, and the semiconductor device, are provided. The semiconductor device manufacturing method of the present invention includes a step of forming a multiple quantum well structure 3 having 50 or more pairs of group III-V compound semiconductor quantum wells. In the step of forming the multiple quantum well structure 3, the multiple quantum well structure is formed by metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy using only metal-organic sources (all metal-organic source MOVPE).
US08461568B2
A stack of semiconductor layers forms a re-emitting semiconductor construction (RSC). The stack includes an active region that converts light at a first wavelength to light at a second wavelength, the active region including at least one potential well. The stack also includes an inactive region extending from an outer surface of the stack to the active region. Depressions are formed in the stack that extend from the outer surface into the inactive region. An average depression depth is at least 50% of a thickness of the inactive region or at least 50% of a nearest potential well distance. The depressions may have at least a 40% packing density in plan view. The depressions may also have a substantial portion of their projected surface area associated with obliquely inclined surfaces.
US08461567B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided, including a plurality of photon sensing layers arranged on top of each other, and an intermediate layer between each two adjacent sensing layers, the sensing layers being of graphene, and each intermediate layer being configured to prevent a respective color component of light from proceeding into the photon sensing layer next to it.
US08461561B2
Methods and systems for selection radiation exposure in sterilization of medical devices are disclosed.
US08461560B2
An apparatus and method is disclosed which includes or employs an EUV light source comprising a laser device outputting a laser beam, a beam delivery system directing the laser beam to an irradiation site, and a material for interaction with the laser beam at the irradiation site to create an EUV light emitting plasma for use in processing substrates.
US08461556B2
Blockers in an ion beam blocker unit selectively block or trim an ion beam. In one instance, the ion beam has first current regions and second current regions. These current regions may be unequal. The ion beam is then implanted into a workpiece to form regions with different doses. The workpiece may be scanned so that the entirety of its surface is implanted.
US08461555B2
Based on the pattern writing data input to an input unit 20, a control computer 19 divides a predetermined region on which writing is effected by an electron beam 54 into smaller regions each consisting of one or the same number of frames and determines the areal density of a pattern to be written on each smaller region. A drift compensation time interval determining unit 32 then determines the amount of change in pattern areal density between each two adjacent smaller regions, and groups the smaller regions in the predetermined region into region groups depending on whether or not the amount of change is greater than a predetermined value. A time profile for compensating for the drift of the electron beam 54 is then determined for each region group.
US08461543B2
A radiographic image capturing system includes plural radiographic image capturing devices that carry out an image capturing preparation operation when capturing a radiographic image; and a synchronous control section that carries out control that synchronizes the image capturing preparation operations of the plurality of radiographic image capturing devices.
US08461533B2
A radiation sensor includes first and second pixels with a radiation absorption filter positioned over the first pixel and an interference filter positioned over both the first and second pixels. The combined spectral response of the absorption filter and the first pixel has a first pixel pass-band and a first pixel stop-band. The spectral response of the interference filter has an interference filter pass-band which is substantially within the first pixel pass-band for radiation incident on the interference filter at a first angle of incidence, and substantially within the first pixel stop-band for radiation incident on the interference filter at a second angle of incidence greater than the first angle of incidence.
US08461522B2
Radical anions for use in the fragmentation of positively charged biopolymer ions by means of electron transfer are produced from substances previously unknown for use as ETD production substances. The inventive substances produce radical anions that lead to electron transfer dissociations with a high yield of fragment ions. The substances have high volatility that allows them to be kept in unheated containers outside the vacuum system and transported into the vacuum system to an in vacuum electron attachment ion source via unheated lines and low molecular weights that allow the measurement of even very light fragment ions. In one embodiment, a suitable substance is 1-3-5-7-cyclooctatetraene.
US08461521B2
A time-of-flight mass spectrometer includes an ion source that generates ions. A two-field ion accelerator receives the ions generated by the ion source and generates an electric field that accelerates the ions through an ion flight path. A pulsed ion accelerator generates an accelerating electric field that focuses the ions to a focal plane where the ion flight time to the focal plane for an ion of predetermined mass-to-charge ratio is substantially independent to first order of an initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration. An ion detector is positioned at the focal plane to detect ions. The two-field ion accelerator generates electric fields that cause the ion flight time to the ion detector for an ion of predetermined mass-to-charge ratio to be substantially independent to first order of both the initial position and the initial velocity of the ions prior to acceleration.
US08461520B2
An apparatus for performing an operation in a borehole penetrating the earth includes a carrier and a neutron source that emits neutrons and is disposed in the carrier. The apparatus also includes a target disposed in the carrier and that produces gamma rays as a result of interactions between neutrons produced by the neutron source and at least one material forming the target. The apparatus also includes a gamma ray detector that detects the gamma rays produced by the target and is disposed in the carrier.
US08461513B2
An improved method and apparatus for a device with minimized optical cross-talk are provided. In one example, the device includes a filtering material selected to maximize the attenuation of signals causing cross-talk while minimizing the attenuation of desired signals.
US08461508B2
A photovoltaic system has a power converter connected by power rails to a plurality of photovoltaic strings, each string has serially connected photovoltaic panels and switches. The switches divide each string into sections, and the strings are distributed in electrical parallel paths over a plurality of arrays with one section per string in each array. A first set of strings to be brought online with the power converter is initialized. A drive signal is sent to switches in the initial set of strings to couple the sections in each string of the initial set so that the set of strings come online with the power converter providing voltage and current to the power converter.
US08461505B2
An image generating illumination device is provided for interior surfaces of a means of transport. The illumination device includes, but is not limited to at least one or several projection units and a light-emitting diode arrangement. The projection units are designed to project a continuous image onto the surface of hat racks that are arranged one beside the other, and the light-emitting diode arrangement is designed to illuminate ceiling panels. The light that is projected by the light-emitting diode arrangement merges seamlessly into the continuous image.
US08461498B2
A self-supporting field director structure for use in heating an article in a microwave oven is characterized by a vane array comprising a plurality of V-shaped vane doublets, wherein each vane doublet itself comprises a first and a second vane. Each vane extends radially outwardly from the central axis. Each vane has a substrate formed from an electrically non-conductive material, with a portion of each vane being electrically conductive. A vane support structure is attached to the vane array.
US08461492B1
An emergency shutoff system for a cooking appliance deactivates a cooking appliance upon the detection of smoke or rapidly rising heat. Three (3) embodiments are provided, depending on the presence of a gas or an electric model, each further comprises a combination heat and smoke detector located on the ceiling immediately above the appliance. The detector is connected to a control panel at the rear of the stove by a section of low voltage wiring. The control panel activates a shunt trip mechanism in the case of an electrically-powered stove or closes a low voltage solenoid valve in the case of gas-powered stove. Such features greatly reduce the affects of a fire at the cooking appliance should one occur.
US08461476B2
In connection with plasma tap hole welding, in which a plasma jet (7) directed towards a workpiece (8) to be welded is generated by means of a welding current applied onto an electrode (2) and a plasma gas, the plasma jet at least partly penetrating through the workpiece (9), wherein at least one electrical conductor (10, 50, 60, 61) is arranged at the exit side (8″) of the plasma jet (7), a penetration current (I2′) being measured via the electrical conductor (10, 50, 60, 61), it is suggested that the penetration current (I2) is actively modified during the welding process.
US08461474B2
A method for layer-by-layer manufacturing of a three-dimensional work piece including, (a) delivering a metallic feed material into a feed region; (b) emitting an electron beam; (c) translating the electron beam through a first predetermined raster pattern frame that includes: (i) a plurality of points within the feed region; and (ii) a plurality of points in a substrate region that is outside of the feed region; (d) monitoring a condition of the feed region or the substrate region for the occurrence of any deviation from a predetermined condition; (e) upon detecting of any deviation, translating the electron beam through at least one second predetermined raster pattern frame that maintains the melting beam power density level substantially the same, but alters the substrate beam power density level; and (f) repeating steps (a) through (e) at one or more second locations for building up layer-by-layer.
US08461473B2
A method for establishing or restoring electrical continuity between metal pipe sections in pipeline rehabilitation according to embodiments of the present invention includes, from an inside of a pipe having first and second pipe sections, removing a layer of the first pipe section at a first location, removing a layer of the second pipe section at a second location, electrically connecting a spanner at the first location and the second location, deploying a tubular liner along the inside of the pipe, injecting grout between the tubular liner and the inside of the pipe, and distributing the grout between the tubular liner and the inside of the pipe, wherein a first radial distance from the inside of the pipe to the innermost extent of the spanner is less than or equal to a second radial distance from the inside of the pipe to the tubular liner.
US08461457B2
A grommet includes an outer body and an inner body. The outer body, is formed with a wire insertion hole through which a wire is inserted, and has a panel fitting portion at a circumferential portion thereof. The panel fitting portion fits in a first panel hole having a first diameter. The inner body, is attached to the outer body, and has a locking fitting portion at a circumferential portion thereof. The locking fitting portion fits in a second panel hole having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter and locks an inner edge portion of the second panel hole.
US08461444B2
An online real-time session is conducted between at least two electronic music devices each equipped with an interface connectible to a communication network and a display with a touch sensing ability. An electronic music device communicates with its counterpart device to count a time Ta1 of making an inquiry about a present time Tb of the counterpart device and a time Ta2 of receiving a response from the counterpart device while setting a time Ta3 which progresses from the time Ta2 and a time interval Td which is counted from the time Ta3. Thus, the electronic music device determines tone-generation timing at which the electronic music device is synchronized with its counterpart device in conducting an online real-time session by way of a calculation of Td+Tb+(Ta3−Ta1)−(Ta2−Ta1)/2, or Td+Tb+(Ta3−Ta2)+(Ta2−Ta1)/2.
US08461436B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV741729. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV741729, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV741729 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV741729 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV741729.
US08461431B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1D9D and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1D9D with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1D9D 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 PH1D9D or a locus conversion of PH1D9D with another maize variety.
US08461418B2
Anti-sense-oriented RNA gene suppression agents in the form of a loop of anti-sense-oriented RNA is produced in cells of transgenic organisms, e.g. plants, by transcription from a recombinant DNA construct that comprises in 5′ to 3′ order a promoter element operably linked to more than one anti-sense-oriented DNA element and one or more complementary DNA elements.
US08461412B2
The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles such as sanitary napkins, panty liners, baby diapers, adult incontinence articles and sweat pads. According to the present invention the absorbent article in the region designated for liquid deposition on its wearer facing surface has a single layer topsheet onto which liquid to be absorbed is provided during use of the article. The absorbent article includes a backsheet forming the liquid barrier surface and a unitary absorbent core between the topsheet and the backsheet. Importantly the unitary core provides improved liquid handling to the absorbent article and increases the masking, i.e. ability to hide stains due to absorbed liquid, of the article. This is particularly beneficial in the context of articles for absorption of liquids with high color intensity, such as menstrual liquid or urine of older adults.
US08461408B2
A method for alkylating a hydrocarbon comprising at least one isoparaffin and at least one olefin that includes introducing a liquid catalyst and the hydrocarbon into a high shear device; processing the liquid catalyst and the hydrocarbon in the high shear device to form an emulsion comprising droplets of hydrocarbon dispersed in the liquid catalyst; introducing the emulsion into a vessel operating under suitable alkylation conditions whereby at least a portion of the isoparaffin is alkylated with the olefin to form alkylate, wherein suitable alkylation conditions comprise a bulk reaction temperature of from about 38° C. to about 90° C. and a bulk reaction pressure in the range of from about 1379 kPa to about 34 MPa; and removing a product stream comprising alkylate from the vessel.
US08461406B2
According to the present invention there is provided a process for producing an oligomeric product by the oligomerisation of at least one olefinic compound including: A) providing an activated oligomerisation catalyst comprising the combination of: i) a source of a transition metal; ii) a ligating compound of the formula (R1)mX1(Y)X2(R2)n iii) a metal containing activator; and (iv) at least one olefinic compound; B) diluting the activated oligomerisation catalyst of A with an introduced liquid medium; and C) contacting the at least one olefinic compound to be oligomerised with the diluted activated catalyst of B to produce an oligomeric product.
US08461399B2
Recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. The crude ethanol product is fed to a distillation column to yield an ethanol sidestream.
US08461395B2
A process for the selective production of acetaldehyde by vapor phase reaction of acetic acid over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form acetaldehyde is disclosed and claimed. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and iron supported on silica selectively produces acetaldehyde in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 300° C.
US08461392B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing at least one monocyclic ketone having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms by reacting a mixture G1 comprising at least one monocyclic olefin having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms with a mixture G2 comprising at least dinitrogen monoxide, wherein said reaction is performed adiabatically.
US08461391B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing N,N-substituted 1,3-propanediamine by a) reacting secondary amine with acrolein at a temperature of from (−50) to 100° C. and a pressure of from 0.01 to 300 bar, and b) reacting the reaction mixture obtained in stage a) with hydrogen and ammonia in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst at a temperature of from 40 to 400° C. and a pressure of from 1 to 400 bar, wherein the molar ratio of secondary amine to acrolein in stage a) is 2:1 or more and the hydrogenation catalyst used in stage b) comprises cobalt. In a preferred embodiment, acrolein which has been obtained from glycerol based on renewable raw materials is used. The invention further relates to the use of N,N-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (DMAPA) based on renewable raw materials as a feedstock for lubricant soaps and other detergents, coagulants, polymers and comb polymers. In a further preferred embodiment, stage b) is performed in the presence of water.
US08461388B2
A process for preparing a compound of formula (V) or its enantiomer, which comprises: (a) reacting racemic aminoindan of formula (II) or its enantiomer with allylhalide in presence of a base and an organic solvent at a temperature ranging from 25 C to the reflux temperature of the solvent to give compound of formula (III); Where R is H or (b) reacting the compound (III) with halogenating agent in a suitable organic solvent to give a dihalo compound of formula (IV). (c) treating the dihalo compound (IV) with a suitable base to give compound (V).
US08461384B2
The present invention is directed to processes for the synthesis of morphinans. In particular, a process for coupling a carboxylic acid compound with an amine compound to form an amide product that can then be isolated or the crude amide product can be cyclized to form a 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline. In one embodiment, the carboxylic acid contains a phenol moiety protected with a labile protecting group. The protected phenol reduces reaction times, simplifies work-up of the product, and reduces the amount of cyclizing agent, POCl3 that is necessary to form the 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline.
US08461382B2
Novel ionic liquids comprising polyethercarboxylates as anions, a process for preparing them and their use.
US08461375B2
The invention relates to an improved method for the continuous production of alkyl(methyl)acrylates by transesterification of methyl(meth)acrylate with alcohols that are heavy in comparison with methanol. A special processing technique makes it possible to obtain new levels of product quality. Very high space-time-overall yields can also be obtained. The invention is characterized by the multiple use of a homogeneous catalyst which thereby reduces the costs of auxiliary agents significantly.
US08461368B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing organic silane compounds having a β-cyano ester group. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for preparing organic silane compounds having a β-cyano ester group, in which β-cyano β-cyano containing compounds having an unsaturated group are hydrosilylated using a hydro alkoxy silane in the presence of a platinum-vinyl siloxane catalyst. The preparation process according to the present invention can stably initiate and progress the reaction, minimize the generation of by-products, and prepare organic silane compounds having a β-cyano ester structure with high yield.
US08461364B2
This invention provides, among other things, polymorphs of the hydrochloride salt of (S)-3-aminomethyl-7-(3-hydroxy-propoxy)-3H-benzo[c][1,2]oxaborol-1-ol.
US08461351B2
A sterically bulky stabilizer that includes an alkylated-benzimidazolone compound, where the sterically bulky stabilizer is associated non-covalently with a benzimidazolone pigment, and the presence of the sterically bulky stabilizer limits the extent of particle growth and aggregation, to afford nanoscale pigment particles.
US08461335B2
This invention provides novel compositions comprising substituted polyamines as acid gas scrubbing solutions and methods of using the compositions in an industrial system. The invention relates to the use of such polyamine compounds in industrial processes to remove acidic contaminants from natural and industrial fluid streams, such as natural gas, combustion gas, natural gas, synthesis gas, biogas, and other industrial fluid streams. The compositions and methods of the invention are useful for removal, absorption, or sequestration of acidic contaminants and sulfide contaminants including CO2, H2S, RSH, CS2, COS, and SO2.
US08461332B2
A method for producing a curing agent having an acidic substituent and an unsaturated maleimido group, including reacting, in an organic solvent, a maleimide compound (a) having at least two N-substituted maleimido groups in a molecule thereof with an amine compound (b) having an acidic substituent (represented by formula (I) below); a thermosetting resin composition containing the curing agent (A) produced through the method and a compound (B) which is cured with the curing agent, wherein a cured product of the composition has a glass transition temperature of 200° C. or higher; and a prepreg and a laminated sheet produced therefrom. The thermosetting resin composition can produce a prepreg or laminated sheet exhibiting excellent performance suitable for a printed wiring board for electronic devices and similar devices.
US08461328B2
The invention provides novel compounds of formula I having the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, X and Y are as described herein. Accordingly, the compounds may be provided in pharmaceutically acceptable compositions and used for the treatment of immunological or hyperproliferative disorders.
US08461327B2
The present invention relates to a salt of a carboxylic acid with a diamine such as 2,2′-(ethylenedioxy)diethyl amine, 3,3′-(ethylenedioxy)dipropyl amine and 2,2′-oxybis(ethylamine) and a method of preparing such salts. Preferably the carboxylic acid is a fermentation product such as clavulanic acid, mycophenolic acid or pravastatin.
US08461320B2
The subject invention lies in the field of microorganism mutation and selection of the mutants. In particular, the invention is directed at obtaining metabolic mutants in a simple, direct and specific manner. In a preferred embodiment it is also possible to obtain desired mutants not comprising recombinant DNA, thereby facilitating incorporation thereof in products for human consumption or application, due to shorter legislative procedures. The method according to the invention involves random mutation and specific selection of the desired metabolic mutant. Knockout, mutants wherein a gene associated with metabolism is absent or inactivated and mutants with increased or decreased DNA binding capacity are also claimed.
US08461318B2
The invention relates generally to the field of nucleic acids and more particularly to aptamers that bind to TFPI, which are useful as therapeutics in and diagnostics of bleeding disorders and/or other diseases or disorders in which TFPI has been implicated. In addition, the TFPI aptamers may be used before, during and/or after medical procedures to reduce complications or side effects thereof. The invention further relates to materials and methods for the administration of aptamers that bind to TFPI.
US08461316B1
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one DNA, RNA or bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced efficiency for gene delivery and bioactive agent delivery.
US08461315B2
Described herein are polynucleotides associated with prostate and lung cancer. The polynucleotides are miRNAs and miRNA precursors. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of those medical conditions are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of prostate and lung cancer.
US08461311B2
Disclosed are TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) trimers (TR3) and nucleic acids encoding covalently linked TRAIL trimers. A TRAIL trimer can have greater stability compared to native TRAIL, and can retain the native killing ability of TRAIL. Target specificity of a TR3 can be shown by blocking its activity with soluble death receptor 5 (DR5-Fc). Also disclosed are modified TRAIL trimers and nucleic. acids encoding them. These modifications include additional functional domains, such as antibody fragments (scFvs). A TR3 comprising an additional functional domain can allow for cell-specific delivery of the TR3. The inventors disclose TR3-decorated RBCs that target cell killing in a model of pancreatic cancer.
US08461304B2
The present invention provides antibodies which bind to an epitope in the extracellular domain of human CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and which are capable of inhibiting the binding of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) and/or thymus and activation regulated chemokine (TARC) to CCR4. Also provided are inter alia immunoconjugates and compositions comprising such antibodies and methods and uses involving such antibodies, particularly in the medical and diagnostic fields.
US08461303B2
The present application relates to anti-LOX and anti-LOXL2 antibodies and their use in purification, diagnostic and therapeutic methods. Antibodies include monoclonal antibodies, humanized antibodies and functional fragments thereof. Anti-LOX and anti-LOXL2 antibodies can be used to identify and treat conditions such as a fibrotic condition, angiogenesis, or to prevent a transition from an epithelial cell state to a mesenchymal cell state.
US08461301B2
The present application relates to isolated amino acid sequence comprising multiple repeats of a semi-synthetic spider silk protein domain, or any functional homolog, variant, derivative, fragment or mutant thereof. The amino acid sequence of the invention further comprises an N-terminal region and a C-terminal region. The invention further provides a nucleic acid encoding the amino acid sequence of the invention, an expression vector comprising said nucleic acid, a host cell transformed with said expression vector, a recombinant spider silk protein thus produced and a fiber composed of the recombinant spider silk protein. The invention further encompasses a composition comprising as an active ingredient said amino acid sequence or any said recombinant protein or fiber comprising the same. Lastly, the invention relates to an article comprising at least one fiber composed of said recombinant spider silk protein.
US08461298B2
The present invention provides modified cycloalkyne compounds; and method of use of such compounds in modifying biomolecules. The present invention features a cycloaddition reaction that can be carried out under physiological conditions. In general, the invention involves reacting a modified cycloalkyne with an azide moiety on a target biomolecule, generating a covalently modified biomolecule. The selectivity of the reaction and its compatibility with aqueous environments provide for its application in vivo (e.g., on the cell surface or intracellularly) and in vitro (e.g., synthesis of peptides and other polymers, production of modified (e.g., labeled) amino acids).
US08461295B2
Methods for preparing active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers are provided. Also provided are other methods related to the active carbonate esters of water-soluble polymers, as well as corresponding compositions.
US08461288B2
The present invention relates to a polyester resin prepared by adding an anti-hydrolysis agent to a reactant comprising an acid selected from an alkylester of aromatic dibasic acid or a mixture of an alkylester of aromatic dibasic acid and an alkylester of aliphatic dibasic acid, an aromatic diol and an aliphatic diol; and a toner produced by using the same as a binder resin.
US08461286B2
A process for the production of liquid epoxy resins, including: contacting a polyhydric phenol and an epihalohydrin in the presence of an ionic catalyst to form a halohydrin intermediate reaction product; concurrently: reacting a portion of the halohydrin intermediate reaction product with an alkali hydroxide to form a solid salt suspended in a liquid mixture including a dehydrohalogenated product and unreacted halohydrin intermediate, wherein the alkali hydroxide is used at less than a stoichiometric amount; and removing water and epihalohydrin as a vapor from the reacting mixture; separating the solid salt from the liquid mixture; reacting at least a portion of the unreacted halohydrin intermediate with an alkali hydroxide in the presence of water to form an organic mixture including an epoxy resin and unreacted epihalohydrin and an aqueous solution including a salt; separating the aqueous mixture from the organic mixture; and separating the unreacted epihalohydrin from the liquid epoxy resin.
US08461284B2
Compositions and methods for controlled polymerization and/or oligomerization of hydrosilanes compounds including those of the general formulae SinH2n and SinH2n+2 as well as alkyl- and arylsilanes, to produce soluble silicon polymers as a precursor to silicon films having low carbon content.
US08461280B2
A multimodal linear low density polyethylene polymer having a final density of 900 to 940 kg/m3, and containing at least one α-olefin comonomer in addition to ethylene comprising: (A) 30 to 60 wt % of a lower molecular weight component being an ethylene homopolymer or a copolymer of ethylene and at least one α-olefin; and (B) 70 to 40 wt % of a higher molecular weight component being a copolymer of ethylene and at least one α-olefin, said α-olefin being the same or different from any α-olefin used in component (A) but with the proviso that both components (A) and (B) are not polymers of ethylene and butane alone; wherein the multimodal LLDPE has a dart drop of at least 700 g; and wherein components (A) and (B) are obtainable using a Ziegler-Natta catalyst.
US08461277B2
An additive composition for imparting caustic removability to a hot melt adhesive comprises a low molecular weight α,β ethylenically unsaturated anhydride-containing or acid-containing polymer. The polymer is selected from the group consisting of a low molecular weight carboxylic anhydride homo-polymer or the at least partial ester thereof, a low molecular weight carboxylic anhydride copolymer or the at least partial ester thereof, a low molecular weight carboxylic anhydride polyolefin, a low molecular weight carboxylic anhydride vinyl aromatic copolymer, and a low molecular weight carboxylic anhydride grafted copolymer, or the combination or mixtures thereof. A caustic removable hot melt adhesive composition comprises a hot melt adhesive additive and a conventional hot melt adhesive resin. A caustic removable adhesive label comprises a substrate and a caustic removable hot melt adhesive composition which includes an additive composition. The caustic removable hot melt adhesives can be used on labels for articles, such as glass bottles.
US08461274B2
The invention pertains to the redistribution of cyclic and linear polysiloxanes by a method comprising contacting and heating a surfactant, wherein the surfactant is the salt of a protonated amine or a quaternary amine compound, an aqueous hydrochloric acid solution and a silicone, wherein the silicone is a silicon hydrolysate, D5, or DO. When the method of the invention is conducted with silicone hydrolysate, it eliminates the need to separate the silicone hydrolysate into its linear and cyclic constituents prior to redistribution.
US08461273B2
Biodegradable aliphatic/aromatic copolyester comprising 49 to 66 mol % of an aromatic polyfunctional acid; 51 to 34 mol % of an aliphatic acid, at least 70% of which is sebacic acid; and butandiol; and blends containing such copolyester.
US08461272B2
The invention relates to a process and compositions suitable for reducing by heat the molecular weight of polypropylene, propylene copolymers or polypropylene blends. Azo compounds bearing different substituents are added to the polymers.
US08461264B2
Disclosed is a thermoplastic resin composition comprising a cross-copolymer which meets specific requirements; and a polyphenylene ether resin, wherein the cross-copolymer is contained in an amount of 5 to 95 mass % and the polyphenylene ether resin is contained in an amount of 95 to 5 mass %. The thermoplastic resin composition has excellent heat resistant, excellent softness, excellent flexibility, excellent stretching properties, and excellent scratch-abrasion resistance.
US08461257B2
A process of manufacturing a white polyimide film comprising performing condensation polymerization of monomers comprising diamine and dianhydride components to obtain a solution; adding a dehydrant, a catalyst and a coloration filler into the solution to obtain a precursor solution; coating a layer of the precursor solution on a support; and baking the coated layer of the precursor solution to form a white polyimide film. The diamine component can include 2,2′-bis(trifluoromethyl)benzidine, and the dianhydride component can include 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and 2,2-bis[4-(3,4-dicarboxyphenoxy)phenyl]propane dianhydride. The coloration filler can include TiO2, Al2O3, CaCO3, CaSO4, SiO2, BN, AlN and clay.
US08461255B2
An aqueous polyurethane resin is prepared by reaction of an isocyanate group-terminated prepolymer with a chain extender containing polyamine. The isocyanate group-terminated prepolymer is obtained by reaction of at least a polyisocyanate containing 50 wt % or more of a non-multiple ring polyisocyanate that does not contain an aromatic ring and an aliphatic ring, or contains one aromatic ring or aliphatic ring; polyoxyethylene polyol; and a polyoxyethylene side chain-containing active compound having two or more hydroxyl groups or isocyanate groups at its molecular terminal and having a polyoxyethylene group in the side chain.
US08461252B2
The instant disclosure describes methods for preparing latex resins for coated carriers using surfactant partitioning, which resins exhibit both lower ζ potential and greater latex stability, while not adversely affecting particle size, toner charge or other metrics.
US08461249B2
A polycarbonate containing composition comprising a peak melt viscosity of at least 8,000 poise when measured using a parallel plate melt rheology test at a heating rate of 10° C./min at a temperature of between about 350° C. to about 450° C., and wherein a molded article of the composition has a UL 94 VO rating at a thickness of 1.0 mm, 1.5 mm, 2.0 mm, or between 1.0 mm and 2.0 mm is disclosed.
US08461248B2
A resin composition includes: a polylactic acid resin; an impact-resistant resin which is superior in impact resistance to the polylactic acid resin and is incompatible with or hardly compatible with the polylactic acid resin; and a nucleating agent which promotes crystallization of the polylactic acid resin; the nucleating agent existing at least in the phase of the impact-resistant resin.
US08461244B2
A liquid intumescent resin coating composition including at least one polymeric component, at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomeric component, and at least one intumescent ingredient. The coating composition further includes at least one of Sodium Potassium Aluminum Silicate (Nepheline syenite) and Potassium Aluminum Silicate. The coating composition is curable to a solid state by free radical polymerization.
US08461239B2
A flame retardant agent for a thermoplastic resin, which enables the thermoplastic resin containing the flame retardant agent to keep its viscous property, to be made into a fiber readily, and to exhibit flame retardant effect even when ammonium dihydrogen phosphate is contained in the flame retardant agent as a non-halogen flame retardant component. Also disclosed is a flame retardant resin composition containing the flame retardant agent. Specifically, the flame retardant agent for a thermoplastic resin comprises ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium hydroxide, glycerin and urea, wherein the potassium hydroxide is contained in an amount of 10 to 70 parts by weight, glycerin is contained in an amount of 0.1 to 4.0 parts by weight, and urea is contained in an amount of 1 to 9 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by weight of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate.
US08461235B2
The present invention relates to the use, for stabilizing polymers, in particular polyolefins, with respect to exposure to UV radiation, of fine-particle polymer powders comprising at least one UV absorber. The present invention further relates to stabilizer mixtures for stabilizing polymers with respect to exposure to UV radiation, oxygen and heat, which, inter alia, comprise these polymer powders, and to a process for stabilizing polymers, in particular polyolefins, with respect to exposure to UV radiation, oxygen and heat, which comprises adding, to the polymers, in particular to the polyolefins, an effective amount of these stabilizers. The present invention further relates to polymers, in particular polyolefins, which have been stabilized with respect to exposure to UV radiation or with respect to exposure to UV radiation, oxygen and heat, which comprise an effective amount of these polymer powders or, respectively, stabilizer mixtures, and to articles produced from these stabilized polymers, in particular polyolefins.
US08461228B2
The invention provides an ink composition including a polymerizable compound represented by following Formula (1), a polymerization initiator and water: XA)n Formula (1) wherein, in Formula (1), X represents a divalent or trivalent nitrogen-containing linking group represented by any one of following Formulae (X1) to (X3), A represents a polymerizable functional group having an amide group, and n represents 2 or 3: wherein, in Formulae (X1) to (X3), Z represents an alkylene group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms, or a divalent linking group including an alkylene group having 2 or 3 carbon atoms and an oxygen atom; and R1 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US08461227B2
A composition of macrocyclic oligomer with at least one polymerizable group, (meth)acrylate, for example.
US08461224B2
A method of synthesizing a random copolymer of polyethyleneimine and polyethylene glycol, comprising exposing ethanolamine in a solution to electromagnetic radiation for a sufficient time to polymerize the ethanolamine (OHCH2CH2NH2) and thereby resulting in formation of the randome copolymer comprising polyethyleneimine and poly(ethylene glycol), wherein the polyethyleneimine comprises ethyleneimine (—CH2CH2NH—) unit and the polyethylene glycol comprises ethylene glycol (—CH2CH2O—) unit, and the polyethylenimine of the random copolymer has a substantially linear backbone.
US08461219B2
Process for preparing olefins, which comprises the following steps: a) preparation of a synthesis gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen, b) introduction of carbon dioxide recirculated from step d) into the synthesis gas during or after the preparation of synthesis gas as per step a), c) conversion of the synthesis gas having a hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of ≦1.2:1 which is obtained in step b) into olefins in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, d) removal of the carbon dioxide comprised in the reaction product from step c), where the ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide in step c) is set via step b).
US08461215B2
The invention provides a method for rendering coal as an environmentally essentially carbon dioxide-neutral fuel. Carbon dioxide produced from coal combustion is captured, purified, combined with coalbed methane or any other natural methane or natural gas source, or with hydrogen, and reacted under reaction conditions sufficient to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether, which can be used as fuel or feedstock for derived synthetic hydrocarbons and products.
US08461214B2
A one-phase microemulsion composition, which can be easily prepared without the use of special equipment, has high safety, and stays stable for a long period in an ultrafine emulsion state when the composition is added to an aqueous formulation, is provided by appropriately adjusting the ratio of (A) a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant, (B) a lipophilic nonionic surfactant, (C) an oil component, (D) a water-miscible solvent that does not interdissolve with the oil component, and the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the hydrophilic nonionic surfactant in the water-miscible solvent is higher than that of the hydrophilic nonionic surfactant in water, and (E) water.
US08461209B2
The invention provides a sulfonyl malonamide derivative, or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof or a solvate thereof, that has therapeutic and/or preventive effects(s) on various diseases due to its agonist action at AT2 receptor, and is useful as a pharmaceutical agent for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases involving the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).
US08461208B2
Disclosed are bis(thio-hydrazide amide) disalts and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also disclosed are methods of using bis(thio-hydrazide amide) disalts to treat cancer.
US08461203B2
Disclosed are formulations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in an aqueous medium that are resistant to microbial growth. Also disclosed are formulations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate that are also resistant to the conversion into GBL. Disclosed are methods to treat sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, with these stable formulations of GHB. The present invention also provides methods to treat alcohol and opiate withdrawal, reduced levels of growth hormone, increased intracranial pressure, and physical pain in a patient.
US08461196B2
The invention provides novel, multiply-substituted 1-aryl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexanes, and related processes and intermediates for preparing these compounds, as well as compositions and methods employing these compounds for the treatment and/or prevention of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including depression and anxiety.
US08461183B2
The present invention relates to novel PPAR agonist compounds as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds according to the invention are of quite particular therapeutic interest, notably for treating diabetes and/or dyslipidemias, as well as for preventing cardiovascular pathologies.
US08461176B2
The present invention relates to novel aryloazol-2-yl-cyanoethylamino derivatives substantially enriched in an enantiomer of formula (I): and compounds of formula (IH) wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R13a, R13b, R14a, R14b, P, Q, V, W, X, Y, Z and a are as defined in the description, compositions thereof, processes for their preparation and their uses as pesticides.
US08461166B2
Novel epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions including same and their use in the treatment of EGFR-TK related diseases or disorders are disclosed. Novel radiolabeled EGFR-TK inhibitors as their use as biomarkers for medicinal radioimaging such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and as radiopharmaceuticals for radiotherapy are further disclosed. The disclosed EGFR-TK inhibitors comprise a polyalkylene glycol moiety and/or a hydroxy-containing moiety and are characterized by improved solubility, biostability and bioavailability. Processes of preparing the disclosed EGFR-TK inhibitors and of radiolabeling same, via, for example, one-step radiosyntheses, are also disclosed.
US08461161B2
Compunds of the general formula wherein each of Z1-Z4 is N or CR1 wherein only two of said Z1-Z4 may be N are useful as kinase inhibitors.
US08461157B2
The instant application relates to deazapurines, thienopyrimidines and furopyrimidines with zinc-binding moiety based derivatives and their use in the treatment of phosphoinositide 3-kinase related diseases and disorders such as cancer. The instant application further relates to the treatment of histone deacetylase related disorders and diseases related to both histone deacetylase and phosphoinositide 3-kinase.
US08461154B2
The present invention provides arylpiperazine derivatives having Formula I which can be advantageously used for treating schizophrenia and related psychoses such as acute manic, bipolar disorder, autistic disorder and depression.
US08461145B2
The present invention is related to novel tricyclic compounds of formula (I) having TRPA1 receptor agonistic properties, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, chemical processes for preparing these compounds and their use as pharmacological tools, or as irritant incapacitants, or in the treatment of diseases linked to the modulation of the TRPA1 receptors in animals, in particular humans.
US08461143B2
The present invention is directed to improved liquid antibiotic formulations. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to a composition comprising an antibiotic in a liquid comprising triglycerides, wherein the composition has less than about 5% water (w/v).
US08461139B2
The present invention relates to novel oral suspension formulation comprising prednisolone acetate, a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle and a thickening agent. The present invention further provides a method of treating patients in need of prednisolone with the novel formulation.
US08461127B2
The expansion of a population of stem cells or progenitor cells, or precursors thereof, may be accomplished by disrupting or inhibiting p21cip1/waf1 and/or p27, cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors. In the absence of p27 activity, progenitor cells move into the cell cycle and proliferate; whereas in the absence of p21 activity, stem cells move into the cell cycle and proliferate without losing their pluripotentiality (i.e., their ability to differentiate into the various cell lines found in the blood stream). Any type of stem cell or progenitor cell, or precursor thereof, including, but not limited to, hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, lung, neural, skin, muscle, cardiac muscle, renal, mesenchymal, embryonic, fetal, or liver cell may be used in accordance with the invention. The present invention provides a method of expanding a cell population, cells with decreased p27 and/or p21 activity, transgenic animals with a disrupted p27 and/or p21 gene, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the cells of the invention, and methods of using these cells in gene therapy (e.g., stem cell gene therapy) and bone marrow transplantation.
US08461124B2
Conformationally locked 2′,4′-carbocylic nucleosides with improved thermal and nuclease stability are disclosed. Oligonucleotides incorporating the locked nucleosides, and methods of treating disease states, are also disclosed.
US08461119B2
Novel agents are described that bind to Eph receptors. Methods of using these agents to modulate the activity of Eph receptors, stimulate apoptosis, and deliver therapeutic agents are also described. Methods of screening for agents capable of selectively binding to Eph receptors are also described.
US08461114B2
Modulating the interaction between ErbB2 and Erbin is an effective method for treating one or more symptoms of ErbB2-mediated disorders. It has been discovered that Erbin stabilizes ErbB2 in vivo and inhibiting the formation of heterodimers between Erbin and ErbB2 reduces or inhibits the biological activity of ErbB2 relative to control levels. Reducing the biological activity of ErbB2 is useful in the treatment of conditions characterized by the overexpression or misregulation of ErbB2. These conditions include, but are not limited to breast cancer and prostate cancer. Alternatively, agonist of Erbin that promote or enhance the interaction of Erbin with ErbB2 can be useful in the treatment of certain neurological disorders. It has also been discovered that Erbin plays a role in the myelination of neurons of the peripheral nervous system.
US08461111B2
Mutant fibroblast growth factor (FGF) proteins having a polypeptide sequence with a high sequence identity to proteins encoded by members of the Fgf-1 subfamily of genes from a mammalian species, such as human, and with a specific amino acid substitution of an alanine at a position corresponding to amino acid position 66 of human FGF-1 with a cysteine and/or a specific amino acid substitution of a phenylalanine at a position corresponding to amino acid position 132 of human FGF-1 with a tryptophan (based on the 140 amino acid numbering scheme of human FGF-1) are provided. Other amino acid mutations or substitutions may be combined. Polynucleotide sequences encoding the mutant FGF proteins and host cells containing such polynucleotide sequences are provided. Methods of administering a mutant FGF protein to an individual to treat an ischemic condition or disease or a wound or tissue injury are also provided.
US08461109B2
The invention also relates to a method for of enhancing the acceptance and/or healing of a skin graft in a subject comprising stimulating angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis with an effective amount of an isolated VEGF-D polypeptide.
US08461106B2
This invention relates to methods and compositions capable of inhibiting biofilm formation. Specifically, provided herein are methods and compositions using Lactoferrin for the inhibition of biofilm formation.
US08461104B2
The invention relates to a biodegradable barrier network comprising at least two polypeptides, one being anionic and the other one cationic. The invention also relates to applicators and kits comprising components to be used to create said biodegradable barrier network. The invention also relates to the use of said applicator or kit in therapy, such as in medicine, veterinary medicine and horticulture.
US08461084B2
A herbicidal mixture, comprising a) a herbicidally effective amount of an imidazolinone herbicide selected from the group consisting of imazamox, imazapic, imazapyr; b) an adjuvant comprising at least one of the following components: a partial phosphoric ester or a partial sulfuric ester of a monohydroxy-functional polyalkyl ether and optionally c) a further additive.
US08461080B2
The invention relates to aqueous, aluminum silicate-free, highly concentrated suspension concentrates, containing the active substance metribuzin, one or more surfactants based on nonionic polymers from the ‘acrylic grafted polymers’ group, one or more thickeners based on anionic heteropolysaccharides from the xanthan gum group, one or more wetting agents and optionally other components such as antifoaming agents, antifreeze agents and preservatives and other surfactants differing from the aforesaid components.
US08461079B1
A composition which provides bactericidal, fungicidal and insecticidal activity when treating plants with effective amounts. The composition comprises the blending of: (1) an aqueous salicylate solution from salicylic acid reacted in an aqueous media with ammonium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide; (2) a reaction mixture that provides fungicidal activity and fertilizes plants when applied in an effective amount and which comprises potassium phosphates, potassium polyphosphate, potassium phosphites, and potassium polyphosphite and potassium phosphate phosphite copolymers; and, optionally, (3) aqueous potassium acetate.
US08461076B2
To provide a thermosensitive recording medium, containing: a support; a thermosensitive recording layer; and a surface layer, where the thermosensitive recording layer and the surface layer are provided over the support, wherein the thermosensitive recording layer contains a binding agent, a coloring agent, and a color developer, and wherein the surface layer contains polyester (meth)acrylate having at least three (meth)acryloyl groups, and an α-hydroxyketone-based polymerization initiator having a melting point of 80° C. or higher.
US08461061B2
A method of supporting a plurality of planar substrates in a tube shaped furnace for conducting a thermal treatment process is disclosed. The method uses a boat fixture having a base frame including two length portions and a first width portion, a second width portion, and one or more middle members connected between the two length portions. Additionally, the method includes mounting a removable first grooved rod respectively on the first width portion, the second width portion, and each of the one or more middle members, each first grooved rod having a first plurality of grooves characterized by a first spatial configuration. The method further includes inserting one or two substrates of a plurality of planar substrates into each groove in the boat fixture separated by a distance.
US08461054B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device which includes pixel electrodes and common electrodes which are alternatively arranged in each pixel defined on a substrate, including the steps of: forming a conductive film on the substrate; forming a mask layer, of which etching selection ratio is different from the conductive layer, on the conductive layer; forming a photo-resist pattern of a fixed pattern on the mask layer; forming a mask pattern, which has an undercut shape to the photo-resist pattern, by etching the mask layer by use of the photo-resist pattern as an etching mask; removing the photo-resist pattern; and etching the conductive film by use of the mask pattern as an etching mask, to provide at least any one of the common electrode and the pixel electrode.
US08461051B2
A method for processing a sample using an electrically neutral reactive cluster is provided. The surface of a sample is processed by jetting out a mixed gas that is composed of a reactive gas and a gas with a boiling point lower than that of the reactive gas from a gas jetting part of a vacuum process room in which the sample is placed by a pressure in a range in which the mixed gas is not liquefied, in a predetermined direction, while adiabatically-expanding the mixed gas, thereby generating a reactive cluster and jetting the reactive cluster against the sample in the vacuum process room.
US08461047B2
A method for processing an amorphous carbon film which has been formed on a substrate and wet-cleaned after being dry-etched includes preparing the substrate having the wet-cleaned amorphous carbon film and modifying a surface of the amorphous carbon film, before forming an upper layer on the wet-cleaned amorphous carbon film.
US08461044B2
A masking layer is formed on a dielectric region of an electronic device so that, during subsequent formation of a capping layer on electrically conductive regions of the electronic device that are separated by the dielectric region, the masking layer inhibits formation of capping layer material on or in the dielectric region. The capping layer can be formed selectively on the electrically conductive regions or non-selectively; in either case, capping layer material formed over the dielectric region can subsequently be removed, thus ensuring that capping layer material is formed only on the electrically conductive regions. Silane-based materials, can be used to form the masking layer. The capping layer can be formed of an conductive material, a semiconductor material, or an insulative material, and can be formed using any appropriate process, including conventional deposition processes such as electroless deposition, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition or atomic layer deposition.
US08461040B2
A method of forming a shielded gate field effect transistor includes: forming a plurality of active gate trenches in a silicon region; lining lower sidewalls and bottom of the active gate trenches with a shield dielectric; using a CMP process, filling a bottom portion of the active gate trenches with a shield electrode comprising polysilicon; forming an interpoly dielectric (IPD) over the shield electrode in the active gate trenches; lining upper sidewalls of the active gate trenches with a gate dielectric; and forming a gate electrode over the IPD in an upper portion of the active gate trenches.
US08461036B2
Multiple surface finishes are applied to a substrate for a microelectronics package by applying a first surface finish to connection pads of a first area of the substrate, masking the first area of the substrate without masking a second area of the substrate, applying a second different surface finish to connection pads of the second area of the substrate, and removing the mask.
US08461021B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device, the method including providing a substrate having a seal ring region and a circuit region, forming a first seal ring structure over the seal ring region, forming a second seal ring structure over the seal ring region and adjacent to the first seal ring structure, and forming a first passivation layer disposed over the first and second seal ring structures. A semiconductor device fabricated by such a method is also provided.
US08461019B2
A method of processing a device wafer includes the carrier wafer preparing step of preparing a carrier wafer including an excessive carrier region on a surface thereof which is disposed in a position corresponding to an excessive outer circumferential region on a surface of the device wafer, the recess forming step of forming a recess in the excessive carrier region the carrier wafer, after the recess forming step, the adhesive placing step of placing an adhesive in the recess so as to project from the surface of the carrier wafer, after the adhesive placing step, the wafer bonding step of bonding the surface of the carrier wafer and the surface of the device wafer to each other, thereby securing the device wafer to the carrier wafer with the adhesive, and after the wafer bonding step, the thinning step of thinning the device wafer to a predetermined thickness by grinding or polishing a reverse side of the device wafer.
US08461014B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor structures and devices include bonding a seed structure to a substrate using a glass. The seed structure may comprise a crystal of semiconductor material. Thermal treatment of the seed structure bonded to the substrate using the glass may be utilized to control a strain state within the seed structure. The seed structure may be placed in a state of compressive strain at room temperature. The seed structure bonded to the substrate using the glass may be used for growth of semiconductor material, or, in additional methods, a seed structure may be bonded to a first substrate using a glass, thermally treated to control a strain state within the seed structure and a second substrate may be bonded to an opposite side of the seed structure using a non-glassy material.
US08461013B2
An IC card is more expensive than a magnetic card, and an electronic tag is also more expensive as a substitute for bar codes. Therefore, the present invention provides an extremely thin integrated circuit that can be mass-produced at low cost unlike a chip of a conventional silicon wafer, and a manufacturing method thereof. One feature of the present invention is that a thin integrated circuit is formed by a formation method that can form a pattern selectively, on a glass substrate, a quartz substrate, a stainless substrate, a substrate made of synthetic resin having flexibility, such as acryl, or the like except for a bulk substrate. Further, another feature of the present invention is that an ID chip in which a thin film integrated circuit and an antenna according to the present invention are mounted is formed.
US08461007B2
One object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including an oxide semiconductor, which has stable electrical characteristics. In a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, a first insulating film is formed; source and drain electrodes and an oxide semiconductor film electrically connected to the source and drain electrodes are formed over the first insulating film; heat treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor film so that a hydrogen atom in the oxide semiconductor film is removed; oxygen doping treatment is performed on the oxide semiconductor film, so that an oxygen atom is supplied into the oxide semiconductor film; a second insulating film is formed over the oxide semiconductor film; and a gate electrode is formed over the second insulating film so as to overlap with the oxide semiconductor film.
US08461002B2
A memory device, system and fabrication method relating to a vertical memory cell including a semiconducting pillar extending outwardly from an integrally connected semiconductor substrate are disclosed. A first source/drain region is formed in the substrate and a body region and a second source/drain region are formed within the pillar. A first gate is coupled to a first side of the pillar for coupling the first and second source/drain regions together when activated. The vertical memory cell also includes a storage capacitor formed on an extended end of the semiconducting pillar and electrically coupled to the second source/drain region.
US08461001B2
A method to manufacture a trenched semiconductor power device including a plurality of trenched gates surrounded by source regions near a top surface of a semiconductor substrate encompassed in body regions. The method for manufacturing the trenched semiconductor power device includes a step of carrying out a tilt-angle implantation through sidewalls of trenches to form drift regions surrounding the trenches at a lower portion of the body regions with higher doping concentration than the epi layer for Rds reduction, and preventing a degraded breakdown voltage due to a thick oxide in lower portion of trench sidewall and bottom. In an exemplary embodiment, the step of carrying out the tilt-angle implantation through the sidewalls of the trenches further includes a step of carrying out a tilt angle implantation with a tilt-angle ranging between 4 to 30 degrees.
US08460999B2
A nonvolatile memory device may include: a tunnel insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; a charge storage layer on the tunnel insulating layer; a blocking insulating layer on the charge storage layer; and a control gate electrode on the blocking insulating layer. The tunnel insulating layer may include a first tunnel insulating layer and a second tunnel insulating layer. The first tunnel insulating layer and the second tunnel insulating layer may be sequentially stacked on the semiconductor substrate. The second tunnel insulating layer may have a larger band gap than the first tunnel insulating layer. A method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device may include: forming a tunnel insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a charge storage layer on the tunnel insulating layer; forming a blocking insulating layer on the charge storage layer; and forming a control gate electrode on the blocking insulating layer.
US08460978B2
A method of producing a transistor having parallel semiconductor nanofingers. The method includes: forming a monocrystalline layer of a semiconductor material on a layer of a subjacent material which can be selectively etched in relation to the monocrystalline layer; etching parallel partitions in the monocrystalline layer and in the subjacent layer and continuing said etching operation in order to hollow out part of the subjacent layer of material; filling the gap between the partitions and the hollowed-out part with a first insulating material; defining a central part of the partitions and removing the first insulating material from around the central part of the monocrystalline layer, thereby forming a finger of semiconductor material; and filling and coating the central part with a conductor material.
US08460977B2
A method of forming an electronic device, including forming a preliminary buffer layer on a drift layer, forming a first layer on the preliminary buffer layer, selectively etching the first layer to form a first mesa that exposes a portion of the preliminary buffer layer, and selectively etching the exposed portion of the preliminary buffer layer to form a second mesa that covers a first portion of the drift layer, that exposes a second portion of the drift layer, and that includes a mesa step that protrudes from the first mesa. Dopants are selectively implanted into the drift layer adjacent the second mesa to form a junction termination region in the drift layer. Dopants are selectively implanted through a horizontal surface of the mesa step into a portion of the drift layer beneath the mesa step to form a buried junction extension in the drift layer.
US08460976B2
The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of SOI devices, and in particular, to a manufacturing method of SOI high-voltage power devices. The method comprises steps of: forming a first oxide layer in a section on the surface of the SOI substrate; removing the first oxide layer to form a depressed area in the corresponding section of the upper surface of the SOI substrate; forming a second oxide layer, the upper surface of which is as high as the that of the SOI substrate, in the depressed area formed in step (B); performing photoetching and doping processes to form a P-type region, an N-type region and a gate region on the thus-formed structure where the second oxide layer is formed; forming a third oxide layer by deposition on the drift region of the structure after P-type and N-type regions are formed; wherein the total thickness of the third oxide layer and the second oxide layer approximates to the thickness of the buried oxide layer in the SOI substrate; and forming metal sub-regions, which are respectively in contact with the P-type region, the N-type region and the gate region, on the structure where the third oxide layer is formed, thereby forming a high-voltage power device.
US08460972B2
A method of forming a semiconductor package includes providing a transfer film and placing electronic components on the transfer film with active sides of the electronic components facing the transfer film. The electronic components include a first assembled package and one or more of a second assembled package and a passive component. A molding operation is performed to encapsulate the electronic components and one side of the transfer film. The transfer film is then removed, which exposes the active sides of the electronic components. An electrical distribution layer is formed over the active sides of the electronic components and electrically connects the electronic components. Conductive bumps are then formed on the electrical distribution layer.
US08460968B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a stack substrate with a component side; connecting an integrated circuit component to the component side; attaching a conductive post to the component side and adjacent the integrated circuit component, the conductive post having a protruded end above the integrated circuit component; forming a protection layer on a top and sides of the protruded end, the protection layer having a width equal to a width of the conductive post; applying a stack encapsulation over the integrated circuit component, over the stack substrate, and around a portion of the conductive post, the protection layer exposed from the stack encapsulation; and mounting a base package under the stack substrate, base package connected to the stack substrate.
US08460960B2
A method for fabricating integrated circuit is provided. First, a first interconnect structure including a plurality of first dielectric layers and a plurality of first conductive patterns stacked therewith alternately is formed on a MEMS region of a conductive substrate. Next, an interlayer is formed on the first interconnect structure and covering the first conductive patterns. Next, a poly silicon mask layer corresponding to the first conductive patterns is formed on the interlayer and exposing a portion of the media layer. Next, the portion of the interlayer exposed by the poly silicon mask layer and a portion of the first dielectric layer corresponding thereto are removed to form a plurality of openings. Then, a portion of the conductive substrate in the MEMS region is removed.
US08460949B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device having at least one air bar capable of improving light extracting efficiency and a method of manufacturing the same. With the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a light emitting device including a semiconductor layer(s) having an air-bar layer(s) with a plurality of air bars. The method includes at least one process cycle for forming the semiconductor layer(s). The process cycle includes: forming a patterning thin-film layer on a substrate or a thin-film layer; forming on the patterning thin-film layer an etching guide pattern and an air-bar pattern connected to the etching guide pattern; forming a semiconductor layer(s) on the patterns and exposing the etching guide pattern; wet-etch the exposed etching guide pattern by using a wet-etching solution; and etch the air-bar pattern connected to the etching guide pattern.
US08460947B2
A fluid ejection device includes one or more digital data storage arrays having plural EPROM cells. A method for affirming performance adequacy of EPROM cells in the one or more arrays includes the steps of identifying a reference cell in each array, measuring a selected performance criterion for the reference cells, obtaining a reference criterion value, and evaluating the actual performance of at least one cell in each array with respect to the reference criterion value.
US08460945B2
A method and system are provided for monitoring status of a system component in a process chamber of a batch type processing system. The method includes exposing a system component to light from a light source and monitoring interaction of the light with the system component to determine status of the system component. The method can detect light transmission and/or light reflection from a system component during a process that can include a chamber cleaning process, a chamber conditioning process, a substrate etching process, and a substrate film formation process. The system component can be a consumable system part such as a process tube, a shield, a ring, a baffle, and a liner, and can further contain a protective coating.
US08460944B2
The present disclosure relates to novel bis-maleic anhydrides and to the surprising discovery that bis-maleic anhydride cross-linking agents can be used for preservation/fixation of a cell or tissue sample. Various bis-maleic anhydride cross-linking agent scan be used in methods requiring fixation of a cell or tissue sample. These reagents and methods are especially useful in procedures that require that the fixation agent be removed in order to facilitate analysis with other reagents. The inventive reagents and methods make it easier to reliably assay for various proteins, a nucleic acid and the like using analytical methods such as like immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization, RT-PCR, and the like.
US08460943B2
A method of detecting liver damage in a subject comprises measuring the level of caspase-3 generated cytokeratin-18 fragments in the bodily sample. The level of measuring the level of caspase-3 generated cytokeratin-18 fragments is then correlated with liver disease progression.
US08460931B2
The present invention relates to undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells, methods of cultivation and propagation and production of differentiated cells. In particular it relates to the production of human ES cells capable of yielding somatic differentiated cells in vitro, as well as committed progenitor cells such as neural progenitor cells capable of giving rise to mature somatic cells including neural cells and/or glial cells and uses thereof. This invention provides methods that generate in vitro and in vivo models of controlled differentiation of ES cells towards the neural lineage. The model, and cells that are generated along the pathway of neural differentiation may be used for: the study of the cellular and molecular biology of human neural development, discovery of genes, growth factors, and differentiation factors that play a role in neural differentiation and regeneration, drug discovery and the development of screening assays for teratogenic, toxic and neuroprotective effects.
US08460929B2
Provided are methods and compositions for constructing stable mammalian embryonic epithelial tissues and organs as well as constructing kidney tissue, and treating renal failure. Disclosed are methods of using an active epithelial growth factor having the capability of effectuating induction of growth and morphogenesis is cells.
US08460918B2
Various types of lactic acid bacteria were cultured in the presence of a purine, the amount of the purine consumed and the amount of purine degradation products produced were measured, and several lactic acid bacteria showing remarkable purine-decomposing ability were selected. Lactic acid bacteria that were assessed to have high purine-decomposing ability according to the above-mentioned selection were orally administered to rats reared on purine-containing feed, the general status and serum uric acid level of the rats were measured, and the effect of lactic acid bacteria administration on serum uric acid levels was examined. As a result, lactic acid bacteria that significantly suppress the increase of serum uric acid levels, Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2959 and Lactobacillus oris OLL2779, were found.
US08460913B2
The present invention provides an isolated RNA molecule comprising: a) an alphavirus 5′ replication recognition sequence, wherein at least one initiation codon has been removed from the 5′ replication recognition sequence; b) a nucleotide sequence encoding an alphavirus structural protein; and c) an alphavirus 3′ replication recognition sequence, with the proviso that the RNA molecule does not contain a promoter that directs transcription of the nucleotide sequence of (b), and wherein the alphavirus 5′ and 3′ replication recognition sequences of (a) and (c) direct replication of the RNA molecule in the presence of alphavirus non-structural proteins.
US08460912B2
The present invention provides a method for replicating efficiently an RNA containing fulllength HCV genomic sequence and a method for producing HCV virus particles containing fulllength HCV replicon RNA or fulllength HCV genomic RNA by using a cell culture system. Further, the present invention relates to a method for producing hepatitis C virus particles which comprises culturing a cell, into which a replicon RNA comprising a nucleotide sequence comprising a fulllength genomic RNA sequence of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a, at least one selectable marker gene and/or at least one reporter gene and at least one IRES sequence or the fulllength genomic RNA of hepatitis C virus of the genotype 2a is introduced, and generating virus particles in the culture medium. Still further the present invention relates also to a hepatitis C vaccine and an antibody against hepatitis C virus particles.
US08460909B2
The invention relates to poly-sialyltransferse polypeptides with enhanced solubility and activity and methods of using the poly-sialyltransferases for production of poly-sialylated end products, e.g., oligosaccharides, glycoproteins and glycolipids.
US08460906B2
Methods for mutagenizing and selecting microorganisms with increased product tolerance are provided. Additionally, methods and systems are disclosed for culturing the microorganisms to produce products.
US08460898B2
Biomass is pretreated using an organic solvent solution under alkaline conditions in the presence of ammonia and optionally an additional nucleophile to fragment and extract lignin without loss of hemicellulose. Pretreated biomass is further hydrolyzed with a saccharification enzyme consortium. Fermentable sugars released by saccharification may be utilized for the production of target chemicals by fermentation.
US08460897B1
The fungus Irpex lacteus is efficiently cultured on a solid substrate with a high content of crystalline cellulose. The fungal culture can be used to produce cellulases that are useful in conversion of cellulose to sugars. The fungal culture can also be used to produce chitin, which is itself valuable and can also be converted to chitosan. Use of the fungal culture for co-production of cellulases and chitin is also described.
US08460891B2
Described herein are monoclonal antibodies and methods useful for determining and quantitating the presence of an aryloxyalkanoate dioxygenase enzyme.
US08460886B2
A purpose of the present invention is to provide a method capable of more effectively prescribing an anti-human PD-1 antibody for anti-cancer therapy, a method for estimating or optimizing therapeutic efficacy thereof, and further an efficacy marker that can be used in methods thereof. The present invention enables selection of the cancer patient in whom the therapeutic efficacy of the anti-human PD-1 antibody can be expected in future, by measuring the change which is more than a certain level of several kinds of efficacy markers in blood, after administering the initial dose or doses of the anti-human PD-1 antibody compared to that prior to administering the initial dose, and provides a new prescription of the anti-human PD-1 antibody for anti-cancer therapy.
US08460882B2
Provided is a biomarker for detecting cancer, in particular prostate cancer in a male subject, the biomarker comprising at least one homeodomain containing transcription factor, such as a HOX peptide or EN-2 peptide, or a fragment thereof. The use of said biomarker in detecting and/or treating prostate cancer is provided, together with methods and kits therefor.
US08460881B2
A novel gene 254P1D6B and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 254P1D6B exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 254P1D6B provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 254P1D6B gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 254P1D6B can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08460880B2
The present invention relates to newly identified nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides present in normal and neoplastic ovarian cells, including fragments, variants and derivatives of the nucleic acids and polypeptides. The present invention also relates to antibodies to the polypeptides of the invention, as well as agonists and antagonists of the polypeptides of the invention. The invention also relates to compositions containing the nucleic acid molecules, polypeptides, antibodies, agonists and antagonists of the invention and methods for the use of these compositions. These uses include identifying, diagnosing, monitoring, staging, imaging and treating ovarian cancer and non-cancerous disease states in ovarian, identifying ovarian tissue, monitoring and identifying and/or designing agonists and antagonists of polypeptides of the invention. The uses also include gene therapy, production of transgenic animals and cells, and production of engineered ovarian tissue for treatment and research.
US08460874B2
Methods are provided for amplification of a nucleic acid sequence. The method use RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides as primers. The primers have RNA residues scattered along their length and no two ribonucleotides in the prime are adjacent to one another. The methods are useful for reducing non-specific amplification products, such as primer dimers. The invention also provides kits comprising RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotide primers for practicing the amplification methods.
US08460867B2
This invention relates to the use of the association between the 103 G>A polymorphism in the CNTF gene to determine antipsychotic treatment strategies in patients with psychotic disorders.
US08460857B2
In the case in which a film for a resist is formed by spin coating, there is a resist material to be wasted, and the process of edge cleaning is added as required. Further, when a thin film is formed on a substrate using a vacuum apparatus, a special apparatus or equipment to evacuate the inside of a chamber vacuum is necessary, which increases manufacturing cost. The invention is characterized by including: a step of forming conductive layers on a substrate having a dielectric surface in a selective manner with a CVD method, an evaporation method, or a sputtering method; a step of discharging a compound to form resist masks so as to come into contact with the conductive layer; a step of etching the conductive layers with plasma generating means using the resist masks under the atmospheric pressure or a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure; and a step of ashing the resist masks with the plasma generating means under the atmospheric pressure or a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure. With the above-mentioned characteristics, efficiency in use of a material is improved, and a reduction in manufacturing cost is realized.
US08460854B2
A system and method for forming encoded microparticles is described. One embodiment includes a method for forming a microparticle, the method comprising providing a pattern, wherein the pattern defines a code element, printing the pattern on a substrate to form a first code element within a microparticle region, printing the pattern on the substrate to form at least one successive code element, such that the first code element and the at least one successive code element are within the same microparticle region, wherein a code is formed by the first code element and any successive code elements.
US08460849B2
A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, having, on a transparent support, a lenticular lens and at least one receptor layer in which the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet has a subbing layer which contains a resin that is identical with at least one resin constituting the lenticular lens, on the side of the transparent support opposite to the side on which the lenticular lens is provided, and the heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet has a receptor layer containing a latex polymer on the subbing layer.
US08460846B2
A toner for electrostatic image development, containing a resin binder and a wax, wherein the resin binder contains an amorphous polyester obtained by polycondensing a carboxylic acid component containing fumaric acid in an amount of from 55 to 100% by mole, with an alcohol component, wherein the wax contains an ester of pentaerythritol and a fatty acid having 15 to 25 carbon atoms, and a method of forming fixed images, including the step of applying the toner for electrostatic image development to a non-contact fixing type image-forming apparatus. The toner for electrostatic image development of the present invention is suitably used for, for example, developing a latent image formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method, or the like.
US08460844B2
A imaging member, such as a photoreceptor, comprising a structured organic film comprising a plurality of segments and a plurality of linkers arranged as a covalent organic framework, wherein the structured organic film may comprise at least one secondary component, such as an antioxidant.
US08460837B2
The invention relates to a sealing device for a fuel cell arrangement having a plurality of fuel cells combined to form a fuel cell stack (10), said fuel cells being permeable by the gas flows converted in the fuel cells transversely to the longitudinal direction of the fuel cell stack (10), and a gas distributor (20) provided on the longitudinal side of the fuel cell stack (10) for the supply and removal of the gas flows converted in the fuel cells, wherein the sealing device comprises a sealing frame (31) having a number of longitudinal sealing elements (32, 33, 34) disposed between the longitudinal edge of the gas distributor (20) and the fuel cell stack (10) and composed of a dielectric material, said sealing elements being disposed in a longitudinally movable fashion for the compensation of particularly thermally caused relative movements between the fuel cell stack (10) and the gas distributor (20). According to the invention, the longitudinal sealing elements (32, 33, 34) are closely disposed one next to the other in a gap-free fashion on the face, and a tension system having tension devices (40) is provided for producing a mechanical tension pressing the longitudinal sealing elements (32, 33, 34) together in the longitudinal direction between the ends of the sealing frame (31).
US08460834B2
A hydrogen production method includes: a first process in which nitrogen compounds of metal and water are reacted to produce ammonia and hydroxide of the metal; a second process in which hydrogen compounds of a metal and the ammonia produced in the first process are reacted; and a third process in which hydrogen compounds of a metal and the hydroxide of the metal produced in the first process are reacted.
US08460832B2
A method of performing an electrochemical reaction in an electrochemical cell comprising electrodes separated by a hydrophilic ion-exchange membrane, comprises conducting the reaction in the presence of an aqueous solution of an electrolyte of which the concentration is controlled.
US08460825B2
A lithium ion secondary battery including a positive electrode containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode containing a negative electrode active material, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode active material is a lithium transition metal oxide that contains niobium and is represented by xLi[Li1/3Mn2/3-qNbq]O2·(1−x)LiM1-rNbrO2 (0
US08460820B2
A secondary battery in which bending of a portion of long sides of a cap assembly is prevented or reduced during insertion of the cap assembly into a can. A secondary battery includes a can having an opening and accommodating an electrode assembly, and a cap assembly sealing the opening of the can and including a cap plate including long sides and short sides extending between the long sides, wherein ductility of the short sides of the cap assembly is greater than that of portions of the cap plate other than the short sides.
US08460813B2
A battery pack may supply power to a device such as a PDA, a hand-held scanner, or a laptop computer, when inserted and rotatably locked therein. The battery pack is adapted to maintain electrical connectivity with the device, once unlocked, during counter-rotation and before removal. Electrical connectivity is provided by discrete electrical contact pads on the battery pack, each of which may form various annular shapes at different radii. The electrical contact pads are detected by spring-loaded pogo pins on the device. Electrical connectivity is maintained for a battery detect pin for only approximately fifteen degrees of counter-rotation, where its disengagement warns of impending power loss, and triggers a proper shut-down sequence to save data. One contact pad is electrically coupled to a negative terminal within the battery pack, and another is electrically coupled to a positive terminal. The battery pack houses one or more rechargeable batteries, preferably lithium-ion.
US08460809B2
The invention relates to primary electrochemical cells having a jellyroll electrode assembly that includes a lithium-based negative electrode, a positive electrode with a coating comprising iron disulfide deposited on a current collector and a polymeric separator. More particularly, the invention relates to a cell design which optimizes cell capacity and substantially eliminates premature voltage drop-off on intermittent service testing. The resulting cell has a region of increased lithium thickness proximate to/under the terminal end of the outermost edge of the cathode strip.
US08460788B2
Synthetic nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate, particularly hydroxyapatite, having a specific surface area in the range of 150 m2/g to 300 m2/g, is described. The nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate may be in the form of a powder or in the form of a coating on a surface. A method of producing a nano-sized crystalline calcium phosphate powder or coating is also described.
US08460780B2
An arrangement for attaching a safety glazing element for a building, including a supporting element connected to the building, and a glazing element including a pane coated with a safety film adhering to an inner surface of the pane. The glazing element is attached by an adhesive strip to the support. A border on the periphery of the pane is free of film so that a peripheral limit of the film is situated at a distance from the edge of the pane, the distance separating the edge of the pane and the limit of the film being alternately variable.
US08460775B2
An improved apparent surface (Astroturf like) material surrounded by a water tight enclosure with raised borders that better control and conceal any debris and dirt that is scraped off the shoes or otherwise fall onto the mat. Means are provided to direct the debris to an area where it is better concealed from view and more protected from any blowing air. The debris is less likely to be blown about by any stream of air, such as a heater fan. In one configuration the debris is substantially completely sealed.
US08460766B2
A liquid crystal compound of Formula (1) is provided below: wherein R is hydrogen, linear or branching C1-15 alkyl, linear or branching C1-15 alkyl (wherein any one of —CH2— is replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, or —O—CO—), linear or branching C2-15 alkenyl, or linear or branching C2-15 alkenyl (wherein any one of —CH2— is replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —CO—O—, or —O—CO—), A and B are, independently, cyclohexane, cyclohexane (wherein any one of —CH2— is replaced by —O— or —NH—), benzene, or benzene (wherein any one of —CH2═ is replaced by —N═), X is a single bond, —CO—O—, —O—CO—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CH2CH2—, —C═C—, —C≡C—, —CF2O—, or —OCF2—, Q is oxygen or CH2, Y is CF3, CF2H, or CFH2, L1, L2, and L3 are, independently, hydrogen or fluorine, and m is 0, 1, or 2.
US08460763B2
A method for composite material synthesis at the surface of a work piece, wherein it includes PECVD, PEPVD methods and plasma generation by electric discharges with closed electron drift. The composite material comprises at least one layer of substantially parallel carbon pillars extending from the bottom surface of the at least one layer up to the top surface of the at least one layer. The carbon pillars have a cross-sectional dimension in the range of 50-200 μm, and heights in the range of 50 μm-2 mm.
US08460762B2
A liquid composition and a process for coating the composition onto a surface of a substrate in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere, under vacuum conditions. The composition comprises one or more components, all of which components do not go into a gas or vapor phase under the vacuum conditions. The composition has an ethylenically unsaturated component composed of an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate monomer, or a combination of an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate oligomer. The ethylenically unsaturated component is polymerizable or crosslinkable by the application of sufficient electron beam radiation. The composition is substantially absent of ethylenically unsaturated acrylate components, substantially absent of polymerization initiators, and substantially absent of solvents. The composition optionally further comprises one or more polymers without an acrylate functional group and without a methacrylate functional group. The composition optionally further comprises one or more of waxes, pigments, and/or wetting agents.
US08460761B2
The present invention relates to a method for the reduction of the formaldehyde emission of wood-base materials by application of nitrogen-containing compounds, wherein (i) a mixture which comprises at least one polyamine and, if appropriate, up to 20% by weight, based on the mixture, of urea is applied to the wood-base material; (ii) polyamine is applied on or in the particle or fiber cake; (iii) polyamine is applied to the coating substrate used for surface finishing and/or (iv) polyamine is applied to the exposed areas; the polyamines having a molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol and at least 6 primary or secondary amino groups.
US08460757B2
A floor covering has an exposed surface with substantially the same gloss level and at least two portions having different tactile surface characteristics. The difference in the tactile surface characteristics between the two portions is at least an average RPc of 4. The floor covering includes a substrate and a high performance coating overlying the substrate. The high performance coating comprises texture particles, which may be organic polymer particles. The floor covering is made by forming a high performance coating including the texture particles on a substrate, at least partially curing the high performance coating, and then while controlling the temperature of the high performance coating below the melting point temperature or softening point temperature of the texture particles and above the temperature at which the texture particles deform under the applied mechanical embossing pressure, subjecting the first and second portions to different mechanical embossing conditions.
US08460753B2
Described herein are methods to form silicon dioxide films that have extremely low wet etch rate in HF solution using a thermal CVD process, ALD process or cyclic CVD process in which the silicon precursor is selected from one of: R1nR2mSi(NR3R4)4-n-m; and, a cyclic silazane of (R1R2SiNR3)p, where R1 is an alkenyl or an aromatic, such as vinyl, allyl, and phenyl; R2, R3, and R4 are selected from H, alkyl with C1-C10, linear, branched, or cyclic, an alkenyl with C2-C10 linear, branched, or cyclic, and aromatic; n=1-3, m=0-2; p=3-4.
US08460751B2
The present disclosure relates to a method for the synthesis of at least one metallic nanotube (10). The method includes the steps of: growing at least one nanowhisker (6) on a substrate (2), the nanowhisker (6; 12) consisting of or having a coating of a first metal (12); coating said first metal (12) with a second metal (14) to form a coated nanowhiskers (8); and heat treating the at least one coated nanowhisker (8), to produce a metallic nanotube (10). Moreover, the present teaching relates to metallic nanotubes (10) grown by the method of the present teaching.
US08460750B2
In a method for creating a dry lubricant layer, the layer is formed by a coating material which is first applied to a substrate, on which the dry lubricant layer is to be produced. The coating material contains a solvent such as ethanethiol and the precursors of a metal sulphide, in particular a metaloxysulphide, such as a molybdenum salt of dithiocarboxylic acid. Once the coating material has been applied to the substrate, the material is subjected to thermal treatment, whereby the solvent evaporates and the precursors of the metal sulphide react with one another to form the dry lubricant layer. This advantageously permits the creation of dry lubricant layers containing a high fraction of metal sulphide, giving the layers improved sliding friction characteristics. Another advantage is that the oxysulphide layers that have been formed are also particularly stable in relation to an oxidation.
US08460748B2
An improved patterned magnetic bit data storage media and a method for manufacturing the same is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the improved patterned magnetic bit data storage media may comprise an active region exhibiting substantially ferromagnetism; and an inactive region exhibiting substantially paramagnetism, the inactive region comprising at least two grains and a grain boundary interposed therebetween, wherein each of the at least two grains contain ferromagnetic material, and wherein the at least two grains are antiferromagnetically coupled.
US08460746B2
Coating an elongate, uncoated conductive element with a substantially continuous barrier layer. An uncoated conductive element is around a frame comprising spaced supports. During deposition, the relative position of the conductive element to the frame is adjusted so that all sections of the conductive element are physically separated from the supports for a time that is sufficient to form a desired coating of barrier material on all sections of the conductive element.
US08460739B2
The invention relates to acidified cocoa nibs, wherein the nibs comprise at least 20 mg/g of polyphenols, preferably more than 30 mg/g of polyphenols, most preferably from 40 to 60 mg/g of polyphenols, cocoa refiner or expeller flakes, liquor, cakes, and cocoa powder obtainable from the nibs and a process for producing cocoa-derived material, comprising the steps of: (i) treating cocoa nibs obtained from beans or seeds which have a higher polyphenol content than fermented cocoa beans with an acid; and (ii) optionally drying the nibs.
US08460728B2
A dehydrated slice of a vegetable or a fruit is provided, which is adapted to be rehydrated by a rehydration process, having a circumference which is substantially the same as the circumference of the respective slice of the raw vegetable, and having a thickness which is reduced about 20 to 90% in comparison to the thickness of the respective slice of the raw vegetable or fruit. The dehydrated slice has a planar surface. Furthermore, a method is provided to produce said dehydrated slices. Said dehydrated slices are adapted to be rehydrated by a rehydration process herein provided, whereby performance of said process leads to a rehydrated slice with a thickness of the respective raw vegetable or fruit.
US08460726B2
The disclosure relates to a probiotic delivery system that can be consumed as a snack-food or added to a food product. In particular, the disclosure describes a crisp and tasty treat that comprises viable probiotic microorganisms preserved in a vacuum dried matrix of sugars, proteins, and polysaccharides. The probiotic remain viable within the treat for a longer time without the need for additional moisture barrier coating. The probiotic also remain viable in the animal gastrointestinal tract.
US08460715B2
A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.
US08460710B2
An antibiotic product is comprised of at least three dosage forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the Cmax for the antibiotic product being reached in less than about twelve hours after the initial release of antibiotic. In one embodiment, there are two delayed release dosage forms, as well as a delayed sustained release dosage form, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a Cmax at different times.
US08460709B2
Microparticles consisting of (a) a matrix with a mixture of (a1) at least one hydrophobic, biologically degradable polymer and (a2) optionally at least one water-soluble polymer, (b) a pharmaceutical active ingredient distributed in the matrix, and (c) in addition at least one water-insoluble, surface-active substance from the group of lecithins and phospholipids, distributed in the matrix, and a three-phase emulsion process for their preparation.
US08460690B2
A process for deterring behavior of pets which includes providing a device comprising a reflective metalized plastic sheet having a thickness of about 0.5 to 10.0 mils, having a reflective and non-reflective side and capable of making a sound when the sheet is flexed by pressure from a pet, a fibrous layer, and a decorative fabric layer, where the layers are joined together to form the device, and the reflective side of said reflective plastic layer is oriented outward, where the device is capable of being folded or rolled-up, and when placed on an object, the device deters pets from getting on said object.
US08460689B2
A method of moisturizing while decolonizing mammalian tissue, the method comprising applying a multi-valent cationic antiseptic composition to the tissue, and applying a moisturizer composition to at least a portion of the same tissue; wherein the mammalian tissue is oral tissue of a subject; wherein the multi-valent cationic antiseptic is other than a metal ion; and wherein the applied compositions essentially exclude any component which causes a precipitate when combined with a multi-valent cationic antiseptic contained in the multi-valent cationic antiseptic composition when tested according to Test Method F, and/or wherein the moisturizer composition is such that a log reduction in the number of viable bacterial cells of at least 2 is provided when 106 cfu of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are combined with a mixture 1.1 g of the moisturizer composition and 1.5 g of the multi-valent cationic antiseptic composition containing 0.12 weight percent of the multi-valent cationic antiseptic according to Test Method B; an oral care kit comprising a composition comprising the multi-valent cationic antiseptic and the moisturizer composition; and a method of moisturizing oral tissue of a patient requiring intubation using the moisturizer composition and an endotracheal tube coated or impregnated with a cationic antiseptic are provided.
US08460677B2
A method and container for developing seedlings includes germinating the seeds and air pruning the seedlings to a depth of about 3 inches.
US08460673B2
The present invention provides a coding gene having the nucleic acid sequence shown as SEQ ID NO:1 and the fusion protein RIG (SEQ ID NO:2) that inhibits osteoclast formation. The present invention also provides the preparation method for the fusion protein RIG as well as synthetic oligo-nucleotide primers, plasmids and host cells used in the method and a medicine having the above fusion protein RIG as active ingredient. The fusion protein RIG in present invention is derived from humanized immunoglobulin and RANKL with a flexible hinge region. RIG can cross link the cell surface receptor RANK and Fcγ 1 to induce a cytosolic inhibitory signal leading to the inhibition of osteoclast formation. The fusion protein RIG in present invention can play an essential role in treating osteoporosis and bone resorption diseases caused by tumor metastasis.
US08460666B2
Described are human binding molecules specifically binding to staphylococci and having killing activity against staphylococci, nucleic acid molecules encoding the human binding molecules, compositions comprising the human binding molecules and methods of identifying or producing the human binding molecules. The human binding molecules can be used in the diagnosis, prophylaxis and/or treatment of a condition resulting from Staphylococcus.
US08460665B2
Antibodies, and particularly human antibodies, are disclosed that demonstrate activity in the treatment of demyelinating diseases as well as other diseases of the central nervous system that are of viral, bacterial or idiopathic origin, including neural dysfunction caused by spinal cord injury. Neuromodulatory agents are set forth that include and comprise a material selected from the group consisting of an antibody capable of binding structures or cells in the central nervous system, a peptide analog, a hapten, active fragments thereof, agonists thereof, mimics thereof, monomers thereof and combinations thereof. Methods are described for treating demyelinating diseases, and diseases of the central nervous system of humans and domestic animals, using polyclonal IgM antibodies and human monoclonal antibodies sHIgm22(LYM 22), sHIgm46(LYM46) ebvHIgM MSI19D10, CB2bG8, AKJR4, CB2iE12, CB2iE7, MSI19E5 and MSI10E10, active fragments thereof and the like. The invention also extends to the use of human antibodies, fragments, peptide derivatives and like materials, and their use in above referenced therapeutic applications, and to pharmaceutical compositions containing them, that may be administered in desirably low doses to treat conditions involving demyelination and to promote remyelination.
US08460664B2
The invention pertains to the generation and utility of antibodies that can bind effectively to CεmX domain on membrane-bound IgE (mIgE) expressed on the surface of human B lymphocytes. The CεmX domain of 52 amino acid residues, located between the CH4 domain and the C-terminal membrane-anchor peptide on human membrane-bound epsilon chain, had been suggested as an antigenic site for immunological targeting of B cells expressing mIgE. Previous reported monoclonal antibodies, including a20, which bind to RADWPGPP (SEQ ID NO:1) peptide at the C-terminal of CεmX, have now been found to bind poorly to mIgE on human B cells. We have discovered that only monoclonal antibodies specific for certain segments, such as GLAGGSAQSQRAPDRVL (SEQ ID NO:2) and HSGQQQGLPRAAGGSVPHPR (SEQ ID NO:3), of CεmX can bind effectively to mIgE on human B cells and hence have the utility for targeting those B cells for the treatment of diseases mediated by IgE.
US08460662B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-IGF-1R antibodies. In particular embodiments, the invention provides fully human, humanized, or chimeric anti-IGF-1R antibodies that bind human IGF-1R, IGF-1R-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and IGF-1R-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Other embodiments provide nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having IGF-1R-related disorders or conditions.
US08460642B2
The present invention provides a method of promoting bone growth in a subject in need thereof, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of Formula I. The present invention also provides methods for the treatment of renal disease and cancer.
US08460637B2
Methods and suspensions are provided that are useful for preparing readily reconstitutable, dry compositions of micro- or nanospheres. The dry compositions find use in diagnostic applications such as ultrasonic imaging. The suspension includes as key ingredients one or both of t-butyl alcohol and/or an amorphous sugar (or mixture of amorphous sugar) in specified amounts that reduce aggregation of the particles comprising the suspension.
US08460635B2
Synthetic peptidomimetic derivatives and phenyl group derivatives of Fenretinide (4-HPR) are disclosed, as are their uses as therapeutic, diagnostic and imaging agents for cancer and other diseases.
US08460625B2
An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an engine is provided with a filter arranged in an exhaust passage of the engine, and a regeneration control unit for regenerating the filter by burning the particulate matters accumulated in the filter. The control unit may include an over-accumulation state determination unit and a switch. The over-accumulation state determination unit determines over-accumulation of the particulate filter in the filter when the particulate matter is over-accumulated in the filter. The switch switches a regeneration temperature for regenerating the filter between a first regeneration temperature at which a normal regeneration is performed and a second regeneration temperature which is lower than the first regeneration temperature. The control unit is connectable to a command unit when the particular matter is over-accumulated in the filter, so that the switch is forcibly operated toward the second regeneration temperature.
US08460619B2
An apparatus for processing a specimen from a fluid sample includes a first set of one or more microfluidic channels configured to deliver the sample fluid to a filter disposed on an inflatable bladder configured to transfer the specimen from the filter to a slide. The apparatus is configured to collect an approximate monolayer of particles and includes a second set of one or more microfluidic channels configured to remove fluid flowing through the filter disposed on the inflatable bladder. The apparatus also includes a pressure source, a sample container connected to the pressure source and the first set of one or more microfluidic channels, a fluid flow gauge configured to measure a fluid flow rate through the filter, and a stain source connected to the first set of one or more microfluidic channels.
US08460603B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical discharge surface treatment-purpose electrode that stabilizes properties and a film-forming rate of a coating made by surface treatment that uses the electrode showing a narrow distribution in physical properties such as a composition and resistance. A method of manufacturing an electrical discharge surface treatment-purpose electrode according to the present invention is identified as a method of manufacturing an electrical discharge surface treatment-purpose electrode formed of a green compact made of a metal powder subjected to compression molding, characterized in that the method includes the step of forming a nitride coating by nitriding a surface of the metal powder, and the step of forming a green compact by subjecting the metal powder having its surface nitrided to compression molding.
US08460585B2
An optical diffusion structure includes an optical diffusion structure comprising a plurality of convex portions and a plurality of concave portions. Each convex portion is adjacent to a plurality of concave portions and each concave portion is adjacent to a plurality of convex portions. The convex portions, the concave portions and each junction of the convex and concave portions have a curvature different from 0. The optical diffusion structure further includes a diffusion plate having a first surface, wherein the optical diffusion structure is formed on the first surface, and the convex portions are arranged in a two dimensional array along a first direction and a second direction, and the concave portions are arranged in a two dimensional array along a third direction and a fourth direction.
US08460579B2
A red-emitting phosphor composed of an M-Al—Si—N system, comprising a cation M, wherein M is represented by at least one of the elements Ca or Ba or Sr and, if appropriate, can additionally be combined with at least one further element from the group Mg, Zn, Cd, wherein the phosphor is activated with Eu, which partly replaces M, and wherein the phosphor additionally contains LiF.
US08460577B2
The invention provides a compound represented by formula (1). In the formula (1), R1 is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; X1 is a single bond, —O— or —OCO—; X2 is a single bond, —O—, —COO— or —OCO—; A1 and A2 are each independently a divalent aromatic ring or a divalent cyclohexane ring, and in these rings, arbitrary hydrogen may be replaced by halogen, alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons or halogenated alkyl having 1 to 3 carbons; Z1 is independently a single bond, —O—, —S—, —COO—, —OCO—, —CH2O—, —OCH2—, —CH═CH—COO—, —OCO—CH═CH—, —CH2CH2—COO—, —OCO—CH2CH2—, —CON(R)— or —N(R)CO—; R is hydrogen or methyl; Y is a terpenoid residue or a steroid residue; m is an integer from 0 to 20; and n is an integer from 0 to 3.
US08460569B2
A method of patterning a substrate, comprises providing a set of patterned features on the substrate, exposing the set of patterned features to a dose of ions incident on the substrate over multiple angles, and selectively etching exposed portions of the patterned features.
US08460559B2
An assembly and method for capturing debris before it enters a skimmer mechanism in a pool are described, herein. A basket filter assembly is comprised of a frame assembly, which is constructed of water- and rust-proof material that has a mesh material placed around and attached to it. The basket filter assembly is then attached to a U-shaped arm, by which it is lowered into position over the skimmer mechanism. The other end of the arm is then attached to a weighted stand such that it holds the assembly in place.
US08460555B2
This invention reveals to the public the centralized sump oil and acid oil treatment process and system. The process consist of (1) the filter; (2) entry to reaction kettle, the sodium carbonate solution added at the time of air floatation till PH value keeps about 6.0-8.0; and emulsion splitter and flocculating agent added for further reaction; (3) suspension of air floatation and static settlement; (4) the international crude oil is collected after the detergent oil at the upper level of the reaction kettle is dehydrated under normal and reduced pressure; the wastewater is drained after filtering by the natural oil removal tank and the oil-water filter; the sludge is solidified by the cement and the quick lime and aluminium oxide are used as the coagulant aid for solidifying the sludge. The centralized treatment process of sump oil and acid oil not only greatly lowers the pollution of surroundings of the oilfield and corrosion of equipment, but also changes waste into valuable, reuses a great amount of crude oil and improves the economic benefits of the oilfield. The sludge solidified can be directly used for buildings.
US08460554B2
Forward osmosis membranes include an active layer and a thin support layer. A bilayer substrate including a removable backing layer may allow forward osmosis membranes with reduced supporting layer thickness to be processed on existing manufacturing lines.
US08460551B2
A water distillation system includes a membrane distillation unit which produces desalinated water from feed water comprising salt water. The system also includes a primary water heater which raises a temperature of the feed water upstream of the feed water entering the membrane distillation unit. The system additionally includes an evaporative cooler which lowers a temperature of a coolant upstream of the coolant entering the membrane distillation unit.
US08460549B2
An apparatus for treating an aqueous medium containing microorganisms comprises an intake for receiving the aqueous medium containing microorganisms. A pressure differential inducer is associated to the intake so as to receive the aqueous medium containing microorganisms with a desired level of gas saturation. The pressure differential inducer is actuatable to expose the aqueous medium containing microorganisms with a desired level of gas saturation to accelerations so as to cause cell wall rupture of the microorganisms. An outlet is associated with the pressure differential inducer for outletting the treated aqueous medium containing ruptured microorganism cells and contents. The treated aqueous medium containing ruptured cell wall of the microorganisms is disposed of and/or recycled.
US08460546B2
The present invention relates to bioartificial devices and systems that mimic kidney or nephron function and methods of making them.
US08460545B2
A filter assembly with a replaceable filter element and a reusable filter housing, which incorporates a locking mechanism to ensure that the filter system will not be operated without a filter element installed.
US08460542B2
A suction filter may comprise a bag-shaped filter member and a passage member. The passage member is disposed in an internal space of the filter member. The passage member has a fuel passage and a plurality of openings, and guides fuel from the internal space to the outside of the internal space. The openings communicate the internal space of the filter member to the fuel passage. When the passage member is cut along a surface thereof perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the passage member in each of the openings, a position on an outer circumferential surface of the passage member in the cut surface, in which the distance between the outer circumferential surface and the filter member is the smallest, is distant in a circumferential direction from a position on the outer circumferential surface where the opening is formed.
US08460541B2
A process is disclosed process for converting a solid or highly viscous carbon-based energy carrier material to liquid and gaseous reaction products, said process comprising the steps of: a) contacting the carbon-based energy carrier material with a particulate catalyst material b) converting the carbon-based energy carrier material at a reaction temperature between 200° C. and 450° C., preferably between 250° C. and 350° C., thereby forming reaction products in the vapor phase. In a preferred embodiment the process comprises the additional step of: c) separating the vapor phase reaction products from the particulate catalyst material within 10 seconds after said reaction products are formed. In a further preferred embodiment step c) is followed by: d) quenching the reaction products to a temperature below 200° C.
US08460536B2
Describes a liquid-permeable diaphragm assembly for use in electrolytic cells, e.g., chlor-alkali electrolytic cells. The diaphragm assembly includes a foraminous cathode, a liquid permeable base mat comprising synthetic polymeric material that is at least partially resistant to the environment within the electrolytic cell on the foraminous cathode, and a topcoat of water-insoluble particulate material on the base mat. The topcoat is deposited on the base mat from an aqueous slurry comprising (i) at least one oxide, boride, carbide, nitride or silicate of a valve metal, (ii) clay mineral, (iii) hydrous metal oxide chosen from the hydrous oxides of magnesium, the hydrous oxides of zirconium, and mixtures of such hydrous metal oxides, and (iv) alkali metal polyphosphate.
US08460527B2
A gas sensor contains a sensor element for detecting the concentration of a particular gas component in a measurement gas and a housing for supporting the sensor element inside, and the sensor element has a rectangular solid structure of a solid electrolyte body containing a ceramic material. In the gas sensor, four edges of the solid electrolyte body are beveled over the entire length thereof to form eleventh to fourteenth chamfered portions corresponding to the four edges.
US08460526B2
A sealing portion is formed of a calcined body that is made by calcining a powder compact of a spherically-shaped granulated powder that is selected from the group consisting of alumina, aluminum titanate and cordierite. Anisotropy in physical properties is less likely to occur in the powder compact, because these ceramics are not only good in terms of thermal stability but also their spherically-shaped granulated powders are less likely to be oriented at the time of powder compacting. Therefore, the sealing portion comes to have a long longevity, because slippages between the particles are less likely to occur even when thermal histories are applied thereto, and because it can maintain the gas sealing property stably for a long period of time.
US08460525B2
An electrochemical device for determining the percentage of glycated hemoglobin in a blood sample is provided. The device includes a cathode and anode and one or more cells. The device may include an enzyme capable of reducing oxygen to water for determining the total amount of hemoglobin in a sample by electrochemically measuring, in an oxygen electroreduction reaction at a cathode, the amount of oxygen in the sample. The device may also be used to determine the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the sample (e.g., spectrometrically or electrochemically). Also provided are devices that include glycated hemoglobin hydrolysis agents or glycated hemoglobin separating agents.
US08460519B2
Sputtering in a physical vapor deposition (PVD) chamber may, in one embodiment, utilize a target laterally offset from and tilted with respect to the substrate. In another aspect, target power may be reduced to enhance film protection. In yet another aspect, magnetron magnets may be relatively strong and well balanced to enhance film protection. In another aspect, a shutter may be provided to protect the substrate in start up conditions. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08460515B2
A biocoke producing apparatus has a reaction vessel that has a preset temperature range and pressure range for, without carbonizing of the pulverized biomass, inducing a pyrolytic or thermal curing reaction of lignin and hemicellulose thereof. The reaction vessel has a pressurization device for pressurizing to the pressure range, a heating device for heating to the temperature range in the state of the pressurization and a cooling device for cooling after maintaining of the above state. Multiple reaction vessels are provided. A pulverization delivery conveyor is provided superior to these reaction vessels, and each of the multiple reaction vessels is connected via a connection tube to the conveyor. The connection tube is provided with a pulverizate charging device for charging a given amount of pulverized biomass in accordance with a timing of pulverizate charging to the reaction vessels.
US08460514B2
The present invention relates to an industrial fabric, in particular press fabric or transfer belt, for use in a papermaking machine. The industrial fabric includes a porous composite structure, having a batt fiber structure and particulate polymeric material. The batt fiber structure has an upper surface and a lower surface extending parallel to the upper surface and spaced from the upper surface along a thickness direction extending perpendicular to the upper and lower surface. The particulate polymeric material is partly fused together and bonded with fibers extending on at least one of the surfaces of the batt fiber structure and with fibers inside the batt fiber structure such that the polymeric material partly impregnates fibers of the batt structure and partly fills interstices between fibers of the batt structure to form the porous composite structure. Further in accordance with the present invention, the composite structure has a varying amount of polymeric material in the batt fiber structure along at least a section of the thickness direction of the batt fiber structure. The present invention further provides a method of making same.
US08460513B2
A process in which an at least partially delignified pulp fiber web having a Kappa number of less than about 130 is treated with an aqueous endothermic fire retardant solution having a pH of about 10 or less. The treated pulp fiber web has a near neutral pH of from about 5 to about 9, and is treated with at least about 20 lbs of endothermic fire retardants per ton of the pulp fiber web, with at least about 5% of the total amount of endothermic fire retardants being added at a point prior to when the pulp fiber web is formed. Also a fire resistant pulp fiber web having a near neutral pH.
US08460511B2
The present invention relates to a sizing composition that, when applied to paper substrate, creates a substrate, preferably suitable for inkjet printing, having increased print density, and print mottle, as well as print sharpness, low HST, and/or image dry time, the substrate preferably having high brightness and reduced color-to-color bleed as well. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of reducing the HST of a paper substrate by applying the sizing composition to at least one surface thereof. Further, the application relates to methods of making and using the sizing composition, as well as methods of making and using the paper containing the sizing composition.
US08460489B2
A film application system having multiple foil application stations. Each foil application station has a support for an elongated plastic component (typically vinyl) having an input and an output side. A drive moves successive elongated components along a path through the application station from the input side to the output side as decorative foil is applied to a surface of the component. A properly positioned and oriented transfer head applies heat and pressure to the elongated film as the component moves through the application station. The disclosed system must accommodate different style and shape components corresponding to different style windows, doors, or sashes. A backing fixture that is configured to support a given configuration component is positioned to support the component as the component moves through the application station in a region of the transfer head.
US08460482B2
A heat-resistant alloy spring is made of a Ni-based alloy material comprising in weight %: not more than 0.1% C; not more than 1.0% Si; not more than 1.50% Mn; 13.0 to 25.0% Cr; 1.5 to 7.0% Mo; 0.5 to 4.0% Ti; 0.1 to 3.0% Al; {at least one optional element selected from the group consisting of 0.15 to 2.50% W, 0.001 to 0.020% B, 0.01 to 0.3% Zr, 0.30 to 6.00% Nb, 5.0 to 18.0% Co, and 0.03 to 2.00% Cu}; the balance being essentially Ni; and incidental impurities. The Ni-based alloy material is provided in its crystal structure with gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti)] or gamma prime phase [Ni3(Al, Ti, Nb)].
US08460478B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a first tank configured to accommodate a first fluid. A second tank is configured to receive overflow of the first fluid into an upper portion of the second tank and to accommodate a second fluid. A cycling system including a first conduit is configured between the first tank and the second tank. The first conduit has an end substantially below a surface of the second fluid. A fluid providing system including a second conduit is fluidly coupled to the second tank and configured to provide the second fluid into the second tank. The second conduit has an end substantially below the surface of the second fluid. An overflow system is coupled to the second tank and configured to remove an upper portion of the second fluid when the surface of the second fluid is substantially equal to or higher than a pre-determined level.
US08460476B2
A method of processing a substrate subjected to an exposure process includes the steps of: transporting a substrate subjected to the exposure process to a cleaning processing part and performing a cleaning process in said cleaning processing part on said substrate subjected to the exposure process. The method also includes the steps of transporting said substrate subjected to the cleaning process from said cleaning processing part to a heating processing part and performing a heating process in said heating processing part on said substrate subjected to the cleaning process. A first interprocess time interval between the instant at which the exposure process of a substrate is completed and the instant at which the heating process of the substrate is started is made approximately constant, and a second interprocess time interval between the instant at which the cleaning process of the substrate is completed and the instant at which the heating process of the substrate is started is made approximately constant.
US08460473B2
The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for conversion of cellulosic material, such as chopped straw and corn stover, and household waste, to ethanol and other products. The cellulosic material is subjected to continuous hydrothermal pre-treatment without addition of chemicals, and a liquid and a fiber fraction are produced. The fiber fraction is subjected to enzymatic liquefaction and saccharification. The method of the present invention comprises: performing the hydrothermal pre-treatment by subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one soaking operation, and conveying the cellulosic material through at least one pressurized reactor, and subjecting the cellulosic material to at least one pressing operation, creating a fiber fraction and a liquid fraction; selecting the temperature and residence time for the hydrothermal pretreatment, so that the fibrous structure of the feedstock is maintained and at least 80% of the lignin is maintained in the fiber fraction.
US08460453B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing clear aqueous solutions of silicates, remaining stable at 20° C. on storage for at least 6 months, containing 20% to 40% by weight SiO2, 10% to 20% by weight M2O, where M is a cation from the group consisting of Li+, Na+, K+ and NY4+ and Y is an alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, 0.5% to 6% by weight Al2O3 and 100% by weight water, by introducing an aqueous solution of a silicate of the general formula M2O x nSiO2, in which M is a cation from the group consisting of Li+, Na+, K+ and NY4+, and where Y is an alkyl or alkenyl radical having 1 to 6 C atoms, and n is a number in the range from 1 to 5, and metering in an aluminium compound in such a way that the viscosity of the reaction mixture remains below 10 000 mPas, and the reaction being carried out in a temperature range from 20 to 140° C., with the proviso that, following the metered addition of the total amount of the aluminium compound, the reaction mixture is cooled to room temperature as soon as the reaction mixture is clear.
US08460439B2
The present invention relates to a two stage process to control the butanol concentration from fermentation broth.
US08460436B2
The present invention relates processes of removal of acidic gases from a gas stream, comprising the steps of a) contacting a wash solution stream with said gas stream containing acidic gases to be removed to allow absorption of the acidic gases into the wash solution stream; b) withdrawing wash solution enriched with acidic gases from said wash solution stream at a first withdrawal level; c) cooling said withdrawn wash solution; and d) reintroducing said cooled wash solution to the wash solution stream at a first reintroduction level to form a mixed wash solution stream, said first reintroduction level being upstream of said first withdrawal level. The present invention also relates to systems for removal of acidic gases from a gas stream.
US08460434B2
A process is provided for recovering methane from landfill feed gas and other anaerobic digestors. The process comprising the following steps: firstly treating the feed gas to remove H2S; subsequently compressing the gas; and then treating the gas to remove further impurities. Additionally, there is provided a chiller for reducing the temperature of a gas flow. The chiller comprising: a shell arranged to be chilled, a plurality of bores through the shell and through which the gas flows, in use, and forming, together with the shell, a heat exchanger, a tangential inlet to each bore for creating a spiral flow of the gas through the bore, in use. Furthermore, a process is provided for purifying a gas feed using a reversible gas absorber unit comprising two hollow fiber gas/liquid contactors, each of which is arranged to provide a counter-current flow. The process comprising: setting up a partial pressure gradient in the first contactor using a reversible absorber capable of forming an adduct with the gas to be removed, introducing feed gas to the first contactor, forming an adduct of the gas to be absorbed, feeding the adduct to the second contactor, supplying a flushing counter-current flow to the second contactor to liberate the gas, and re-circulating the reversible absorber to the first contactor.
US08460431B2
A method for regenerating an amine-containing scrubbing solution which is obtained during gas purification and in which CO2 and sulfur compounds are chemically bonded, as well as a system that is suitable for carrying out the method. The contaminated scrubbing solution is heated, compressed, and expanded in several stages such that CO2 and sulfur compounds are separated. The expanded scrubbing solution is subdivided into two partial streams, and one partial stream is recirculated into the process.
US08460430B2
A system for enhancing air quality within a poultry production facility that includes an enclosure, at least one ground plane, at least one corona point and a corona point position adjustment mechanism. The enclosure is adapted to receive a plurality of poultry. The at least one ground plane is mounted with respect to the enclosure. The corona point position adjustment mechanism enables a distance between the at least one corona point and the at least one ground plane to be adjusted.
US08460429B2
A method of smelting a nickel intermediate product in a smelter that contains a molten bath of metal and slag to produce a nickel product, the method comprising supplying the nickel intermediate product and a solid reductant to the smelter and smelting the nickel intermediate product to produce molten nickel, and controlling the chemistry of the slag so that the slag has (a) a high solubility for elements and compounds in the nickel intermediate product that are regarded as contaminants in the nickel product and (b) a liquidus temperature in the range of 1300-1700 C.
US08460425B2
The disclosure concern air cleaners. Preferred air cleaners are shown which include a housing and a removable and replacement primary filter cartridge. Optional and advantageous features are shown. An optional mechanical interlock, operated with a non-threaded, movement of the cartridge, is provided between the primary filter cartridge and the housing. The preferred primary filter cartridge is conical in shape. A preferred optional safety or secondary filter cartridge is shown. Preferred methods of assembly and use are provided.
US08460419B1
The present invention an airplane air filtering system device comprised of a frame having flanges, including means to mount to the inside surface of a lavatory door oriented with vent louvers. The frame is preferably mounted to the door with adhesive strips. A replaceable filter with a grasping tab is placed within the frame. As the toilet in the airplane lavatory is flushed, vacuum action causes air outside of the lavatory to be pulled through the filter.
US08460418B2
A filter assembly has an outer member and an inner member. The outer member is configured to allow a vacuum to be communicated through the outer member. The outer member comprises hydrophobic material and an interior cavity. The hydrophobic material is configured to substantially repel fluids at atmospheric pressure. At least a portion of the inner member is positioned within the interior cavity of the outer member. The inner member comprises occluding media configured to absorb fluids both at atmospheric pressure and when a vacuum is being communicated through the inner member. The filter assembly may be incorporated within a vacuum canister to be used in conjunction with a biopsy device as part of a biopsy system, although other suitable applications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the teachings herein.
US08460400B1
Methods for providing, at the discretion of the user, at least two different oxidative hair coloring compositions providing different level of lift based on a single tint component. The methods involve the use of a tint component, an oxidizing component and a third component comprising a non-ammonia alkalizing agent. The compositions may comprise little or no ammonia.
US08460395B2
Devices for delivering reusable environmentally friendly laundry additives to a plurality of wash cycles and drying cycles are provided. The devices include a container that has an inner chamber and a plurality of apertures and protrusions located on an exterior surface thereof. The apertures are configured to allow the laundry additive to leave the inner chamber and interact with clothing during a plurality of wash cycles and drying cycles. The protrusions are configured to make contact with, and soften, clothing during the drying cycles. The container is configured to receive the laundry additive by a user of the device, prior to placing the device in a first wash or drying cycle, and effectively disperse and administer said additives.
US08460394B2
A gripping mechanism for gripping an object includes a base, a first gripping module, a second gripping module, and a driving device. The first gripping module is disposed on the base and has at least one receiving slot. The second gripping module is movably disposed in the receiving slot. The driving device is disposed on the base and connected to the first gripping module and the second gripping module. The driving device is operable to drive the first gripping module to switch between an opened state and a closed state, or drive the second gripping module to move relative to the first gripping module to enable the gripping mechanism to grip or release the object.
US08460389B2
The present invention is directed to an allograft intervertebral implant sized and configured for insertion between adjacent vertebral bodies in a spinal fusion surgery. The implant is preferably manufactured from two or more pieces of allograft bone joined together by a joint, more preferably a dovetail joint. The dovetail joint being sized and configured to substantially follow the exterior shape or surface of the intervertebral implant.
US08460357B2
Apparatus and methods for delivering stents and other prostheses to body lumens include a prosthesis forming and deploying mechanism carried at the distal end of a catheter shaft. The mechanism is adapted to form and deploy prostheses of a variable length, and to form and deploy multiple prostheses during a single interventional procedure.
US08460355B2
A negative/positive pressure, thermal energy therapy device is described in this application. The present invention uses a conventional negative pressure, thermal energy device and/or an alternative embodiment thereof and adds a significant modification. The modification is that positive pressure, not just ambient pressure, is at least occasionally applied to the patient's body contained in the negative pressure, thermal energy device.
US08460353B2
A fluid disinfection unit [40] is incorporated into a patient warming/cooling system [10], to reduce the risk of bacteria buildup in the warming/cooling fluid, which is typically water. More particularly, a mobile housing [17] contains the operable components for circulating warming/cooling fluid to a patient [12], including a pump [23], a heating/cooling source [24], a reservoir [22], a controller [26] and a control panel [32] to assist a user in operating the components. The reservoir [22] has upper [22a] and lower [22b] sections, for replenishing water and circulating water, respectively. A UV source [40] is mounted so as to extend through both reservoir sections [22a, 22b], to simultaneously emit UV light into both sections during circulation of the warming/cooling fluid, thereby to disinfect the water contained therein. The UV source [40] includes a bulb [42] protected within a transparent cover [44] that is completely transparent, and has been treated so as to be shatterproof. A sensor [70] mounted to the housing [17] detects the UV emission level within the reservoir [22], and generates a signal to indicate the on/off status of the UV bulb [42], and/or the magnitude of the UV light within the reservoir [22].
US08460351B2
Minimally invasive delivery with intercellular and/or intracellular localization of nano- and micro-particle solar cells within and among excitable biological cells to controllably regulate membrane polarization and enhance function of such cells. The cells include retinal and other excitable cells.
US08460347B2
The subject matter of the invention is a load carrier for a bone fixation system, with a locally varying material strength with unchanging material elasticity, and a method for producing such a load carrier. The load carrier, matched in view of the load flow acting on the fixation system, can also be used in critical anatomical regions, e.g. for hand implants.
US08460346B2
Craniotomy closures comprising surgical fasteners are described for use in reattaching a skull flap removed from the skull of a patient during brain surgery. Methods of using the same are also described. Surgical strips used in combination with the fasteners are shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The craniotomy closures are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement materials to the surgical site.
US08460334B2
A modular device for tissue resection includes a housing, a motor, a tissue receiving chamber, a grabbing mechanism and a resection mechanism. The housing includes a guide track receiving lumen extending therethrough. The motor is mounted within the housing. The motor is selectively engageable with a guide track received within the guide track lumen to move the modular device therealong. The tissue receiving chamber is formed within the housing. The grabbing mechanism draws a selected portion of tissue into the tissue receiving chamber. The resection mechanism resects the selected portion of tissue.
US08460331B2
Surgical apparatus and method includes a cannula that houses an endoscope and supports a dilating element near a distal end of the cannula. The dilating element has a dimension which is greater than the diameter of the cannula for enlarging a surgical cavity in tissue as the cannula is advanced through tissue at a surgical site to provide working space adjacent a target vessel within which surgical instruments may be conveniently manipulated. The dilating element of oval sided shape permits surrounding tissue to be pushed away or otherwise displaced away from the target vessel atraumatically. A locking mechanism is disposed on the cannula, which accepts a succession of mating dilating elements of progressively larger dimensions for successive insertion and enlargement of a surgical cavity as required. In one embodiment, the dilating element is made of rigid plastic, and in another embodiment, the dilating element is made of resilient material that may be confined within a retractable sheath which, in the extended position, encases and compresses the dilating element to a smaller dimension and which, in a retracted position, allows the dilating element to resiliently expand and enlarge the surgical cavity.
US08460330B2
A lancing device includes a main housing 28 having in the forward upper end thereof a loading bay for receiving a capped lancet 12/20. The loading bay is closed by a cover 34 which is pivotally and slideably moveable in the housing. Closing the cover and then pushing it rearwardly causes the lancet body 12 to be pulled rearwardly clear of the cap 20 thereby exposing the lancet needle. Further rearward movement of the shifts the lancet cover into a battery position ready to be driven forwardly by a drive mechanism when fired.
US08460314B2
The application of the procedure through a natural orifice of the present invention includes the steps of: inserting a flexible endoscope through the natural orifice to the alimentary tract; incising the close-contact portion of the alimentary tract and the gall bladder under a guidance of a device for identifying the positional relationship from the alimentary tract side and forming an puncture; extracting stones in the gall bladder from the body; and removing the endoscope after completing the procedure.
US08460311B2
An intraocular lens implanting device capable of inserting an intraocular lens surely in safety into an eyeball and having an ophthalmic hooking function capable of adjusting the position of the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens implanting device for inserting an intraocular lens into an eyeball through an incision in the eyeball tissue comprises a tubular main body, a storage part for the intraocular lens integrated with the main body or separated therefrom, and a plunger for pressing the intraocular lens placed in the containing section and discharging it into the eyeball, wherein the distal end of the plunger has a base part and a protuberance.
US08460307B2
A method and device for inserting screws into a patient, such that when the device is removed the device does not stick to the screw. The device, being a push-off driver, may have a handle, an inner driver, and a threaded driver sleeve having a button mechanism and a plurality of spheres, and an inner sleeve. The method includes the steps of assembling a push-off driver attaching a bone screw to the push-off driver inserting the bone screw and detaching the bone screw from the driver by unthreading the threaded driver sleeve from the polyaxial screw which causes the spheres in the recess of the inner driver to back up against the start of the recess and causing the threaded driver sleeve to “push-off” the polyaxial screw from the inner driver.
US08460276B2
A manipulation mechanism for moving an oscillating body in a soft endoscope in a stable locus such as for laparoscopic procedures. The mechanism has first and second oscillating portions oscillating on first and second imaginary planes and guide members which regulate oscillating locus of the first and second oscillating portions. A manipulation stick is fixed to the second oscillating portion and capable of moving on the second imaginary plane. The oscillating portions respectively have a force-transmitting-member attachment member, a pair of first support members, and a force receiving member. The pair of first support members is provided with first and second convex portions and each of the first and second guide members is provided with first and second groove portions formed so as to be closer to each other in a direction away from the manipulation reference plane.
US08460268B2
A needle safety guard device adapted to attach to a liquid container is provided. The device includes a disk-shaped shield having a medial opening connected with a radial opening between two radial edges. The device also includes a substantially U-shaped holder having two sidewalls coupled substantially perpendicular to the disk-shaped shield along the two radial edges, and a top cover connecting to the two sidewalls and extending from the shield above the radial opening. The U-shaped holder includes a wedged protrusion and a curved protrusion extending from each of the two sidewalls, the curved protrusion being between the top cover and the wedged protrusion for blocking a cap of the liquid container from moving toward the medial opening.
US08460267B2
In a blood bag system mounted in a centrifugation and separation apparatus, a filter is settable in different appropriate orientations at storage time and usage time, and first and second tubes and a filter are arranged respectively in appropriate orientations during use. The blood bag system includes a BC pooling bag for centrifugation of buffy coat, the filter for removing white blood cells from a supernatant liquid transferred from the BC pooling bag, a platelet preserving bag for reserving the supernatant liquid that has passed through the filter, the first tube connecting the BC pooling bag and an inlet of the filter, the second tube connecting the platelet preserving bag and an outlet of the filter, a cassette fixable in the centrifugation and separation apparatus, an attachment for holding the filter, and a hinge section tiltable relative to the cassette with reference to an axis in the circumferential direction.
US08460264B2
The present invention aims to provide an improved wearing article allowing the dimension of the leg-openings to be adequately large without causing leakage of urine. A chassis is formed in a crotch region with an opening extending through inner and outer sheets in the thickness direction. The opening extends across the crotch region in a longitudinal direction partially into front and rear waist regions and also extends through parts of respective waist region elastic sheets in the thickness direction. An absorbent panel functioning as a liquid-absorbent structure is attached to the skin-facing surface of the chassis to cover the opening. The liquid-absorbent panel is joined along both side edges thereof to the inner sheet and the waist region elastic sheets by bonding or sealing technique and along front and rear ends thereof to the waist region elastic sheets by bonding or sealing technique.