US08548138B2

Presenting data received from service providers includes receiving billing data from each of the service providers and formatting, by at least one processor, the billing data in a standardized format. A single bill that consolidates the billing data in the standardized format for each of the service providers, and displays the billing data in the standardized format according to a user-defined organizational relationship for a billed entity, is outputted.
US08548126B2

A firefighter's telephone communication system is provided that includes a polarized telephone station that may be connected to either 3-state (detection of normal, open, or call-in) or 4-state (detection of normal, open, short, or call-in) telephone control panel, without the need to alter the telephone station.
US08548122B2

Information indicative of multiple regions of the anatomy of a patient (602, 604, 606), such as one or more of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, or pelvis, is obtained in a single scan. A plurality of studies (32) are generated. Each study definition includes a region of the patient's anatomy (602, 604) and a study protocol. Each study (32) includes (48) images generated using information from the scan and the value of the imaging parameter.
US08548116B2

A method is disclosed for CT scanning a heart with a dual-source CT device including detectors of different widths in a system axis direction and for reconstruction of tomographic image data. In at least one embodiment, at least two circular scans are performed at different z positions and the spacing in the z direction is chosen such that at least two first scan zones are produced which are scanned by way of a circular scan with two detectors and at least one second scan zone is produced which is scanned twice by one detector in two successive circular scans, wherein a dual-source reconstruction is performed in the first scan zones and a two-segment reconstruction is performed in the at least one second scan zone and finally a common tomographic image data set is produced. Further, at least one embodiment is directed to a dual-source CT device in which the detectors have different widths in the system axis direction.
US08548113B2

Example embodiments are directed to upper tie plates for debris mitigation and fuel bundles that use the upper tie plates. Example embodiment tie plates may include a plurality of debris capture elements that overlap each other so as to create debris traps for particulate debris that would fall onto the fuel bundle. Example embodiment fuel bundles may use the upper tie plates for debris mitigation.
US08548102B2

Methods and apparatuses for enhanced processing of received channels in a mobile communications system is described. Particularly, convolutionally encoded tail biting data in a mobile communications system is efficiently decoding by replicating the received encoded signal N times, where N equals a number of iterations. A Viterbi decoding algorithm is applied and a most likely survivor path is obtained. The ensuing decoding window is set as a fixed decoding window and placed at a mid-section of the most likely survivor path. Simulations have shown codeword accuracy to be comparable to MLSE with less complexity. A high degree of accuracy has been obtained for N=3.
US08548101B2

A demodulation method and a demodulator for an OFDM MIMO system are provided, and by using a received reference signal, the channel estimation value at the reference signal sub-carrier in each channel is obtained by estimation; by using the channel estimation value, an equalization matrix at the reference signal sub-carrier is obtained; by using the obtained equalization matrix to carry out the interpolation calculation, equalization matrixes are obtained; by using the data signals in various paths and corresponding equalization matrixes, an intermediate estimation value is obtained by calculation; by using a precoding matrix to carry out de-precoding on the intermediate estimation value, a final estimation value is obtained. The demodulator comprises an OFDM demodulation module, a frame parsing module, a precoding matrix generation module, a partial channel estimation module, a partial equalization matrix generation module, an equalization matrix interpolation module, a MIMO demodulation module and a de-precoding module.
US08548098B2

A circuit for recovering data from an incoming data stream according to one embodiment includes a capacitor and a substantially constant current source for charging the capacitor. A subcircuit generates a signal causing the capacitor to discharge upon detecting a first type of transition in the incoming data stream, the capacitor re-charging upon being at least partially discharged. A comparator compares a voltage on a node coupled to the capacitor to a reference voltage, the comparator outputting a first signal if the voltage on the node is higher than the reference voltage and outputting a second signal if the voltage on the node is lower than the reference voltage, the first signal being associated with a first logic value, the second signal being associated with a second logic value.
US08548090B2

A transmitting apparatus in a mobile communications system is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a data modulating unit which maps a predetermined number of data sets to one or more reference signal points of a symbol constellation; an inverse Fourier transforming unit which inverse Fourier transforms a data-modulated signal, generating a time-domain signal; a peak suppressing unit which suppresses the time-domain signal such that a peak power decreases when the time-domain signal meets a predetermined condition; a Fourier transforming unit which Fourier transforms the peak-suppressed signal and generates a frequency-domain signal; and a modifying unit which modifies the frequency-domain signal, and provides the modified signal to the inverse Fourier transforming unit, wherein the modifying unit is arranged to move, when a peak-suppressed signal point in the symbol constellation does not belong to a predetermined surrounding area, the peak-suppressed signal point to a point within the surrounding area.
US08548086B2

A signal receiver is configured to receive multiple time-domain input signals. A plurality of the input signals among the multiple time-domain input signals is selected and transformed into frequency-domain signals. The frequency-domain signals is shifted in phase by a negative value of a respective reference phase, and the phase-shifted signals is combined into one signal. The combined signal is then multiplied with a stored signal to generate a signal product and transformed into a time-domain signal.
US08548076B2

A retransmission method maps at least some bits of codeword to symbols according to a first modulation method at the time of first transmission. The retransmission method maps at least some bits of the codeword to symbols according to a second modulation method that is different from the first modulation method at the time of second transmission after the first transmission. In this case, the second modulation method may have a lower modulation order than that of the first modulation method, or a sum of average reliability per bit of symbol according to the second modulation may be larger than a sum of average reliability per bit of symbol according to the first modulation method.
US08548074B2

A Synchronization Channel (SCH) transmission method includes generating a Primary SCH (P-SCH) sequence according to supplementary information. The supplementary information includes at least one of Base Station (BS) type information, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) size information, BandWidth (BW) information, group information, sector information, and carrier type information. The method also includes modulating the P-SCH sequence and mapping the modulated P-SCH sequence to subcarriers within a predefined subcarrier set. The subcarriers are included in the subcarrier set being spaced one subcarrier interval apart. The method further includes generating a P-SCH symbol by Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)-modulating the P-SCH sequence mapped to the subcarriers, and transmitting the P-SCH symbol.
US08548068B2

The invention relates to methods for transmitting information, and specifically to communication interfaces of electronic devices. The method makes it possible to increase the permissible number of transmitters power-supplied from a communication line, raise the distance and reliability of communication, and obtain better conditions of signal reception from differently located transmitters owing to switching off the current of power supply of transmitters and, accordingly, separating the current of signal transmission from the total current running along the communication line. Each transmitter is provided with its internal secondary power supply charged from the communication line. The voltage of the communication line power supply is decreased prior to signal transmission and restored upon completion of signal transmission.
US08548064B2

A video encoding method for encoding video images as a single video image by using parallax compensation which performs prediction by using parallax between the video images, and a corresponding decoding method. The number of parameters as parallax data used for the parallax compensation is selected and set for each reference image. Data of the set number of parameters is encoded, and parallax data in accordance with the number of parameters is encoded. During decoding, parallax-parameter number data, which is included in encoded data and designates the number of parameters as parallax data for each reference image, is decoded, and parallax data in accordance with the number of parameters is decoded, where the parallax data is included in the encoded data.
US08548054B2

In the method for predicting an image, a current image block is predicted using first and second image blocks, display order information for a current picture and display order information for at least one reference picture related to one of the first and second image blocks.
US08548049B2

A system for encoding a video stream into a processed video signal that includes at least one image, includes a pattern detection module for detecting a pattern of interest in the at least one image and identifying a region that contains the pattern of interest when the pattern of interest is detected. An encoder section, generates the processed video signal and wherein, when the pattern of interest is detected, a higher quantization is assigned to the region than to portions of the at least one image outside the region.
US08548048B2

The disclosure relates to techniques for video source rate control for video telephony (VT) applications. The source video encoding rate may controlled using a dual-buffer based estimation of a frame budget that defines a number of encoding bits available for a frame of the video. The dual-buffer based estimation technique may track the fullness of a physical video buffer and the fullness of the virtual video buffer. The source video encoding rate is then controlled based on the resulting frame budget. The contents of the virtual buffer depend on constraints imposed by a target encoding rate, while the contents of the physical buffer depend on constraints imposed by varying channel conditions. Consideration of physical video buffer fullness permits the video source rate control technique to be channel-adaptive. Consideration of virtual video buffer fullness permits the video source rate control technique to avoid encoding excessive video that could overwhelm the channel.
US08548035B2

A PLC cable modem is provided which includes an analog electromagnetic field transducer for generating an electromagnetic field based on an analog electrical signal and also for generating an analog electrical signal based on an electromagnetic field. The PLC cable modem also includes an analog signal processing unit operatively coupled to the analog electromagnetic field transducer and a digital signal processing unit for processing signals received from (or to be sent to) the analog signal processing unit. An interface port is provided for communicating digital signals to and from a data transmission or receiving device.
US08548028B2

A minimum mean square error (MMSE) equalizer corresponding to a plurality of receive antennas is generated using (i) channel information for a first plurality of users including a desired user, (ii) a ratio of white noise power to noise power due to code division multiple access (CDMA) signals corresponding to the first plurality of users, (iii) channel information for a second plurality of users served by another base station, and (iv) a ratio of noise power due to CDMA signals corresponding to the second plurality of users to noise power due to CDMA signals corresponding to the first plurality of users. CDMA signals received by a plurality of antennas are filtered using the MMSE equalizer. The CDMA signals are despread using a spread code corresponding to the desired user.
US08548025B2

Methods and systems for sending a broadcast message in frequency hopping and other systems. Instead of sending a complete message separately to each device, a relatively small packet or “chirp” is sent. These chirps are either targeted at known devices or sent in a manner to sweep the RF band. Devices that hear the chirps get information about the channel and/or time that the broadcast data will be sent. These devices then listen for the broadcast data as instructed, e.g., at the specified time on the specified channel. A system may alternatively, or in addition, use a scheduled hopping sequence break as a broadcast moment. Such a broadcast moment can be scheduled to periodically interrupt the node hopping sequences so that, at such times, many or all nodes are scheduled to be on the same channel for potential broadcasts.
US08548023B2

A semiconductor laser element includes a laminate composed of a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductivity type semiconductor layer; and a second embedded layer that is in contact with the second conductivity type semiconductor layer, has a stripe-like groove parallel to the cavity direction, and is composed of an insulator, the groove is embedded with a first embedded layer composed of a dielectric on the cavity end face side, and with a conductive layer on the inside.
US08548022B2

The illustrated embodiments provide a system and a method of manufacture for a complex-coupled distributed feedback laser diode. The improved laser diode has a complex-coupled metal grating to enforce the laser to emit in a longitudinal single-frequency and suppress dynamical instabilities. In addition, the improved device uses a transparent conductive cladding layer over the metal grating and makes therefore the need for re-growth redundant.
US08548014B2

The present invention is directed to providing an environmentally stable, ultra-short pulse source. Exemplary embodiments relate to passively modelocked ultra-short fiber lasers which are insensitive to temperature variations and which possess only negligible sensitivity to pressure variations. Further, exemplary embodiments can be implemented in a cost-effective manner which render them commercially practical in unlimited applications. Arbitrary fiber lengths (e.g., on the order of 1 millimeter to 1 kilometer, or greater) can be used to provide an ultra-short pulse with a cost-effective architecture which is commercially practical.
US08548010B2

Methods and apparatus for synchronizing contact information between a first communication device associated with a first user and a second communication device associated with a second user are disclosed. An exemplary method comprises monitoring the occurrence of a trigger on the first communication device and transferring, in response to the trigger, a first data object to the second communication device, the first data object comprising data relevant to two or more contact entries associated with the first communication device and an invitation to synchronize. In response to the first data object, a response data object is received from the second communication device, the response data object comprising either more recent data associated with at least one of the contact entries indicated in the first data object, or a request for more recent data associated with at least one of the contact entries indicated in the first data object, or both.
US08548009B2

A combiner system for frequency combining and related methods. Implementations may include a plurality of combiner stages each including a deinterleaver, at least one filter, a frequency downconverter, and a frequency upconverter all operatively coupled together. Each of the plurality of combiner stages may be adapted to receive a complex interleaved input signal including two or more input signals each including a bandwidth, to output a complex stage output signal including the two or more input signals, and to alternately place the bandwidth of each of the two or more input signals in an upper portion and in a lower portion of an output bandwidth of the complex stage output signal. The upper portion and lower portion of the output bandwidth may be contiguous within the output bandwidth and joined at a center of the output bandwidth.
US08547989B2

Methods and apparatus for supporting coexistence between two different radio access technologies (RATs), such as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard and one of the IEEE 802.16 standards, are provided. To accomplish this coexistence, a multi-mode base station (BS) may replace transmission gaps in a frame of a first RAT with subframes or symbols of the second RAT and transmit the resulting dual-RAT frame. In this manner, a single BS may support and communicate according to two different RATs simultaneously.
US08547977B2

Provided is a broadcasting system based on a network using an Internet protocol (IP). In the broadcasting system, a broadcast transmitter previously transmits first access information including a first network address for transmitting a general notification message and second access information associated with management of the broadcasting system, to a broadcast receiver. If a general notification event occurs, the general notification message is generated and the generated general notification message is transmitted to the broadcast receiver via one of a broadcast network and an interaction network using the first network address. The broadcast receiver receives a general notification message based on the first network address in data received from the broadcast transmitter.
US08547972B2

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system includes one or more computer systems including a memory, one or more processors, and a bypass switch with an open position and a closed position. The one or more computer systems further include computer-executable program code. The computer-executable program code includes one or more virtual machines modules including computer-executable instructions configured, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to implement one or more virtual machines that host one or more guest operating systems and one or more applications. The computer-executable program code further includes a virtual bypass switch module including computer-executable instructions configured, when executed, to cause the one or more processors to, responsive to the availability of the one or more applications, forward packets received on the first physical network interface to at least one of the one or more virtual machines.
US08547971B1

A multi-stage switching system comprises a first stage including a plurality of groups of switching devices. Each group of switching devices includes more than one switching device, and each group of switching devices is associated with a corresponding single device identifier (ID). A second stage includes a plurality of switching devices. The switching devices of the first stage are coupled to the switching devices of the second stage via a plurality of uplinks. Switching devices of the first stage are configured to associate a target device ID and a target port ID to a data unit received via a front port of the switching system. The switching devices of the first stage and the switching devices of the second stage are configured to direct the data unit through the switching system using the target device ID and a target port ID.
US08547959B2

A device associated with a network receives a register request from a managed node connected to the network, where the register request requests registration of the managed node. The device also establishes a command channel, for sending one or more commands, with the managed node based on the register request, and establishes a notification channel, for sending one or more notifications, with the managed node based on the register request.
US08547958B2

Systems and methods of enhanced real-time communications between WiFi devices. In one embodiment of the present invention a method for enhanced payload protection in a WiFi system includes transmitting multiple copies of data packets in successive frame body transmissions. In another embodiment, a method for enhanced communications over a WiFi link includes examining a unit ID packet to determine a destination of a data payload when errors are detected in IP and/or MAC headers. If a destination is determined, the packet is corrected and forwarded to the device based on the unit ID determination. In another embodiment, a method for enhanced real-time communications in a WiFi network includes establishing a communications frame that includes an active timeslot, preferably based on U-APSD, for a WiFi device to use for transmission of successive audio data packets transmitted between the WiFi handset and AP.
US08547956B2

A customer-premises equipment (CPE) communicates with an element management system (EMS) via a base station (BS) includes a signal transceiver unit and a signal processing unit. The signal transceiver unit transmits predetermined request information to the EMS. The signal processing unit determines a maximum sustained rate (MSR) of an extended real-time polling service (ERTPS) flow according to the request information. The signal processing unit determines whether or not the MSR enables support multiway calls, if the MSR cannot support multiway calls, the signal processing unit creates a quality o service (QoS) flow as an OFOC mode. If the MSR enables the multiway calls, the signal processing unit compares load values of the BS with a threshold value, and sets the QoS flow to the OFOC mode or to an OFAC mode according to the comparison.
US08547950B2

Embodiments related to acquisition, detection, and processing of a high-frequency signal in a global positioning system are described and depicted.
US08547933B2

A method for performing handover in a dual-mode terminal is disclosed. The method for performing handover in a dual-mode terminal includes receiving an Internet Protocol (IP) packet from a personal computer (PC), and transmitting the received IP packet to a serving network; upon receiving a handover message from the serving network, stopping reception of the IP packet from the PC; forwarding residual packets from a first processor corresponding to the serving network to a second processor corresponding to a target network; upon handover completion and completion of the forwarding of the residual packets, restarting reception of the IP packet from the PC; and transmitting the residual packets to the target network.
US08547927B2

A method for a user equipment to perform random access to a base station in a wireless communication system that supports multiple uplink and downlink carriers is provided. In the method, system information including cell identifier information of each of the downlink component carriers and PRACH TF slot and preamble sequence information which is common to all downlink component carriers, the system information being broadcast through each downlink component carrier corresponding to the cell identifier information, is received. A PRACH preamble is transmitted through one uplink component carrier linked to the downlink component carriers using the received PRACH TF slot and preamble sequence information. An RACH response is received through each of the downlink component carriers. The cell identifier information is used to transmit a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection request signal and cell identifier information of a downlink component carrier, which the user equipment desires to access among the downlink component carriers.
US08547926B2

A method for configuring system information, a method for transmitting system information, and a method for transmitting resource ratio information are disclosed. A method for receiving system information elements includes receiving a first message including a fixed-size system information element from a base station, and receiving a second message including an variable-size system information element from the base station.
US08547918B2

A method for providing multiple-user multiple-input and multiple-output in a high-speed packet access system is described. Channel quality indicators are received from a plurality of dual stream capable wireless communication devices. A preferred beam and a secondary beam are determined for each wireless communication device using the channel quality indicators. Wireless communication devices with preferred beams orthogonal to each other are paired. A wireless communication device pair is selected. Data streams for the selected wireless communication device pair are scheduled in the same transmission time interval using an orthogonal variable spreading factor code.
US08547905B2

A wireless base station includes an antenna for communicating with a terminal in a coverage area; a transmitting unit that transmits to an adjacent wireless base station via the antenna, configuration information used by the wireless base station to control communication with the terminal; a receiving unit that receives configuration information of the adjacent wireless base station via the antenna; and a configuration information controlling unit that sets configuration information of the wireless base station, based on the configuration information of the adjacent wireless base station received by the receiving unit.
US08547902B2

An architecture for network layer mobility support, using always on broadband high speed access and a network-based mobility manager, termed as a network server or gateway is disclosed. The present invention obviates the need of MIP for IP mobility.
US08547901B2

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: receiving a MIMO (multiple-input multiple output) encoded symbol vector, the symbol vector encoding a plurality of streams of a source node; estimating channel matrix between the source node and the apparatus; re-ordering columns in said channel matrix; determining a plurality of feedback bits based at least in part on the re-ordered channel matrix, wherein each bit of the feedback bits indicates detection or no detection of the corresponding antenna streams of the source node; and transmitting the feedback bits.
US08547900B2

An apparatus and method for performing procedures (protocols) of a PDCP (Packet Data Convergence Protocol) layer and an RLC (Radio layer in an E-UMTS (Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) which has evolved from UMTS, among radio protocols of a mobile communication system. The PDCP layer performs ciphering on data (i.e., PDCP SDU) received from an upper layer, generates an indicator discriminating ciphered data and non-ciphered data (i.e., an ROHC feedback packet directly generated by the PDCP layer), and transmits the same to a lower layer (i.e., MAC layer). A PDCP SN (Sequence Number) is defined as an algorithm for ciphering the data in the PDCP layer to perform ciphering in the PDCP layer.
US08547876B1

A wireless intermediate functional device (IFD) for wireless communication between reduced functional devices in a star topology network having a central coordinator capable of operating as a network access device (NAD), and with fully functional devices in a mesh topology network also capable of operating as a NAD is described. The IFD is a wireless system that executes IEEE 802.15.4 standard compliant operations and operates as an intermediary between non-compatible devices. Various communication and protocol handshaking and management is facilitated by the IFD, allowing end devices in heterogeneous networks to communicate.
US08547874B2

A method and system for learning network information through a plurality of network devices is provided. The plurality of network devices are configured for IPsec. The method enables negotiation between the network devices to set up a security association and provide network information between the configured network devices. This network information includes a plurality of sub-network routes.
US08547870B2

A wireless communication device can determine its position in accordance with a hybrid positioning mechanism to minimize bandwidth and power consumption at the wireless communication device. The wireless communication device can detect one or more request messages and one or more corresponding response messages exchanged between a master access point and one or more target access points, and can accordingly determine TDOA information associated with the one or more target access points. The wireless communication device can receive, from the master access point, RTT measurement information determined by the master access point based, at least in part, on the one or more request messages and the one or more corresponding response messages exchanged between the master access point and the one or more target access points. The wireless communication device can calculate its position information based, at least in part, on the TDOA information and the RTT measurement information.
US08547864B2

A network component comprising a forwarding physical layer (PHY) unit comprising a source queue (SQ), wherein the forwarding PHY unit is configured to measure a one-way physical layer delay between the forwarding PHY unit and a destination node. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a forwarding PHY unit configured to send a plurality of symbols at a network physical layer to a destination node and receive the symbols at a network physical layer from the destination node, and a SQ configured to queue the symbols returned from the destination node, wherein the forwarding PHY unit is further configured to process the queued symbols to calculate a half round-trip delay based on a virtual delay time.
US08547861B2

A method of optimizing downlink communications between a base station and mobile stations in a wireless communication system involves: identifying users that have a modulation control scheme (MCS) power value greater than a reference power value as high power users; for each of the high power users, calculating a power difference being a difference between a geometry value associated with each of the high power users and a reference geometry value associated with the reference power value respectively; summing the power differences in a power pool; identifying users that have an MCS power value below the reference power value as low power users; associating increased geometry values with at least some of the low power users while depleting the power pool by corresponding amounts until the power pool is depleted; and determining new MCSs for at least some of the low power users based on the increased geometry values.
US08547856B2

In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: a status detector configured to determine a status associated with an input stream; a parameter controller configured to adjust a parameter in response to a change in the status; and a rendering controller configured to receive the input stream, and to provide a rendered stream in response to the input stream and the parameter.
US08547852B2

A communicating device capable of transmitting packets to a destination device via any of a plurality of adjacent devices, has a first measuring unit for measuring a first quality of a link between the communicating device and the destination device for a first period of time, a second measuring unit for measuring a second quality of a link from the communicating device to the destination device for a second period of time shorter than the first period of time, a first selector for selecting an adjacent device from the plurality of adjacent devices based on the measured first quality when transmitting a new packet to the destination device, and a second selector for selecting an adjacent device from the plurality of adjacent devices based on the measured second quality upon failure of transmitting the new packet.
US08547844B2

A method and system are disclosed for distributing load in a network. A set of routers are configured for providing IP gateway services to a set of hosts where each router in the set of routers all back up all the other routers in the same set. Each router in the set utilizes identical load distribution policies, load distribution properties and load distribution arrangement. A Load Distribution Function (LDF) master router is determined for the set of routers, wherein each one of the set of routers is a backup for the LDF master router. Every router in the set of routers utilize the same algorithm to compute load distribution and the LDF master router provides balancing information to all the other routers by including that information in VRRP advertisement messages to all the routers.
US08547842B2

In a method and a device for controlling the output power in a Base Transceiver Station adapted to transmit signals over an air interface using a power amplifier for multiple earners, the power of signals to be transmitted in an upcoming transmission time slot are added and compared to at least one threshold value. If the threshold is exceeded the output power is reduced. By implementing a power reduction scheme as set out above the risk for peak power effects is minimized at the same time as the dimensioning may be aggressive. This is made possible because no power will be backed off unless really needed.
US08547840B1

Bandwidth is allocated by leveraging a bursty characteristic of data transmission signals to efficiently utilize network resources. Network performance is observed over a time period to identify patterns of data transmission rates as different signals are processed. To compensate for the fact that different jobs/tasks peak at different times, the total bandwidth limit may be increased by a scaling factor. The scaling factor is calculated using information obtained by observing network performance during the time period. The scaling factor is used to increase the total bandwidth available for all jobs/tasks executing during the time period without exceeding any bandwidth limits. The data transmission rate of each job/task may then be adjusted to utilize the newly available bandwidth.
US08547839B2

A congestion control mechanism for TCP communication sessions is described. The congestion control mechanism adjusts the size of the congestion window based on a number, N, of parallel virtual connections. The number N of parallel virtual connections used to determine the congestion window is dynamically adjusted based on an estimation of the network condition.
US08547838B2

A mobile communications device with a wireless module and a controller module for performing a buffer status reporting procedure is provided. The wireless module performs wireless transmissions and receptions to and from a cellular station of a service network. The controller module receives machine type communication (MTC) data, determines whether to trigger a buffer status report (BSR) according to a comparison result of the data size of the MTC data and a threshold value when the MTC data arrives at an empty transmission buffer, and if so, transmits the BSR to the cellular station via the wireless module.
US08547837B2

In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a method includes accessing data of an egress packet belonging to a flow, storing data associating the flow with at least one queue based on a source of the data of the egress packet. The method also includes accessing an ingress packet belonging to the flow, performing a lookup of the at least one queue associated with the flow, and enqueueing data of the ingress packet to the at least one queue associated with the flow.
US08547832B2

Ethernet Alarm Indication Signal (ETH-AIS) information for multiple Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) is consolidated and distributed to the multiple VLANs in a single Ethernet frame. Note, as used herein, “Alarm Indication Signal (ETH-AIS)” refers to an IEEE 802.x or ITU-T Y.1731 Ethernet Alarm Indication Signal. A device receiving the Ethernet frame with the consolidated ETH-AIS information typically forwards the frame out each port that communicates traffic for one of the VLANs included in the consolidated ETH-AIS information.
US08547819B2

A computing device and a method reads a circuit board layout file from a storage device, and selects a first signal transmission line from circuit board layout file as a target line. The computing device and method computes a distance between the target line and the aggressor line corresponding to each unit sample length. If the distance is more than or equal to a height of a sample region, the computing device and method defines the height of the sample region as a crosstalk space between the target line and the aggressor line corresponding to a unit sample length. Otherwise, if the distance is less than the height of the sample region, the computing device and method defines the distance as the crosstalk space between the target line and the aggressor line corresponding to the unit sample length.
US08547815B2

Optical pickup device including: semiconductor laser diode emitting optical flux; objective lens converging flux emitted from the diode and radiating flux to an optical disc; diffraction grating branching an optical flux reflected from the disc; and a photodetector receiving flux branched by the grating and has a plurality of light receiving parts, wherein: the grating has areas A, B and C; among diffracted beams diffracted by a track of the optical disc, only a 0-th order diffracted beam becomes incident upon area A, and 0-th and ±1-st order diffracted beams become incident upon area B; the photodetector detects a reproduction signal from optical fluxes diffracted in areas A, B and C; the plurality of light receiving parts which detect the +1-st order diffracted beam or the −1-st diffracted beam diffracted in area A are aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular or parallel to a track direction of the disc.
US08547812B2

A focus search is performed on a mounted optical-disc recording medium once the optical-disc recording medium has been mounted in an optical disc device. The type of the mounted optical-disc recording medium is determined on the basis of results of the focus search. When a determination has been made that the mounted optical-disc recording medium is a multilayer optical-disc recording medium having three or more recording layers, a playback power is for an optical-disc recording medium being of a specification identical to the multilayer optical-disc recording medium and having one or two recording layers. A playback operation at the set playback power is used to read optical disc information from the mounted optical-disc recording medium, the optical disc information indicating the type of the mounted optical-disc recording medium.
US08547810B2

A reading unit reads sound signals recorded in a recording medium. A buffer unit temporarily stores the sound signals which is read by the reading unit. A recording unit records the sound signal which is temporarily stored in the buffer unit. A reproducing unit reproduces the sound signals which is recorded in the recording unit. A controller controls reading speed of the reading unit. The sound signals include a first set of signals and a second set of signals. The reading unit reads the first set of signals at a first reading speed and reads the second set of signals at a second reading speed which is faster than the first reading speed after reading the first set of signals.
US08547801B2

A timer device to induce and encourage a young child to manage time when engaged in daily activities, the timer device comprising visually comprehensible changes in time through the use of red and green lights for the start and end of activity period, respectively. The timer device can further include an audible alarm to signal the end of the activity. Further operational switches and buttons include a power button or switch, start/pause button to start time or pause time, engage buttons, hours buttons (+, −) and minutes buttons (+, −) to adjust time on a liquid crystal display (LCD). The timer device can be powered by AC power or battery power.
US08547795B2

A method to generate images of acoustic contrasts for structures located between at least one acoustic source and at least one receiver, said structures converting a part of the compressional energy to shear.
US08547790B2

In some aspects of the invention, a method of generating a beam of acoustic energy in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes generating a first acoustic wave at a first frequency; generating a second acoustic wave at a second frequency different than the first frequency, wherein the first acoustic wave and second acoustic wave are generated by at least one transducer carried by a tool located within the borehole; transmitting the first and the second acoustic waves into an acoustically non-linear medium, wherein the composition of the non-linear medium produces a collimated beam by a non-linear mixing of the first and second acoustic waves, wherein the collimated beam has a frequency based upon a difference between the first frequency and the second frequency; and transmitting the collimated beam through a diverging acoustic lens to compensate for a refractive effect caused by the curvature of the borehole.
US08547786B2

A technique includes determining at least one attribute of a slowness vector associated with a seismic gather based on pressure data and an indication of particle motion that is measured by at least one seismic sensor while in tow.
US08547785B2

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for positioning a center of a seismic source. The method includes determining a desired center-of-source of the seismic source and selecting one of a first and a second plurality of guns to form the seismic source based upon the desired center-of-source, a center-of-source of the first plurality being different than a center-of-source of the second plurality.
US08547780B2

An acoustic reflector is described comprising a shell around a core, in which portions of the shell are capable of transmitting acoustic waves incident on the shell into the core to be focused and reflected from an area of the shell located opposite to the area of incidence of the acoustic waves to provide a reflected acoustic signal output from the reflector. Incident acoustic radiation will be differentially reflected depending on the portion of the reflector on which the incident acoustic radiation impinges.
US08547778B2

A tri-state NAND circuit includes a first input connected to receive a first input signal and a second input connected to receive a second input signal. The tri-state NAND circuit is connected to operate in accordance with a first clock signal and a second clock signal. A logic state of the second clock signal is opposite a logic state of the first clock signal. The tri-state NAND circuit is connected to transmit an output signal to a first node. A tri-state latch circuit is connected to hold a signal present at the first node in accordance with the first clock signal and the second clock signal. A pulse generating NAND circuit includes a first input connected to the first node and a second input connected to receive the first clock signal. The pulse generating NAND circuit is connected to transmit an output signal to a second node.
US08547776B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of N external ports, each of which receives commands, and an internal circuit which performs at least N access operations during a minimum interval of the commands that are input into one of the external ports.
US08547768B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a tag information register, a refresh control circuit and a DQ pin. The memory cell array includes multiple memory cells divided into first cells and second cells according to corresponding data retention times. The tag information register stores refresh cycle information for each wordline connected to the first cells and the second cells. The refresh control circuit is configured to generate a refresh enable signal and a refresh address based on the refresh cycle information. The DQ pin is configured to output the refresh enable signal, the refresh address and data stored in the memory cell array.
US08547762B2

A semiconductor memory apparatus including a repair circuit may comprise: a fuse set block configured to store a repair address, compare the repair address with an input address, and generate a primary repair signal; and a redundancy control block configured to receive the primary repair signal, determine whether a repair cell in a repair memory designated by the primary repair signal is failed or not, and generate a secondary repair signal which repair the failed repair cell with another repair cell in the repair memory.
US08547760B2

Memory access alignment in a double data rate (‘DDR’) system, including: executing, by a memory controller, one or more write operations to a predetermined address of a DDR memory module, including sending to the DDR memory module a predetermined amount of data of a predetermined pattern along with a data strobe signal; executing, by the memory controller, a plurality of read operations from the predetermined address of the DDR memory module, including capturing data transmitted from the DDR memory module; and determining, by the memory controller, a read adjust value and a write adjust value in dependence upon the data captured in response to the read operations.
US08547745B1

A mass storage device includes a storage media with magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices and a NAND flash interface and NAND flash memory devices that are coupled to the MRAM devices. The storage media has partitions (Logical Units (LUNs)) made of a combination of MRAM and NAND flash memory and further includes a controller with a host interface and a NAND flash interface coupled to the MRAM and NAND flash memory devices through a flash interface. A host is coupled to the controller through the host interface and the storage media communicates attributes to the host, an attribute being associated with one of the partitions, where the host uses the partition based on their attributes to optimize its performance.
US08547740B2

A method for operating a memory (28) that includes a plurality of analog memory cells (32) includes storing data in the memory by writing first storage values to the cells. Second storage values are read from the cells, and a Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the second storage values is estimated. The estimated CDF is processed so as to compute one or more thresholds. A memory access operation is performed on the cells using the one or more thresholds.
US08547730B1

The method and system for providing a spin tunneling element are disclosed. The method and system include depositing a pinned layer, a barrier layer, and a free layer. The barrier layer has a first crystal structure and a texture. The free layer includes a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic is adjacent to the second ferromagnetic layer and between the second ferromagnetic layer and the barrier layer. The first ferromagnetic layer has the first crystal structure and the texture, while the second ferromagnetic layer has a second crystal structure different from the first crystal structure.
US08547727B2

A memristive routing device includes a memristive matrix, mobile dopants moving with the memristive matrix in response to programming electrical fields and remaining stable within the memristive matrix in the absence of the programming electrical fields; and at least three electrodes surrounding the memristive matrix. A method for tuning electrical circuits with a memristive device includes measuring a circuit characteristic and applying a programming voltage to the memristive device which causes motion of dopants within the memristive device to alter the circuit characteristic. A method for increasing a switching speed of a memristive device includes drawing dopants from two geometrically separated locations into close proximity to form two conductive regions and then switching the memristive device to a conductive state by applying a programming voltage which rapidly merges the two conductive regions to form a conductive pathway between a source electrode and a drain electrode.
US08547720B2

A three-dimensional array of memory elements is formed across multiple layers of planes positioned at different distances above a semiconductor substrate. The memory elements reversibly change a level of electrical conductance in response to a voltage difference being applied across them. The three-dimensional array includes a two-dimensional array of pillar lines from the substrate through the multiple layers of planes. A first set of pillar lines acts as local bit lines for accessing the memory elements together with an array of word lines on each plane. A second set of pillar lines is connected to the word lines. An array of metal lines on the substrate is switchable connected to the pillar lines to provide access to the first and second sets of pillar lines, thereby to provide access respectively to the bit lines and word lines of the three-dimensional array.
US08547712B2

A power circuit is applicable to a Direct Current (DC) to DC converter. The power circuit includes a gate driver circuit and a High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT). The gate driver circuit functions as a Sigmoid (S) function and controls a gate and a source of the HEMT with a cross voltage of the sigmoid (S) type function. Accordingly, an overall characteristic curve of the HEMT and the gate driver circuit is like a characteristic curve of a single rectifier diode, so as to achieve a rectifying, freewheeling, or reversing effect. In addition, since an energy loss is low when the HEMT is conducted, the energy loss of the whole power circuit is much less than that of a conventional diode.
US08547710B2

An electromagnetically shielded power module and data center including such a module are disclosed. In one example, the electromagnetically shielded power module includes an electromagnetically shielded enclosure including a shell and at least one door, the enclosure surrounding and providing electromagnetic shielding for an interior volume. The electromagnetically shielded power module also includes a power delivery control module positioned within the interior volume and configured to monitor filtered power received into the interior volume of the electromagnetically shielded enclosure. The electromagnetically shielded power module further includes a plurality of power distribution units positioned within the interior volume and configured to receive filtered power from the power delivery control module and route power to one or more computing systems. The electromagnetically shielded power module also includes a stored energy system positioned within the interior volume and configured to deliver energy to the power distribution unit upon detection of an interruption of filtered power to the power delivery control module.
US08547707B2

An electronic device is disclosed for coupling to a target platform, which includes a multitude of pad contacts. The electronic device includes a substrate, a multitude of pad contacts on the substrate, and a multitude of contact regions in one of the of pad contacts on the substrate. Each of the multitude of pad contacts on the substrate electrically couples to a corresponding one of the multitude of pad contacts on the target platform when the substrate and the target platform are assembled. The multitude of contact regions corresponds to one of the multitude of pad contacts on the target platform when the substrate and the target platform are assembled.
US08547697B2

In a fixing structure of a circuit board to a cooler, the circuit board includes a wiring part, electronic parts electrically connected to the wiring part and an insulating base material embedding the wiring part and the electronic parts therein. The insulating base material includes embedding portions in which the electronic parts are embedded and a bent portion having flexibility between the embedding portions. The cooler has fixing parts arranged in a first direction. The circuit board is fixed to the cooler while bending the bent portion. The bent portion is opposed to an end portion of one of the fixing parts, and each of the embedding portions is held between adjacent two fixing parts such that opposite surfaces of the embedding portion are closely in contact with surfaces of the adjacent two fixing parts.
US08547691B2

A motherboard assembly includes a motherboard, a universal serial bus (USB) interface arranged on the motherboard. Also included is a USB device, a mounting seat and a cover. The USB device engages with the USB interface. The mounting seat is attached to the motherboard and enclosing the USB interface, and the cover is mounted to the mounting seat and resists against a top of the USB device to fasten the USB device to the USB interface.
US08547690B2

A retention device includes a holder and an extractable casing mounted to the holder. The retention device includes a base, a cover opposite to the base, and a lateral plate extending from the base and interconnecting the base and the cover. The base, the side plates, and the cover cooperatively define a rectangular first cavity with an opening at a lateral side. The casing and the holder cooperatively define a second cavity. A size of the second cavity is less than that of the first cavity.
US08547688B2

A resin overcap with an IC tag used as an overcap being on a metal cap and having an IC tag so that the transmission and reception of signals will not be disturbed by the metal cap, comprising a top panel and a cylindrical side wall hanging down from the circumferential edge of the top panel and in which the metal cap is fitted, wherein a step or a protrusion is formed on an upper portion on the inner surface of the cylindrical side wall to prevent the upward motion of the metal cap fitted in the cylindrical side wall, and an IC tag provided with an IC chip is mounted on the top panel to maintain a predetermined distance D to a top plate of the metal cap fitted into the cylindrical side wall.
US08547686B2

An electrical watthour meter socket includes a first sub-enclosure receiving high voltage components and a second sub-enclosure receiving lower voltage components. The first and second sub-enclosures are electrically isolated from each other access control components to allow independent access to lower voltage components in the second sub-enclosure without the use of personal protective equipment required for exposure to components carrying high voltage.
US08547685B2

A terminal box is provided with a plurality of terminal plates (10) electrically connected to a solar cell module, bypass diodes (20) each electrically connected to two corresponding ones of the respective terminal plates (10), and a housing (31) having the respective terminal plates (10) and bypass diodes (20) arranged inside. The respective terminal plates (10) and bypass diodes (20) are mold-covered by a resin portion (30), whereby the housing (31) is integrally formed. The resin portion (30) of the housing (31) includes a thinner portion (15) deposited and having an outer shape in conformity with that of the bypass diodes (20).
US08547675B2

A method of controlling a solid state power controller includes determining whether a voltage across a switch of the solid state power controller is within a predetermined voltage threshold. If the voltage is outside of the predetermined voltage threshold, the current is limited to a non-zero current. As result of this method a SSPC in Offstate stays off and a SSPC in Onstate stays on during lightning events.
US08547673B2

An electrical switching apparatus includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a neutral conductor, separable contacts electrically connected between the terminals, an operating mechanism to open and close the contacts, a fused varistor electrically connected between the first terminal and the neutral conductor; and a trip mechanism including a trip coil cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts. A second varistor is electrically connected in series with the trip coil between the first terminal and the neutral conductor. A thyristor is electrically connected in parallel with the second varistor. An overvoltage detection circuit is electrically interconnected with and causes the thyristor to energize the trip coil and cause the trip mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to overvoltage between the first terminal and the neutral conductor.
US08547670B2

According to one embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a power supply terminal, an output terminal, a high side output transistor including a first electrode connected to the power supply terminal, a second electrode connected to the output terminal, and a control electrode, a transistor which is connected between the control electrode and the second electrode of the high side output transistor and which short-circuits the control electrode and the second electrode in an on state, a trigger circuit connected between the power supply terminal and the control electrode of the transistor, and an Electro Static Discharge (ESD) protection circuit connected between the power supply terminal and the output terminal. When a voltage larger than a maximum rating voltage is applied to the power supply terminal, the trigger circuit operates, the transistor turns on, the high side output transistor turns off, and the ESD protection circuit operates.
US08547667B1

A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a seed layer and providing at least one adjustment layer on the seed layer. The method and system also include providing a hard bias structure on the at least one adjustment layer. The seed layer has a first template including a first template dimension and a first texture. The at least one adjustment layer has a second template including a second template dimension and a second texture. The hard bias structure has a third template including a third template dimension and a third texture. The second template is between the first template and the third template.
US08547649B2

A five-piece optical lens system is provided with, in order from the object side to the image side: a stop, a first lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a second lens element with a negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a third lens element with a positive refractive power having a convex image-side surface, one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric; a fourth lens element having a concave object-side surface, one of the object-side surface and an image-side surface being aspheric; a fifth lens element with a negative refractive power having a convex image-side surface, one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface being aspheric.
US08547648B2

A micro-lens module including a first lens, a second lens, and an aperture stop is provided. The first lens is disposed between an object side and an image side, wherein a first surface of the first lens facing the object side is an aspheric surface, and the curvature radius of the aspheric surface is R1. The second lens is disposed between the first lens and the image side, wherein a second surface of the second lens facing the image side is an aspheric surface, and the curvature radius of the aspheric surface is R2. The aperture stop is disposed between the first lens and the second lens, wherein the distance from the first surface to the aperture stop is d1, and the distance from the second surface to the aperture stop is d2. The micro-lens module satisfies 6>d2/d1>2.5 and −2.5
US08547644B2

A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power and which is provided at a location closest to an object side, a lens unit LP having a positive refractive power, which is provided at a location closest to an image side, and which is stationary during zooming, and a lens unit LN having a negative refractive power, which is provided adjacent to the lens unit LP on the object side of the lens unit LP, and which is configured to move during zooming. In the zoom lens, optical parameters fp, fn, fw, ft, fni and νdni are appropriately set.
US08547643B2

An optical element is disclosed. The optical element may include a container having a holding chamber, a polar or conductive first liquid filled in the holding chamber, a second liquid filled in the holding chamber and not mixing with the first liquid, first and second electrodes for applying an electric field to the first liquid, and voltage application means for applying voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08547641B2

In optical apparatus for illuminating a mask-plane with a line of light, a light source includes four fast-axis stacks of laser diode bars with fast and slow axis collimating arrangements providing four collimated beams of diode-laser light. A combination of a lens element and two diffraction gratings collects the four collimated beams and spreads the beams in the fast-axis direction such that the spread beams overlap in the mask plane to form a line of light having a length in the fast-axis-direction and a width in the slow-axis direction of the diode-laser bar stacks.
US08547633B2

An operating microscope has a main objective (1) that extends along an objective plane and is penetrated by a binocular main observer beam path and a binocular co-observer beam path. The binocular main observer beam path has two main observation pupils (3a, 3b) in the objective plane with centers on a first straight line (7). The binocular co-observer beam path has two co-observation pupils (5a, 5b) in the objective plane with centers on a second straight line (9). The first and second straight lines (7, 9) intersect. The co-observer beam path can be displaced with respect to the main observer beam path so that the angle between the second and first straight line (9, 7) changes. The center point (6) between the co-observation pupils (5a, 5b) in the objective plane displaces when there is a change in the angle between the second and first imagined straight lines (9, 7).
US08547632B2

An optical amplifier system includes a diode pump array including a plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars disposed in an array configuration and characterized by a periodic distance between adjacent semiconductor diode laser bars. The periodic distance is measured in a first direction perpendicular to each of the plurality of semiconductor diode laser bars. The diode pump array provides a pump output propagating along an optical path and characterized by a first intensity profile measured as a function of the first direction and having a variation greater than 10%. The optical amplifier system also includes a diffractive optic disposed along the optical path. The diffractive optic includes a photo-thermo-refractive glass member. The optical amplifier system further includes an amplifier slab having an input face and position along the optical path and separated from the diffractive optic by a predetermined distance. A second intensity profile measured at the input face of the amplifier slab as a function of the first direction has a variation less than 10%.
US08547631B2

It is desirable to provide a semiconductor optical amplifier from which it becomes able to obtain a higher output power. A semiconductor optical amplifier in comprises an active wave guiding layer which comprises a passive core region that is formed of a semiconductor, and active cladding regions that are located at both sides of the passive core region and each of that is comprised of an active layer which is formed of a semiconductor and which has an index of refraction to be lower than that of the passive core region, wherein a light is wave guided with being amplified in the active wave guiding layer. Moreover, it is desirable for the active wave guiding layer to be formed of a compound semiconductor, and to be formed by integrating the passive core region and the active cladding regions to be monolithic on to a substrate that is formed of a compound semiconductor by making use of a process of a butt joint growth.
US08547630B2

A manufacturing method for an optical semiconductor device, including disposing a semiconductor element that has a polarization dependent gain or polarization dependent loss between optical waveguide modes differing in the direction of polarization, positioning a lens at one end face side of the semiconductor element based on an optical coupling loss between the lens and the semiconductor element, and repositioning the lens based on the polarization dependent gain or the polarization dependent loss of the semiconductor element.
US08547625B2

Provided is a photochromic optical article including: (a) an optical substrate; (b) a thermally reversible photochromic material; and (c) reversible thermochromic material capable of at least partially filtering UV/visible light at or below room temperature and becoming less capable of filtering UV/visible light at temperatures greater than room temperature. The reversible thermochromic material (c) is operable for filtering light in the range of from 300 to 450 nanometers.
US08547622B2

Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements.
US08547621B2

A laser light source having a semiconductor laser light source which emits a laser beam, a laser medium excited by the semiconductor laser light source to emit light, two reflectors configured to work as a resonator to confine the light emitted by the laser medium, and a holder which holds the laser medium, wherein stress is generated in the laser medium formed of a ceramic material situated in the resonator so as to control a polarization direction of the light emitted by the laser medium.
US08547617B2

A component comprising a qubit and a controller for said qubit, said component comprising a quantum dot and an excitation portion configured to produce a neutral exciton state in said quantum dot to form said qubit, the component further comprising a measuring unit to make an optical measurement relating to the orientation of said state, wherein said controller comprises voltage source coupled to electrical contacts configured to apply a modulated electric field across said quantum dot, wherein the modulation is faster than the decay time of said neutral exciton state.
US08547613B2

What is disclosed is a novel system and method of inheriting intended GCR into a 4-to-4 cascaded LUT to compensate for print engine change which adversely impacts the quality of an output print. The present method uses the device link transform to generate starting LUT nodes for the inverse of the drifted printer model by inputting CMYK or RGB into the device link at a color space resolution sufficient to determine output nodes. Lab and CMYK values are derived from this process, and a “starting LUT” is created at the Lab destination nodes. An iterative control begins with this starting LUT to produce an inverse drifted printer model that contains a close approximation for the intended GCR. The present method captures the intent of the device link transform for a fleet and generates the cascaded LUT for drift, specific printer, side1/side2, and other modes leading to special GCRs.
US08547602B2

An image processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a storage unit for storing image data; a readout unit for reading out the image data from the storage unit, while dividing the image data into a plurality of image data; image processing units for respectively performing image processing on the image data read out by the readout unit; an image combining unit for combining the received image data after deleting an unnecessary pixel; a control unit for shifting the plurality of image data, instructing the readout unit to read out image data to include an overlapping region such that the plurality of image data partially overlap each other, and instructing the image combining unit to delete the unnecessary pixel according to the shift; and an output unit for outputting the image data combined by the image combining unit.
US08547595B2

A trapping determination process section calculates edge intensities in a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction of each pixel by using differential filters for each color plane. The trapping determination process section determines, for at least two color planes, whether there is a pixel where the absolute values of the edge intensities are equal to or greater than a threshold and the edge intensities take positive and negative values, respectively. When such a pixel exists, the trapping determination process section calculates color differences between this pixel and the average values of the pixel values in an increment direction region and a decrement direction region, and determines a direction in which the color difference is smaller to be a similar color direction. The trapping determination process section determines, on the basis of the similar color direction, whether or not to perform a trapping process, and performs the trapping process.
US08547593B2

A document reading device includes: a document image acquisition unit that reads a document and obtains a document image; a memory that holds the document image obtained by the document image acquisition unit; a determination unit that determines whether or not a size or orientation of the document, the image of which is obtained by the document image acquisition unit, matches a set parameter; and a setting change unit that, when it is determined that the size or orientation of the document does not match the set parameter, changes a setting of the parameter so as to match the size or orientation of the document.
US08547587B2

An image processing apparatus stores an input image and an image ID for identifying the image in association with each other, stores a medium ID for identifying a recording medium on which the image is printed n, a unit ID for identifying a print unit having a plurality of recording media, and an image ID of an image included in the print unit in association with each another, detects a plurality of medium IDs from at lease one recording medium, obtains image IDs of all images included in the print unit identified by the unit ID associated with the medium ID, obtains images associated with obtained image IDs, and outputs obtained images.
US08547586B2

A scanner device may create original data in an internal storage unit. The original data may include header information and actual image data representing a scan target object. The header information may include a first value as size information. The size information may indicate a size of image data corresponding to a scanning direction. In a case where the size of the actual image data is smaller than the first value, the original data may further include specific image data such that the size of entire image data including the actual image data and the specific image data is identical to the first value. The scanner device may calculate a digest value by utilizing the original data so as to create purpose data in an external storage unit by utilizing the original data and the digest value.
US08547585B2

An image reading apparatus includes: a sheet feeding device; a sheet feeding control section that controls transport of an original document performed by the sheet feeding device; a reading section that reads the original document so as to output image data; a reading control section that allows the reading section to perform the reading by repeatedly outputting a reading signal to the reading section; a buffer that temporarily stores the image data; and a monitoring section that monitors a volume of the image data stored in the buffer. When the monitoring section determines that the volume of the image data is less than a predetermined first threshold value, the sheet feeding control section accelerates the transport of the original document and maintains the transport at a predetermined speed, and the reading control section starts the output of the reading signal when the transport of the original document is started.
US08547576B2

A method and apparatus for a print spooler to control document and workflow transfer are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises receiving a request to print an electronic document from a print driver. The method may also comprise retrieving a workflow configuration utilizing a workflow print spooler, where the workflow print spooler provides pre-configured workflow configuration data for a corresponding workflow. In one embodiment, the method further comprises deploying the electronic document into the workflow based on the workflow configuration data.
US08547574B2

A technique for providing a first information processing apparatus configured to acquire first identification information as information for identifying the information processing apparatus, searching for a second information processing apparatus capable of wireless communication, acquiring a second identification information as information for identifying the second information processing apparatus that was found, comparing the first identification information and the second identification information, changing the first identification information when the first identification information and the second identification information are identical, and notifying when the first identification information is changed.
US08547550B2

A fluorescence-cued Raman identification system comprises a collection subsystem to collect samples, a reagent treatment subsystem to treat collected samples and a fluorescence imaging subsystem that automatically takes at least one image of the collected sample. The subsystems further include a Raman spectroscopy subsystem that measures the spectrum of viable organisms located from at least one collected image, a visible imaging microscope subsystem that provides a visual image of the particle analyzed by the Raman spectroscopy subsystem and a processor configured to perform image processing to locate viable organisms within the sample, which are targeted by the Raman spectroscopy subsystem. The processor further analyzes the spectrum recorded by the Raman spectroscopy subsystem to make a preliminary identification of the targeted organisms, which can be verified by an operator using the visible imaging microscope subsystem.
US08547542B2

A method for measuring focal distance of a thermal lens located in an analyte, the method including: providing an exciting optical beam passing through the analyte and creating the thermal lens therein; emitting a coherent probe optical beam passing through the analyte and being propagated substantially perpendicular to the exciting optical beam; intercepting the probe optical beam by a detector after passing through the analyte; focusing the probe optical beam upstream or downstream of the thermal lens such that only a fraction of the probe optical beam passes through the thermal lens; acquiring an interference image by the detector; and processing the interference image to calculate the focal distance of the thermal lens. Such a method may find application in physico-chemical analysis of the analyte.
US08547534B2

An FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensor is equipped with a plurality of stress detection sensors made up from optical fibers in which gratings that reflect light of a specified wavelength are arrayed, and a stress direction converter that converts stresses applied from the exterior into stresses of a direction in which the gratings are arrayed, and which transmits the stresses to each of the gratings. Consequently, the stress direction converter can transmit stresses, which are applied from a body, to a plurality of gratings.
US08547530B2

A detection system and method are disclosed for detecting a foreign object on a surface, such as an airport runway or a racetrack. The detection system includes a plurality of detectors mounted on the vehicle and capable of receiving light reflected from the object on the surface, and producing data that indicates the presence of said object as said vehicle moves along the surface; and a computer electrically coupled to each of the plurality of detectors, said computer being capable of processing said data and generating an alarm to alert an operator of said vehicle to a presence of said object. In low light conditions, the system may further include a plurality of light sources mounted on a vehicle and capable of illuminating at least one monitored area of the surface with light.
US08547529B2

An electronic countermeasures product includes flexible packaging of diodes that operate in the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to replace flares, lamps and directed lasers with an inexpensive easily deployed countermeasure systems.
US08547525B2

An EUV radiation generation apparatus includes an optical gain medium configured to produce laser radiation for interaction with a target material to produce an EUV radiation-emitting plasma, and a structure defining an aperture through which the laser radiation may pass. The structure includes a radiation guide having an outer surface constructed and arranged to guide the laser radiation away from the optical gain medium.
US08547523B2

A fluid handling structure has a plurality of openings acting as a meniscus pinning system operating on the gas drag principle and a gas knife outwardly of the meniscus pinning system to break-up any film of liquid left behind. The separation between the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system is selected from the range of 1 mm to 5 mm. Desirably the underside of a barrier member in which the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system are provided is continuous, e.g. has no openings, between the gas knife and the meniscus pinning system.
US08547521B1

The subject invention provides systems and methods that monitor and/or control turbulence of an immersion medium. The systems and methods relate to computer controlled techniques that reduce effects of immersion medium flow due to a liquid temperature gradient. According to an aspect of the subject invention, a number of temperature measurements of the immersion medium are obtained, and the temperature measurements are utilized to generate a gradient map of the immersion medium. By way of illustration, the temperature measurements can be made via wireless temperature sensors. The gradient map can be utilized to understand the stability of the immersion medium. According to an aspect of the subject invention, instability identified with the gradient map can be mitigated.
US08547514B2

Provided is a liquid crystal display device where source electrodes each of which includes an overlapping portion which is a portion overlapping a surface of a pixel electrode, video signal lines each of which is formed of a stacked portion constituted of the metal layer and the semiconductor layer, and drain electrodes each of which is formed of a stacked portion constituted of the metal layer and the semiconductor layer are formed, and opening portions each of which exposes a joining portion which is a portion leading to a surface of the pixel electrode from a surface of the source electrode via an edge portion of the overlapping portion are formed in a second insulation layer, and a conductive film which is formed into a common electrode is formed over the joining portion exposed by the opening portion.
US08547509B2

A transflective type LCD device and a method of fabricating the same are discussed. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the transflective type LCD device includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines formed on a first substrate to define at least one pixel region having a reflection area and a transmission area, a thin film transistor formed on a crossing point of the plurality of gate lines and the plurality of data lines, a first insulating layer formed on the first substrate including the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode formed on the first insulating layer and electrically connected with the thin film transistor, a second insulating layer formed corresponding to the reflection area on the pixel electrode and having a predetermined dielectric constant, and a reflection plate formed on the second insulating layer.
US08547496B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) including: a display panel; a backlight unit to radiate light to the display panel; a mold frame surrounding the backlight unit and supporting the display panel; a housing to receive the display panel, backlight unit, and mold frame; and a resin unit provided between the display panel and the housing. A receiving groove is formed below the resin unit, by sloped surfaces of the mold frame and side walls of the housing.
US08547494B2

A display device includes a substrate, a display region having a pixel switch, and a transparent common electrode, a peripheral region having a gate signal line connected to the pixel switch, and a common connection line connected to the transparent common electrode, an insulating layer, a conductive layer, a first semiconductor film disposed between the insulating layer and the conductive layer, and a second semiconductor film disposed between the insulating layer and the conductor layer and separated from the first semiconductor film. The conductor layer is connected to the gate signal line, and the gate signal line is arranged in the display region and the peripheral region. The common connection line is arranged in the peripheral region and is connected to the transparent common electrode in the peripheral region, and the transparent common electrode is arranged in the display region.
US08547491B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display with a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit includes two sub-pixels, and each sub-pixel includes a thin film transistor, a liquid crystal capacitor and a storage capacitor. One of the storage capacitors is a tunable capacitor. The tunable capacitor includes a first conductive layer, an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer with a area Asem, and a second metal layer. The second conductive layer has a first region with a area Acon overlapping with the semiconductor layer. The area Acon is less than the area Asem.
US08547490B2

A three-dimensional imaging device is provided which includes a display device and a viewing device. The display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a black absorbing layer and a cholesteric liquid crystal layer including a first levo-cholesteric liquid crystal layer and a first dextro-cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The viewing device includes a second levo-cholesteric liquid crystal layer and a second dextro-cholesteric liquid crystal layer. The first levo-cholesteric liquid crystal layer is made of a same material as the second levo-cholesteric liquid crystal layer, and the first dextro-cholesteric liquid crystal layer is made of a same material as the second dextro-cholesteric liquid crystal layer.
US08547485B2

Methods for channel scanning are provided. An embodiment of a method for channel scanning comprises scan progress information stored when interrupting a channel scanning process. A carrier RF subsequent to the most recently processed carrier RF is locked onto with reference to the stored scan progress information when resuming the interrupted channel scanning process. Channel information of a program carried by the locked carrier RF is acquired. The acquired channel information of the program is stored in a channel table.
US08547482B2

An embodiment may include a method or system for capturing still images from a video stream. The embodiment may operate in a playback mode and a capture mode. Operating in playback mode may include decoding and playing the input video stream at a first resolution. Operating in capture mode may include showing a still video frame from the input video stream while decoding and playing the input video stream at a second resolution. The embodiment may include a display, a control device, a video decoder, and a signal receiver. The embodiment may also include a buffer for storing decoded images for capture and display during video playback.
US08547477B2

Systems and methods using the same to achieve a precise timing of a camera shutter, which can be used also for a controllable aperture, are disclosed. A bidirectional linear motor having two coils driving the shutter blades can also be used as a position sensor. A movable iron is driven dependent upon currents through the coils and as the iron moves, the inductance of both coils changes. The difference of inductance of both coils indicates the actual position of the iron. Since the movable iron is mechanically connected to the entirety of shutter blades the difference of inductance indicates the actual position of the shutter blades. A read-out circuit senses the difference of inductance of both coils, which is indicating the actual position, and a control loop is comparing the inductance difference signal with a target signal in order to control the current through the coils in a way that the shutter blades are moved quickly to their target position.
US08547469B2

An electronic camera of the present invention includes: an imaging unit capturing a subject to generate an original image; a derivative image generating unit reducing resolution or color of the original image to generate a derivative image for transfer; a recording unit recording the original image and the derivative image thereon such that the original image and the derivative image get associated with each other; and a transfer unit transferring the derivative image recorded on the recording unit to an external transfer destination. In this configuration, the recording unit finds the derivative image (original image) by referring to the association with the original image (or derivative image), thereby collectively managing the original image and the derivative image. This makes it possible to prevent a user from being confused at image management due to the original image and the derivative image being the same image.
US08547465B2

An imaging device module includes an imaging device including a light incident plane on which light is incident, and a reverse face disposed on an opposite side of the light incident plane; and a thermal conductive sheet provided on the reverse face for dissipating heat generated from the imaging device.The thermal conductive sheet contains a plate-like boron nitride particle, and the thermal conductive sheet has a thermal conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of 4 W/m·K or more.
US08547464B2

The present invention relates to a solid-state imaging device, etc., having a structure which enables to obtain an image with higher resolution by correcting pixel data even when any one of row selecting wirings is disconnected. A solid-state imaging device (1) comprises a photodetecting section (10), a signal reading-out section (20), a controlling section (30), and a correction processing section (40). The photodetecting section (10) has M×N pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N two-dimensionally arrayed in M rows and N columns, and each of the pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N includes a photodiode which generates charges of an amount corresponding to an incident light intensity and a reading-out switch connected to the photodiode. Charges generated in each of the pixel portions P1,1 to PM,N are inputted into an integrating circuit Sn through a reading-out wiring LO,n. A voltage value outputted from the integrating circuit Sn corresponding to the amount of inputted charges is outputted to an output wiring Lout through a holding circuit Hn. The correction processing section (40) applies correction processing to frame data repeatedly outputted from the signal reading-out section (20), and then outputs the frame data after correction processing.
US08547461B2

An analog-to-digital converter includes a comparison signal generation unit and a control unit. The comparison signal generation unit determines a logic level of a comparison signal by comparing an input signal with a selected reference signal based on a switch control signal in a first comparison mode, and by comparing a difference voltage with a ramp signal based on the switch control signal in a second comparison mode. The difference voltage is generated based on the input signal and the selected reference signal such that a level of the difference voltage is lower than a fine voltage level corresponding to a voltage level of the selected reference signal in the second comparison mode. The control unit generates the switch control signal based on the comparison signal and a mode selection signal.
US08547457B2

Techniques are generally described for an image capture system that may include an image sensor, a flash for providing illumination, a data storage, and a processor operatively associated with the data storage. The processor may be adapted to execute computer implemented instructions to pre-store one or more image capture device characteristics in the data storage, acquire data in a pre-capture phase, model shadow effects based on either or both of the pre-stored data and the acquired data, modify one or more image capture device settings based on the modeled shadow effects, and record image data with the image sensor. Illumination may be provided substantially coincident with recording of the image data.
US08547449B2

An image processing apparatus to be employed at an imaging device. An image acquisition section acquires data of an image. An input operation receiving section receives an operation for selection of an image region of the image data acquired by the image acquisition section. An image quality processing choosing section chooses image quality processing to be applied to the image data acquired by the image acquisition section in accordance with the image region received by the input operation receiving section. An image quality processing information presentation section presents information relating to the image quality processing chosen by the image quality processing decision section.
US08547444B2

Imaging apparatus (26) is provided for use with an image sensor (24). The apparatus includes a non-linear mapping circuit (42), which is configured to receive a raw stream of input pixel values generated by the image sensor and to perform a non-linear mapping of the input pixel values. to generate a mapped stream of mapped pixel values, and a linear convolution filter (44), which is arranged to filter the mapped stream of mapped pixel values to generate a filtered stream of filtered pixel values. Other embodiments are also described.
US08547443B2

High dynamic range imaging includes creating a high dynamic range image file for a subject image captured from a first angle. The high dynamic range image file is created by an image capturing device and is stored on the image capturing device. High dynamic range imaging also includes receiving, at the image capturing device over a communications network, a second high dynamic range image file for the subject image captured from a second angle. The second high dynamic range image file is subject to an authorization requirement. High dynamic range imaging further includes creating, by the image capturing device, a composite high dynamic range image file by combining elements of both of the high dynamic range image files, and generating, by the first image capturing device, a three-dimensional high dynamic range image from the composite high dynamic range image file.
US08547442B2

A method and apparatus for motion blur and ghosting prevention in imaging system is presented. A residue image is computed by performing spatial-temporal filter with a set of absolute image difference of image pairs from input images. A noise adaptive pixel threshold is computed for every pixel based on noise statistics of image sensor. The residue image and the noise adaptive pixel threshold are used to create a motion masking map. The motion masking map is used to represent motion and non-motion pixels in pixels merging. The pixels merging step is performed to generate an output image by considering the motion pixels where the motion pixels are performed separately. The resulting output image having no or less motion blur and ghosting artifacts can be obtained, even the input images having different degree of motion blur between each of the image, while the complexity is low. It is preferred that the current invention is applied in the Bayer raw domain. The benefit is reduced computation and memory because only 1 color component is processed for each pixel. Another benefit is higher signal fidelity because processing in the Bayer raw domain is unaffected by demosaicing artifacts, especially along edges. However, the current invention can also be applied in RGB domain.
US08547423B2

An imaging system and method of application, including lens designs tailored to be used with particular transformation algorithms, electronic hardware and algorithms for image transformations is described. Exemplary application of the system including automotive, photographic and medical endoscopic are also described. The system enables improved image view and allows customization of views by the end user even after installation of the image system hardware.
US08547422B2

A display apparatus for projecting images towards eyes of at least one viewer selectively when said eyes are spaced horizontally within a viewing field, said apparatus comprising: transmitting means for transmitting light; image generation means for generating different images, the image generation means being capable of generating image parts in a plurality of different vertical image areas; and light configuration means for configuring said transmitted light to provide a plurality of sets of vertical light configurations, the different configurations in each set being selectable to provide different emergent light characteristics for a vertical image area which is common to each configuration in a set and which is different for each set, whereby said different images are projected by said apparatus to coincide with one or more eyes selected from the eyes of each of the one or more viewers, and not one or more other eyes of the viewers.
US08547416B2

A signal processing apparatus processing a video signal and an audio signal in synchronization with the video signal includes generating means for generating information indicating a probability of a certain subject appearing in the image on the basis of the video signal that is input; determining means for determining whether the certain subject appears in the image on the basis of the information generated by the generating means; and directional characteristic varying means for, if the determining means determines that the certain subject appears in the image, varying a directional characteristic of the audio signal so as to increase the level of the audio signal collected from the direction of the subject and/or to decrease the levels of the audio signals collected from directions other than the direction of the subject.
US08547415B2

A method, device, and computer-readable medium for establishing simultaneous incoming connections from at least two remote video conferencing endpoints using a video conferencing device in a circuit switched network, the video conference device receiving calls on a first protocol layer from the at least two remote video conferencing endpoints.
US08547411B2

An exposure device includes: a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements are mounted; an optical system that converges light irradiated from the light emitting elements onto a photosensitive surface; a holding member that holds and fixes the substrate; a support member that supports the optical system and the holding member; a first adhesive member that is provided between the substrate and the holding member; and a second adhesive member that is provided between the holding member and the support member, wherein the first adhesive member has higher elongation and lower hardness than the second adhesive member.
US08547409B2

A light emission control device images an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive element by a plurality of light emitting elements corresponding to a line in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction which is a rotational direction the photosensitive element. The light emission control device includes: a detecting unit that detects a rotational position of the photosensitive element, in the first direction, corresponding to a line in the second direction; an acquiring unit that acquires a distance between the light emitting elements and the rotational position of the photosensitive element in the first direction detected by the detecting unit; and a control unit that controls light emission by the light emitting elements according to the distance acquired by the acquiring unit and corrects a fluctuation in a density of a visible image converted from the electrostatic latent image.
US08547406B2

Display element with at least one color-generating cell of the first type which has an emissive light source, and with at least one color-generating cell of the second type which has a reflective and/or transmissive and/or transflective light source, whereby each cell of the second type can be driven so that it makes visible one of the chromatic colors red, green, blue, magenta, cyan and yellow and the achromatic colors white and black, to compensate at least partly for the absence of the color impression created by at least one color-generating cell of the first type on account of the ambient light of the display element.
US08547403B1

A method for receiving, via a computer, a selection of a drawing line is provided. The drawing line has a first end point and a second end point. The drawing line is displayed in a display area of a display device. The computer receives a selection of a change to the first end point and the second end point. The drawing line and a line end tool are then redisplayed in the display area of the display device based on an orientation of the drawing line.
US08547401B2

A portable device configured to provide an augmented reality experience is provided. The portable device has a display screen configured to display a real world scene. The device includes an image capture device associated with the display screen. The image capture device is configured to capture image data representing the real world scene. The device includes image recognition logic configured to analyze the image data representing the real world scene. Image generation logic responsive to the image recognition logic is included. The image generation logic is configured to incorporate an additional image into the real world scene. A computer readable medium and a system providing an augmented reality environment are also provided.
US08547391B2

A signal adapting chromacity system to control that may include a signal conversion engine to receive a source signal designating a color of light defined by a two spatial plus luminance dimensional color space, such as the xxY color space. The signal conversion engine may convert the source signal to a three dimensional color space defined within a subset gamut of a full color gamut, such as an RGW, RBW, or GBW color space. The subset gamut may include a first color light, a second color light and a high efficacy light. The signal conversion engine may perform a conversion operation to convert the source signal to an output signal, using the output signal to drive light emitting diodes (LEDs). The conversion operation may be a matrix, angular or linear conversion operation.
US08547384B2

Methods and apparatus for storing and retrieving data in parallel but in different orders. In one implementation, data for pixels is stored according to a checkerboard pattern, alternately between two memory devices, forming a checkerboard buffer. In one implementation, a checkerboard buffer includes: a data source, providing data in a first order; a data destination, receiving data in a second order; at least two memory devices, each memory device having a plurality of memory locations, where data is stored in parallel to the memory devices and retrieved in parallel from the memory devices; a first data switch connected to the data source and each of the memory devices, where the first data switch controls which data is stored to which memory device; and a second data switch connected to the data destination and each of the memory devices, where the second data switch controls providing data to the data destination according to the second order.
US08547381B2

A first user's avatar in a virtual world environment may be controlled by using a virtual world application enabling access to a virtual world environment within which the first user has an avatar associated with the first user. A virtual world location corresponding to the first avatar is identified. At least one second avatar proximate to the virtual world location is identified. Filtering information is accessed. Profile information related to the second avatar is accessed. Filtering information is compared to the accessed profile information. Based on the comparison results, a metric related to the second avatar is determined. The metric is related to a threshold. It is determined whether relating the metric to the threshold supports enabling communications between the first and second avatars, and if so, communications to be exchanged between the first and second avatars are enabled.
US08547380B2

Avatar data is stored in a management application. The management application sends an immersion request to the application. The management application identifies the avatar data fields used by the application, and any appropriate scaling and avatar transformation. The management application scales the data appropriately, transforms the avatar if necessary, and transmits the (scaled and transformed) avatar data to the application. When the avatar is to be removed from the application, the application transmits the avatar data back to the management application, which integrates any changes to the avatar data into the original avatar data.
US08547371B2

Prior to increasing the voltage level of an input signal to be sampled in a step-by-step manner and writing a signal voltage Vsig at a desired voltage level, a precharge is performed which writes a precharge voltage Vpre, lower than the signal voltage Vsig, so as to apply the same voltage Vpre to the gate of a drive transistor in advance. This not only provides a reduced gate-to-source voltage of the drive transistor at the time of writing of the signal voltage Vsig but also extends a mobility correction time required for a mobility correction operation. The extension of the mobility correction time required for the mobility correction operation ensures a relatively smaller variation in the correction time, thus suppressing the variation in brightness. The extension also permits a write pulse to be set to the optimal pulse width.
US08547357B2

A portable game machine with a display which also serves as a touch panel type input portion is comprised of means for detecting a contact between a finger of a player and a screen, means for computing a coordinate position of the finger on the screen, means for computing and determining the coordinate position where the object to be displayed on the display is displayed so as to separate a predetermined distance from the coordinate position of the finger and to create a gap between the object displayed on the display and a periphery of the finger contacted with the screen, and object display means for displaying the object at the computed and determined coordinate position on the display.
US08547355B2

A video player for a portable multifunction device is disclosed. In some embodiments, a list of video items is displayed in a portrait orientation of a touch screen display of a portable electronic device. Upon user selection of a respective video item in the list, the user selected video item is automatically displayed in a landscape orientation of the touch screen display.
US08547351B2

A touch sensor device 1 includes a touch sensor 11; an average value calculating means 12 for calculating the average value of output voltages sent out from an output section 111 of the touch sensor 11; a threshold value calculating means 13 for calculating a threshold value based on the average value; and a comparing/determining means 14 for comparing the output voltage with the threshold value and, when determining that the output voltage exceeds the threshold value, outputting a determination signal.
US08547339B2

A touch sensitive display assembly includes a touch screen and a button array. The touch screen is configured to display one or more input keys. The button array includes one or more buttons corresponding to the one or more input keys. The button array is formed by a substrate attached to a button membrane thereby creating a set of button cavities corresponding to the input keys. The button cavities are configured to be inflated and deflated by a pump coupled to a fluid reservoir. The cavities can be inflated/deflated together, in subsets, and/or individually. In some embodiments, the button array is sandwiched between a touch sensing layer and a display of the touch screen. In other embodiments, the button array can be located either above or below the touch screen.
US08547336B1

An optical navigation system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes: (i) generating for a first group of photosensitive elements a first quasi-sinusoidal signal at a first time, and a second quasi-sinusoidal signal at a second time in response to motion of light received thereon in a first direction; (ii) computing from the first and second quasi-sinusoidal signals a phase angle change; and (iii) computing from the first and second quasi-sinusoidal signals a radius value. Other embodiments are also described.
US08547331B2

An interactive graphical user interface includes a moveable pointer, which may be activated to select points of a computer-generated thermal image of an object, as the pointer is moved over a display of the image, so that line temperature profiles, which correspond to predetermined lines extending through the selected points, may be viewed, for example, on a line temperature profile chart of the interface, for each selected point as the pointer is moved. Each predetermined line extends between the corresponding selected point and another, predetermined, point of the image. The other predetermined point may either coincide with an origin of an x-axis or a y-axis of an orthogonal coordinate system, in which the image is aligned, or may be any other point of the thermal image, for example, one that is pre-selected by a user, with the moveable pointer.
US08547326B2

The present disclosure describes a handheld electronic device having a gesture-based control and a method of using the same. In one embodiment, there is provided a method of controlling a handheld electronic device, comprising: receiving a motion signal as input from a motion detection subsystem in response to a movement of the device; determining from the motion signal a cadence parameter associated with the movement of the electronic device; determining whether the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to a cadence reference level; performing a first command when the cadence parameter is greater than or equal to the cadence reference level; and performing a second command is performed when the cadence parameter is less than the cadence reference level.
US08547322B2

An electronic device, such as personal computer, incorporating a liquid crystal panel which uses LEDs as an illuminating light source for a liquid crystal panel to reduce power consumption and size of the electronic device. When 3-color LED lamps 13R, 13G, 13B of the LED light source 12 are lit, red, green and blue rays emitted from respective LED lamps enter the scatterplate 11 where they are scattered and mixed to produce white light LW which goes out from the entire surface of the scatterplate 11 to illuminate the entire rear surface of the transmission type liquid crystal panel 10. The white light LW that has entered the liquid crystal panel 10 is modulated according to the alignment of the liquid crystal material and passes through the color filters of the counter substrate. The user can view the transmitted light LT from the liquid crystal panel 10 as a color image.
US08547321B2

A method and apparatus for providing a LED backlight to a LCD display screen is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: N LED strings, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to two; a first circuit operable to synchronize a LED clock signal to a LCD timing signal; and a second circuit operable to generate N PWM drive signals synchronized with the LED clock signal, wherein the N PWM drive signals are phase offset from each other by a multiple of 360/N degrees and used to drive respective ones of the N LED strings.
US08547317B2

Provided are a phase-locked loop (PLL) receiving an input clock and generating a clock, a display using the PLL, and a method for a timing controller to generate a clock using the PLL. The display includes a timing controller configured to generate a first clock using a PLL, insert the first clock into data, and transmit the data into which the first clock is inserted, transmission lines configured to transfer the data into which the first clock is inserted, and data-driver integrated circuits (ICs) configured to receive the data into which the first clock is inserted, separate the first clock from the data, and drive data lines of a liquid crystal panel on the basis of the first clock and the data. The PLL includes a phase detector configured to generate a DC error corresponding to a phase difference between an input clock and the first clock, a plurality of voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs), a VCO selector configured to select a VCO having a frequency operating range, which is a range from the highest oscillation frequency of the VCO to the lowest oscillation frequency, including a frequency of the first clock from among the plurality of VCOs with reference to the DC error, and an inductor/capacitor (LC) resonant circuit connected with the selected VCO, including a plurality of fixed capacitors, and configured to perform coarse frequency tuning of the selected VCO.
US08547312B2

A display apparatus includes a driving circuit portion driving a display panel portion, in which the driving circuit portion and a power unit which supplies electric power to the driving circuit portion are arranged on the back surface side, a case housing both the driving circuit portion and the power unit with the display panel portion, a partitioning wall portion which divides a housing space of the case, a gap which is formed between the display panel portion and the partitioning wall portion, and a cooling fan which leads outside air into the gap and which is arranged on the partitioning wall portion. The driving circuit portion and the power unit are arranged on an opposite side of the partitioning wall portion against the gap. The gap is shrunk along a direction from downside to upside of the display panel portion.
US08547310B2

Provided are a liquid crystal display device capable of improving motion image quality and a method for driving the same. The liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an input unit, an overdriving compensation unit, a selection unit, and a data selection control unit. The input unit supplies pixel data to a pixel of a liquid crystal panel. The overdriving compensation unit outputs overdriving compensation pixel data using the pixel data input from the input unit. The selection unit selects one of the pixel data input from the input unit and the overdriving compensation data input from the overdriving compensation unit. The data selection control unit detects whether the pixel data input from the input unit is motion image data to control the selection unit.
US08547303B2

The present invention relates to an active matrix OLED (Organic Light Emitting Display) device. It comprises a matrix of luminous elements associated to different color components (red, green, blue). According to the invention, the connection of the row driver and/or data driver to the luminous elements of the matrix is modified. Each output of the row driver is connected to luminous element associated to a same color component (red or green or blue).
US08547301B2

A light emitting display apparatus, capable of protecting light emitting elements by preventing overcurrent from flowing into the elements, and a method of driving the light emitting display apparatus are disclosed. In one embodiment, the light emitting display apparatus comprises a pixel portion comprising a plurality of pixels for emitting light in response to a data signal and a scan signal, a data driver for generating and transmitting the data signal to the pixel portion; a scan driver for generating and transmitting the scan signal to the pixel portion, a timing controller for controlling the data driver and the scan driver, and a controller for detecting a current flowing through each of the pixels and blocking light emission of the pixel portion in case that the detected current is greater than a predetermined value.
US08547292B2

A communication device with an embedded antenna includes a printed circuit board and an embedded antenna including at least one radiating unit, at least one feeding unit, where each feeding unit is coupled to a corresponding one of the at least one radiating unit and the printed circuit board, and a connecting unit coupled to the at least one radiating unit including a first connecting portion and a second connecting portion. The connecting unit and the at least one radiating unit form a loop structure such that the embedded antenna is capable of covering one side of the printed circuit board.
US08547287B2

Provided is a circuit for an electronic device having a non-planar transparent resonator. The transparent resonator is mounted on said circuit so as to at least partially occupy a footprint of another component of the circuit. The transparent resonator forms part of a light pathway on said circuit for transmitting light to or from said another component. Also provided is a transparent dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) for optical applications. Since the DRA is transparent, it can let light pass through itself and, thus, the light can be utilized by an optical part of a system or device. The transparent DRA can be placed on top of a solar cell. Since the DRA does not block the light, the light can reach the solar cell panel and power can be generated for the system or device. The system or device so obtained is very compact because no extra footprint is needed within the system or device for the DRA. It finds application in compact wireless applications that need a self-sustaining power device.
US08547284B2

A radiated power detection apparatus including a reception antenna and a probe in a Fresnel zone determines a measurement parameter of a wireless communication device and coincides central points of an antenna that is included in the wireless communication device, the reception antenna, and the probe. Next, the radiated power detection apparatus measures the magnitude of an electric field corresponding to at least one measurement point while transferring the reception antenna and the probe according to a measurement parameter, calculates the magnitude of a maximum electric field in a far-field using the magnitude of an electric field, and thus detects radiated power of the wireless communication device based on the magnitude of a maximum electric field.
US08547279B2

Provided are a device and a method that can classify an incoming wave and can correctly distinguish the position of an originating device, even in a multipath environment. A principal vertically polarized wave arrival direction sensing unit (104-1) and a principal horizontally polarized wave arrival direction sensing unit (104-2) respectively sense the arrival direction of a principal wave by sensing the arrival direction in which the maximum reception level is obtained. An incoming wave classifying decision unit (108) determines that a direct wave has arrived when the difference between the principal wave arrival direction sensed by the principal vertically polarized wave arrival direction sensing unit (104-1) and the principal wave arrival direction sensed by the principal horizontally polarized wave arrival direction sensing unit (104-2) is within a prescribed threshold value, and determines that a direct wave has not arrived when the difference is greater than the threshold value.
US08547276B2

A positioning method whereby inertial positioning data is calculated based upon measurements of an Inertial Navigation System. Virtual satellite ranging data is then generated based upon the inertial positioning data. The virtual satellite ranging data is then combined with received satellite ranging data from one or more satellites forming part of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). A GNSS positioning solution is then calculated based upon the combined received satellite ranging data and the virtual satellite ranging data.
US08547267B2

A hysteretic digital filter includes a first multi-bit flip-flop having an input for receiving a series of multi-bit sigma-delta ADC codes, a clock input for receiving a clock signal and an output; a second multi-bit flip-flop having an input coupled to the output of the first multi-bit flip-flop, an output for providing an output code of the digital filter, and an input for receiving a latch control signal, the second multi-bit flip-flop latching its input to its output under control of the latch control signal; and a control circuit. The control circuit is configured to selectively provide the latch control signal to trigger latching by the second multi-bit flip-flop dependent on a running comparison of the output code of the digital filter and the value of individual ones of the multi-bit sigma-delta ADC codes from the series of multi-bit sigma-delta ADC codes.
US08547260B2

Compressive sensing is an emerging field that attempts to prevent the losses associated with data compression and improve efficiency overall, and compressive sensing looks to perform the compression before or during capture, before energy is wasted. Here, a reconstruction algorithm is proposed for a compressive sensing successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Accordingly, an analog signal is converted to a first digital signal at a sampling frequency that is less than a Nyquist frequency for the analog signal, and a second digital signal is constructed from the first digital signal with a box constrained linear optimization process such that the second digital signal is approximately equal to an analog-to-digital conversion of the analog signal at the Nyquist frequency for the analog signal.
US08547259B1

One or more techniques for buffer offset modulation or buffer offset cancelling are provided herein. In an embodiment, an output for a sigma-delta analog digital converter (ADC) is provided using an output of a first chop-able buffer (FB) and an output of a second chop-able buffer (SB). For example, the output of the FB is associated with a first offset, the output of the SB is associated with a second offset, and the output of the ADC includes an ADC offset associated with the first offset and the second offset. In an embodiment, buffer offset modulation is provided by modulating the ADC offset using an offset rotation. In an example, the offset rotation is based at least in part on a reference clock and the output of the ADC. The buffer offset modulation mitigates the first offset or the second offset, where such offsets are generally undesired.
US08547248B2

The present invention provides implantable systems that communicate wirelessly with each other using a unique format that enables devices configurations and applications heretofore not possible. Embodiments of the present invention provide communication apparatuses and methods for exchanging information with implantable medical devices. In some embodiments, two implantable devices communicate with each other using quasi-electrostatic signal transmission in a long wavelength/low frequency electromagnetic band, with the patient's body acting as a conductive medium.
US08547241B2

An alarm unit for signaling impending overflow of a urine or ostomy (waste) bag includes an external magnet held at the end of an arm. An internal ferrous armature attracts the magnet which provides flux holding a switch element open when the magnet provides at least a predetermined flux to the switch. A clamp allows the user to fasten the unit to an edge of the waste bag with the bag walls between the magnet and the armature. When the bag contents reach the magnet, fluid force of the bag contents separates the magnet and the armature, causing the switch element to close and conduct power from a power supply to a signal element. The arm may be flexible. The switch element preferably comprises a reed switch controlling an electronic power switch.
US08547239B2

A fluid medicament delivery device includes a patient attachment unit, containing the fluid medicament, and an indicator unit adapted to be detachably coupled to the patient attachment unit. A method for monitoring the fluid medicament includes independently setting a flow rate of a fluid medicament with the patient attachment unit. A pressure and/or a flow rate of the fluid medicament is sensed with a sensor located in a separate indicator unit in a sensing mode. A status of the fluid medicament delivery device is determined based at least in part on the pressure and/or the flow rate.
US08547230B1

An identification system and method comprising attaching an identification tag to an inside surface of a shipping container port cover and communicating data from the tag via electromagnetic radiation.
US08547226B2

A temperature monitoring service in which remote monitoring units are distributed to customers who then set up monitoring as desired at their facilities. The devices may be registered through a web site using the Internet. Monitoring information may be communicated using a publicly available, wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network. The service may be provided with a system, including a server, which can deliver high levels of monitoring functionality. The server may support streaming monitoring information to a customer for analysis or sending a command activating a device connected to a remote unit. Remote units associated with the same location may be in a pool, comprising one active unit and one or more spare units, in which the server automatically identifies the active unit. The server may support analyzing monitoring information according to an expected cycle pattern of a ventilation system at the monitored facility.
US08547218B2

To provide a vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle, which can output notification sound for notifying a walker or the like of approach of an electric motorcycle with an appropriate sound volume. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus for an electric motorcycle includes a speaker for generating notification sound equivalent to engine sound of an engine driven motorcycle of a vehicle category that is the same as a vehicle category of the electric motorcycle in response to a motor speed of an electric motor or a vehicle speed. The vehicle approach notification control apparatus includes a pseudo engine sound volume storage device configured to store sound volume data of engine sound with respect to the entire running sound upon running of the engine driven vehicle, and a control unit for controlling the notification sound.
US08547210B2

The shift position display device includes a control section configured to automatically shift a shift position by operating actuators based on a shift change command. A gear position display section is configured to display a condition of an automatic transmission based on the display command of the control section. A failure detection unit is configured to detect a failure of the automatic transmission. The control section is configured to switch display of the gear position display section from a lighting display of a numerical figure to a display for failure occurrence notification. The control section is also configured to determine whether the failure is a failure in which traveling is possible or a failure in which traveling is possible when a predetermined limitation is met. The control section is also configured to switch from the display for failure occurrence notification to a shift position.
US08547198B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor ceramic composition for NTC thermistors, which has low dependency on firing temperatures, reduced variations in the resistance values after a resistance-adjusting operation, and reduced changes in resistance in high-temperature environments. The semiconductor ceramic composition contains Mn, Ni and Fe, wherein the molar ratios of Mn and Ni are in ranges of 70 to 80 mol % and 20 to 30 mol %, respectively, relative to the total content (100 mol %) of Mn and Ni, and the Fe content is in a range of 15 parts by mole to 25 parts by mole, both inclusive, relative to the total molar amount (100 parts by mole) of Mn and Ni. Preferably, Co is additionally present in an amount of 2 parts by mole to 40 parts by mole, both inclusive, relative to the total molar amount (100 parts by mole) of Mn and Ni.
US08547197B2

A bend-detecting (bending) sensor is provided, including a flexible substrate, at least a pair of electrode patterns spaced apart from each other provided on the flexible substrate, and a paste layer containing conductive particles. The paste layer is coated onto the flexible substrate where the electrode patterns are formed, such that when the flexible substrate is bent, the density of the conductive particles between the electrode patterns changes and an electric resistance between the electrode patterns also changes, thereby sensing deformation of the flexible substrate, and eventually, a target to which the flexible display element or the flexible substrate is attached. When the bending sensor is applied to the flexible display device, the electrode patterns and the paste layer may be formed on the flexible substrate which is to form the flexible display element, thus forming a bending sensing structure with a thickness of the flexible display element or less.
US08547194B2

An inductance module includes a base holder and an inductance element. The inductance element is installed on a bottom base of the base holder and then a coil of the inductance element is electrically connected to the conductive pins of the bottom base. A positioning element of the base holder is fabricated on the bottom base to fix the inductance element and then the bottom base is installed in an opening of a circuit board, thus reducing the height of installing the inductance module on the circuit board after fabricating the base holder and the circuit board. The positioning element is designed like a barb to increase strength of fabricating the positioning element on the bottom base instead of using an adhesive, thus reducing working hours and simplifying working process.
US08547190B2

At least one embodiment of the invention relates to a tripping apparatus, particularly for circuit breakers, which includes at least one controllable tripping magnet having an armature that is operatively connected to a downstream tripping gear, which engages in a tripping mechanism that acts on the circuit breaker and is coupled to a preloaded spring serving as a force amplifier. According to at least one embodiment of the invention, the tripping mechanism includes a camshaft having a plurality of cam lobes, wherein at least one actuating device is associated with each cam lobe having an offset rotational angle, and wherein, when tripped, at least two actuating processes associated with the respective actuating means take place consecutively, so that the full spring force is transmitted by way of the camshaft to at least one of said actuating means so as to perform the relevant actuating process.
US08547182B2

Provided is an oven controlled crystal oscillator which can reduce an occurrence of cracks in an applied solder of a large-sized circuit component and improve reliability. It is an oven controlled crystal oscillator in which a slit is formed in a periphery or below a lower surface of a large-sized circuit component provided on the substrate, further, a plurality of small-sized circuit components, which are smaller than the large-sized circuit component, are disposed around the large-sized circuit component, as necessary, and for the plurality of small-sized circuit components, an electronic component, which is electrically connected, and a dummy electronic component, which is not electrically connected, are used.
US08547167B2

A die including a first set of power tiles arranged in a first array and having a first voltage; a second set of power tiles arranged in a second array offset from the first array and having a second voltage; a set of power mesh segments enclosed by the second set of power tiles and having the first voltage; a first power rail passing underneath the set of power mesh segments and the first set of power tiles; and a set of vias operatively connecting the power rail with the set of power mesh segments and the first plurality of power tiles.
US08547161B1

Embodiments of a circuit, which includes a device and a switch, which is electrically coupled to the device, to control power applied to the device, are described. This switch includes a control terminal, which controls the switch, and two other terminals, which can receive power to be applied to the device. Moreover, the circuit is configured to apply a voltage to the control terminal to ensure the switch remains open when a supply voltage is applied to one of the two other terminals while powering-up the circuit, thereby preventing spurious application of the supply voltage to the device.
US08547159B2

Apparatus and methods for a switch circuit to provide a substantially constant gate-to source voltage to a passgate are provided. In an example, a switch circuit includes a summing circuit having an output configured to couple to the gate of a passgate, the summing circuit can be configured to maintain a substantially constant voltage between the gate and the source of the pass gate.
US08547154B2

A method and device for generating a waveform according to programmable duty cycle control bits from a divided frequency reference signal. The device may include: a timing circuit that inputs a CLOCK signal having a 50% duty cycle to a divider, whose output varies over a plurality of divide-by-n settings; and a waveform generator. The waveform generator may, after a last low clock pulse is counted for a current evaluative cycle and before a beginning of a next evaluative cycle, shift a prior duty cycle waveform by ½ of a CLOCK cycle, to provide an incremented duty cycle for the waveform. Alternatively, the waveform generator may increment a gating signal from an adder, which determines an onset of an inoperative or low portion of the programmed duty cycle.
US08547150B2

A phase-locked loop with two negative feedback loops including: a phase frequency detector which includes phase difference between the input clock and the feedback clock in a frequency-phase-locked loop and outputting up or down signals based on the phase difference; a charge pump outputting the current proportional to the up and down signals outputted from the phase frequency detector; a loop filter outputting the voltage by filtering the current outputted from the charge pump; a voltage controlled oscillator outputting the frequency based on the voltage outputted from the loop filter; a divider dividing the frequency outputted from the voltage controlled oscillator and feedbacking to the phase frequency detector; a frequency-voltage converter generating the voltage corresponding to the frequency outputted from the voltage controlled oscillator, and suppressing noise of the voltage controlled oscillator by feedbacking the generated voltage to the voltage controlled oscillator.
US08547148B2

A digital compensation phase locked loop circuit of a semiconductor device includes a phase locked loop circuit including a voltage controlled oscillator having capacitors at oscillation nodes and consecutively controlled by an applied voltage, and a digital compensation circuit which variably controls the capacitors at the oscillation nodes of the voltage controlled oscillator in accordance with an input phase difference. A gain of the conventional voltage controlled oscillator whose gain is determined by an applied voltage is discretely changed by a control signal of the digital compensation circuit. The digital compensation circuit dynamically controls the gain so as to secure the optimum phase margin by applying a load (capacitor) to the oscillation node of the voltage controlled oscillator with respect to a phase lead and decreasing the load (capacitor) with respect to a phase delay.
US08547146B1

In one embodiment, a circuit is provided. The circuit includes a load configured to receive power through a power path. The circuit also includes a current monitor configured to sense a current draw on the power path. A switch on the power path is coupled in series between the load and a power rail, and a control circuit is coupled to the current monitor. The control circuit is configured to set the switch to a non-conducting state and to send a reset signal to the load if the current monitor senses an overcurrent on the power path.
US08547137B2

An integrated circuit device includes: a plurality of I/O cells coupled to an external apparatus; a control signal generator configured to detect a phase relationship among data signals respectively input into the plurality of I/O cells and to generate control signals based on the phase relationship; and a drive controller circuit configured to control the driving of the I/O cells in response to the control signals.
US08547135B1

A self-modulated voltage reference circuit may generate a reference voltage by receiving an internal reference voltage of a programmable device at a first input of a comparator block of the programmable device, receiving a feedback voltage at a second input of the comparator block, generating a pulse density modulated (PDM) signal based on a difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage, outputting the PDM signal at a digital output pin of the programmable device, and filtering the PDM signal to generate the output reference voltage.
US08547133B2

In a semiconductor device, a selector selects a different reference voltage depending on whether the impedance of a transmitter or of a receiver is to be adjusted, and causes a reference voltage generator to generate the selected reference voltage. The reference voltage generator generates the reference voltage selected by the selector and applies the generated reference voltage to an impedance adjuster. The impedance adjuster adjusts the impedance of the transmitter and the impedance of the receiver, separately from each other, in accordance with the input reference voltage.
US08547127B2

There is provided a probe block comprising a probe including first contact portions, second contact portions, and beams connecting the first contact portion to the second contact portion and a guide where the probe is inserted and supported, wherein the probe block is installed in a probe card for inspecting a semiconductor chip.
US08547124B2

A DUT is connected to an I/O terminal. An AC test unit performs an AC test operation for the DUT. A DC test unit performs a DC test operation for the DUT. An optical semiconductor switch is arranged such that a first terminal thereof is connected to the AC test unit and a second terminal thereof is connected to the I/O terminal. The optical semiconductor switch 10 is configured to be capable of switching states, according to control signals input to control terminals, between a connection state in which the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other, and a disconnection state in which they are disconnected from each other. A first impedance circuit is arranged on a signal line for the control signal to be input to the positive-electrode control terminal. Furthermore, a second impedance circuit is arranged on a signal line for the control signal to be input to the negative-electrode control terminal.
US08547111B2

An active-matrix device is provided which includes a plurality of array element circuits arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of source addressing lines each shared between the array element circuits in corresponding same columns; a plurality of gate addressing lines each shared between the array element circuits in corresponding same rows; a plurality of sensor row select lines each shared between the array element circuits in corresponding same rows, wherein each of the plurality of array element circuits includes: an array element which is controlled by application of a drive voltage by a drive element; writing circuitry for writing the drive voltage to the drive element, the writing circuitry being coupled to a corresponding source addressing line and gate addressing line among the plurality of source addressing lines and gate addressing lines; and sense circuitry for sensing an impedance presented at the drive element, the sense circuitry being coupled to a corresponding sensor row select line; and a row driver and a column driver.
US08547107B2

A startup self-diagnostic apparatus for an electrical storage system including an electrical storage device, a charge and discharge switch device disposed to be connected to the electrical storage device, an electrical storage device breaker disposed between the electrical storage device and the charge and discharge switch device, and a load side breaker disposed between the charge and discharge switch device and an external load comprises a state monitoring unit for the electrical storage device breaker, a state monitoring unit for the load side breaker, a converter diagnosing unit, a switching device diagnosing unit, and an electrical storage device monitoring unit, for diagnosing peripheral diagnostic items which may be diagnosed without using the electrical storage device.
US08547105B2

A system for detecting a location of fault in a cable includes a cable transmitting a fault current a current transforming unit connected to the cable and receiving the fault current and detecting an original signal of fault current, a detecting unit detecting a first detail signal and a second detail signal from the original signal of fault current where both signals being detail components in a high frequency band, a comparing unit comparing the first detail signal with a preset reference value and determining a fault in the cable, and a signal filtering unit generating a first filtering signal and a second filtering signal by use of the first detail signal and the second detail signal and outputting a fault detection signal based on a result of comparing the both signals.
US08547102B2

In a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus according to an embodiment, a transmitting coil applies a radio-frequency magnetic field to a subject placed in a static magnetic field. A receiving coil receives a magnetic resonance signal emitted from the subject owing to an application of the radio-frequency magnetic field. A balun is connected to the receiving coil, and suppresses an unbalanced current induced in the receiving coil. An overheat protection circuit indicates that the balun is abnormal when a temperature of the balun exceeds a temperature threshold. An imaging control unit stops imaging when the overheat protection circuit indicates an abnormality of the balun.
US08547097B2

In a device and a method to determine SAR for a magnetic resonance tomography transmission system with multiple antenna elements, a single-column cross-correlation matrix of an antenna element matrix of antenna element values of multiple antenna elements of the magnetic resonance tomography transmission system is determined for each of multiple points in time or time periods. These single-column cross-correlation matrices are added into a sum cross-correlation matrix over a summation time period and the sum cross-correlation matrix is multiplied with a hotspot sensitivity matrix. The hotspot sensitivity matrix represents the sensitivities in at least one direction at a number of hotspot points in a subject located in the magnetic resonance tomography transmission system. The product of the sum cross-correlation matrix and the hotspot sensitivity matrix is multiplied with a value representing the dielectricity at least one hotspot point in order to determine a respective SAR value for hotspot points. If at least one SAR value exceeds a predetermined upper limit, the voltage applied to at least one antenna element or the current flowing in at least one antenna element is reduced or deactivated.
US08547083B2

An apparatus (2;3;4;5) for determination of the axial position of the armature (11) of a linear motor comprises at least one pair of magnetically permeable, annular elements (12;20,21;30,31,34,35;40,41,44,45;48;50,51), which are arranged essentially coaxially and at a short distance (dr;db) from one another, such that an air gap (22;32,36;42,46) is formed between them, in which a magnetic field sensor (23;33,37;43,47;Si) for measurement of the magnetic field (B) in the air gap is arranged.
US08547079B2

Provided is a voltage regulator capable of enabling overcurrent protection in a state in which an output current is large even if an input/output voltage difference is small, without waiting until the output voltage decreases. A sense current that a sense transistor flows is detected by a differential amplifier circuit, and hence, in the state in which the input/output voltage difference is small and the output current is large, the overcurrent protection can be enabled even when the output voltage does not decrease. Further, a good fold-back characteristic can be obtained.
US08547065B2

Apparatus for a modular battery management system with interchangeable slave modules connected to each cell and including a master module controlling and managing the battery system. All the modules receive power through a transfer switch that selectively switches between an external source, an auxiliary source, and the battery. The modules are configured to connect to a cell of the battery for charging and monitoring the cell individually. Each module is electrically isolated from the other modules. The modules are autonomous and shut down the battery and disconnect the module when a critical parameter of the cell is reached. When the battery is in service and a cell parameter approaches the critical level, the master controller instructs the corresponding slave module to charge the cell using battery power. The master module initializes the slave modules to uniquely identify the modules.
US08547064B2

A battery cell tab monitoring apparatus includes a conductive element electrically connected between two battery cells. The conductive element is connected to a sensing circuit including a pull-down current source connected to pull current from the conductive element and/or a pull-up current source connected to drive current into the conductive element. A voltage measuring circuit is connected to sense voltages during operation of the pull-down current source and the pull-up current source to be used to determine the status of the conductive element. For instance, voltages beyond certain fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is flexing or cracking, which can be a precursor to its breaking. Voltages beyond other fixed or variable thresholds indicate that the conductive element is fully disconnected. The current sources used to push and pull the sensing currents may be used to bring the battery cells into balance when an imbalance is detected.
US08547063B2

A power supply system for an electronic device which includes a power source, a docking mechanism configured to dock a first electronic device, a docking connector configured to provide power from the power source to the first electronic device when it is docked to the docking mechanism, and a power output port configured to provide power from the power source to a second electronic device without having the second electronic device docked.
US08547062B2

This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for indicating battery cell status on a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide methods for indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of a battery assembly pack both when the battery is in use and when the battery is not in use during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments utilize power from the ventilator as well as power from the battery pack itself to light the indicators during periods of battery use and non-use, respectively. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus indicating battery cell status on the exposed exterior of the battery pack assembly during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein further seek to provide an apparatus for a battery pack assembly used during mechanical ventilation. Embodiments described herein seek to provide a system for a ventilation system with an inserted battery pack assembly.
US08547059B2

A battery charging connector lock structure that locks a power feeding connector to a receptacle of a power receiving connector. The connector lock structure includes a restriction member that moves between a lock position, in which the restriction member restricts movement of a hook of the power feeding connector to prohibit removal of the power feeding connector from the receptacle, and an unlock position, in which the restriction member releases the hook to permit removal of the power receiving connector. The restriction member includes an extension. A stopper is coupled to the extension of the restriction member and moves the restriction member to the lock position or the unlock position. A drive source moves the stopper to move the restriction member to the lock position. An urging member is arranged on the extension of the restriction member to move the restriction member to the lock position.
US08547054B2

Provided is a technology where a voltage capable of driving a mobile device, to which a power supply apparatus is connected, is automatically detected. The power supply apparatus, for supplying power to the device connected, includes a power supply, a voltage conversion unit which varies a voltage inputted from the power supply to a predetermined voltage and outputs the varied voltage to the device, an ammeter which measures an output current value of the power supply apparatus, and a control unit which controls the voltage varied by the voltage conversion unit. The control unit boosts the voltage outputted from the power supply in stages and detects, by detecting a change in the output current value, that the output voltage of the power supply apparatus boosted by the voltage conversion unit has reached a voltage capable of driving the device.
US08547053B2

An alternating current chopper circuit with low noise is disclosed. The circuit includes a switching circuit, a first freewheel circuit, and a second freewheel circuit. The switching circuit has a control switching unit, which turns on and or off accordingly to a control signal. The first freewheel circuit and the second freewheel circuit are for providing a current-conducting path to the motor, when the control switching unit is turned off.
US08547052B2

A driving control apparatus includes an inverter circuit, a motor driving circuit and a motor control unit. In performing overlap energization, at a start time of an overlap time period, a pulse width of a first PWM signal at an energization side is widened to increase a number of pulses of a second PWM signal accordingly, and a first PWM signal at an energization side corresponding to a constant voltage side is also widened.
US08547048B2

A drive signal generating unit generates a drive signal used to alternately deliver a positive current and a negative current to a coil with a nonconducting period inserted between conducting periods. A driver unit generates a drive current in response to the drive signal generated by the drive signal generating unit and supplies the drive current to a coil. The drive signal generating unit estimates the eigen frequency of a linear vibration motor based on a detected position of the zero cross occurring in the coil during the nonconducting period, and the frequency of the drive signal is brought close to the estimated eigen frequency. The zero-cross detecting unit sets a detection window for avoiding the detection of zero cross of voltages other than the induced voltage. The zero-cross detecting unit enables a zero cross detected within the detection window and disables a zero cross detected outside the detection window.
US08547047B2

In a method and device for monitoring a movement-controlled machine, such as a manipulator, having an electronically commutated drive motor for which a commutation angle is provided based on its detected real position and a control variable, in particular a predetermined desired position, a limit value is determined for a rate of change in particular a time derivative of the real position of the drive motor, and the commutation angle is predetermined such that the rate of change of the commutation angle does not exceed a limit value.
US08547045B2

A temperature estimation module estimates a change in temperature of the magnets associated with the rotor of the motor based on an operational magnetic flux strength that is compared to a reference magnetic flux strength determined at a known ambient temperature and for a predetermined operating range of the motor The temperature estimation module or the system establishes a relationship between the estimated change in the temperature and a magnetic torque component of a target output torque of the motor consistent with the predetermined operating range. The current adjustment module or the system adjusts a command (e.g., quadrature-axis current command) for the motor to compensate for shaft torque variation associated with the estimated change in the temperature in conformance with the established relationship.
US08547043B2

A motor control device detecting short-circuit and disconnection faults of a power relay includes: a drive circuit of a motor; the power relay having first and second switching elements; a capacitor; a voltage detector detecting a voltage of the first switching element; a charger charging the capacitor; and a controller detects a short-circuit fault of the first and second switching elements according to the detection voltage when the first and second switching elements turn off after the charger charges the capacitor, detects a disconnection fault of the second switching element according to the detection voltage when the first switching element turns off, and the second switching element turns on and detects a disconnection fault of the first switching element according to the detected voltage when the first switching element turns on, and the second switching element turns off.
US08547039B2

An actuator is provided with a conductive polymer film portion, an electrode, and an electrolyte portion, and by detecting a waveform of a current that flows upon application of a voltage between the conductive polymer film portion and the electrode, a displacement amount of the actuator is detected so that based on the displacement amount thus detected, a voltage is applied to the conductive polymer film portion so that the displacement amount of the actuator is adjusted.
US08547035B2

A dimmer adaptable to either two (H, DH) or three (H, N, DH) active wires includes a first full-wave rectifier (D1, D2, D3, D4) across an AC power hot (H) terminal and a dimmer hot (DH) terminal and a second full-wave rectifier (D1, D4, D5, D6) across the AC power hot (H) terminal and an AC power neutral (N) terminal. The dimmer operates in a two-wire configuration by drawing power through a load when a control circuit is not conducting or in a three-wire configuration, when the AC power neutral (N) terminal is connected, by drawing power from AC power hot (H) and AC power neutral (N) terminals. The dimmer operates according to a first set of preset dim levels when current is flowing through the first rectifier and according to a second set of preset dim levels when current is flowing through the second rectifier.
US08547029B2

A ballast for dimming a lamp is provided. The ballast includes an inverter circuit for providing a lamp current for energizing the lamp and a dim interface for receiving an input indicative of a selected lighting level. A control circuit is connected to the dim interface for generating a pulse-width-modulated signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the selected lighting level. A switching network is connected to the control circuit for receiving the pulse-width-modulated signal. The switching network operates between a conductive state and a non-conductive state as a function of the pulse-width-modulated signal. An impedance device is connected across the switching network and is configured for connecting in series with the lamp so that the impedance device receives the lamp current when the switching network is operating in the non-conductive state and the lamp current bypasses the capacitor when the switching network is operating in the conductive state.
US08547027B2

An object of the invention is to provide an LED drive circuit that can suppress the generation of harmonic noise. The LED drive circuit includes a rectifying circuit an LED array, and a current supply circuit which includes a capacitor and a time constant adjusting element, wherein the discharge time constant of the current supply circuit is set longer than the charge time constant of the current supply circuit, and wherein during a period of time when the magnitude of AC commercial power supply voltage is larger than the light emission threshold of the LED array, current to the light-emitting circuit is supplied mostly from the rectifying circuit, and during a period of time when the magnitude of AC commercial power supply voltage is not larger than the light emission threshold of the LED array, current to the light-emitting circuit is supplied from the current supply circuit.
US08547026B2

The present invention provides a display device and an LED backlight driving circuit thereof. The LED backlight driving circuit includes a plurality of LED light strings connected in parallel; a switch module including switches; a power module, and a switching control module. The switching control module includes: a driving unit connected to the switches; a current detection unit connected to the switches; an ON time detection unit connected to the driving unit; a reference unit, the reference unit supplying a reference value; multipliers, each of which has two input terminals respectively connected to the ON time detection unit and the current detection unit to receive a ON time value of a corresponding one of the switches and a voltage signal indicating the current of the switch; and comparison units, each of which has two input terminals respectively connected to the reference unit and an output terminal of a corresponding one of the multipliers. Each of the comparison units has an output terminal connected to the driving unit. The driving unit controls the ON time of the switch corresponding to the comparison unit according to an output result of the comparison unit.
US08547023B2

A light emitting diode (LED) light source module includes a circuit substrate, a driving IC electrically coupled to the circuit substrate and having at least one input terminal and an output terminal, an LED coupled onto the circuit substrate and electrically coupled to an output terminal of the driving IC, and a packaging layer, having a transparent structure shaped by a colloidal solidification, such that the transparent structure is covered outside the driving IC and LED, and the LED light source module covers the driving IC and LED by the transparent structure of the packaging layer, and serves as a light source module of a lamp directly without the need of installing another driving IC to the lamp, and promotes its extensive use in LED lamps.
US08547016B2

As an aspect of an embodiment, an electric discharge lamp unit includes a casing which houses an integrated circuit for lighting an electric discharge lamp, and a support member which supports the electric discharge lamp and is integrated with the casing. The casing is filled with filler. The center of the support member in the vertical direction is higher than the center of the casing in the vertical direction and the center of the integrated circuit in the vertical direction.
US08547011B2

A layered product comprising: sealing film comprising a laminate of at least one organic film and at least one inorganic film, and transparent resin substrate; in which the organic film is made from fluorine compound or alicyclic structure containing polymer and metallic simple substance or metallic compound as raw material, and in which the inorganic film is made from metallic simple substance or metallic compound as raw material. A luminescence device comprising: substrate, and lower electrode layer, luminescent-material layer, upper electrode layer and sealing film which are laminated in turn on the substrate; in which the substrate and the sealing layer comprises the layered product.
US08547008B2

The present invention discloses a display panel 10 having a substrate 12 with one or more surfaces and one or more features 30 within the substrate 12. When one or more surfaces of the substrate 12 are illuminated, the features 30 redirect the illumination to form an image.
US08547005B1

The electron emission portion of a cathode for an electron gun has layers of substrate material formed from a ceramic powder such as Aluminum nitride. The substrate layers have conductive traces formed on them, the conductive traces made from sintered tungsten or alternatively a refractory foil. When current is passed through the conductive traces, heat is coupled to a cathode which is thermally coupled to the heater assembly. In another embodiment of the invention, one of the layers of the heater includes a thermionic emission material and optionally a work function lowering material such as BaO, which allows the outer layer of the multi-layer heater to directly emit electrons. In another embodiment of the invention, a control grid is formed on a layer above the thermionic cathode layer, which provides for a complete electron gun assembly having a heater, cathode with a reduced work function material, and control grid to be fabricated as a single unit at the same time.
US08547003B2

A heat-dissipating module includes a plurality of cooling fins arranged radially, spaced apart from each other, and connected annularly in a manner that a hollow core is formed centrally in the heat-dissipating module. The cooling fins each bend at a preset position thereof and in a first direction, such that the cooling fins each include a first flap and a second flap. The first flap and the second flap together form a preset included angle therebetween.
US08547001B2

To provide a piezoelectric ceramic containing BiFeO3 having a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form, which is suited for the domain engineering, the piezoelectric ceramic includes a perovskite-type metal oxide represented by the following general formula (1), and has a {110} plane orientation in a pseudo-cubic form: xBiFeO3-(1−x)ABO3  General Formula (1) where A and B each represent one kind or more of metal ions; A represents a metal ion having a valence of 1, 2 or 3; and B represents a metal ion having a valence of 3, 4, or 5, provided that x is within a range of 0.3≦x≦1.
US08546986B2

A stator connector has an annular carrier structure adapted to be superposed on and fixed to the central annular portion of the stator and manufactured from an electrically insulating plastic overmolded onto a group of N conducting members which are separated from each other and electrically insulated by said plastic and having a generally arcuate shape. The conducting members have respective first projections extending out of the annular carrier structure. These first projections are adapted to be connected, in particular by soldering or welding, to terminals or ends of coils of the stator. Each conducting member further has at least one additional connection projection extending out of the annular carrier structure to form phase terminals for the stator.
US08546984B2

A pump motor assembly operable to provide driving power to a fluid pump includes a rotor, a stator, a case housing the rotor and the stator, and a control assembly mounted to the case and operable to control motor operation. The control assembly includes an information display and a cover overlying the display, with a window section in general alignment with the display. The control assembly also includes a filler plate underlying the window section to prevent any air gap along an underside thereof, allowing the display to be visible while reducing the risk of condensation buildup. The control assembly further includes a low voltage housing with the display disposed in a first compartment defined thereby, and a high voltage housing with a high voltage component disposed in a second compartment defined thereby. The low voltage housing includes a thermal and fluid barrier that substantially fluidly separates the first and second compartments to reduce the risk of liquid electrical conduction therebetween and to reduce heat transfer into the low voltage housing.
US08546971B2

An apparatus for generating electricity from wind power includes a turbine, a generator connected with the turbine and generating electricity in response to rotation of the turbine's impeller around a substantially upright axis under an action of wind, a wind guiding device guiding wind substantially upwardly toward the turbine, wherein the wind guiding device has a guiding element which is inclined relative to a vertical plane so as to direct the wind toward the turbine.
US08546959B2

Disclosed is a granular resin composition for encapsulating a semiconductor used for a semiconductor device obtained by encapsulating a semiconductor element by compression molding, satisfying the following requirements (a) to (c) on condition that ion viscosity is measured with a dielectric analyzer under a measurement temperature of 175° C. and a measurement frequency of 100 10 Hz: (a) the time from the initiation of the measurement until a decrease of the ion viscosity to the lowest ion viscosity is 20 seconds or shorter; (b) the lowest ion viscosity value is not more than 6.5; and (c) the time interval between the time from the initiation of the measurement until a decrease of the ion viscosity to the lowest ion viscosity and the time from the initiation of the measurement until the ion viscosity reaching 90% of an ion viscosity value measured at 300 seconds is 10 seconds or longer.
US08546958B2

The present invention provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet for protecting a semiconductor wafer, which does not cause curve (warpage) in the semiconductor wafer, when the semiconductor wafer is ground, is excellent in followability to a pattern, has adequate stress dispersibility in a grinding operation, suppresses the crack in a wafer and chipping in a wafer edge, and does not leave a residue of a tackiness agent on the surface of the wafer. The protective sheet has one face having tackiness, does not have an interface existing between a substrate and the tackiness agent and is made of one layer, and the pressure-sensitive adhesive sheet has different tack strengths on both faces from each other.
US08546946B2

A chip stack package is provided. The chip stack package includes an n number of chips stacked on each other and an n number of interconnection strands connecting the chips. The interconnection strands are spirally rotated and insulated from each other. In one embodiment, the chips are substantially structurally identical. In another embodiment, each of the interconnection strands is electrically coupled to a chip selection signal.
US08546943B2

Provided is a ball grid array substrate, a semiconductor chip package, and a method of manufacturing the same. The ball grid array substrate includes an insulating layer having a first surface providing a mounting region for a semiconductor chip, a second surface opposing the first surface, and an opening connecting the second surface with the mounting region of the semiconductor chip, and a circuit pattern buried in the second surface. Since the ball grid array substrate is manufactured by a method of stacking two insulating layers, existing devices can be used, and the ball grid array substrate can be manufactured as an ultra thin plate. In addition, since the circuit pattern is buried in the insulating layer, a high-density circuit pattern can be formed.
US08546936B2

A substrate surface of a semiconductor package, comprising: a plurality of product forming areas to provide mounting spaces of semiconductor chips. The substrate surface also comprises a plurality of staggered offset mesh block areas surrounding the plurality of product forming areas. The plurality of staggered offset mesh block areas minimize mold bleeding from a mold cavity of the semiconductor package to outer areas of the substrate surface.
US08546933B2

A semiconductor apparatus according to aspects of the invention can include a metal base; resin case having a bonding plane facing metal base; a coating groove formed in bonding plane and holding adhesive for bonding resin case to metal base at a predetermined position, with the top plane of the wall that forms coating groove being spaced apart from the plane which contains bonding plane such that an escape space is formed between the metal base and the resin case; the escape space receiving the excess amount of adhesive which has flowed out from the coating groove; and a receiver groove communicating to the escape space and receiving securely the excess amount of adhesive which the escape space has failed to receive. If an excess amount of adhesive too much for the receiver groove to receive is coated, the excess amount of adhesive can be received in a stopper groove.
US08546927B2

An RFIC module includes an RFIC chip that is mounted on a mounting substrate and that is encapsulated with an encapsulation resin layer. The mounting substrate includes a flexible base and electrodes provided on the flexible base. External terminals are disposed near four corners of a mounting surface of the RFIC chip. One of a plurality of mounting lands located on the surface of the flexible base is a shared mounting land and defines an integrated mounting land that is shared by an RF terminal and an NC terminal of the RFIC chip. The shared mounting land is arranged to cover one side of the RFIC chip when viewed from above.
US08546917B2

A semiconductor structure and a manufacturing method and an operating method for the same are provided. The semiconductor structure comprises a first well region, a second well region, a first doped region, a second doped region, an anode, and a cathode. The second well region is adjacent to the first well region. The first doped region is on the second well region. The second doped region is on the first well region. The anode is coupled to the first doped region and the second well region. The cathode is coupled to the first well region and the second doped region. The first well region and the first doped region have a first conductivity type. The second well region and the second doped region have a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type.
US08546911B2

A small high frequency device that is able to inhibit generation of an eddy current and a parasitic capacity and shows superior high frequency characteristics is provided. The high frequency device includes: a substrate having a depression; a dielectric layer over the substrate; and a plurality of electronic devices which are provided in the dielectric layer or on the dielectric layer, and at least one of which is opposed to the depression.
US08546907B2

An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; a depletion region in the semiconductor substrate; and a deep well region substantially enclosed by the depletion region. The deep well region is of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, and includes a first portion directly over the deep well region and a second portion directly under the deep well region. A transmission line is directly over the depletion region.
US08546900B2

A microelectronic assembly for packaging/encapsulating IC devices, which includes a crystalline substrate handler having opposing first and second surfaces and a cavity formed into the first surface, a first IC device disposed in the cavity and a second IC device mounted to the second surface, and a plurality of interconnects formed through the crystalline substrate handler. Each of the interconnects includes a hole formed through the crystalline substrate handler from the first surface to the second surface, a compliant dielectric material disposed along the hole's sidewall, and a conductive material disposed along the compliant dielectric material and extending between the first and second surfaces. The compliant dielectric material insulates the conductive material from the sidewall. The second IC device, which can be an image sensor, is electrically coupled to the conductive materials of the plurality of interconnects. The first IC can be a processor for processing the signals from the image sensor.
US08546899B2

A light receiving element includes a waveguide that includes a waveguide core, a multi-mode interference waveguide that has a width larger than a width of the waveguide, the multi-mode interference waveguide receiving a first light from the waveguide core at a first end, and a photodetection portion that includes a first semiconductor layer and an absorption layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, the first semiconductor layer including at least one layer and receiving a second light from the multi-mode interference waveguide at a second end, the absorption layer being disposed above the first semiconductor layer and absorbing the second light. A distance from the first end of the multi-mode interference waveguide to the second end of the photodetection portion is longer than 70% of a first length and shorter than 100% of the first length, the first length being a length where self-imaging occurs in the multi-mode interference waveguide.
US08546898B2

An optoelectronic memory cell has a transparent top electrode, a photoactive layer, a latching layer, and a bottom electrode. The photoactive layer absorbs photons transmitted through the top electrode and generates charge carriers. During light exposure, the latching layer changes its resistance under an applied electric field in response to the generation of charge carriers in the photoactive layer.
US08546888B2

Methods and apparatus are provided. An isolation region is formed by lining a trench formed in a substrate with a first dielectric layer by forming the first dielectric layer adjoining exposed substrate surfaces within the trench using a high-density plasma process, forming a layer of spin-on dielectric material on the first dielectric layer so as to fill a remaining portion of the trench, and densifying the layer of spin-on dielectric material.
US08546879B2

The present disclosure discloses a lateral DMOS with recessed source contact and method for making the same. The lateral DMOS comprises a recessed source contact which has a portion recessed into a source region to reach a body region of the lateral DMOS. The lateral DMOS according to various embodiments of the present invention may have greatly reduced size and may be cost saving for fabrication.
US08546878B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type and a semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type formed thereon. The semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type is characterized by a first thickness. The semiconductor device includes a set of trenches having a predetermined depth and extending into the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type, thereby defining interfacial regions disposed between the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type and each of the trenches. The trenches comprises a distal portion consisting essentially of a dielectric material disposed therein and a proximal portion comprising the dielectric material and a gate material disposed interior to the dielectric material in the proximal portion of the trench. The semiconductor device further includes a source region coupled to the semiconductor layer of the second conductivity type.
US08546873B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit structure comprising the steps of forming a first and second device region on a surface of a wafer, forming a spacer of a first width on a sidewall of a first gate stack in the first device region, forming a spacer of a second width on a sidewall of a second gate stack in the second device region, with the first width being different from the second width.
US08546861B2

Provided are a resistance change memory device with a three-dimensional structure, a resistance change memory device array, an electronic product, and a manufacturing method therefor. The device array includes a plurality of first directional data lines which are arranged on a substrate in parallel. A conductive pillar is positioned between sidewalls of the first directional data lines, which face each other. A resistance change material film is positioned between the sidewall of the conductive pillar and the sidewall of the data lines that are adjacent to the sidewall of the conductive pillar.
US08546858B2

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: forming a recess on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first gate electrode material and a hard mask layer on an entire surface including the recess; etching the hard mask layer and the first gate electrode material to form the first gate electrode pattern on a lower portion of inside of the recess; forming a second gate electrode material on an entire surface including the recess; and etching the second gate electrode material and separating the second gate electrode material.
US08546855B2

Shallow trench isolation silicon-on-insulator (SOI) devices are formed with improved charge protection. Embodiments include an SOI film diode and a P+ substrate junction as a charging protection device. Embodiments also include a conductive path from the SOI transistor drain, through a conductive contact, a metal line, a second conductive contact, an SOI diode, isolated from the transistor, a third conductive contact, a second conductive line, and a fourth conductive contact to a P+-doped substrate contact in the bulk silicon layer of the SOI substrate.
US08546851B2

In addition to a memory macro region and functional circuit regions on a substrate, a semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a dummy pattern region 40 arranged between the functional circuit regions and between the memory macro region 10 and the functional circuit regions and including a dummy pattern. The dummy pattern has a pattern identical to that of diffusion layers and gate electrodes of a memory cell pattern in a memory cell array region. An area ratio of dummy diffusion layer(s) and dummy gate electrode(s) in the dummy pattern region is equal to or greater than that of the diffusion layers and the gate electrode(s) in the memory cell array region.
US08546846B2

A nitride semiconductor light emitting device includes n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers; an active layer disposed between the n-type and p-type nitride semiconductor layers and having a structure in which a plurality of quantum barrier layers and one or more quantum well layers are alternately stacked; and an electron blocking layer disposed between the active layer and the p-type nitride semiconductor layer. The electron blocking layer has a superlattice structure in which two or more layers having different compositions are alternately stacked. An absolute value of a net polarization mismatch between a material, the material having a composition corresponding to an average composition of the superlattice structure, and a quantum barrier layer adjacent to the electron blocking layer among the plurality of quantum barrier layers is less than ⅔ of an absolute value of a net polarization mismatch between AlxG1-xN(0
US08546825B2

A light emitting device is provided which can prevent a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes and at the same time can prevent the aperture ratio from lowering. A capacitor storage is formed from a connection wiring line, an insulating film, and a capacitance wiring line. The connection wiring line is formed over a gate electrode and an active layer of a TFT of a pixel, and is connected to the active layer. The insulating film is formed on the connection wiring line. The capacitance wiring line is formed on the insulating film. This structure enables the capacitor storage to overlap the TFT, thereby increasing the capacity of the capacitor storage while keeping the aperture ratio from lowering. Accordingly, a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes can be avoided to prevent a change in luminance of an OLED and flickering of screen in analog driving.
US08546821B2

A display device includes an array of light emitting cells. Banks define each of the light emitting cells. The light emitting cells include a first light emitting cell that is located in a central region of the array and a second light emitting cell that is located in a peripheral region of the array. First and third banks border the first light emitting cell with the first bank being closer to a periphery of the array than the second bank. Second and fourth banks border the second light emitting cell with the third bank being closer to the periphery of the array than the fourth bank. An inclination angle of an innermost sidewall of the third bank that is adjacent the second light emitting cell is different than an inclination angle of an innermost sidewall of the first bank that is adjacent the first light emitting cell.
US08546818B2

Techniques for controlling current flow in semiconductor devices, such as LEDs are provided. For some embodiments, a current-guiding structure may be provided including adjacent high and low contact areas. For some embodiments, a second current path (in addition to a current path between an n-contact pad and a substrate) may be provided. For some embodiments, both a current-guiding structure and second current path may be provided.
US08546817B2

An example sensor that includes a first Schottky diode, a second Schottky diode and an integrated circuit. The sensor further includes a voltage generator that generates a first voltage across the first Schottky diode and a second voltage across the second Schottky diode. When the first Schottky diode and the second Schottky diode are subjected to different strain, the integrated circuit measures the values of the currents flowing through the first Schottky diode and the second Schottky diode to determine the strain on an element where the first Schottky diode and the second Schottky diode are attached.
US08546813B2

A semiconductor substrate includes an AlN layer that is formed so as to contact a Si substrate and has an FWMH of a rocking curve of a (002) plane by x-ray diffraction, the FWMH being less than or equal to 1500 seconds, and a GaN-based semiconductor layer formed on the AlN layer.
US08546812B2

A display panel includes a plurality of pads configured to provide a driver thereon, a plurality of first contacts respectively connected to the plurality of pads, a plurality of second contacts respectively provided so as to be opposed to the plurality of first contacts, a polysilicon layer configured to form a plurality of polysilicon films that are respectively extended to connect the plurality of first contacts and the plurality of second contacts to each other, and a gate metal layer different from the polysilicon layer. Each of a plurality of transistors is formed at a position where the gate metal layer traverses the polysilicon layer, and a plurality of transistor groups are arranged in a zigzag pattern. Each of the plurality of transistor groups include three adjacent transistors of the plurality of transistors.
US08546802B2

An apparatus includes a guide ring, and a bond head installed on the guide ring. The bond head is configured to move in loops along the guide ring. The bond head is configured to pick up dies and place the dies during the loops.
US08546792B2

It is an object to provide a noble anthracene derivative, a light emitting element with a high luminous efficiency, and further a light emitting element with a long lifetime. It is another object to provide a light emitting device and electronic device with a long lifetime by using the light emitting element. An anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is provided. Since the anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) has a high luminous efficiency, when the anthracene derivative is used for a light emitting element, the light emitting element can have a high luminous efficiency. Further, when the anthracene derivative represented by General Formula (1) is used for a light emitting element, the light emitting element can have a long lifetime.
US08546789B2

Disclosed herein is a volatile negative differential resistance device using metal nanoparticles, the device includes an organic layer disposed between two metal electrodes, in which the organic layer includes uniformly dispersed metal nanoparticles having a diameter of about 10 nm or less in an organic material. The device of this invention exhibits a volatile negative differential resistance phenomenon at room temperature upon application of a voltage and is thus suitable for use in various switching devices and logic devices, with excellent reproducibility and simple inexpensive processing.
US08546787B2

Group III nitride based light emitting devices and methods of fabricating Group III nitride based light emitting devices are provided. The emitting devices include an n-type Group III nitride layer, a Group III nitride based active region on the n-type Group III nitride layer and comprising at least one quantum well structure, a Group III nitride layer including indium on the active region, a p-type Group III nitride layer including aluminum on the Group III nitride layer including indium, a first contact on the n-type Group III nitride layer and a second contact on the p-type Group III nitride layer. The Group III nitride layer including indium may also include aluminum.
US08546784B2

A phase change memory element and method of forming the same. The memory element includes first and second electrodes. A first layer of phase change material is between the first and second electrodes. A second layer including a metal-chalcogenide material is also between the first and second electrodes and is one of a phase change material and a conductive material. An insulating layer is between the first and second layers. There is at least one opening in the insulating layer providing contact between the first and second layers.
US08546781B2

A resistive random access memory (RRAM) device is provided that includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a resistance-change film disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, where the resistance-change film includes an atomic ratio of aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen.
US08546775B2

The invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for stabilizing the source location during the generation of EUV radiation based on a discharge plasma. The object of finding a novel possibility for stabilizing the source location during the generation of EUV radiation which allows changes in position of the source location to be compensated in a simple manner during the operation of the radiation source is met according to the invention in that a first beam aligning unit (7), a second beam aligning unit (4), and a beam focusing unit (5) are arranged in the vaporization beam (3) and are connected to first to third measuring devices (8, 9, 10) and can be adjusted in order to acquire and compensate for direction deviations and divergence deviations of the vaporization beam (3) with respect to reference values.
US08546769B2

A charged particle beam irradiation apparatus includes an accelerator that accelerates the charged particle beam; a first transport line that transports the charged particle beam which is delivered from the accelerator; a plurality of second transport lines that may be provided for each of plurality of irradiation chambers and further transports the charged particle beam to be transported by the first transport line to the respective irradiation chambers; and a line switching unit that may be provided between the first transport line and the second transport lines, wherein the plurality of irradiation chambers may be radially disposed around the line switching unit, the line switching unit has an electromagnet that induces the charged particle beam, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the electromagnet, and the second transport lines of the induction place may be switched by rotating the electromagnet.
US08546764B1

The present invention provides an active X-ray sensing circuit and the sensing method thereof, it is applied in X-ray panel. The X-ray sensing circuit comprises two row of pixel circuit, and the two row of pixel circuit shares one scan line, and each data line connects with two switches. It is compensated the threshold voltage when it switches to the current source. It operates reading when it switches to amplifier. By applying specific scan line signal, the last-row pixel circuit is compensated and the next-row pixel row is read at the same time, so that the sensing circuit array can compensate and sense in one scan to avoid the effect of the leakage current.
US08546751B2

In a tandem mass spectrometer with mass selector spatially separated from a mass analyzer, ions are fragmented in a three-dimensional RF by electron transfer dissociation. The fragment ions are then extracted from the 3D ion trap and introduced into the mass analyzer. The extraction is accomplished by providing, in one of the ion trap end cap electrodes, an aperture with a relatively large area covered by a conductive mesh or formed by closely spaced smaller apertures. The fragment ions are extracted from the RF ion trap by applying a DC voltage to one of the end cap electrodes.
US08546747B2

The rotary encoder includes a rotary scale in which a spiral pattern is formed, and a sensor unit including a light source and a first light-receiving part that detects light entering via the spiral pattern. A first reading area where the first light-receiving part reads the spiral pattern includes at least one cycle of the spiral pattern in a radial direction over an entire rotational angle range of the rotary scale. The first light-receiving part outputs sinusoidal signals corresponding to a radial cycle of the spiral pattern. The signal processor produces a first phase signal from two phase sinusoidal signals produced based on the sinusoidal signals output from the first light-receiving part, and produces, based on the first phase signal, a rotational angle signal showing a rotational angle of the rotary scale.
US08546746B2

A photoelectric encoder includes a scale in which diffraction gratings are formed at predetermined pitches in a measurement axis direction, a detection head which is relatively movable with respect to the scale, and which includes an illuminating portion configured to illuminate the scale, and a light receiving portion configured to receive light reflected by or transmitted through the diffraction gratings of the scale, a signal processing device configured to process a light reception signal output from the light receiving portion of the detection head, and a signal transmitting unit configured to transmit a signal between the detection head and the signal processing device. The signal processing device includes a display unit configured to display information indicating an attachment posture of the detection head with respect to the scale.
US08546744B2

An encoder includes a disc-shaped disk disposed so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis and having at least one ring-shaped track in which a rotating grating is formed and at least one fixed grating which is fixedly disposed opposed to the disk so that the fixed grating and the rotating grating construct a diffraction interference optical system. Each of a plurality of slits included in the at least one rotating grating is formed along a curved line obtained by making each of a plurality of radial lines using the rotation axis as a center curved in the circumferential direction at a predetermined curve degree so that a pitch of the slits can be set to a predetermined value.
US08546729B2

A laminated glazing (e.g. a vehicle windscreen) comprising two panes of glazing material (e.g. glass) having a ply of laminating interlayer extending between them, and one or more wires between the panes of glazing material, each having a conductive central core and an outer dark-colored (e.g. black) sheath, which is substantially resistant to color- and substance-degradation by ultraviolet light. The wires may be in the form of a capacitive sensing plate, an inductive coupling loop, a heating element, an antenna and/or an RFID tag.
US08546725B2

A laser beam machining device includes at least one laser beam source for acting upon at least one workpiece using an annular laser focus. Means are provided for imaging the laser radiation reflected from the workpiece on a sensor unit. A method for adjusting the focal position of an annular laser focus in relation to at least one workpiece is also provided.
US08546707B2

An in-vehicle input device includes a housing including a supporting member; an operating knob including a shaft hole (supported part) and supported by the supporting member in such a manner that the operating knob rocks; and a switch (a moving contact of a bulge and a fixed contact of a main substrate) operated by rocking the operating knob, wherein the operating knob has a notch defining an opening intersecting with a rocking axis on a first side intersecting with the rocking axis, and wherein a rotary knob, which is an operating (second operating knob) corresponding to another switch, is disposed in the notch.
US08546703B2

An enclosure of an electronic device includes a chassis, a sliding plate slidably disposed on the chassis, and a pivot member. A number of vent holes and a location hole are defined in the chassis. A number of teeth are formed on a sidewall bounding the location hole. A through slot is defined in the sliding plate. A toothed rack is formed on a sidewall bounding the through slot. The pivot member extends through the through slot and the location hole. The pivot member includes a toothed portion engaging with the toothed rack and the teeth, and a smooth neck. When the toothed portion disengages from the teeth, the neck is pivotably received in the location hole, the pivot member is pivoted to drive the sliding member to slide relative to the chassis by the toothed portion rolling on the toothed rack, thereby exposing or covering the vent holes.
US08546698B2

A wiring board has a first rigid wiring board having a first wiring layer on a first main surface, a second rigid wiring board having a second wiring layer on a second main surface, a first connection portion connecting the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer, and a first interlayer insulation layer formed on the first wiring layer, the second wiring layer and the first connection portion. In such a wiring board, the first rigid wiring board and the second rigid wiring board are positioned in such a way that the first main surface and the second main surface are set at substantially the same level, and the first wiring layer and the second wiring layer are electrically connected by the first connection portion.
US08546695B2

A grommet includes an inner tube and an outer tube coupled to the inner tube by an annular coupling section. A slant wall section of the outer tube has a curved portion at a position having an outer diameter equal to an inner diameter of a through-hole in a vehicle body panel. The curved portion has a different inclination angle from the slant wall section. An inclination angle of the slant wall section at a larger diameter side with respect to the curved portion is set to be smaller than an inclination angle at a smaller diameter side with respect to the curved portion. The slant wall section is provided on an inner peripheral surface at the smaller diameter side with a bending stress absorbing portion of which an inner surface is recessed annularly to be a smaller thickness.
US08546691B2

A differential signal transmission cable includes a pair of differential signal lines arranged in parallel to each other, an insulation for bundle-covering the pair of differential signal lines, and a shield conductor wound around an outer periphery of the insulation. The insulation is configured such that an outer circumference thereof in a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof has an oval shape formed with a continuous convex arc-curve. The oval shape has a width in a first direction along the arrangement direction of the pair of differential signal lines being larger than a width in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction.
US08546686B2

A solar collector utilizes multiple reflections of light passing down a tapered, pyramidal-type structure made of highly-reflective mirrored surfaces. A right-angled truncated reflective pyramidal structures have been discovered to have many properties which make them superior to existing concentrator geometries. The use of a tapered, pyramidal-type structure creates multiple reflections which appear at the collector output in the form of a Buckminster-Fullerene display, providing improved collector efficiency and amplification when compared to prior art “concentrators” of the Fresnel lens or parabola type.
US08546683B2

The electrically conductive glass is obtained by providing a transparent electrically conductive film 12 such as ITO or FTO on a glass plate, and providing a grid including a film of a passivated metal on this transparent electrically conductive film. An insulating, fine oxide film formed on the surface of the passivated metal prevents leakage current from flowing from the grid to an electrolyte. In addition, leakage current is prevented from flowing from the transparent electrically conductive film to the electrolyte by providing a diffusion-preventing film including titanium or titanium oxide between the transparent electrically conductive film and the grid.
US08546676B2

A pedal device for an electronic percussion instrument, including: a base; a foot board supported at its first end portion to the base and configured to pivot by depression; an arm rotatably supported at its first end at a pivot point located near to a second end portion of the foot board, the arm being pivotable about the pivot point; a mass portion provided near to a second end of the arm; a regulating portion for regulating a locus of displacement of the mass portion when the foot board is moved from a depression start position to a depression end position; and a stopper portion provided on the base for defining the depression end position by contacting the mass portion in a forward stroke of depression, the regulating portion regulating the locus of the displacement of the mass portion so as not to contain a downward component in the forward stroke.
US08546672B1

Disclosed are various embodiments for an apparatus for playing a stringed instrument that has a surface facing multiple strings. The apparatus includes an input device and a carriage assembly having multiple picks configured to sound strings of the stringed instrument. In response to data received from the input device, the picks are configured to move across the strings from a first position, with the strings between the picks and the surface of the stringed instrument, to a second position, with the picks between the strings and the surface of the stringed instrument.
US08546671B2

An accessory for a string instrument including a body portion and a clamping portion that is coupled to the body portion by a connecting portion having at least one point of connection. The body portion includes at least one surface capable of altering the position or sound of one or more strings of an instrument. The body portion can include a slide, a capo, both, and/or other surfaces or features configured to alter the sound or position of the instrument's strings.
US08546669B1

A novel maize variety designated X08B800 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08B800 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B800 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B800, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B800. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B800.
US08546662B2

The invention provides seed and plants of tomato hybrid PX 02461111 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato hybrid PX 02461111 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08546658B1

A novel soybean variety, designated XB38AL11 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB38AL11, cells from soybean variety XB38AL11, plants of soybean XB38AL11, and plant parts of soybean variety XB38AL11. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB38AL11 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB38AL11, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB38AL11, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB38AL11. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB38AL11 are further provided.
US08546633B2

A method for producing an alkylated aromatic compound includes a step (i) of producing a reaction product (a1) containing the alkylated aromatic compound and water by the reaction of an aromatic compound, a ketone, and hydrogen using a metal component containing at least one metallic element of copper, nickel, cobalt, and rhenium and a solid acid substance; a step (ii) of forming a dehydrated product (a2) from at least a portion of the reaction product (a1) by removing at least a portion of the water in the reaction product (a1); and a step (iii) of producing a reaction product (a3) containing the alkylated aromatic compound by bringing at least a portion of the dehydrated product (a2) into contact with a solid acid substance.
US08546629B2

Embodiments of methods for co-production of linear alkylbenzene and biofuel from a natural oil are provided. A method comprises the step of deoxygenating the natural oils to form a stream comprising paraffins. A first portion of the paraffins are dehydrogenated to provide mono-olefins. Then, benzene is alkylated with the mono-olefins under alkylation conditions to provide an alkylation effluent comprising alkylbenzenes and benzene. Thereafter, the alkylbenzenes are isolated to provide the alkylbenzene product. A second portion of the paraffins is processed to form biofuel.
US08546624B2

Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233xf) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). Such azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions are useful as intermediates in the production of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf).
US08546623B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing a C3-6 hydrofluoroalkene comprising dehydrohalogenating a C3-6 hydrohalofluoroalkane in the presence of a zinc/chromia catalyst.
US08546619B2

The invention provides a process for preparing bronopol, which process comprises charging a reaction vessel with water, bromopicrin, nitromethane and paraformaldehyde, gradually feeding a base into said reaction vessel under stirring, bringing the reaction to completion and separating bronopol from the aqueous reaction mixture.
US08546618B2

Disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 1 wherein Q and Z are as defined in the disclosure comprising distilling water from a mixture comprising a compound of Formula 2, a compound of Formula 3, a base comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metal hydroxides of Formula 4 wherein M is Ca, Sr or Ba, alkali metal carbonates of Formula 4a wherein M1 is Li, Na or K, 1,5-diazabicyclo[4.3.0]non-5-ene and 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, and an aprotic solvent capable of forming a low-boiling azeotrope with water. Also disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 2 comprising (1) forming a reaction mixture comprising a Grignard reagent derived from contacting a compound of Formula 5 wherein X is Cl, Br or I with magnesium metal or an alkylmagnesium halide in the presence of an ethereal solvent, and then (2) contacting the reaction mixture with a compound of Formula 6 wherein Y is OR11 or NR12R13, and R11, R12 and R13 are as defined in the disclosure. Further disclosed is a method for preparing a compound of Formula 7 wherein Q and Z are as defined in the disclosure, using a compound of Formula 1 characterized by preparing the compound of Formula 1 by the method disclosed above or using a compound of Formula 1 prepared by the method disclosed above.
US08546611B2

A method for preparing succinic acid, including producing a modified palladium-containing catalyst by using an acid and liquid-phase hydrogenation of unsaturated acid compounds on the modified catalyst at an increased temperature and pressure; separating the catalyst from the succinic acid; wherein the modification of the catalyst is performed on a substrate having the palladium-containing catalyst delivered thereon, the delivery being performed in an oxygen-free atmosphere; the delivery being performed in an aqueous medium of succinic, maleic or fumaric acids and/or their mixtures at a Pd2+/acid ratio of 1:1-1:100; hydrogenating the liquid-phase unsaturated acid compounds selected from maleic, fumaric acids or their anhydrides or their mixtures; and crystallizing the succinic acid from an aqueous solution containing 0.001-0.01 wt. % succinic acid seed.
US08546607B2

Embodiments of the invention provide methods and materials for chemical cross-coupling reactions that utilize unconventional phenol derivatives as cross-coupling partners. Embodiments of the invention can be used to synthesize a variety of useful organic compounds, for example the anti-inflammatory drug flurbiprofen.
US08546605B2

The invention provides a multistage process for continuously preparing organic, distillable polyisocyanates, preferably diisocyanates, more preferably aliphatic or cycloaliphatic diisocyanates, by reacting the corresponding organic polyamines with carbonic acid derivatives and alcohols to low molecular mass monomeric polyurethanes, and thermally cleaving said polyurethanes, in which at defined reaction stages the polyisocyanates prepared and unusable residues are separated off, and reusable by products and intermediates are recycled to upstream stages.
US08546591B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of cis-2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methyltetrahydropyran comprising the catalytic hydrogenation of 2-(2-methylprop-1-enyl)-4-methylenetetrahydropyran in the presence of hydrogen and a heterogeneous catalyst comprising ruthenium on a support and subsequently bringing the compounds obtained in this way into contact with a strongly acidic cation exchanger.
US08546580B2

Chemical stain compounds containing a fluorophore and a reducible quenching unit are disclosed. The reducible quenching unit quenches the fluorophore while in its oxidized state. Upon reduction, the quenching properties of the quenching unit are diminished or eliminated. The chemical compounds can be used in a variety of applications, including the detection of bacterial cells, monitoring the electron transport chain function of bacterial cells, monitoring the oxidation state of non-biological systems, and assaying the effectiveness of antibacterial or antimicrobial agents.
US08546577B2

The present invention relates to novel substituted enaminocarbonyl compounds, to processes for their preparation and to their use for controlling animal pests, especially arthropods, in particular insects.
US08546576B2

There are disclosed racemic or enantiomerically enriched 3- or 4-substituted piperidine compounds represented by the following structural formula (I): or any of their isomers, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing the subject compounds. The subject compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, particularly depression, anxiety and pain disorder.
US08546573B2

The present invention relates to process for the preparation of 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxy-camptothecin hydrochloride trihydrate and process for the isolation of 1-chlorocarbonyl-4-piperidinopiperidine and novel crystalline form of 1-chlorocarbonyl-4-piperidinopiperidine and 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]carbonyloxy-camptothecin.
US08546572B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing morphinane analogues of formula (1) wherein the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and Y have the same meanings as defined in the specification.
US08546570B2

A process is described for the synthesis of a cationic [rhodium diolefin phosphorus ligand] complex comprising the steps of: (a) reacting a rhodium-diolefin-1,3-diketonate and an acid in a ketone solvent, (b) adding a stabilising olefin to form a stabilised cationic rhodium compound, and (c) mixing a phosphorus ligand with the solution of the stabilised cationic rhodium compound to form a solution of the cationic [rhodium diolefin phosphorus ligand] complex. The solution may be used directly or the complex recovered. In one embodiment, the solution may be combined with a co-solvent and the ketone removed to give a new catalyst solution, from which the complex may be recovered.
US08546569B2

The use of a compound of formula I Y is a single bond, C═O, C═S or S(O)m where m is 0, 1 or 2; the ring is a 6 membered aromatic ring or is a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring; Z and Z′ are provided that both are not N; R1, R2, R3, R3a, R4, R8 and Ra are specified organic groups and n and p are independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; or salts or N-oxides thereof or compositions containing them in controlling insects, acarines, nematodes or molluscs. Novel compounds are also provided.
US08546568B2

There has been a need for coelenterazine analogs that exhibit luminescence properties different from those of known coelenterazine analogs. The present invention provides the compound represented by general formula (1).
US08546566B2

The present invention relates to an improved process for manufacturing dihydropteridinones of general formula (12) as well as intermediates thereof, wherein the groups R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 have the meanings given in the claims and specification.
US08546565B2

Novel quinazolinamide derivatives of the formula (I), in which R1-R5 and X have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are HSP90 inhibitors and can be used for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of diseases in which the inhibition, regulation and/or modulation of HSP90 plays a role.
US08546562B2

The present invention relates, in general, to a method of modulating physiological and pathological processes and, in particular, to a method of modulating cellular levels of oxidants and thereby processes in which such oxidants are a participant. The invention also relates to compounds and compositions suitable for use in such methods.
US08546559B2

Cationic hydrophobically modified galactomannan ethers having a cationic degree of substitution (DSC) from 0.01 to 0.5 and hydrophobic degree of substitution (DSH) below 0.001 are readily soluble in aqueous systems and useful to thicken, stabilize and condition cosmetics, detergent compositions and household cleaning products; they further improve the deposition of other ingredients on the treated surface (skin, hair or fabric).
US08546551B2

The present invention provides methods to detect prostate cancer by detecting the RNA encoded by PCA3. The disclosure provides a method for determining a predisposition, or presence of prostate cancer comprising: (a) contacting a sample with at least one oligonucleotide that hybridizes to a PCA3 polynucleotide; (b) detecting an amount of PCA3 and second prostate-specific polynucleotides; and (c) comparing the amount of PCA3 polynucleotide that hybridizes to the oligonucleotide to a predetermined cut off value, and determining the presence or absence of prostate cancer. Diagnostic kits are provided for detecting prostate cancer or the risk of developing same comprising: (a) at least one container means containing at least one oligonucleotide probe or primer that hybridizes to PCA3 (b) at least one oligonucleotide probe or primer that hybridizes with a second prostate specific nucleic acid; and (c) reagents for detecting PCA3 and the second prostate specific nucleic acid.
US08546550B2

Compositions that include immunostimulatory nucleic acids are disclosed, along with the use of such compositions to induce immune responses.
US08546546B2

An antibody that binds to Mucin17 (Muc17) is disclosed. The antibody of the present invention preferably binds to the peptide of SEQ ID NO:3 and does not bind to the peptide of SEQ ID NO:4 or the peptide of SEQ ID NO:5. Also disclosed are an anti-cancer agent, preferably an anti-cancer agent for pancreatic cancer, which comprises the antibody of the present invention, as well as a method of diagnosing cancer using the antibody of the present invention, preferably the antibody of the present invention that does not bind to the secreted-form of Muc17.
US08546541B2

The present invention provides a novel lymphocyte inhibitory receptor termed BTLA which is expressed on both T and B cells, and identifies HVEM as interacting with BTLA. Methods and compositions for modulating BTLA-mediated signaling and interfering with the interaction of BTLA and HVEM for therapeutic, diagnostic and research purposes are also provided.
US08546531B2

Multifunctional probes are synthesized in a single step using peptide scaffold-based multifunctional single-attachment-point reagents. To obtain multifunctional probes using the methods of the invention, a substrate (e.g., a nanoparticle, polymer, antibody, protein, low molecular weight compound, drug, etc.) is reacted with a multifunctional single-attachment-point (MSAP) reagent. The MSAP reagents can include three components: (i) a peptide scaffold, (ii) a single chemically reactive group on the peptide scaffold for reaction of the MSAP with a substrate having a complementary reactive group, and (iii) multiple functional groups on the peptide scaffold. The peptide scaffold can include any number of residues; however, for ease of synthesis and reproducibility in clinical trials, it is preferred to limit the residues in the peptide to 20 or less. The reagent can be prepared to yield a predetermined stoichiometric ratio of the functional groups on the scaffold such that the probe has a fixed stoichiometric ratio of the functional groups.
US08546529B2

The present invention relates to an injectable bone regeneration material containing a bone formation enhancing peptide, and more particularly, to an injectable bone regeneration material, in which a bone formation enhancing peptide essentially containing one and more amino acid sequences among SEQ ID NO: 1 to SEQ ID NO: 28 is bonded or mixed to a gel-forming base material selected from the group consisting of chitosan, alginic acid, silk fibroin, propylene glycol, propylene glycol alginic acid, poloxamer, chondroitin sulphate, and the combination thereof. The injectable bone regeneration material according to the present invention can increase differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells and osteoblasts into bone tissue, thus maximizing tissue regeneration by a peptide capable of promoting differentiation of bone tissue and periodontal tissue regeneration. The injectable bone regeneration material is in the form of a gel, and thus can be applied to a surface of various medical devices such as implant etc., and can be mixed with bone graft particles to apply, so that it can increase a treatment effect of existing medical devices to maximize a tissue regeneration effect.
US08546525B2

The invention relates to a nucleic acid molecule selected from the group comprising a) a nucleic acid molecule having one of the nucleotide sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 4 to SEQ ID:NO 8, b) a nucleic acid molecule that codes for a peptide having one of the amino acid sequences presented in SEQ ID:NO 12 to SEQ ID:NO 16, c) a nucleic acid molecule, the complementary strand of which hybridizes to a nucleic acid molecule according to a) or b) and which codes for a peptide having antimicrobial activity, and d) a nucleic acid molecule, the nucleotide sequence of which deviates from the nucleotide sequence of a nucleic acid molecule according to c) because of the degenerated genetic code.
US08546520B2

The present invention relates to a method of reducing allergenicity of natural rubber latex products caused by allergens by reducing extractable protein levels found for said products, said method comprising the steps of: subjecting said products to a wash in a strong alkaline solution to deteriorate the allergens, and a system for reducing allergenicity of natural rubber latex products caused by allergens by reducing extractable protein levels found for said products, and a product, such as a glover or condom, manufactured from natural rubber latex.
US08546518B2

A method is provided for producing a polyarylene sulfide by reacting a sulfidizing agent with a dihalogenated aromatic compound in an organic polar solvent in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide, the method includes : carrying out the reaction in such a manner that the polymerization time in a temperature range of 230° C. to less than 245° C. (T1a) is not less than 30 minutes and less than 3.5 hours and that the conversion ratio of the dihalogenated aromatic compound at the end of the step is 70 to 98 mol. % and : carrying out the reaction in such a manner that the polymerization time in a temperature range of 245° C. to less than 280° C. (T2) is not less than 5 minutes and less than 1 hour.
US08546517B2

The present invention generally relates to a poly(bisoxalamide) and a process for preparing and article comprising the poly(bisoxalamide).
US08546515B2

A subject for the invention relates to processes for producing a polycarbonate containing a plant-derived starting material and to molded articles thereof, the polycarbonate having excellent mechanical strength, heat resistance, a low refractive index, a large Abbe number, low birefringence, and excellent transparency. The invention relates to a process for producing a polycarbonate which includes a step in which one or more dihydroxy compounds including a dihydroxy compound having at least one linking group —CH2—O— in the molecule thereof are reacted with a carbonic acid diester in the presence of a polymerization catalyst, wherein the dihydroxy compound having at least one linking group —CH2—O— in the molecule thereof has a formic acid content lower than 20 ppm. The invention further relates to a molded article constituted of a polycarbonate or a composition of the polycarbonate, the polycarbonate being a polycarbonate which contains constituent units derived from a dihydroxy compound having at least one linking group —CH2—O— in the molecule thereof and has an Abbe number of 50 or larger and a 5% weight loss temperature of 340° C. or higher.
US08546513B2

The disclosure relates to methods and materials useful for polymerizing a monomer. In one embodiment, for example, the disclosure provides a method for polymerizing a monomer containing a plurality of electrophilic groups, wherein the method comprises contacting the monomer with a nucleophilic reagent in the presence of a guanidine-containing catalyst. The methods and materials of the disclosure find utility, for example, in the field of materials science.
US08546503B2

This invention deals with an approach to control anionic polymerization. The anionic polymerization is conducted by adding a kind of initiator ligand compound, directly or in the form of solution into the monomer or initiator at the same or different time, or at different stages. The metal atoms in the ligand can form the association with the initiator cations, while the alkyloxy groups in the initiator ligand can restrict the entering channel of the addition of the monomers due to their relatively large volume or steric hindrance. Therefore, the initiator ligand compound can restrict the rate of anionic polymerization, restrain the side reaction, and make the anionic polymerization possible to be conducted at room or even higher temperature. The molar ratio of initiator ligand compound to initiator is from 0.01:1 to 20:1. Compared with present technologies, the method of this invention can control and adjust the homopolymerization and copolymerization rate, side reactions and the polymerization temperature, and make it possible to industrialize.
US08546501B2

This invention relates to Group 4 catalyst compounds containing di-anionic tridentate nitrogen/oxygen based ligands. The catalyst compounds are useful, with or without activators, to polymerize olefins, particularly α-olefins, or other unsaturated monomers. Systems and processes to oligomerize and/or polymerize one or more unsaturated monomers using the catalyst compound, as well as the oligomers and/or polymers produced therefrom are also provided.
US08546499B2

Ziegler-Natta catalyzed linear low density polyethylene which satisfies the following conditions:a) a density, according to ISO 1183, of from 900 to 925 kg/m3,b) a C4-C10-comonomer content, determined by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, of 1 to 16 wt %c) a weight average molecular weight Mw, determined by gel permeation chromatography, of at least 200 000,d) wherein the linear low density polyethylene comprises, by Crystallisation Analysis Fractionation (CRYSTAF) an amorphous fraction soluble at a temperature below 30° C. of at most 10 wt % and a fraction crystallising between 60 to 75° C. of at least 35 wt % ande) by temperature rising elution fractionation (TREF) analysis, at least 70 wt % of a crystallising polymer component having an elution temperature range from 60° C. to 94° C. and less than 10 wt % of a crystallising polymer component having an elution temperature range from 30° C. to 60° C. and,f) by Gel Permeation chromatography coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy detector (GPC-FTIR), a substantially constant short chain branching profile across the molecular weight distribution (MWD) org) by Gel Permeation chromatography coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy instruments (GPC-FTIR), a reverse short chain branching profile across the molecular weight distribution (MWD),the linear low density polyethylene being produced in the presence of a special Ziegler-Natta procatalyst and a halogenated aluminium alkyl cocatalyst of the formula (IV) (C1-C4- alkyl)m-Al-X3−m, wherein X is chlorine, bromine, iodine or fluorine and m is 1 or 2.
US08546496B2

The present invention relates to a process for preparing a bimodal polyethylene product in a single loop reactor, comprising polymerizing ethylene monomer and optionally one or more olefin co-monomers in the presence of a single heterogeneous polymerization catalyst consisting of a metallocene-alumoxane catalyst immobilized on a porous support wherein said metallocene comprises only one transition metal. Said polymerization catalyst consists of two physically different fractions of support particles onto which said metallocene-alumoxane catalyst is immobilized.
US08546492B2

The present invention provides a surface treatment method for a water-absorbing resin comprising three steps of: 1) a humidifying and mixing step for mixing a base polymer and a surface cross-linking agent solution to obtain a “humidified substance”; 2) a pretreatment step for raising temperature of said humidified substance to obtain a “pretreated substance”; and 3) a surface cross-linking reaction step for cross-linking said pretreated substance to obtain a surface cross-linked “water-absorbing resin”; wherein dew point in the pretreatment step of the above 2) is from 50° C. to 95° C., and temperature of said humidified substance is raised from temperature below the dew point up to a temperature of 10° C. higher than the dew point.
US08546489B2

Provided are filled polyimides that can be used in films and articles comprising the films. The films are useful in coverlay applications and have advantageous optical properties. Also provided are blends of polyimide precursor, polyacrylonitrile, and cellulosic polymer which can be used to obtain the filled polyimides.
US08546475B2

The present invention provides an inexpensive infrared reflecting black pigment which comprises Fe and Mn but comprises no harmful elements, and exhibits an excellent infrared reflecting property. The infrared reflecting black pigment according to the present invention comprises a compound comprising Fe, Mn and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Ca, Si, Sr and Ba, and has a blackness (L* value) of not more than 30 and a solar radiation reflectance of not less than 15%.
US08546474B2

Thermally-stable silicone elastomers are prepared from organopolysiloxane compositions by polyaddition, polycondensation or vulcanization reactions in the presence of peroxide; the thermal stability of the silicone elastomers is achieved by the inclusion of an additive derived from an iron (III) complex.
US08546472B2

The present invention relates to a polyester comprising repeat units based on at least one aliphatic dicarboxylic acid or an ester-forming derivative thereof (component A1), at least one aromatic dicarboxylic acid or an ester-forming derivative thereof (component A2), at least one diol (component B), optionally at least one sulfo-containing compound (component A3) and optionally at least one trifunctional crosslinking agent as component C1 and/or at least one difunctional chain extender as component C2, component A1 comprising 2-methylsuccinic acid or an ester-forming derivative thereof, to a process for preparing the inventive polyester, to the mixtures comprising the inventive polyester, to the use of the inventive polyesters or of the inventive mixtures for production of moldings, films, adhesives, foams or fibers, and to moldings, films, adhesives, foams or fibers comprising at least one inventive polyester or at least one inventive mixture.
US08546470B2

A cellulosic inclusion-thermoplastic composition that includes cellulosic inclusions and a thermoplastic polyolefin that forms a matrix in which the cellulosic inclusions are dispersed. A maleated polymer and a polar thermoplastic polymer resin of a polyamide or polyester are provided to improve adhesion between the cellulosic inclusions and the thermoplastic polyolefin. The polar thermoplastic polymer resin is characterized by a melting temperature greater than that of the thermoplastic polyolefin. The composition as provided has increased break tensile strength relative to a composition devoid of the polar thermoplastic polymer resin but otherwise is unchanged. The break tensile is measured at 23° Celsius and at an elongation rate of 50 millimeters per minute.
US08546468B2

The present invention relates to a method for the continuous production of a polymer by radical polymerization, wherein at least three materials are mixed with microstructures in one or more mixers and are then polymerized in at least one reaction zone.
US08546460B2

A prosthetic device may comprise an insert having a first surface configured to contact a first prosthetic component and a bearing surface configured to articulate against a second prosthetic component. The insert comprises an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E. The vitamin E may have a concentration in the range of 0.02 to 0.12 wt % first mixed with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and then molded with the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene at a temperature greater than the melting point of the ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene and vitamin E may be gamma irradiated with a dosage of radiation between 5 and 20 Mrad. The insert may be machined prior to gamma irradiating the insert in air such that the gamma irradiation, at suitably high dosages, may also sterilize the insert.
US08546454B2

Disclosed herein is a process for the production of fuel grade DME from carbonaceous fuels, including a pressurized multi-stage progressively expanding fluidized bed gasifier and an oxyblown autothermal reformer to produce a synthesis gas (syngas) with desirable hydrogen to carbon monoxide molar ratio, which then undergoes gas-phase DME one-step direct synthesis in a fluid pluralized bed reactor over an attrition resistant bifunctional catalyst. The crude DME thus obtained is purified in a two column distillation unit to produce a fuel grade DME having a purity greater than 99.98 mole %.
US08546449B2

Methods and compositions for the generation of a peroxyacetic acid sanitizer in proximity to the point-of-use are disclosed. These methods comprise introducing a hydrogen peroxide-acetyl precursor solution to water, mixing, and then adding an aqueous source of a alkali metal or earth alkali metal hydroxide. Triacetin is a preferred acetyl precursor and is converted rapidly and with a high conversion rate into peracetic acid. These methods produce solutions with a high level of peracetic acid. Methods for preparing the hydrogen peroxide-acetyl precursor solution are also provided. Also disclosed are solid compositions comprising a liquid acetyl precursor, a water-soluble source of hydrogen peroxide, and a water-soluble source of alkalinity. The solid composition is a freely-flowable solid that is used as a bleaching agent and a stain remover for the treatment of articles such as fabrics, dentures, textile garments, and equipment used in the food and beverage industry.
US08546441B2

A new class of phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1) inhibitors of formula I: wherein X is selected from the group consisting of alkyl and haloalkyl; Ar is an aryl radical selected from the group consisting of phenyl, biphenyl, naphthyl, anthryl, phenanthryl, and fluorenyl; and wherein Ar is optionally substituted with one or more radicals selected from the group consisting of halo, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 haloalkyl, azido, C1-C4 azidoalkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, haloaryl, haloalkylaryl, and combinations thereof; and R is selected from the group consisting of nitrile, acetonitrile, ethylnitrile, propylnitrile, carboxamide, amidine, tetrazole, oxime, hydrazone, acetamidine, aminoacetamide, guanidine, and urea. Also provided are methods of using the compounds for the treatment and prevention of cancer in humans.
US08546432B2

Provided herein are tetrazolone FASN inhibitors of the formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable form thereof; wherein the variables RA, RB and RC are defined herein. Also provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions of the compounds provided herein as well as methods of their use for the treatment of various disorders such as hyperproliferative disorders, inflammatory disorders, obesity-related disorders and microbial infections.
US08546428B2

The present invention relates to the fumarate salt of (alpha S, beta R)-6-bromo-alpha-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]-2-methoxy-alpha-1-naphthalenyl-beta-phenyl-3-quinolineethanol, pharmaceutical compositions comprising as active ingredient said salt and to processes for their preparation.
US08546422B2

Compounds of formula I are antagonists of the PGD2 receptor, CRTH2, and as such are useful in the treatment and/or prevention of CRTH2-mediated diseases such as asthma.
US08546420B2

The present invention relates to 4,5-ring annulated indole derivatives of formula (I), compositions comprising at least one 4,5-ring annulated indole derivatives, and methods of using the 4,5-ring annulated indole derivatives for treating or preventing a viral infection or a virus-related disorder in a patient, wherein ring Z of formula (I), is cyclohexyl, cyclohexenyl, 6-membered heterocycloalkyl, 6-membered heterocycloalkenyl, 6-membered aryl or 6-membered heteroaryl, wherein R1, R2, R3, R6, R7 and R10 are as described herein.
US08546410B2

Heteroaryl-fused macrocyclic 2,4-diaminopyrimidine compounds of formula (I) wherein W, G1, G2, A1 and R1 are defined in the description, compositions comprising such compounds, methods for making the compounds, and methods of treating and preventing the progression of diseases, conditions, and disorders using such compounds and compositions are described herein.
US08546402B2

The present invention relates to chromone derivatives, their preparation, their pharmaceutical compositions and their application as D3 dopaminergic ligands as a medicament for disorders of the central nervous system.
US08546400B2

Oxazole derivatives are described. The inventive compounds are useful as kinase inhibitors, and may be used in the treatment of cancer, such as prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, leukemia, CNS cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, and renal cancer.
US08546393B2

The disclosure relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein , A, W, X, and Ra are as defined in the disclosure, and salts thereof, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds, to processes for preparing them, and to their use as medicaments, in particular as MET inhibitors.
US08546388B2

The invention relates to compounds of formulae I(a)-I(d): and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, compositions comprising an effective amount of a compound of formulae I(a)-I(d) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, and methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD and IBS, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formulae I(a)-I(d) or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
US08546386B2

Provided are additives of formula I for use in hydrocarbonaceous compositions, such as petroleum or liquid fuels: (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as defined herein. The additives improve the corrosion resistance of the compositions. The additives also enhance the antimicrobial efficacy of any added biocides contained in such compositions.
US08546383B2

Fused [1,2]imidazo[4,5-c] ring compounds (e.g., imidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]quinolines, imidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines, and 6,7,8,9-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-c]naphthyridines) with a —CH(—X1—R1)— group in the fused ring at the 1-position of the imidazo ring, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, intermediates, methods of making the compounds, and methods of use of these compounds as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08546382B2

Described herein are methods for improving engraftment of hematopoietic cells in an individual following hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (e.g., via bone marrow or cord blood transplantation). Methods for increasing hematopoietic progenitor cell proliferation in individuals with bone marrow aplasia are also described. The methods involve administering an agent that inhibits adipogenesis, adipocyte growth, adipocyte differentiation and/or adipocyte proliferation.
US08546367B2

Bile acids and related compositions and methods of synthesis and use. More specifically, deoxycholic acid and related compositions, said compositions being free of all moieties of animal origin and free of pyrogenic moieties.
US08546364B2

Stabilized, 17-substituted hydrocortisone containing compositions and methods of manufacture are disclosed. Isomerization of the hydrocortisone component of topical steroid compositions is markedly reduced by including an omega-6 acid component in the form of a free acid or as a compound such as an ester. Specifically disclosed are methods for preventing the isomerization of hydrocortisone 17-butyrate into hydrocortisone 21-butyrate through the use of safflower oil.
US08546361B2

Provided is a pseudolipid complex mixture comprising a pseudoceramide and a stearic acid and an external skin application composition comprising the same. The complex mixture has improved phase stability and a structure similar to that of the stratum corneum which can retain water and other beneficial materials, and accordingly the composition comprising the same can be used as an external skin application composition having improved moisturization and barrier repair capabilities.
US08546360B2

A method of treating a citrus plant is provided to reduce the incidence of one or more insect-vectored bacterial infections such as citrus greening. The method comprises the step of applying a treatment composition one or more times to the plant, wherein the treatment composition comprises an effective amount of aluminum tris(O-ethyl phosphonate).
US08546358B2

The present invention is directed to a method for treating or ameliorating asthma in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of compound 17:
US08546354B2

The instant invention relates to decasaccharides of formula (I): wherein Ac represents an acetyl group and R represents a group of formula —OH or —OSO3−, in their acid form or in the form of any one of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and to their process of preparation. The oligosaccharides of formula (I) are useful as antithrombotic agents.
US08546352B2

The present invention relates to topical preparations containing N-palmitoyl-vanillamide having hyperalgesic activity. In particular, the invention relates to N-palmitoyl-vanillamide for use in the treatment of pathologies selected from: post-herpetic neuralgia, neuralgia of trigeminus, occipital neuralgia, dental neuralgia, glottopharyngeal neuralgia, uremic neuralgia, diabetic neuralgia, headache of different origin, neuropathic itch, neurogenic itch, uremic itch, vulvodinia, vulvar vestibulitis, ano-rectal pain and itch, balano-preputial pain and itch, painful urogenital disorders of dogs and cats, psoriasis-associated pruritus and pain, itching skin diseases (e.g. atopic dermatitis) in the human and veterinary field, muscular pain, pain of the tendon, osteoarthritis associated pain in humans, dogs and cats; painful eye diseases in the human and veterinary field, inflammatory pathologies of the oral cavity in the human and veterinary field.
US08546350B2

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression and function of small non-coding RNAs. The compositions comprise oligomeric compounds, targeted to small non-coding RNAs. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of small non-coding RNAs as well as downstream targets of these RNAs and for diagnosis and treatment of disease associated with small non-coding RNAs are also provided.
US08546346B2

The present invention relates to a method of modulating splice site selection, splicing and alternative, the method comprising the step of hybridizing an oligonucleotide-protein conjugate to a target pre-mRNA molecule in a cell or cell extract, wherein the oligonucleotide-protein conjugate comprises an oligonucleotide moiety which comprises at least two distinct sequence elements: (i) a nucleic acid sequence that is complementary to a specific region upstream of the splice site in the target pre-mRNA molecule; and (ii) an extension containing a protein binding site sequence element for covalently binding a protein; wherein the protein moiety comprises a protein capable of modulating splicing of the splice site upon binding with the protein binding site.
US08546344B2

The invention relates to novel crystalline phases of 5,6-dichloro-2-(isopropylamino)-1-(β-L-ribofuranosyl)-1H-benzimidazole (Maribavir), pharmaceutical compositions thereof and their use in medical therapy.
US08546341B2

A composition for the treatment of bruising is disclosed. The composition can include an antioxidant, one or more citrus flavanoids, as active agents along with a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient or filler. The compositions are nutriceutical formulations having the capacity to reduce the number of bruises that occur over time and that reduce the healing time of bruises. The compositions are preferably in tablet form for oral consumption one or more times per day. A method of reducing bruising is also disclosed in which a patient in need of a treatment for bruising or at risk of developing bruises is identified. The composition can then be administered orally to the patient.
US08546340B2

A soothing cosmetic or pharmaceutical composition that includes at least one peptide that activates human HMG-CoA reductase general formula (I): R1-(AA)n-X1-Gly-Glu-Leu-Ser-X2-X3-(AAp-R2 in a physiologically suitable medium is disclosed. The invention further applies to a cosmetic treatment method intended to combat skin irritations. Additionally, methods of treating skin irritations with such a composition are described.
US08546329B2

The present invention relates to an erythropoietin-containing solution preparation containing a poloxamer and having a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. The present invention also relates to a method for quantifying a protein in a trace amount, the method including the following steps: binding a protein sample to a high-intensity fluorescent dye; separating a desired analyte from the obtained sample by an appropriate separation means; and quantifying the desired analyte and converting the amount of the analyte into the amount of the protein.
US08546327B2

Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having enhanced potency at the glucagon receptor relative to native glucagon. Further modification of the glucagon peptides by forming intramolecular bridges or the substitution of the terminal carboxylic acid with an amide group produces peptides exhibiting glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist activity. The solubility and stability of these high potency glucagon analogs can be further improved by modification of the polypeptides by pegylation, acylation, alkylation, substitution of carboxy terminal amino acids, C-terminal truncation, or the addition of a carboxy terminal peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 26 (GPSSGAPPPS), SEQ ID NO: 27 (KRNRNNIA) and SEQ ID NO: 28 (KRNR).
US08546320B2

Disclosed is a substance which is not accumulated stably in cells, does not cause the dysfunction of normal cells, and so on, and therefore can be used as an anti-cancer agent or in a DDS without having any adverse side effects. It is found that Hsp90 alone cannot exhibit its function as a chaperone in assisting the refolding of a protein such as survivin, but can exhibit this function when Hop (which is one of the partner proteins of Hsp90) binds to Hsp90. Thus, specifically disclosed herein is a chimeric peptide comprising of an Hsp90 TPR domain binding peptide and a cell-penetrating peptide.
US08546317B2

The present invention relates to a hard surface cleaning composition comprising a polybetaine polymer, wherein said polybetaine polymer comprises a zwitterionic unit A or a mixture thereof, wherein said unit A comprises a betaine group or a mixture thereof and wherein said betaine group of said unit A is a sulphobetaine group or a mixture thereof, and a vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer, wherein said polybetaine polymer and said vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer are present in said composition at a weight ratio of polybetaine polymer to vinylpyrrolidone homopolymer or copolymer of at utmost 1.5:1.
US08546314B2

A surface treatment composition comprising from about 6% to about 20%, by weight of the composition, of cationic polymer; from about 6% to about 40%, by weight of the composition, of anionic surfactant; and from about 4% to about 15%, by weight of the composition, of a shielding salt, wherein the weight ratio of anionic surfactant to cationic polymer is between about 0.5:1 and about 4:1. The shielding salt is defined by having a molecular weight of from about 25 to about 500 and being incapable of lowering the surface tension of water below 50 mN/m when added to water at concentrations of up to 0.01M.
US08546313B1

The invention relates to methods and products enabling decontamination of chemical warfare agents and/or toxic industrial chemicals. More particularly, the invention pertains to improvements of surface decontamination processes using novel sorbents such as nanotubular titania.
US08546308B2

The present disclosure relates to novel triple tag sequences that may comprise a 6× histidine tag, a c-myc tag and a V5 tag. The present disclosure also provides polynucleotides, proteins, vectors and host cells that comprise the triple tag sequence of the present disclosure, including libraries of such polynucleotides, proteins, vectors and host cells. The novel triple tag sequences of the present disclosure may be used in phage display vectors and phage libraries and in methods for detection, screening, capture, purification, quantitation, and/or recovery of proteins of interest to which they are linked. Proteins of interest include antibodies such as single chain antibodies, single chain antibodies, and Fab fragments of antibodies or peptides such as non-antibody peptides.
US08546300B2

A thermosensitive recording material including: a support; an undercoat layer containing at least a water-soluble resin; a thermosensitive coloring layer containing a leuco dye and a developer; and a protective layer containing a water-soluble resin and a fluorescent whitening agent, wherein the undercoat layer, the thermosensitive coloring layer, and the protective layer are formed in this order over the support, wherein the undercoat layer has a single layer structure or a multilayer structure, and the protective layer has a single layer structure or a multilayer structure, and wherein the undercoat layer has an air permeance of 150 mL/min or less.
US08546299B2

Provided is a recording material with a superior heat resistance and having a low content of a dihydroxydiphenylsulfone derivative, and a color-developing composition for producing the recording material. With the use of this color-developing composition, a recording material with a superior heat resistance at the background part can be provided and the content of a dihydroxydiphenylsulfone derivative, such as 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenylsulfone, in the color-developing composition can be reduced to 2% by mass or less, or further to 1% by mass or less.
US08546298B2

An odor filtration media having a chemical reagent which removes odor causing fluid contaminants from a fluid stream through the use of granular or shaped media have a chemical composition including permanganate is provided. A method of producing the odor absorbing media having a chemical reagent is also provided and comprises the steps of mixing H2O, KMnO4, and at least one salt adding ions or ionic compounds selected from the group consisting of Na+, Li+, K+, NH4+, Cl−, SO42−, BO32−, CO32−, PO43−, NO3− and combinations thereof, or from the group consisting of Na+, Li+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Cl−, BO32−, NO3− and combinations thereof, forming an impregnating solution. The impregnating solution is heated and combined with a support material to form a coherent mass.
US08546281B2

A light emitting device includes: a first substrate; a second substrate; a light emitting unit interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate; and a sealing material bonding the first substrate to the second substrate and sealing the light emitting unit. The sealing material comprises V+4. In addition, a glass frit, a composition for forming a sealing material, and a method of manufacturing a light emitting device using the composition for forming a sealing material are provided to obtain the light emitting device. The sealing material of the light emitting device can be easily formed by coating and irradiation of electro-magnetic waves, so that manufacturing costs are low and deterioration of the light emitting unit occurring when sealing material is formed can be substantially prevented. The sealing material has good sealing properties and thus a light emitting device including the sealing material has a long lifetime.
US08546278B2

A composite board including: at least one glass fiber mat having an upper surface and a lower surface; a foam layer attached to the glass fiber mat; and a first binding composition applied to the upper surface of the at least one glass fiber mat and a second binding composition applied to the lower surface of the at least one glass fiber mat, the first and second binding compositions being the same or different compositions.
US08546271B2

A method for selective oxidation of silicon containing materials in a semiconductor device is disclosed and claimed. In one aspect, a rapid thermal processing apparatus is used to selectively oxidize a substrate by in-situ steam generation at high pressure in a hydrogen rich atmosphere. Other materials, such as metals and barrier layers, in the substrate are not oxidized.
US08546265B2

A method for manufacturing a silicon structure according to the present invention includes, in a so-called dry-etching process wherein gas-switching is employed, the steps of: etching a portion in the silicon region at a highest etching rate under a high-rate etching condition such that the portion does not reach the etch stop layer; subsequently etching under a transition etching condition in which an etching rate is decreased with time from the highest etching rate in the high-rate etching condition; and thereafter, etching the silicon region under a low-rate etching condition of a lowest etching rate in the transition etching condition.
US08546263B2

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to methods for fabricating devices on semiconductor substrates. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to methods of patterning magnetic materials. Certain embodiments described herein use a reducing chemistry containing a hydrogen gas or hydrogen containing gas with an optional dilution gas at temperatures ranging from 20 to 300 degrees Celsius at a substrate bias less than 1,000 DC voltage to reduce the amount of sputtering and redeposition. Exemplary hydrogen containing gases which may be used with the embodiments described herein include NH3, H2, CH4, C2H4, SiH4, and H2S. It has been found that patterning a magnetic tunnel junction with an oxidizer-free gas mixture comprising hydrogen maintains the integrity of the magnetic tunnel junction without producing harmful conductive residue.
US08546255B2

The present invention relates to a method for forming vias in a semiconductor substrate, including the following steps: (a) providing a semiconductor substrate having a first surface and a second surface; (b) forming a groove on the semiconductor substrate; (c) filling the groove with a conductive metal; (d) removing part of the semiconductor substrate which surrounds the conductive metal, wherein the conductive metal is maintained so as to form an accommodating space between the conductive metal and the semiconductor substrate; and (e) forming an insulating material in the accommodating space. In this way, thicker insulating material can be formed in the accommodating space, and the thickness of the insulating material in the accommodating space is even.
US08546252B2

A structure and method to create a metal gate having reduced threshold voltage roll-off. A method includes: forming a gate dielectric material on a substrate; forming a gate electrode material on the gate dielectric material; and altering a first portion of the gate electrode material. The altering causes the first portion of the gate electrode material to have a first work function that is different than a second work function associated with a second portion of the gate electrode material.
US08546250B2

A vertically integrated semiconductor device includes multiple continuous single crystal silicon layers vertically separated from one another by a dielectric layer or layers. Semiconductor devices are disposed on an underlying single crystal silicon substrate and the continuous single crystal silicon layers. The individual devices are interconnected to one another using tungsten or doped polysilicon leads that extend through openings formed in the continuous single crystal silicon layers. The method for forming the structure includes forming a dielectric material over the single crystal silicon layer or substrate and forming an opening extending down to the surface of the single crystal silicon material to act as a seed layer. An epitaxial silicon growth process begins at the seed location and laterally overgrows the openings. Growth fronts from the various seed locations meet to form a continuous single crystal silicon layer which is then polished.
US08546238B2

A method for transferring a micro-technological layer includes preparing a substrate having a porous layer buried beneath a useful surface, forming an embrittled zone between it and the surface, bonding the substrate to a supporting substrate, causing detachment at the porous layer by mechanical stress to obtain a first substrate remnant, and a bare surfaced detached layer joined to the supporting substrate, performing technological steps on the bared surface of the detached layer, bonding the detached layer, by the surface to which the technological steps had been applied, to a second supporting substrate, causing detachment, at the embrittled zone, by heat treatment to obtain a detached layer remnant joined to the second supporting substrate, and the detached layer remnant joined to the first supporting substrate.
US08546231B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming memory cells. A stack includes ovonic material over an electrically conductive region. The stack is patterned into rails that extend along a first direction. The rails are patterned into pillars. Electrically conductive lines are formed over the ovonic material. The electrically conductive lines extend along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The electrically conductive lines interconnect the pillars along the second direction. Some embodiments include a memory array having first electrically conductive lines extending along a first direction. The lines contain n-type doped regions of semiconductor material. Pillars are over the first conductive lines and contain mesas of the n-type doped regions together with p-type doped regions and ovonic material. Second electrically conductive lines are over the ovonic material and extend along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The second electrically conductive lines interconnect the pillars along the second direction.
US08546220B1

A method for fabricating buried bit lines comprises steps of: defining a plurality of parallel masked regions and a plurality of first etched regions each forming between any two neighboring masked regions on a surface of a substrate, and wherein the masked region is wider than the first etched region; etching the first etched regions to form a plurality of first trenches and a plurality of first pillars; forming two bit lines respectively on two sidewalls of each first trench; etching the first pillars to form a plurality of second pillars corresponding to the bit lines. The present invention uses a two-stage etching process to prevent pillars from bending or collapsing due to high aspect ratio. Moreover, the present invention has a simple process and is able to reduce cost and decrease cell size.
US08546216B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first insulating layer, charge storage layers, element isolation insulating films, and a second insulating layer formed on the charge storage layers and the element isolation insulating films and including a stacked structure of a first silicon nitride film, first silicon oxide film, intermediate insulating film and second silicon oxide film. The first silicon nitride film has a nitrogen concentration of not less than 21×1015 atoms/cm2. Each element isolation insulating film includes a high-temperature oxide film formed along lower side surfaces of the charge storage layers between the charge storage layers and a coating type insulating film. The first silicon nitride film is formed on an upper surface of the high-temperature oxide film in upper surfaces of the element isolation insulating films and not on the upper surface of the coating type insulating film.
US08546213B2

A high voltage ESD protective diode having high avalanche withstand capability and capable of being formed by using manufacturing steps identical with those for a high voltage transistor to be protected, the device having a structure in which a gate oxide film is formed over a substrate surface at a PN junction formed of an N type low concentration semiconductor substrate constituting a cathode region and a P type low concentration diffusion region constituting an anode region, and a gate electrode which is disposed overriding the gate oxide film and a field oxide film is connected electrically by way of a gate plug with an anode electrode, whereby an electric field at the PN junction is moderated upon avalanche breakdown to obtain a high avalanche withstand capability. Further, the withstand voltage can be adjusted by changing the length of the field oxide film.
US08546212B2

A manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. At least one gate trench and a first inter-layer dielectric layer are formed on the substrate. A work function metallic layer is then formed in the gate trench. A first contact hole is then formed in the first inter-layer dielectric layer. A main conductive layer is formed in the gate trench and the first contact hole simultaneously.
US08546209B1

A method of forming a semiconductor device structure includes forming an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer over a semiconductor substrate and a dummy transistor gate structure formed on the substrate; infusing a shallow gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) layer in a top portion of the ILD layer; and removing at least one layer from the dummy transistor gate structure, wherein the at least one layer comprises a same material as the ILD layer and wherein the GCIB layer has a slower etch rate with respect to the ILD layer.
US08546207B2

The invention describes a method for fabricating silicon semiconductor wafers with the layer structures from III-V semiconductor layers for the integration of HEMTs based on semiconductor III-V layers with silicon components. SOI silicon semiconductor wafers are used, the active semiconductor layer of which has the III-V semiconductor layers (24) of the HEMT design (2) placed on it stretching over two mutually insulated regions (24a, 24b) of the active silicon layer. An appropriate layer arrangement is likewise disclosed.
US08546197B2

A method of manufacturing a thin film transistor includes: forming a gate electrode on a substrate; forming a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode; forming an organic semiconductor layer on the gate insulating layer; forming an organic semiconductor pattern by selectively removing part of the organic semiconductor layer by means of a laser ablation method; and forming source and drain electrodes on the organic semiconductor pattern.
US08546194B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a base carrier; forming a conductive post on the base carrier, the conductive post having a top protrusion with a protrusion top side; mounting a base integrated circuit over the base carrier; and forming a base encapsulation over the base integrated circuit, the base encapsulation having an encapsulation top side and an encapsulation recess with the conductive post partially exposed within the encapsulation recess, the encapsulation top side above the protrusion top side.
US08546185B2

Provided is a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes: providing a plurality of semiconductor substrates formed with through holes which penetrate between main surfaces of the substrates and are filled with porous conductors; stacking the plurality of semiconductor substrates while aligning the porous conductors filled in the through holes; introducing conductive ink containing particle-like conductors into the porous conductors of the plurality of stacked semiconductor substrates; and sintering the plurality of stacked semiconductor substrates.
US08546178B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a substrate, a first semiconductor layer, a light emitting layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a translucent electrode. The substrate includes a first region provided along periphery of a first major surface and a second region provided on center side of the first major surface as viewed from the first region. The first semiconductor layer is provided on the first major surface of the substrate. The light emitting layer is provided on the first semiconductor layer. The second semiconductor layer is provided on the light emitting layer. The translucent electrode is provided on the second semiconductor layer. A reflectance in the second region is higher than a reflectance in the first region.
US08546173B2

A photoelectric conversion device comprises a high-refractive-index portion at a position close to a photoelectric conversion element therein. And, the high-refractive-index portion has first and second horizontal cross-section surfaces. The first cross-section surface is at a position closer to the photoelectric conversion element rather than the second cross-section surface, and is larger than an area of the second cross-section surface, so as to guide an incident light into the photoelectric conversion element without reflection.
US08546171B2

Disclosed is a method of fabricating a thin film solar cell. A separation process (‘P4’ process) of insulating a thin film solar cell from the outside is integrally performed with a transparent electrode patterning process (‘P1’ process) and a metallic electrode patterning process (‘P3’ process). This may reduce the fabrication costs and enhance spatial efficiency as the ‘P4’ process and equipment for the ‘P4’ process are not required.
US08546169B1

A pressure sensor device is assembled by forming cavities on a surface of a metal sheet and then forming an electrically conductive pattern having traces and bumps over the cavities. An insulating layer is formed on top of the pattern and then processed to form exposed areas and die attach areas on the surface of the metal sheet. The exposed areas are plated with a conductive metal and then electrically connected to respective ones of the bumps. A gel is dispensed on the die attach areas and sensor dies are attached to respective die attach areas. One or more additional semiconductor dies are attached to the insulating layer and bond pads of these dies are electrically connected to the exposed plated areas. A molding compound is dispensed such that it covers the sensor die and the additional dies. The metal sheet is removed to expose outer surfaces of the bumps.
US08546163B2

Provided is a group-III nitride semiconductor laser device with a laser cavity allowing for a low threshold current, on a semipolar surface of a support base in which the c-axis of a hexagonal group-III nitride is tilted toward the m-axis. First and second fractured faces 27, 29 to form the laser cavity intersect with an m-n plane. The group-III nitride semiconductor laser device 11 has a laser waveguide extending in a direction of an intersecting line between the m-n plane and the semipolar surface 17a. In a laser structure 13, a first surface 13a is opposite to a second surface 13b. The first and second fractured faces 27, 29 extend from an edge 13c of the first surface to an edge 13d of the second surface 13b. The fractured faces are not formed by dry etching and are different from conventionally-employed cleaved facets such as c-planes, m-planes, or a-planes.
US08546158B2

A method for distributing phosphor particulates on an LED chip, includes steps of: providing a substrate having an LED chip mounted thereon; dispensing an adhesive on the chip, wherein the adhesive have positively charged phosphor particulates doped therein; providing an upper mold and a lower mold for producing an electric field through the adhesive and moving the upper mold to press the adhesive, wherein the phosphor particulates are driven by the electric field to move to a top face of the chip; and curing the adhesive and removing the upper mold and the lower mold.
US08546155B2

Method form via chain and serpentine/comb test structures in kerf areas of a wafer. The via chain test structures comprise a first via chain and a second via chain in a first kerf area. The via chain test structures are formed such that geometrically shaped portions of the first via chain and geometrically shaped portions of the second via chain alternate along the length of the first kerf area. The methods perform relatively low (first) magnification testing to identify a defective geometrically shaped portion that contains a defective via structure. The methods then perform relatively high (second) magnification testing only within the defective geometrically shaped portion. The first magnification testing is performed at a lower magnification relative to the second magnification testing.
US08546154B2

An apparatus and method to inspect a defect of a substrate. Since a recess of an under layer of a substrate is darker than a projection of a top layer, a ratio of a value of a secondary electron signal (of an SEM) of the under layer to a value of the top layer may be increased to improve a pattern image used to inspect an under layer defect. Several conditions under which electron beams are irradiated may be set, and the pattern may be scanned under such conditions. Secondary electron signals may be generated according to the conditions and converted into image data to display various pattern images. Scan information on the images may be stored with positional information on the substrate. Each of scan information on the pattern images may be calculated to generate a new integrated image.
US08546148B2

A composition for use as an assay reagent comprises a solid support comprising a member of a signal producing system and a coating of a synthetic copolymer. The synthetic copolymer comprises a first polymerized monomer comprising a pendant moiety comprising a reactive functionality or a derivative of a reactive functionality and a second polymerized monomer comprising a pendant moiety comprising at least 1 carbon atoms and at least 2 heteroatoms. In some embodiments the copolymer comprises a polyethylenic backbone comprising the pendant moiety comprising a reactive functionality or a derivative of a reactive functionality and the pendant moiety comprising at least 1 carbon atom and at least 2 heteroatoms.
US08546146B2

Process for evaluating a plurality of refinery feedstocks, by providing an array of refinery feedstocks, the array having at least a plurality of different refinery feedstocks, and fractionating each of the refinery feedstocks in the array, either in parallel or in a rapid serial fashion, to produce a further array having a plurality of fractions with different chemical and/or physical properties, each fraction being representative of a process stream that might be present in a refinery. Each of the plurality of fractions is analyzed to determine one or more chemical and/or physical properties of the fractions, the analyzes being performed at least partially in parallel.
US08546144B2

By way of summary, the present invention meets some or all of the above needs by providing in a first aspect a method comprising contacting red blood cells in a suspension medium containing mannose under conditions such that the concentration of S-Alc glycated hemoglobin is increased to greater than about 6 percent by weight of the hemoglobin in the red blood cells. Preferably the suspension medium is an aqueous suspension medium. In preferred embodiments, the method is performed at about ambient temperature, 18° C. to about 23° C.
US08546142B2

The invention is a reverse-flow method and system for the loading, proliferation and differentiation of cells into and throughout an implantable biocompatible three-dimensional scaffold.
US08546126B2

The present teachings provide methods for increasing protein secretion, e.g., chymosin in filamentous fungi by co-expressing certain chaperone(s) and/or foldase(s). The present teachings also provide filamentous fungi containing certain chaperone(s) and/or foldase(s) and a protein of interest for increased secretion.
US08546120B2

An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.
US08546119B2

An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritima acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in specific activity. The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.
US08546111B2

The object is to provide a novel glycosyltransferase and the use thereof, the glycosyltransferase catalyzes transglucosylation of maltotriose units under conditions which can be employed for the processing of foods or the like. Provided is a maltotriosyl transferase which acts on polysaccharides and oligosaccharides having α-1,4 glucoside bonds, and has activity for transferring maltotriose units to saccharides, the maltotriosyl transferase acting on maltotetraose as substrate to give a ratio between the maltoheptaose production rate and maltotriose production rate of 9:1 to 10:0 at any substrate concentration ranging from 0.67 to 70% (w/v).
US08546107B2

Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr), of phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (“PI3K”), and of B-Raf are described. Methods of treating tumors containing mutated EGFr with human monoclonal antibodies against EGFr are described. Methods and kits for ascertaining the presence of one or more mutant EGFr, mutant PI3K, and/or mutant B-Raf in a sample and for treating disorders or conditions related to the presence of mutant EGFr, mutant PI3K, and/or mutant B-Raf are also described. Methods of treating tumors containing mutant EGFr, mutant PI3K, and/or mutant B-Raf are also described.
US08546106B2

The present invention relates to methods for producing a secreted polypeptide having biological activity, comprising: (a) transforming a fungal host cell with a fusion protein construct encoding a fusion protein, which comprises: (i) a first polynucleotide encoding a signal peptide; (ii) a second polynucleotide encoding at least a catalytic domain of an endoglucanase or a portion thereof; and (iii) a third polynucleotide encoding at least a catalytic domain of a polypeptide having biological activity; wherein the signal peptide and at least the catalytic domain of the endoglucanase increases secretion of the polypeptide having biological activity compared to the absence of at least the catalytic domain of the endoglucanase; (b) cultivating the transformed fungal host cell under conditions suitable for production of the fusion protein; and (c) recovering the fusion protein, a component thereof, or a combination thereof, having biological activity, from the cultivation medium.
US08546105B2

Methods for manipulating carbohydrate processing pathways in cells of interest are provided. Methods are directed at manipulating multiple pathways involved with the sialylation reaction by using recombinant DNA technology and substrate feeding approaches to enable the production of sialylated glycoproteins in cells of interest. These carbohydrate engineering efforts encompass the implementation of new carbohydrate bioassays, the examination of a selection of insect cell lines and the use of bioinformatics to identify gene sequences for critical processing enzymes. The compositions comprise cells of interest producing sialylated glycoproteins. The methods and compositions are useful for heterologous expression of glycoproteins.
US08546087B2

The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, methods and/or kits for determining and/or predicting and/or diagnosing and/or treating restenosis in a patient.
US08546083B2

Methods and compositions are provided for determining polypeptide-nucleic acid interactions.
US08546082B2

The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for rapid identification and quantification of sepsis-causing bacteria by molecular mass and base composition analysis.
US08546079B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a reporter gene construct. The reporter gene construct comprises a transcriptional regulatory sequence and a reporter gene that is functionally bound to downstream of the transcriptional regulatory sequence. The reporter gene construct is activated dependently of environment and the reporter gene codes for a protein producible of producing a free radical by the activation of the transcriptional regulatory sequence.
US08546076B2

The invention concerns novel mutations or mutational profiles of HIV-1 protease cleavage sites (CS) in the Gag region correlated with a phenotype causing alterations in sensitivity to anti-HIV drugs. The present invention also relates to the use of genotypic characterization of a target population of HIV and the subsequent association, i.e., correlation, of this information to phenotypic interpretation in order to correlate virus mutational profiles with drug resistance. The invention further relates to methods of utilizing the mutational profiles of the invention in databases, drug development, i.e., drug design, and drug modification, therapy and treatment design and clinical management.
US08546064B2

A method for fabricating a flowfield for a fuel cell includes the steps of: providing a substrate; providing a plurality of radiation sources configured to generate a plurality of radiation beams; disposing a radiation-sensitive material on the substrate; placing an imaging mask between the plurality of radiation sources and the radiation-sensitive material; and exposing the radiation-sensitive material to the plurality of radiation beams through a first portion of the radiation-transparent apertures and a second portion of the radiation-transparent apertures in the imaging mask to form the plurality of truss elements and the plurality of wall elements in the radiation-sensitive material, the truss elements forming a plurality of trusses configured to support an adjacent diffusion medium layer, and the wall elements defining a fluid path along a length of the substrate.
US08546063B2

Provided is a pattern-forming method including, in the following order: (1) a process of forming a film with an actinic ray-sensitive or radiation-sensitive resin composition comprising a resin which contains an acid-decomposable repeating unit and is capable of decreasing the solubility in an organic solvent by the action of an acid; (2) a process of exposing the film with an electron beam or an EUV ray; and (4) a process of developing the film with a developer containing an organic solvent.
US08546052B2

An electrophotographic photosensitive member having a surface layer containing a polymeric product obtained by polymerizing a specific adamantane compound, a process cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which have the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a process for producing the electrophotographic photosensitive member.
US08546050B2

The present invention is an electrophotographic photosensitive member including a conductive support, an intermediate layer which is placed on the conductive support, and a photosensitive layer which is placed on the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a metal-oxide particle and a compound having a structure represented by the following formula (1):
US08546047B2

Provided are a reflective mask blank and a reflective mask which are capable of improving the contrast for inspection light having a wavelength of 200 nm or less in an inspection, capable of improving the contrast for exposure light in use of the mask, and capable of forming a high-resolution fine pattern. A reflective mask blank 10 includes a substrate 1, and a multilayer reflective film 2 adapted to reflect exposure light, a protective film 6 composed mainly of ruthenium (Ru) or its compound on the multilayer reflective film 2, and an absorber film 4 adapted to absorb the exposure light, which are formed in this order on the substrate. The absorber film 4 has a laminated structure including an uppermost layer 4b and a lower layer 4a. The uppermost layer 4b is formed of a material composed mainly of a nitride, an oxide, an oxynitride, a carbide, a carbonitride, or an oxycarbonitride of at least one or more elements selected from Si and Cr. A reflective mask 20 is obtained by forming a transfer pattern in the absorber film of the reflective mask blank.
US08546046B2

A method for fabricating a bi-polar plate of a fuel cell and the bi-polar plate thereof are presented. A graphite film is formed first. Next, a polymeric material added with electrically conductive powder is coated on a surface of a metal substrate. The graphite film is disposed on the polymeric material and the polymeric material is hardened to form an adhesive layer, such that the graphite film is attached on the surface of the metal substrate.
US08546040B2

In forming a fuel cell stack by stacking a plurality of fuel cell units, in order to provide a fuel cell in which the fuel cell stack can be stably bound, the supply of fuel and conduction of respective cells can be surely performed, and stable power generation is possible, the fuel cell includes a fuel cell stack 2 formed by stacking a plurality of fuel cell units 3 having a fuel electrode 33 and an oxidizer electrode 43. The oxidizer electrode has, in a plane orthogonal to a stacking direction of the fuel cell units, an elastic member (an oxidizer electrode diffusion layer) 41 that is arranged in parallel to a rigid supporting member 14 and has electrical conductivity.
US08546039B2

A solid polymer fuel cell that utilizes liquid fuel such as methanol should prevent generated water from residing in a ventilation port close to an anode, to thereby suppress degradation of a MEA. The fuel cell includes an anode, an anode-side collecting electrode, a sealing material located along a perimeter of a solid polymer electrolytic membrane and interleaved between the electrolytic membrane and the anode-side collecting electrode, and a discharging device that discharges a product generated through electric reaction on the anode. The sealing material is provided in a frame-shape around the anode. The discharging device is a ventilation port formed on the sealing material, and a water repellent material is provided at least one of inside the ventilation port and between the ventilation port and the anode.
US08546032B2

The fuel cell device has a control device for conducting, at the time of startup, a partial oxidation reforming reaction (POX) inside the reformer, then an auto-thermal reforming reaction (ATR) inside the reformer, then a steam reforming reaction (SR) inside the reformer; a water supply device is provided with a pump for intermittently supplying extremely small amounts of water to the reformer using pulsed control; the control device controls the fuel supply device, the reforming air supply device, and the water supply device to respectively supply target supply flow rates of fuel, reforming air, and water based on the outputs of various sensors; and, in the ATR region, the control device suppresses changes in the flow rate of fuel supplied by the fuel supply device during at least a predetermined interval following the supply of water by the pump.
US08546031B2

A hydrogen generation device and a fuel cell using the same are provided. The hydrogen generation device includes a first containing groove, a cover, a second containing groove, and a rotating device. The first containing groove contains liquid water. The cover is fixed on the first containing groove and covers the liquid water. The cover has an opening for exposing the liquid water. The second containing groove is stacked on the cover and divided into a plurality of containing compartments, wherein each containing compartment contains a solid fuel. The opening is aligned with one containing compartment so that the corresponding solid fuel reacts with the liquid water generate hydrogen. The rotating device is connected with the first or the second containing groove. The opening is moved and aligned with another containing compartment when the rotating device drives the first containing groove and the second containing groove to relatively rotate.
US08546024B2

A lithium secondary battery has an anode, a cathode, a separator between the anode and the cathode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte includes a lithium salt; and a non-linear carbonate-based mixed organic solvent in which (a) a cyclic carbonate compound, and (b) a propionate-based compound are mixed at a volume ratio (a:b) in the range from about 10:90 to about 70:30, and optionally (c) a vinylene carbonate; and an inhibitor against a reaction between the anode and the propionate-based ester compound. The cathode has a current density in the range from about 3.5 to about 5.5 mA/cm2 and a porosity in the range from about 18 to about 35%. This battery may be manufactured as a high-loading lithium secondary battery.
US08546020B2

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to lithium-ion batteries, and more specifically, to a system and method for fabricating such batteries using thin-film processes that form three-dimensional structures. In one embodiment, an anodic structure used to form an energy storage device is provided. The anodic structure comprises a flexible conductive substrate, a plurality of conductive microstructures formed on the conductive substrate, comprising a plurality of columnar projections and dendritic structures formed over the plurality of columnar projections and a plurality of tin particles formed on the plurality of conductive microstructures. In another embodiment, the anodic structure further comprises a tin nucleation layer comprising tin particles formed on the flexible conductive substrate between the flexible conductive substrate and the plurality of conductive microstructures.
US08546017B2

Provided is a composite for anode material, a method of manufacturing the composite for anode material, and a cathode and a lithium battery that includes the composite for anode material, and more particularly, to a composite for anode material that has a large charge and discharge capacity and a high capacity retention, a method of manufacturing the composite for anode material, and a cathode and a lithium battery that includes the composite for anode material. Also, the composite for anode material in which Si or Si and carbon are distributed in silicon oxide particles is provided.
US08546015B2

This invention provides a battery can allowing for a reduced amount of gas forming therein, thus realizing lower production cost. The cathode can 11 of an alkaline battery is cylindrically shaped and closed-bottomed, comprising an opening 15, a body 17 and a bottom 18, with the body 17 being divided into an opening sealing section 31 and an electrode mixture container section 33 which are arranged in order from the opening 15, with the plate thickness t0 set for the electrode mixture container section 33, which is not less than 80% of the plate thickness t1 of the opening sealing section 31, with the plate thickness t3 of the electrode mixture container section 33 gradually reducing in the region starting at the topmost point of the electrode mixture container section 33 and ending at the set plate thickness t0.
US08546010B2

An assembled battery with a high capacity, comprising a plurality of unit cells electrically connected with one another in parallel, the unit cells each having a through-hole and being of toroidal shape, and the plurality of unit cells are arranged in a nested manner such that one unit cell is disposed within another unit cell. The problem that toroidal batteries with high capacity, high power density and small thickness may have a large volume and low energy density is solved by connecting in parallel a plurality of unit cells nested within one another, and heat dissipation of the battery is also further improved. A toroidal cell having heat dissipating fins is also provided.
US08546008B2

Provided is an electronic device, comprising: a casing, comprising an accommodation space that a battery is detachably assembled therein. The battery comprises a hook extending towards the casing, a first and a second urging surfaces that a step connected there between; and a latching module, disposed in the casing and moving back and forth between a first and a second positions. When the latching module moves from the first position towards the second position, the hook, the first urging surface, the step, and the second urging surface are sequentially located in a moving path of a urging portion of the latching module. When the latching module is located at the first position, the urging portion is buckled to the hook. When the latching module is located at the second position, the urging portion is limited by the step and rests on the second urging surface.
US08546003B2

A secondary battery having a bare cell and a protective circuit module disposed over the bare cell and electrically connected to the bare cell via a first lead plate, in which the first lead plate includes a first plate, a second plate connected to the first plate, and a third plate arranged opposite to the first plate and connected to the second plate.
US08545998B2

Embodiments of the current invention describe a method of plating platinum selectively on a copper film using a self-initiated electroless process. In particular, platinum films are plated onto very thin copper films having a thickness of less than 300 angstroms. The electroless plating solution and the resulting structure are also described. This process has applications in the semiconductor processing of logic devices, memory devices, and photovoltaic devices.
US08545978B2

To provide a composite film having low-temperature flexibility. The composite film including an acrylic polymer and a urethane polymer, in which the acrylic polymer includes an acryl component containing at least an acrylic acid-based monomer and a monofunctional acrylic monomer whose homopolymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 273 K or more; the content of said acrylic acid-based monomer in said composite film is from 0.5 to 15 wt %; the glass transition temperature (Tg ac) of the acrylic polymer is 273 K or more; the glass transition temperature (Tg ur) of the urethane polymer is 273 K or less; and the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the composite film is 269 K or less.
US08545977B2

Polymer concrete electrical insulation including a hardened epoxy resin composition filled with an electrically non-conductive inorganic filler compositions. The polymer concrete electrical insulation system optionally may contain additives. The epoxy resin composition is based on a cycloaliphatic epoxy resin. The inorganic filler composition can be present within the range of about 76% by weight to about 86% by weight, calculated to the total weight of the polymer concrete electrical insulation system. The inorganic filler composition includes a uniform mixture of (i) an inorganic filler with an average grain size within the range of 1 micron (μm) to 100 micron (μm) [component c(i)], and (ii) an inorganic filler with an average grain size within the range of 0.1 mm (100 micron) to 2 mm [component c(ii)]. The inorganic filler with an average grain size within the range of 1 micron (μm) to 100 micron (μm) [component c(i)] can be present in an amount within the range of 22% to 42%, calculated to the total weight of the polymer concrete electrical insulation system; and (e) the inorganic filler with an average grain size within the range of 0.1 mm to 2 mm [component c(ii)] is present within the range of 41% to 61% by weight, calculated to the total weight of the polymer concrete electrical insulation; and method of producing said electrical insulation.
US08545975B2

A solvent cast film comprises a polyimide comprising structural units derived from polymerization of a dianhydride component comprising a dianhydride selected from the group consisting of 3,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 3,3′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, 4,4′-oxydiphthalic dianhydride, and combinations thereof, with a diamine component comprising 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone; wherein the polyimide has a glass transition temperature from 190° C. to 400° C.; and wherein the film has a coefficient of thermal expansion of less than 60 ppm/° C., a thickness from 0.1 to 250 micrometers, endless than 5% residual solvent by weight.
US08545965B2

A method for manufacturing a lightweight structural trim part is comprising the following steps: (A) inserting a plurality of layers into a molding tool comprising a first molding half (6) and a second molding half (7). The second molding half (7) comprises a plurality of cup-like indentation (8). The plurality of layers at least comprises a first air permeable skin layer (1) facing the first molding half (6), a second air tight skin layer (3,4) facing the second molding half (7), and a film layer (2) between the two skin layers. (B) Closing the molding tool and discharging gas from one side in order to press the first skin layer against the first molding half. (C) Shaping and consolidating the first porous skin layer. (D) Charging with pressurized air the first space in order to press the second skin layer against the second molding half. (E) Shaping and consolidating the second skin layer. (F) Meanwhile bonding the first and second skin layer to each other in the area between the cup-like indentations, in order to form an acoustic body comprising a plurality of cup-like cavities.
US08545961B2

A ballistic-resistant molded article comprising a compressed stack of sheets comprising reinforcing elongate bodies and an organic matrix material, the direction of the elongate bodies within the compressed stack being not unidirectionally, wherein the elongate bodies are tapes with a width of at least 2 mm and a thickness to width ratio of at least 10:1 with the stack comprising 0.2-8 wt. % of an organic matrix material.
US08545958B2

A block including at least one glass ply at least partially covering an outer surface of a core made from composite material. A method for reinforcing a block made from a composite material, including a glass ply placed in a mold, such as to cover the base of the mold; the block is positioned in the mold; the edges of the glass ply are folded such that the glass ply is molded to the outer edge of the block; the mold is closed with a cover; the block housed inside the mold is cured in an oven such as to polymerize the glass ply; and the glass-ply-covered block is recovered.
US08545957B2

An optical information recording medium including a substrate; two or more recording layers provided on the substrate; and a protective layer provided on the recording layers, wherein the surface of one of the side of the substrate and the protective layer is a light irradiation plane, at least one of the recording layers other than the recording layer at the deepest position from the light irradiation plane includes W, Pd, and Cu oxides as the principal components, and the ratio of W, Pd, and Cu that are respectively included in the W, Pd, and Cu oxides satisfies the relationship 0.17≦x1 (where x1=a/(b+0.8c), where a: atomic ratio of W with respect to the total of W, Pd, and Cu, b: atomic ratio of Pd with respect to the total of W, Pd, and Cu, and c: atomic ratio of Cu with respect to the total of W, Pd, and Cu).
US08545955B2

[Problem to be solved]To obtain a display strip to which bags can be attached with sufficient holding force and from which the bags can be removed smoothly, keeping the removed surface of the bag clean.[Solution]The display strip for arranging and attaching a plurality of product-enclosed bags comprises a laminate having at least a substrate layer and a sealant layer, wherein the sealant layer comprises an olefin resin layer [(a) layer] containing no polymer grafted with a vinyl monomer and an easily peelable resin layer [(b) layer] containing an olefin-based polymer grafted with a vinyl monomer, and the (a) layer is the outermost layer of the display strip.
US08545952B2

A polyester container with enhanced gas barrier properties includes a polyester composition having an IV of 0.65 dL/g to 1.0 dL/g and including a polyester and a reactive organic gas barrier enhancing additive. The polyester is made using at least one first polycondensation catalyst, non-limiting examples of which include metals in Groups 3, 4, 13, and 14 of the Periodic Table and includes a catalyst residue remaining in the polyester from formation of the polyester. The catalyst residue includes at least a portion of the at least one first polycondensation catalyst.
US08545947B2

A transparent substrate with optical compensation ability comprises polyimide having the following chemical formula: wherein A and A′ are cyclic aliphatic or aromatic compounds, B and B′ are cyclic aliphatic or aromatic compounds. In particular, the refractive index of the transparent polyimide is nx=ny>nz, that is, it has ability of adjusting the negative type c-plate phase difference, wherein nx represents the lateral refractive index, ny represents the longitudinal refractive index, nz represents the vertical refractive index along the thickness direction, and m and n are between 10 and 10,000.
US08545943B2

A painting device for painting a curved surface (102) of an object (101), with a paint material ejection device (103), with a guide device (104, 105) and with a control device. The paint material ejection device (103) is designed for ejecting paint material. By means of the guide device (104, 105) the paint material ejection device (103) can be mechanically guided along a curved surface of an object. By means of the control device the paint material ejection device (103) and the guide device (104, 105) can be controlled in such a way that by means of guiding the paint material ejection device (103) along a predefinable path and by means of predefinable ejection of paint from the paint material ejection device (103) along the predefinable path a curved surface (102) of an object (101) to be painted can be painted.
US08545941B2

In an oven used for printing machine and the like, drying is rendered possible to be conducted without decreasing traveling speed (120 m/min or more) by a short and compact drying zone for a coating liquid agent which is made aqueous as well as oily coating liquid agent. A plurality of hot air blow-off nozzles 222 are provided in the drying portion 220 of the first printing unit 200. Heating guide rolls 223a are provided at the former portion, and cooling guide rolls 223b are provided at the latter portion, so that they meet the hot air blow-off nozzles 222. Liquid delivery pipes 224a for injecting hot water are connected to the heating guide rolls 223a, and liquid delivery pipes 224b for injecting cooling water are connected to the cooling guide rolls 223b. Introduced raw web 1 is heated to the boiling point of solvent or higher than that by the heating guide rolls 223a.
US08545940B2

A reactor configured to subject a substrate to alternately repeated surface reactions of vapor-phase reactants is disclosed. The reactor may include a reaction chamber that defines a reaction space and a gas flow control guide structure; and a substrate holder. The gas flow control guide includes one or more channels. Each of the channels widens as the channel extends from the inlet to the reaction space. At least one of the channels is configured to generate a non-uniform laminar flow at a first portion of the periphery of the reaction space such that the laminar flow includes a plurality of flow paths that provide different amounts of a fluid. The reaction chamber may include a reactor base and a reactor cover detachable from each other; and a driver configured to independently adjust at least three portions of the reactor base to provide a substantially perfect seal to the reactor space.
US08545937B2

A spray nozzle is disclosed that produces a flat spray pattern for liquid coating material, the spray pattern having a generally uniform flow distribution of quantity of coating material across the spray pattern. The spray nozzle may include a rectangular cut spray orifice to produce such a spray pattern. The spray pattern may further have distinct edges so that the pattern exhibits substantially reduced tailings of coating material outside these edges. In one embodiment, the spray pattern produces a “rectangular” drip pattern. In another embodiment, the spray pattern may include a middle region having reduced flow of coating material as compared to side regions of the spray pattern.
US08545934B2

A method of preparing composite materials by (a) containing particulates to which an adhering material is to be made to adhere, in a rotary body having a bottom surface and a side wall; (b) rotating the rotary body so as to apply centrifugal forces to the particulates in the rotary body; and (c) varying the inclination of the rotary body to an arbitrary inclination angle in the range from an angle at which the bottom surface of the rotary body forms a horizontal surface perpendicular to the direction of gravity to an angle at which the bottom surface forms a vertical surface parallel to the direction of gravity, and supporting the rotary body at the arbitrary inclination angle.
US08545933B2

A method of cooling a device, by applying a molecular fan thin film to a heat sink surface of the device, dissipating heat from the device by emitting infrared radiation, and cooling the device.
US08545931B2

A coating system with an applicator that has an air cylinder with a needle valve. A control has a timer that provides a string of electrical pulses to a solenoid. With each pulse, the solenoid applies pressurized air to a cylinder piston, thereby opening the needle valve and permitting coating material to flow past the needle valve. The needle valve is closed for durations of time between pulses, and the coating material is ejected from a dispensing needle in response to closings of the needle valve.
US08545930B2

A manufacturing method of mechanical elements comprises providing (210) of a mechanical element having a rough curved surface preferably with a surface roughness of more than Sa=0.1 μm. The method is characterized by tribochemically depositing (214) solid lubricant substance directly onto the rough curved surface in transverse directions. A mechanical element has a curved surface. The curved surface has a surface layer of a tribochemically deposited solid lubricant substance. The mechanical element is obtainable by the above method. A tool for manufacturing of such a mechanical element comprises a support portion, at least one tool working surface, means for providing a force pressing the tool towards the curved surface and driving means for moving said at least one tool working surface in two different directions along said curved surface. The working surface comprises an oxide, carbide and/or suicide of an element capable of forming a stable sulfide.
US08545928B2

A method and system for including a double layer security mark in digital document data defining an image of a document to be printed and in the printed document. A fluorescence mark region including a fluorescence mark is defined using first and second metameric colorant mixtures. Variation in colorant spatial coverage between the first and second metameric colorant mixtures results in colorant-free areas that define the fluorescence mark due to substrate fluorescence under UV illumination. The fluorescence mark region is modified to define a double layer fluorescence mark region including the fluorescence mark and also including at least one visible light object defined by a third colorant mixture. The third colorant mixture is added to the fluorescence mark region by masking the colorant-free areas of the fluorescence mark region to prevent writing of the third colorant mixture data to the colorant-free areas to avoid disturbing the colorant-free areas.
US08545918B2

A ham product and method for production thereof described herein separate bone-in hams into smaller pieces. Accordingly, pieces of bone-in ham, even those spirally-sliced, will be available to consumers in smaller portions. Unlike conventional methods, however, the ham product provides three or four pieces of essentially equal size that each have a nearly equal meat-to-bone ratio. Furthermore, when a spiral cut ham is separated into pieces, each piece includes a portion of the femur and retains attachment of the slices to the femur so that the slices stay intact during handling and packaging and so that the pieces retain the natural shape and easy handling desired by consumers.
US08545909B2

A method of recombinantly producing a non-bovine pre-prochymosin, prochymosin or chymosin derived from ruminant species including deer species, buffalo species, antelope species, giraffe species, ovine species and caprine species; Camelidae species such as Camelus dromedarius; porcine species; or Equidae species. The recombinant enzymes are used in milk coagulating compositions in cheese manufacturing based on cow's milk and milk from any animal species which are used in cheese manufacturing including camel's milk.
US08545902B2

Compositions for improved delivery of plant-derived cathartics are disclosed. In one aspect, the compositions comprise a plant-derived cathartic and an effervescence coupling system that, when dissolved into an aqueous medium such as water, produce an effervescent liquid cathartic composition. In another aspect, the compositions comprise a solid dosage form that dissolves or disperses in an aqueous medium to produce a liquid composition that is administered to an individual. The liquid compositions are not only more appealing to a consumer, but also improve the amount and bioavailability of active cathartic components. The cathartic composition is administered to an individual alone or in combination with one or more agents that promote additional laxation, digestion or gastrointestinal health, and/or improve the effectiveness of the plant-derived cathartic composition.
US08545898B2

A composition for a broad-spectrum antiviral agent with excellent preservation stability, which comprises a pure chlorine dioxide solution comprising a chlorine dioxide gas dissolved therein, a chlorite, and a pH adjuster.
US08545886B2

The invention is directed to a Pharmaceutical extended release system, particularly for oral administration, of a pH-dependent water-soluble active substance, comprising or essentially consisting of a) flibanserin or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof as active substance; b) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable pH-dependent polymers; c) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable pH-independent polymers; d) one or more pharmaceutically acceptable acids; and e) optionally one or more additives. The present invention provides a release profile of flibanserin which is independent on the pH in the gastrointestinal tract when administered orally resulting in a significantly improved bioavailability.
US08545883B2

An innovative pharmaceutical form for controlled drug release relates to systems obtained by the assembly of individual release modules, of which the capacity to release the drug in time and in space depends on the way in which the modules have been assembled. The modular structure offers high reproducibility of manufacture and flexibility of release.
US08545873B2

A transdermal patch comprising a backing 2 and an adhesive layer 3 laminated on the backing 2, wherein the adhesive layer 3 comprises a rosin-based resin and petroleum resin as a tackifier, the total compounding amount of the rosin-based resin and the petroleum resin is in a range of 15% by mass to 50% by mass, and compounding amount of the petroleum resin is ⅓ times by mass to 4 times by mass as that of the rosin-based resin.
US08545871B2

Disclosed herein is a fibrous tissue sealant in the form of an anhydrous fibrous sheet comprising a first component which is a fibrous polymer containing electrophilic or nucleophilic groups and a second component capable of crosslinking the first component when the sheet is exposed to an aqueous medium, thereby forming a crosslinked hydrogel that is adhesive to biological tissue. The fibrous tissue sealant may be useful as a general tissue adhesive for medical and veterinary applications such as wound closure, supplementing or replacing sutures or staples in internal surgical procedures, tissue repair, and to prevent post-surgical adhesions. The fibrous tissue sealant may be particularly suitable for use as a hemostatic sealant to stanch bleeding from surgical or traumatic wounds.
US08545870B2

The invention concerns a medicinal tablet to be sucked made with boiled sugar of solid consistency designed to dissolve in the buccal cavity, comprising at least an active principle. The invention is characterized in that it further comprises at least a matrix agent for slowing down the release of the active principle(s) which therefore remain in prolonged contact with the region of the mouth and the pharynx, the dissolving time in the buccal cavity being at least 15 minutes.
US08545867B2

According to an aspect of the present invention, medical devices are provided that contain at least one polymeric region which contains (a) at least one block copolymer that contains at least three polymer blocks that differ from one another and (b) at least one therapeutic agent.
US08545863B2

Controlling insects of the superfamily of the Psylloidea in horticultural and/or agricultural crops, by using bicarbonate and carbonate salts.
US08545861B2

A fibrous web, in particular tissue web treated with a lotion composition based on an O/W emulsion comprising: (A) at least one oil; (B) an (O/W) emulsifier or (O/W) emulsifier combination; and (C) 6 to 30 weight % of water; wherein the weight % values relate to the total weight of the lotion composition. Since in the above lotion composition the external phase is aqueous, a web treated therewith can easily be wet by water and does not float on the water if it is to be disposed in a toilet.
US08545856B2

Certain embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions, methods, devices, systems, and products regarding frozen particles. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles include materials at low temperatures. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles provide vehicles for delivery of particular agents. In certain embodiments, the frozen particles are administered to at least one biological tissue.
US08545853B2

It refers to a recombinant alpha-hemolysin polypeptide of Staphylococcus aureus, comprising a deletion in the stem domain, wherein at least one heterologous sequence is inserted in a region selected from the group consisting of regions defined by amino acid position of 108 to 151, 1 to 5, 288 to 293, 43 to 48, 235 to 240, 92 to 97, 31 to 36,or 156 to 161 of SEQ ID NO: 1, with the proviso that, if the heterologous sequence contains five or more consecutive histidines the moiety of the heterologous sequence other than the moiety of five or more consecutive histidines has a minimum length of 11 amino acids; or a variant thereof comprising 1-50 amino acids added, substituted or deleted in SEQ ID NO. 1 and the activity to form oligomers and to bind to lipidic bilayers. It also provides a medicament and vaccine comprising said recombinant polypeptide.
US08545832B2

The present invention relates to pre-formulations comprising low viscosity, non-liquid crystalline, mixtures of: a) at least one neutral diacyl lipid and/or at least one tocopherol; b) at least one phospholipid; c) at least one biocompatible, oxygen containing, low viscosity organic solvent; wherein at least one bioactive agent is dissolved or dispersed in the low viscosity mixture and wherein the pre-formulation forms, or is capable of forming, at least one liquid crystalline phase structure upon contact with an aqueous fluid. The preformulations are suitable for generating parenteral, non-parenteral and topical depot compositions for sustained release of active agents. The invention additionally relates to a method of delivery of an active agent comprising administration of a preformulation of the invention, a method of treatment comprising administration of a preformulation of the invention and the use of a preformulation of the invention in a method for the manufacture of a medicament.
US08545827B2

The present invention is related to an aqueous conditioning composition for hair comprising at least one alkyl glyceryl ether and at least one arylated silicone. Conditioning composition of the present invention can be in the form of a shampoo, cleansing—conditioning composition, or in the form of a conditioner used after washing hair with cleansing compositions. It has surprisingly been found out that a composition comprising at least one alkyl glyceryl ether and at least one arylated silicone gives hair shine, and hair treated with such a composition looks attractive and has its natural excellent shine, volume and body, elasticity, smoothness and it is easily manageable. Accordingly, the present invention is on a conditioning composition for hair comprising at least one alkyl glyceryl ether and at least one arylated silicone.
US08545823B2

A cosmetic composition for caring for and/or making up the skin, lips and/or body in the form of a film, which is non-transferable, long-lasting with a comfortable feeling of use to consumers over long periods of wear time. The composition contains graftable POSS which forms a film when it cures in situ. The invention also relates to using such film for preparing a cosmetic composition and a makeup process and makeup kit comprising the product.
US08545815B2

Certain surfactants suitable for use alone to dissolve a water-insoluble component in compositions is described for providing VOC-free compressed gas aerosol compositions. The compositions include water-insoluble component(s), a surfactant and water. The water-insoluble component(s) can be active agent(s), such as fragrance(s) and/or an insecticide(s). The surfactant is present as a single surfactant which, in the absence of a solvent, dissolves or disperses the water-insoluble component(s) and provides a homogenous blend in water which provides a stable compressed gas emulsion. The surfactant is an anionic surfactant or a nonionic surfactant, in particular nonionic alkylpolyglycosides; nonionic cocoglucoside; nonionic alkylene oxide extended chain alkylpolyglycosides; anionic sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), nonionic C13-C15 oxoalcohol ethoxylate with 8 ethylene oxides (EO), nonionic C12-C14 secondary alcohol ethoxylate with 7EO or 12EO, polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogenated castor oil wherein the PEG is PEG-60 or PEG-40, polyglyceryl-10 laurate and polyglyceryl-6 caprylate.
US08545811B2

The present application discloses solid compositions for the oral administration of dyes, and diagnostic use thereof. Preferably, such diagnostic use is aimed at the diagnostic evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract.
US08545803B2

Modified molecular sieve characterized by improved sodium-resisting contamination activity and preparation method thereof are provided. The method comprises: adding molecular sieve in phosphorus-containing organic solution, and reacting for 10-200 minutes at temperature of 70-200° C. and pressure of 0.2-1.2 MPa, and then filtering, drying and calcining. The said modified molecular sieve contains 90-99 wt. % molecular sieve as dry basis and 1-10 wt. % phosphorus as oxide. The said method can improve the capability of sodium-resisting contamination effectively, and its technology is simple and fits the existing catalyst production apparatus and process. The said modified molecular sieve has high sodium-resisting contamination activity, and the model catalyst by sodium contamination has high activity retention.
US08545801B1

This disclosure is directed to a method for preparing a new crystalline molecular sieve designated SSZ-87, which is synthesized using an N,N′-diisopropyl-N,N′-diethylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-ene-2,3:5,6-dipyrrolidinium dication as a structure directing agent.
US08545796B2

The invention is directed to compositions and processes for the production of silica-stabilized ultrafine anatase titanias and which may further comprise tungsten and vanadia. The surface stabilization may be by treatment of the TiO2 particles with a low molecular weight and/or small nanoparticle form of silica such as, in preferred embodiments, a tetra(alkyl)ammonium silicate or silicic acid, which serves to efficiently maintain the anatase phase and prevent crystal growth under severe thermal and hydrothermal conditions, even in the presence of vanadia. The vanadia catalysts produced from the novel titanias have equal or improved catalytic activity for selective catalytic reduction of NOx compared to conventional vanadia supported silica-titania based catalysts. The invention is further directed to diesel emission catalytic devices comprising the novel titania-based catalyst compositions.
US08545786B2

Methods for producing porous tricalcium phosphate net-shaped material are provide. The methods involve preparing a reactant mixture comprising calcium oxide and phosphorus pentoxide in a mole percent ratio that allows the mixture to form tricalcium phosphate upon combustion thereof, forming this mixture into a desired final shape in a die with compression, and carrying out a combustion synthesis therewith. Net-shaped TCP materials of the combustion synthesis, comprising alpha tricalcium phosphate or mixtures of alpha and beta tricalcium phosphate, are optionally further treated to effect transition of the alpha phase to the beta phase. The net-shaped TCP materials can have a uniform or non-uniform porosity.
US08545783B2

There is provided an acid gas absorbent having excellent performance of absorbing acid gas such as carbon dioxide, and an acid gas removal device and an acid gas removal method using the acid gas absorbent. An acid gas absorbent of an embodiment contains at least one type of tertiary amine compound represented by the following general formula (1). (In the above formula (1), the cycle A represents a cyclic structure whose carbon number is not less than 3 nor more than 8. R1, R2 and R3 each represent an alkyl group whose carbon number is 1 to 4, and R4 represents a hydroxyalkyl group. R1 and R2 are groups coupled to carbon atoms adjacent to a carbon atom forming the cycle A and coupled to a nitrogen atom.)
US08545782B1

A CO2 recovery apparatus includes a desulfurization tower which includes a desulfurization unit and a cooling unit, an absorption tower which includes a CO2 absorption unit and an acid washing unit, a regeneration tower, and an acid water production device configured to produce acid water by causing exhaust gas yet to be introduced into the desulfurization to come into contact with water. In the CO2 recovery apparatus, the water to be come in contact with the exhaust gas is condensed water that is generated in the desulfurization tower, the absorption tower, or the regeneration tower.
US08545781B1

The carbon dioxide adsorbent composition relates to a material that will adsorb carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere and that is made by the treatment of oil fly ash with ammonium hydroxide. In order to make the carbon dioxide adsorbent, oil fly ash is first mixed with ammonium hydroxide. This mixture is then refluxed and cooled. Additional ammonium hydroxide is added to the cooled mixture of oil fly ash and ammonium hydroxide to form a secondary mixture. This forms an amine-functionalized fly ash composition, which is then filtered from the secondary mixture to be used as a carbon dioxide adsorbent composition. The carbon dioxide adsorbent composition is then dried and may be used as a carbon dioxide adsorbent for gas streams, such as flues and exhaust systems, containing carbon dioxide.
US08545780B1

A catalyst material including a catalyst carrier including a porous alumina support and a hindrance layer on the alumina support, the hindrance layer comprising one or more of a sulfate, carbonate, hydroxide, or oxide of barium, strontium, or calcium is described. The catalyst carrier further includes a rare earth oxide. The catalyst material can further comprise a platinum group metal. The catalyst material is useful for methods and systems of abating pollutants from automotive exhaust gas.
US08545776B2

The invention provides a method of inhibiting the accumulation of DSP scale in the liquor circuit of Bayer process equipment. The method includes adding one or more particular silane based small molecules to the liquor fluid circuit. These scale inhibitors reduce DSP scale formation and thereby increase fluid throughput, increase the amount of time Bayer process equipment can be operational and reduce the need for expensive and dangerous acid washes of Bayer process equipment. As a result, the invention provides a significant reduction in the total cost of operating a Bayer process.
US08545774B2

An electrical connection system for an analysis system and a method for analysis of a liquid sample on an analytical test element using the described analysis system are disclosed. The analysis system provides an evaluation appliance for evaluation of electrical signals, a test element holder for holding and positioning of an analytical test element in a measurement position, and an electrical contact element which makes electrical contact with an electrical contact surface of an analytical test element to produce an electrical connection between the contact surface and the evaluation appliance. The contact element is moved by means such that contact with the electrical contact surface of the test element is made when the test element holder is in the measurement position.
US08545769B2

A DNA amplification device utilizing a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and silicon substrate coated with spin-on glass (SOG) is provided. This PDMS layer is irreversibly bonded to the SOG layer of the silicon substrate using oxygen plasma. The amplification device is an inexpensive, microfluidic device, which can be utilized as a portable thermo-cycler to perform PCR amplification of DNA in the field.
US08545768B2

A fluid sensor comprises a formed plastic body and a reagent. The body has a top face with an integral first surface. The body also has a bottom face opposed to the first surface and a sidewall that extends from the periphery of the top face. The first surface is adapted to accept a fluid sample. The reagent is disposed on the integral first surface and causes a color change detectable on the bottom face when the reagent reacts with an analyte in the fluid sample.
US08545763B2

A catalytic converter substrate structure includes an outer peripheral wall having a first end and a second end. A plurality of cells are defined by walls that are disposed within the outer peripheral wall and are interconnected to the outer peripheral wall. The plurality of cells extend axially along a length of the outer wall and have a varying density.
US08545761B2

The present disclosure provides a sensor device. The sensor device may include an intake port for an air sample connected to a mixing chamber. The mixing chamber may contain at least one device for the introduction of a liquid or gel detection improvement agent, or at least one mechanical dispersal device for the introduction of a solid detection improvement agent. The detection improvement agent may be operable to interact with a chemical or biological agent in the air sample. The mixing chamber may also include at least one heating or cooling plate and at least device for the introduction of water or an aromatic solvent into the air sample as well as at least one detection element able to detect a chemical or biological agent in the air sample. The mixing chamber may be connected to an exhaust port.
US08545753B2

An ultra-violet lamp and reflector/shield assembly designed to be mounted in a commercial HVAC, and to other types of A/C units is described herein. The reflector/shield includes a reflective inner surface creating an illumination pattern and an outer surface shielding the UV lamp from the air flow. An orienting and securing assembly for a UV lamp is also described herein.
US08545749B2

The invention comprises a method of making a cement-based object or structure having a compressive strength greater than about 1,000 psi. The method comprises placing a cement-based material in an insulated concrete form, wherein the insulated concrete form has an R-value of at least 1.5, wherein the cement-based material comprises approximately 10% to approximately 80% by weight portland cement, and at least one of approximately 10% to approximately 90% by weight slag cement and approximately 5% to approximately 80% by weight fly ash. The invention also comprises a method of making a cement-based object or structure. The invention further comprises objects or structures made by the foregoing methods.
US08545746B2

A method of making a substrate having multi-layered structures thereon, the method comprising the steps of (a) applying a mold having an imprint forming surface to the substrate to form an array of imprint structures that projects from the substrate; and (b) applying a lateral force that is substantially normal to said projecting imprint structures to cause said imprint structures to move angularly towards said substrate and thereby form a pattern of multi-layered structures thereon.
US08545741B2

Provided are methods of manufacturing microstructures, in which at least one viscous composition each containing at least one active ingredient is disposed directly or indirectly on a first substrate and/or a second substrate and the viscous composition(s) is elongated between the first and second substrates. The methods are simpler and more cost-effective.
US08545733B2

Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of glass-crystalline particles comprising a glass component and a crystalline component comprising the steps of: a) providing a precursor solution comprising a solvent, a glass component composition, and a crystalline component composition; b) forming an aerosol comprising finely divided droplets of the precursor solution, wherein the droplet concentration which is below the concentration where collisions and subsequent coalescence of the droplets results in a 10% reduction in droplet concentration; c) heating the aerosol wherein, upon heating, glass-crystalline particles are formed, wherein the glass-crystalline particles comprise a glass component and a crystalline component, and wherein the crystalline component comprises one or more metal oxides; and d) isolating the glass-crystalline particles.
US08545717B2

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a curable dichroic dye and a curable liquid crystal compound, which are used to prepare an optical component that is vertically oriented to give a narrow viewing angle, to form an optical component, and an optical component comprising an optical component layer prepared using the same. There is provided a composition for forming an optical component comprising 0.1-90 parts by weight of a dichroic dye and 10-98.85 parts by weight of a curable liquid crystal compound, and there is also provided an optical component comprising an optical component layer in which a curable liquid crystal compound and a curable dichroic dye are vertically oriented. The optical component comprising an optical component layer in which a curable dichroic dye and a curable liquid crystal compound are vertically oriented and which is made of the composition comprising a curable dichroic dye and a curable liquid crystal compound for forming an optical component has excellent physical properties such as heat resistance, durability to high temperature and high moisture, vertical orientation and dichroic ratio, and also adjust a narrow viewing angle. The durability in the high temperature and high moisture is due to the cross linking shape of the optical component layer.
US08545697B2

A device for the treatment of waste material in a waste water collection system includes an inner core and an outer portion partially surrounding the inner core such that at least one surface of the inner core is exposed. The inner core has a greater water solubility than the outer portion.
US08545694B2

An improved aromatics saturation process for use with lube oil boiling range feedstreams utilizing a catalyst comprising a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component selected from the Group VIII noble metals and mixtures thereof on a mesoporous support having aluminum incorporated into its framework and an average pore diameter of about 15 to less than about 40 Å.
US08545685B2

Provided is a cleaning process of producing lactic acid. Firstly saccharification liquid is prepared through saccharated materials, then fermented with nutritive materials and lactic acid bacteria, and liquid alkali is used to adjust the pH. The fermentation broth is filtrated with porous membrane, and the lactic acid bacteria in the interception liquid are then reintroduced into the porous membrane for recycling. The permeate from porous membrane is subjected to nanofiltration to be decolored and purified. The concentrated solution from nanofiltration and the cleaning liquid from fermentation tank and its affiliated equipment are filtrated and sterilized by using ceramic membrane, and then are reintroduced into the fermentation unit for recycling. The permeate from nanofiltration is then subjected to bipolar electrodialysis system to prepare lactic acid, and the liquid alkali produced at the same time is reintroduced into the fermentation tank for recycling. The lactic acid is finally concentrated by using vacuum distillation. The process recycles the bacteria in the liquid alkali and matured fermentation broth, and is characterized by low material consumption and emission, low pollution, reduced cost and cleanness and environmentally protection of the whole production process.
US08545684B2

Disclosed herein is a method of making a sensing element comprising forming an electrically conductive element, wherein the sensing element comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Pd and alloys and combinations comprising Pd; and wherein the electrically conductive element is thermally stable at temperatures as high as 1,200° C.
US08545679B2

A system for recovering hydrocarbons from tar sands includes a heated enclosure 66, one or more input conveyors 60, 67 move tar sands through the heated enclosure, provide a flow line with a temperature gradient of at least 150 F.°, and mechanically move the tar sands along the flow line. A heated rotary drum 74 is in fluid communication with the flow line, and condenser unit 94, 98 receive vapors from the flow line and the rotary drum and output hydrocarbons. One or more discharge conveyors 76 discharge stripped sands from the rotary drum. Control valves 80, 82 seal a vacuum downstream from the discharge conveyors, and control valves 34, 46 seal vacuum upstream from the one or more input conveyors. Various types of vacuum pumps may be used to maintain a selected vacuum between the control valves.
US08545662B2

An apparatus and method in which an insert with an undercut is mechanically coupled to a lay up mold for translated movement between an engaged position for molding with an undercut engaging the material to be molded and a remote position in which a resultant molded product maybe removed and the material may be laid up without interference with the undercut, preferably with the mechanical coupling allowing for hinged movement of the insert relative the lay up mold.
US08545657B2

A method for forming a composite structure according to one embodiment includes forming a first ply; and forming a second ply above the first ply. Forming each ply comprises: applying a bonding material to a tape, the tape comprising a fiber and a matrix, wherein the bonding material has a curing time of less than about 1 second; and adding the tape to a substrate for forming adjacent tape winds having about a constant distance therebetween. Additional systems, methods and articles of manufacture are also presented.
US08545646B1

The present disclosure relates to a high-density rocket propellant and associated recoilless launching systems and methods with tungsten powder added providing substantial mass to the propellant for additional impulse, absorption of sound, optimization of back blast and carry weight, and the like. In an exemplary embodiment, the high-density rocket propellant includes tungsten mass percentages of between about 70%-about 80%, equivalent to about 17%-about 26% by volume.
US08545629B2

Bulk single crystals of AlN having a diameter greater than about 25 mm and dislocation densities of about 10,000 cm−2 or less and high-quality AlN substrates having surfaces of any desired crystallographic orientation fabricated from these bulk crystals.
US08545628B2

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus that are optimized for producing Group III-N (nitrogen) compound semiconductor wafers and specifically for producing GaN wafers. Specifically, the methods relate to substantially preventing the formation of unwanted materials on an isolation valve fixture within a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. In particular, the invention provides apparatus and methods for limiting deposition/condensation of GaCl3 and reaction by-products on an isolation valve that is used in the system and method for forming a monocrystalline Group III-V semiconductor material by reacting an amount of a gaseous Group III precursor as one reactant with an amount of a gaseous Group V component as another reactant in a reaction chamber.
US08545626B2

A method for efficiently producing a plate-like nitride semiconductor crystal having the desired principal plane in a simple method is provided. A raw material gas is fed to a seed crystal in which a ratio (L/W) of length L in a longitudinal direction and maximum width W, of a plane of projection obtained by projecting a crystal growth face on the seed crystal in a growth direction is from 2 to 400, and the maximum width W is 5 mm or less, thereby growing a plate-like semiconductor crystal on the seed crystal.
US08545620B2

The invention relates to an inorganic binder system comprising a) calcium silicate cement, b) calcium aluminate cement, c) at least one trifunctional polyalkylene glycol and d) optionally calcium sulphate. Additionally disclosed is the use of at least one polyalkylene glycol as an accelerator for an inorganic binder system comprising a) calcium silicate cement, b) calcium aluminate cement and d) optionally calcium sulphate.
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