US08494349B2
A method and apparatus are disclosed for determining a negative pressure generated by a suction pump of a topical negative pressure (TNP) system. The method includes the steps of disconnecting a drive voltage from a pump of the TNP system, determining an EMF generated by a free-wheeling element of the pump, selecting a new drive voltage for the pump and reconnecting the new drive voltage to the pump.
US08494338B2
An electronic apparatus includes a first input unit to input an image signal and a first audio signal that constitute a first video content, a second input unit to input a second audio signal different from the first audio signal, a first calculation unit to detect a face image area in which a face of a person is included from the image signal input, and calculate a face evaluation value evaluating a certainty of the face image area detected, a second calculation unit to detect a voice of the person from the first audio signal input, and calculate a voice evaluation value evaluating a volume of the voice, a setting unit to set first and second weighting factors for each image signal, and a generation unit to generate a third audio signal, and generate a second video content constituted of the third audio signal and the image signal.
US08494334B2
A fiber optic enclosure includes a housing and a cable spool assembly disposed on an exterior surface of the housing. The cable spool assembly has a first tear-away end and a second tear-away end. The first and second tear-away ends include at least one area of weakness extending from an inner diameter of the cable spool assembly to an outer diameter of the cable spool assembly. A mounting plate is rotationally engaged with the cable spool assembly such that the cable spool assembly and the housing selectively and unitarily rotate about an axis of the mounting plate.
US08494331B2
The invention provides and apparatus and method for mass producing a plurality of fiber optic mechanical splice-on connector subunits. The apparatus utilizes a magazine detachably mounted on a frame and containing a plurality of slots. The slots contain a plurality of subunits, each of which includes a ferrule assembly carrying a fiber stub coated in uncured epoxy. The slots are moved through a cleaving zone on the apparatus defined by the area between a cleaver and fiber holder, wherein the fiber stubs are cleaved and then pulled so the portion of the fiber stub extending from the ferrule assembly to the cleaved end has a specified length. After cleaving and pulling all the fiber stubs in the magazine, the magazine is detached from the apparatus and moved to an oven wherein the epoxy is cured. After cooling, the subunits and removed from the magazine to provide a plurality of subunits, each containing a cleaved fiber stub securely oriented therein.
US08494328B2
Armored fiber optic assemblies and methods are disclosed that include a dielectric armor and at least one bend-resistant multimode optical fiber. The dielectric armor has an armor profile, thereby resembling conventional metal armored cable to the craft. The dielectric armor provides additional crush and impact resistance and the like for the optical fibers and/or fiber optic assembly therein. The dielectric armor is advantageous to the craft since it provides the desired mechanical performance without requiring the time and expense of grounding like conventional metal armored cables. Additionally, the armored fiber optic assemblies can have any suitable flame and/or smoke rating for meeting the requirements of the intended space. The use of at least one bend-resistant multimode optical fiber allows for improved bend performance for the armored fiber optic assemblies, allowing for tighter cable routing as compared to armored fiber optic assemblies having conventional multimode optical fiber.
US08494322B2
A side-hole optical cane for measuring pressure and/or temperature is disclosed. The side-hole cane has a light guiding core containing a sensor and a cladding containing symmetrical side-holes extending substantially parallel to the core. The side-holes cause an asymmetric stress across the core of the sensor creating a birefringent sensor. The sensor, preferably a Bragg grating, reflects a first and second wavelength each associated with orthogonal polarization vectors, wherein the degree of separation between the two is proportional to the pressure exerted on the core. The side-hole cane structure self-compensates and is insensitive to temperature variations when used as a pressure sensor, because temperature induces an equal shift in both the first and second wavelengths. Furthermore, the magnitude of these shifts can be monitored to deduce temperature, hence providing the side-hole cane additional temperature sensing capability that is unaffected by pressure. Additionally, the side-hole cane can be used to measure a differential pressure between a first pressure ported to the side-holes and a second external pressure.
US08494319B2
Arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) circuits are disclosed, having different radii in the slab regions to supplement and/or replace other mechanical techniques which enable athermal AWGs. Dual band, interleaved pairs of athermal AWGs are also disclosed, with improved cost, space and center wavelength properties, for, e.g., optical line terminal (OLT), and remote node (RN) applications.
US08494318B2
A method of filtering an optical signal includes operating an optical filter having resonators, each having a respective free spectral range and a respective resonance falling within a first frequency band, first tuning at least one resonator with respect to at least another resonator to obtain a separation between any resonance of at least one resonator falling within an optical bandwidth with respect to a resonance of at least another resonator nearest to the any resonance, second tuning all the resonators of the optical filter so as to move all respective resonances by a respective frequency interval greater than a frequency spacing, and third tuning the at least one resonator and the at least another resonator such that a further respective resonance of each one of the resonators falls within a second frequency band, different from the first frequency band.
US08494316B2
The present invention discloses a device and a method for colorless optical switching, where the device includes: a demultiplexer, configured to demultiplex the input multi-wavelength light into multiple beams of light with single wavelength; a first optical cross unit, configured to output the received multiple beams of light with single wavelength through target ports to an optical switch array; the optical switch array, configured to drop the light that needs to be dropped from multiple beams of light with single wavelength, receive the light added by the local node, and output the light that needs to pass in the multiple beams of light with single wavelength and the light added by the local node; and a combiner, configured to combine the light output by the optical switch array. The optical switch device and method provided in the embodiments of the present invention feature colorlessness, low insertion loss, and low costs.
US08494313B2
A fiber network is monitored in order to detect physical intrusion. The state of polarization of an optical fiber is monitored. A fiber tap is determined to have occurred if the state of polarization of the fiber changes beyond a predetermined amount found to be associated with all types of fiber taps. Alternately, it may be determined that a fiber tap has occurred if the state of polarization changes beyond a second predetermined amount and in a predetermined direction. Monitoring of the state of polarization occurs before and after a time period chosen to be less than a time during which the state of polarization of the optical fiber is expected to drift. This step eliminates false positives due to natural fiber PMD drift.
US08494298B2
A method of augmenting sight in an individual. The method comprises obtaining an image of a scene using a camera carried by the individual; transmitting the obtained image to a processor carried by the individual; selecting an image modification to be applied to the image by the processor; operating upon the image to create a modified image using either analog or digital imaging techniques, and displaying the modified image on a display device worn by the individual. The invention also relates to an apparatus augmenting sight in an individual. The apparatus comprises a camera, carried by the individual, for obtaining an image of a scene viewed by the individual; a display carried by the individual; an image modification input device carried by the individual; and a processor, carried by the individual. The processor modifies the image and displays the modified image on the display carried by the individual.
US08494295B2
Disclosed are apparatuses, computer readable storage media with instructions that carry out methods, and methods of (a) coding quantized transform coefficients as occur in image compression to form codewords, and (b) decoding a bitstream comprising the codewords. The coding combines a position identifying method to identify the relative position of clusters of consecutive non-zero-valued quantized transform coefficients, an amplitude event identifying method to identify amplitude events in the clusters of non-zero-valued quantized transform coefficients, and a coding method to code the position events, amplitude events, and signs of the amplitudes in the clusters. The coding method is particularly applicable to an ordered series of quantized transform coefficients where clusters are likely-to-occur.
US08494286B2
A method for detecting a face in a mid-shot digital image of a person comprises capturing first and second mid-shot digital images of nominally the same scene using different capture settings such that the foreground is differently differentiated from the background in each image, and comparing the first and second images to determine the foreground region of the images. A portion of the foreground region likely to correspond to a face is estimated based upon the geometry of the foreground region.
US08494284B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided for facilitating detection of text within an image. A method may include calculating an alpha value associated with an image region containing a hypothesized text fragment. The alpha value may be defined as a function of a curved character length distribution, a character width distribution, and an inter-character spacing distribution for the hypothesized text fragment. The method may additionally include calculating a gamma value based at least in part on an interval length distribution determined for the hypothesized text fragment. The method may also include classifying whether the image region is a text-containing region based at least in part on the calculated alpha and gamma values. Corresponding apparatuses are also provided.
US08494275B2
An information recognition system includes: a display section displaying an image on a display surface at a predetermined display resolution; an image combining section combining a character entry guide with the image, the character entry guide assisting handwritten input to the display surface; an information detecting section detecting handwritten input information at a detection resolution which is higher than the display resolution, the handwritten input information input to the display surface according to the character entry guide; and a character recognizing section performing character recognition based on the information detected at the detection resolution.
US08494270B2
A system for document processing including decomposing an image of a document into at least one data entry region sub-image, providing the data entry region sub-image to a data entry clerk available for processing the data entry region sub-image, receiving from the data entry clerk a data entry value associated with the data entry region sub-image, and validating the data entry value.
US08494269B2
A method for screening of a to-be-analyzed candidate as a skin-whitening agent, includes the steps of: (a) setting a first feature parameter corresponding to a first group of zebrafish that are bred under a predetermined set of breeding conditions; (b) administering the to-be-analyzed candidate to a second group of zebrafish that are bred under the predetermined set of breeding conditions; (c) capturing images of the zebrafish in the second group; (d) determining, from the images captured in step (c), a second feature parameter corresponding to the second group of zebrafish; and (e) concluding that the to-be-analyzed candidate is suitable as a skin-whitening agent if a difference between the first and second feature parameters has statistical significance. A system for implementing the method is also disclosed.
US08494263B2
An image processing system provides faster than real-time skin detection and localization. The system uses the highly optimized architecture of a graphics processing unit to quickly and efficiently detect and locate skin in an image. By performing skin detection and localization on the graphics processing unit, the image processing system frees the main system processor to perform other important tasks, including running general purpose applications. The speed with which the image processing system detects and localizes skin also facilitates subsequent processing steps such as face detection and motion tracking.
US08494262B2
A technique includes using a processor-based machine to determine a discrete color flow transformation to map target colors of a target object to source colors of a source object based at least in part on a first histogram indicating a color distribution of the target object and a second histogram of a color distribution indicating the source object. The technique includes determining a continuous color flow transformation to map the target colors to the source colors based at least in part on the discrete color flow transformation; and transforming the target colors of the target object to generate a third object based at least in part on the continuous color flow transformation.
US08494248B2
A method for suppressing noise in a diagnostic 3-D image, executed at least in part on a logic processor, captures, at each of a number of projection angles, 2-D image projection data, wherein each 2-D image projection has a central pixel and arranges the 2-D image projection data to form a 3-D data set. Each of the 2-D image projections is processed by performing a diffusion filtering process that obtains a homogeneity value for the 3-D data set, generates a diffusion conductance function according to an intensity gradient between adjacent digital image elements, and applies the diffusion filtering process to digital image elements according to the obtained homogeneity value, the generated diffusion conductance function, and a weighting value that relates to the distance of each pixel in the projection from the central pixel. The diagnostic 3-D image is reconstructed from the processed 2-D image projections.
US08494241B2
An occlusion evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating a masticatory ability depending on an occlusal geometry of teeth without actually used by a human subject, reads three dimensional data of geometries of maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4 and mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8, and specifies a geometry of a fluxion space Va defined by a plane Sa which includes two adjacent contact points Pa between the maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4 and mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8 and which is perpendicular to the occlusal plane, the occlusal surfaces of the maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4, and the occlusal surfaces of the mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8.
US08494223B2
A method, information processing system, and computer program storage product annotate video images associated with an environmental situation based on detected actions of a human interacting with the environmental situation. A set of real-time video images are received that are captured by at least one video camera associated with an environment presenting one or more environmental situations to a human. One or more user actions made by the human that is associated with the set of real-time video images with respect to the environmental situation are monitored. A determination is made, based on the monitoring, that the human driver has one of performed and failed to perform at least one action associated with one or more images of the set of real-time video images. The one or more images of the set of real-time video images are annotated with a set of annotations.
US08494220B2
A temporal thermal survey method to locate at a given area whether or not there is a subsurface object or void site. The method uses thermal inertia change detection. It locates temporal heat flows from naturally heated subsurface objects or faulty structures such as corrosion damage. The added value over earlier methods is the use of empirical methods to specify the optimum times for locating subsurface objects or voids amidst clutter and undisturbed host materials. Thermal inertia, or thermal effusivity, is the bulk material resistance to temperature change. Surface temperature highs and lows are shifted in time at the subsurface object or void site relative to the undisturbed host material sites. The Dual-band Infra-Red Effusivity Computed Tomography (DIRECT) method verifies the optimum two times to detect thermal inertia outliers at the subsurface object or void border with undisturbed host materials.
US08494214B2
An approach that dynamically learns a set of attributes of an operator of a point of sale (POS) is provided. In one embodiment, there is an attribute tool, including an extraction component configured to receive sensor data of a set of moving objects, and extract a set of attributes from each of the set of moving objects captured within the scan area at the POS; an identification component configured to update an appearance model with the set of attributes from each of the set of moving objects; and an analysis component configured to analyze the appearance model to identify at least one of the set of moving objects as an operator of the POS.
US08494213B2
The disclosure relates generally to a method of three dimensional (3D) tomographic volume reconstruction for computed tomography (CT) using vector processors and more specifically to an optimized implementation which pre-computes back projection weights and perspective geometry data associated with a given CT device as down-sampled tables. The down-sampled perspective geometry data and the weight table are interpolated dynamically as part of the volume reconstruction process for an object scanned using the given CT device.
US08494212B2
A head mounted display capable of displaying necessary and sufficient number of display information in an easily viewable manner even when a large number of identifying objects are detected is provided. A see-through-type head mounted display includes a display unit which is configured to project image light corresponding to display information onto an eye of a user thus allowing the user to visually recognize an image corresponding to the image light while allowing an external light to pass therethrough. The head mounted display selects identifying objects about which associated information associated with the identifying objects are displayed by the display unit based on a result detected within an imaging area. The head mounted display displays the selected associated information associated with the identifying objects in association with the identifying objects which are visually recognized by the user through the display unit in a see-through manner.
US08494205B2
A base station, wireless headset and headband, the headset being powered by a rechargeable battery, the base station having a cradle with charging output points, and the headset having a cradle-neck with charging input contact points. The headset may be cradled in a charging position to ensure electrical connection between the base station and the rechargeable battery through the electrical contact points. The wireless headset includes attachment sites for releasable attachment thereto of the headband to form a headband-headset assembly.
US08494192B2
An audio reproducing system includes a pair of speaker units, a mounting unit for mounting the pair of speaker units, without being attached to a baffle board, to the vicinity of a listener's ears in a manner such that sounds emitted from the front and back of a diaphragm of each speaker unit are mixed, and an audio signal output unit for virtual sound imaging an input audio signal and outputting the virtual sound imaged signal to the pair of speaker units in a manner such that the listener listens to a sound reproduced by the pair of speaker units feeling as if the sound is emitted from a different speaker device.
US08494187B2
A speaker includes an sound wave generator, at least one first electrode, at least one second electrode, an amplifier circuit, and a connector. The at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode are electrically connected to the sound wave generator. The amplifier is electrically connected to the at least one first electrode and the at least one second electrode. The connector is electrically connected to the amplifier circuit. The sound wave generator includes a carbon nanotube structure and insulative reinforcement structure compounded with the carbon nanotube structure.
US08494167B2
The present invention provides a computer implemented method, data processing system, and computer program product to restore an encrypted file. A computer receives a command to restore an encrypted file, wherein the encrypted file was previously backed up. The computer identifies a user associated with the encrypted file. The computer looks up a first keystore of the user based on the user, the first keystore having an active private key. The computer determines that a public key of the encrypted file fails to match an active public key of the first keystore. The computer restores a second keystore of the user to form a restored private key, wherein the second keystore was previously backed up. The computer responsive to a determination that the public key of the encrypted file fails to match the active public key of the first keystore, decrypts the encrypted file encryption key based on the restored private key to form a file encryption key. The computer encrypts the file encryption key with the active private key of the first keystore.
US08494166B2
A method, system and program are provided for enabling selective access to multiple users' encrypted data in a single storage cartridge. A unique, derived key is generated for each user's data by performing cryptographic operations on a combination of a common base key and metadata related to the data to be encrypted (e.g. its total block count). The base data key is wrapped with one or more encryption keys to form one or more encryption encapsulated data keys (EEDKs). The base key and the derived key are wrapped to create a session encrypted data key (SEDK), which along with the EEDKs, are conveyed to the tape drive, where the SEDK is decrypted. The EEDKs are then stored in one or more places on the storage cartridge. The base key and the derived key are used to encrypt a predetermined user's data, with the derived key stored on the cartridge with the encrypted data. The encrypted data may be subsequently decrypted by retrieving the EEDK and decrypting it with a decryption key to extract the base data key. The extracted base data key can then be used with other information to calculate the derived key. Once calculated, the derived key is used to decrypt its associated encrypted data.
US08494162B2
A method for securing data in hardcopy documents. The method includes obtaining a page image having a private data item; generating an encrypted version of the private data item; obtaining a decoder identification (ID) value of a decoder; generating, using an encoder, a symbol having the encrypted version of the private data item and the decoder ID value; and generating a hardcopy document by recording the symbol on a physical medium, where the hardcopy document is transported to a subsystem having the decoder, and where the subsystem decrypts the encrypted version of the private data item after extracting the encrypted version of the private data item from the symbol.
US08494161B2
A system for extracting a video-watermark embedded in a video sequence, comprising a decryption and decoding engine to receive the video sequence in a video-codec-encoded format and encrypted, then decrypt the video sequence yielding a decrypted video sequence, then decode the decrypted video sequence yielding a decrypted decoded video sequence, and then output the decrypted decoded video sequence to a display device for rendering thereon, a measurement module to measure memory usage utilized by the engine decoding at least part of the video sequence yielding measurements of memory usage, a memory usage analyzer to analyze the measurements to determine an arrangement of video frames of at least one frame type in the video sequence, and an encoding feature analyzer to analyze the arrangement of the video frames to extract the video-watermark from the video sequence. Related apparatus and methods are also described.
US08494159B2
There is provided an apparatus for the certification of privacy compliance. The apparatus includes a registry of at least one of enrolled video surveillance operators, approved surveillance hardware devices, approved surveillance software programs, approved surveillance system installers, and approved entities that manage surveillance systems. The apparatus further includes a registry searcher, in signal communication with the registry, for receiving queries to the registry, and for determining whether at least one of a particular surveillance operator, a particular surveillance hardware device, a particular surveillance software program, a particular surveillance system installer, and a particular entity that manages a particular surveillance system is on the registry based on a given query.
US08494153B2
Systems and methods for providing mute status reminders are presented. The system and method includes monitoring a mute status duration upon activation of a mute status at a communication device, outputting a periodic mute reminder having an output period responsive to activation of the mute status, and adjusting the output period responsive to the mute status duration.
US08494152B1
Methods, systems, and computer-readable media consistent with the present invention manage multiple telephone calls by managing a session record associated with the call, amending the session record according to a plurality of rules to reflect a plurality of instructed actions, evaluating an amended session record to derive at least one of the plurality of instructed actions, and implementing a derived instructed action on the call under the control of an automated attendant apparatus.
US08494136B2
In embodiments, a method, device and/or system allowing for automatic connection through a menu driven communication system by way of a keyed sequence, which may be stored as an XML file, comprising a telephone number and a menu response sequence.
US08494126B2
A method and electronic device for storing and transmitting response data in an interactive voice response (IVR) system session are provided. Response data, such as a credit card number, system access code or password may be stored in the device. During an IVR session, the response data may be selected, retrieved and transmitted to respond to an IVR request. Content protection may be used to control access to the response data and to allow access to the response data if an IVR session is established.
US08494125B2
A network method for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which a caller may leave a voice-message that includes the identification of an attachment, which may include, as examples only, audio, video, text, programs, spreadsheets and graphic attachments. A video, text, spreadsheet or graphic attachment may be converted to an audible attachment to the voice-mail at the caller's or the voice-mail subscriber's request. Such entries may be made, after receiving an automated prompt for leaving an attachment identifier or conversion request, audibly or by using a keypad entry. A network method is also provided for using a network telephone voice-mail service, by which the voice-mail service may detect an attachment to a voice-mail message and provide access to the attachment to the voice-mail message.
US08494123B2
A user equipment communications device is configured to provide personal content to a party to a call with a user of the device, when the user places the party on hold. The device determines that the party has been placed on hold and that the user has enabled sharing of personal content with the party. The device then transmits a visual menu to a communications device of the party via a data network, to allow the party to select a type of personal content to receive from the device while the party is on hold. When the device receives a selection from the party's device indicating the type of personal content, it transmits a personal information asset to the party's device according to the type of personal content indicated by the selection. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
US08494121B1
A system and method for rapidly gathering information at an emergency scene from people located inside the emergency using a telephone call system capable of simultaneously receiving a large number of calls to the same telephone number. People in rooms can be trained to call a posted emergency number. Automatic questions concerning location and situation near the caller can be asked and the responses combined and processed to present a spreadsheet or other presentation to responders so that they have a maximum of information known to those inside the emergency. Questions can be tailored for fire, armed attack and other emergencies. The results can be presented wirelessly to responders either over official communication channels or by means of a secure website. Each call can be time stamped and an ID can be established allowing callback by responders for more information or to give instructions to particular individuals or groups.
US08494117B2
A radiation therapy device includes an overhanging arm, from which a therapeutic treatment beam is operable to be directed onto the object to be irradiated, the overhanging arm being attached to a rotatable holder so that the overhanging arm is operable to be rotated around an isocenter, such that the therapeutic treatment beam is operable to be directed from different angles onto the isocenter. The radiation therapy device also includes a holder ring connected to the overhanging arm, the holder ring being arranged concentrically in a plane of rotation of the radiation therapy device. The radiation therapy device includes an x-ray source for diagnostic x-rays and an x-ray detector of the diagnostic x-rays. The x-ray source and the x-ray detector are operable to be moved along the holder ring so that a diagnostic x-ray image of a patient to be irradiated is produced from different directions.
US08494115B2
Disclosed is an example method to calculate radiation dose. The method includes receiving a tissue matrix in which the tissue matrix includes a plurality of voxels. The example method also includes producing a first plurality of transport lines with a direction controller in which each transport line is indicative of a cone of irradiated energy, and calculating at least one radiation dose with at least one deposit engine substantially in parallel with producing a second plurality of transport lines with the direction controller.
US08494114B2
Disclosed are a method and a device for security-inspection of liquid articles with dual-energy CT imaging. The method comprises the steps of obtaining one or more CT images including physical attributes of liquid article to be inspected by CT scanning and a dual-energy reconstruction method; acquiring the physical attributes of each liquid article from the CT image; and determining whether there are drugs concealed in the inspected liquid article based on the difference between the acquired physical attributes and reference physical attributes of the inspected liquid article. The CT scanning can be implemented by a normal CT scanning technique, or a spiral CT scanning technique. In the normal CT scanning technique, the scan position can be preset, or set by the operator with a DR image, or set by automatic analysis of the DR image.
US08494109B2
Provided is a shift register configured by cascade-connecting unit circuits 11 each including a compensation circuit 21. The compensation circuit 21 applies an overshoot potential Vos (compensation potential) that is lower than a low level potential to an additional output terminal Z, when a second reset signal R2 outputted from a second next stage unit circuit becomes a high level. To a gate terminal of a TFT T8 (output reset transistor), a signal outputted from the additional output terminal Z included in a next stage unit circuit is supplied. Selectively applying a high level potential and a compensation potential of a polarity opposite to the high level potential to the gate terminal of the TFT T8 allows to reduce a threshold voltage shift of the TFT T8 and to prevent a reset time of the output signal from becoming long over time.
US08494107B2
A formic acid aqueous solution that contains Fe (II) ions is produced by dissolving metal iron in a formic acid aqueous solution. Nitrogen is supplied from a nitrogen supply device to a chemical liquid tank and then discharged from a discharge line to reduce the dissolved oxygen concentration in the aqueous solution. The chemical liquid tank is filled with the formic acid aqueous solution sealed with nitrogen, and is transferred from a factory to a nuclear reactor building designated as radiation-controlled areas. Inside the nuclear reactor building, the chemical liquid tank is installed in a film deposition apparatus connected to a reactor water recirculation pipeline. The formic acid aqueous is supplied from the chemical liquid tank to the inside of the reactor water recirculation pipeline, and then a ferrite film is formed on the inner surface of the reactor water recirculation pipeline.
US08494106B2
A shipping container is constructed for shipping channeled fuel bundle assemblies. The shipping container includes an outer container, an inner container sized to fit within the outer container, and shock absorbing material disposed at least between the outer and inner containers. The inner container is shaped to house at least one pre-channeled fuel bundle assembly including a channel, a channel fastener, and an array of fuel rods supported by grid spacers between an upper tie plate and a lower tie plate. The inner container includes a lower tie plate restraint device shaped to receive the lower tie plate and a lower portion of the channel, and an upper tie plate restraint device shaped to receive the upper tie plate and an upper portion of the channel and channel fastener assembly. The lower and upper tie plate restraint devices are lockable within the inner shipping container.
US08494104B2
A NICAM audio signal re-sampler may include a non-linear interpolator configured to interpolate in a non-linear manner between sequential digital samples that are based on a stream of demodulated NICAM audio samples. A phase differential calculator may be included that compares phase information at different resolutions.
US08494098B2
Systems and methods for inter-cell interference cancellation are provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a cell computation unit configured to compute receive chips for a first interfering cell and a subtraction unit configured to remove the computed receive chips for the first interfering cell from received chips at a receiver. The apparatus further comprises a processing unit configured to process the received chips with the computed receive chips for the first interfering cell removed into received symbols and a detection unit configured to detect user symbols for a target cell from the received symbols.
US08494097B1
A system including a variable gain amplifier, an automatic gain control module, and a channel estimation module. The variable gain amplifier amplifies an input signal in accordance with a gain. The input signal includes a plurality of orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing symbols. Each of the plurality of orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing symbols is preceded by a respective cyclic prefix. The automatic gain control module adjusts, based on a signal strength of the input signal, the gain of the variable gain amplifier during the respective cyclic prefix preceding each of the plurality of orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing symbols. The automatic gain control module generates a control signal in response to the gain of the variable gain amplifier being adjusted. The channel estimation module generates a channel estimate for each of the plurality of orthogonal frequency domain multiplexing symbols and updates the channel estimate based on the control signal.
US08494095B2
The present invention relates to a method of detecting the presence of a transmission signal of a transmitter in a reception signal in a wireless communication system based on CR technology. The method includes generating a frequency signal vector using a Fourier transform and a reception signal vector obtained by sampling the reception signal at a certain period, finding an eigenvalue and an eigenvector regarding a matrix, obtaining by approximating a covariance matrix of the frequency signal vector using a vectorized Fourier transform result of all channel impulse responses of the transmission signal linearly modulated, calculating a sufficient statistic on a basis of the frequency signal vector, the eigenvalue, and the eigenvector, finding a threshold which is a criterion for determining signal presence detection on a basis of a preset detection probability or a preset false alarm probability and the eigenvalue, and if the sufficient statistic is determined to be greater than the threshold, determining that the transmission signal exists.
US08494092B2
In described embodiments, a receiver includes a clock and data recovery (CDR) module with a voltage control oscillator (VCO) and a Sigma-Delta modulator in an integral loop control of the VCO. Providing finer resolution by the Sigma-Delta modulator reduces quantization noise in the integral control loop when compared to a loop without a Sigma-Delta modulator in the integral loop. Sigma-Delta modulation within the integral loop control of a VCO-based CDR reduces effective quantization of the VCO integral word control, allowing the proportional loop control compensation to i) reduce effective quantization of the VCO integral word control and, ii) enhance receiver jitter tolerance in presence of periodic-jitter, serial data whose frequency is offset from the nominal rate and serial data whose nominal frequency is modulated by a spread spectrum clock.
US08494087B2
The system (800), transmitter (600), receiver (700), and method of the present invention provide a technique to reduce the Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) for the single carrier and single carrier block transmission (SCBT) modulations, especially when non-symmetric constellations (e.g. BPSK) are used. The constellation used for the modulation of each symbol, is rotated by a phase. Only the constellation is rotated, and the mapping of the bits into each constellation may or may not be similar. Further, in alternative embodiments the modulated bits are either encoded or not encoded. In a further alternative embodiment, a Trellis Coded Modulation (TCM) is used. Because the phase rotation is known a priori, or can be determined from a priori known information, it can easily be corrected at the receiver.
US08494086B2
Distortion and aliasing reduction for digital to analog conversion. Synthesis of one or more distortion terms made based on a digital signal (e.g., one or more digital codewords) is performed in accordance with digital to analog conversion. The one or more distortion terms may correspond to aliased higher-order harmonics, distortion, nonlinearities, clipping, etc. Such distortion terms may be known a priori, such as based upon particular characteristics of a given device, operational history, etc. Alternatively, such distortion terms may be determined based upon operation of a device and/or based upon an analog signal generated from the analog to conversion process. For example, frequency selective measurements made based on an analog signal generated from the digital to analog conversion may be used for determination of and/or adaptation of the one or more distortion terms. One or more DACs may be employed within various architectures operative to perform digital to analog conversion.
US08494075B2
In a multiple-input, multiple-output system, the wireless node's receive chain demodulation function is enhanced to include phase tracking. Instead of performing phase tracking during the data symbols which is cumbersome for very high throughput wireless networks, the VHT Long Training Fields (LTFs) embedded in the preamble of a frame are used for phase tracking. Single stream pilot tones are added during the transmission of VHT-LTFs. This is exploited on the receive side to be able to estimate the channel using the pilot tones in the first set of the Long Training Fields. Second set of the Long Training Fields are then used to estimate the phase of the pilot tones using the estimated channel. The phase estimation so obtained is continuously applied to other received data tones throughout the VHT-LTFs of the data symbols. The phase errors due to PLL mismatches and phase noise are reduced at reception, leading to better signal to noise ratio for different levels of parts per million drift and offset in frequency. Further, MIMO channel estimation is more accurate, which improves the overall wireless network when this accurate MIMO channel estimation data participates in calibration and handshake between wireless nodes.
US08494070B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for channel estimation and frequency tracking in mobile communication systems. Particularly, various ways of using the time domain impulse channel response based on the staggered frequency domain pilot tones are presented that enable rapid frequency error estimation and frequency tracking control. A mathematical model is developed that provides a convenient metric for evaluating tolerable frequency error, as well as modes for switching between channel impulse response (CIR)-based and secondary synchronization channel (SSC)-based frequency tracking.
US08494069B2
A phase correcting apparatus, for a radio transmitter which obtains a first radio signal (RS1) based on a first baseband signal (BB1), includes a demodulator which demodulates a feedback signal from which a part of RS1 is extracted by a first carrier signal (CS1) and which generates a second baseband signal (BB2), a modulator which modulates a difference signal between BB1 and BB2 by a second carrier signal (CS2) and which outputs a second radio signal (RS2), a power amplifier which amplifies RS2 to obtain RS1, a detector which detects a phase difference between BB1 and BB2, and a phase rotator which rotates any phase of BB1, BB2, CS1, or CS2 as a target phase correction amount, wherein the detector converts a desired analog signal obtained by multiplying BB1 and BB2 into a digital signal, and which detects the phase difference based on digital data.
US08494063B1
A wireless RF data transmission system has at least one base station transmitting control information on a control channel and high speed data on at least one data channel. At least one subscriber station receives the control information and data channels, adjusting a modulation and/or coding of reception of the data in response to the control information. Preferably, the control information is transmitted using a more robust modulation, such as QPSK, than used to transmit the data, which is preferably transmitted using either 16, 64 or 256 QAM. Additionally, timing or header information for the data may be included on the control channel.
US08494061B2
The invention concerns methods and devices for concealing artefacts induced by transmission errors in a video sequence transmitted over a network between a server and a client making it possible to avoid abrupt resynchronization following a transmission error. When an error is detected, a video stream is created from a first video stream not containing any error and data representing artefacts induced by that error. The influence of the data representing the artefacts diminishes with time such that the created video stream converges towards the video stream not containing any error. The creation of the video stream in which the effects due to a transmission error are progressively removed may be carried out by the server or by the client.
US08494055B2
An apparatus and a method for frame interpolation based on precision motion estimation are provided. The apparatus for frame interpolation may generate an interpolation frame to restore images based on a motion vector which is determined after a motion vector is determined based on a rotation element in addition to forward motion and backward motion between frames.
US08494040B2
A method for testing a radio frequency (RF) receiver may include measuring a plurality of bit error levels for the RF receiver at a given RF frequency. The method may further include applying a Huber function to the measured plurality of bit error levels to generate a bit error ratio (BER) estimate for the RF receiver. The method would also include using the BER estimate to generate a sensitivity for the RF receiver.
US08494029B2
Methods and systems for multi-user detection in the presence of multiple spreading factors are provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, an apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an interference computation unit configured to compute a combined interference based on detected user symbols for a first spreading factor and detected user symbols for a second spreading factor, wherein the combined interference accounts for multi-user interference from user symbols for the first and second spreading factors. The apparatus further comprises an interference cancellation unit configured to remove the computed combined interference from a plurality of received symbols corresponding to the first spreading factor and a redetection unit configured to redetect the user symbols for the first spreading factor from the plurality of received symbols with the computed combined interference removed.
US08494028B1
Despreading apparatus with a relatively simple control is described. Plurality of despreading modules are provided in parallel, e.g., one per user. Each despreading module supports a plurality of despreading rates, e.g., ranging from the minimum to the maximum despreading rate that may be assigned to a user. Each despreading module is controlled in a simple manner with the output of the despreading module and despreading rate achieved being determined by a control module controlling a controllable downsampling module such that despreading rate corresponding to the individual user to which the despreading module corresponds is achieved at any given time. MUX control signals are provided to a plurality of MUXes included in the despreading module, and may be stored in a table with each set of MUX control signals corresponding to a different despreading rate. Control is greatly simplified, compared to systems where a set of despreading circuitry is dynamically configured.
US08494012B2
In one embodiment, the instant invention provides a method that includes: outputting a first laser beam having: a beam quality factor (M2) between 1 and 5, and a spectral width of less than 0.15 nm, where the outputting is performed by a laser generating component that includes a alexandrite laser oscillator; converting the first laser beam through a first Raman cell to produce a second laser beam, where the first Raman cell is filled with a first gas; and converting the second laser beam through a second Raman cell to produce a final laser beam, where the second Raman cell is filled with a second gas and is operationally positioned after the first Raman cell, where the first gas and the second gas are different gasses, and where the final laser beam having: a second energy of at least 1 mJ, and at least one wavelength longer than 2.5 micron.
US08494006B2
A method and apparatus for transmitting a downlink reference signal in a wireless communication system supporting multiple antennas is disclosed. A method for transmitting Channel State Information-Reference Signals (CSI-RSs) for eight or less antenna ports includes selecting one of a plurality of CSI-RS Resource Element (RE) groups defined on a data region of a downlink subframe and mapping CSI-RSs for the eight or less antenna ports to the selected CSI-RS RE group, and transmitting the downlink subframe in which the CSI-RSs for the eight or less antenna ports are mapped. The plurality of CSI-RS RE groups is defined such that a transmission diversity RE pair for data transmitted on the downlink subframe is not broken.
US08494003B2
The invention relates to a data packet structure for conveying data of service data units (SDU) using protocol data units (PDU). The data packet comprise a data packet payload comprising at least one protocol data unit (PDU), wherein a protocol data unit (PDU) comprises a service data unit (SDU) or a fragment of a service data unit; and a data packet header comprising an indicator (FFF,SFF) indicating whether or not the data packet payload begins with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit and whether or not the data packet payload ends with a protocol data unit (PDU) being a fragment of a service data unit.
US08494002B2
A supervisory communications device, such as a headend device within a communications network, monitors and controls communications with a plurality of remote communications devices throughout a widely distributed network. The supervisory device allocates bandwidth on the upstream channels by sending MAP messages over its downstream channel. A highly integrated media access controller integrated circuit (MAC IC) operates within the headend to provide lower level processing on signals exchanged with the remote devices. The enhanced functionality of the MAC IC relieves the processing burden on the headend CPU and increases packet throughput. The enhanced functionality includes header suppression and expansion, DES encryption and decryption, fragment reassembly, concatenation, and DMA operations.
US08493999B2
In a method for using resources in a communication system, a communication region is divided into inter-sector boundary regions, sector central regions, and a sector common region, and predetermined resources are allocated to the divided regions.
US08493996B2
In one exemplary aspect of this invention a method includes receiving at a user equipment from a wide area network access node information identifying at least one predetermined radio frequency carrier; initiating, in response to a presence of an interferer on a radio frequency carrier that is being used for a current connection between the user equipment and the network access node, a connection re-establishment procedure, where the interferer has the potential to cause a radio link failure of the current connection on the radio frequency carrier; and transmitting a connection re-establishment request to the network access node on the predetermined radio frequency carrier. The interferer can be a closed subscriber group network access node that the user equipment is not authorized to gain access to.
US08493993B2
A medium access control (MAC) duty cycling is carried out in a body area network (BAN). The duty cycling includes sending a wake-up (WUP) message from a sender node to one or more target receiver nodes when a wireless medium of the BAN is free (S510); determining if at least one target receiver node responded with a READY message during a sniff time interval of the sender node (S520); determining if a number of WUP messages transmitted by the sender node exceeds a predefined threshold when the READY message was not received (S540); and setting the sender node to operate in a TURN mode when the number of WUP messages exceeded the predefined threshold (S550).
US08493987B2
A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes sending a customized configuration file to the cable modem. The configuration file contains service provisioning information and further includes information indicative of a device-to-device communication configuration. A message is passed from the cable modem to the customer premise equipment device indicative of the device-to-device communication configuration. The customer premise equipment device is initialized for device-to-device communication with any other customer premise equipment devices in accordance with the device-to-device communication configuration indicated in the message, which relates to physical layer and data link layer communications among customer premise equipment devices. In this way, the customer premise equipment device knows how to communicate with other customer premise equipment devices, for example, at the same subscriber location.
US08493986B2
Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing broadband communication are described. A service gateway may be situated outside of one or more households. The service gateway may include a termination component and a broadband modem. The termination component may be configured to connect to a source of a broadband data signal and receive the signal from the source. The broadband modem may be configured to receive the signal from the termination component and output at least a portion of the signal for receipt by a remote device situated within a household. Additionally, the service gateway may optionally include a router in communication with the broadband modem. The router may be configured to function as an intermediary between the modem and the remote device.
US08493984B2
In one embodiment, a method for receiving a request from a first interface to establish a session with at least a second interface in a communication network is provided. The request is transmitted to an application layer signaling device via an application layer signaling protocol dialog, wherein the application layer signaling protocol dialog is configured to facilitate communication between the first interface and the application layer signaling device. The method further includes communicating parameters for establishing a session tunnel to a first edge router via the application layer signaling protocol dialog, wherein the first edge router is configured to dynamically establish the session tunnel between the first edge router and at least a second edge router, wherein the second edge router is positioned proximate to the at least second interface in the communication network.
US08493983B2
Techniques are provided herein for receiving at a first network device, a virtual local area network (VLAN) discovery frame from a second network device. The second network device is configured to encapsulate Fiber Channel over Ethernet. The hardware media access control (MAC) address or Port World Wide Name (PWWN) of the second network device is extracted from the VLAN discovery frame. A mapping is identified between the second network device and a corresponding virtual storage area network (VSAN) based on the hardware MAC address or PWWN. The mapping identifies a corresponding VLAN for the second network device to use for login in order to communicate with the corresponding VSAN. Information representing the identified VLAN is sent to the second network device.
US08493981B2
A switching module can route packets between a network fabric and a local network, both of which form a closed network such as a vehicular network. The switching module provides local network management functions, and handles packet transfers between the local network and the network fabric. The switching module uses network information, which can include information about packet content type and network topology, to determine a packet's priority, and an appropriate switching protocol to use for processing and routing packets.
US08493974B1
A protocol-independent switch system and method includes wrapping ingress data with a local header to form a wrapped packet. The wrapped packet can include data in any of layer-1, layer-2, and layer-3 type. The local header is used for switching the wrapped packet across switch fabric. The local header is removed before egress of the data.
US08493967B2
This method of managing public identities in an information transmission network (11) of internet type implementing an SIP protocol for establishing data transmission links between said network and equipment for managing a group public identity (10) connected to this network is characterized in that it comprises: —a prior step of recording a group common public identity representative of at least one group of several individual public identities managed by said management equipment (10), at a public identities record management server (12); —a step of verifying a request to establish an incoming call, said request containing a numbering sequence, intended to verify whether said sequence corresponds to a recorded group public identity; and a step of sending said request to a contact address corresponding to the recorded group public identity.
US08493966B2
A transceiver includes a peripheral device, a first processor configured to control an operation of the peripheral device, at least one second processor configured to transport data between the transceiver and at least one wireless network, and a third processor connected between the first processor and the at least one second processor. The third processor is configured to control the at least one second processor for executing a network operation independently of the first processor.
US08493964B2
A method of performing cell search includes receiving a primary synchronization signal (PSS) comprising a primary synchronization code (PSC) and receiving a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) comprising a first secondary synchronization code (SSC) and a second SSC, wherein the SSS includes a first SSS and a second SSS, the first SSC and the second SSC are arranged in that order in the first SSS, and the second SSC and the first SSC are arranged in that order in the second SSS. Detection performance on synchronization signals can be improved, and cell search can be performed more reliably.
US08493963B1
An apparatus includes Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry, multiple message sources and strobe multiplexing logic. The RF circuitry is configured to synchronize communication of RF signals based on reception of strobe messages. The multiple message sources are each configured to generate respective ones of the strobe messages for synchronizing the RF circuitry. The strobe multiplexing logic is configured to multiplex the strobe messages originating from the multiple message sources, and to send the multiplexed strobe messages over a single digital interface to the RF circuitry.
US08493962B2
A network includes a first transceiving station and a further transceiving station. In one arrangement the data is transmitted from the first transceiving station to the second transceiving station according to a frame structure having a payload portion for payload data and a synchronization portion for synchronization data. The frame structure is selected from candidate frame structures having differing durations of the synchronization portion, according to a data loading factor which depends on the amount of data that is required to be transmitted. The payload capacity may be optimised by reducing the duration of the synchronization portion when a large amount of data is required to be transmitted.
US08493957B2
Systems and methods are disclosed by which base stations with overlapping service areas allocate frames within superframes of a channel in a cognitive radio communication network. The frames are assigned for sole use by a base station on a frame-by-frame basis using a Frame-Based, On-Demand Spectrum Contention process. The process resolves contentions for use of frames using equally probable random numbers. The results of the process are transmitted and received between base stations using vector messages. Applications of the methods and systems include Wireless Regional Area Networks (WRANs), including those using the standards of IEEE 802.22.
US08493956B2
Methods and apparatus related to the communication of traffic in peer to peer communications are described. A peer to peer communications system includes traffic slots, and for a pair of devices having a connection a first transmission request resource and a second transmission request resource are associated with a traffic transmission interval of the traffic slot, the first request resource preceding the second request resource. The first request resource is used for the first device to communicate a request to transmit traffic to the second device. The second request resource is used to communicate a request from the second device to transmit traffic to the first device. One protocol calls for a second resource request to override a first resource request. In another protocol the second resource is used to communicate additional information corresponding to a first resource request, when a request is communicated in the first resource.
US08493947B2
Available access points (AP) are searched in a wireless network for information of each channel between a client and each AP and the information includes at least one network performance metric. A list of the available APs and the information are received at the client and the client has at least one interface used for communicating with each AP. A type of a data flow and a corresponding data flow metric for the type of data flow are also determined. An AP is selected to receive the data flow from the list of the available APs based on the information of each channel and the type of the data flow metric, and the data flow is received at the client from the selected AP in the wireless network.
US08493945B2
A method of characterizing transmission of a node of a wireless network is disclosed. The method includes determining a neighbor function based on how many neighboring nodes are affected by a neighbor function based on how many neighboring nodes are affected by signals transmitted from the node at varying power levels. For a range of transmission path losses between the node and neighboring nodes, transmission power levels and transmission data rates are calculated that minimize an air-time metric, wherein the air-time metric is dependent on the neighbor function and an air-time occupied by transmission packets.
US08493942B2
Techniques for recovering transmissions on data and control channels with interference cancellation are described. A receiver derives a first interference estimate for a first channel based on a first channel estimate and cancels the first interference estimate from an input signal. The receiver thereafter derives a second interference estimate for the first channel based on a second channel estimate and cancels the second interference estimate in place of the first interference estimate from the input signal. The receiver may derive the first channel estimate based on pilot symbols and may derive the second channel estimate based on a correctly decoded packet. The second channel estimate may be of higher quality than the first channel estimate.
US08493935B2
A wireless communication unit (302, 405, 505, 605) is capable of communicating with a plurality of communication networks in a cellular communication system, where the plurality of communication networks employ a respective plurality of radio access technologies. The wireless communication unit (302, 405, 505, 605) comprises a receiver for receiving a message from a network device in the cellular communication system; and signal processing logic, operably coupled to the receiver, for determining from the received message a hierarchical policy of network information that applies to the plurality of radio access technologies.
US08493929B2
A method and apparatus perform a handover of a mobile node with a decreased latency that occurs when the mobile node performs an Internet protocol (IP) configuration. The method of performing a handover of a mobile node includes: when the mobile node is connected to a network before the handover is performed, receiving first information on an IP configuration method to be used in a new network after the handover is performed from an information server (IS); when the mobile node is connected to the new network, receiving second information on the IP configuration method of the new network from a point of attachment (PoA) of the new network; determining whether the first information and the second information are identical; and, if it is determined that the first and second information are identical, performing an IP configuration according to the first information.
US08493916B2
Provided are a MIMO transmission device and a MIMO transmission method which can improve reception quality of a response signal. A terminal (100) as the MIMO transmission device maps a first and a second element of the ACK/NACK signal vector formed from ACK/NACK signals onto a first and a second stream, respectively, and transmits the elements contained in a 2SC-FDMA symbol in a single slot. In the terminal (100), a response signal vector formation unit (140) forms [aSack, O] as the ACK/NACK signal vector in a first SC-FDMA symbol and [O, aSack] as an ACK/NACK signal vector in a second SC-FDMA symbol. A precoding unit (165) uses a unitary matrix to precode the ACK/NACK signal vector formed in the response signal vector formation unit (140).
US08493911B2
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method for restricting a use of particular control channel in an Evolved Universal Mobile telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
US08493910B2
An apparatus comprising a mobile router (MR) configured to communicate with a plurality of mobile nodes (MNs), wherein the MR is configured to obtain from a home agent (HA) a prefix for MNs using a binding update (BU) message and a binding acknowledgement (BA) message. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising requesting a mobile network prefix (MNP) using a BU message, receiving a BA message, and advertising the MNP to a MN if the MNP is received in the BA message. Also disclosed is a method comprising delegating at least one prefix for a MN by exchanging a BU message and a BA message between a MR and a HA.
US08493909B2
A method, system and computer program product for the transmission of data from a transmitter to receiver. The present invention is directed to improving data transmission. To this end, the transmission of data is accelerated, and an inband-signaling of information is carried out on an MAC-layer plane, wherein the information is particularly relevant to the base station (BS).
US08493906B1
An aircraft gateway processing system for wirelessly transferring data between an aircraft and a ground server. The aircraft gateway processing system includes an aircraft gateway processor unit that includes a protocol data processing unit; and, a store and forward unit operably connected to the protocol data processing unit. An auxiliary battery power unit is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit and configured to provide self-powered operation of the aircraft gateway processing system in the event of a loss of aircraft power during communications or initiation of communication when aircraft power is not available. At least one wireless communication interface is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit for connection to the internet and ultimately to a ground server connected to the internet. At least one network data interface is operably connected to the aircraft gateway processor unit and operably connectable to another aircraft unit.
US08493904B2
A method and apparatus for supporting a Short Message Service (SMS) of a Mobile Station (MS) during an idle mode in a wireless communication system are provided. An MS operation method for supporting an SMS in a wireless communication system includes receiving an SMS message from a Base Station (BS) through a ranging message in an idle mode, upon receiving the SMS message from the BS, starting a timer, while the timer operates, waiting UpLink (UL) resource allocation for transmission of an ACKnowledge (ACK) message about the SMS message, and, upon being allocated a UL resource for the ACK message transmission, transmitting the ACK message using the UL resource.
US08493903B2
A technology of setting up a MBS zone for providing a mobile IPTV service is provided in which the MBS zone is effectively managed, so that QoS is prevented from being degraded due to the handover delay that is caused by a MBS handover occurring when a user moves between MBS zones.
US08493891B2
A method for counting the audience of multimedia broadcast/multicast service (MBMS) includes: by a first network element (NE), counting MBMS audience on the first NE; and reporting the MBMS audience counted on the first NE to a statistical analysis NE so that the statistical analysis NE gets an MBMS audience counting result. The invention also discloses a statistical analysis NE, a communication NE, and a system for counting MBMS audience. The invention overcomes the waste of resources on audience counting in multicast mode and provides a feasible method for counting audience in enhanced broadcast mode.
US08493881B2
Disclosed is a method and system for maximizing the use of available bandwidth on an ISP communication system between an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and remote locations where at least one of the remote locations has a remote cache. An embodiment may create a pool of the cacheable objects being sent to the remote locations from the downstream traffic. An embodiment may determine bandwidth savings for each object in the pool of cacheable objects that would be achieved by remotely caching each object and prioritize the pool of cacheable objects based on the determined bandwidth savings for each object. An embodiment may create a queue of objects to multicast to the remote caches based on the pool of cacheable objects and the remaining multicast bandwidth and then multicast the queue to the remote caches. The remote caches may intercept and reply to requests for objects held in the remote cache without accessing the ISP communication system, thus, saving bandwidth on the ISP communication system.
US08493877B1
A method for determining a maximum symbol rate of a return communication link includes: assigning transmission opportunities at a current symbol rate equal to a first symbol rate to the user terminal; receiving a plurality of messages during the assigned transmission opportunities at the current symbol rate from the user terminal; first determining if a number of messages incorrectly received is less than a threshold number of incorrect messages and second determining if a power amplifier of the user terminal is operating in a linear region; if the number of messages incorrectly received is less than the threshold number and if the power amplifier is operating in the linear region, assigning a channel at the current symbol rate to the user terminal as a home channel for the user terminal; and otherwise, repeating at an updated current symbol rate.
US08493874B2
In an OFDM communication system, a mobile station provides a radio access network (RAN) a channel quality metric second order statistic, in one embodiment a signal to noise plus interference power ratio (SINR) second order statistic and in particular an SINR standard deviation and/or variance, along with a mean channel quality metric, that is, a mean SINR. By providing both a mean channel quality metric and a channel quality metric second order statistic, the communication system permits the RAN to create a more accurate fading profile of an associated air interface, and in particular a downlink of the air interface, thereby facilitating an improved scheduling decision over the prior art and assuring that a packet has a higher probability to go through a downlink channel without too many retransmissions.
US08493873B2
A resource block can include all symbols in a slot for each, generally a multiple of 12, sub-carrier in the resource block. A slot is typically 0.5 milliseconds (ms) and includes 7 symbols for short cyclic prefix (CP) and 6 symbols for long CP. The resource block can include a SRS channel as well as other channels such as an acknowledgement (ACK) channel and a channel quality indication (CQI) channel. Although defined as a separate physical channel the SRS can be multiplex with uplink channels. In accordance therewith, an SRS can be detected in a slot of a 1.0 ms sub-frame constituting two slots, typically one slot but not the other including the SRS. The structure of the slot can be modified to facilitate the multiplexing by, e.g., replacing an existing symbol with the SRS, and a length and a type of a time domain orthogonal spreading code can be determined for each slot as a function of SRS presence.
US08493866B2
A method for sending signals from an active computer in a high-voltage power transmission system including active protection computers and active and standby control computers in a hierarchical structure having at least two hierarchical levels. A high-voltage power transmission system and a control station for at least a part of such a transmission system. In the system all computers on the various hierarchical levels are connected to at least two separate computer communication networks. An active computer sends signals that are to be received by at least one other computer at the same or another hierarchical level simultaneously on the two separate computer communication networks to which it is connected.
US08493859B2
A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code to monitor transmission of data to target. A determination is made as to whether the transmission of the data exceeds a threshold. The bandwidth used to transmit the data to the target is controlled using an adaptive bandwidth control process if the transmission of the data exceeds the threshold, wherein a minimum amount of bandwidth is guaranteed for the transmission of the data.
US08493857B2
A method for establishing a virtual channel between network devices is disclosed. In the case of a local network device establishing a virtual channel with a remote network device, a virtual channel request message is sent from the local network device to the remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are received and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are sent. The virtual channel is then enabled. In the case of a remote network device establishing a virtual channel with a local network device, a virtual channel request message is received from a local network device by a remote network device. A virtual channel acknowledgement message and a remote capability list are sent and a virtual channel resume message and a local capability list are received. The virtual channel is then enabled.
US08493853B2
A process involves controlling an output rate of a network device using rate control logic, and providing a variable bandwidth for the rate control logic and increasing a response time constant of the rate control logic according to an amount of time that an input rate of data to the network device is evaluated by the rate control logic; applying a rate estimate when a determination of the output rate to a predetermined accuracy is unavailable; applying a time rate determined from the difference in two PCR packets otherwise; and applying the time rate determined from the difference in two PCR packets unless the rate estimate shows that an actual rate has changed to an extent that triggers a change in the output rate to the rate estimate.
US08493849B2
A Spontaneous Area Network (SPAN) is formed by mobile and fixed nodes using wireless transmission links between nodes, usually in a nearby geographical area. Applications allow users to create, join, leave, and manage SPANs and groups in a SPAN. Automatic procedures allow nodes to join other SPANs. Transmission power of the wireless network interface is dynamic, varying depending on battery level, type of information to transmit, state and topology of the network. A delay tolerant object layer abstraction creates, modifies, deletes, publishes, and handles Delay Tolerant Distributed Objects (DTDOs). A Patient Transport Protocol (PTP) ensures a reliable transport of information through the network while avoiding congestion conditions. An aggressive and explosive network protocol (AGENET) has routing and forwarding capacities and uses datagrams to establish communication between different nodes of the SPAN. Cooperation and diversity are exploited to react to node mobility that causes frequent changes in network topology and disconnections.
US08493848B2
A wireless resource allocation method, including classifying a plurality of wireless terminal devices into a first group and a second group according to wireless communication quality; and performing allocation, such that transmission time period allocated to wireless terminal device having the best wireless communication quality from among the wireless terminal devices belonging to the first group, and transmission time period allocated to the wireless terminal device having the best wireless communication quality from among the wireless terminal devices belonging to the second group, are temporally in closest proximity or overlap.
US08493839B2
A method and system that comprises a central processing unit (CPU) and a first and second network adapter that are teamed together is disclosed. The network adapters in the team may be adapted to offload connections to transfer a plurality of packets. A program, executing on the CPU, may reload an offloaded connection established by the first network adapter onto the second network adapter if one of a plurality of packets associated with the offloaded connection was received on the second network adapter.
US08493833B1
A communication system is disclosed. The communication system comprises a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes a plurality of channels; The communication system includes a plurality of receivers coupled to outputs of the plurality of channels; and a plurality of drivers coupled to inputs of the plurality of channels, wherein a slew rate for each of the plurality drivers is dependent on the transitions of its neighboring drivers. The communication system further includes a plurality of slew rate equalizers coupled to the plurality of drivers, wherein a slew rate driver coupled to a victim channel compensates for cross talk from its neighboring aggressor channels by adjusting its slew rate based upon a signal received from the slew rate equalizer of the victim channel.
US08493826B1
Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for signal processing. The method includes receiving a tracking signal corresponding to a recording track on a storage medium. The tracking signal is frequency modulated with encoded symbols. Further, the method includes phase-locking an internal signal to the tracking signal to cause a frequency of the internal signal to be locked at a center frequency of the tracking signal, detecting a drift between the internal signal and the encoded symbols, and phase-shifting the internal signal to compensate for the drift.
US08493815B2
The present invention relates to streamer cables. One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for preparing a streamer cable. The method may comprise retrofitting the streamer cable with a solid void-filler material, where the streamer cable was configured as a liquid-filled streamer cable. The retrofitting may comprise introducing a void-filler material into the streamer cable when the void-filler material is in a liquid state and curing or otherwise solidifying the void-filler material to a solid state. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a streamer cable comprising an outer skin and-at least one sensor positioned within the outer skin. The streamer cable may also comprise a solid void-filler material positioned between the outer skin and the at least one sensor, wherein the solid void-filler material is coupled to the at least one sensor.
US08493802B1
A memory controller outputs address bits and a first timing signal to a DRAM, each address bit being associated with an edge of the first timing signal and the first timing signal requiring a first propagation delay time to propagate to the DRAM. The memory controller further outputs write data bits and a second timing signal to the DRAM in association with the address bits, each of the write data bits being associated with an edge of the second timing signal and the second timing signal requiring a second propagation delay time to propagate to the DRAM. The memory controller includes a plurality of series-coupled delay elements to provide respective, differently-delayed internal delayed timing signals and a multiplexer to select one of the delayed timing signals to be output as the second timing signal based on a difference between the first propagation delay time and the second propagation delay time.
US08493793B2
A method in performing an erasure operation of a nonvolatile memory device includes a step of performing a block erasure operation wherein a plurality of memory cells in a selected block are erased at once, a step of selecting an over-programmed memory cell having a threshold voltage higher than an upper bound verification voltage, and a step of erasing selectively the over-programmed memory cell. A nonvolatile memory device comprises a cell array comprising a plurality of memory cells wherein the memory cells have a desired threshold voltage distribution for a state of being erased, wherein the distribution spreads over between a lower bound verification voltage and an upper bound verification voltage, a voltage generator configured to provide a word line voltage and a bit line voltage to word lines and bit lines of the plurality of memory cells respectively, a write driver and sense amplifier configured to write data or read out data through bit lines of the plurality of memory cells, and a control logic configured to control the voltage generator and the write driver and sense amplifier to perform a post-erasure operation of selecting and erasing an over-programmed memory cell having a threshold voltage higher than the upper bound verification voltage.
US08493787B2
An embodiment of non-volatile memory device integrated in a chip of semiconductor material is proposed. The memory includes at least one sector of a plurality of memory cells; each sector includes a storage region of a first type of conductivity and a further storage region of a second type of conductivity. Each memory cell includes a first region and a second region of the second type of conductivity, which are formed in the storage region for defining a storage transistor of floating gate MOS type of the first type of conductivity; the memory cell likewise includes a further first region and a further second region of the first type of conductivity, which are formed in the further storage region for defining a further storage transistor of floating gate MOS type of the second type of conductivity. The memory cell also includes a common floating gate of the storage transistor and the further storage transistor. The memory device further includes programming means for programming each memory cell individually by programming the corresponding floating gate through the corresponding storage transistor, and erasing means for erasing each memory cell individually by erasing the corresponding floating gate through the corresponding further storage transistor.
US08493785B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell array which includes a plurality of non-volatile memory cells, a plurality of word lines, and a plurality of bit lines. The memory device further includes an internal data output line for outputting data read from the bit lines of the memory array, and a page buffer operatively connected between a bit line of the memory cell array and the internal data output line. The page buffer includes a sense node which is selectively connected to the bit line, a latch circuit having a latch node which is selectively connected to the sense node, a latch input path which sets a logic voltage of the latch node in the programming mode and the read mode, and a latch output path which is separate from the latch input path.
US08493775B2
The semiconductor device makes a comparison between a word-line timing signal for determining a word-line activation time and a reference signal, applies a back-gate bias for enlarging a read margin when the result of the comparison represents a low condition of the read margin, and applies a back-gate bias for enlarging a write margin when the comparison result represents a low condition of the write margin. The reference signal is selected depending on whether to compensate an operating margin fluctuating according to the word-line activation time (or word-line pulse width), or to compensate an operating margin fluctuating according to the process fluctuation (or variation in threshold voltage). By controlling the back-gate biases according to the word-line pulse width, an operating margin fluctuating according to the word-line pulse width, and an operating margin fluctuating owing to the variation in threshold voltage during its fabrication are improved.
US08493772B2
Methods, devices, and systems associated with phase change memory structures are described herein. One method of forming a phase change memory structure includes forming an insulator material on a first conductive element and on a dielectric material of a phase change memory cell, forming a heater self-aligned with the first conductive element, forming a phase change material on the heater and at least a portion of the insulator material formed on the dielectric material, and forming a second conductive element of the phase change memory cell on the phase change material.
US08493768B2
Provided is a memory cell including: a ferroelectric transistor; a plurality of switching elements electrically connected to the ferroelectric transistor; and a plurality of control lines for transmitting individual control signals to each of the plurality of switching element for separately controlling the plurality of switching elements. The plurality of switching elements are configured to be separately controlled on the basis of the individual control signals so as to prevent each electrode of the ferroelectric transistor from being floated.
US08493761B2
The configurations of an inverter circuit are provided in the present invention. The proposed circuit includes a first bridge arm having a first sub-bridge arm with a first switch and a first middle point coupled to the first switch, and a second sub-bridge arm with a second switch and a second middle point coupled to the second switch, a first inductor having a first terminal coupled to the first middle point and a second terminal, and a second inductor having a first terminal coupled to the second middle point, and a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first inductor and outputting an AC voltage.
US08493756B2
Provided is a switching control method of a transformer coupled booster to suppress an increase in energizing current in a transformer of the transformer coupled booster and downsize the transformer coupled booster. A primary coil current that flows through a primary coil of the transformer, and a secondary coil current that flows through a secondary coil of the transformer are detected. The current difference between the detected primary coil current and the detected secondary coil current is calculated. Based on the calculated current difference, the cycle of ON/OFF periods of four arms provided on the transformer coupled booster is maintained at a constant level. Control is carried out so that the ratio of the first arm's ON period to the OFF period is always equal to the ratio of the third arm's ON period to the OFF period.
US08493744B2
A device according to various aspects of the present invention generally includes a surface mount device having a top side, a bottom side, a plurality of sidewalls, and a circuit comprising one or more layers. The device includes a first conductive surface covering a portion of one of the sidewalls for providing an input to the circuit, a second conductive surface covering a portion of one of the sidewalls for providing an output from the circuit, and a third conductive surface covering a portion of one of the sidewalls for providing an electrical ground to the circuit. When the surface mount device is mounted to a provided mounting surface, at least one layer of the circuit is orthogonal to the provided mounting surface.
US08493741B2
A Subsea Electronics Module for a well installation, comprising: a housing; at least two printed circuit boards having control circuitry provided thereon; and a communications component for enabling communication between the control printed circuit boards; wherein the module further comprises a communications handling board operatively connected to the printed circuit boards, the communications component being mounted on the communications handling board.
US08493738B2
Liquid-cooled electronic systems are provided which include an electronic assembly having an electronics card and a socket with a latch at one end. The latch facilitates securing of the card within the socket or removal of the card from the socket. A liquid-cooled cold rail is disposed at the one end of the socket, and a thermal spreader couples the electronics card to the cold rail. The thermal spreader includes first and second thermal transfer plates coupled to first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the card, and thermally conductive extensions extending from end edges of the plates, which couple the respective transfer plates to the liquid-cooled cold rail. The thermally conductive extensions are disposed to the sides of the latch, and the card is securable within or removable from the socket using the latch without removing the cold rail or the thermal spreader.
US08493736B2
The present disclosure is related to a device for cooling the surface of a semiconductor device such as an integrated circuit or the like, the cooling device comprising a plurality of channels (3′) which are non-parallel to the surface to be cooled, each channel comprising a plurality of separate electrodes (5) or equivalent conducting areas arranged along the length of each channel, the device further comprising or being connectable to means for applying a voltage to the electrodes or conducting areas in each channel according to a sequence, the sequence being such that a droplet (6) of cooling liquid in a channel may be moved from one electrode to the next, thereby transporting the droplet from the top of the channel to the bottom, from where the droplet impinges on the surface to be cooled.
US08493730B2
A portable terminal is provided, in which a hinge device provides a pair of hinge axes extended in parallel, a pair of folding cases are engaged with the hinge device and rotate upon the hinge axes, respectively, and sliding housings are installed in the respective folding cases. The folding cases rotate in a folding direction or in an unfolding direction via the hinge device, and when the folding cases rotate, the sliding housings slide on the folding cases. When the sliding housings are opened at 180° with respect to each other, one end of the sliding housing is in a close relationship with one end of another sliding housing.
US08493721B2
A fixing mechanism includes a base whereon at least one buckling portion is formed. The fixing mechanism further includes a bracket connected to an electronic module. The bracket includes a bottom plate, at least one lateral plate connected to the bottom plate and being buckled inside the buckling portion, and a baffle connected to the bottom plate. The fixing mechanism further includes a cover portion including a board, at least one hook connected to a side of the board for hooking the base, a constraining portion connected to the side of the board for laterally constraining the at least one lateral plate, and a resilient structure connected to the constraining portion for contacting against the baffle of the bracket so as to support the electronic module resiliently.
US08493719B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a convex bottom plate, a first side plate connected to a first side of the convex bottom plate, and a second side plate connected to a second side of the convex bottom plate. An electronic component is attached to the convex bottom plate. A horizontal plane is defined by connecting bottom edges of the first side plate and the second side plate, and a distance is defined between a highest point of the convex bottom plate and the horizontal plane. The distance is in a range of about 0.7 mm to about 1.4 mm.
US08493718B2
A server including a chassis, a motherboard, a panel, a transfer plate and a circuit board is provided. The motherboard is disposed in the chassis. The panel is disposed pluggably in the chassis and is located at a front end of the chassis. The transfer plate is fixed at a rear end of the chassis, and is electrically connected to the motherboard. The circuit board is fixed on the panel and is located in the chassis, and the circuit board includes at least one electronic device and a connector. The panel exposes the electronic device, and the circuit board is electrically connected to the transfer plate through the connector.
US08493717B2
According to one embodiment, a note PC has a disk drive connected to a system board via a connector. A power receive coil is attached to the disk drive. Power produced by the power receive coil as a result of excitation of a power feed coil is fed to a power supply control circuit via an unused pin of the connector.
US08493716B2
A cage assembly for supporting electronic modules includes first and second support positions for first and second electronic modules, a detector for reacting to the presence of the first electronic module in the first support position and a locking mechanism configured to lock the second electronic module in the second position, wherein the presence of the first electronic module in the first position blocks premature actuation to release the locking mechanism.
US08493713B2
A dispersion that contains an intrinsically conductive polythiophene formed via poly(ionic liquid)-mediated polymerization is provided. Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that a thiophene monomer can polymerize along the chains of a poly(ionic liquid). In this manner, the poly(ionic liquid) may act as a template for polymerization to provide a particle dispersion that is substantially homogeneous and stable. Such dispersions may be employed in an electrolytic capacitor as a solid electrolyte and/or as a conductive coating that is electrical communication with the electrolyte. Regardless, the dispersion may be more easily and cost effectively formed and incorporated into the structure of the capacitor. Moreover, due to the presence of the ionic liquid, the dispersion is conductive and does not require the addition of conventional dopants, such as polystyrene sulfonic acid. For example, the dispersion may have a specific conductivity, in the dry state, of about 1 Siemen per centimeter (“S/cm”) or more, in some embodiments about 10 S/cm or more, in some embodiments about 20 S/cm or more, and in some embodiments, from about 50 to about 500 S/cm.
US08493710B2
A multilayer capacitor is provided with improved adhesiveness of layers of an element body and improved reliability. Outer edge of a second principal-surface electrode portion are respectively separated from an end surface and lateral surfaces, and are respectively arranged so as to surround the forefront portion of a third principal-surface electrode portion at one end side when viewed from a lamination direction. Outer edges of a fourth principal-surface electrode portion are respectively separated from an end surface and lateral surfaces, and are arranged so as to surround the forefront portion of a first principal-surface electrode portion in the width direction at the other end side when viewed from the lamination direction.
US08493696B2
Performance failure in an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is determined independently by itself. A selective tripping can be done within a shorter time than one cycle of an AC output. A UPS converts a DC voltage to an AC voltage and supplies the AC voltage to a load device. A UPS has a control unit conducting a failure determination by using an instantaneous value of an internal voltage and current. It is preferred that a UPS includes an inverter unit and a trip switch. The inverter unit includes a semiconductor bridge circuit generating a sinusoidal AC voltage by modulating a DC voltage with voltage instruction values, and a filter circuit inserted between the semiconductor bridge circuit and the load device. The trip switch connects and trips a connection between the inverter unit and the load device according to the failure determination of the control unit.
US08493688B2
A head slider for a disk drive storage device. The head slider is adapted to fly at the target height above the disk, reduce contamination by preventing particles from being trapped under the head slider, fly well in helium at low velocity and obtain a manufacturing tolerance so that multiple head sliders may be produced and function properly. The head slider has an internal cavity that is substantially enclosed by the air bearing surface. There are two gaps in the air bearing surface that are misaligned relative to the leading edge. The gaps aid in preventing particles from entering the cavity.
US08493686B2
A disk-enclosure cover for a low-profile, hard-disk drive (HDD). The disk-enclosure cover includes a substantially flat, plate-like portion that includes a periphery, and a peripheral flange that is disposed at the periphery. The peripheral flange includes a recessed portion that is configured to be recessed from a SATA connector in proximity to the SATA connector. In addition, the recessed portion is configured to allow a top portion of the SATA connector to be disposed in close proximity to the peripheral flange when the SATA connector is seated on a receiving connector of the low-profile HDD.
US08493673B2
A lens module includes a barrel, a first lens, a second lens, and a spacer. The first lens and the second lens are received in the barrel from an object side to an image side of the lens module. Each lens includes an optical portion and a non-optical portion around the optical portion. The spacer is positioned between the non-optical portion of the first lens and the non-optical portion of the second lens. The second lens includes an image-side surface. The non-optical portion on the image-side surface includes a contact portion. The contact portion defines a triangular notch.
US08493648B2
Provided are a method of fabricating an electrophoretic ink, the electrophoretic ink formed using the method, and an electrophoretic display having the same. The method of fabricating an electrophoretic ink includes dispersing pigment particles into a dielectric fluid; adding at least one monomer and an initiator into the dielectric fluid; and forming polymeric membranes surrounding the pigment particles in the dielectric fluid. Since the pigment particle surrounded by the polymeric membrane and the dielectric fluid in which the pigment particle is dispersed can be utilized as the electrophoretic ink as they are without a follow-up cleaning process, the method of fabricating the electrophoretic ink is simplified.
US08493645B2
An optically powered optical modulator comprises an optical modulation component, such as an electro-optical modulator, acousto-optic modulator or magneto-optic modulator, in combination with one or two lens assemblies positioned at one or both apertures of the optical modulation component, so that the optical modulator formed by the combination of the lens assembly or assemblies and the optical modulation component has optical focus power.
US08493644B2
To provide an optical writing device that outputs image light to be recorded to a display recording medium. An optical element thereof includes a two-dimensional periodic structural body including periodic structure sections sectioned along a direction orthogonal to the direction along which transparent layers and light absorption layers are arranged alternately in a repeated manner. At least a part of the periodic structure sections is in a periodic structure in which the transparent layers and the light absorption layers are arranged alternately by varying phases of spatial frequencies of the transparent layers neighboring in the orthogonal direction. Repeated period pitches of the transparent layers and the light absorption layers in the two orthogonal directions of the two-dimensional periodic structural body are set to match with each other, and the repeated period pitches are set to be narrower than a layout pitch of the pixels of the spatial light modulating element.
US08493641B2
An image processing method is provided for an image processing device which processes images of printing data input from a computer device and an image input device via a predetermined communication line or a network. Printing instruction information of the printing data is analyzed, and determination is made as to whether a request for color matching processing based on a profile describing input color characteristics of an image input device and output color characteristics of an image output device is included in the printing instruction information. In the case that a request for the color matching processing is included in the printing instruction information, color matching processing is requested to be performed by the computer device on the network.
US08493640B2
An image reader includes: a read frame; a read guide; and a seal mechanism. The seal mechanism covers a gap between the read frame and the read guide. The seal mechanism includes a rib standing in parallel with a sliding direction of the read guide and a flexible dustproof sheet having an end that is in contact with the rib.
US08493639B2
An image recording device having a recording unit to record an image on a sheet is provided. The image recording unit includes a feed guide defining a first conveying path; an arm disposed between the recording unit and the tray, the arm having a feed roller rotatably disposed at a free end and configured to feed the sheet in the tray to the first conveying path. The arm pivots between a first arm position, and a second arm position. The return guide pivots between a first return guide position, and a second return guide position. A space occupied by the return guide in the first return guide position overlaps a space occupied by the arm in the second arm position. The return guide is in the second return guide position when the arm is in the second arm position which is retracted from an insertion space occupied by the tray.
US08493638B2
Disclosed are a scanner capable of adjusting the focus distance and an image forming apparatus having the same. The scanner may include a focus adjustment structure that comes into an interfering contact with a scanning unit as the scanning unit moves along a scanning path so as to cause a movement of the scanning unit in the direction perpendicular to the scanning path toward and away from the document to be scanned. With such configuration the focus adjustment can be realized using the scanning movement of the scanning unit along the scanning path.
US08493636B2
The motion tracking method disclosed herein suggests a method for precisely tracking the motion of a scanning device by correcting the surrounding information distortedly recognized due to the time differences between pieces of information regarding the surroundings of the device over one scanning cycle. The method, as a motion tracking method of a scanning device collecting the surrounding information corresponding to a plurality of the points of the surroundings, includes collecting the surrounding information, obtaining the displacement data of the scanning device using the surrounding information, updating the velocity of the scanning device using the displacement data of the scanning device, correcting the surrounding information using the updated velocity of the scanning device, and determining location and position information of the scanning device using the corrected surrounding information. According to the method herein, the motion of the scanning device may be more precisely tracked because the surrounding information is corrected based on the velocity of the scanning device.
US08493622B2
A printing apparatus for performing printing with the use of a special gloss material and a coloring material is provided. The printing apparatus includes: an inputting unit that receives or acquires image data as an input; and a printing unit that controls the arrangement of the special gloss material and the coloring material on a print target medium on the basis of the inputted image data to print the image data. The printing unit changes the amount of use of the special gloss material depending on an index value that is related to the lightness of a color represented by the coloring material.
US08493621B2
A method for optimally using color patch codes or color barcodes for transmitting machine-readable information, via device characterization, is disclosed to comprise characterizing a printing device and optionally a sensing device for identifying a number of recognizably spaced printer output colors; deriving a code book, by relating the printer output colors and their corresponding input values to information elements; and using the code book for encoding and decoding the information to be transmitted. The recognizably spaced printer output colors are in terms of a color space relevant to a color patch code or color barcode sensing device, and are related to the corresponding marking device input values.
US08493617B2
An image forming apparatus includes a forming portion, an adjusting portion and a control portion. The forming portion is configured to form an image, while the adjusting portion is configured to execute an adjustment for correcting a pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on a measurement of an image formed by the forming portion. The control portion is configured to control execution of the adjustment achieved by the adjusting portion. Specifically, the control portion obtains a plurality of kinds of variation values, which individually indicate a different state variation capable of involving a state change in the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition. The control portion calculates a complex evaluation of the current state of the pre-selected adjustable image forming condition based on the plurality of kinds of variation values, and determines a starting time for execution of the adjustment based on the complex evaluation.
US08493615B2
An image-processing device includes: a first detection unit that, based on a predetermined color component, detects a first pixel value that satisfies a predetermined first base color condition from among the pixel values of pixels included in image data which is to be processed; a pixel determination unit that determines pixels with the first pixel value detected by the first detection unit; a second detection unit that, based on color components other than the predetermined color component, detects a second pixel value that satisfies a predetermined second base color condition from among the pixel values of the pixels determined by the pixel determination unit; and a base color determination unit that determines pixel portions with both the second pixel value detected by the second detection unit and the first pixel value as a base color of an image represented by the image data.
US08493609B2
A printing method is described where, when a print job requires printing multiple copies of a document and a simulated insert sheet option is selected as a part of the print job requirements, simulated insert sheets are automatically generated and inserted between the printed copies that are outputted to the output tray of the printer. The simulated insert sheets are printed using the same paper as the document. The simulated insert sheets may be numbered, and may include a printed pattern extending to an edge of the sheets. The layout and content of the simulated insert sheets may be specified by the printer driver or the printer itself. The method can also be used with copiers when making multiple copies of an original document. Further, simulated insert sheets can be used to separate groups of pages within a single document, such as chapters or sections.
US08493600B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a layered printer driver model in which, at the “bottom layer,” a rendering component provides rendering functionality to format information constituting a print job initiated according to a page description language that a printer device is designed to process, and one or more other components that provide configuration and/or user experience functionality may “sit atop” the bottom layer. Any or all of these higher-level components may support not just a single printer device, but a class of printer devices defined by one or more shared characteristics.
US08493598B2
A system for controlling flow of a plurality of raw print jobs from at least one user to at least one printer in a print-shop, the system including: a print job queue adapted to received the plurality of raw print jobs; a controller adapted to monitor the plurality of raw print jobs; an estimation module comprising at least one of an estimated execution time module and an estimated network overhead module, wherein the estimation module is adapted to estimate a time to process each of the plurality of raw print jobs and the estimated network overhead module is adapted to estimate a time to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to an external cloud and receive each of the plurality of raw print jobs from the external cloud; a scheduler adapted to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to the external cloud or the internal cloud based upon at least one of the time to process each of the plurality of raw print jobs and the time to transmit each of the plurality of raw print jobs to the external cloud and to receive each of the plurality of raw print jobs from the external cloud, wherein the external and internal clouds are each adapted to process the plurality of raw print jobs to a plurality of processed print jobs; and, a print ready queue adapted to receive the plurality of processed print jobs and to send the plurality of processed print jobs to a printer.
US08493593B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that achieves reduction in power and resumption time by selectively resuming a function which a user desires when a storage medium in which identification information for identifying the user is stored is exposed so as to perform resumption from the energy saving state. The image forming apparatus includes: two or more functions of a copy function, a printer function, a scan function and a FAX function; a radio communication portion that performs radio communication with a storage medium in which identification information for identifying a user is stored; and a control portion that when the radio communication portion obtains the identification information from the storage medium in a case where part of the apparatus is in an energy saving state, selects a function to be resumed from the energy saving state according to an exposure state in which the storage medium is exposed to the radio communication portion.
US08493591B2
Under circumstances where each of a plurality of servers controls print jobs submitted to at least one output apparatus, jobs intended for the same printer are submitted to the output apparatus in the order of requests made by a user. If there is a print server performing print processing for a printer specified as the submission destination of a print job, the print server is instructed to execute printing. Consequently, under circumstances where each of plural print servers controls print jobs submitted to printers, print jobs intended for the same printer can be submitted to the printer in the order of requests made by client PCs.
US08493585B2
The execution of an image processing job is limited using a printing amount by an image processing job that has already been executed and a printing amount that is scheduled to be printed by an image processing job that has already been transmitted but not yet executed. To accomplish this, a multi-function peripheral manages a first printing amount that has already been printed by a executed print job and a second printing amount that is scheduled to be printed by a print job that has been transmitted from the multi-function peripheral to a printer and that has not yet been executed in association with a user ID, and determines, before transmitting the print job, whether or not the total of a third printing amount that is scheduled to be printed by the print job, the first printing amount and the second printing amount exceeds an upper limit amount.
US08493578B2
A pixel clock generator includes a frequency divider 4 that generates a pixel clock PCLK based on a high frequency clock VCLK, a comparator 5 that calculates an error Lerr in the time obtained by integrating a cycle of the pixel clock PCLK for a target number RefN from a time when synchronization signals SPSYNC and EPSYNC are detected, a filter 6, and a frequency calculating unit 7 that sets a frequency dividing value M of the frequency divider 4. The filter 6 and the frequency calculating unit 7 calculate an average of a frequency of the pixel clock PCLK based on the error Lerr, determine a reference error value from the error Lerr in N-cycles, calculate offset values of the frequencies of N pieces of pixel clocks PCLK based on a difference between the reference error value and the error Lerr, and calculate the frequency dividing value M based on a result obtained by adding the circularly selected offset values and the average of the frequency of the pixel clock PCLK.
US08493576B2
The multifunction device includes a first mode device, a second mode device, an operating unit, a detecting unit, and a switching unit. The first mode device provides a reading mode that reads image information with using a first type medium. The second mode device provides a writing mode that writes image information with using a second type medium. The operating unit provides each operating environment corresponding to each mode. The detecting unit detects either the first type medium or the second type medium used. The switching unit automatically switches the operating environment provided by the operating unit based on the type of the medium detected by the detecting unit.
US08493563B2
An overlay measurement apparatus includes a stage on which a wafer comprising first and second overlay measurement keys, which are separated from each other, is placed. A nonlinear medium receives a reference beam and first and second diffracted beams respectively generated by the first and second overlay measurement keys. A detector detects a synthesized beam emitted from the nonlinear medium.
US08493551B2
A scanning exposure apparatus includes a first feedback loop including a first controlled object including an original stage and controlling a position of the original stage, a second feedback loop including a second controlled object including a substrate stage and controlling a position of the substrate stage, and a feedback unit including a first calculator and feed backing a synchronization error between the original stage and the substrate stage to the first feedback loop and the second feedback loop via the first calculator, wherein a transfer function from a first target value for the first controlled object to a first controlled value of the first controlled object and that from a second target value for the second controlled object to a second controlled value of the second controlled object are equal, and the exposure is performed at least during a period in which the original and the substrate are accelerated.
US08493549B2
An illumination optical apparatus that substantially maintains a desirable profile even when changing the outer shape of light intensity distribution formed on an illumination pupil plane with an axicon system. The illumination optical system illuminates an irradiated surface based on light from an optical source and includes a prism system, which changes the interval along an optical axis between a pair of prisms to change the light intensity distribution on an illumination pupil plane.
US08493541B2
A manufacturing method of an array substrate comprises forming gate lines, data lines, pixel electrodes, and gate electrodes, active layer members, source electrodes, drain electrodes of thin film transistors (TFTs) in pixel units in a display region and forming the gate lines and the data lines in a pad region. A process of forming the data lines, the active layer members, the source electrodes and the drain electrodes in the display region and simultaneously forming the data lines in the pad region is performed.
US08493537B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate and a second substrate opposed to each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween, the first substrate having a plurality of drain signal lines and a plurality of gate signal lines, and a plurality of pixel regions defined by the drain signal lines and the gate signal lines. The pixel regions include a first electrode formed of a transparent conducting layer, the first electrode being overlapped with the drain signal line and formed on a plurality of the pixel regions, a second electrode formed of a transparent conducting layer, the second electrode being overlapped with the first electrode, a first insulating layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and a second insulating layer formed between the drain signal line and the first electrode.
US08493536B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal layer sealed between a first substrate and a second substrate opposed to each other. Inner surfaces of the first and second substrates have been subjected to aligning treatment to splay-align liquid crystal molecules. The liquid crystal display further includes electrodes formed on the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates to generate an alignment transition electric field to cause the liquid crystal molecules to transit from splay alignment to bend alignment. The alignment transition electric field includes a vertical electric field in the thickness direction of the liquid crystal layer, and a horizontal electric field in a direction parallel to the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates to twist the liquid crystal molecules between the substrates.
US08493530B2
The invention relates to a panel for controlling viewing angle and a liquid crystal display having the same. More particularly, there is provided a panel for controlling viewing angle including a first substrate; a second substrate facing the first substrate; liquid crystal layer provided between the first and the second substrate; a first electrode disposed on the first substrate; a second electrode disposed on a first side of the second substrate facing the first electrode; and a light blocking film disposed on a second side of the second electrode and a liquid crystal display having the same.
US08493526B2
A lighting device includes: a light guide plate; a light source disposed on a side face of the light guide plate; and a light modulation element disposed on a surface or in the inside of the light guide plate and adhered to the light guide plate. The light modulation element has a pair of transparent substrates disposed separately and oppositely, a pair of electrodes provided on respective surfaces of the pair of transparent substrates, and a light modulation layer provided in a gap between the pair of transparent substrates. The light modulation layer includes a first region, having optical anisotropy, responsive to an electric field, and a second region, having optical anisotropy, unresponsive to an electric field. The second region has a striped structure with average striped texture size of 0.05 μm to 10 μm both inclusive in a short axis direction.
US08493524B2
An array substrate and a display apparatus including the array substrate are provided. The array substrate includes a substrate divided into a display area and a peripheral area adjacent to the display area. A pixel array is formed on the substrate corresponding to the display area and receives a driving signal. A driving circuit includes a plurality of stages and is formed on the substrate corresponding to the peripheral area. Each of the stages includes a first transistor having a source electrode connected to an output terminal to output the driving signal, a channel layer formed between a gate insulating layer and the source electrode, the channel layer having an opening to facilitate contact between a portion of the gate insulating layer and the source electrode, and a capacitor defined by a gate electrode of the first transistor, the source electrode, and the gate insulating layer contacting the source electrode.
US08493521B2
A switchable two and three dimensional display (2D/3D display) suitable for being viewed by a user is provided. The 2D/3D display includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a switchable barrier. The LCD panel has a display area, a non-display area surrounding the display area, and a first black matrix extending from the display area to the non-display area. The first black matrix has a number of openings arranged in array and merely distributed within the display area. The switchable barrier has a 3D image control area, a non-display area surrounding the 3D image control area, and a second black matrix merely disposed within the non-display area. The second black matrix surrounds the 3D image control area. An area occupied by the 3D image control area is different from an area occupied by the display area.
US08493516B2
An LED module (MJ) wherein among apertures (21A to 21C) and pins (11A to 11C) to engage each other, the apertures (21A to 21C) are formed in a mounting board (20) and the pins (11A to 11C) are formed on a lens (10). The apertures (21A to 21C) and the pins (11A to 11C) regulate the directivity direction of the lens (10) to a specific direction by engaging each other in one kind of manner.
US08493514B2
Disclosed is the apparatus for controlling color temperature enabling the color region determiner to determine whether the inputted chroma signal value in pixels belongs to a pre-set achromatic color region or a chromatic color region, and the color temperature corrector to correct the chroma signal gains according to the determined achromatic color region or chromatic color region.
US08493511B2
Also in a video system in which a device responding to a multiple screen display function and a non-responding device are mixedly present, a communication message for a collaboration of the device which performs a multiple screen display operation is realized without exerting an influence on operations of the non-responding device. A video device including two or more video input ports and capable of simultaneously receiving videos output from multiple video source devices connected to the video input ports is configured so as to perform a predetermined filtering operation or message conversion when transmitting to the other video input ports a communication message for video device control to be converted through the video input ports.
US08493504B2
A camera module according to one embodiment of this invention has a sensor substrate, a lens holder, and a shield being fixed to the lens holder. The lens holder is composed of a tubular portion including a lens and a top board having an opening. The lens holder is fixed by a second adhesive provided more inside than an edge of the sensor substrate. The shield has a tubular portion and a top board. The tubular portion is composed of a small-diameter portion, a step portion, and a large-diameter portion. The shield is disposed so that the step portion is in contact with a portion between the edge of the sensor substrate and the second adhesive, and, at the same time, the top board of the lens holder is located in an opening formed in the top board of the shield.
US08493500B2
Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for performing an improved blowout prevention process in an image capture device are provided to compensate for occurrences of exposure “blowouts,” i.e., areas in a captured image where pixel brightness exceeds the sensor's dynamic range of capturing capability. In one embodiment, the captured image's histogram may be analyzed to determine if the image is indicative of the presence of exposure blowouts. Once it has been determined that there likely are blowouts in the image, an exposure bias for the image capture device may be set accordingly. Particularly, the exposure value (EV) for the image capture device may be gradually corrected, e.g., by one-eighth of a stop per captured frame, until the image histogram is no longer indicative of blown out regions, at which point the image capture device's exposure value may gradually be corrected back to “normal,” i.e., non-exposure bias compensated, levels.
US08493495B2
The technology includes processor-implemented methods, computer program products, and electronic devices for media module control. Media module zoom specifications are requested. Media module zoom specifications comprising zoom range are received. The received zoom range is divided into n discrete steps. A zoom bar is presented comprises an indicator of increasing zoom direction, an indicator of decreasing zoom direction, and a slider bar is presented. The slider bar is disposed substantially between the indicators. The slider bar displays zoom level as one of the n discrete steps from a first step equal to no zoom level, and an nth step equal to full zoom level. User input regarding a zoom level is received. Zoom is performed on the displayed image. The relative zoom level is displayed in the zoom bar.
US08493492B2
An image sensor includes multiple output channels, a non-destructive charge sensing output channel having an associated gain value of G1 and a charge multiplying output channel having an associated gain value G3. The image sensor can also include a charge bypass output channel having an associated gain value G2. For each charge packet, a pixel signal produced by either the charge sensing output channel, the charge multiplying output channel or the charge bypass output channel is selected. If the pixel signal produced by the charge sensing output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G1) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. If the pixel signal produced by the charge bypass output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G2) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. The pixel signals are combined to produce an image.
US08493490B2
An imaging apparatus including a pixel, a current source, and a signal processing circuit. The pixel outputs signal charge, obtained by imaging, as a pixel signal. The current source is connected to a transmission path for the pixel signal and has a variable current. The signal processing circuit performs signal processing on a signal depending on an output signal to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with the result of signal processing.
US08493481B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels and a plurality of color filters. The plurality of pixels is formed in a semiconductor substrate in a two-dimensional array arrangement. Each of the pixels has a photoelectric conversion region. The plurality of color filters is stacked on each of the pixels. The photoelectric conversion regions have the same depth irrespective of colors of the color filters stacked on the pixels. The width of a shallow portion of each of the photoelectric conversion regions is differ from a width of the deep portion of each of the photoelectric regions depending on the colors of the color filters stacked on the pixels.
US08493476B2
The present invention provides a video in which a subject image looks clear while reducing the amount of transmitted data. An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing section that successively captures a plurality of images under a plurality of image capturing conditions different from each other; an image generating section that generates an output image by overlapping the plurality of captured images captured under the plurality of image capturing conditions; and an output section that outputs the output image generated by the image generating section. The image capturing section may successively capture the plurality of images by means of exposure in different exposure time lengths from each other. The image capturing section may successively capture the plurality of images also by means of exposure in different aperture openings from each other.
US08493470B2
According to an image recording device and an image recording method according to the present invention, images can be recorded in such a manner that even an image processing apparatus not having a function that reads a plurality of image data from an extended image file storing the plurality of image data and reproduces or edits them can read representative image data in an extended image file. Furthermore, if a basic file has been deleted or altered, the basic file can be restored using the representative image data in the extended image file, so it is possible to provide another image processing apparatus with the representative image data before the alteration any time.
US08493467B2
A camera control apparatus comprises a processor adapted to control a display to display a plurality of sensed images respectively obtained from a plurality of cameras and a transmitter adapted to transmit a command to control another camera to execute color adjustment based on an image signal of a reference region of an image of a reference camera of the images displayed as a list by the processor.
US08493464B2
A method for adjusting resolution is applicable to an image capturing device, such that the image capturing device can analyze an amount of objects in the image captured thereby and determine a resolution for storing the image according to the amount of objects in the image, thereby making use of storage resources effectively. It is determined whether to zoom in/out the captured image or to lower the resolution of the image capturing device by analyzing the amount of the objects in the captured image and comparing the analyzed amount of the objects with one or more threshold values.
US08493451B2
Imaging devices including a novel imaging system wherein a 2-dimensional pixel array has a diagonal dimension larger than the diameter measurement of the image circle, thereby being capable of handling rectangular images with multiple aspect ratios. These new imaging devices can be used in various electronic imaging apparatus with or without a lens system.
US08493447B2
An image synthesis apparatus includes an image obtainer obtaining a plurality of images taken by a plurality of cameras; a pixel value corrector which, with respect to each of the images, calculates a correction factor of an average pixel value in overlap regions located at the both ends of an image and, in the adjacent direction of the images, calculates the correction factor of a pixel value in a region other than the overlap regions by a predetermined continuous function connecting the correction factors in the overlap regions and corrects the entire image based on the calculated correction factor; a synthetic image generator synthesizing the images corrected by the pixel value corrector to generate one synthetic image; and an image output outputting the synthetic image to an external apparatus.
US08493442B2
Integrated imaging and GPS network monitors remote object movement. Browser interface displays objects and detectors. Database stores object position movement. Cameras detect objects and generate image signal. Internet provides selectable connection between system controller and various cameras according to object positions.
US08493441B2
A method comprising obtaining a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, exposing a sample to light having a predetermined optical path-length between a light source and the color sensitive light-sensor, and measuring the amount of light transmitted though the sample with the color sensitive light sensor. Also a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, the mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored liquids. Additionally, a system comprising a mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored samples, the mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics and a light source.
US08493412B2
Embodiments include methods and apparatus for displaying images of an external environment, such as an external environment of an aircraft during flight. An embodiment of a display system includes an image sensor and a processing subsystem. The image sensor is adapted to produce sensed image data based on detected electromagnetic energy from a field of view of the external environment. The sensed image data registers within a first area of a display matrix, and the processing subsystem is adapted to identify a feature that registers within the first area. The processing subsystem is also adapted to determine parameters defining a second, smaller area of the display matrix that is positioned in proximity to the feature, and to generate a display signal to include information representing a sensor-based image corresponding to the sensed image data that registers within the second area.
US08493408B2
A multi-step animation sequence for smoothly transitioning from a map view to a panorama view of a specified location is disclosed. An orientation overlay can be displayed on the panorama, showing a direction and angular extent of the field of view of the panorama. An initial specified location and a current location of the panorama can also be displayed on the orientation overlay. A navigable placeholder panorama to be displayed in place of a panorama at the specified location when panorama data is not available is disclosed. A perspective view of a street name annotation can be laid on the surface of a street in the panorama.
US08493400B2
A memory device includes: a memory cell array which stores two-dimensionally arranged data in a plurality of memory unit regions selected by an address; an internal address control unit which generates an internal address which selects a memory unit region according to an external address; and a decoder which decodes the internal address and selects a memory unit region. The plurality of memory unit regions store data arranged in a first direction from among two-dimensionally arranged data according to a least-significant bit group of the internal address and store data arranged in a second direction from among the two-dimensionally arranged data according to a most-significant bit group of the address. The internal address control unit successively generates an internal address corresponding to the scan direction according to a scan direction control signal which controls a plurality of scan directions including at least an oblique direction of the two-dimensionally arranged data.
US08493391B2
Ordered pattern are generated based on an existing image by providing an isosceles right triangle-shaped first image, and creating a second image based thereon. The second image at least includes a first portion entirely formed from a plurality of mirrored or unmirrored, rotated or unrotated, and non-overlapping instances of the first image arranged in the shape of a complete rectangle. The legs of the complete rectangle are at least as long as either the legs or the hypotenuse of the isosceles right triangle. The first portion of the second image encompasses an area at least twice that of the first image. The plurality of instances of the first image are joined at their respective isosceles right triangle hypotenuses, legs, and corners. A computer system for performing various embodiments of such method is provided, as are a wide variety of products adorned with attractive examples of such ordered images.
US08493388B2
The rendering pipeline is divided into multiple components or modules in a scene graph based visual programming environment. Different stages of the rendering pipeline, such as data conversion, transform function, shading, and rendering, are grouped into independent conceptual modules, and each module is implemented by separate nodes in a scene graph. The user may select different nodes belonging to different modules for inclusion into the scene graph to program the rendering pipeline. The visual program is implicitly compiled and run using an application programming interface for hardware acceleration.
US08493377B2
A display device includes a digital board upon which a video signal processing circuit is formed, a driver board upon which a driver circuit is formed, and a power supply board upon which a power supply circuit is formed. The video signal processing circuit generates one screen of image data on the basis of a video signal that is inputted from an input source. And the driver circuit displays an image based upon this image data upon a display. Moreover, the power supply circuit produces a power supply voltage from a commercial power supply. The power supply board supplies the power supply voltage to the digital board via a first power supply cable, and also supplies the power supply voltage to the driver board via a second power supply cable.
US08493375B2
A driving apparatus for a display device includes: a reference gamma voltage generator configured to generate a reference gamma voltage according to an MTP control signal, a write control signal, and an erase control signal; and a data driver configured to convert a data signal into a data voltage corresponding to the reference gamma voltage. The reference gamma voltage generator includes: a protection unit configured to output a first voltage as a first internal voltage when the MTP control signal is at a first level, and to interrupt the output of the first voltage when the MTP control signal is at a second level; an MTP cell configured to program a bit signal by utilizing the first internal voltage and a second internal voltage according to the write control signal and erase control signal; and a gamma register configured to determine the reference gamma voltage corresponding to the bit signal.
US08493373B2
A display driving system includes a timing controller configured to receive a data signal composed of image data and generate a control signal such as a clock signal; an interface configured to transmit the data signal and the control signal to a plurality of data drivers; the data drivers configured to receive the data signal and the control signal through the interface and supply received signals to a display panel to display an image; and a monitoring unit configured to feed back LOCK signals indicative of state information of the data drivers to the timing controller such that the data drivers can be monitored.
US08493370B2
A portable computer system that comprises adjustable brightness settings and brightness control for providing improved user readability and prolonged life of the display screen is disclosed. The main processor can change the brightness range settings in response to a change in ambient light conditions. The user can also control the brightness of the display. The time required to implement a brightness change can be set to a value which can be configured by the user.
US08493368B2
An electronic device includes a main body, a stylus and a stylus fixing assembly fixed on the main body for seating the stylus. The stylus fixing assembly includes a cover, a fixing element fixed on the cover, a guide element, a rotation element, a clasping element rotatably fixed on the cover, a first spring and a second spring. The fixing element includes three guide grooves and a convex stage disposed on the inner wall therein. The guide element includes several first teeth and three first guide ribs. The rotation element includes a cylindrical portion, a resisting portion, several second teeth and three second guide ribs. Two ends of the first spring are fixed on the sidewall of the cover and the resisting portion separately. Two ends of the second spring are connected with the cover and the clasping element.
US08493362B2
The invention provides an image-based coordinate input apparatus and method for detecting positions of N objects on a coordinate input region at a detecting interval where N equals to 1 or 2. According to the invention, starting at the start of the detecting interval, successive first images at a first view and successive second images at a second view relative to the N objects and a background of the perimeter of the coordinate input region are captured and buffered. The apparatus and method according to the invention judges the number of the N objects and calculates the positions of the N objects on the coordinate input region at the detecting interval in accordance with the buffered successive first images and the buffered successive second images.
US08493356B2
A differential sensing scheme provides a means for detecting one or more touch events on a touch sensitive device in the presence of incident noise. Instead of sensing one touch sensitive channel, such as a row, column, or single touch sensor, multiple touch sensitive channels are sampled at a time. By sampling two nearby channels simultaneously and doing the measurement differentially, noise common to both channels is cancelled. The differential sensing scheme is implemented using simple switch-capacitor AFE circuitry. The originally sensed data on each individual channel is recovered free of common-mode noise. The recovered sensed data is used to determine the presence of one or more touch events and if present the location of each touch event on the touch sensitive device.
US08493354B1
A system that produces a dynamic haptic effect and generates a drive signal that includes a gesture signal and a real or virtual device sensor signal. The haptic effect is modified dynamically based on both the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal such as from an accelerometer or gyroscope, or by a signal created from processing data such as still images, video or sound. The haptic effect may optionally be modified dynamically by using the gesture signal and the real or virtual device sensor signal and a physical model, or may optionally be applied concurrently to multiple devices which are connected via a communication link. The haptic effect may optionally be encoded into a data file on a first device. The data file is then communicated to a second device and the haptic effect is read from the data file and applied to the second device.
US08493345B2
A highly reliable electrostatic-capacitive-type display device with a touch panel which allows a user to perform finger touch inputting and exhibits excellent detection sensitivity is provided. A transparent conductive film is formed above a back surface of an electrostatic-capacitive-type touch panel so as to block noises generated by a display device. A conductive member is provided to supply a voltage to a transparent conductive film formed above a back surface of the touch panel. An electrode which is formed on the electrostatic-capacitive-type touch panel is divided in accordance with a ratio between the number of X electrodes and the number of Y electrodes. A floating electrode is formed in a gap defined between the electrodes so as to adjust an area of the electrode. Due to the shrinkage of the area of the electrode, it is possible to lower a noise level to a level equal to or lower than a signal level. Accordingly, an S/N ratio is increased thus enhancing detection sensitivity. Further, lines are branched on a flexible printed circuit board and intersecting lines are formed on a back surface of the flexible printed circuit board, and the intersecting lines are made to orthogonally intersect with lines formed on a front surface of the flexible printed circuit board thus lowering line capacitance.
US08493342B2
A graphical user interface (GUI) may be displayed on a display unit in an apparatus which may include a tactile sensor unit. When a contact by a user is detected at the tactile sensor unit, a control unit may receive a contact detection signal therefrom. Based on the contact detection signal, the control unit may determine a contact pattern and may then display the GUI corresponding to the contact pattern. The GUI may be displayed and modified depending on the location and pressure of contacts by a user's manipulating fingers. Therefore, a user can manipulate the apparatus without any inconvenience or accidental touches.
US08493340B2
The presently disclosed technology teaches using a tilt-sensitive virtual marking implement to render an impression on an electronic presentation device. Further, a bearing measurement and a tilt measurement of the virtual marking implement are made with respect to the surface. The tilt and bearing are then used to vary geometry of an impression profile associated with the physical marking implement as well as an intensity of the rendering. A user may actively vary the impression profile while he or she produces strokes of the virtual marking implement across the surface without changing the physical marking implement selection or switching to a different virtual marking implement. When creating a rendering on a virtual canvas using the virtual marking implement and the surface, a user may wish to vary an orientation of the virtual marking implement so that a corresponding impression profile mimics an impression of a selected physical marking implement.
US08493328B2
A method and associated apparatus for indicating additional character combination choices from a disambiguation function on a handheld electronic device.
US08493322B2
A hand-held electronic device with a keyboard, thumbwheel, display and associated software is optimized for use of the device with the thumbs. The associated software has a plurality of features to optimize efficient use of the limited keyboard space and encourage the use of the device by thumb-based data entry through the thumbwheel and/or through a combination of minimal number of keystrokes. Software features include international character scrolling, and auto-capitalization. The keys on the device keyboard are optimally shaped and configured for thumb-based input. In addition, the thumbwheel is inclined between the front and a side edge of the device so as to be reachable by either the thumb or index finger of the user's hand at the side edge of the device.
US08493320B2
A display control device includes a retrieval image generation unit that generates images used in a retrieval operation which include retrieval condition images and item images arranged on a plane by arranging the retrieval condition images indicating a plurality of retrieval conditions for the plurality of pieces of content data in a first direction on a plane, and by arranging, in a second direction, the item images indicating pieces of content data or folders including pieces of content data categorized based on the retrieval conditions arranged in the first direction, and a retrieval image display control unit that displays the generated images used in a retrieval operation on the display unit, that detects an operation input, and that moves an indicator indicating a selected one of the retrieval condition images and the item images, in a vertical direction or a horizontal direction in accordance with the detected operation input.
US08493319B2
An electronic paper device includes a ground plane, a semi-conducting layer in electrical communication with the ground plane, and an active layer interposed between the ground plane and semiconducting layer. The active layer includes a plurality of microcapsules containing charged pigments. A method for writing to electronic paper is also presented.
US08493316B2
A method of a method of adjusting an intensity of a backlight of a display is disclosed. The method includes dimming a backlight that illuminates a display of an electronic device in response to a task initiated by a user. The method also includes, prior to the task completing, automatically adjusting an intensity of the backlight based on a progress of the task.
US08493312B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a unit circuit of a shift register includes a bootstrap circuit configured with a transistor T1, a transistor T2 and a capacitor, a transistor T3, a transistor T4, and a reset signal generation circuit. By use of two-phase clock signals and whose high level periods do not overlap with each other, the reset signal generation circuit generates a reset signal which is at a high level in a normal state and changes to a low level when an input signal turns into the high level. During a period that the reset signal is at the high level, transistors T3 and T4 perform discharge of a node and pull-down of an output signal. Thus, it is possible to obtain a power-saving shift register that fixes an output signal at a low level in a normal state without allowing a through current to flow therein.
US08493310B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes a time controller and a plurality of source drivers. The time controller may receive first data, and output a plurality of clock signals and a plurality of pieces of second data to display the first data. The plurality of source drivers may receive the plurality of pieces of second data and the plurality of clock signals from the time controller, convert the plurality of pieces of second data to a plurality of pieces of analog data, and output the plurality of pieces of analog data to a display panel. The time controller may be connected to the plurality of source drivers in a point-to-point fashion. The second data have a packet data format.
US08493309B2
In a shift register circuit, a defective operation while an output signal is not outputted and a drive capability lowering while the output signal is outputted are prevented. A unit shift register comprises a first transistor for supplying a clock signal inputted to a first clock terminal to an output terminal, and the first transistor is driven by a drive circuit. A second transistor is connected between the gate of the first transistor and the output terminal and has a gate connected to the first clock terminal. The second transistor connects the gate of the first transistor to the output terminal based on the clock signal when the gate of the first transistor is at L (Low) level.
US08493296B2
A dark spot defect of an EL element is detected based on an emission brightness or a current flowing through the EL element when an element driving transistor which controls a drive current to be supplied to the EL element is operated in its linear operating region and the EL element is set to an emission level. A dim spot defect caused can be detected based on a current flowing through the EL element when the element driving transistor is operated in its saturation operating region and the EL element is set to the emission level. When an abnormal display pixel is detected based on an emission brightness, a pixel which is determined as an abnormal display pixel and which is not determined as a dark spot defect is determined, and the pixel is detected as a dim spot defect caused by the characteristic variation of the element driving transistor.
US08493293B2
This invention relates to systems, methods and apparatus for driving organic light emitting diodes (OLED) displays, in particular those using multi-line addressing (MLA) techniques. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for use with so-called passive matrix OLED displays. A current drive system for an electroluminescent display, the system comprising: a plurality of current mirrors having a plurality of outputs for driving a plurality of drive electrodes of said display, each said current mirror having a reference signal input; and an automatic selector coupled to said current mirror outputs to automatically select a said output for providing reference signal inputs to said current mirrors.
US08493288B2
System and method for adjusting the color segment durations for colors in a color sequence in sequential color display systems. A preferred embodiment comprises receiving a desired color sequence to display, computing a scaling factor for each color in the desired color sequence based on a reference color sequence, and sequentially displaying the colors in the desired color sequence. The reference color sequence used in computing the scaling factors specifies a duration for each color in the reference color sequence, while the desired color sequence specifies a desired duration for each color in the desired color sequence. The use of a single reference color sequence to create a large number of color sequences can save a significant amount of storage space and can allow for the storage of reference color sequences to meet varying chromatic properties due to changes in the display system, user settings, and operating environment.
US08493284B2
Techniques and display devices that provide a composite display screen made up by placing multiple smaller constituent screens based on a light-emitting screen technology to minimize the gap between two adjacent constituent screens.
US08493282B2
A handheld electronic device, including a first device including a keypad including at least one soft key, the functionalities of the at least one soft key being indicated by corresponding at least one soft key descriptor, and a second device, insertable within the first device, including a processor for operating in cooperation with the keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within the first device, and a soft key screen for displaying the at least one soft key descriptor, wherein each of the at least one soft key descriptor is displayed proximate the location of its corresponding soft key on the keypad, when the second device is fully inserted within the first device.
US08493281B2
A method and apparatus are present for creating a negative index metamaterial lens for use with a phased array antenna. A design having a buckyball shape is created for the negative index metamaterial lens. The buckyball shape is capable of bending a beam generated by the phased array antenna to around 90 degrees from a vertical orientation to form an initial design. The initial design is modified to include discrete components to form a discrete design. Materials are selected for the discrete components. Negative index metamaterial unit cells are designed for the discrete components to form designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The designed negative index metamaterial unit cells are fabricated to form fabricated designed negative index metamaterial unit cells. The negative index metamaterial lens is formed from the designed negative index metamaterial unit cells.
US08493276B2
A method and apparatus comprising a dielectric structure and a plurality of conductive segments. The dielectric structure is configured for placement in a waveguide. The plurality of conductive segments is located within the dielectric structure. Each of the plurality of conductive segments is configured to reduce a passing of a number of frequencies of electromagnetic signals traveling through the dielectric structure.
US08493274B2
A slot antenna is provided with at least two conductive plates arranged to face each other. A slot is arranged on one of or both of the facing conductive plates and has a long and narrow opening shape. A power feeding unit is arranged between the facing conductive plates and is electrically and physically connected with the facing conductive plates, respectively. When power is fed to the power feeding unit, the power is fed between the facing conductive plates by the power feeding unit. Thus, excitation with a frequency dependent on the electrical length of the slot is induced at the slot, and a current excited at the slot is distributed entirely over one conductive plate, the current becomes a radiation source, and an electromagnetic wave is radiated from the one conductive plate. At this time, the other conductive plate operates as the reflecting plate of the electromagnetic wave.
US08493263B2
A helicopter position location system includes a receiver located substantially in a center of an array of receivers. A first array of receivers is located in a selected pattern separated from the center receiver by a first distance. Selected receivers in the first array are spaced apart from each other by at most one half wavelength of a base frequency of a locator signal transmitted from a helicopter. A second array of receivers is located in a selected pattern by a second distance larger than the first distance. A transmitter on the transmits a signal having a base frequency and a plurality of hop frequencies A processor in signal communication with the receivers is configured to determine phase difference with respect to frequency between any pair of receivers, to determine time delay of arrival based on the phase difference with respect to frequency, to beam steer response of the selected receivers, and to use the beam steered response and time delay of arrival between pairs of receivers to determine a position of the helicopter.
US08493261B2
A countermeasure device for directing a mobile tracking device away from an asset is provided. The countermeasure device includes a continuous wave laser source whose output is directed at a seeker head of the mobile tracking device. The countermeasure device causes the generation of localized sources within the mobile tracking device and confuses the mobile tracking device as to the true location of the asset.
US08493260B2
A SAR ADC, used for converting an analog input into an N-bit digital output in a conversion phase, includes: three comparators, each two capacitor sub-arrays, coupled to the three comparators respectively, wherein the two capacitor sub-arrays are used for sampling the analog input and providing two inputs for the corresponding comparator; and an SAR logic, coupled to the three comparators and the three capacitor arrays, for, in each conversion sub-phase, coupling two selected capacitors of each capacitor sub-array to a set of determined reference levels, coupling two capacitors, which were selected in a preceding conversion sub-phase, of each capacitor sub-array to a set of adjusted reference levels obtained based on a set of data outputted from the three comparators in a preceding conversion sub-phase, and then generating two bits of the N-bit digital output by encoding a set of data outputted from the three comparators.
US08493259B2
A pipelined ADC includes a first, second, and third pairs of comparators. The first pair of comparators compare an input voltage to a first positive reference voltage and to a first negative reference voltage. The second pair of comparators compare the input voltage to a second positive reference voltage and to a second negative reference voltage. Each comparator of the first and second pairs of comparators outputs a digital signal to an encoder. A third pair of comparators compares the input voltage to a third positive reference voltage and to a third negative reference voltage, and a comparator compares the input voltage to ground. The comparator and each comparator of the third pair of comparators is configured to output respective digital signals to an encoder. A multiplying digital-to-analog converter outputs a voltage based on the input voltage, an output from the encoder, and an output of the random number generator.
US08493257B2
Two D flip-flops (D-FFMA, D-FFMB) output two half-rate signals (DMR-A, DMR-B) by dividing a digital input signal (DM) into two signals and retiming them based on a clock signal (CLK) and a negative-phase clock signal (CLKB). First and second switches (SM1, SM2) are driven by the two half-rate signals (DMR-A, DMR-B). Third and fourth switches (SM3, SM4) are driven by a select signal SW and a negative-phase select signal SWB that have the same frequency as that of the clock signal (CLK) but a different phase from that of the clock signal (CLK). The current supplied from a current source (1) to a load (4) thus becomes a current signal corresponding to a conversion frequency twice the frequency of the clock signal (CLK).
US08493256B2
In order to minimize noise and current consumption in a hearing aid, an input converter comprising a first voltage transformer and an analog-to-digital converter of the delta-sigma type for a hearing aid is devised. The analog-to-digital converter of the input converter has an input stage, an output stage, and a feedback loop, and the input stage comprises an amplifier (QA) and an integrator (RLF). The first voltage transformer (IT) has a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage and is placed in the input converter upstream of the input stage. A second voltage transformer (OT) having a transformation ratio such that it provides an output voltage larger than the input voltage, is optionally placed in the feedback loop of the converter. The voltage transformers (IT, OT) are switched-capacitor voltage transformers, each transformer (IT, OT) having at least two capacitors (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd). The invention further provides a method of converting an analog signal.
US08493252B2
A logarithmic analog to digital conversion method for an analog input signal includes a logarithmic amplification with progressive compression of the input signal delivering a sequence of several secondary analog signals. The trend of the values of at least some of the secondary signals is a function of the values of the analog input signal including regions corresponding to a linear trend of the secondary signals as a function of that of the input signal expressed in a logarithmic scale. The method also includes a comparison of at least some of the secondary signals of the sequence with a common reference signal whose value lies within each of regions, supplying a thermometric code information item, and a generation of a first digital word from the thermometric code information item.
US08493250B2
A successive approximation analog-to-digital converter (ADC) includes an adjustable voltage source that applies an adjustable voltage to an input of a comparator of the ADC to cancel an offset of the ADC. The ADC also includes a control that suspends adjustments of the adjustable voltage when the adjustable voltage converges on the offset. The adjustable voltage source is a digital-to-analog converter.
US08493249B2
In embodiments of compression match enumeration, a suffix array can be generated that is representative of data sequences stored in a memory buffer. The suffix array can then be converted into a trie structure that overwrites the suffix array in the memory buffer as the trie structure is generated in-place of the suffix array. The trie structure includes nodes that each represent one or more suffixes of the suffix array, where each consecutive suffix is either grouped with an existing node in the trie structure or added as a new node of the trie structure. Data sequence matches can then be enumerated as determined from the trie structure.
US08493247B2
A method of decoding is presented. The method includes the steps of receiving a coded bit stream that is generated by encoding source information using a Non Return to Zero Inverted (NRZI) code, selecting an NRZI decoding method based on one or more parameters associated with noise in the received coded bit stream, and generating a plurality of decisions by processing the received coded bit stream using the selected NRZI decoding method, wherein the received coded bit stream comprises a plurality of coded bits, and the plurality of decisions are estimates of a plurality of source bits in the source information.
US08493246B2
A method of decoding is presented. The method includes the steps of receiving a coded bit stream that is encoded using a Non Return to Zero Inverted (NRZI) code and a 17 Parity Preserve/Prohibit (17PP) code, determining a 17PP modulated bit stream based upon the coded bit stream using a first selected decoding method, and generating a plurality of decisions by processing the 17PP modulated bit stream using a second selected decoding method, wherein the received coded bit stream comprises a plurality of coded bits, and the plurality of decisions are estimates of a plurality of source bits in a source information.
US08493235B2
A hazard warning for a driver of a vehicle is provided which involves measured values captured by different vehicles or corresponding advance analysis results being evaluated centrally by a server. The server then decides who needs to receive a corresponding warning. In this way, the main computation power can be provided in the server, which relieves the load on the individual vehicle systems. In addition, the data transfer can be minimized, since the messages are sent only to selected receivers.
US08493221B2
One embodiment involves detecting the fouling of an air filter used to filter airflow entering a computer system. An expected airflow rate is obtained from a current fan speed. An expected temperature rise between two positions is computed as a function of the expected airflow rate and the power consumption of heat-generating components, such as servers. An actual temperature rise is obtained from temperature sensors. An electronic alert is automatically generated in response to the actual temperature rise exceeding the expected temperature rise by a setpoint. Different setpoints may be used to trigger distinct electronic alerts.
US08493217B2
A call-for-service device includes touch targets coupled with a control circuit. A light source is coupled with the control circuit and responsive to selection of the touch targets as controlled by the control circuit, which associates lighting patterns of the light source with respective touch targets to signal to wait staff service requests. The control circuit is programmable through an external connection to set the lighting patterns corresponding to the respective touch targets such that the lighting patterns are customizable for different applications. A selector switch may be coupled with the control circuit and include numerous switch positions, each switch position to control a separate lighting program, each lighting program including a set of lighting patterns, where the control circuit is programmable to associate each lighting program with a different switch position of the selector switch. A base may contain the light source, the touch targets, the control circuit, and the selector switch.
US08493214B2
The present invention is directed to method and apparatus for wireless management of articles. The method is implemented by a master REID tag. The method includes transmitting at least one first RFID read signal to a plurality of REID tags local to the master RFID tag and receiving a first RFID response signal from each of the plurality of RFID tags in response to the at least one first RFID read signal. Each of the first RFID response signals comprises an identifier associated with an article. The method further includes maintaining an article record indicating at least one expected article that is to be managed by the master RFID tag and comparing each of the identifiers with the article record in an attempt to compile contextual information associated with the article record. The method further includes transmitting a master signal comprising the contextual information associated with the article record.
US08493212B2
An automatic fire suppression system used to provide protection of window glass and other structural elements in aircraft terminals which are exposed to exterior fires caused by natural, accidental, or intentional events comprises a directional passive microwave receiver, a central processor for processing received microwave signals over time and comparing the received signals over time with thermal event signatures stored in memory to selectively actuate a sprinkler system for protecting the window glass in the vicinity of an identified fire event. The memory may further store a model of the aircraft terminal, and the processor utilizes a fire dynamics simulator to simulate a thermal event at the terminal. A related fire suppression process involves the detection of incipient fires through an array of exterior passive microwave heat sensor fire detectors connected to an electronic control processor which identify zones such as 30 to 100 linear foot zones of exterior glass surface and automatically initiates an array of quenching sprinkler heads applying water to the exposed surfaces of glass and other structural elements in response to detection of an identified fire event by its signature.
US08493209B2
Methods and apparatuses of distributed lighting control are disclosed. One method includes a sensor sensing a change of light intensity per unit of time greater than a sense threshold. If a light associated with the sensor is within a corridor and the sensed change of light intensity per unit of time is greater than the sense threshold, then the light is activated at a preselected corridor light intensity. If the light associated with the sensor is not within a corridor and the sensed change of light per unit of time is greater than the sense threshold, then the light is activated at a preselected non-corridor light intensity. For an embodiment, the preselected corridor light intensity is greater than the preselected non-corridor light intensity.
US08493189B2
A haptic feedback controller of the present invention includes: a pointing position detecting sensor which is arranged along a fingertip pointing path and detects a pointing position of a fingertip when a pointing operation is performed along the fingertip pointing path; a haptic feedback imparting device which has a piezoelectric element arranged along the fingertip pointing path and generates vibrations depending on a high frequency voltage when the voltage is applied thereto and an elastic body which is fixed to the piezoelectric element, and imparts predetermined haptic feedback to the fingertip due to vibrations generated by the piezoelectric element; and a piezoelectric element control device which controls the piezoelectric element based on feedback information outputted from controlled equipment. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a haptic feedback controller which is suitable for controlling controlled equipment in response to a pointing operation performed by a user with his/her fingertip and, at the same time, is suitable for equipment such as portable equipment deemed necessary to satisfy demand for reduction of thickness and miniaturization.
US08493185B2
Turning now to the drawings, systems and methods for reading RFID transponders utilizing readers in which the Q-factor of the resonant antenna of the reader shifts over the course of the reader's interrogation cycle in response to the detection of data from FDX and HDX RFID transponders in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment having a dynamically adjustable Q-factor, wherein the reader transmits an activation signal configured to activate half duplex and full duplex transponders includes a signal source configured to drive a resonant antenna and a dynamic switching circuit configured to set the Q-factor of the resonant antenna to a first value during the transmission of the activation signal. In addition, the dynamic switching circuit is configured to set the Q-factor of the resonant antenna to a second value below the first value during and/or in response to detection of a data signal from a full duplex transponder, the dynamic switching circuit is also configured to set the Q-factor of the resonant antenna to a third value below the second value when the RFID reader is not transmitting the activation signal, and the resonant antenna is multi-filar and the dynamic switching circuit is configured to control the Q-factor of the multi-filar resonant antenna by controlling the filars that are incorporated into the resonant antenna circuit.
US08493177B2
Various systems, devices, and methods for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a keyless entry device are provided. The system may include a keyless entry device for communicating vehicle information from a vehicle to a user. The keyless entry device may include a haptic actuator and one or more processors that may establish a communication channel with a vehicle, communicate, via the communication channel, a command to the vehicle, receive a response to the command from the vehicle, and cause the haptic actuator to output a first haptic effect based on the response. The vehicle may include a vehicle device that may obtain vehicle information that relates to a vehicle, determine and output a control signal that corresponds to the vehicle information. The control signal may cause the keyless entry device to output a first haptic effect that haptically communicates the vehicle information to the user.
US08493172B2
A variable speed toggle switch that allows a user to reverse a rotational direction of a motor and supply variable amounts of power to a motor, such as in a power tool, for example, a power drill. A trigger can include a gear segment that meshingly engages a gear on a potentiometer to electrically communicate the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger to a microprocessor. The microprocessor can then signal to an H-bridge, or to a series of transistors, the actuation direction and actuation amount of the trigger. A motor or other device can be powered by a power source in an amount corresponding to the actuation amount, and in a direction corresponding to the actuation direction of the trigger.
US08493167B2
Disclosed herein is a transformer having a heat radiation function. The transformer includes a pair of cores having an E-shape and facing and contacting each other to form central pillars and outer peripheral parts, a transforming coil part wound on the central pillars of the pair of cores and dropping voltage, and a heat radiation pipe formed to have a cylindrical shape and positioned inward from the transforming coil part to radiate heat generated from the transforming coil part, thereby well discharging heat generated from the coil.
US08493161B2
A compact excitation assembly for generating a circular polarization in an antenna in particular transmit and/or receive antennas such as multibeam antennas comprises a diplexing orthomode transducer and a branched coupler and is characterized in that the orthomode transducer (21), or OMT, is asymmetric and comprises a main waveguide (22) with square or circular cross section and longitudinal axis ZZ′ and two branches coupled to the main waveguide (22) by respectively two parallel coupling slots (25, 26), the two coupling slots (25, 26) being made in two orthogonal walls of the waveguide, the two branches of the OMT being respectively linked to two waveguides (35, 36) of an unbalanced branched coupler (40), the branched coupler (40) having two different splitting coefficients (α, β) that are optimized in such a way as to compensate for the electric field orthogonal spurious components (δy, δx) produced by the asymmetry of the OMT (21).
US08493147B2
A differential amplifier includes a first differential pair with one of an input pair serving as a first input terminal, a second differential pair with one of an input pair serving as a second input terminal, connected in parallel with the first differential pair and having the same conductivity type as the first differential pair, and a first capacity reduction circuit that reduces a capacity of the first differential pair in operation when a first input voltage input to the first input terminal is equal to or higher than an operation threshold of the first differential pair and a second input voltage input to the second input terminal is lower than an operation threshold of the second differential pair.
US08493146B2
Techniques are disclosed relating to charging and discharging a gate of transistor. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes a driver configured to discharge a gate of a transistor. The driver is configured to discharge the gate at a first rate until reaching a Miller plateau for the transistor, and to discharge the gate at a second rate after reaching the Miller plateau. In such an embodiment, the first rate is greater than the second rate. In some embodiments, the driver is also configured to charge the gate of the transistor at a third rate until reaching a Miller plateau for the transistor, and to charge the gate at a fourth rate after reaching the Miller plateau, the third rate being greater than the fourth rate. In some embodiments, the apparatus is a class D amplifier.
US08493138B2
A memcapacitive device includes a first electrode having a first end and a second end and a second electrode. The device has a memcapacitive matrix interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix has a non-linear capacitance with respect to a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode. The memcapacitive matrix is configured to alter a signal applied on the first end by at least one of a) changing at least one of a rise-time and a fall-time of the signal and b) delaying the transmission of the signal based on the application of a programming voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08493131B2
The invention discloses a capacitive touch panel detection circuit and a boost circuit thereof, wherein the boost circuit comprises a plurality of charge pumps in series, a sequence circuit and a voltage-stabilizing circuit. The charge pump comprises a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The switches are controlled by the sequence circuit. During the first half of the working cycle of the charge pump, the first capacitor is charged. During the second half of the working cycle of the charge pump, the second capacitor is charged so that the voltage is two times of the power voltage, after the first capacitor is connected with the power supply in sequence. The boost circuit of the invention does not need an induction and a Schottky diode. All of the capacitors except a voltage-stabilizing capacitor can be integrated into a chip. Therefore, the number of off-chip ancillary components can be reduced. Furthermore, the problem of electromagnetic interference in an inductive boost circuit can be solved.
US08493130B2
A reference voltage generating circuit that accurately corrects temperature characteristics of a BGR (bandgap reference) circuit and a regulator. A voltage dividing circuit outputs first and second voltages obtained by dividing a BGR voltage. The regulator includes a differential amplifier, first and second resisters coupled in series between the output terminal of the differential amplifier and the ground. The positive input terminal of the differential amplifier receives the BGR voltage, and the negative input terminal is coupled to a coupled node between third and fourth resistors. The BGR circuit outputs a third voltage varying with a temperature determined by a predetermined amount of current flowing in the BGR circuit and a predetermined resistor. A temperature-characteristics correcting circuit controls a correcting current flowing through the coupled node so that its magnitude varies with the difference between the first and third voltages, and the difference between the second and third voltages.
US08493126B2
An RF transmitter capable of transmitting over a wide range of frequencies includes a mixer, a wideband high-Q balun, a first driver amplifier and a second driver amplifier. The balun has a single primary winding and two secondary windings. A differential output of the mixer is coupled to the primary winding. A first of the two secondary windings is coupled to drive the first driver amplifier. A second of the two secondary windings is coupled to drive the second driver amplifier. One driver amplifier is used when transmitting at lower frequencies whereas the other driver amplifier is used when transmitting at higher frequencies. By appropriate sizing of the inductances of the secondary windings and by switching out one of the secondary windings at certain times, the balun is tunable to operate over the wide frequency range while having a high quality factor Q, thereby facilitating reduced power consumption while simultaneously meeting performance requirements.
US08493123B2
A system for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock includes a receiver associated with the first clock, configured to receive a remote pulse from the second clock. The remote pulse has a pulse repetition frequency and spectral characteristics that are known to the local clock. The system also includes a local pulse emitter configured to create a local pulse at the first clock, and optics configured to align the local pulse and the remote pulse. The system further includes an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse. A controller is provided that is configured to calculate a time delay between the first clock and the second clock based on the interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse.
US08493122B1
A voltage clamping circuit for protecting an input/output (I/O) terminal of an integrated circuit from over shoot and under shoot voltages includes transistors connected to form a current conducting path. A voltage at the I/O pin is detected using a voltage detection circuit. The current conducting path is switched on when the voltage at the I/O pin exceeds a predetermined value.
US08493119B2
Embodiments of a scannable flip-flop are disclosed that may reduce data hold time, which may in turn improve the performance of circuits incorporating the scannable flip-flop. The scannable flip-flop may include a slave latch and a master latch including an input multiplexer. The multiplexer may include a number of input ports, for example to receive normal operating mode data as well as scan operating mode data, and the multiplexer may be operable to controllably select one of the input ports and pass the value of the selected port to an output of the multiplexer. For example, the multiplexer may generate individual control signals for the various ports dependent upon both the clock signal and a select signal, such that each of the ports is qualified with the select signal and the clock signal before the multiplexer presents the input data of the selected port as the output of the multiplexer.
US08493117B2
Leakage tolerant delay locked loop (DLL) circuit devices and methods of locking phases of output phase signals to a phase of a reference signal using a leakage tolerant DLL circuit device are provided. Embodiments include a DLL circuit device comprising: a primary loop and a secondary correction circuit. The primary loop includes a phase detector, an error controller, and a voltage controlled buffer (VCB). The secondary correction circuit is configured to generate and provide secondary error-delay signals to the error controller. The secondary correction circuit includes multiple error generators. Each error generator is configured to generate a secondary error-delay signal in response to detecting a particular edge of an output phase signal from the VCB. The primary loop is configured to control a phase adjustment based on at least one of a first error-delay-increase signal, a first error-delay-decrease signal, and the secondary error-delay signals.
US08493103B2
Disclosed is an output driver circuit capable of realizing reduction in power consumption, and/or enhancement in transmission waveform quality in addition to an increase in transmission speed. The output driver circuit is provided with, for example, a voltage-signal generation circuit block VSG_BK for driving positive negative output-nodes (TXP, TXN) by voltage, -pulse-signal generation circuits PGEN1, PGEN 2 for generating a pulse signal upon a transition of data input signals DIN_P, DIN_N, and current-signal generation circuit blocks ISG_BKp1, ISG_BKn1, for driving TXP, TXN by current for the duration of a pulse width of the pulse-signal. The current-signal generation circuit block executes high-speed charging of parasitic capacitors Cp1, Cp2, occurring to TXP, TXN, respectively, while executing charging of parasitic capacitors Cp1, Cp2, occurring to impedance Z0 respectively. VSG_BK decides a voltage level at TXP, TXN, in the stationary state, keeping TXP, TXN as terminal nodes at impedance Z0, respectively.
US08493101B2
A drive circuit with a circuit for transmitting a signal from a primary side having a first ground to a secondary side having a second ground. The transformer has capacitive coupling between the primary and secondary sides. The transformer has an ON transmission branch and an OFF transmission branch, which each have a first partial branch and a second partial branch. Capacitive coupling between the primary and secondary sides is effected in each partial branch by high-voltage capacitors. In the inventive method, in each transmission branch, the signal generates a current flow through a first HV capacitor of a first partial branch and an inverse current flow through a second HV capacitor of a second partial branch. This respective current flow is detected on the secondary side and is supplied to an evaluation circuit common to the two partial branches and reconstructs the primary-side input signal on the secondary side.
US08493097B2
In one embodiment, a circuit is provided. The circuit includes a low-ohmic circuit and a a power supply node configured and arranged for providing a supply voltage across the low-ohmic circuit to a load from which current can be drawn. The circuit also includes a current reference circuit, configured and arranged for setting a current reference level that is based on a portion of the current from the power supply node, and a current-sensing circuit. The current-sensing circuit senses and is responsive to current passing through the low-ohmic circuit. The current-sensing circuit operates in a normal mode, in which the current-sensing circuit senses an amount of current passing through the low ohmic circuit that is less than the current threshold level, and in an over-current mode, in which the current-sensing circuit senses an amount of current passing through the low ohmic circuit that is greater than the current threshold level.
US08493094B2
A trigger signal detection apparatus includes: a clock gating circuit which is supplied with a trigger signal and a clock signal and outputs the clock signal; a trigger signal processing circuit which outputs a first signal only for a predetermined time when the clock signal is supplied from the clock gating circuit; a counter which operates in response to the trigger signal, thus outputting a count value of the clock signal; and a time set-up circuit which outputs a second signal to the trigger signal processing circuit when count value supplied from the counter reaches a preset value, and the trigger signal processing circuit stops outputting the first signal when the trigger signal processing circuit receives the second signal.
US08493091B2
A programmable logic device includes: a logic block unit including logic blocks which are programmably connectable and perform a logical operation on an input data stream; and a configuration control circuit configured to control a logical operation configuration of the logic blocks in response to configuration information, wherein the configuration control circuit controls the logical operation configuration of the logic blocks based on first configuration information for a logical operation of a first input data stream included in the input data stream, receives second configuration information for a logical operation of a second input data stream included in the input data stream, while the first input data stream is supplied to the logic block unit, and controls a logical operation configuration of the second data stream based on the second configuration information in response to termination of the logical operation of the first input data stream.
US08493089B2
A configurable die stack arrangement including a first configurable integrated circuit die located on a first substrate. The first configurable integrated circuit die includes a first array and a first configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the first array. The first array includes a first logic element and a first configuration memory. The configurable die stack arrangement also includes a second configurable integrated circuit die located on a second substrate that is different than the first substrate. The second configurable integrated circuit die includes a second array and a second configuration memory management circuit that includes an interface to the second array. The second array includes a second logic element and a second configuration memory. A signal is coupled to the first configuration management circuit and to the second configuration management circuit, and the first configuration memory management circuit includes circuitry to control the signal.
US08493088B2
In one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a self calibration unit configured to iterate a test on a logic circuit in the integrated circuit at respectively lower supply voltage magnitudes until the test fails. A lowest supply voltage magnitude at which the test passes is used to generate a requested supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a series connection of logic gates physically distributed over an area of the integrated circuit, and a measurement unit configured to launch a logical transition into the series and detect a corresponding transition at the output of the series. The amount of time between the launch and the detection is used to request a supply voltage magnitude for the integrated circuit.
US08493082B2
A seating sensing device embedded in a seat includes: a variable resistance unit generating resistance values corresponding to the circumference of the seat through a plurality of conductive threads installed in the seat; and a signal analysis unit analyzing variable quantities of the resistance values to acquire activity information on one or more of whether a user is seated or not, a seating posture, and a seating posture change.
US08493078B2
A sensor for capacitive detection of a mechanical deflection includes a substrate having a first substrate electrode and a second substrate electrode; and a mass movable relative to the substrate. The mass is divided into: a first electrically separate region having a first ground electrode; and a second electrically separate region of the mass having a second ground electrode. At least one portion of the first ground electrode is situated in a first region between the first substrate electrode and the second substrate electrode, and forms a first differential capacitor. At least one portion of the second ground electrode is situated in a second region between the first substrate electrode and the second substrate electrode, and forms a second differential capacitor.
US08493074B2
An electrical hand-held device with proximity detection can be placed on a surface and has at least one transmission electrode, at least one reception electrode, and at least one compensation electrode between the transmission and reception electrodes. The transmission and compensation electrodes can be supplied with electric switching signals of predetermined frequency and amplitude. The electric switching signal at the compensation electrode is phase-delayed with respect to the electric signal at the transmission electrode. Alternating electric fields radiated at the transmission and compensation electrodes generate in the reception electrode a current that is representative of an approach of a hand to the hand-held device. The transmission and reception electrodes are arranged such that the impedance between the transmission and the reception electrodes exceeds a predetermined value suitable to keep the current generated in the reception electrode under a predetermined value.
US08493071B1
A shorted test structure and methods for making it are disclosed. A conductive layer is applied over a first surface of a blank substrate. The blank substrate has a plurality of conductive vias that electrically connect solder lands on the first surface of the blank substrate to corresponding solder contacts on a second surface of the substrate. The conductive layer electrically couples the solder lands.
US08493055B2
A voltage measurement apparatus includes a power interface, first and second voltage detecting modules, first and second driving modules, and first and second indication modules. The first voltage detecting module compares an output voltage with a first reference voltage, to determine whether the output voltage is greater than the first reference voltage. The second voltage detecting module compares the output voltage with a second reference voltage, to determine whether the output voltage is less than the second reference voltage. The first indication module indicates the output voltage when the output voltage is greater than the upper limit voltage or less than the lower limit voltage. The second indication module indicates the output voltage when the output voltage is less than or equal to the upper limit voltage and greater than or equal to the lower limit voltage.
US08493051B2
A voltage follower circuit including an input stage for generating a difference between the input signal and the output signal. An output circuit receiving the first signal and producing the output signal. A slew boost circuit includes a first transistor having a control electrode for receiving the input signal, a first electrode coupled to a first current source, and a second electrode coupled to a first supply voltage, a second transistor having a control electrode coupled to the first electrode of the first transistor, a first electrode coupled to the first signal, and a second electrode coupled to the first supply voltage, and a third transistor having a control electrode coupled to the first electrode of the first transistor, a first electrode coupled to the first signal, and a second electrode coupled to a second supply voltage.
US08493046B2
Disclosed herein is a control device for a DC/DC converter, in which FB control and FF control are combined to estimate an output voltage of a nonlinear dynamic system while guaranteeing stability. The control device includes a FB controller which generates a first time value for switch-off timing as the amount of feedback control, a machine learning controller which generates a second time value for switch-off timing as the amount of FF control, and a difference time calculator which obtains a difference between the first time value and the second time value and transmits a difference signal to the drive circuit. The machine learning controller calculates a second time value by multiplying the deviation between the target value of the machine learning control and the estimation value from leaning history in certain sampling by α=A·e×p(−λ×n) (A: a factor (except for zero) for suppressing the first undershoot, λ: a factor (constant except for zero) for suppressing the second undershoot, and n: an integer indicating the nth sampling).
US08493028B2
A charge-balancing system includes N circuits and a control module, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. Each of the N circuits includes first and second switches connected in series and an inductance having a first end connected between the first and second switches. The control module outputs control signals to control the first and second switches. A second end of the inductance of a first one of the N circuits is connected between two cells of a first pair of 2N series-connected cells of a battery stack. The first and second switches of the first one of the N circuits are connected in parallel to the first pair of 2N series-connected cells.
US08493021B2
A method and apparatus provides supplemental power to an engine. The method and apparatus includes a pair of conductive leads for connecting the supplemental power to an engine electrical system, a battery, a relay connected to the conductive leads, a shunt cable connecting the battery to the relay and a processor for controlling the relay to selectively apply electrical power to the engine electrical system. The method and apparatus includes safety features to reduce the risk of injury to the operator and damage to the apparatus and/or engine electrical system.
US08493015B2
The present invention relates to a door drive comprising electrically operated components which are supplied with electrical energy via a mains connection. In accordance with the invention, a control and an electrical energy store are provided, with the control separating the door drive from the mains and the electrical energy store providing the electrical energy in a first operating mode and with the control connecting the door drive to the mains in a second operating mode.
US08493014B2
A motor control system includes a control module, a switching module, and a filtering module. The control module determines output voltages for operating a motor based on a torque demand. The switching module generates switching signals for an inverter that drives the motor. The switching module generates the switching signals based on the output voltages. The switching module generates an out-of-volts (OOV) signal according to a comparison based on the output voltages, a maximum duty cycle, and a voltage of a direct current (DC) bus that provides power to the inverter. The filtering module generates an OOV amount by filtering the OOV signal. The control module selectively limits the torque demand based on the OOV amount.
US08493013B2
Aspects of the present invention pertain to a method of power control for an electrical motor using a control bypass feature that allows for the delivery of full supply voltage to a motor when it is operating at or above a certain load threshold level. Advantages of the present invention include the ability to provide power savings at low loads while still a motor to operate at full rated capacity under high load conditions. Also, a load sensor and an override unit that are independent of the phase lag compensation portion of power control allows for faster response to rapid load changes.
US08492992B2
The present invention provides an LED lighting device including: a rectifying circuit having AC input ends connected to an AC source; a converter which has input ends connected to DC output ends of the rectifying circuit and output ends, to which an output capacitor is connected in parallel, connected to an LED, and lights the LED; a control unit for changing continued DC output current of the converter in accordance with a dimming degree; and a bypass circuit which is connected to the output ends of the converter in parallel with the output capacitor and makes bypass current flow, the bypass current being larger than lighting current, which flows through the LED, at least in the vicinity of a dimming lower limit.
US08492980B2
Methods for calibrating RF power applied to a plurality of RF coils are provided. In some embodiments, a method of calibrating RF power applied to a first and second RF coil of a process chamber having a power divider to control a first ratio equal to a first magnitude of RF power provided to the first RF coil divided by a second magnitude of RF power provided to the second RF coil, may include measuring a plurality of first ratios over a range of setpoint values of the power divider, comparing the plurality of measured first ratios to a plurality of reference first ratios, and adjusting an actual value of the power divider at a given setpoint value such that the first ratio of the power divider at the given setpoint matches the corresponding reference first ratio to within a first tolerance level.
US08492977B2
An LED lighting system using a retro-formed component is disclosed. Embodiments of the invention make use of a component that has an external form factor of a structural element of a pre-existing light fixture. The component, for example, can be a power supply, or a heat sink with a connector. The component allows an LED lighting unit to be used without having the power supply and/or a heat sink take up space within what a consumer would normally see as the light bulb. In some embodiments the form factor is that of a screw-in socket such as an Edison E-26 socket. A connector or connectors can allow removal of the power supply portion of the lighting unit, or of the LED and possibly an optical element from the power supply.
US08492973B2
An organic, optoelectronic component (10) is specified, comprising a three-dimensional substrate body (1), which has a closed substrate surface (1a), a radiation-emitting layer sequence (2), which has at least one layer (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e), containing an organic material, wherein the radiation-emitting layer sequence (2) is applied to the closed substrate surface (1a) and forms a curved area.
US08492968B2
A sealing structure is provided without irradiating a pixel portion of a light emitting element by heat or UV light. By the sealing structure, the reliability is enhanced by blocking out oxygen and moisture, and preventing the deterioration of the light emitting element. The sealing structure in which a whole surface of the pixel portion is covered with a sealing material and which has an excellent sealing property is manufactured without being exposed to heat or UV light. In this case, a catalyst for curing a sealing material is formed as a film on a substrate, and a sealing material for covering a pixel portion is applied to the other substrate. Then, the both substrates are bonded together.
US08492964B2
A spark plug including a center electrode; an insulator; and a metal shell, the metal shell including: a tool engaging section; a body section; and a groove section formed between the tool engaging section and the body section, and having bulges which bulge in an outer peripheral direction and in an inner peripheral direction. When a portion of the groove section having a largest outer diameter is a first section, a thinnest portion from the first section to the body section is a second section, and a portion having a thickness that is the same as that of the first section is a third section, a relation between a thickness A of the second section and a radius of curvature R of an outer surface of the metal shell that continues from the second section to the third section satisfies R×A≧0.20 mm2.
US08492962B2
Provided is a spark plug which allows a predetermined resistance to be imparted to a resistor with restraint of variation in resistance of the resistor and in turn, enables enhancement of yield. The spark plug includes a ceramic insulator having an axial hole extending in the direction of an axis CL1, a center electrode, and a terminal electrode. A resistor is provided in the axial hole through sintering of a resistor composition which contains a conductive material such as carbon black, glass powder, and ceramic particles other than glass. As viewed on a section of the resistor taken along a direction orthogonal to the axis CL1, 50% or more of sintered glass powder formed through sintering of the glass powder has a circularity of 0.8 or greater.
US08492961B2
A heat sink assembly (216) includes a heat sink (218) having an upper surface (220), a lower surface (222), a non-metal-core circuit board (224) disposed in register with the upper surface (220), and at least one solid state electronic component (SSEC) (226) electrically coupled to the circuit board (224) such that an underside (228) of each SSEC (226) is not in confronting relationship with the circuit board (224). A first thermal interface material (232) is disposed between and thermally coupled to the underside (228) of the SSEC (226) and the upper surface (220), the first thermal interface material (232) being electrically and thermally conductive. A second thermal interface material (236) is disposed in thermal communication with the lower surface (222) and spreads heat to the second heat sink (104), the second thermal interface material (236) being electrically insulating and thermally conductive.
US08492949B2
The electric motor of the present invention is capable of improving efficiency of level-winding coil cables and increasing lamination factors of coils. The coil cable, which is wound on first bobbins as first coils, has connection parts. The connection parts are respectively extended from a winding-start point of the first coil wound on each of the first bobbins and a winding-termination point thereof, for parallel winding, through a groove section located on the inner side of a second coil wound on each of second bobbins so as not to interfere with the second coil.
US08492940B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for holding an electrical machine (1) such that it is decoupled from vibration, which electrical machine (1) has a pole housing (3) and a machine flange, between which at least one vibration-decoupling element (7) is arranged, which rests on at least one contact surface (11) of the pole housing (3) and/or motor flange (4) and has a shape similar to a sphere, at least in places. The invention provides for the shape of the contact surface (11) to be matched to the shape which is similar to a sphere.
US08492931B2
Disclosed is a device selection structure for selecting one or more devices, comprising: a plurality of devices each having an input port and an output port; and a device module including a movement plate installed movably in conjunction with the plurality of devices, an input connector, and an output connector, wherein the input and output ports of the plurality of devices and the input and output connectors of the device module are installed so that during movement of the movement plate, the input and output ports of the plurality of devices are sequentially connected, at predetermined positions, to the input and output connectors of the device module.
US08492930B2
A method for operating a switching device and a device for use with the method are provided. In at least one embodiment, an energy storage medium provided for EMC considerations, in particular a capacitor, is energized in a controlled fashion through short-term activation of a switching element even after the respective connected user is turned off, the energy storage medium being thereby discharged.
US08492928B2
A front-end converter in an uninterruptible power supply system is described. In an exemplary design, a front-end converter includes a boost circuit having first and second inputs, positive, negative, and neutral output nodes, an inductor, AC inputs, a battery, and first and second devices. The boost circuit is configured to provide a positive capacitor voltage between the positive and neutral nodes and to provide a negative capacitor voltage between the negative and neutral nodes. The first device selectively couples the inductor to a first AC input or a positive port of the battery and the second device selectively couples a negative port of the battery to the second input. The inductor is coupled to the first input and is shared between an online mode of the converter and an on-battery mode of the converter. The battery is coupled through the inductor to the first input during the on-battery mode.
US08492925B2
Conventional circuits often have undesirable characteristics to due “hot spots” or use a large amount of area. Here, however, a charging circuit is provides that uses an improved driver. Namely, an amplifier within a current sensor is used to control the rate that a switch can charge an external capacitor. This is accomplished through the adjustment of the gain of the amplifier during a charging mode.
US08492923B2
A lamp circuit is disclosed, comprising a direct current (DC) power supplier adapted to provide a supply voltage, a driving unit coupled to the DC power supplier so as to receive the supply voltage, and a light-radiating module coupled to the driving unit and having a DC output side. The driving unit generates a constant DC current that passes through the light-radiating module such that a DC voltage to be supplied to a DC load is built at the DC output side.
US08492921B2
An energy harvester capable of providing motion from fluid flow, which comprises at least one Magnus cylinder driven to rotate by the movement of the fluid past a fin device. This causes the Magnus cylinder to rotate, and further interactions between the rotating Magnus cylinder and the moving fluid generate a Magnus lifting force. A channel or system may be also provided to direct the fluid flow to the Magnus cylinder. This rotating Magnus cylinder configuration is integrated into a mechanical device that is designed to transfer the Magnus lifting forces into a rotary mechanical motion to drive an electric generator. The device can be utilized in either air or hydraulic environments. A modification of the energy harvester can also be configured to utilize the generated electricity to produce hydrogen for use in fuel cells, or for combustion.
US08492912B2
There is provided a light emitting diode package, including a package body including a recess portion having a housing space and a lead frame mounted on the recess portion to be exposed; a light emitting diode chip mounted to be electrically connected to the lead frame; and a position indicator formed on the lead frame and guiding the mounting position of the light emitting diode chip.
US08492906B2
A package includes a first plated area, a second plated area, a die attached to the first plated area, and a bond coupling the die to the second plated area. The package further includes a molding encapsulating the die, the bond, and the top surfaces of the first and second plated areas, such that the bottom surfaces of the first and second plated areas are exposed exterior to the package. Additional embodiments include a method of making the package.
US08492902B2
Provided is a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device may include a substrate and a stacked insulation layer on a sidewall of an opening which penetrates the substrate. The stacked insulation layer can include at least one first insulation layer and at least one second insulation layer whose dielectric constant is different than that of the first insulation layer. One insulation layer may be a polymer and one insulation layer may be a silicon based insulation layer. The insulation layers may be uniform in thickness or may vary as a distance from the substrate changes.
US08492900B2
A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric, a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.
US08492895B2
A semiconductor chip such as an MMIC is provided. The semiconductor chip has: a Si semiconductor as a substrate; and a low-loss transmission line, and can be easily connected to a circuit board on which the semiconductor chip is to be mounted and can ensure a stable GND potential. The semiconductor chip is a flip-chip semiconductor chip, and includes: a Si substrate; an integrated circuit manufactured on a main surface of the substrate; a dielectric film formed above the integrated circuit; and a conductor film for grounding formed on an upper surface of the dielectric film. The integrated circuit includes a wiring layer including a signal line which transmits signals for the integrated circuit. The signal line, the dielectric film, and the conductor film constitute a microstrip line.
US08492894B2
A two-layer structure bump including a first bump layer of a bulk body of a first conductive metal, which is any of gold, copper, and nickel, formed on a substrate and a second bump layer of a sintered body of a powder of a second conductive metal, which is any of gold and silver, formed on the first bump layer. The bulk body composing the first bump layer is formed through any of plating, sputtering, or CVD. The sintered body composing the second bump layer is formed by sintering the powder of the second conductive metal having a purity of not lower than 99.9 wt % and an average particle diameter of 0.005 μm to 1.0 μm. The second bump layer has a Young's modulus 0.1 to 0.4 times that of the first bump layer.
US08492890B2
A semiconductor device which includes a first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip flip-chip bonded to the first semiconductor chip, a resin portion for sealing the first semiconductor chip and the second semiconductor chip such that a lower surface of the first semiconductor chip and an upper surface of the second semiconductor chip are exposed and a side surface of the first semiconductor chip is covered, and a post electrode which pierces the resin portion and is connected to the first semiconductor chip, and a manufacturing method thereof are provided.
US08492885B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes an organic board provided with external connection terminals on one surface and formed as an individual piece into a plane shape substantially identical to that of an area where the external connection terminals are provided, a lead frame having a mounting area positioned relative to the organic board, and a semiconductor memory chip bonded to the mounting area.
US08492876B2
A method of forming a three-dimensional electronic device includes forming at least one electronic device on a two-dimensional, flexible substrate, the electronic device being formed according to a three-dimensional structure, cutting the two-dimensional, flexible substrate, the cuts being located to allow the two-dimensional substrate to be shaped, the cuts having at least one stress relief feature, and shaping the two-dimensional, flexible substrate to form the three-dimensional structure, the stress relief features arranged to alleviate stress in the three-dimensional structure. A method of forming a three-dimensional electronic device includes forming at least one electronic device on a two-dimensional, flexible substrate, the electronic device being formed according to a three-dimensional structure, cutting the two-dimensional, flexible substrate, the cuts being arranged to as to increase a radius of curvature to meet a stress relief parameter when the substrate is shaped, and shaping the two-dimensional, flexible substrate to form the three-dimensional structure. A three-dimensional electronic device having an electronic device formed on a flexible substrate, the flexible substrate formed into a three-dimensional structure, wedged-shaped portions removed from the substrate to allow the substrate to be formed into the three-dimensional structure, and a stress relief feature arranged adjacent to the wedge-shaped portions.
US08492873B1
An integrated circuit is provided with guard rings that form ring-like reverse-biased p-n junctions around circuitry. Capacitors may be integrated into the guard rings. Power supply lines may be connected to the guard rings and the capacitors. The capacitors may stabilize power supply voltages on the power supply lines. The power supply lines may be arranged such that they are parallel to each other. The power supply lines can form one or more parallel plate capacitors that stabilize the power supply voltages on the power supply lines.
US08492869B2
A 3D integrated circuit structure is provided. The 3D integrated circuit structure includes an interface wafer including a first wiring layer, a first active circuitry layer including active circuitry, and a wafer including active circuitry. The first active circuitry layer is bonded face down to the interface wafer, and the wafer is bonded face down to the first active circuitry layer. The first active circuitry layer is lower-cost than the wafer.
US08492867B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an electric field terminal part. The semiconductor substrate includes a substrate, a drift layer disposed on a surface of the substrate, and a base layer disposed on a surface of the drift layer. The semiconductor substrate is divided into a cell region in which a semiconductor element is disposed and a peripheral region that surrounds the cell region. The base region has a bottom face located on a same plane throughout the cell region and the peripheral region and provides an electric field relaxing layer located in the peripheral region. The electric field terminal part surrounds the cell region and a portion of the electric field relaxing layer and penetrates the electric field relaxing layer from a surface of the electric field relaxing layer to the drift layer.
US08492865B2
An image sensor array includes a substrate layer, a metal layer, an epitaxial layer, a plurality of imaging pixels, and a contact dummy pixel. The metal layer is disposed above the substrate layer. The epitaxial layer is disposed between the substrate layer and the metal layer. The imaging pixels are disposed within the epitaxial layer and each include a photosensitive element for collecting an image signal. The contact dummy pixel is dispose within the epitaxial layer and includes an electrical conducting path through the epitaxial layer. The electrical conducting path couples to the metal layer above the epitaxial layer.
US08492863B2
Optical modulator having wide bandwidth based on Fabry-Perot resonant reflection is disclosed. The optical modulator includes: a bottom Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) layer; a top DBR layer including at least one layer, and a modified layer; and an active layer disposed between bottom and top DBR layers, wherein the at least one layer includes at least one pair of a first refractive index layer having a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer having a second refractive index, the modified layer includes at least one pair of a third refractive index layer having a third refractive index and a fourth refractive index layer having a fourth refractive index, the third and the fourth refractive indexes being different, and at least one of the third and the fourth refractive index layers has a second optical thickness that is not λ/4 or that is not an odd multiple thereof.
US08492859B2
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) includes first and second magnetic layers; a tunnel barrier located between the first and second magnetic layers; a first spacer layer located between the first magnetic layer and the tunnel barrier, the first spacer layer comprising a non-magnetic material; and a first interfacial layer located between the first spacer layer and the tunnel barrier.
US08492858B2
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device and fabrication method is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method of forming a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device includes forming an MTJ cap layer on an MTJ structure and forming a top electrode layer over the MTJ cap layer. The top electrode layer includes a first nitrified metal.
US08492846B2
A shallow trench isolation structure containing a first shallow trench isolation portion comprising the first shallow trench material and a second shallow trench isolation portion comprising the second shallow trench material is provided. A first biaxial stress on at least one first active area and a second bidirectional stress on at least one second active area are manipulated separately to enhance charge carrier mobility in middle portions of the at least one first and second active areas by selection of the first and second shallow trench materials as well as adjusting the type of the shallow trench isolation material that each portion of the at least one first active area and the at least one second active area laterally abut.
US08492845B2
A structure and methods of making the structure. The structure includes: first and a second semiconductor regions in a semiconductor substrate and separated by a region of trench isolation in the substrate; a first gate electrode extending over the first semiconductor region and the region of the trench isolation; a second gate electrode extending over the second silicon region and the region of the trench isolation; a trench in the trench isolation; and a strap in the trench connecting the first and second gate electrodes.
US08492841B2
Trench-generated transistor structures, design structures for a trench-generated transistor, and other trench-generated device structures. The source and drain of the transistor are defined by doped regions in the semiconductor material of the handle substrate of a semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The gate electrode may be defined from the semiconductor layer of the SOI wafer, which is separated from the handle wafer by an insulating layer. Alternatively, the gate electrode may be defined as a conventional gate stack on a shallow trench isolation region in the semiconductor layer or as a conventional gate stack in one of the BEOL interconnect levels.
US08492837B2
Disclosed are semiconductor devices and methods of making semiconductor devices. An exemplary embodiment comprises a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type having a first surface, a second surface, and a graded net doping concentration of the first conductivity type within a portion of the semiconductor layer. The graded portion is located adjacent to the top surface of the semiconductor layer, and the graded net doping concentration therein decreasing in value with distance from the top surface of the semiconductor layer. The exemplary device also comprises an electrode disposed at the first surface of the semiconductor layer and adjacent to the graded portion.
US08492835B1
A HV MOSFET device includes a substrate, a deep well region, a source/body region, a drain region, a gate structure, and a first doped region. The deep well region includes a boundary site and a middle site. The source/body region is formed in the deep well region and defines a channel region. The first doped region is formed in the deep well region and disposed under the gate structure, and having the first conductivity type. There is a first ratio between a dopant dose of the first doped region and a dopant dose of the boundary site of the deep well region. There is a second ratio between a dopant dose of the first doped region and a dopant dose of the middle site of the deep well region. A percentage difference between the first ratio and the second ratio is smaller than or equal to 5%.
US08492826B2
A non-volatile semiconductor device includes an n type well formed in a semiconductor substrate having a surface, the surface having a plurality of stripe shaped grooves and a plurality of stripe shaped ribs, a plurality of stripe shaped p type diffusion regions formed in upper parts of each of the plurality of ribs, the plurality of stripe shaped p type diffusion regions being parallel to a longitudinal direction of the ribs, a tunneling insulation film formed on the grooves and the ribs, a charge storage layer formed on the tunneling insulating film, a gate insulation film formed on the charge storage layer, and a plurality of stripe shaped conductors formed on the gate insulating film, the plurality of stripe shaped conductors arranged in a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the ribs with a predetermined interval wherein an impurity diffusion structure in the ribs are asymmetric.
US08492820B2
Disclosed is an integrated circuit having at least one deep trench isolation structure and a deep trench capacitor. A method of forming the integrated circuit incorporates a single etch process to simultaneously form first trench(s) and a second trenches for the deep trench isolation structure(s) and a deep trench capacitor, respectively. Following formation of a buried capacitor plate adjacent to the lower portion of the second trench, the trenches are lined with a conformal insulator layer and filled with a conductive material. Thus, for the deep trench capacitor, the conformal insulator layer functions as the capacitor dielectric and the conductive material as a capacitor plate in addition to the buried capacitor plate. A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure formed in the substrate extending across the top of the first trench(es) encapsulates the conductive material therein, thereby creating the deep trench isolation structure(s).
US08492814B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes the following processes. A pillar is formed which stands on a semiconductor substrate. A first insulating film is formed which covers a side surface of the pillar. An upper portion of the first insulating film is removed to expose a side surface of an upper portion of the pillar. A contact plug is formed, which contacts the side surface of the upper portion of the pillar and a top surface of the pillar.
US08492810B2
Method of fabricating an integrated electronic circuit with programmable resistance cells, which comprises providing a substrate; forming an inert electrode; forming a solid electrolyte on the inert electrode; forming an interlayer on the solid electrolyte, the interlayer comprising an active electrode material and nitrogen; and forming an active electrode on the interlayer, the active electrode comprising the active electrode material.
US08492806B2
A non-linear element, such as a diode, in which an oxide semiconductor is used and a rectification property is favorable is provided. In a thin film transistor including an oxide semiconductor in which the hydrogen concentration is less than or equal to 5×1019/cm3, the work function φms of a source electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, the work function φmd of a drain electrode in contact with the oxide semiconductor, and electron affinity χ of the oxide semiconductor satisfy φms≦χ<φmd. By electrically connecting a gate electrode and the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, a non-linear element with a more favorable rectification property can be achieved.
US08492805B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a region including a semiconductor element on the substrate, and at least one guard ring structure provided around the region. The guard ring structure includes a guard ring and at least one portion comprised of the substrate.
US08492801B2
A semiconductor structure with high breakdown voltage and high resistance and method for manufacturing the same. The semiconductor structure at least comprises a substrate having a first conductive type; a deep well having a second conductive type formed in the substrate; two first wells having the first conductive type and formed within the deep well; a second well having the first conductive type and formed between the two first wells within the deep well, and an implant dosage of the second well lighter than an implant dosage of each of the two first wells; and two first doping regions having the first conductive type and respectively formed within the two first wells.
US08492797B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a semiconductor region extending vertically from a first region of a substrate; a plurality of gate electrodes disposed on the first region of the substrate in a vertical direction, but separated from each other along a sidewall of the semiconductor region; a gate dielectric layer disposed between the semiconductor region and the plurality of gate electrodes; a substrate contact electrode extending vertically from the impurity-doped second region of the substrate; and an insulating region formed as an air gap between the substrate contact electrode and at least one of the plurality of gate electrodes.
US08492788B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to techniques for improving the performance of Lambertian and non-Lambertian light sources. In certain example embodiments, this is accomplished by (1) providing an organic-inorganic hybrid material on LEDs (which in certain example embodiments may be a high index of refraction material), (2) enhancing the light scattering ability of the LEDs (e.g., by fractal embossing, patterning, or the like, and/or by providing randomly dispersed elements thereon), and/or (3) improving performance through advanced cooling techniques. In certain example instances, performance enhancements may include, for example, better color production (e.g., in terms of a high CRI), better light production (e.g., in terms of lumens and non-Lambertian lighting), higher internal and/or external efficiency, etc.
US08492758B2
It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics and a display device including the semiconductor device as a switching element. In a transistor including an oxide semiconductor layer, a needle crystal group provided on at least one surface side of the oxide semiconductor layer grows in a c-axis direction perpendicular to the surface and includes an a-b plane parallel to the surface, and a portion except for the needle crystal group is an amorphous region or a region in which amorphousness and microcrystals are mixed. Accordingly, a highly reliable semiconductor device with good electrical characteristics can be formed.
US08492748B2
A disposable material layer is first deposited on a graphene layer or a carbon nanotube (CNT). The disposable material layer includes a material that is less inert than graphene or CNT so that a contiguous dielectric material layer can be deposited at a target dielectric thickness without pinholes therein. A gate stack is formed by patterning the contiguous dielectric material layer and a gate conductor layer deposited thereupon. The disposable material layer shields and protects the graphene layer or the CNT during formation of the gate stack. The disposable material layer is then removed by a selective etch, releasing a free-standing gate structure. The free-standing gate structure is collapsed onto the graphene layer or the CNT below at the end of the selective etch so that the bottom surface of the contiguous dielectric material layer contacts an upper surface of the graphene layer or the CNT.
US08492740B2
The capability of retaining a resistance value of a stored state and an erased state is improved in a resistance variation-type memory device. A memory layer 5 including a high-resistance layer 2 and an ion source layer 3 is provided between a lower electrode 1 and an upper electrode 4. The ion source layer 3 contains Al (aluminum) as an additive element together with an ion conductive material such as S (sulfur), Se (selenium), and Te (tellurium) (chalcogenide element) and a metal element to be ionized such as Zr (zirconium). Since Al is included in the ion source layer 3, the high-resistance layer which includes Al (Al oxide) is formed on an anode in erasing operation. Thus, a retaining property in a high-resistance state improves, and at the same time, an operating speed is improved.
US08492736B2
A quartz window with an interior plenum is operable as a shutter or UV filter in a degas chamber by supplying the plenum with an ozone-containing gas. Pressure in the plenum can be adjusted to block UV light transmission into the degas chamber or adjust transmittance of UV light through the window. When the plenum is evacuated, the plenum allows maximum transmission of UV light into the degas chamber.
US08492725B2
A system of performing a volumetric scan. The system comprises a surface of positioning a patient in a space parallel thereto, a plurality of extendable detector arms each the detector arm having a detection unit having at least one radiation detector, and an actuator which moves the detection unit along a linear path, and a gantry which supports the plurality of extendable detector arms around the surface so that each the linear path of each respective the extendable detector arm being directed toward the space.
US08492722B2
A volatile organic compound sensor includes a source of infrared (IR) light, a detector for detecting the IR light, and a space defined between the IR light source and the IR light detector. The space includes volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The IR light detector measures an amount of IR light transmitted through the space, the measured IR light transmitted being attenuated by VOC light absorption when in the space. An amount of the IR light attenuation is related to a concentration of the VOCs present in the space.
US08492718B2
There is provided a measuring apparatus including a space arrangement structure that includes space regions surrounded by conductors in a plane, an electromagnetic wave emitter that emits electromagnetic waves towards an object held by the space arrangement structure, and an electromagnetic wave detector that measures the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the space arrangement structure. Here, characteristics of the object are measured by measuring the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the space arrangement structure. The electromagnetic waves emitted from the electromagnetic wave emitter towards the space arrangement structure are incident on the plane containing the space regions at an angle, and the electromagnetic waves that have passed through the space arrangement structure are measured.
US08492716B2
A vacuumed device that includes: a sealed housing, an electron beam source, an electron optic component, a thin membrane, and a detector. The thin membrane seals an aperture of the sealed housing. The sealed housing defines a vacuumed space in which vacuum is maintained. The electron beam source is configured to generate an electron beam that propagates within the vacuumed space, interacts with the electron optic component and passes through the thin membrane. A first portion of the sealed housing is shaped to fit a space defined by non-vacuumed scanning electron microscope components that are maintained in a non-vacuum environment.
US08492714B2
A system and method for trapping a charged particle is disclosed. A time-varying periodic multipole electric potential is generated in a trapping volume. A charged particle under the influence of the multipole electric field is confined to the trapping volume. A three electrode configuration giving rise to a 3D Paul trap and a four planar electrode configuration giving rise to a 2D Paul trap are disclosed.
US08492712B2
Various embodiments of a multi-dimensional ion mobility analyzer are disclosed that have more than one drift chamber and can acquire multi-dimensional ion mobility profiles of substances. The drift chambers of this device can, for example, be operated under independent operational conditions to separate charged particles based on their distinguishable chemical/physical properties. The first dimension drift chamber of this device can be used either as a storage device, a reaction chamber, and/or a drift chamber according to the operational mode of the analyzer. Also presented are various methods of operating an ion mobility spectrometer including, but not limited to, a continuous first dimension ionization methods that can enable ionization of all chemical components in the sample regardless their charge affinity.
US08492710B2
Time-of-flight mass spectrometer instruments are disclosed for monitoring fast processes with large dynamic range using a multi-threshold TDC data acquisition method or a threshold ADC data acquisition method. Embodiments using a combination of both methods are also disclosed.
US08492703B2
A method and apparatus for suppressing loss of scale image contrast due to interference effects from optical path length differences, including lens profile aberrations, are provided in a displacement sensing optical encoder that uses a telecentric imaging configuration. According to the invention, the encoder is configured such that the image light that reaches the detector comprises symmetric ray bundles concentrated symmetrically on opposite sides of the optical axis center at the limiting aperture of the telecentric imaging configuration. Central ray bundles, and/or other ray bundles that have an optical path lengths significantly different than the operational symmetric ray bundles are prevented or blocked. As a result destructive interference is prevented and image contrast is improved.
US08492701B2
A measuring station for measuring vehicles has at least one laser source, which emits laser radiation (20) during operation, and a safety system, which includes at least one sensor, which is set up to detect objects. The safety system is configured in such a way that it switches off the laser source when at least one sensor detects an object which approaches a region in which the laser radiation emitted by the laser source has a particularly high intensity.
US08492688B2
A meal kit for microwave cooking of a multi-component food product is provided that includes at least two sealed packages of ingredients for the multi-component food product. One of the sealed packages of ingredients contains a liquid component of the multi-component food product. The meal kit also includes a cooking tray formed of a microwave-safe material having a bottom wall with an upstanding sidewall extending around the periphery thereof to define an interior of the cooking tray. Outer packaging is provided to contain the sealed packages of ingredients and the cooking tray.
US08492687B2
A power control unit for high-frequency dielectric heating is provided, and includes an input current detection section for detecting input current from the AC power supply to the inverter circuit and outputting input current waveform information. A conversion section converts the input current waveform information into a drive signal of the switching transistor of the inverter circuit so that instantaneous fluctuation of the input current waveform information is suppressed. A mix circuit mixes the input current waveform information and power control information for controlling so that current or voltage at an arbitrary point of the inverter circuit becomes a predetermined value and generates an on voltage signal. The conversion section converts the on voltage signal into the drive signal so that the on time is shortened in the portion where the input current is large and that the on time is prolonged in the portion where the input current is small.
US08492686B2
A method of heating and/or thawing using an RF heater is described. In some cases the heating differentially heats portions according to their dissipation ratios. Optionally, this avoids dissipating large amounts of energy into thawed portions while frozen portions are still extant and heat slowly. Optionally, this prevents overheating of thawed portions.
US08492683B2
A portable induction heating tool is provided as a membrane roofing tool for use in sealing anchor plates with a heat-activated adhesive to a membrane roofing member. The tool uses two different audible tones so two tools can be used simultaneously on a single roof, while allowing a user to easily distinguish between the operation of both tools. The main housing containing electronics is weather-tight, and requires no forced-cooling devices. The controller automatically performs data logging functions, such as counting the number of anchor plates per job or per day that have been properly placed, counting the number of activation events for a tool's life, tracking the number of faults which occur as the tool is being used, and the controller can identify the type of fault that occurs during operation of the tool. The controller also stores energy setting changes in memory.
US08492680B2
A heating device for a seat exhibiting excellent durability, reliability, safety and enhanced workability in fixing work to a seat while reducing the cost and weight and ensuring comfortable feeling at seating without causing a strange feeling. The heating device for a seat comprises a heating matter (4) including a base substance (2) and a heating wire (3) arranged on the base substance, a temperature detection element (5) for detecting temperature of the heating matter, and a temperature control circuit (1) for controlling temperature of the heating matter based on the output from the temperature detection element, characterized in that the temperature detection element and the temperature control circuit are arranged at predetermined positions on the base substance. The temperature control circuit is insulation-covered together with a part of lead wires connected to the temperature control circuit.
US08492679B2
A flux-cored wire for stainless steel arc welding including an outer sheath made of stainless steel and flux filled up in the outer sheath contains, as percentage to the total mass of the wire, Cr: 22.0-30.0 mass %, Ni: 6.0-12.0 mass %, Mo: 2.0-5.0 mass %, N: 0.20-0.35 mass %, TiO2: 4.0-9.0 mass %, SiO2: 0.1-2.0 mass %, ZrO2: 0.5-4.0 mass %, total of Li2O, Na2O and K2O: 0.50-1.50 mass %, metal fluoride in terms of fluorine amount: 0.10-0.90 mass %, and rare earth element component: 0.10-1.00 mass %, limits C to 0.04 mass % or below, W to 4.0 mass % or below, Cu to 2.0 mass % or below, Bi2O3 to 0.01 mass % or below, and limits oxides other than the above to 3.0 mass % or below. With such a composition, it is possible to obtain a weld bead which is excellent in the weldability in welding in all attitudes and is more excellent in the low temperature toughness while keeping excellent pitting corrosion resistance in arc welding of duplex stainless steel and the like.
US08492673B2
Avoiding contaminant generation within a hard disk drive due to increased temperatures during a solder reflow process is described. Energy from a beam of energy that is directed toward a plurality of polyimide regions is received. Each of the plurality of polyimide regions are disposed adjacent to at least one solder pad. The plurality of polyimide regions and the at least one solder pad comprises a first component of a hard disk drive. Then, a portion of the energy is reflected away from the plurality of polyimide regions to prevent an absorption of the portion by the plurality of polyimide regions and a burning of the plurality of polyimide regions.
US08492666B2
A key assembly for an electronic device comprises at least one key including a body having a first external contact portion and a second external contact portion. The first external contact portion is movable to thereby actuate a first switch of a pair of switches. The second external contact portion is movable to thereby actuate a second switch of the pair of switches. The body of the at least one key pivots about the first external contact portion when the second external contact portion moves to thereby actuate the second switch. The body of the at least one key also pivots about the second external contact portion when the first external contact portion moves to thereby actuate the first switch.
US08492665B1
One embodiment of an apparatus for capacitive sensing and capacitive measuring having a digital circuitry (16) which has a digital input port P1 communicating with a capacitive sensing element (10). A resistance element (12) forms an electrical pathway between the sensing element and a signal generator (18) by electrically communicating with both. The signal generator outputs adjustable singles to charge and discharge the sensing element. The voltage Vc of the sensing element at the input port P1 will cause logic level change between “1” and “0” inside the digital circuitry when passing through the logic threshold of the digital circuit. The digital circuitry measures the time between the logic level changes and the reference points of the signals, and then calculates the capacitance or the capacitance change. The digital circuitry can be a microcontroller and the signal source can be the microcontroller's output port. Other embodiments are described and shown.
US08492660B2
Radio-frequency (RF) leakage from shielded enclosures is minimized while ensuring applicable RF attenuation standards and access requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by attaching an inflatable bladder to a door of an enclosure. Substantially surrounding the bladder is an electrically conductive material. When the bladder is inflated it makes contact with conductive material which in turn makes conductive contact with the door frame to create an RF seal. The use of the bladder and conductive material provides an improved RF seal and allows for the use of a low-profile threshold that permits ADA access to, and from, the enclosure.
US08492655B2
An electrical ribbon cable includes at least one conductor set having at least two elongated conductors extending from end-to-end of the cable. Each of the conductors are encompassed along a length of the cable by respective first dielectrics. A first and second film extend from end-to-end of the cable and are disposed on opposite sides of the cable The conductors are fixably coupled to the first and second films such that a consistent spacing is maintained between the first dielectrics of the conductors of each conductor set along the length of the cable. A second dielectric disposed within the spacing between the first dielectrics of the wires of each conductor set.
US08492649B2
A tension balancer installation auxiliary device is provided including a fixing pipe which includes two open ends, a slit and a pair of first apertures, and a yoke, wherein one end of the fixing pipe is arranged to contact with a casing of the tension balancer, and the yoke is attached by passing through a pair of first through holes of a pair of shackle shaped connecting parts of the tension balancer and the pair of first apertures.
US08492644B2
An object is to provide a solar cell module capable of reducing warping of each solar cell due to a linear expansion coefficient difference between the solar cell and a wiring line member to prevent damages effectively without raising any cost increase. A solar cell module comprises a plurality of solar cells and is constituted by electrically connecting adjacent solar cells to one another by wiring line members, a base material of the wiring line member has a plastic strain of 2% or less in a drawing direction, and the solar cell is constituted of a crystalline wafer having a thickness of 200 microns or less.
US08492642B2
A system which can efficiently control the temperature of the battery module, and also can easily control the temperature in the intense environment by actively adapting the exterior environment. The system for controlling temperature of a secondary battery module includes a housing receiving a plurality of unit batteries. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. A heat transfer member is in contact with the unit batteries. The heat transfer member has a portion exposed to a heat transfer medium duct formed inside the housing, and a temperature controller is mounted in the heat transfer member to control temperature of the unit batteries.
US08492636B2
A chord detection apparatus capable of detecting a wide variety of chords musically related to realtime performance. Degree name candidates each having a function that can come next are extracted in a first extraction process, degree name candidates corresponding to an interrupted cadence are extracted in a second extraction process, and degree name candidates corresponding to a non-functional chord progression technique are extracted in a third extraction process. The degree name candidates extracted in these extraction processes are developed into chord names according to a current tonality, and one of chords represented by the chord names is selected according to performance data and output to an automatic accompaniment apparatus for sound production.
US08492624B1
A novel maize variety designated PHETG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHETG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHETG 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 PHETG or a trait conversion of PHETG with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHETG, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHETG and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08492619B2
The present invention generally relates to seedless pepper (SLP); and more specifically, it pertains to male sterile pepper plants having unique characteristics including the capability of growing edible seedless fruits, wherein the “seedless” trait is controlled by a genetic determinant independent of exogenous factors.
US08492618B2
A cotton cultivar, designated UA-48, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of cotton cultivar UA-48, to the plants of cotton UA-48 and to methods for producing a cotton plant produced by crossing the cultivar UA-48 with itself or another cotton variety. The invention further relates to hybrid cotton seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar UA-48 with another cotton cultivar.
US08492613B2
The invention relates to the field of glycoprotein processing in transgenic plants used as cost efficient and contamination safe factories for the production of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins or pharmaceutical compositions comprising these glycoproteins. The invention provides a plant comprising a functional mammalian enzyme providing mammalian GnTIII that is normally not present in plants, said plant additionally comprising at least a second mammalian protein or functional fragment thereof that is normally not present in plants.
US08492606B2
The present invention provides an apparatus useful for the separation of hazardous and non-hazardous organic and inorganic constituents from various matrices. A method of separating such constituents is also provided.
US08492601B1
Methods for converting used oil into fuel generally include forming a conversion mixture of an alcohol and a base, and adding the conversion mixture to used oil, such as used motor oil, to form a reaction mixture. The methods can also include adding a high nitrate compound and an amino acid to the reaction mixture and ozonizing the reaction mixture. The result of the methods can include a three phase system in which the bottom phase is asphalt oil, the middle phase is diesel fuel or jet fuel, and the top phase is sulfuric acid. The three phases can be separated to obtain the final diesel fuel or jet fuel product.
US08492599B2
A hydrocarbon composition is provided containing a total Ni/Fe/V content of at least 200 wtppm; a residue content of at least 0.2 grams per gram of hydrocarbon composition; a distillate content of at least 0.2 grams per gram of hydrocarbon composition; a sulfur content of at least 0.04 grams per gram of hydrocarbon composition; and a micro-carbon residue content of at least 0.06 grams per gram of hydrocarbon composition; and wherein the hydrocarbon composition has a viscosity of at most 100 cSt at 37.8° C.
US08492597B2
The present invention describes a process for the production of propylene glycol from glycerol, the transformation of purified glycerol to propylene glycol being carried out by means of a reaction of hydrogenolysis, in the liquid phase, where the two stages of the reaction take place simultaneously and in one and the same reactor (1) under specified conditions of temperature and pressure, and the effluent from the fixed-bed reactor (1) is led to subsequent process stages that comprise separation and purification.
US08492590B2
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of oxindoles and ortho-substituted anilines and their use as intermediates for syntheses. The invention further relates to a process for the preparation of compounds of formula (4): where a mixture of an aniline (compound of formula Q) is reacted with a thioether (compound of formula W): in the presence of a chlorinating agent and an organic solvent at a reaction temperature in the range above −65° C. In a subsequent process, this compound is further reacted in the presence of an acid catalyst to give the indole of formula (7) or the oxindole of formula (8):
US08492587B2
A reactor (1) for preparing phosgene by gas-phase reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine in the presence of a solid-state catalyst, which is provided in the catalyst tubes (2) of a bundle of catalyst tubes (2) which are arranged parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the reactor (1) and are welded at each of their two ends into a tube plate (3), with introduction of the starting materials at the upper end of the catalyst tubes (2) and discharge of the gaseous reaction mixture at the lower end of the catalyst tubes (2), in each case via a cap, and also with introduction and discharge facilities for a liquid heat transfer medium (6) in the intermediate space (4) between the catalyst tubes (2) , where the flow of the heat transfer medium (6) in the space (4) between the catalyst tubes (2) is guided by deflection plates (5), which leave alternating openings (7) free on opposite sides at the interior wall of the reactor, in which openings the deflection plates (5) have cutouts having the shape of a segment of a circle, and the reactor (1) has no tubes in the region of the openings (7), wherein the heat transfer coefficients at the interface between the catalyst tubes (2) and the heat transfer medium (6) are equalized over each reactor cross section by the flow paths of the heat transfer medium (6) in each reactor cross section, in each case measured from the first to last catalyst tube (2) in the flow direction of the heat transfer medium (6), being matched to one another by means of an altered arrangement of the catalyst tubes (2), is proposed.
US08492585B2
To provide a method for recovering an anionic fluorinated emulsifier, capable of easily and efficiently recovering an anionic fluorinated emulsifier adsorbed on a basic ion exchange resin.A basic ion exchange resin is brought into contact with a mixture of an aqueous inorganic acid solution and a non-aqueous fluorinated medium, or the basic ion exchange resin is brought into contact with an aqueous inorganic acid solution and then brought into contact with a non-aqueous fluorinated medium, then a phase of the non-aqueous fluorinated medium is recovered, and an acid of the anionic fluorinated emulsifier is recovered from the phase of the non-aqueous fluorinated medium.
US08492584B2
The invention relates to a process for oxidizing at least one organic substance with oxygen, which comprises the following steps: (a) adding the at least one organic substance as a liquid and an oxygenous gas stream to a first reaction stage to form a reaction mixture, at least some of the oxygen reacting with the organic compound to form a reaction product, (b) adding the reaction mixture from the first reaction stage to an adiabatically operated reaction stage in which the unconverted organic substance reacts further at least partly to give the product. The invention further relates to an apparatus for performing the process.
US08492582B2
The invention relates to an N-acyl anthranilic acid derivative or it's salt having collagen production inhibitory action.
US08492572B2
A composition comprising 40 to 90 wt % of at least one fatty amine carboxylate salt, water, and the carboxylic acid corresponding to said carboxylate is provided. In the composition, the weight:weight ratio of carboxylic acid:water is in the range of from 20:1 to 1:1. The inventive compositions have a pour point at a temperature of below 30° C.
US08492565B2
To provide a process for producing BPDA whereby high productivity is attained while high purity is maintained.A process for producing biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, which comprises heating biphenyltetracarboxylic acid to produce biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, characterized in that the heating is carried out at a pressure of from 1×102 Pa to 1.1×105 Pa to a maximum temperature in a range of from 210° C. to 250° C. in such a manner that the temperature rising rate is higher than 50° C./hr for a period of at least ¼ of the time for the temperature rise from 60° C. to 210° C., and the temperature is maintained to be from 150° C. to 250° C. for from 0.5 to 10 hours.
US08492558B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2-aminobiphenyls of the formula I in which n is 0, 1, 2 or 3, R1 is hydrogen, cyano or fluorine, and each R2 is independently selected from cyano, fluorine, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-fluoroalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-fluoroalkoxy, C1-C4-alkylthio and C1-C4-fluoroalkylthio. The invention also relates to a process for preparing pyrazolecarboxamides of such 2-aminobiphenyls.
US08492551B2
An improved process for the preparation of (S)-5-methoxy-2-[[(4-methoxy-3,5-dimethyl-2-pyridinyl)methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole of Formula I, (I) with high enantiomeric excess from racemic mixture.
US08492549B2
Compounds of formula I wherein X, Z, R1-R4, and m are as defined in the claims, exhibit alpha2C antagonistic activity, and are thus useful as alpha2C antagonists. Methods for the treatment of diseases and conditions of the peripheric system and the central nervous system are also disclosed.
US08492546B2
The invention relates to co-crystals and compositions each comprising VX-950 and a co-crystal former selected from the group consisting of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid. Also within the scope of this invention are methods of making and using the same.
US08492542B2
The present invention is directed to a method producing bicyclic guanidine comprising heating a cyclic thiourea to a temperature ranging from ≧140° C. in a substantially non-hydrocarbon solvent to form the bicyclic guanidine.
US08492530B2
The present invention provides unstructured recombinant polymers (URPs) and proteins containing one or more of the URPs. The present invention also provides microproteins, toxins and other related proteinaceous entities, as well as genetic packages displaying these entities. The present invention also provides recombinant polypeptides including vectors encoding the subject proteinaceous entities, as well as host cells comprising the vectors. The subject compositions have a variety of utilities including a range of pharmaceutical applications.
US08492528B2
Purified genes encoding interleukin-B30 from a mammal, reagents related thereto including purified proteins, specific antibodies, and nucleic acids encoding this molecule are provided. Methods of using said reagents and diagnostic kits are also provided.
US08492521B2
Provided is an agent which is useful for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of various diseases induced by an oxidative stress. Disclosed are secreted eIF5A protein and a pharmaceutical containing the same.
US08492518B2
Peptides are provided that comprise less than 24 amino acids. The peptides have an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) an amino acid sequence having from 4 to 6 contiguous amino acids of a reference sequence PEPTIDE 1; (b) an amino acid sequence substantially identical to the sequence defined in (a); and (c) a variant of the amino acid sequence defined in (a). Also provided is a non-myristoylated MANS peptide. Various methods of using the peptides are also provided.
US08492516B2
Disclosed are methods, compositions, zona pellucida binding peptides and polypeptides, and expression vectors for use in species-specific immunocontraception of animals. The disclosed compositions may include immunogenic compositions or vaccines.
US08492512B2
The disclosed process comprises freeze-drying a biodegradable implant device comprised or one or more polyesters to thereby reduce moisture content in the device.
US08492510B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to polymers, crosslinked polymers, functionalized polymers, nanoparticles, and functionalized nanoparticles and methods of making and using same. In one aspect, the invention relates to degradable polymer and degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the invention relates to methods of preparing degradable nanoparticles and, more specifically, methods of controlling particle size during the preparation of degradable nanoparticles. In one aspect, the degradable nanoparticles are useful for complexing, delivering, and releasing payloads, including pharmaceutically active payloads. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08492506B2
An object of the present invention, which was made to solve the problems above, is to provide a polyimide precursor resin composition superior in transparency allowing reduction of the residual volatile material rate during molding and giving a polyimide resin composition (e.g., polyimide film) superior in mechanical properties and transparency even when a cheaper polyamide-imide is used. The present invention relates to a polyimide precursor resin composition, comprising a polyamide-imide (A) containing a diamine monomer unit represented by the following formula (1) and a polyamic acid (B) containing at least one kind of monomer unit selected tetracarboxylic acid monomer units represented by the following formulae (2p) to (2r), wherein the haze of the film having a thickness of 40 μm obtained by imidation of the polyimide precursor resin composition is 4% or less: (wherein, R represents an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms);
US08492504B2
Catalytic depolymerization of polymers containing electrophilic linkages using nucleophilic reagents
The disclosure relates to methods and materials useful for depolymerizing a polymer. In one embodiment, for example, the disclosure provides a method for depolymerizing a polymer containing electrophilic linkages, wherein the method comprises contacting the polymer with a nucleophilic reagent in the presence of a guanidine-containing compound. The methods and materials of the disclosure find utility, for example, in the field of waste reclamation and recycling.
US08492498B2
A polymer having a density of from about 0.94 g/cm3 to about 0.96 g/cm3 and a primary structure parameter 2 (PSP2 value) of greater than about 8.5, wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of equal to or greater than about 1000 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition A. A polymer having at least one lower molecular weight component and at least one higher molecular weight component and having a PSP2 value of equal to or greater than about 8.5, wherein an article formed from the polymer has an environmental stress crack resistance of greater than about 1000 hours when measured in accordance with ASTM D 1693 condition A.
US08492482B2
The invention relates to a liquid rubber acrylic block copolymer, and its use in modifying a thermoset composition. The liquid rubber acrylic block copolymer adds toughness and flexibility to a thermoset composition. The acrylic block copolymers are especially useful for modifying epoxy compositions.
US08492481B2
The present invention relates to a block polymeric material. Typically the block polymer comprises units capable of having an average cationic charge density of about 15 or less, preferably 5 or less, more preferably from about 0.05 to about 5, even more preferably from about 0.05 to about 2.77, even more preferably from about 0.1 to about 2.75, most preferably from about 0.75 to about 2.25 units per 100 daltons molecular weight at a pH of from about 4 to about 12. The polymeric material is a suds enhancer and a suds volume extender for personal care products such as soaps and shampoos. The compositions have increased effectiveness for preventing re-deposition of grease during hand and body washing. The polymers are also effective as a soil release agent in fabric cleaning compositions. The polymeric material is also effective in oil well treating foam, fire-fighting foam, hard surface cleaning foam, shaving cream, post-foaming shaving gel, dephiliatories and as a coagulant/retention aid for titanium dioxide in paper making.
US08492472B2
The present invention relates to coating compositions which comprise dispersions of polymers obtained by a multistage procedure, to processes for preparing them, and to their use in corrosion protection.
US08492470B1
Disclosed are golf balls comprising cores or intermediate layers prepared from thermoplastic compositions having coefficients of restitution equal to or greater than 0.83 and PGA compressions greater than 100. Also disclosed is a composition comprising or prepared from (a) at least one aliphatic, mono-functional organic acid having from 16 to 20 carbon atoms, wherein the organic acid is unsaturated and linear; (b) an ethylene acid copolymer consisting essentially of copolymerized comonomers of ethylene and from 18 to 24 weight % of copolymerized comonomers of at least one C3 to C8 α,β ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, based on the total weight of the ethylene acid copolymer, having a melt index from about 200 to about 600 g/10 minutes; wherein the combined acid moieties of (a) and (b) are nominally neutralized to a level from about 120% to about 200%; and optionally (c) filler.
US08492464B2
Flame retardant thermoplastic compositions that are capable of being used in a laser direct structuring process. The compositions include a thermoplastic resin, a laser direct structuring additive, and a flame retardant. The compositions offer flame retardant characteristics while also substantially maintaining the mechanical properties of the base thermoplastic resin, such as the impact strength and/or HDT of the composition. The compositions can be used in a variety of applications such as personal computers, notebook and portable computers, cell phone and other such communications equipment.
US08492463B2
A flameproof thermoplastic resin composition can include (A) about 5 to about 40% by weight of an epoxy group-containing rubber modified aromatic vinyl copolymer resin, (B) about 30 to about 90% by weight of a polycarbonate resin, (C) about 1 to about 50% by weight of a polyester resin and (D) about 5 to about 30 parts by weight of a phosphorus-containing flame retardant, per 100 parts by weight of a base resin comprising (A), (B) and (C).
US08492456B2
The present invention provides ink compositions for ink-jet printing. The ink compositions comprise by weight from about 0.1 to 5% by weight of a water-soluble polyurethane; from about 0.1 to 15% by weight of a 1,2-alkyldiol having 5-9 carbon atoms; and from about 0.5 to 6% by weight of a pigment. The present invention also provides a process for printing an image on a print medium that comprises applying an inventive ink composition thereto by means of an ink-jet printer. The present invention further provides ink-jet cartridges containing inventive ink compositions.
US08492455B2
The present invention relates to a polyolefin composition comprising: a) an olefin homo- or copolymer (A), and b) activated carbon (B) as a taste and/or odor reducing agent, to the use of such a polyolefin composition, and to a pipe material and pipe having reduced taste and/or odor development comprising the above polyolefin composition.
US08492453B2
A photosensitive resin composition is provided, which has properties necessary for a solder resist (insulative property, solder heat resistance, alkali developability and the like) and is capable of forming a film that is excellent in folding endurance even after the IR reflow process. A flexible circuit board employing the photosensitive resin composition and a circuit board production method are also provided. The photosensitive resin composition comprises: (A) a linear polymer of an ethylenically unsaturated compound comprising a carboxyl-containing ethylenically unsaturated compound; (B) an epoxy resin; (C) a polymerizable compound containing an ethylenically unsaturated group; and (D) a photopolymerization initiator. The photosensitive resin composition has a tensile breaking elongation percentage of not less than 10% and a 2% weight loss temperature of not lower than 260° C. after being cured.
US08492441B2
S1P receptor modulators or agonists are administered following a dosage regimen whereby during the initial days of treatment the daily dosage is lower than the standard daily dosage.
US08492440B2
Novel difluorophenyldiacylhydrazide derivatives of the formula I, in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and R7 have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are kinase inhibitors and can be used for the treatment of diseases and complaints such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome (dyslipidaemia), systemic and pulmonary hypertonia, cardiovascular diseases and kidney diseases, generally in any type of fibroses, inflammatory processes, tumours and tumour diseases.
US08492438B2
Disclosed are a composition and a method for treating skin disorders, including rosacea, pityriasis rosea, erythema, rhinophyma, and rosacea-associated disorders including pimples, papules, pustules, and telangiectasia.
US08492436B2
The invention broadly relates to the use of α,β-unsaturated fatty acids to inhibit the filamentous growth of fungi and yeasts and to a method for producing same. In particular the invention relates to the use of optionally substituted C8 to CI5 α,β-unsaturated fatty acids or salts, esters or amides thereof for inhibiting or retarding the yeast-to-mycelium transition of organisms having a dimorphic life cycle.
US08492435B2
An improved composition for treatment of ulcer-type skin conditions. The composition is primarily characterized by a combination of nitroglycerin and arginine. Other embodiments comprise emollient cream, mineral oil, tumeric powder, folic acid, vitamin B12, and zinc citrate. The composition is particularly effective in improving blood flow in the underlying capillary bed about the wound, improving nerve growth about the wound, increasing circulation, and having a standardized and more predictable therapeutic characteristic.
US08492433B2
The present disclosure relates to the preparation of ketal compounds from glycerol and levulinic acid and esters, and uses thereof, in particular the manufacture of polyurethanes.
US08492430B2
The present invention provides a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein each symbol is as defined in the description, or a salt thereof. The compound or a salt thereof or a prodrug thereof has a GPR40 receptor function modulating action and is useful as an insulin secretagogue or an agent for the prophylaxis or treatment of diabetes and the like.
US08492419B2
Solid formulations for use in water conditioning of circulating reservoirs, processes of preparing same and methods for water conditioning utilizing same are disclosed. The solid formulations combine a sanitizer with a bath salt and/or an odoriferous substance.
US08492411B2
A compound of formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, prodrug and/or solvate thereof, and a method for the treatment of an acute or chronic inflammatory disease by inhibiting the production of at least one pro-inflammatory cytokine selected from TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-8 and IL-10, involving administering to a patient in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula (I) as defined above.
US08492409B2
The present invention discloses a kind of 1-substituted pyridyl-pyrazolyl amide compounds and uses thereof. The compounds have structures as represented by the general formula I, wherein the definitions of each substituent showed in the specification. The compounds of formula I are novel and have excellent insecticidal and fungicidal activities and can be used for controlling insect pest and diseases.
US08492404B2
The present invention comprises a new class of compounds useful for the prophylaxis and treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases, including autoimmune disease and inflammation. In one embodiment, the compounds have a general Formula I wherein A1, A2, A3, A4, L, R1, R2 and R3 are defined herein. The invention also comprises pharmaceutical compositions including one or more compounds of the present invention, methods of use such as treatment of Lck and/or c-Kit kinase mediated diseases by administering the compounds of the invention, or compositions including one or more compounds of the invention, and intermediates and processes useful for the preparation of compounds of the present invention.
US08492402B2
The present invention refers to a stable crystalline salt of (R)-3-fluorophenyl-3,4,5-trifluorobenzylcarbamic acid 1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl ester and its use as medicament, in particular for the treatment of urinary incontinence or other diseases involving genitourinary disorders.
US08492396B2
The disclosure relates to methods of using an adrenergic α-1 receptor antagonist or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts for treating and/or preventing interstitial cystitis, overactive bladder or detrusor overactivity.
US08492374B2
An azaazulene compound is provided. The azaazulene compound has formula (I) shown below. Each variable in formula (I) is defined in the specification. The compound can be used to treat cancer. The invention also provides a method for treating cancer. The method includes administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of one or more azaazulene compounds of formula (I).
US08492371B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I) wherein Ring A and R1 are as defined in the specification. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and pharmaceutical compositions are also disclosed.
US08492359B2
The present invention provides novel, stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (such as one or more interfering RNA), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP.
US08492358B2
TLR3 agonist compounds, compositions and methods are provided for stimulating the activity of TLR3. The compositions comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3. The compositions may also comprise oligonucleotide-based compounds that bind to and activate TLR3 in combination with other therapeutic and/or prophylactic compounds and/or compositions. Methods of using these compounds and compositions for stimulation of TLR3 activity and for prevention or treatment of diseases wherein modulation of TLR3 activity would be beneficial are provided.
US08492355B2
Antisense compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of apolipoprotein B. The compositions comprise antisense compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acids encoding apolipoprotein B. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of apolipoprotein B expression and for treatment of diseases associated with expression of apolipoprotein B are provided.
US08492348B2
Methods of increasing blood flow in a mammalian brain blood vessel characterized by, or otherwise experiencing, decreased blood flow due to an ischemic or other hypoxic event, vasoconstriction or vasospasm following hemorrhagic stroke; due to chronic high blood pressure; and/or due to idiopathic causes are provided. The method for increasing blood flow in such a mammalian brain blood vessel includes administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of an inhibitor of δ protein kinase C. In certain embodiments, the inhibitor can be chronically administered without causing desensitization of the patient to the inhibitor. Kits for increasing blood flow in a mammalian brain blood vessel characterized by, or otherwise experiencing, decreased blood flow due to an ischemic or other hypoxic event, vasoconstriction or vasospasm following hemorrhagic stroke; due to chronic high blood pressure; and/or due to idiopathic causes are provided.
US08492332B2
In general, the present invention is related to collagen compositions and thin films, and to methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to “uniaxial pattern” or “linear pattern” collagen materials, compositions and thin films, and methods of making.
US08492314B2
The present invention provides a concentrate for dilution with water in the preparation of an agricultural composition for application to crops, soil or animals. The concentrate is recommended for use with agricultural chemicals whose agricultural activity varies with the pH of the water. It comprises an active ingredient and a combination of pH indicators for coloring the water, the pH indicators being selected so as to indicate different colors of spray water at different pH levels. The proportions of active ingredient and pH indicators are selected so that when the concentrate is added to water, the pH indicators indicate visually upper and lower pH limits for optimum activity of the agricultural chemical.
US08492306B2
A method for preparing a catalyst includes preparing a first solution including a gold precursor and a palladium precursor, preparing an alumina suspension, heating the alumina suspension to a preferred temperature range, introducing the first solution to the alumina suspension and coincidently maintaining the pH of a resulting solution at a preferred pH level, separating solids in the resulting solution, and calcining the separated solids to form a catalyst including gold and palladium co-deposited onto alumina.
US08492304B2
A manufacturing method of an iron complex is mixing ferric chloride and at least one chelating agent with a solvent, wherein Fe3+ ions of ferric chloride is reacted with the at least one chelating agent to form an iron complex Fe[R1]a[R2]b[H2O]c3+ or Fe[R1]a[H2O]c3+, wherein the at least one chelating agent is selected from a group including ethylenediamine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,2′-Bipyridine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, phenanthroline, or bipyridine. Moreover, a method for producing an iron oxide catalyst is mixing ferric chloride, at least one chelating agent and the support with a solvent to form an iron complex, which is incorporated with the support. Following, a drying step and a heat treatment step are processed to get the iron oxide catalyst.
US08492299B2
A high-refractivity low-dispersion optical glass that can be stably supplied and has excellent glass stability and that has coloring reduced, composed of in mass %, 5 to 32% of total of SiO2 and B2O3, 45 to 65% of total of La2O3, Gd2O3 and Y2O3, 0.5 to 10% of ZnO, 1 to 20% of total of TiO2 and Nb2O5, and optionally other components. The optical glass has a refractive index nd of 1.89 to 2.0, an Abbe's number νd of 32 to 38 and a coloring degree λ70 of 430 nm or less.
US08492298B2
Provided is an optical glass having homogeneous optical characteristics such that striae and devitrification hardly occur at the time of producing a gob. The optical glass includes cationic components having the following composition, provided that a total of the cationic components is 95 cat %, and has a refractive index (nd) of 1.6 or more and less than 1.7 and an Abbe number (vd) of 50 or more and 56 or less,Si4+ 3 cat % or more and 13 cat % or lessB3+ 40 cat % or more and 55 cat % or lessLa3+ 4 cat % or more and 9 cat % or lessCa2+ 6 cat % or more and 12 cat % or lessLi+ 11 cat % or more and 18 cat % or lessZn2+ 6 cat % or more and 12 cat % or lessZr4+ 1 cat % or more and 4 cat % or lessprovided that Si4+/B3+ is 0.05 or more and 0.3 or less, and Li+/Zn2+ is 1.3 or more and 2.0 or less.
US08492297B2
A device including a glass substrate made of a soda lime silica glass composition of: SiO2 (50˜75 wt %); Na2O (1˜8 wt %); K2O (1˜12 wt %); CaO (1˜12 wt %); ZrO2 (0˜8 wt %); SrO (0˜15 wt %); BaO (0˜12 wt %); MgO (0˜10 wt %); Al2O3 (0˜12 wt %); B2O3 (0˜3 wt %), wherein the total amount of Na2O and K2O is in the range of 5˜15 wt %, the total amount of CaO, MgO, SrO and BaO is in the range of 10˜25 wt %.
US08492296B2
A silver salt-containing layer containing a silver salt and provided on a support is exposed and developed to form a metal silver portion and a light-transmitting portion, and then the metal silver portion is further subjected to physical development and/or plating to form a conductive metal portion consisting of the metal silver portion carrying conductive metal particles. A method for producing a light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film which enables production of an electromagnetic wave-shielding material simultaneously having high EMI-shielding property and high transparency in a fine line pattern and also enables mass production of such films at a low cost, and a light-transmitting electromagnetic wave-shielding film obtained by the production method and free from the problem of moire are provided.
US08492289B2
A method of forming a barrier layer for metal interconnects of an integrated circuit device includes forming a first cap layer over a top surface of a conductive line of the integrated circuit device in a manner that facilitates a controllable dose of oxygen provided to the top surface of the conductive line, the conductive line comprising a metal formed over a seed layer that is an impurity alloy of the metal; and annealing the integrated circuit device so as to combine diffused impurity atoms of the seed layer with the controllable dose of oxygen, thereby forming an impurity oxide layer at an interface between the first cap layer and the top surface of the conductive line.
US08492287B2
A silicon-containing film on a substrate is subjected to a plasma process using a process gas containing fluorine and carbon, and is thereafter subjected to plasma process using an ammonia gas, whereby ammonium silicofluoride having toxicity and hygroscopic property is adhered to the substrate. The harmful ammonium silicofluoride is removed by the inventive method. After conducting the plasma process using an ammonia gas, the substrate is heated to a temperature not lower than the decomposition temperature of the ammonium silicofluoride to decompose the ammonium silicofluoride in a process container in which the plasma process was conducted, or in a process container connected with the processing vessel which the plasma process was conducted therein and is isolated from a clean room atmosphere.
US08492286B2
Embodiment of the present invention provides a method of forming electronic fuse or commonly known as e-fuse. The method includes forming a polysilicon structure and a field-effect-transistor (FET) structure together on top of a common semiconductor substrate, the FET structure having a sacrificial gate electrode; implanting at least one dopant into the polysilicon structure to create a doped polysilicon layer in at least a top portion of the polysilicon structure; subjecting the polysilicon structure and the FET structure to a reactive-ion-etching (RIE) process, the RIE process selectively removing the sacrificial gate electrode of the FET structure while the doped polysilicon layer being substantially unaffected by the RIE process; and converting the polysilicon structure including the doped polysilicon layer into a silicide to form the electronic fuse.
US08492282B2
In some embodiments, methods for forming a masking pattern for an integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, mandrels defining a first pattern are formed in a first masking layer over a target layer. A second masking layer is deposited to at least partially fill spaces of the first pattern. Sacrificial structures are formed between the mandrels and the second masking layer. After depositing the second masking layer and forming the sacrificial structures, the sacrificial structures are removed to define gaps between the mandrels and the second masking layer, thereby defining a second pattern. The second pattern includes at least parts of the mandrels and intervening mask features alternating with the mandrels. The second pattern may be transferred into the target layer. In some embodiments, the method allows the formation of features having a high density and a small pitch while also allowing the formation of features having various shapes and sizes.
US08492277B2
A method for chemical mechanical polishing of a substrate is provided, comprising: providing a substrate, wherein the substrate comprises polysilicon and at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride; providing a chemical mechanical polishing composition, comprising, as initial components: water; an abrasive; and an acyclic organosulfonic acid compound, wherein the acyclic organosulfonic acid compound has an acyclic hydrophobic portion having 6 to 30 carbon atoms and a nonionic acyclic hydrophilic portion having 10 to 300 carbon atoms; providing a chemical mechanical polishing pad with a polishing surface; moving the polishing surface relative to the substrate; dispensing the chemical mechanical polishing composition onto the polishing surface; and, abrading at least a portion of the substrate to polish the substrate; wherein at least some of the polysilicon is removed from the substrate; and, wherein at least some of the at least one of silicon oxide and silicon nitride is removed from the substrate.
US08492266B2
Provided is a semiconductor device, which includes an interlayer insulating film formed on a semiconductor substrate, a wiring layer filled in a recess formed in the interlayer insulating film, and a cap insulating film. The interlayer insulating film includes a first SiOCH film and a surface modification layer including an SiOCH film formed by modifying a surface layer of the first SiOCH film, the SiOCH film having a lower carbon concentration and a higher oxygen concentration than the first SiOCH film has. The cap insulating film contacts with surfaces of the metal wiring and the surface modification layer.
US08492265B2
Two substrates are brought together and placed in a plating bath. In one embodiment, a conductive material is plated in microscopic cavities present at the interface between a first metal pad and a second metal pad to form at least one interfacial plated metal liner portion that adheres to a surface of the first metal pad and a surface of the second metal pad. In another embodiment, at least one metal pad is recessed relative to a dielectric surface before being brought together. The two substrates are placed in a plating bath and a conductive material is plated in the cavity between the first metal pad and the second metal pad to form a contiguous plated metal liner layer that adheres to a surface of the first metal pad and a surface of the second metal pad.
US08492264B2
A method for forming interconnection levels of an integrated circuit, including the steps of: (a) forming an interconnection level comprising conductive tracks and vias separated by a porous dielectric material; (b) forming, on the interconnection level, a layer of a non-porous insulating material, said layer comprising openings above portions of porous dielectric material; (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) to obtain the adequate number of interconnection levels; and (d) annealing the structure.
US08492254B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method includes forming a first trench and a second trench in an n-type substrate surface, the first trenches being spaced apart from each other, the second trench surrounding the first trenches, the second trench being wider than the first trench. The method also includes forming a gate oxide film on the inner surfaces of the first and second trenches, and depositing an electrically conductive material to the thickness a half or more as large as the first trench width. The method further includes removing the electrically conductive material using the gate oxide film as a stopper layer, forming an insulator film thicker than the gate oxide film, and polishing the insulator film by CMP for exposing the n-type substrate and the electrically conductive material in the first trench.
US08492244B2
The present invention provides methods for forming at least partially relaxed strained material layers on a target substrate. The methods include forming islands of the strained material layer on an intermediate substrate, at least partially relaxing the strained material islands by a first heat treatment, and transferring the at least partially relaxed strained material islands to the target substrate. The at least partial relaxation is facilitated by the presence of low-viscosity or compliant layers adjacent to the strained material layer. The invention also provides semiconductor structures having an at least partially relaxed strained material layer, and semiconductor devices fabricated using an at least partially relaxed strained material layer.
US08492243B2
Semiconductor structures are produced by providing a 3C—SiC semiconductor layer containing a monocrystalline 3C—SiC layer by implantation of carbon in silicon on a first silicon substrate and applying an epitaxial layer of nitride compound semiconductor suitable for the generation of optoelectronic components onto the 3C—SiC semiconductor layer structure, wherein the epitaxial layer of nitride semiconductor is transferred onto a second substrate by bonding the nitride layer onto the second substrate surface and mechanically or chemically removing silicon and layers containing SiC, the second substrate being a metal with a reflectivity ≧80% or being substantially transparent.
US08492237B2
Methods for fabricating bipolar junction transistors with self-aligned emitter and extrinsic base, bipolar junction transistors made by the methods, and design structures for a BiCMOS integrated circuit. The bipolar junction transistor is fabricated using a sacrificial emitter pedestal that provides a sacrificial mandrel promoting self-alignment between the emitter and the extrinsic base. The sacrificial emitter pedestal is subsequently removed to open an emitter window extending to the intrinsic base. An emitter is formed in the emitter window that lands on the intrinsic base.
US08492234B2
A method for forming a field effect transistor device includes forming a gate stack portion on a substrate, forming a spacer portion on the gates stack portion and a portion of the substrate, removing an exposed portion of the substrate, epitaxially growing a first silicon material on the exposed portion of the substrate, removing a portion of the epitaxially grown first silicon material to expose a second portion of the substrate, and epitaxially growing a second silicon material on the exposed second portion of the substrate and the first silicon material.
US08492230B2
To provide a technique capable of achieving improvement of the parasitic resistance in FINFETs. In the FINFET in the present invention, a sidewall is formed of a laminated film. Specifically, the sidewall is composed of a first silicon oxide film, a silicon nitride film formed over the first silicon oxide film, and a second silicon oxide film formed over the silicon nitride film. The sidewall is not formed on the side wall of a fin. Thus, in the present invention, the sidewall is formed on the side wall of a gate electrode and the sidewall is not formed on the side wall of the fin.
US08492217B2
Disclosed herein are various methods of forming conductive contacts with reduced dimensions and various semiconductor devices incorporating such conductive contacts. In one example, one method disclosed herein includes forming a layer of insulating material above a semiconducting substrate, wherein the layer of material has a first thickness, forming a plurality of contact openings in the layer of material having the first thickness and forming an organic material in at least a portion of each of the contact openings. This illustrative method further includes the steps of, after forming the organic material, performing an etching process to reduce the first thickness of the layer of insulating material to a second thickness that is less than the first thickness, after performing the etching process, removing the organic material from the contact openings and forming a conductive contact in each of the contact openings.
US08492213B2
The invention discloses a semiconductor device which comprises an NMOS transistor and a PMOS transistor formed on a substrate; and grid electrodes, source cathode doped areas, drain doped areas, and side walls formed on two sides of the grid electrodes are arranged on the NMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor respectively. The device is characterized in that the side walls on the two sides of the grid electrode of the NMOS transistor possess tensile stress, and the side walls on the two sides of the grid electrode of the PMOS transistor possess compressive stress. The stress gives the side walls a greater role in adjusting the stress applied to channels and the source/drain areas, with the carrier mobility further enhanced and the performance of the device improved.
US08492212B2
Provided is a thin film transistor manufacture method by which a thin film transistor provided with LDD regions can be produced without increasing the number of photo masks used. An etching stopper layer (35) formed on a polycrystalline silicon film (26) of a TFT (10) is used not only as a mask to protect a channel region (27) when a source electrode and a drain electrode are formed by etching, but also as a mask when ions are implanted to form a source/drain regions (39). Thus, phosphorus, which is ion-implanted in the polycrystalline silicon film (26) to form the source/drain regions (39), is not implanted in the LDD region (38) and, accordingly, it is not necessary to additionally form a resist pattern to be used as a mask when ions are implanted.
US08492208B1
A method of fabricating a FET device is provided which includes the following steps. Nanowires/pads are formed in a SOI layer over a BOX layer, wherein the nanowires are suspended over the BOX. A HSQ layer is deposited that surrounds the nanowires. A portion(s) of the HSQ layer that surround the nanowires are cross-linked, wherein the cross-linking causes the portion(s) of the HSQ layer to shrink thereby inducing strain in the nanowires. One or more gates are formed that retain the strain induced in the nanowires. A FET device is also provided wherein each of the nanowires has a first region(s) that is deformed such that a lattice constant in the first region(s) is less than a relaxed lattice constant of the nanowires and a second region(s) that is deformed such that a lattice constant in the second region(s) is greater than the relaxed lattice constant of the nanowires.
US08492204B2
A method for manufacturing a multiple encapsulation integrated circuit package-in-package system includes: dicing a top integrated circuit wafer having a bottom encapsulant thereon to form a top integrated circuit die with the bottom encapsulant; positioning internal leadfingers adjacent and connected to a bottom integrated circuit die; pressing the bottom encapsulant on to the bottom integrated circuit die; connecting the top integrated circuit die to external leadfingers adjacent the internal leadfingers; and forming a top encapsulant over the top integrated circuit die.
US08492202B2
In a structure of a semiconductor device, a Si chip and a metal leadframe are jointed by metallic bond via a porous joint layer made of high conductive metal, having a three-dimensional network structure and using Ag as a bonding material, and a film containing Zn oxide or Al oxide is formed on a surface of a semiconductor assembly contacting to a polymer resin. In this manner, by the joint with the joint layer having the porous structure mainly made of Ag, thermal stress load of the Si chip can be reduced, and fatigue life of the joint layer itself can be improved. Besides, since adhesion of the polymer resin to the film can be enhanced by the anchor effect, occurrence of cracks in a bonding portion can be prevented, so that a highly-reliable Pb-free semiconductor device can be provided.
US08492196B2
A semiconductor device has a plurality of semiconductor die mounted to a temporary carrier. A prefabricated shielding frame has a plate and integrated bodies extending from the plate. The bodies define a plurality of cavities in the shielding frame. A penetrable material is deposited in the cavities of the shielding frame. The shielding frame is mounted over the semiconductor die such that the penetrable material encapsulates the die. The carrier is removed. An interconnect structure is formed over the die, shielding frame, and penetrable material. The bodies of the shielding frame are electrically connected through the interconnect structure to a ground point. The shielding frame is singulated through the bodies or through the plate and penetrable material to separate the die. TIM is formed over the die adjacent to the plate of the shielding frame. A heat sink is mounted over the plate of the shielding frame.
US08492193B2
There is provided a semiconductor substrate for solid-state image sensing device in which the production cost is lower than that of a gettering method through a carbon ion implantation and problems such as occurrence of particles at a device production step and the like are solved. Silicon substrate contains solid-soluted carbon having a concentration of 1×1016-1×1017 atoms/cm3 and solid-soluted oxygen having a concentration of 1.4×1018-1.6×1018 atoms/cm3.
US08492178B2
Systems and method for monitoring semiconductor wafer fabrication processing, for example based upon EBR line inspection, including capturing at least one image of a wafer at an intermediate stage of fabrication. The captured image(s) are compressed to generate a composite representation of at least an edge zone of the wafer. An edge bead removal area is identified in the representation, and at least one feature attribute is extracted from the identified area. The extracted feature attribute is automatically assessed, and information relating to a status of the fabrication processing in generated based upon the assessment. For example, recommended modifications to the fabrication processing, either upstream or downstream of the current stage of fabrication (or both) can be generated and implemented.
US08492177B2
Methods for quantitatively measuring the performance of a plasma immersion process are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method of quantitatively measuring the performance of a plasma immersion process, using a first substrate comprising an oxide layer deposited atop a silicon layer, may include subjecting the first substrate to a plasma immersion process in a first plasma immersion chamber to form a doped oxide layer atop the first substrate; and determining a thickness of the doped oxide layer by shining a beam of light upon a reflective surface of the doped oxide layer; detecting reflected beams of light off of the reflective surface of the doped oxide layer; and analyzing the reflected beams of light to determine the thickness of the doped oxide layer on the first substrate.
US08492176B2
To provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a step of attaching a surface protective tape onto the surface of a wafer which has completed the wafer process, a step of subjecting the back surface of the wafer to back grinding, and a step of attaching a peeling assist tape onto the surface protective tape while vacuum-adsorbing the back surface of the wafer to apply a tension to the assist tape, thereby separating the surface protective tape from the wafer, wherein a vacuum suction system has a peripheral suction system for the peripheral part of the wafer and an internal suction system for the internal region of the wafer.
US08492171B2
A method for rejoining an IC die, removed from an existing substrate, to a new substrate, is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes grinding an existing substrate from an IC die to create a substantially planar surface exposing interconnects and surrounding underfill material. A new substrate is provided having electrically conductive pedestals protruding therefrom. The electrically conductive pedestals are positioned to align with the exposed interconnects and have a melting point substantially higher than the melting point of the interconnects. The method places the exposed interconnects in contact with the electrically conductive pedestals. The method then applies a reflow process to melt and electrically join the exposed interconnects with the electrically conductive pedestals. A structure produced by the method is also disclosed.
US08492169B2
Reading margin is improved in a MTJ designed for MRAM applications by employing a pinned layer with an AP2/Ru/AP1 configuration wherein the AP1 layer is a CoFeB/CoFe composite and by forming a MgO tunnel barrier adjacent to the CoFe AP1 layer by a sequence that involves depositing and oxidizing a first Mg layer with a radical oxidation (ROX) process, depositing and oxidizing a second Mg layer with a ROX method, and depositing a third Mg layer on the oxidized second Mg layer. The third Mg layer becomes oxidized during a subsequent anneal. MTJ performance may be further improved by selecting a composite free layer having a Fe/NiFeHf or CoFe/Fe/NiFeHf configuration where the NiFeHf layer adjoins a capping layer in a bottom spin valve configuration. As a result, read margin is optimized simultaneously with improved MR ratio, a reduction in bit line switching current, and a lower number of shorted bits.
US08492166B2
A particle suspension for use in immunoassay, comprising: particles for use in immunoassay; and a silicone antifoam agent, is disclosed. And a reagent kit for use in immunoassay, comprising: a reagent containing particles and a silicone antifoam agent; another reagent containing an antigen or antibody capable of binding to a target substance and particles; and a further reagent containing a labeled antigen or antibody capable of binding to the target substance, is disclosed.
US08492161B2
Disclosed is a method for quantitatively analyzing a functional group on the surface of a solid material. The functional group is carboxylic group while the solid material is carbon nano-tubes. The carboxylic group reacts with sodium hydrogen carbonate, thus turning the carboxylic groups into sodium carboxylate while consuming the sodium ions in the solution. The carbon nano-tubes are separated from the sodium hydrogen carbonate solution. The number of the sodium ions before and after the reaction is analyzed. Moreover, the sodium carboxylate carried on the reacted carbon nano-tubes with reacts with hydrochloric acid solution, thus dissolving the sodium ions in the hydrochloric acid solution. The carbon nanotubes are separated from from the hydrochloric acid solution. The amount of the sodium ions is analyzed before and after the reaction in the hydrochloric acid solution.
US08492144B2
Methods for increasing viability and production of secreted proteins in fed batch eukaryotic cell culture are disclosed.
US08492141B2
The invention provides fragments of type XVIII collagen termed neostatins, and methods for their use in the treatment of opthalmological disorders associated with angiogenesis.
US08492124B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for treating symptoms associated with lactose intolerance and for overall improvement in gastrointestinal health. Described herein are methods and compositions for improving overall gastrointestinal health or for decreasing symptoms of lactose intolerance by administering to subject in need thereof a prebiotic composition, optionally in combination with effective amount of a probiotic microbe or microbes.
US08492123B2
The present invention relates to a mash extract and a continuous method of producing the mash extract by decoction mashing. The method comprises: (a) mixing a first malt enzyme source with an aqueous liquid to obtain an aqueous malt enzyme suspension; (b) separately, mixing a second enzyme source with one or more starch-containing adjuncts to obtain a decoction suspension; (c) subjecting the decoction suspension to a first heat treatment at 60-85° C. and then a second heat treatment at a higher temperature; (d) combining the heated decoction suspension from the second heat treatment with the aqueous malt enzyme suspension to obtain a mash; (e) maintaining the mash at 35-85° C. for a time; and (f) removing spent grain from the heated mash to produce a mash extract.
US08492118B2
The instant invention provides soluble fusion protein complexes and IL-15 variants that have therapeutic and diagnostic use, and methods for making the such proteins. The instant invention additionally provides methods of stimulating or suppressing immune responses in a mammal using the fusion protein complexes and IL-15 variants of the invention.
US08492103B2
The present invention provides an isolated Ehrlichia peptide and therapeutic and diagnostic uses therefor.
US08492100B2
The present invention relates to identification of a set of proteins, which elicit an autoantibody response in patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex. Systematic comparisons of serum samples from clinically normal individuals and from patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex has revealed significant differences in the presence of autoantibodies in sera against cellular antigens present in a cancer cell line. The autoantibody response to a single or combination of these protein antigens serves as a novel marker and can be utilized for screening, early detection, prognosis, and potential target for therapy. The invention also provides for the use of the identified protein antigens in immunoassays designed to detect the presence of serum antibodies to the specific protein antigens in sera from individuals that harbor such antibodies. The invention also relates to the use of the identified antigens as immunogens for stimulation of an immune response in patients expressing such protein antigens. The invention is demonstrated by way of example in which elevated levels of circulating antibodies reactive against tumor specific antigens were identified in sera derived from patients with cancer of gingivo-buccal complex. The utility of identified antigens for early detection is assessed by analysis of sera from patients with leukoplakia of gingivo-buccal complex.
US08492095B2
The invention provides methods for isothermal amplification of RNA. The methods are particularly suitable for amplifying a plurality of RNA species in a sample. The methods employ a composite primer, a second primer and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In another aspect, the methods employ a single primer (which is a composite primer) and strand displacement to generate multiple copies of DNA products comprising sequences complementary to an RNA sequence of interest. In some embodiments, a transcription step is included to generate multiple copies of sense RNA of an RNA sequence of interest. The methods are useful for preparation of nucleic acid libraries and substrates for analysis of gene expression of cells in biological samples. The invention also provides compositions and kits for practicing the amplification methods, as well as methods which use the amplification products.
US08492090B2
Provided herein are methods for treating ovarian serous papillary carcinoma by delivering Clostridium perfringens enterotoxins to ovarian tumor cells overexpressing claudin 3 or claudin 4 protein or by inhibiting the expression and function of tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 1 (TROP-1/Ep-CAM) gene or gene product. Also provided is a method of detecting ovarian serous papillary carcinoma by examining a tumor sample from the individual for gene or gene product expression levels within a group of genes and performing statistical analysis to determine those genes or gene products which are down-regulated compared to those in a normal individual.
US08492088B2
The disclosure provide a system for the selection of variant nuclear receptor ligand binding domains, or for the selection of variant enzymes that have an enhanced ability to synthesize a nuclear receptor ligand or a precursor thereof. The disclosure provides yeast cells comprising: a yeast transcription modulating system comprising a nucleic acid expression system encoding a nuclear receptor ligand-binding domain linked to a DNA-binding domain, a nucleic acid expression system encoding a coactivator domain linked to a yeast transcriptional activator, a heterologous enzyme system for generating a nuclear receptor ligand, and a selective genetic locus expressed in the presence of the recombinant nuclear receptor polypeptide and a nuclear receptor ligand specifically bound to the recombinant nuclear receptor polypeptide. The disclosure also provides methods of using the yeast cell system for identifying variant nuclear receptor ligand binding domains or variant enzymes synthesizing a nuclear receptor ligand.
US08492082B2
The present invention relates to a method for obtaining nucleic acid aptamers that bind to cancer cell-surface epitopes, to the aptamers generated using this method and their use for therapeutic, diagnostic and prognostic purposes.
US08492080B2
The disclosure relates to the use of culture media containing thyroid hormones or analogs thereof, and includes methods and uses thereof for embryo culture, embryo production, embryo maturation, improved survival of embryos and improved viability of embryos post cryopreservation.
US08492078B2
A pattern is formed by coating a resist composition comprising a polymer comprising recurring units having an optionally acid labile group-substituted naphthol group, an acid generator, and an organic solvent onto a substrate, baking to form a resist film, exposing the resist film to high-energy radiation, baking, and developing the exposed film with an organic solvent developer to form a negative pattern wherein the unexposed region of film is dissolved and the exposed region of film is not dissolved. In the process of image formation via positive/negative reversal by organic solvent development, the resist film has a high dissolution contrast and controlled acid diffusion. By subjecting the resist film to exposure through a mask having a lattice-like pattern and organic solvent development, a fine hole pattern can be formed at a high precision of dimensional control.
US08492076B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing carbon nanotube (CNT) device arrays. In the method of manufacturing CNT device arrays, catalyst patterns may be formed using a photolithography process, CNTs may be grown from the catalyst patterns, and electrodes may be formed on the grown CNTs.
US08492068B2
Methods of forming electronic devices are provided. The methods involve alkaline treatment of photoresist patterns and allow for the formation of high density resist patterns. The methods find particular applicability in semiconductor device manufacture.
US08492067B2
A positive lift-off resist composition is provided comprising (A) an alkali-soluble novolac resin, (B) a quinonediazidosulfonate photosensitive agent, (C) an alkali-soluble cellulose resin, and (D) an aromatic hydroxy compound having a formula weight of 180-800. The composition has shelf stability, high sensitivity, and a film retention after development of at least 95% and is used to form a lift-off resist pattern of fully undercut profile.
US08492059B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, includes: a conductive support; and a photosensitive layer provided on or above the conductive support, the photosensitive layer including an outermost surface layer at the farthest location from the conductive support, wherein the outermost surface layer contains: coated insulating inorganic particles obtained by subjecting insulating inorganic particles having a specific surface area of not more than about 300 m2/g to a coating treatment with an aromatic functional group-containing compound; and fluorine-containing organic particles.
US08492041B2
Provides a solid oxide fuel cell with which product life can be extended while a practical output power is maintained. The present invention is a solid oxide fuel cell, having a fuel cell module (2), a fuel supply device (38), an oxidant gas supply device (45), and a controller (110) for controlling the fuel supply amount; whereby the controller is furnished with a degradation determining circuit (110a) for determining degradation in a fuel cell module, and with a fuel correction circuit (110b) for correcting operating conditions based on a degradation determination; the fuel correction circuit can execute an increasing correction mode for increasing the fuel supply amount supplied to the fuel cell module so that rated output power is maintained, or can execute a decreasing correction mode for reducing rated output voltage so that the fuel supply amount is reduced; there is also a mode selection device (110c) for selecting correction modes.
US08492039B2
A fuel cell system and a control method thereof are capable of preventing anode flooding due to a temperature difference between a stack and reformate upon starting a fuel cell system. The method of controlling a fuel cell system including steps of detecting a temperature of a fuel cell stack, detecting a temperature of reformate that is generated in a fuel reformer and then is supplied to the fuel cell stack through a heat exchanger, and setting the temperature of the reformate to be lower than the temperature of the fuel cell stack during a starting time of the fuel cell system.
US08492038B2
A fuel cell assembly (20) has an extended operational life, in part, because of unique startup and shutdown procedures used for operating the fuel cell assembly. In disclosed examples, a purge gas mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen includes less than 2% hydrogen for selectively purging portions of the assembly during a startup or shutdown procedure. In a disclosed example, the hydrogen-nitrogen mixture contains less than 0.1% hydrogen.
US08492030B2
A method of manufacture an article of a cathode (positive electrode) material for lithium batteries. The cathode material is a lithium molybdenum composite transition metal oxide material and is prepared by mixing in a solid state an intermediate molybdenum composite transition metal oxide and a lithium source. The mixture is thermally treated to obtain the lithium molybdenum composite transition metal oxide cathode material.
US08492023B2
A vehicle propulsion system comprising a plurality of solid state rechargeable battery cells configured to power a drivetrain. In accordance with once aspect of the invention, a transportation system that is powered at least in part by electricity stored in the form of rechargeable electrochemical cells. According to an embodiment of the present invention, these cells are combined in series and in parallel to form a pack that is regulated by charge and discharge control circuits that are programmed with algorithms to monitor state of charge, battery lifetime, and battery health.
US08492021B2
The present invention is directed toward a laminated electrode and porous separator film combination including a solid electrolyte salt within the porous separator film, the combination comprising layer of powdered cathode material adhering to a surface of a separator film with a solid electrolyte therebetween; the separator film comprising 50% to 95% by weight of electrically non-conductive ceramic fibers having a coating of magnesium oxide on the surface of the fibers in an amount in the range of 5% to 50% by weight; wherein the ceramic fibers comprise Al2O3, AlSiO2, BN, AlN, or a mixture of two or more of the foregoing; and the magnesium oxide coating interconnects the ceramic fibers providing a porous network of magnesium oxide-coated fibers having a porosity of not less than 50% by volume; the pores of the network containing a solid electrolyte salt in an amount of up to 95% by volume based on pore volume of the network.
US08492019B2
A thermal management system for a battery pack includes a plurality of main bodies disposed in a stack, an inlet conduit and an outlet conduit in fluid communication with the plurality of main bodies, and a retention panel coupled to the plurality of main bodies. The main bodies include a thermal fin and conduit and are formed using an extrusion process, which minimizes a weight of the thermal fin and heat sink while minimizing a cost of the thermal management system.
US08492018B2
A chargeable battery module installed in an electric car for driving the electric car includes a compartment for containing a plurality of chargeable batteries, and circuits of each chargeable battery are connected in series or in parallel and installed between each chargeable battery and an upper casing or a lower casing of the compartment, and each chargeable battery is combined for use, and the chargeable batteries including a single chargeable battery or a module of parallelly connected chargeable batteries can be charged easily without requiring a charging protection plate, and all single batteries can be fully charged with a constant voltage to provide the best cycle life of the chargeable batteries and maintain the best battery life for the electric car.
US08492017B2
A battery for a portable electronic device includes a recess, a number of electronic strips arranged on the bottom surface of the recess, and a number of latching slots defined in the sidewall of the recess.
US08492013B2
A protection circuit board for a secondary battery is constructed with an electrically insulating substrate, a printed circuit board pattern formed on the electrically insulating substrate, a protection circuit part electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern, a charge-and-discharge terminal formed on the electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern and the protection circuit part, and a test terminal formed on the electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the printed circuit board pattern and the protection circuit part. The test terminal is constructed with an electroless plated layer formed on the test terminal.
US08492008B2
The invention relates to a cutting tool for the machining of wood or a wood-based material, in particular a wood composite material, or a plastic, wherein a layer system for the formation of a surface coating is present on a surface of a cutting edge of the cutting tool. An outermost surface layer of the layer system is formed from a composition of the form [Cr1-xOx]zXaCbNc with 0.05
US08492002B2
An alloy having from about 5 to about 15 wt % Ta, from 0 to about 5 wt % Nb, from about 0.5 to about 15 wt % Zr, and the balance Ti is disclosed. The alloy is particularly intended for medical devices, such as implants for the body.
US08492001B2
A self-stratifying coating composition is provided. The self-stratifying coating can include a base layer having a telechelic resin with reactive end groups and an alkoxide oligomer. In addition, a top layer having an acrylate and/or methacrylate such as a fluorinated acrylate, a fluorinated methacrylate, a fluorinated hydrocarbon copolymerized with an acrylate, a fluorinated hydrocarbon copolymerized with a methacrylate and combinations thereof, and a crosslinking agent can be included. In addition, the base layer and the top layer can have an interfacial surface tension therebetween that is within a range of about 15 to 60 mJ/cm2.
US08491994B2
A conductive rubber elastic material is stably provided which can produce a charging member that may less vary in electrical resistance even with changes in applied voltage, promises uniform electrical properties, has charge characteristics not affected by changes in environments such as temperature and humidity, and enables a charging object member such as a photosensitive member to be kept from being contaminated. It is a conductive rubber elastic material which contains a matrix containing at least one ionically conductive rubber selected from the group consisting of epichlorohydrin rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide rubber, epichlorohydrin-ethylene oxide-allyl glycidyl ether rubber, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and a hydrogenated product of acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber and domains composed of an electronically conductive rubber material containing i) a rubber having a butadiene skeleton and ii) carbon black, and the rubber having a butadiene skeleton is modified at a molecular terminal thereof with a specific atomic group.
US08491993B2
A thermal lithographic printing plate overcoat composition comprising (a) a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and (b) micro-particles or nano-particles is provided. A negative-working thermal lithographic printing plate comprising (a) a hydrophilic substrate; (b) a near infrared imaging layer disposed on the hydrophilic substrate; and (c) an overcoat layer disposed on the imaging layer, said overcoat layer comprising a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm; and micro-particles or nano-particles is also provided. Finally, a water-soluble polymeric dye having an absorption band between about 300 and about 600 nm is provided.
US08491990B2
A composition for use in a fiber modified layer, comprising an aggregate material, a binder, and a plurality of fibers, wherein each fiber has a length of greater than 0.25 inches. Also provided is a method of selecting a fiber modified layer for applying on an existing surface, comprising the steps of: providing a binder mixture having an effective amount of an aggregate material, a binder, and a plurality of fibers, wherein each of the plurality of fibers has a length greater than 0.25 inches; applying the binder mixture to a selected surface to form a fiber modified proposed layer; testing the fiber modified proposed layer for fatigue or crack resistant properties; and selecting the binder mixture for application on the existing surface for performance if the fiber modified proposed layer has fatigue or crack resistant properties.
US08491989B2
The coating system comprises: at least one layer of type A, a layer of type A substantially consisting of (AlyCr1-y)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO and CNBO, y describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction; and at least one layer of type B, a layer of type B substantially consisting of (AluCr1-u-v-wSivMew)X, wherein X depicts one of the group consisting of N, CN, BN, NO, CNO, CBN, BNO or CNBO, and wherein Me depicts one of the group consisting of W, Nb, Mo and Ta or a mixture of two or more of the constituents of that group, u, v and w describing the stoichiometric composition of the metallic phase fraction. A thickness ratio of said layer of type A to said layer of type B is higher than 1. The workpiece comprises such a coating system. Through this, an excellent wear-protection is provided, and the coating system and workpieces can be used for a broad range of different applications. The coating system can be deposited very efficiently in a PVD process using two types of targets, wherein targets of one type are active during depositing a layer of type A and during depositing a layer of type B.
US08491981B2
Composite laminated product (1) that forms a deformable cellular structure includes an upper band (2) and a lower band (3) both oriented in the same main direction (X) between the two bands (2, 3) and connecting the latter, a series extends in the direction X, of cylinders (4) referred to as connection cylinders. The connection cylinders (4) are non-touching in the direction X and having their generatrix oriented along an axis Y perpendicular to the direction X. The connection cylinders are composite cylinders including fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Such a laminated product can be used as an elastic beam having a high resistance to flexural/compressive stresses and having a high endurance to such repeated or alternated stresses, in particular as a shear band in a non-pneumatic resilient wheel.
US08491977B2
The present invention relates to an oxygen barrier film and container comprising ethylene-acrylate copolymer, more precisely an oxygen barrier film and container comprising ethylene-acrylate based copolymer composed of 10-50 mol % of ethylene monomer and 50-90 mol % of acrylate based monomer and having the weight average molecular weight of at least 30,000 g/m. The present invention provides an oxygen barrier film and container having excellent mechanical properties including flexibility, stretchability, glass transition temperature, anti-absorptiveness and Rockwell hardness and other characteristics such as oxygen barrier property and transparency as well.
US08491971B2
The producing method of a gas barrier layer uses a material having at least one Si—H bond, a material having at least one N—H bond, and at least one of nitrogen gas, hydrogen gas and a noble gas and forms the gas barrier layer by plasma-enhanced CVD using a plasma in which an emission intensity A of emission at 414 nm, an emission intensity B of emission at 336 nm, an emission intensity C of emission at 337 nm, and an emission intensity D of emission at 656 nm satisfy formulas a to c: 2
US08491969B2
The present invention pertains to a water-redispersible polymer powder based on at least one modified natural latex. The modified natural latex can be obtained by mixing natural latex with at least one radical initiator and/or oxidizing agent, by mixing and reacting natural latex with at least one olefinically unsaturated monomer and with at least one radical initiator, and/or by mixing natural latex with at least one filler. Preferably, the polymer powder contains up to about 95 wt. % of least one natural latex, about 0 to 50 wt. % of at least one protective colloid, about 2 to 70 wt. % of at least one filler and/or anti-caking agent, as well as optionally further additives. In addition, the invention pertains to a process for the preparation of the polymer powder, the use thereof as an additive in building material compositions, as well as building material compositions containing the polymer powder.
US08491966B2
Disclosed herein is a process for coating ceramic honeycomb bodies with a catalyst suspension comprising catalyst components as solids and/or in dissolved form in a carrier liquid. Parallel flow channels run through the honeycomb bodies. The walls of the flow channels have an open pore structure. To coat the channel walls and in particular also the interior surfaces of the pores with the catalyst suspension, the entry and exit end faces of the vertically aligned honeycomb bodies are each brought into contact with a perforated mask, with the perforated masks being arranged so that the open regions of the perforated mask on the one end face are opposite the closed regions of the perforated mask on the other end face and vice versa. The catalyst suspension is then pumped or sucked from below into the honeycomb bodies until it exits at the upper end face. Excess suspension is then removed by blowing-out or sucking-out, the contact with the perforated masks is released and the honeycomb body is calcined to fix the coating.
US08491962B2
Discloses herein is a method of forming a low-k layer. The method includes the following steps. Tetraalkoxysilane, ethanol, tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and water are mixed in a molar ratio between 1:0.1:0.1:5 and 1:10:0.5:36 to form a first mixture. The first mixture is heated for a period of less than about 36 hours to form a second mixture containing a plurality of non-crystalline silicon-containing particles, wherein each of the non-crystalline silicon-containing particles has a particle size of smaller than about 10 nm. Subsequently, a surfactant is added to the second mixture to form a colloid solution, in which the surfactant has a concentration of about 1-20% by weight of the colloid solution. The colloid solution is coated on a substrate and thereby forming a colloid layer thereon. Then, the colloid layer is heated at a condition sufficient to transform the colloid layer into the low-k layer.
US08491960B2
A method for producing a printed product with raised print includes receiving a prepress format document containing a plurality of flat ink color separations and at least one raised print color separation, printing onto a substrate the flat ink color separations using flat ink and the at least one raised print color separation using dimensional ink, allowing the flat and dimensional ink to dry, heating the inked substrate to a temperature that causes the applied dimensional ink to become sticky, applying thermographic powder to the heated inked substrate such that the thermographic powder sticks to the sticky dimensional ink, removing the thermographic powder from regions of the substrate where the dimensional ink is not applied, reheating the sheet to melt the thermographic powder, and cooling the sheet to result in a print product having both flat and raised printed content.
US08491954B2
A method of producing a rice cake that becomes not hardened for a long time period, a rice cake produced by using the method, and a processed food produced by processing the rice cake are provided. The method includes: (a) immersing grains in water and removing the water therefrom; (b) grinding the grains from which water is removed, adding water thereto, and then grinding the grains to which water is added; (c) steaming the ground grains; and (d) cooling the steamed grains, adding flour thereto, and then punching the resultant product. The rice cake has a long storage time and is suitable for a long-term distribution. The rice cake preserves its soft texture for a long time period and is thus appropriate for consumers' acceptability.
US08491953B2
A food supplement containing fish oil is disclosed having a stable fish oil emulsion for production of a stable, healthy and user-friendly product.
US08491951B2
Frying processes utilizing cooking oil at elevated temperatures can cause various degradation effects in the oil including oxidation, hydrolysis and/or polymerization. In the absence of additives to protect the oil, the nutritional profile and cooking performance of degraded oil diminishes the quality of food cooked therein. The disclosed methods and compositions provide beneficial and cost effective improvements in the cooking performance of oil used at elevated temperatures, for example, in food frying equipment.
US08491936B2
The present invention provides a biocompatible coating comprising calcium phosphate that is functionally graded across the thickness of the coating. The coating, which preferably includes hydroxyapatite, is particularly useful for coating implants, such as dental or orthopedic implants. The functionally graded coating is generally crystalline near the interface with the surface of the implant, with crystallinity and crystal diameter decreasing toward the outer layer of the coating. The invention further provides methods for preparing a coated implant comprising a functionally graded calcium phosphate coating thereon.
US08491935B2
A coated drug-ion exchange resin complex comprising a core composed of a drug complexed with a pharmaceutically acceptable ion-exchange resin is provided. The drug-ion exchange resin complex is in admixture with a release retardant. The coating is a polyvinyl acetate polymer and a plasticizer. Methods of making and products containing this coated complex are described.
US08491933B2
A solid composition of a low-solubility drug and a concentration-enhancing polymer has a portion of the drug in a semi-ordered state.
US08491929B2
Polymers and compositions, collectively “bioadhesive materials”, with improved bioadhesive properties have been developed. One or more compounds comprising: a) an aromatic moiety comprising two or more hydroxyl substituents, methoxy substituents, substituents hydrolyzable to hydroxyl substituents, or a combination thereof, and b) a primary or secondary amino moiety are either covalently attached to a polymer or are physically mixed with a polymer to form a bioadhesive material. These bioadhesive materials can be used, for example, to fabricate new drug delivery or diagnostic systems with increased residence time at tissue surfaces, and consequently increase the bioavailability of a drug or a diagnostic agent.
US08491922B2
A surface of an object may be treated using an antimicrobial wipe presoaked in an antimicrobial treatment solution. Alternatively, the antimicrobial treatment solution may be sprayed directly on the surface. The antimicrobial treatment solution may be made of isopropyl alcohol and an unreacted organofunctional silane antimicrobial substance that is substantially free from arsenic, silver, tin, heavy metals and polychlorinated phenols. The antimicrobial substance may include any one of: 3 trimethoxysilylpropyloctadecyldimethyl ammonium chloride; hyaluronan and its derivatives; triclosan; and a copolymer of chloropropyltrihydroxysilane and octadecylaminodimethyltrihydroxysilylpropyl ammonium chloride.
US08491921B2
A cosmetic composition comprising at least one volatile solvent, at least one crosslinked silicone film former, at least one silicone gum, and at least one pigment composition present in an amount sufficient to provide the cosmetic composition with a pigment contrast ratio of greater than 35 and a method for maximizing the intensity and opacity of a color cosmetic composition.
US08491915B2
Heat treated bacterins, a method of producing heat treated bacterins, and emulsion vaccines prepared from such heat treated bacterins are disclosed.
US08491914B2
Described herein are compositions and methods of use of targeted delivery complexes for delivery of siRNA to a disease-associated cell, tissue or pathogen. The targeted delivery complex comprises a targeting molecule, such as an antibody or fragment thereof, conjugated to one or more siRNA carriers. In preferred embodiments the siRNA carrier is a dendrimer or protamine and the targeting molecule is an anti-cancer antibody, such as hRS7. More preferably, the antibody or fragment is rapidly internalized into the target cell to facilitate uptake of the siRNA. Most preferably, the targeted delivery complex is made by the DNL technique. The compositions and methods are of use to treat a variety of disease states, such as cancer, autoimmune disease, immune dysfunction, cardiac disease, neurologic disease, inflammatory disease or infectious disease.
US08491911B2
This invention relates to the use of a pharmaceutical product comprising allergen and optionally an adjuvant for fast up-dosing in connection with allergy vaccination wherein a reduced number of injections are used. The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical product as such.
US08491905B2
Disclosed herein is a method of treating dry eye with a KLK-13 antibody.
US08491898B2
The invention pertains to anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl residues. The antibodies of the invention exhibit increased antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity, including the ability to lyse CD30-expressing cell lines that are not lysed by the fucosylated form of the antibodies. The invention also provides host cells that express the anti-CD30 antibodies that lack fucosyl residues, wherein the host cells are deficient for a fucosyl transferase. Methods of using the antibodies to inhibit the growth of CD30+ cells, such as tumor cells, are also provided.
US08491894B2
The present invention discloses a method for inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, comprising: administering at least one selective binding agent such as an anti-CD13 antibody or a CD13 antagonist which can bind a CD13 receptor of a cell to inhibit infection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Administration of anti-CD13 antibody can reduce an expression level of the CD13 receptor, inhibit entry of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into monocytes, reduce survival of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in monocytes, and kill Mycobacterium tuberculosis effectively.
US08491893B2
The present invention relates to antibodies against Oncofetal Antigen/immature Laminin receptor protein (OFA/iLRP) that can be used singly or in conjunction to detect or treat OFA/iLRP-related diseases. More specifically, the antibodies can be used for several purposes including: (i) detecting and measuring OFA/iLRP in different biofluids; and (ii) using OFA/iLRP with an antibody directed against the monomeric form and its associated diseases.
US08491888B2
The present invention provides an essentially crystal-free, highly bioavailable and absorbable coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) composition including CoQ10, a solvent, and a carrier oil for supplementing nutrition and for use as an antioxidant. The present invention further provides method of increasing the absorption and bioavailability levels of coenzyme Q10 in the blood plasma and a method of producing a highly absorbable CoQ10 composition.
US08491886B2
Methods for treating cell proliferative disorders by administering virus to proliferating cells having an activated Ras-pathway are disclosed. The virus is administered so that it ultimately directly contacts proliferating cells having an activated Ras-pathway. Proliferative disorders include but are not limited to neoplasms. The virus is selected from modified adenovirus, modified HSV, modified vaccinia virus and modified parapoxvirus orf virus. Also disclosed are methods for treating cell proliferative disorders by further administering an immunosuppressive agent.
US08491875B2
Volumizing compositions, including shampoos, which provide volume, body, fullness, movement and/or stylability benefits to the hair are disclosed. The compositions contain a waxy material selected from natural waxes of animal or plant origin, alkyl-modified dimethicones, copolymers of vinyl pyrrolidone and long chain alpha-olefins, synthetic wax/highly branched polyalpha olefin polymers and mixtures thereof. The compositions are substantially free of materials which form an oily coating on the hair, such as dimethicone gums, oils, triglycerides, petrolatums, unsaturated fatty acids, oils, C18-C28 mono-long chain alkyl quaternary ammonium materials, and combinations of those materials. Shampoo compositions and the method of providing volume to the hair, utilizing the defined waxy materials, are also disclosed.
US08491872B2
Cinnamic acid-based oligomers and therapeutic uses thereof are provided. The oligomers are used as anti-inflammation agents, inhibitors of elastase and anti-oxidants, and in some cases (e.g. the treatment of lung disorders such as lung cancer) all three activities are simultaneously beneficial. Subsets of the oligomers (e.g. β-O4 and β-5 trimers and tetramers) are used as anticoagulants.
US08491867B2
A method of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using dual-isotopes of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 and [123I]ADAM is provided. Through SPECT, anomalies in dopamine and serotonin system are diagnosed with their photos in one examination. Thus, cost and labor for two examinations are saved and uses of SPECT are reduced.
US08491859B2
A device includes an injector for a liquid having at least one pressure sensor, preferably an integrated pressure sensor. The device is used, in particular, for adding liquid reducing agent to an exhaust gas line of a motor vehicle. A configuration having the device and methods of using the device and the configuration are also provided.
US08491857B1
Processes and apparatus produce economically feasible biodiesel without subsidies. Toward that end, integrated small plants process materials containing lipids with anhydrous bioethanol as solvent and reactant, and sulfuric acid and potassium hydroxide mainly as catalysts to produce up to 3 million gallons of biodiesel per plant per year. The product is predominantly fatty acids ethyl esters (FAEE) and a chemically-enhanced organic fertilizer as byproduct. The raw material may include a wide variety of non-edible solid matter that contains lipids, which normally have from 0.5% to 80% by weight of free fatty acids in total oils. Multiple apparatus makes this process feasible. In addition to not competing with food production, since they supply fertilizer for small scale farmers, the processes and apparatus allow sustainable liquid fuel production.
US08491854B2
A test tube insert includes a flange having a width greater than a width of a mouth of a larger test tube into which the insert is to be inserted. The flange defines a first central opening. An annulus extends integrally downward from the flange. The annulus includes a fenestrated wall and a floor defining a second central opening. A small test tube body, smaller than the larger test tube, extends integrally downward from the floor of the annulus with the second central opening forming a mouth of the small test tube body. The test tube insert is disposed in the mouth of the larger test tube. Fluid is transferred through the central opening and the fluid fills the small test tube body of the test tube insert and flows through the fenestrated wall once the small test tube body is full into the larger test tube.
