US08681952B2
Methods and apparatuses to selectively provide communication connections based on an automated procedure to test whether a caller is a human or a machine. One embodiment includes: receiving at a connection server a telephone call from a caller; presenting a message to the caller in response to the telephone call; receiving from the caller a response to the message; and comparing the received response with a predetermined response to determine whether the caller is a human or a machine.
US08681951B1
Embodiments of the invention provide a system for generating an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) database, the system comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory comprising a list of telephone numbers associated with one or more destinations implementing IVR menus, wherein the one or more destinations are grouped based on a plurality of categories of the IVR menus. Further the memory includes instructions executable by said processor for automatically communicating with the one of more destinations, and receiving at least one customization record from said at least one destination to store in the IVR database. Further, a corresponding method for generating an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) database is also provided.
US08681950B2
Systems and methods for the matching of datasets, such as input audio segments, with known datasets in a database are disclosed. In an illustrative embodiment, the use of the presently disclosed systems and methods is described in conjunction with recognizing known network message recordings encountered during an outbound telephone call. The methodologies include creation of a ternary fingerprint bitmap to make the comparison process more efficient. Also disclosed are automated methodologies for creating the database of known datasets from a larger collection of datasets.
US08681944B2
A grid module of a scattered-radiation grid is disclosed. The scattered-radiation grid includes a number of grid modules disposed next to one another with a plurality of webs, especially for use in conjunction with a CT detector, a CT detector and a CT system with such a detector. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, at the joining surfaces of the grid modules, the webs located there, compensating for an excessive reduction in scattered radiation, are embodied lower in their height than the maximum height of the other webs to be found in the grid module.
US08681938B2
A treatment planning, simulation, and verification system is described. According to one embodiment, a treatment plan and a fluoroscopy data image of a treatment volume are received and the treatment plan is automatically adjusted based on the movement of the fluoroscopy data image. According another embodiment, a system includes a treatment planning component to generate a treatment plan and a simulation component to simulate the execution of the treatment plan.
US08681937B2
The present invention is related to an apparatus and method to carry out image-guided radiotherapy or radiosurgical treatments using Kilovoltage X-ray beams; one of the problems with the clinical application of this treatment consists in the absorbed dosage imparted unto a point within the subject to be irradiated depends on the local concentration of the contrast agent at that point, and the lack of properly quantifying the presence of the contrast agent at each point of the tumor or malformation to be irradiated results in a significant decrease in the quality of the treatment; the method and apparatus of the present invention resolve this and other problems. The Method consists of the following steps: a) determining the geometry of the patient and the concentration of the contrast agent at each point of the same, b) planning of treatment, and c) irradiating of the tumor or malformation; the apparatus includes a system to obtain three-dimensional images of the patient, a plurality of X-ray generating sources, a system to automatically position said X-ray generating sources in such a way that the radiation produced is directed towards the site to be irradiated in the patient, and a computer controlled system.
US08681924B2
A neutron absorbing insert for use in a fuel rack and method of manufacturing the same. In ones aspect, the invention is a neutron absorbing apparatus comprising: a plate structure having a first wall and a second wall that is non-coplanar to the first wall; the first and second walls being formed by a single panel of a metal matrix composite having neutron absorbing particulate reinforcement that is bent into the non-coplanar arrangement along a crease; and a plurality of spaced-apart holes formed into the single panel along the crease prior to bending.
US08681920B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring a parameter in an irradiated environment and communicating a signal representative of the monitored parameter to a less caustic environment that employs a wireless transmitter that is powered by the irradiated environment. The power for the wireless transmitter is derived from a self-powered radiation detector disposed within the radioactive environment.
US08681918B2
In a method for recovery of a dock from a received digital data stream and an apparatus for recovering a clock from a received digital data stream, phase-shifted dock signals are generated from a receiver's dock. After selecting one of the phase-shifted clock signals, two other phase-shifted clock signals are determined. Depending on sample values taken at rising/falling edges of the three selected phase-shifted clock signals, counter values are increased and compared. The selection of phase-shifted clock signals and the steps of sampling the input digital data stream, comparing the values and increasing counter values, if required, are repeatedly performed until the comparison result of the counter values indicates that one of the latter determined phase-shifted clock signals strobes the received digital data stream in the center of a bit period.
US08681915B2
A method for transmitting synchronization messages in a communications network including a plurality of nodes having a first node and at least one second node, wherein in order to take into account differences in a reference clock frequency of a reference clock and an internal clock frequency of an internal clock of the at least one second node, a compensation interval, with which the second clock count state is adjusted on measurement of a delay time, is subdivided into smaller compensation timespans, and the smaller compensation timespans are used to determine a compensated time value for the delay time with a high degree of accuracy, where the compensated time value is then used to update the time information in the synchronization message.
US08681910B2
A hybrid equalization system includes an equalization device, a target channel impulse response device, a maximum likelihood sequence estimation device and a multiplexer. The equalization device receives a sampled baseband signal and performs an equalization operation thereon for generating first estimated symbols. The target channel impulse response device convolutes the first estimated symbol and a predetermined target channel response function for generating a training symbol corresponding to a target channel. The maximum likelihood sequence estimation device performs a maximum likelihood sequence estimation on the sampled baseband signal trained by first estimated symbols based on the target channel impulse response for generating second estimated symbols. The multiplexer selects the first estimated symbol or the second estimated symbol as an output of the hybrid equalization system according to a selection signal.
US08681906B2
Various methods and systems for efficiently performing the blind decoding of downlink signals is described. Several forms of arranging possible CCE combinations are examined and investigated. Based on PDCCH size estimation/information, CCE concatenations that are most likely (of limited sets) can be arrived at. Tree-based concatenations are also devised using largest CCE ordering to align smaller CCE sizes to similar boundaries. By such ordering, the search space for all possible CCE ordering and sizes can be reduced to an efficient tree. Set mapping between possible lnposelstartCCElnposelend/REs are also described using a first set to secondary and tertiary sets. Various other ordering and sorting schemes are also detailed that enable a blind decode of a PDCCH channel to be efficiently performed.
US08681905B2
A MIMO detector for use in MIMO-OFDM wireless communication that forms a plurality of propagation paths by using a plurality of transmitting and receiving antennas includes: an inverse matrix calculator operating as an inverse matrix calculation unit configured to calculate an inverse matrix of a matrix of the propagation path based on a signal received by a receiver; a detection speed controller operating as an estimation unit configured to estimate a variation in the propagation path over time; and a phase synchronization circuit and a regulator configured to variably control a processing time required to calculate the inverse matrix by the inverse matrix calculator, according to the variation in the propagation path over time estimated by the detection speed controller. The MIMO detector is provided on the side of the receiver of the wireless communication.
US08681901B2
A Spatial Multiplexing Multiple Input Multiple Output (SM-MIMO) communication system, which generates Q and R matrices through QR decomposing a channel matrix in an array order corresponding to an order of transmission antennas of a signal transmission device, determines a detection order of transmission symbols included in a transmission symbol vector, QR decomposes a reception signal vector and generates the QR decomposed reception signal vector as a transformed reception signal vector, substitutes all of transmittable candidate symbols for a transmission symbol corresponding to a first detection order among the transmission symbols and sequentially removes interference in the transformed reception signal vector, detects candidate symbols of transmission symbols corresponding to a remaining detection order from the interference-removed transformed reception signal vector, combines the detected candidate symbols, detects candidate symbol vectors, and calculates Log-Likelihood Ratio values of bits included in the transmission symbols by using the detected vectors.
US08681900B2
Methods and apparatus for processing multichannel signals in a multichannel receiver are described. In one implementation, a plurality of demodulator circuits may provide a plurality of outputs to a processing module, with the processing module then simultaneously estimating noise characteristics based on the plurality of outputs and generating a common noise estimate based on the plurality of outputs. This common noise estimate may then be provided back the demodulators and used to adjust the demodulation of signals in the plurality of demodulators to improve phase noise performance.
US08681891B2
A cellular communication system Multiple-In Multiple-Out, MIMO, transmitter includes a plurality of antennas, a selector that selects training sequences for messages, a generator that generates messages including selected training sequences, and a transmitter that transmits the messages on the plurality of antennas. The selector selects a training sequence for a message from a set of training sequences in response to an associated antenna on which the message is to be transmitted. The set of training sequences is associated with a cell of the MIMO transmitter and includes disjoint subsets of training sequences for each of the plurality of antennas.
US08681882B2
Disclosed herein are a data transmission circuit and a data communication device that transmit data using an Alternating Current (AC)-coupled transmission line. The data transmission circuit includes a data transmission unit for transmitting data via a transmission line having a single AC-coupled line or a plurality of AC-coupled lines. When transmitting data, the data transmission unit transmits the data via the transmission line by sequentially setting a first electric potential corresponding to the data and a second electric potential different from the first electric potential. When transitioning from data transmission mode to an idle state, the data transmission unit sets an intermediate electric potential between the first electric potential and the second electric potential.
US08681880B2
Systems and method are provided for adjusting certain pixel values in an image. In an embodiment of the invention, an average pixel value of pixels at given distances from a selected pixel are examined to determine if the pixel is in a high-contrast area. If the pixel is in a smooth color gradient transition area, the pixel value may be adjusted in some embodiments using an additional dither or dither pattern to reduce differences between the pixel values of the selected pixel and the additional average pixel values exceeding the lower threshold.
US08681869B2
A method for measuring distortion is provided. In one embodiment, the method for measuring distortion of a current block, used to estimate motion by estimating high-frequency and low-frequency components of the current block, comprises: calculating the sum of distortion values of the high-frequency component of the current block; calculating the sum of first distortion values of the low-frequency component of the current block; calculating a second distortion value of the low-frequency component of the current block; and adding the sum of the distortion values of the high-frequency component and the second distortion value of the low-frequency component of the current block.
US08681866B1
The subject invention has both apparatus and method aspects. A first embodiment of the method aspect is for encoding a video signal having a plurality of frames, each frame having a plurality of blocks. The method includes identifying a first frame from the plurality of frames as an I-frame, the first frame having an original resolution. The method also includes determining a variance for the first frame using a processor. If the variance exceeds an intra threshold: (a) selecting a frame resolution for the first frame that is less than the original resolution, and (b) encoding the first frame using the selected frame resolution is performed.
US08681865B2
Systems and methods are provided for performing transcoding in video communication system that use scalable video coding. The systems and methods can be used to transcode or convert input signals having certain characteristics into desired output signals having different characteristics requirements. The systems and methods are based on compressed domain processing, partial decoding-reencoding, or full decoding-reencoding with side information, depending on the specific characteristics of the input and desired output signals.
US08681860B2
In principle, an I-frame is inserted every 50 frames and other frames are made P-frames. If the maximum amount of data that can be received by a terminal device to which a transmission is to be made is 300 KB, then frames up to a 144th frame for which the amount of data after compression will not exceed 300 KB is adopted as a first partitioned moving picture file. Since the 145th frame is the leading frame of the next partitioned moving picture file, it is made an I-frame. Frames from the 145th frame to a 289th frame are made a second partitioned moving picture file, and frames from a 290th frame to a 411th frame are made a third partitioned moving picture file. Since the leading frame of a partitioned moving picture file represents one complete frame, the moving picture can be reproduced and the number of partitions can be reduced.
US08681855B2
There are provided methods and apparatus for video encoding and decoding geometrically partitioned bi-predictive mode partitions. An apparatus includes an encoder for encoding bi-predictable picture data for at least a portion of a picture using adaptive geometric partitioning. Geometric partitions for the adaptive geometric partitioning are predicted using at least one predictor selected from a first set of predictors corresponding to a first list of references pictures, a second set of predictors corresponding to a second list of references pictures, and a third set of predictors used for bi-prediction and including predictors from at least one of the first and second sets.
US08681849B2
Apparatus and methods are provided to construct parameters associated with a precoder to a channel. Embodiments include apparatus and methods to apply a maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) equalization using offsets of signals introduced at a transmit end of a channel. Embodiments include apparatus and methods to construct a channel precoder based on using approximation of channel responses for a range of channel lengths.
US08681844B2
A system that incorporates teachings of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method for identifying a spectral region in a radio frequency spectrum, determining a signal strength of the spectral region, determining a correlation factor by correlating the signal strength of the spectral region, detecting according to the correlation factor interference in the spectral region, generating coefficient data to substantially suppress the interference in the spectral region, configuring a filter according to the coefficient data to substantially suppress the interference in the spectral region and produce a digital filtered signal, and transmitting the digital filtered signal to a base station. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08681833B2
A transmitter communicating with a receiver, the transmitter including: a first hopping sequence generation unit which generates a hopping sequence whose hopping subcarrier interval is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value based on a cell ID; a first reference signal pattern generation unit which generates a reference signal pattern based on a reference signal basic pattern including a predetermined known signal sequence and the hopping sequence generated by the first hopping sequence generation unit; an arrangement unit which arranges the reference signal and a data symbol in a predetermined position within the symbol, based on the reference signal pattern generated by the first reference signal pattern generation unit; and a signal transmission unit which transmits the symbol having the reference signal and the data symbol arranged by the arrangement unit to the receiver.
US08681832B2
Systems and methods for automatically performing a high accuracy gas inject in a laser chamber of a two chamber gas discharge laser such as an excimer laser are disclosed. A mathematical model relates the amount of halogen gas in the laser chamber after an inject to the amount of halogen gas present prior to the inject, the amount of halogen gas injected, and the consumption rate of halogen gas in the chamber. A fixed amount of halogen gas is added to the chamber in an initial number of injects to allow transients to settle out, after which the amount of halogen gas to be injected is that calculated to result in a desired amount of halogen gas after the inject according to the model. Measurements are taken after injects to update the actual amount of halogen gas present and the consumption rate of the halogen gas.
US08681829B2
A mount for semiconductor laser devices comprises thermally conductive anode and cathode blocks on either side of a semiconductor laser device such as a laser diode. Interposed between at least the anode block and the anode of the semiconductor laser device is a sheet of conformable material with high thermal conductivity such as pyrolytic highly-oriented graphite. In some embodiments, a second sheet of such thermally conductive conformable material is interposed between the cathode of the semiconductor laser device and the cathode block. The semiconductor laser device can be either a single laser diode or a diode bar having a plurality of emitters. A thermally conductive, but electrically insulating, spacer of essentially the same thickness as the laser diode or bar surrounds the diode or bar to prevent mechanical damage while still permitting the conformable material to be maintained in a compressed state.
US08681827B2
Techniques and devices based on optical resonators made of nonlinear optical materials to form triple-oscillator devices for generating a single optical tone, a radio frequency (RF) oscillation signal and an optical frequency comb signal having different optical frequencies.
US08681826B2
A method for tuning a semiconductor laser including a plurality of wavelength selection portions, each of which has a periodic wavelength characteristic, including: controlling a value of a refractive index controlling means of the wavelength selection portions to achieve a desired output wavelength of the laser; and shifting the value when the value is equal to or excess of a predetermined value to a basal value side until achieving the desired output wavelength, the basal value being a value without applying refractive index variation by the refractive index controlling means, the predetermined value being a value for shifting one period of the periodic wavelength characteristic.
US08681822B2
A network media delivery system includes client devices and a host device. Each client device has a network interface, an engine for processing media data, and a media interface. The host device, which can be a computer, establishes network communication links with the client devices, which can be networked media stations, and sends media data to the client devices. The media data can be sent wirelessly as packets of media data transmitted at intervals to each client device. In one embodiment, the host device controls processing of media data such that processed media is delivered in a synchronized manner at each of the client devices. In another embodiment, the host device controls processing of media data such that processed media is delivered in a synchronized manner at the host device and at least one client device.
US08681815B1
An aggregated physical layer (PHY) data unit for transmission of independent data for a plurality of stations via a communication channel is generated, wherein the aggregated PHY data unit includes i) a plurality of individual PHY data units corresponding to the plurality of stations and ii) information that indicates locations of at least some of the plurality of individual PHY data units within the aggregated PHY data unit. Beamforming is controlled while the aggregated PHY data unit is being transmitted. Transmission in an omnidirectional or quasi-omnidirectional manner is performed while the information that indicates locations of at least some of the plurality of individual PHY data units is transmitting. For each of the individual PHY data units, beamforming to the corresponding station is performed while at least some of the corresponding individual PHY data unit is being transmitted.
US08681812B2
A method for following up a transaction in a network comprising at least one node and at least two data transmission links connected to the node and managed in accordance with at least one data transmission protocol, the method comprising picking up transactions during their transmission by links of the network, converting the transactions picked up into a same format, memorizing converted transactions, so as to be able to identify a link where each memorized transaction has been picked up, and comparing a converted transaction and to be correlated with memorized transactions, the transaction to be correlated being correlated with a memorized transaction if the comparison reveals a correspondence between the transactions to be correlated and memorized.
US08681803B2
Authentication apparatus authenticates user using host connected to forwarding node. Policy management apparatus holds access control policy for identifying host under access control using identifier of forwarding node or identifier of user, and links identifier of host under access control and identifier of forwarding node to which host is connected, or identifier of host under access control and identifier of user using host. Forwarding node transmits to policy management apparatus identifier of host connected to own forwarding node and identifier of own forwarding node. Authentication apparatus transmits to policy management apparatus identifier of host connected to forwarding node and identifier of user. Policy management apparatus refers to access control policy and, if host connected to forwarding node is under access control, notifies content of access control to control apparatus as access control list. Control apparatus generates processing rule in accordance with access control list and sets generated processing rule in forwarding nodes.
US08681795B1
A network device may receive a packet including control tags in a header portion of the packet and may extract candidate tags from the control tags in the header portion of the packet. The network device may compress, using a first lookup table, the candidate tags to obtain keys corresponding to the candidate tags, where each of the keys is represented in a compressed format relative to the corresponding candidate tags. The network device may further determine a final key based on the first keys and determine a priority class for the packet based on a lookup operation of the final key into a second lookup table. The network device may further write the packet, or a reference to the packet, to a selected priority queue, of a number of priority queues, where the priority queue is selected based on the determined priority class.
US08681783B2
Call spoofing in a Voice over Internet Protocol (IP) system may be detected and/or prevented. A device may receive a call request to initiate a VoIP call. The device may analyze marker information in the call request to determine whether the call request is valid. The device may also analyze the call request, based on call pattern information of a quantity of other calls, to determine whether the call request is suspicious; and complete the call based on the determination of whether the call request is valid and the determination of whether the call request is suspicious.
US08681782B2
A plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) are accessible via a voice-over-packet (VoP) network. A wireless access point of the VoP network is provisioned with a PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier to facilitate the routing of emergency services calls from the wireless access point to the appropriate PSAP. When a mobile node transmits a message to originate a call, the wireless access point parses the message to determine whether the mobile node is requesting an emergency services call. If an emergency call is being requested, the wireless access point inserts the PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier with which it has been provisioned into the message and forwards the modified message to a proxy server. The proxy server receives the modified message and routes the call to the appropriate PSAP, based on the PSAP identifier and/or access point identifier contained therein.
US08681781B2
A peering authority or settlement clearinghouse can be used to control access, collect session accounting information, and provide financial settlement of interconnect or session fees among anonymous Internet Protocol (IP) peers or networks. The addition of peering policy criteria, such as price and quality of service, to peer to peer route discovery mechanisms enable a trusted intermediary, such as the settlement clearinghouse, to authorize acceptable interconnection or peering sessions between anonymous IP peers. Any financial settlement transactions which result from the peering sessions may be subsequently executed by the settlement clearinghouse.
US08681771B2
The present invention discloses an uplink synchronization control method and system for the high speed shared information channel. The method includes: S102, a radio network controller assigns resources associated with the high speed downlink packet access for a user equipment and sends the information associated with the resources to Node B and the user equipment; S104, Node B configures uplink synchronization parameters for the high speed shared information channel for the user equipment using the uplink synchronization parameters which are assigned by the radio network controller for the radio link for the high speed shared information channel; the user equipment configures the uplink synchronization parameters for the high speed shared information channel of the user equipment using the uplink synchronization parameters for the uplink associated dedicated physical channel assigned by the radio network controller; S106, Node B and the user equipment send and/or receive a synchronization control commands and control the uplink synchronization process for the high speed shared information channel according to the uplink synchronization parameters for the high speed shared information channel assigned for the user equipment respectively.
US08681770B2
A method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for generating a mobile flow record for a mobile flow of a mobile node are provided. A method includes receiving information associated with signaling traffic of the mobile node, receiving information associated with bearer traffic of the mobile node, and generating the mobile flow record by correlating the information associated with signaling traffic of the mobile node and the information associated with bearer traffic of the mobile node. The mobile flow record includes IP layer information associated with the mobile flow and wireless layer information associated with the mobile flow.
US08681767B2
A method of managing traffic in a communications channel includes the steps of receiving a subscriber ID corresponding to a subscriber, performing a spectral analysis on a signal received from the subscriber within a time interval identified by the subscriber ID, and adjusting transmission characteristics of the subscriber based on the spectral analysis.
US08681761B2
A gateway receives a predetermined request from a terminal via a network, identifies the type of the terminal, reads a stream or a file, which includes at least one of a video and an audio, from at least one of an equipment connected directly to the gateway and an equipment connected to the gateway via a network, creates conversion information suitable for the type of the terminal, performs conversion for the stream or the file in accordance with the conversion information, and transmits the converted stream or file to the terminal.
US08681753B2
Setting up and maintaining wireless communication connections with end user's terminals (301) on board a predictably moving vehicle (303) is shown with mechanisms for correcting for Doppler effects. A central device (302) within the vehicle (303) acts as a hub of a wireless network. There are a number of fixed transceivers (304). A connection arrangement (305, 306, 705, 706, 1001, 1101, 1122) connects the fixed transceivers (304) to an external packet-switched data network. The central device (302) within the vehicle (303) is a mobile router (302) equipped with routing capability (407). The connection arrangement (305, 306, 705, 706, 1001, 1101, 1122) includes a connection (705, 706, 1001) between a number of fixed transceivers (304) and a fixed central device (305) The fixed central device (305) has routing capability (1007), and together with the mobile router (302) implement routing of packets between the packet-switched network and an end user's terminal (301).
US08681729B2
The invention relates to a method and scheduling apparatus for reserving radio resources in radio resource block units in a mobile communication system for a plurality of users. Further, another aspect of the invention is the indication of a radio resource reservation in radio resource block units in a mobile communication system to one of a plurality of mobile terminals. To provide a new mechanism allowing an efficient utilization of radio resources the invention proposes a resource reservation mechanism that reserves radio resources for a plurality of users in resource block units. Thereby, individual resource blocks are reserved for the individual users for a reservation period that comprises a plurality of time slots (or sub-frames). Further, the resource block reservations for the users overlap at least partially among the users, i.e. individual ones of the resource blocks are reserved for plural users.
US08681726B2
Provided is an uplink feedback channel allocation method and apparatus used to feedback data to indicate whether data packets corresponding an enhanced physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH) were successfully decoded. A terminal may use an additional resource area of an uplink feedback channel or may use an empty resource area of the uplink feedback channel to which feedback information of a data packet corresponding to a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is not allocated, to perform feedback.
US08681720B2
Embodiments relate to a base station (10) arranged to order a mode of multiple modulated data streams communication of a user equipment (20) in a communications network, comprising transmitting arrangement (141a-141i), receiving arrangement (143a-143j) and a control unit (17, 12, 16) arranged to determine a mode of multiple modulated data streams communication of the user equipment based on a parameter relating to a capacity of the communications network, and to transmit over the transmitting arrangement (141a-141i) an order to the user equipment indicating the determined mode of multiple modulated data streams communication of the user equipment.
US08681717B2
Available bandwidth is divided into multiple sub-channels, and respective sub-bands containing one or more of these sub-channels are allocated to one or more users. A first frequency allocation is determined, and mathematical operators are used to determine at least one further frequency allocation from the first frequency allocation. A frequency hopping sequence is then determined, including the first frequency allocation, and the or each further frequency allocation. A network node may perform the allocation method, and a user equipment may operate using the allocated bandwidth.
US08681712B2
A re-establishment method for an Acknowledged Mode Radio Link Control entity, the method comprising: receiving, from an upper entity, a command to perform Acknowledged Mode Radio Link Control re-establishment; and managing control protocol data units by considering the direction of the Acknowledged Mode Radio Link Control re-establishment, wherein control protocol data units related to the direction are deleted and control protocol data units not related to the direction are not deleted.
US08681710B2
A method and system for delivering MBS in an H-FDD wireless communication system minimizes MBS bandwidth allocation and maintains appropriate balance between two H-FDD mobile device groups. Generally speaking, this is achieved by allocating a downlink bandwidth section for one group of mobile devices (e.g. Group 2) to MBS and allowing a subgroup of mobile devices (e.g. Group 1A) in the other group (e.g. Group 1) that subscribes to MBS to participate in the former group (e.g. Group 2) as required to identify and decode MBS data.
US08681707B2
Channel selection techniques for a wireless network are described. An apparatus may comprise a device to communicate information over a common wireless communication link. The device may include a channel selection module to select a channel pair comprising a high rate physical channel and a low rate physical channel based on energy measurements for the channels. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08681704B2
According to one embodiment, a method of processing data for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) operation in a wireless communication system includes: receiving control signaling from a network; receiving data based on the received control signaling; generating a positive response message (ACK) if the received data is successfully decoded or a negative response message (NACK) if the received data is not successfully decoded, wherein the generated ACK or the generated NACK is not transmitted to the network when a timer is expired or not running; and combining the received data with data currently in a buffer after the timer is stopped or expired.
US08681698B2
Described embodiments provide a wideband code division multiple access (W-CDMA) system that employs a rate matching rule having a modified puncturing algorithm. The modified puncturing algorithm defines the input variables of the rate matching rule in a manner that provides for identification of relations between non-punctured data bit position addresses in the output data stream through an iterative process, from which absolute bit position addresses of non-punctured output bits might then be generated. A counter, in accordance with instruction generated by a processor or state machine, for example, might implement the modified puncturing algorithm on an input string of bits to provide an output string of bits based on the absolute bit position addresses of non-punctured output bits, thereby providing for rate matching in the communications channel.
US08681689B2
A method for adjusting a received channel quality indicator is described. A channel quality indicator is received from a wireless communication device. A first transmission time interval for which the channel quality indicator was generated is determined. The received channel quality indicator is adjusted using an outer loop margin. The outer loop margin is dependent on a transmission mode of the first transmission time interval.
US08681682B2
A cooperative multiple point transmission and reception (CoMP) method of a user equipment (UE) receiving signals from a plurality of base stations (BSs) comprises receiving a first signal from a serving BS, receiving a second signal from an interfering BS, and restoring data, included in the first signal, using the second signal. The second signal comprises a downlink signal, transmitted from the interfering BS to a UE connected to the interfering BS, and a dummy signal for canceling interference of the downlink signal with the first signal. In a wireless communication system composed of multiple cells, CoMP using DPC can be performed even without data sharing between the cells.
US08681681B2
A system that processes single stream multicast data includes multiple queues, a dequeue engine, and/or a queue control engine. The queues temporarily store data. At least one of the queues stores single stream multicast data. A multicast count is associated with the single stream multicast data and corresponds to a number of destinations to which the single stream multicast data is to be sent. The dequeue engine dequeues data from the queues. If the data corresponds to the single stream multicast data, the dequeue engine examines the multicast count associated with the single stream multicast data and dequeues the single stream multicast data based on the multicast count. The queue control engine examines one of the queues to determine whether to drop data from the queue and marks the data based on a result of the determination.
US08681677B2
The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for processing Iu interface parallel multimedia broadcast multicast service session start-up, wherein the method comprises: after receiving a MBMS session start message sent by SGSN, RNC detects whether other sessions of a same MBMS service have been established; and when the other sessions of the same MBMS service are determined to have been established in the RNC, the RNC detects whether the MBMS service area carried in the MBMS session start message and that of the other MBMS sessions established between the RNC and the SGSN intersect or overlap or whether the MBMS service area carried in the MBMS session start message and that of the MBMS session established between the RNC and other SGSNs intersect, and processing on multimedia broadcast multicast service session start-up is performed according to the detecting result.
US08681676B2
A system, apparatuses, and methods support simultaneous connectivity between devices in an industrial control and automation or other system. For example, a data publisher can publish or provide data to multiple data subscribers. This can be done using a multicast group associated with the multiple data subscribers. The data publisher transmits a data message using a network address associated with the multicast group. Each data subscriber associated with the multicast group receives a copy of the data message. As a particular example, the data publisher could represent a wireless sensor or wireless actuator in the industrial control and automation or other system. Also, the data subscribers could represent multiple controllers or actuators in the industrial control and automation or other system. In this way, the multicasting functionality allows for simpler connectivity or interaction between devices in the industrial control and automation or other system.
US08681674B2
Accelerated rejoining in low power wireless networking for logistics and transportation applications
Techniques are disclosed for enabling accelerated rejoining of network devices in a low-power wireless network after a connection to the low-power wireless network is lost. Embodiments generally include, for a network device that periodically conducts scans for beacons on the low-power wireless network, increasing the frequency, or scanning rate, at which the scans are performed. After a certain period of time, if the network device has not joined the low-power wireless network, the network device can implement a different scanning rate until it rejoins with the network. Additional techniques may be used to reduce power usage and preserve the structure of a portion of the low-power wireless network that has become disconnected with the rest of the network.
US08681671B1
A system and method allows devices to send and receive packets while using power to do so in a manner that responds to events, such as receipt or other identification of different parameters that control how packets are sent and received.
US08681666B2
Techniques for performing partial cyclic prefix discarding are described. A user equipment (UE) may reduce the amount of cyclic prefix to discard for the last OFDM symbol prior to a switch from data reception to data transmission. This may allow the UE to complete data reception earlier and to switch to data transmission in a timely manner. In one design, the UE may receive a first OFDM symbol and discard a first amount of cyclic prefix for the first OFDM symbol. The UE may then receive a second OFDM symbol and discard a second amount of cyclic prefix for the second OFDM symbol. The second amount of cyclic prefix to discard may be determined based on the amount of time needed to switch from data reception to data transmission, which may be dependent on the amount of time advance between transmit timing and receive timing at the UE.
US08681665B2
A radio transceiver including a transmitter and a receiver. A filter coupled to an output of the transmitter, the filter has one or more inductors and one or more capacitors, where the filter is tuned by varying one or more capacitance values of the one or more capacitors in the filter to tune the filter. The one or more capacitors are Barium Strontium Titanate (BST) ceramic integrated capacitors that are each tuned by application of a bias voltage thereto. A filter tuner circuit is configured to apply the bias voltage to the one or more capacitors, where the bias voltage is initially established as a stored initial value, and where the bias voltage is refined by a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller configured to optimize a power within the transceiver. This abstract is not to be considered limiting since various implementations may incorporate more, fewer or different elements.
US08681664B2
In an embodiment, an originating device sends a request, to a server, to initiate a full-duplex session with a target device. Responsive to the full-duplex request, a half-duplex session is set-up from the originating device to the target device before the full-duplex session is set-up. The target device indicates its acceptance of the half-duplex session, receives half-duplex media from the originating device and selectively indicates its acceptance of the full-duplex session. In another embodiment, during a session currently supported either by half-duplex or full-duplex, the server arbitrating the session receives a request from one of the session participants to transition the session to another duplex-type. The server then selectively transitions the duplex-type of the session.
US08681659B2
A method and an Ethernet local area network are described herein in which the Ethernet local area network is configured to enable a talking device (e.g., microphone) to send a media stream to one or more listening devices (e.g., speakers). In one embodiment, the method for configuring the Ethernet local area network includes the following steps: (1) providing a user of a talking device with a “relevant” catalog which contains information including positional information about one or more listening devices; (2) allowing the user to interface with the “relevant” catalog so they can select at least one of the listening device(s); (3) enabling the talking device to send a subscribe-request message to the selected listening device(s) requesting that the selected listening device(s) subscribe to the talking device; (4) and sending a media stream from the talking device to the selected listening device(s).
US08681655B2
A software architecture providing ad hoc wireless networking capabilities. The software architecture may be compatible with wireless devices, such as UWB devices operating according to the WLP communication protocol. The software architecture may include user mode and kernel mode modules, and may include a multiplexing driver framework to enable system connection to multiple ad hoc networks.
US08681649B2
An example method may include calculating a parameter for traffic propagating in a network between a sender and a receiver, where the traffic comprises encoding information and decoding information; determining whether the parameter meets a predetermined value; classifying the traffic as uni-directional if the parameter meets the predetermined value; and classifying the traffic as bi-directional if the parameter does not meet the predetermined value.
US08681643B2
A system and method of determining data latency in a network is provided. A first data sample of application level data (e.g., financial data) is provided from a data stream received at a first network point. A second data sample of application level data (e.g., financial data) is also provided from a data stream received at a second network point, where the data streams in the first and second network points include common data and the first and second data samples include common data. A correlation between common data in the first and second data samples is determined and a time difference between the correlated common data in the first and second data samples is then calculated.
US08681636B2
A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium stores therein a monitoring program that causes a computer monitoring data transmission from a transmission source device to a transmission destination device to execute a process that includes detecting data transmitted in a sequence that differs from a specified sequence; determining whether the sequence that differs is permissible by a specified constraint, if data transmitted at the sequence that differs is detected at the detecting; and outputting a determination result obtained at the determining.
US08681631B2
In one embodiment, when a packet is received at a device in a network, the device may determine whether a time-to-live (TTL) value of the packet has expired. If the TTL value has not expired, the device forwards the packet to a next-hop device in the network. If the TTL value has expired, however, the device dampens a forwarding state related to the packet for an amount of time until resuming the forwarding state after that amount of time has elapsed. In an example embodiment, the packet is received within a multipoint-to-multipoint (MP2MP) bidirectional tunnel.
US08681630B1
A system disclosed rate limits API requests. The system includes an API server that receives an API request from a developer application at an API server and a token bucket to rate limit API requests from the developer application. A token query translation module determines a number of tokens needed to process the API request based on a rate configured in predefined policy data for the developer application and a replenish rate of the token bucket. The number of tokens inversely corresponds to the rate configured in the predefined policy data. A token request module instructs the API server to process the API request if the token bucket has sufficient tokens and reduces the number of tokens in the token bucket for the developer application by the number of tokens needed to process the API request. In this way, the disclosed system effectively simulates buckets having configurable replenish rates.
US08681607B2
A network element implementing Multiprotocol Label Switching to automatically create an optimal deterministic back-up Label Switch Path (LSP) that is maximally disjointed from a primary LSP to provide a reliable back up to the primary LSP. The network element receives a request for a generation of an LSP, determines that the request for the generation of the LSP is for the back-up LSP, locates each link of the primary LSP in a traffic engineering database, modifies each link of the primary LSP to have a link cost significantly greater than an actual link cost to discourage use of each link of the primary LSP in the back-up LSP, executes a Constrained Shortest Path First algorithm to obtain the back-up LSP, wherein the back-up LSP has a maximum disjointedness from the primary LSP due to a modified cost of each link of the primary LSP, and returns the back-up LSP.
US08681605B2
An Ethernet protection and loadsharing capability is provided. The Ethernet protection and loadsharing capability enables co-existence of both protection and loadsharing for an Ethernet tunnel, having a plurality of associated Ethernet paths, between first and second Ethernet switches. The first Ethernet switch receives configuration information associated with the Ethernet tunnel between the first and second Ethernet switches, and processes the configuration information for causing the first Ethernet switch to associate the Ethernet paths of the Ethernet tunnel with an Ethernet tunnel endpoint object associated with an Ethernet tunnel. The first Ethernet switch, upon receiving traffic intended for the second Ethernet switch, propagates the traffic from the first Ethernet switch toward the second Ethernet switch via at least a subset of the Ethernet paths of the Ethernet tunnel using protection and/or loadsharing.
US08681598B2
A multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) receiver includes circuitry to receive a MIMO transmission through a plurality of antennas over a channel comprising two or more 20 MHz portions of bandwidth. The MIMO transmission comprises a plurality of streams, each transmitted over a corresponding spatial channel and configured for reception by multiple user stations. The MIMO receiver also includes circuitry to simultaneously accumulate signal information within at least two or more of the 20 MHz portions of bandwidth. Each 20 MHz portion comprises a plurality of OFDM subcarriers. The MIMO receiver also includes circuitry to demodulate at least one of the steams using receive beamforming techniques. In this way, multi-user protocol data units can be received.
US08681593B2
A lens surface of an objective lens includes an optical surface formed of a plurality of annular optical surfaces which include an approximately stair-shaped cross section and which are annularly partitioned centered around an optical axis of the objective lens, and a plurality of connecting surfaces that connect the plurality of mutually adjacent annular optical surfaces to each other. The plurality of connecting surfaces include cylindrical connecting surfaces formed of a cylindrical surface centered around the optical axis and a conical connecting surface formed of a conical surface centered around the optical axis, and the conical connecting surface connects the annular optical surface and the annular optical surface.
US08681588B2
Disclosed is a device for monitoring seismic events, the device including a self-contained structure adapted for being disposed within a wellbore and independently monitoring and recording seismic events, a seismic sensor, a memory device in communication with the seismic sensor for receiving seismic data from the seismic sensor in response to the seismic events, a power source to allow for independent operation of the device, and a processor for processing the data. Also disclosed is a method for using the device.
US08681587B2
Method and apparatus for rotational alignment and attachment of ultrasonic transducers to a barrier with one submerged surface uses a temporary transducer assembly to position mounting rings on opposite surfaces of the barrier. Plural permanent transducers are then mounted to each mounting ring and are aligned with each other across the barrier by virtue of the alignment of their mounting rings. The submerged mounting ring is used like a cylinder in combination with a mounting plate for the transducers on the submerged side of the barrier or each submerged side transducer has a suction cup fitting for use to exclude water from between each transducer and the submerged barrier surface to facilitate bonding of the submerged side transducers to the barrier.
US08681585B2
Estimating the impulse response of a channel by providing an initial signal (20); applying a time-shift function to the initial signal (20) to produce a transmit signal (36); transmitting the transmit signal (36); receiving a received signal; calculating an impulse response from the received signal as if the received signal had been produced by the initial signal; and using the impulse response to distinguish between received signals arising from reflections from objects (6) at different ranges.
US08681583B2
A method for evaluating fractures induced in subsurface formations includes determining hypocenters and origin times of induced seismic events from seismic signals detected by seismic sensors deployed above a volume of the subsurface formations to be evaluated and recording the detected signals for a selected time. A modified Gutenberg-Richter exponent is determined for each induced seismic event having at least a selected number of other induced seismic events within a selected radial distance thereof. A spatial distribution of the modified Gutenberg-Richter exponents is used to determine at least one property of the induced fractures.
US08681581B2
The presently disclosed technique includes a method for use in a marine survey comprising randomizing the distribution of receivers and sources during a coil shoot acquisition. The randomizing can be implemented in a number of ways. For example, in one embodiment, randomizing the distribution includes randomizing the positions of the circle centers defining the sail lines. This may be implemented by, for example, distributing the same number of circle centers as would be used in a non-random sampling in a uniform random distribution. In another embodiment, randomizing the distribution includes permitting the streamers in which the receivers are allowed to drift while controlling crossline streamer separation. Other embodiments may combine these approaches or utilize still other approaches.
US08681571B2
Systems and methods to set a voltage value associated with a communication bus that includes memory controller coupled to a memory device are disclosed. A particular method may include performing a first calibration operation associated with first data written from a memory controller to a memory device. A second calibration operation may be associated with second data read at the memory controller from the memory device. The operating parameter may be set based on a result of at least one of the first and the second calibration operations at the memory device or the memory controller.
US08681563B1
An indication to store a data value in Flash memory is received. An accurate coarse write is performed, including by storing a first voltage level in the Flash memory and setting a configuration setting to a first setting. The first voltage level, when interpreted using the configuration setting at the first setting, corresponds to the data value. A fine write is performed, including by storing a second voltage level in the Flash memory and setting the configuration setting of the Flash memory to a second setting. The second voltage level, when interpreted using the configuration setting at the second setting, corresponds to the data value.
US08681551B2
A three dimensional stacked nonvolatile semiconductor memory according to an example of the present invention includes a memory cell array comprised of first and second blocks. The first block has a first cell unit which includes a memory cell to be programmed and a second cell unit which does not include a memory cell to be programmed, and programming is executed by applying a program potential or a transfer potential to word lines in the first block after the initial potential of channels of the memory cells in the first and second cell units is set to a plus potential. In the programming, the program potential and the transfer potential are not applied to word lines in the second block.
US08681537B2
Nonvolatile memory apparatus having magnetoresistive memory elements and method for driving the same
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a source line, a first bit line disposed over the source line, a second bit line disposed under the source line, a first memory cell between the source line and the first bit line, and a second memory cell between the source line and the second bit line.
US08681536B2
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) with direct contact is manufactured having lower resistances, improved yield, and simpler fabrication. The lower resistances improve both read and write processes in the MTJ. The MTJ layers are deposited on a bottom electrode aligned with the bottom metal. An etch stop layer may be deposited adjacent to the bottom metal to prevent overetch of an insulator surrounding the bottom metal. The bottom electrode is planarized before deposition of the MTJ layers to provide a substantially flat surface. Additionally, an underlayer may be deposited on the bottom electrode before the MTJ layers to promote desired characteristics of the MTJ.
US08681535B2
A nonvolatile latch circuit that includes a logic circuitry comprising at least an input terminal, a clock terminal, an output terminal, and a nonvolatile memory element. The logic circuitry is electrically coupled to a high voltage source at a first source terminal and to a low voltage source at a second source terminal. The nonvolatile memory element is electrically coupled to the output terminal at a first end and to a intermediate voltage source at a second end. A logic state of the latch circuit responds to an input signal during an active period of a clock signal. A logic state of the nonvolatile memory element is controlled by a bidirectional current running between the first and second ends. An electrical potential of the intermediate voltage source is higher than that of the low voltage source but lower than that of the high voltage source.
US08681529B2
Methods and apparatuses that include resistive memory can include a first memory cell coupled to a data line and including a first resistive storage element and a first access device, a second memory cell coupled to the data line and including a second resistive storage element and a second access device, an isolation device formed between the first access device and the second access device, a first select line coupled to the first resistive storage element, and a second select line coupled to the second resistive storage element, wherein the second select line is separate from the first select line.
US08681522B2
A method for operating an electronically controlled inverter and an inverter are provided. The inverter includes semiconductor switches, inductors and a first capacitor. The semiconductor switches of the inverter are controlled by a microcontroller alternately as elements of a buck converter and as elements of an inverting Cuk converter with a continuous connection of a neutral conductor at the output to a positive pole at the input side.
US08681516B2
An inverter has a current sensor that senses a low side current before a high side of the inverter is permitted to power up. If an over-current situation is detected on the low side, powering up is prevented in order to avoid damage to the rectifier.
US08681509B2
A printed circuit board has a first solder land, a second solder land, and a signal line pattern. The first solder land is configured to be soldered with an electronic part. The second solder land is configured to accumulate solder, the second solder land being disposed on a downstream side of the first solder land as viewed in a direction in which the printed circuit is carried. The signal line pattern includes an exposed part that is not covered with a resist, the exposed part being disposed between the solder land and the solder bridge prevention land.
US08681488B2
Water running on a flat cable (66), which connects together a control circuit board (56) provided on a rear surface of a liquid crystal module (52) and a source driver board (60) arranged on a lower surface of the liquid crystal module, is prevented from entering the source driver board (60). A source driver board (60) is arranged on a lower surface of a mold frame (62) supporting a lower edge of a liquid crystal module (52). A flat cable (66) passes through a gap between a board cover (58) and a rear end surface (114) of the mold frame (62). A water absorbing member (110) adhered to the rear end surface (114) is applied to the flat cable (66).
US08681486B2
A portable computing and communication device has a main display screen and an additional display screen attached to the backside of the device body, wherein the backside stores and hides the additional display screen when not in use. The additional screen slides out with the help of a slide mechanism on one side from the device body to provide an additional display screen for use with the device. The additional screen has hinge mechanism that enables the additional screen to be oriented at multiple angles relative to the main screen, when slid out from the backside of the device, enabling a book orientation, a laptop orientation or a large screen orientation to be formed between the main screen and the additional screen.
US08681485B2
A device enclosure includes a clad metal shell having a plurality of mounting structures attached thereto. Methods for manufacturing the device enclosure are also disclosed. In a particular method, the mounting structures are formed on a surface of the clad metal shell by nano molding technology. Alternatively, the mounting structures are formed by molding before being attached to the clad metal shell by an adhesive.
US08681460B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection device that protects a power amplifier from ESD. The ESD protection device includes a filter circuit connected to an antenna line of a wireless communication apparatus and that passes an ESD component having a predetermined frequency or less, a detection circuit that converts an output of the filter circuit into an analog DC output, a level determination circuit that detects that the analog DC output of the detection circuit is a predetermined threshold value or more, and a control interrupt circuit that controls a state of the power amplifier in accordance with an output of the level determination circuit.
US08681453B2
A disk driving apparatus includes a base member, a hub member, and a fluid bearing unit. The base member has a head movement region on which a head unit is to be mounted such that a head portion of the head unit can be moved along the radial direction of a recording face in a reciprocating manner while facing the recording face of a recording disk to be mounted on the hub member, and a recessed housing portion housing the fluid bearing unit such that it surrounds at least a part of a rotor unit supported by the fluid bearing unit. Furthermore, the base member has an inhibiting wall at a boundary between the head movement region and the recessed housing portion so as to prevent a lubricant fluid from migrating toward the recording disk side.
US08681448B1
In one embodiment, a system includes a controller configured to: determine a reference velocity at various intervals, receive or determine a secondary velocity based at least in part on a parameter associated with a drive mechanism motor, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, adjust a speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and secondary velocity, receive/determine a primary velocity based on reading information encoded on a magnetic tape, at a switching point, make the reference velocity about equal to the primary velocity, after the switching point, determine the reference velocity at various intervals, after the switching point, determine a value representative of a difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity, and adjust the speed of the motor of the drive mechanism for minimizing the difference between the reference velocity and primary velocity.
US08681447B2
An information processing apparatus including a reading unit, a processor, a transferring unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads first management data from a first recording medium. The first management data identifies tracks of source data recorded on the first recording medium. The processor compares the first management data with second management data. The second management data identifies files of ripped data recorded on a second recording medium. The transferring unit transfers one of the tracks of the source data, to the second recording medium, when absent from the second recording medium. The control unit controls a display unit to display transferring status by a symbolic figure.
US08681440B1
Methods and apparatus for vibration cancellation are disclosed. Vibration data from one or more vibration detectors associated with a storage device is collected. The vibration data represents vibrations experienced by the storage device. In response to the vibration data from the one or more vibration detectors, one or more movements for respective ones of one or more counter-vibration actuators to at least partially cancel of the vibrations experienced by the storage device is calculated. The one or more counter-vibration actuators perform the one or more movements.
US08681439B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is discussed that includes an inter-track interference determination circuit operable to calculate an inter-track interference from a previous track data set based at least in part on the previous track data set and a current track data set. The previous track data set includes a gap. A portion of the data in the previous track data set corresponds to a previous track on a storage medium, and the data in the previous track data set corresponding to the gap corresponds to a track preceding a previous track.
US08681438B1
The present application discloses a transducer head comprising a read element that reads data from a storage media and an asperity sensor that detects a dimension of an asperity on a surface of the storage media using a temperature change at the asperity sensor. The asperity may be one or both of a void in the surface of the storage media and a protrusion from the surface of the storage media.
US08681435B2
A macro lens system and a pickup device that includes the macro lens system include, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power, wherein, during focusing, the first lens group, the third lens group, and the fifth lens group are fixed, and the second lens group and the fourth lens group are moved.
US08681419B2
An optical amplifier that amplifies signal light with Raman amplification in the Raman amplification medium. The optical amplifier includes a light source that supplies pump light into the Raman amplification medium, a first detector that detects input power of the pump light to be input to the Raman amplification medium, a second detector that detects output power of the pump light output from the Raman amplification medium, and a processor operable to calculate transmission loss of the pump light in the Raman amplification medium by comparing the input power with the output power, and calculate transmission loss of the signal light in the Raman amplification medium based on the transmission loss of pump light corrected based on a wavelength of the signal light and a wavelength of the pump light.
US08681405B2
The optical scanning apparatus including a light source unit having plurality laser light sources for emitting laser light and one lens in which the laser light emitted from the plurality laser light sources is transmitted, a deflect device that deflects and scans the laser light on an image bearing member, an optical member that images the laser light on the image bearing member, a housing that internally includes the deflect device and the optical member, the housing forms an opening portion that passes through the laser light emitted from the plurality of the laser light sources, and an elastic member that blocks a gap between the lens and the opening portion, the elastic member being pinched between the lens and the housing. It achieves sealing of the flow-in path and sealing of the gap between the light source unit and the housing with a simple configuration.
US08681404B2
An actuator includes: a pair of supporting beams to support an object from both sides thereof in a direction parallel to an axis of rotation; a pair of movable beams to sandwich the object and the pair of supporting beams from both sides in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a plurality of beams to sandwich the pair of movable frames from both sides thereof in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation and support the object; a resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the pair of movable frames and drive the object around the axis of rotation when a resonant drive operation is performed; and a non-resonant drive source to apply bending vibration to the plurality of beams and tilt and drive the object around a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of rotation when a non-resonant drive operation is performed.
US08681403B1
A color reference guide is provided for ensuring consistency among color-printed products. The guide can include a plurality of calibration pages and each calibration page can include a calibration bar and a color logo. The calibration bar can be the same on each calibration page and the color logo can be different on each calibration page. A method of providing consistency among color-printed products is also provided and involves comparing a printed logo to a corresponding color logo in the color reference guide. The color reference guide can be used in a variety of printing processes, for example, in a CMYK four-color printing process or in a G7 color printing process. The color reference guide and method are also useful in calibrating a color printer.
US08681393B2
An image reader includes a reading unit that is configured to read an image on a document sheet to generate read data, a counting unit that is configured to count a number of pixels of the read data having more than a predetermined gray level, a determining unit that determines that the document sheet is blank when the number of pixels counted by the counting unit is not exceeding a threshold value, a display unit that is configured to display the number of pixels counted by the counting unit and the threshold value when the document sheet has been determined to be blank, in a manner that the number of pixels can be compared with the threshold value, and a changing unit that changes the threshold value.
US08681385B2
An image processing apparatus is provided that includes a scanning unit for scanning a document to obtain scanning data and a control unit. The control unit is configured to specify a shadow region to be modified in the scanning data, execute a first adjusting operation for selecting a gray-scale level of a portion of the scanning data corresponding to the specified shadow region, and modify the scanning data according to the selected gray-scale level.
US08681375B2
Image data used for printing a designated color adjusting color chart having color patches with a printing machine are generated, color values and positions of the color patches being associated with each other. A patch selection image simulating the positions of the color patches on the color chart is displayed. Coordinates corresponding to the position of a color that has been selected as a color that is closest to the designated color from the color patches of the color chart, are indicated on the displayed patch selection image. Color values of the color that is closest to the designated color are calculated based on the color values and positions that are associated with each other and the indicated coordinates.
US08681371B2
An image forming apparatus including a formation unit for forming patch images for calibration of an output image, a detection unit disposed on a paper conveyance path and configured to detect the fixed patch images formed on paper by the formation unit, and a correction unit for performing the calibration using the patch images detected by the detection unit is provided. When the formation unit forms the patch images, the formation unit arranges the images on both sides of a medium. On the front surface of the medium, a low-density patch image is formed, and on the back surface of the medium, a high-density patch image is formed. Alternatively, a media on which the patch image is formed is discharged once, and a user turns the medium upside down and feeds the medium again such that the first and second patch image formation positions differ from each other.
US08681355B2
According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by receiving a print command for printing from a user, and displaying a print user interface including selectable document settings and context based restrictions. Context based restrictions allows a system administrator to flexibly manage users access to a device features and capabilities. A variety of restrictions can be specified including time-based, capacity-based, and application-based. This invention also prevents the user from submitting a job with a restricted feature. Advantages are a clear, understandable presentation of restrictions to the user so the user knows what features the user cannot access.
US08681354B2
According to an information processing method of generating print data to be processed by a printing apparatus, when data is stored in a storage area, the data is transmitted to the printing apparatus by applying a printing attribute corresponding to the storage area. The printing attribute corresponding to the storage area is set, and status information representing the status of the printing apparatus is obtained. The printing attribute is changed to adapt the printing attribute to the obtained status information.
US08681348B2
The CPU of a personal computer displays a list of one-click icons, each representing one or a plurality of printing functions, in the icon display area, and selects one one-click icon from the list of the one-click icons displayed in the icon display area, to automatically set a plurality of printing functions corresponding to the selected one-click icons.
US08681343B2
A system and a method may be provided. The system may include an illumination module arranged to illuminate an object by short pulses of light that form at least one spot on the object; a collection module that comprises a sensor that is arranged to generate detection signals representative of three dimensional information about the object: and a mechanical stage that is arranged to introduce a movement between the object and at least one of the collection module and the illumination module.
US08681340B2
An analyzer comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation, a detector for said radiation and a drophead comprising a surface which is adapted to receive a drop of liquid to be tested, the drophead being positioned in use relative to the source and detector to illuminate a drop received thereon and to cause an interaction in the path of the electromagnetic radiation between the source and detector, characterized in that said surface of said drophead is dimensioned to constrain the drop to adopt a shape which is dominated more by surface tension forces than by gravitational forces.
US08681336B2
A method and system comprising measuring concentrations of first and second isotopologues of a gas of interest within a first cavity that is sealably in contact with a soil location through an inlet membrane, and the first cavity being defined by chamber walls having openings covered by outlet membranes. Reference concentrations of the first and second isotopologues are measured in a second cavity having a closed bottom, the second cavity being defined by chamber walls having openings covered by more outlet membranes. Relative flux of the isotopologues can be calculated using the measured concentrations.
US08681332B2
There is provided a method of measuring a diffusion characteristic value (for example, a diffusion constant) of a light-emitting particle using the scanning molecule counting method using the optical measurement with a confocal microscope or a multiphoton microscope. The inventive method of measuring a diffusion characteristic value of a light-emitting particle is characterized to measure light intensity from the light detection region with moving the position of the light detection region in the sample solution by changing an optical path of the optical system to generate light intensity data and to compute a diffusion characteristic value of the light-emitting particle based on a deviation time from a moving cycle time of the light detection region in an interval of generation times of two or more signals corresponding to a same light-emitting particle on the light intensity data.
US08681330B2
Components suitable for use in an evaporative light scattering detector and other devices are disclosed. Methods of making and using components suitable for use in an evaporative light scattering detector and other devices are also disclosed.
US08681320B2
A method includes providing: an optics assembly including a housing, a beam splitter, and a position detector; and an alignment fixture; placing the assembly on the fixture which makes contact with the assembly on the first region; projecting the third beam of light onto a first surface; rotating the assembly about the sixth axis on the fixture; sensing a change in a position of the third beam of light in response to rotation of the assembly about the sixth axis; adjusting the first path to align the third beam of light to the sixth axis; attaching the assembly to a dimensional measurement device; directing the third beam of light to a retroreflector target; reflecting a portion of the third beam from the target as a fourth beam of light; and sending a third portion of the fourth beam from the beam splitter to the position detector.
US08681318B2
The present invention is directed to a distance measuring device (10), in particular a handheld laser distance measuring device, with a position sensor (22) for determining the spatial orientation of the distance measuring device (10). It is proposed that the position sensor (22) is connected with a signal transducer (12), whereby the signal transducer (12) is capable of being triggered by the position sensor (22) to emit a perceptible signal which depends on the spatial orientation.
US08681316B2
A measurement system is configured to derive a position quantity of an object, the measurement system includes at least one position quantity sensor configured to provide respective position quantity measurement signals; a position quantity calculator configured to determine a position quantity of the object from the position quantity measurement signal, wherein the position quantity calculator includes a torsion estimator configured to estimate a torsion of the object, the position quantity calculator being configured to correct the determined position quantity of the object for the estimated torsion.
US08681313B2
A patterning device, including alignment targets having alignment features formed from a plurality of diffractive elements, each diffractive element including an absorber stack and a multi-layered reflector stack is provided. The diffractive elements are configured to enhance a pre-determined diffraction order used for pre-alignment and to diffract light in a pre-determined direction of a pre-alignment system when illuminated with light of a wavelength used for the pre-alignment. The diffractive elements may occupy at least half of an area of each alignment feature. The diffractive elements may be configured to enhance first or higher order diffractions, while substantially reducing zeroth diffraction orders and specular reflection when illuminated with a wavelength used for reticle prealignment. The dimensions of each diffractive element may be a function of a diffraction grating period of each alignment feature.
US08681310B2
A pellicle frame is mechanically attached to a reticle, without use of an adhesive. An embodiment includes mechanically attaching a pellicle frame to a front surface of a reticle, removing the pellicle frame from the reticle, cleaning the reticle, and mechanically reattaching the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include using a clamp to mechanically attach the pellicle frame to the reticle. Embodiments further include forming the pellicle frame with a flange having an opening in the center, and forming the clamp with two portions, one portion with a protrusion that fittingly engages the opening in the flange and with a second opening, and the second portion with a segment that extends behind the reticle and with a second protrusion that fittingly engages the second opening.
US08681307B2
According to the insulated gate transistor, a gate electrode (11A) is provided on a main surface of a glass substrate (2); a first part of an insulating layer (gate insulating layer (30) and transparent inorganic insulating layer (60)) is thicker than a second part of the insulating layer (gate insulating layer (30)), the first part being between (i) the gate electrode (11A) and (ii) a source electrode (12) and a drain electrode (21) of the insulated gate transistor, and the second part being between (i) the gate electrode (11A) and (ii) a channel section (31A) of the insulated gate transistor. This makes it possible to reduce parasitic capacitor without deteriorating characteristics of the transistor.
US08681301B2
A liquid crystal on silicon display panel and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed. The method includes the following steps. First, a semiconductor substrate having a pixel region with at least one first top metal pattern and a first anti-reflection coating structure substantially disposed thereon and a circuit region with is at least one second top metal pattern and a second anti-reflection coating structure substantially disposed thereon is provided. Moreover, the circuit region surrounds the pixel region. Next, the first anti-reflection coating structure is removed. Afterward, a dielectric layer is formed on the semiconductor substrate and covering the first top metal pattern. Then, a passivation layer is formed on the dielectric layer. After that, a portion of the passivation layer and a portion of the second anti-reflection coating structure thereunder are removed to form an opening exposing a portion of the second top metal pattern.
US08681295B2
A VA-mode liquid-crystal display device comprising a front-side polarizing element, a rear-side polarizing element, a VA-mode liquid-crystal cell disposed between the front-side polarizing element and the rear-side polarizing element, and a rear-side retardation region composed of one or more retardation layers disposed between the rear-side polarizing element and the VA-mode liquid-crystal is disclosed. In the device, the cell satisfies following formulas (1) and (2); and the rear-side retardation region satisfies following formula (3); (1) 3.0≦{the member CR(front)/the member CR(rear)}; (2) the front-member scattering intensity ≦1/38000; (3) 25 nm ≦Rth(550)≦90 nm.
US08681289B2
According to one embodiment, a lighting device includes a radiation surface, at least one light source provided to face the radiation surface, and an optical control member provided between the radiation surface and the light source and includes optical characteristics of transmission, diffraction, diffusion, and reflection, which vary for regions in the optical control member, a distribution of each of the optical characteristics being determined by positions relative to the at least one light source. The optical control member is formed in a sheet shape which is controlled by at least one of a reflective film having a reflection factor distribution, and a reflective film having a numerical aperture distribution, and lenses.
US08681287B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device wherein display contents of a liquid crystal display can be excellently viewed. The liquid crystal display device (1) is provided with: a casing (6) which houses the liquid crystal display (2) provided with polarization plates (2c, 2d) on the front side and the rear side; and a see-through plate (7) which covers the front opening of the casing (6) and is composed of a synthetic resin. The see-through plate (7) is provided with a side wall (7a) such that the side wall surrounds the outer side of the end portion of the front opening of the casing (6), and on an area at a distance from a region where the liquid crystal display (2) is viewed, said area being on the side wall (7a), a gate port (7c) is provided when the see-through plate (7) is formed of the resin. Thus, even if the display contents of the liquid crystal display (2) are viewed through polarization glasses, light is transmitted since refractive-index anisotropy due to the formation is not generated in the area at a distance from the gate port (7c), by providing the gate port (7c) on the side wall (7a) area of the see-through plate (7), and the display contents of the liquid crystal display (2) can be excellently viewed.
US08681266B2
An image pickup apparatus includes a main body having an image sensor, a flash apparatus having a flash unit installed to the main body to selectively protrude from the main body and to rotate in the protrusion, and a controller to determine whether to protrude the flash unit by determining whether the main body is disposed in an indoor location or in an outdoor location through an image sensor and locating a face of a person in a subject captured by the image sensor, and to control a flash direction by rotating the flash unit in accordance with surroundings of the face of the person in the subject image after protruding the flash unit.
US08681254B2
The image qualify of an image frame from a CMOS image sensor array operated in global shutter mode may be enhanced by dispersing or randomizing the noise introduced by leakage currents from floating drains among the rows of the image frame. Further, the image quality may be improved by accounting for time dependent changes in the output of dark pixels in dark pixel rows or dark pixel columns. In addition, voltage and time dependent changes in the output of dark pixels may also be measured to provide an accurate estimate of the noise introduced to the charge held in the floating drains. Such methods may be employed individually or in combination to improve the quality of the image.
US08681251B2
An image sensor supporting a normal sampling mode and a 1/N sampling mode for transmitting image data detected by a plurality of unit image sensors and stored in a plurality of latch circuits to a data processor using a plurality of transmission lines, wherein N is a natural number greater than 2, the image sensor including a horizontal address generator configured to generate horizontal addresses corresponding to addresses of the plurality of latch circuits, and to generate, based on the horizontal addresses, a first channel selection control signal and a second channel selection control signal of which activation times at least partially overlap.
US08681249B2
A solid-state imaging device according to an embodiment includes: a first optical system configured to form an image of an object on an image formation plane; an imaging element comprising an imaging area which includes a plurality of pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels; a second optical system configured to include a microlens array including a plurality of microlenses provided to correspond to the plurality of pixel blocks and reduce and re-form an image scheduled to be formed on the image formation plane, in a pixel block corresponding to an individual microlens; and a signal processing unit configured to perform image signal processing with an optical position relation between each microlens and the pixel block corrected, by using an image signal of the object obtained by the imaging element.
US08681244B2
An image processing method and a photography apparatus using the same are provided. The image processing method includes inputting at least one image; selecting a specific region of the at least one image input; extracting a luminance value of the selected specific region; and determining a blurring degree based on the extracted luminance value and performing image processing by blurring the selected specific region using the determined blurring degree.
US08681242B2
An image signal processing system according to the present invention has a function to perform image quality control in photographing a subject having a large difference in brightness in the surrounding environment so that the entire photographed image, in particular a subject which a user desires to view, has an adequate brightness and an adequate gradation. Specifically, this image signal processing system comprises: a video input unit, a video signal processing unit for performing signal processing on a signal output from the video input unit, and generating a video signal; an input-output characteristic control unit for controlling a characteristic of the video signal which the video signal processing unit generates; and a subject recognition unit for performing image processing on the video signal which the video signal processing unit generates, and recognizing and detecting subject information.
US08681228B2
A device includes a display monitor configured to display on a screen of the display monitor at least one of a current image and a preceding image taken by an optical unit, a storage unit configured to store the preceding image, and a control unit configured to display a part of the preceding image on the screen when the current image is displayed on the screen, the displayed part of the preceding image indicating a positional relationship between the current image and the preceding image. The current image is taken when the displayed part of the preceding image substantially overlaps a corresponding portion of the current image such that the current image and the preceding image can be processed to form a panoramic image.
US08681225B2
A technique processes captured data on a device, wherein selected captured data of a given quality resolution is transferred via a communication link to a separate storage location for future availability. A storage protocol may include different storage organization categories. A possible aspect includes an identifier record to enable future accessibility to selected captured data by one or more authorized parties or approved devices.
US08681219B2
Described herein is a system and a method for the automatic adjustment of rear-view devices of a vehicle travelling a lane or road, based on shooting scenes representing an environment surrounding the vehicle in the travel direction and on the identification of at least one from among a collection of predetermined shapes and indicia along the road indicating a road intersection between the lane or road traveled by the vehicle and an incident lane or road, whereby the movement of at least one rear-view device is actuated for representing to the driver a rear and side scene with respect to the vehicle comprising the incident lane or road.
US08681218B1
A system for providing RF spatial awareness of an environment includes an RF detection system and a control system. The RF detection system includes an antenna array for receiving RF signals from a plurality of RF sources; and, a receiver system operatively connected to the antenna array using digital beamforming (DBF) techniques for processing the received RF signals and providing measurements of the RF signals as output. The control system receives the measurements of the RF signals and displays a plurality of indicia indicating the RF sources, thereby providing a visual survey of the environment.
US08681216B2
A depth-sensing camera system includes a common sensor configured to record color and infrared data from a target, an infrared illuminant that projects infrared light on the target, and a control logic that switches a mode of operation of the. camera between a color mode and an infrared mode. When the camera system is in the infrared mode, the infrared illuminant operates to project the infrared light on the target and when in the color mode, the infrared illuminant is disabled. The camera system also includes a color buffer for storing color chroma and luma values and a depth buffer for storing infrared luma data.
US08681215B2
A method and a particle analyzer are provided for determining a particle size distribution of a liquid sample including particles of a lower size range, particles of an intermediate size range, and particles of an upper size range. A dark-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the lower size range and the particles of the intermediate size range are resolved, and a bright-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are resolved. Absolute sizes of the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are determined from the bright-field image frame. Calibrated sizes of the particles of the lower size range are determined from the dark-field image frame by using the particles of the intermediate size range as internal calibration standards.
US08681214B2
An image processing apparatus that includes an edge-enhancement filter that enhances sharpness of an image is provided. The edge-enhancement filter includes distance calculators that calculate values of a distance between a target pixel and an optical center of a captured image in two or more axial directions, edge detection filters that detect edge amounts in two directions, multipliers that multiplies each of the edge amounts detected by the edge detection filters by one of the distance values of a corresponding one of the axial directions, a first adder that adds outputs of the multipliers together, and a second adder that adds a pixel value of the target pixel and an output of the first adder. A coring unit can be interposed between the first adder and the second adder if necessary.
US08681203B1
In one example, a device executes one or more video communication processes that receive audio streams and video streams from a plurality of computing devices participating in a video communication session associated with the one or more video communication processes. The device evaluates one or more properties of the audio streams, including the volume of an audio signal among the audio streams. The device selects a first group of the audio streams to mute in the video communication session, based at least in part on the one or more properties of the audio streams. The device distributes a second group of the audio streams in the video communication session, while muting the first group of audio streams in the video communication session.
US08681199B2
In a method of providing video-call service using a general voice-call terminal and a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) for performing the method, the following steps or functions are performed: exchanging, at a PBX, video media information with a video-support adaptor for providing video-call service to a voice-call terminal; and exchanging, at the PBX, moving picture media information to be used by the voice-call terminal and the video-support adaptor with a counterpart video-call terminal so as to establish a session between the video-support adaptor and the counterpart video-call terminal. The PBX includes a call processor and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) agent. It is possible to provide video-call service between a conventional terminal not having a video screen and various videophone apparatuses by interworking the conventional terminal with SIP-based video software or hardware.
US08681194B2
An apparatus for printing a latent image includes a light source, a photodetector, a rotary contact, a power supply, driving electronics and a plurality of thin-film transistors. The light sources receives the digital data signals and transmits encoded optical data signals. The photodetector receives the encoded optical data signals and transmits signals including selection signals and digital pixel voltages. A rotary contact receives operating voltage potentials from a controller and the power supply receives the operating voltage potentials from the rotary contact. The power supply generates a low voltage potential, a ground potential and a high voltage potential. Driving electronics receive a low voltage potential, a ground potential, selection signals and digital pixel voltages and generate bias signals and pixel voltages. The plurality of TFTs receive the high voltage potential, the bias signals and the pixel voltages and drive the hole injection pixels to generate an electrostatic latent image.
US08681189B2
Systems and methods of image processing are provided for a display having a light source modulation layer and a display modulation layer. A section of a perceptual curve, such as a DICOM curve, is extracted for each frame of image data, based on a profile of expected luminance on the display modulation layer from light emitted by the light source modulation layer. The section of the perceptual curve may be used to determine a desired-total response curve which maps display modulation layer input control values to corresponding output luminance values. The desired-total response curve and a display modulator-specific response curve may be applied to image data to generate control values for driving the display modulation layer.
US08681186B2
A data driver and an organic light emitting display having the same. The data driver has a switch unit provided between output terminals of respective output buffers that are provided in the data driver and data lines corresponding thereto. Here, the switch unit is also coupled to a source for providing a middle voltage, and allows the output terminals of the output buffers to be coupled to receive the middle voltage before data signals are output from the data driver by the operation of the switch unit, making it possible to improve the slew rate of the output buffer and to reduce power consumption, and an organic light emitting display having the same. The switch unit may includes a first switch coupled between the source for providing the middle voltage and the output terminals, and a second switch coupled between the output terminals and the respective data lines.
US08681183B2
A display apparatus includes a display panel, a timing controller and a data driver. The display panel includes a plurality of unit pixels respectively including a first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel. The timing controller includes a first compensation unit which receives grayscale data corresponding to the unit pixels and generates first compensation data of the grayscale data using offset values of first sample compensation data sampled from a first gamma curve. The data driver includes a second compensation unit which generates second compensation data of the grayscale data using second sample compensation data sampled from a second gamma curve and the first compensation data. Accordingly, the first and second compensation data comprise color compensation data, which improve image quality. A method for driving the display panel of the display apparatus is also provided.
US08681176B1
A map server generates vector descriptors and corresponding style identifiers for rendering a map image. Each vector descriptor indicates a geometry of a respective map element in accordance with a vector graphics format, and each style identifier identifies a style according to which the corresponding map element is rendered. The map server then causes map data including the vector descriptors and the style identifiers to be transmitted to the client device via a communication network. When the map server receives a request for style data for modifying a map image at the client device, the map server generates a description of visual characteristics for one or more styles identified by the style identifiers included in the map data previously provided to the client device and causes the description of visual characteristics to be transmitted to the client device for applying to the vector descriptors at the client device.
US08681166B1
A method according to an embodiment of a system for efficient resource management of a signal flow programmed digital signal processor code is provided and includes determining a connection sequence of a plurality of algorithm elements in a schematic of a signal flow for an electronic circuit, the connection sequence indicating connections between the algorithm elements and a sequence of processing the algorithm elements according to the connections, determining a buffer sequence indicating an order of using the plurality of memory buffers to process the plurality of algorithm elements according to the connection sequence, and reusing at least some of the plurality of memory buffers according to the buffer sequence.
US08681153B2
This method is used to enhance the display of a building (SC) showing several levels (T, F1, F2, F3) of this building, without hiding a portion of the map. It consists of: displaying (SPA6′) a first level (T) of this building in the position of this building in the original image, with an enlargement ratio of 100%, displaying (SPP6a′) the other levels (F1, F2, F3) of this building, juxtaposing them with the first level (T), with an enlargement ratio of 100%; and displaying (SPP6b′), in juxtaposition with the display (SPP6a′) of the different levels (F1, F2, F3) of this building, a surface (SPP6b′) representing a so-called peripheral portion (SPP6) located, in the original image, on the periphery of this building, this peripheral portion (SPP6) being displayed (SPP6′) applying: to all elements of this peripheral portion (SPP6), enlargement ratios greater than or equal to a pre-determined minimum value, and at least to some elements, respective enlargement ratios with values lower than 100%, chosen such that the combination of the display surface (SPP6b′) of the peripheral portion and the display surface (SPP6a′) of all the levels (T, F1, F2, F3) occupies, in the new image of the map, a surface (SPA6′+SPP6′) equal to that of the combination of the display surface (SPA6) of the building (SC) and the display surface (SPP6) of the peripheral portion in the original image of the map.
US08681152B2
The invention is directed to the provision of a method for generating a model for a preoperative simulation, wherein the method includes: a first step of constructing volume data for necessary organs by acquiring geometrical information from a medical image; a second step of manipulating the volume data to reposition and reorient an operator-designated organ to achieve a position and orientation appropriate for a surgical operation; a third step of generating a blood-vessel model, depicting a blood vessel to be joined to the designated organ, so as to match the position and orientation of the designated organ; a fourth step of generating volume data by forming a fat model of prescribed thickness around a prescribed organ contained in the earlier constructed volume data, after the blood-vessel model has been joined to the designated organ; a fifth step of thereafter meshing the organ represented by the generated volume data; a sixth step of manipulating a template model of a prescribed shape by using a template, and arranging the template model around the generated blood-vessel model; and a seventh step of generating a line-segment model based on the thus arranged template model.
US08681143B2
A display apparatus, includes: a display light emission unit which includes a light source, forms an image, and emits display light corresponding to formed image; a deflection unit which deflects the display light; a narrow band reflection unit which has characteristics of reflecting only light in a reflected wavelength range and transmitting light of wavelengths other than the reflected wavelength range, and reflects the display light incident from the deflection unit towards a viewpoint; and a control unit which changes an incidence angle at which the display light is incident on the narrow band reflection unit, in accordance with change in a wavelength of the light, wherein the narrow band reflection unit is configured such that the reflected wavelength range changes when an incidence angle of light changes, and the control unit changes the incidence angle such that a wavelength of the light is included within the reflected wavelength range.
US08681139B2
A method of driving a display device includes sub-sampling an original image signal. The method further includes generating a sub-image signal, generating a sub-interpolated image signal from the sub-image signal, and generating an interpolated frame by realigning the sub-interpolated image signal. An image having the interpolated frame is then displayed.
US08681136B2
A vehicle display apparatus includes a first indicator, a second indicator, and an illuminance detector. The illuminance detector is configured detect illuminance outside a vehicle. Display luminance of the second indicator is capable of being changed in a specific luminance range in accordance with the illuminance outside the vehicle detected by the illuminance detector irrespective of daytime or nighttime. A luminance setting device is configured to set the specific luminance range. A controller is configured to increase or decrease the display luminance of the second indicator at least in a portion of the specific luminance range set by the luminance setting device based on display luminance for each of daytime and nighttime of the first indicator set by the luminance setting device.
US08681126B2
Embodiments are disclosed that relate to the correction of an image acquired in a rolling image capture system for ambient light. One embodiment provides a device comprising a screen, a rolling image capture system, a local light source, and a controller. The controller is configured to operate the local light source while acquiring first and second frames of image data to integrate each field of image sensor pixels for a duration of local+ambient light and for a duration of ambient light such that a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the first frame is different than a sum tlocal+ambient+tambient for the second frame for each field of pixels. The controller is further configured to determine an ambient light value, and to adjust one or more pixels based upon the ambient light value.
US08681124B2
A system recognizes user-object gesture interactions with the surface of a monitor display, with hover space defined spaced-apart from the display surface, or in virtual scroll regions defined on the periphery of the monitor display. The system recognizes user-object interactions, e.g., gestures, and can affect what is displayed commensurately. The system includes at least a first time-of-flight (TOF) system and at least one of a second TOF, a two-dimensional camera, and a mirror, each TOF system processing at least one of z-depth data and A-brightness data. User-object interactions, e.g., touching(s) of the display surface, location(s) in a hover region, or location(s) in a virtual scroll region, are recognized passively in that the user-object need not have capacitance, resistance, exert force, or deform during gesture interaction. The system may be attached retroactively to the monitor, which may be a large (>22 cm) monitor, or a small cell phone sized monitor.
US08681106B2
An accessibility method is performed by an electronic device with a display and a touch-sensitive surface. The method includes: mapping at least a first portion of the display to the touch-sensitive surface; concurrently displaying a plurality of user interface containers on the display; detecting a user interface container selection event that selects a first user interface container in the plurality of user interface containers; and, in response to detecting the user interface container selection event: ceasing to map the first portion of the display to the touch-sensitive surface, and proportionally mapping the first user interface container to be substantially coextensive with the touch-sensitive surface.
US08681105B2
A mobile terminal and screen displaying method thereof are disclosed, by which an image can be displayed on a screen using a virtual polyhedral pillar. The present invention includes a user input unit for inputting key signals, a display for displaying a first facet of a polyhedral pillar, and a controller, if a specific key signal is inputted, the controller controlling a second facet of the polyhedral pillar to be displayed on the display by rotating the polyhedral pillar.
US08681103B2
A mobile terminal includes: a terminal body having a radio communication function; a touch screen mounted on a front surface of the terminal body and outputting touch inputtable visual information; a keypad connected with one end of the terminal body, inputting information to the terminal body, and formed to be detachably attached to front and rear surface of the terminal body to implement a first status in which the keypad is mounted on the rear surface of the terminal body and a second status in which the keypad is mounted on the front surface; and a controller configured to execute a first input mode through the touch screen in the first status and a second input mode through the keypad in the second status.
US08681099B2
When a vehicle navigation system is manipulated by taking pictures of a user hand motion and gesture with a camera, as the number of apparatuses and operational objects increases, the associated hand shapes and hand motions increase, thus causing a complex manipulation for a user. Furthermore, in detecting a hand with the camera, when the image of a face having color tone information similar to that of a hand appears in an image taken with a camera, or outside light rays such as sun rays or illumination rays vary, detection accuracy is reduced. To overcome such problems, a manipulation input device is provided that includes a limited hand manipulation determination unit and a menu representation unit, whereby a simple manipulation can be achieved and manipulation can accurately be determined. In addition, detection accuracy can be improved by a unit that selects a single result from results determined by a plurality of determination units, based on images taken with a plurality of cameras.
US08681096B2
Touchpad devices emulating button functionality (“click pad” devices) that simultaneously emulates multiple functionalities are described herein. In addition, embodiments provide for click pad emulation of both TrackPoint and touchpad functionality. According to embodiments, a click pad device emulating multiple functionalities may enable or disable certain functionalities based on user interaction with the click pad device. For example, a click pad device emulating both TrackPoint and touchpad functionality may enable TrackPoint functionality and disable touchpad functionality if user gestures on the click pad device indicate that the user is interacting with the click pad as a TrackPoint device.
US08681092B2
An input device including an operation portion to be operated by an external force, a signal generating portion that generates a signal according to a movement of the operation portion, and a tactile sense stimulus mechanism that applies a tactile sense stimulus to an object that applies the external force is provided. The tactile sense stimulus mechanism includes magnetic field generating portions, and a tactile sense stimulus member that is secured to a magnetic field generating portion.
US08681090B2
An electrophoretic display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a partition wall, first electrodes, a second electrode, a dispersant, positively-charged particles, negatively-charged particles, weakly-charged particles, switching thin film transistors, scanning lines, and signal lines. Pixel spaces are surrounded by the partition wall, the first substrate and the second substrate. Two of the first electrodes are formed on the first substrate in each pixel. The second electrode facing the first electrodes is formed on the second substrate. The dispersant with the positively-charged particles, the negatively-charged particles, and weakly-charged particles is contained in the pixel spaces. The switching thin film transistors are connected to the first electrode, and the signal line. The scanning lines supply scanning signals to gate electrodes of the switching thin film transistors. The signal lines input a data signal to the switching thin film transistors.
US08681085B2
A one-stage shift register includes: a first transistor with a drain electrode connected to a corresponding scanning line and with a source electrode connected to a power supply; a second transistor of a same conductivity type, with a drain electrode connected to a gate electrode of the first transistor, with a source electrode connected to the power supply, and with a gate electrode connected to a first external control signal line; a third transistor of the same conductivity type as the fist transistor, with a drain electrode connected to the drain electrode of the second transistor, with a source electrode connected to the power supply, and with a gate electrode connected to a node that uses a bootstrap effect; and a load circuit with one end thereof connected to a second external control signal line and the other end thereof connected to the drain electrode of the second transistor.
US08681083B2
A display device includes a pixel matrix having pixel rows and pixel columns and including pixels having switching elements positioned alternately at a corner near an upper and a lower side of each pixel row and positioned alternately at a corner near an upper and a lower side of and alternately at a corner near a left and a right side of each pixel column; multiple pairs of gate lines transmitting a gate-on voltage; and multiple data lines transmitting data voltages, wherein each pair of gate lines are disposed at the upper and lower sides of each pixel row with the pixels in each row connected to the gate line positioned nearest the respective switching element, and each data line is disposed between adjacent pairs of pixel columns and connected to pairs of pixels where one pixel of the pair has a switching element positioned nearest the respective data line.
US08681076B2
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel including a front substrate, a plurality of electrodes arranged on the front substrate, an upper dielectric layer covering the plurality of electrodes on the front substrate, and a rear substrate arranged opposite to the front substrate, wherein the upper dielectric layer comprises a convex portion thicker than a surrounding portion thereof and a concave portion thinner than a surrounding portion thereof, and the thickness of the portion of the upper dielectric layer corresponding to the concave portion is equal to or more than 0.04 times and equal to or less than 0.9 times of the thickness of the portion of the upper dielectric layer corresponding to the convex portion.
US08681072B2
A mobile, multi-room display environment. The display environment has a first room, the first room having a first set of sensory cues, and a second room, the second room having a second set of sensory cues substantially different from the first set of sensory cues. The first and second rooms are designed for temporary use and can be easily disassembled for transport from one location to another.
US08681065B2
The parabolic antenna positioner includes a base, a support cradle mounted so it can rotate relative to the base along a first axis of rotation, a mobile assembly including a parabolic antenna, supported by the support cradle, and mounted so it can rotate relative to the support cradle along a second axis of rotation, orthogonal to the first axis of rotation. The second axis of rotation is separated from the axis of rotation of the support cradle by a non-null distance measured in the plane of rotation of the cradle.
US08681064B2
An antenna system for reducing unwanted coupling and electromagnetic interference, the antenna system including a transmit module configured to send a signal, a receive module configured to receive the signal, a radome, and a resistive frequency selective surface circuit configured to reduce a coupled portion of the signal, the resistive frequency selective surface circuit disposed in a path of the coupled portion of the signal.
US08681062B2
The present invention enables to restrain the enlargement of the wireless communication apparatus and prevent the manufacturing processes from increasing and to increase the frequency bands which can be used by the wireless communication.An antenna 1 includes a first ground pattern 3, a second ground pattern 4, a hinge conductor member 5 and a current control circuit 6. The first ground pattern 3 is formed on a first printed wiring board 7. The hinge conductor member 5 is arranged on a hinge Z which connects indirectly the first printed wiring board 7 and a second printed wiring board 8 each other. The current control circuit 6 is arranged on the first printed wiring board 7. The current control circuit 6 has a function to flow the electric current of a first frequency band and attenuate the electric current of a second frequency band. An electric current of the first frequency band flows from a feeding source 10 to the second ground pattern 4 and flows into the first ground pattern 3 through the hinge conductor member 5 and the current control circuit 6. A part, on which the electric current of the first frequency band flows, functions as an antenna which communicate the signal of the first frequency band. An electric current of the second frequency band flows from the feeding source 10 to the second ground pattern 4 and flows until reaching the current control circuit 6 through the hinge conductor member 5. A part, on which the electric current of the second frequency band flows, functions as an antenna which communicate the signal of the second frequency band.
US08681059B2
Antenna apparatuses and methods used in wireless communication devices are disclosed. The antenna includes a first portion configured to be coupled to a communication device. The antenna also includes a second portion configured to be coupled to the first portion. The first portion and second portion are coupled by overlapping the first portion and second portion so as to produce an omnidirectional radiation pattern and a vertical radiation pattern.
US08681058B2
An antenna module for an electronic device includes a shielding metal sheet for isolation of electromagnetic interference, and an antenna placed on the shielding metal sheet for radio signal reception and transmission, wherein the shielding metal sheet includes a first ground point working as a ground point of the antenna module and the antenna includes a first feeding point working as a feeding point of the antenna module.
US08681054B2
A PIFA/monopole hybrid antenna includes a high-frequency radiator, a low-frequency radiator, a connecting part, a feed part, and a ground part. The high-frequency radiator includes a first radiating part and a second radiating part extended substantially perpendicular to the first radiating part. The low-frequency radiator includes a third radiating part extended substantially parallel to the first radiating part, and a fourth radiating part extended substantially perpendicular to the third radiating part. The connecting part is connected between the high-frequency radiator, the low-frequency radiator, the connecting part, the feed part, and the ground part.
US08681050B2
An antenna device, such as composite right and left handed (CRLH) antenna device, is formed on the substrate, including a ground electrode formed on the substrate. In an example, the antenna device includes a cell patch comprising an enclosed conductive portion formed along an exterior edge of the cell patch, leaving an interior portion of the cell patch to partially expose the substrate. A feed structure is electromagnetically coupled to the cell patch, a via line is coupled to the ground electrode, and a via couples the via line to the cell patch.
US08681040B1
The present invention is a method for aiding pilots in resolving flight identifier (flight ID) confusion. The method includes receiving a first flight ID in a processing system. The method further includes comparing the first flight ID to a second flight ID. The method further includes providing an alert when the compared first flight ID and second flight ID are at least substantially similar. The first flight ID is associated with a first aircraft, the second flight ID is associated with a second aircraft, the first aircraft and second aircraft being located in substantially proximal airspace.
US08681029B1
An embodiment of the invention includes an analog to digital converter including a sigma delta modulator that generates a feedback signal. The sigma delta modulator includes a quantizer responsive to an input signal and the feedback signal and generates a quantizer output. The sigma delta modulator further includes a chopper-stabilized amplifier that provides a reference signal to the sigma delta modulator, and the chopper-stabilized amplifier is stabilized according to a combination of a chopping signal and the quantizer output.
US08681020B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for automated control of aerodrome lighting. An exemplary system includes a communication radio, an aerodrome lighting data source, and a processor. The communication radio is configured to selectively transmit radio frequency (RF) signals. The aerodrome lighting data source is configured to at least selectively supply aerodrome lighting data representative of light control characteristics of aerodrome lighting associated with individual aerodromes. The processor is in operable communication with the aerodrome lighting data source and the communication radio, and is configured to selectively retrieve, from the aerodrome lighting data source, aerodrome lighting data associated with an individual aerodrome, and selectively command the communication radio to transmit RF signals consistent with the light control characteristics associated with the individual aerodrome.
US08681011B2
The present smoke detection system uses a single sensor to quickly detect both fast flaming fires and smoldering fires while further reducing nuisance and false alarms. In the present detector, the sensor is preferably an ionization sensor. Specifically, a first algorithm is used to detect flaming fires and second algorithm is used to detect smoldering fires. An alarm is sounded when either algorithm generates an alarm condition. In each embodiment, the first algorithm generates an alarm condition when a sensor output signal exceeds a first threshold. The alarm condition is generated for the second algorithm when the sensor output signal: (1) exceeds a second threshold for T time.; (2) rate of change exceeds a predetermined rate of change threshold; (3) change between time Tn and time Tn-1 exceeds a predetermined change threshold; or (4) sensor signal exceeds an historic standard deviation of the signal multiplied by a predetermined constant.
US08681000B2
A lifecycle management system for detection and tracking of drillpipes which carry low radio frequency tags that comprise an inductive antenna and transceiver operable at a first radio frequency below 1 megahertz, a transceiver operatively connected to that antenna, an ID data storage device, a microprocessor for handling data from the transceiver and data store, and a tag energization inductive antenna which can receive radio frequency energy from an ambient radio frequency field of a second low radio frequency. The system includes a field communication inductive antenna disposed, preferably at a distance of several feet from each object, that permits effective communication therewith at the aforesaid first radio frequency, a data receiver, transmitter and reader data processor in operative communication with the field communication inductive antenna, and a field energization inductive antenna which can produce the ambient radio frequency field at the tag energization inductive antenna.
US08680999B2
A loss prevention system comprises a protected article and a receiver. The protected article and the receiver are located in the same room. The loss prevention system can help to prevent loss or theft of the protected article. The protected article comprises a transmitter that emits an infrared signal. The infrared signal has a carrier frequency that is modulated to encode a digital signature. The receiver detects infrared signals. The receiver performs an alarm action if the receiver does not detect within a rolling time window an infrared signal having the carrier frequency that is modulated to encode the digital signature.
US08680997B2
An apparatus and method of detecting a change in tension of a taut wire fence system, where the system includes a connector including a main body member having a first attachment portion at one end of the member and a second attachment portion at the opposite end of the member and a sensor located on the main body between and aligned with the first and second attachment portions, the method including the steps of attaching a first wire of the fence to the first attachment portion and attaching the second attachment portion of the connector either to an end support mount for the fence, or to a second wire of the fence system such that the connector is held independently of direct contact with any fence support, and such that the first wire, the sensor on the main body of the connector and the second attachment portion respectively, are aligned.
US08680995B2
A method and apparatus for detecting behavioral changes in a security system is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a secured area having a plurality of security zones where access to each is controlled by an access controller, detecting entrances to at least some of the plurality of security zones by an authorized person through respective access controllers of the plurality of zones over a predetermined previous time period, forming a probability model of entry into each of the plurality of security zones from the detected entrances over the previous time period, detecting access requests for the authorized user from the access controllers during a current time period, and generating a security alert upon determining that an access request of the current access requests exceeds a probability threshold value associated with the probability model.
US08680994B2
A method for designating vegetation as potential impact vegetation includes identifying data relating to target vegetation from a dataset and determining a reach distance of the target vegetation. The reach distance includes a distance from a point on a ground to a point of the target vegetation that is farthest from the point on the ground. The method also includes comparing the reach distance of the target vegetation with a closest distance between the point on the ground and a structure to produce a compared reach distance value and determining a health indicator value for the target vegetation. The method further includes comparing the health indicator value of the target vegetation to a health indicator threshold value and designating the target vegetation as having a potential to impact the structure based on the compared reach distance value and the comparison of the health indicator to the health indicator threshold.
US08680993B2
An apparatus and system for providing a solution that enables technicians or other technical professionals obtain both an accurate color value for a sample as well as an accurate gloss value while using a spectrophotometer and an integrated gloss meter device. The present invention allows for accurate color and gloss value analysis of samples using improved compensation values by using a reference sensor to correct the variations in intensity of a light source.
US08680986B2
An apparatus for monitoring the activity of a surgeon. At least one wireless sensing unit is provided for monitoring potential damage to a nerve and is located at a first location of a body being operated on by a surgeon. The wireless sensing unit senses a change in the body at the first location resulting from potential damage to the nerve occurring at a second location of the body remote from the first location. The wireless sensing unit produces a wireless sensed change output signal indicative of the change in the body which is received by a receiver and generates a corresponding received output signal. An analyzer unit receives and analyzes the received output signal to determine the change in the body. An indicator responsive to the output of said analyzer unit indicates the change in the body to indicate the potential damage to the nerve the surgeon.
US08680985B2
A location-based and preference-based system and method for matching media content about persons, places and things with the expressed preferences of mobile users to notify users about and provide users with access to media content about persons, places and things that match the user's expressed preferences. The system thus provides information such as stories or articles that match the user's interests and relate to their location. The system may assign ranks to all of the media content that meets that user's preferences wherein, in one embodiment, it will automatically play them in the assigned order. Comparison of the user's preferences with the various profiles of the media content allows the user only to be informed of the media content for those persons, places or things that the user is likely to be interested in. The system and method thus provides for a mobile real-time point of interest exchange network.
US08680980B2
A blank tire pressure monitoring device includes a housing having an air valve at one end and connection terminals at an opposite end, a circuit board mounted in the housing and carrying a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, an analog-digital converter electrically connected with the pressure sensor, the temperature sensor and the acceleration sensor, a general purpose I/O terminal unit electrically connected with the connection terminals of the housing; an embedded microcontroller module electrically connected with the general purpose I/O terminal unit and the analog-digital converter and having built therein a flash memory, a microcontroller core and a special-function register controller, a LF receiver electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module, and a transmitter electrically connected to the embedded microcontroller module; and a method is still also disclosed for setting up a blank tire pressure monitoring device.
US08680978B2
A method for displaying a warning message in a first vehicle, includes transmitting from a second vehicle a warning and position data relating to a position of the second vehicle to the first vehicle, wherein if, after reception of the warning and of the position data by the first vehicle, it is concluded on the basis of the received position data that the second vehicle can be seen by a driver of the first vehicle in a region of a head-up display of the first vehicle, the warning message is displayed in such a way that the second vehicle is characterized visually for the driver of the first vehicle in the head-up display of the first vehicle.
US08680977B2
A collision probability index value corresponding to a probability of collision between a host vehicle and an obstacle is calculated based on the information indicating the relative relationship between the host vehicle and the obstacle; and the alarming braking operation is performed to cause a driver to recognize that a collision may occur by changing at least one of the drive power and the braking force when the collision probability index value reaches a predetermined threshold value. In the alarming braking operation, a target acceleration that is used as a target value in the alarming braking operation is set based on the acceleration of the host vehicle, which is detected when the collision probability index value reaches the predetermined threshold value; and at least one of the drive power and the braking force is controlled so that the target acceleration is achieved.
US08680970B2
RFID systems are disclosed that include at least one RFID receiver system and a distributed exciter architecture. Exciters can be connected via wired and/or wireless connections to the RFID receiver system, which can control activation of the exciters to detect the presence of RFID tags within interrogation spaces defined by the exciter topology. One embodiment includes an RFID receiver system configured to detect information from RFID tags within a receive coverage area, and a plurality of exciters defining a plurality of interrogation spaces within the receive coverage area of the receiver system. The receiver system is configured to transmit a control signal that identifies one of the exciters and includes information indicative of an RFID tag interrogation signal, the exciters are configured to receive the control signal, and the exciter identified in the control signal is configured to illuminate an interrogation space with the RFID tag interrogation signal.
US08680967B2
A server computer includes a receiving part for receiving a content and apparatus identification information of an apparatus that existed in a vicinity when the content was generated; an extracting part for extracting identification information corresponding to the apparatus identification information received by the receiving part by referring to a database in which the identification information is stored in association with the apparatus identification information; a storing part for storing the content and apparatus identification information received by the receiving part and the identification information extracted by the extracting part in an associated manner in the storage unit; and a first sending part for sending the content stored in the storage unit to another information processor corresponding to identification information received from outside when the identification information received from the outside matches the identification information stored in the storage unit.
US08680962B2
A vibration-suppressed transformer is fixed to a base plate and includes a magnetic lower core, two or more magnetic upper cores, primary and secondary coils. The lower core is on the base plate. The upper cores are arranged face to face over the lower core. The coils are arranged between the lower and upper cores. Each upper core contacts the lower core, on an outer side of the coils, with a first gap being provided between the upper and lower cores, on an inner side of the coils. The upper cores are extended towards each other from the outer to the inner side of the coils, with a second gap being provided therebetween. The second gap is provided therein with a non-magnetic pressing member to press the lower core against the base plate, on an inner side of the coils.
US08680954B2
A waveguide includes: a first tubular waveguide path that transmits electromagnetic waves having a predetermined wavelength; and a stub that is formed such that a depth thereof becomes a quarter of the predetermined wavelength, an open end of the stub making internal contact with a contour line, and the contour line being spaced apart from an inner wall part of one end of the first tubular waveguide path in a radially outward direction by only a quarter of the predetermined wavelength.
US08680952B2
There is provided an improved bandpass filter having multiple passbands, and in one embodiment, two independent passbands are provided by a single filter. Embodiments of the present invention support communication architectures with several frequency bands without requiring one signal path per band, thus realizing improvements in size, cost, and weight. One aspect of the invention utilizes strongly overcoupled resonators to achieve multiple passband response, and in various embodiments, single-ended or differential mode inputs and outputs are accommodated.
US08680950B2
In a multilayer bandpass filter, a first capacitor is defined between a first capacitor electrode and a ground electrode. A second capacitor is defined between a second capacitor electrode and the ground electrode. A first inductor is defined by first and second via electrodes and a first inductor electrode. A second inductor is defined by third and fourth via electrodes and a second inductor electrode. Two LC parallel resonators, one of which includes the first inductor and the first capacitor and the other one of which includes the second inductor and the second capacitor, are provided. The second via electrode included in one of the LC parallel resonators and the fourth via electrode included in the other one of the LC parallel resonators are electrically connected to each other by a via coupling electrode.
US08680945B1
Negative refractive index (NRI) transmission line (TL) metamaterial may be applied to phase shifter devices. In some aspects, a one dimensional NRI TL enabled compact and tunable phase shifter is provided. The phase shifter comprises cascaded sections of NRI metamaterial TL and positive refraction index TL with tailored dispersion characteristics. The phase shifter, for example as compared to common delay line based or ferrite based phase shifters, may be compact in size, may be continuously tunable from negative to positive phases, may have flatter and more linear phase responses over wideband, may have small group delays, and may be compatible to microwave circuits.
US08680944B2
A single-chip duplexer, interfacing a receiver and a transmitter with a common antenna, includes transmit and receive filters, an annular sealing ring and a conductive stripe. The transmit filter is connected between the antenna and the transmitter, and has a transmit passband. The receive filter is connected between the antenna and the receiver, and has a receive passband different from the transmit passband. The annular sealing ring is connected between a surface of the chip and a surface of a cap to form a sealed cavity between the chip and the cap. The conductive stripe extends across at least a portion of the surface of the chip between the transmit filter and the receive filter, the conductive stripe being directly connected to the sealing ring and electrically connected to ground. The conductive stripe provides at least one of magnetic shielding and capacitive shielding between the transmit filter and the receive filter.
US08680924B2
A differential power amplifier is provided and includes a first pair of transistors. A first transistor is inductively coupled to a voltage source and is connected to a node at a ground reference potential. A second transistor is inductively coupled to the node and is connected to the voltage source. Gates of the transistors are configured to receive an AC signal with a fundamental frequency. Drain of the first and second transistors are respectively first and second output nodes. The output nodes provide a first differential output. A capacitor is connected between the output nodes and provides a pathway for cancellation of even harmonic signals of the fundamental frequency. A second pair of transistors provides a second differential output. A first inductor is connected between the output nodes. A second inductor is connected between output nodes of the second pair of transistors. A combiner is inductively coupled to the inductors.
US08680916B2
There is disclosed a power supply stage, comprising: generating means for generating a power supply voltage from a high efficiency variable voltage supply in dependence on a reference signal; adjusting means for receiving the generated power supply voltage, and adapted to provide an adjusted selected power supply voltage tracking the reference signal in dependence thereon.
US08680909B2
A layer-ID detector for multilayer 3D-IC, including a random generator to generate a random signal, a layer-ID designation mechanism circuit coupled to the random generator to generate a layer-ID designating signal, and a counter coupled to the layer-ID designating signal to output a layer-ID signal.
US08680904B1
A semiconductor device includes a delay locked loop unit configured to compare a phase of an internal clock with a phase of a feedback clock to delay the internal clock by a delay amount corresponding to a comparison result, and to output a delay locked clock, a delay replica modeling unit configured to output the feedback clock by reflecting a transfer delay amount of the internal clock used in an internal circuit into the delay locked clock, and to adjust the transfer delay amount in response to a delay replica adjustment signal, and a delay replica adjustment signal generation unit configured to compare the phase of the feedback clock with a phase of the delay locked clock, and to set a value of the delay replica adjustment signal in response to a comparison result.
US08680898B2
A multiplier circuit including; a 90 degrees coupler that divides an input signal into a first input signal and a second input signal of which phase difference of a base wave is 90 degrees; a first transistor that receives the first input signal and outputs a first output signal including at least a doubled wave and a tripled wave of the first input signal; a second transistor that receives the second input signal and outputs a second output signal including at least a doubled wave and a tripled wave of the second input signal; and a combiner that restrains leakage of the first output signal or the second output signal from one of the first transistor and the second transistor to the other, combines the first output signal and the second output signal, and outputs an output signal of the tripled wave.
US08680891B2
A high voltage tolerant differential receiver circuit includes a voltage divider ladder that is operative to divide in half differential input signals that are greater than threshold voltages of the voltage divider ladder. A pass gate circuit is operative to receive differential input signals that are below the threshold voltage of the voltage divider ladder. Outputs from the voltage divider ladder and the pass gate circuit are provided to separate comparators. Output from the comparators are combined to generate a signal in the voltage domain of receiver circuitry.
US08680888B2
A device includes a routing buffer. The routing buffer includes a first port configured to receive a signal relating to an analysis of at least a portion of a data stream. The routing buffer also includes a second port configured to selectively provide the signal to a first routing line of a block of a state machine at a first time. The routing buffer further includes a third port configured to selectively provide the signal to a second routing line of the block of the state machine at the first time.
US08680886B1
An apparatus for implementing an electronic design includes a structured application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The structured ASIC includes circuitry that is adapted to implement functionality of a field programmable gate array (FPGA) that implements a part of the electronic design, as well as circuitry that is adapted to implement the functionality of at least one more FPGA that implement(s) another part (or additional parts) of the electronic design.
US08680879B2
A chuck for supporting and retaining a test substrate includes a device for supporting and retaining a calibration substrate. The chuck comprises a first support surface for supporting a test substrate and a second support surface, which is laterally offset to the first support surface, for supporting a calibration substrate. The calibration substrate has planar calibration standards for calibration of a measuring unit of a prober, and dielectric material or air situated below the calibration substrate at least in the area of the calibration standard. In order to be able to take the actual thermal conditions on the test substrate and in particular also on known and unknown calibration standards and thus the thermal influence on the electrical behavior of the calibration standard used into consideration, the second support surface is equipped for temperature control of the calibration substrate.
US08680875B2
Example embodiments relate to a method performed by an apparatus for analyzing time of a semiconductor chip. The method may include defining a netlist, defining time delays of devices defined in the netlist, performing a normality test using the time delays, judging a p-value based on the normality test, and determining a time delay of the semiconductor chip.
US08680873B2
A method and apparatus for fault identification in a transmission line are provided. The method may include measuring at an end of the transmission line when the transmission line has a fault to obtain a measured signal, comparing the measured signal with a predefined standard signal, the predefined standard signal having beat frequency characteristic; and identifying that the fault is a transient fault if the measured signal matches the predefined standard signal according to a result of the comparison, or the fault is a permanent fault if the measured signal does not match the predefined standard signal according to the result of the comparison.
US08680867B2
A battery monitoring circuit monitors voltages of a plurality of secondary cells connected in series. The battery monitoring circuit comprises a first switch element, a second switch element, a third switch element, and a first capacitor. The battery monitoring circuit comprises an operational amplifier of which an inverting input terminal is connected to a second end of the first capacitor, a non-inverting input terminal is connected to a fixed potential, and an output is connected to the second end of the first capacitor. The battery monitoring circuit comprises an A/D converter which performs analog-to-digital conversion on a signal output by the operational amplifier and outputs an obtained digital signal. The battery monitoring circuit comprises a control circuit which performs on/off control on the first to third switch elements and controls operations of the operational amplifier and the A/D converter.
US08680864B2
A portable locator and method for establishing the location of the cable line in a region which includes at least one generally straight electrically conductive cable line extending across the region from which cable line a locating signal includes a first arrangement for measuring a local flux intensity of the locating signal at a first above ground point within the region with the portable locator in a particular orientation at the first above ground point. A second arrangement uses the local flux intensity to establish a cable line angular orientation which limits the possible directions to the cable line relative to the particular orientation of the portable locator at the above ground point. A third arrangement uses the measured local flux intensity to establish an actual direction of the cable line that is selected from the possible directions based on certain characteristics of the locating signal.
US08680854B2
A giant magneto-impedance (GMI) magnetometer is formed in a semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence, which significantly reduces the size and cost of the GMI magnetometer. The semiconductor wafer fabrication sequence forms a magnetic conductor, a non-magnetic conductor that is wrapped around the magnetic conductor as a coil, and non-magnetic conductors that touch the opposite ends of the magnetic conductor.
US08680850B2
A magnetoresistive angular sensing method is disclosed. In a first mode, a first dc external magnetic field in a predetermined direction is applied to an angular sensor arrangement in which the external magnetic field dominates over a magnetic field generated by an input device an angular position of which is to be sensed. In a second mode, a second external magnetic field is applied to the angular sensor. Outputs of the angular sensor arrangement in the two modes are processed to determine an angular orientation of the input device with offset voltage compensation.
US08680846B2
A magnetic field sensor includes a reference-field-sensing circuit channel that allows a calibration or a self-test of the circuitry of the magnetic field sensor. The magnetic field sensor can generate a reference magnetic field to which the magnetic field sensor is responsive.
US08680843B2
Magnetic field current sensing devices, systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a current sensor includes a semiconductor die; an isolation layer disposed on the semiconductor die; at least one anchor pad disposed on the isolation layer; a current input and a current output galvanically isolated from the semiconductor die; at least one bond wire coupled to the current input and the current output, a longitudinal portion of the at least one bond wire disposed between the current input and the current output being stitched to the at least one anchor pad; and at least one sensor element arranged to sense a magnetic field induced by a current flowing in the at least one bond wire.
US08680839B2
Offset calibration technique to improve performance of band gap voltage reference. An example of a bandgap reference source includes an output resistor, a first and second transistors and a differential amplifier. A positive-input calibration phase switch is in communication with a positive amplifier input, a emitter of the first and second transistor and a negative-input calibration phase switch in communication with the negative amplifier input, the emitter of the first and second transistor. A positive-output calibration phase switch is in communication with the positive amplifier output, the first and second terminal of the output resistor and a negative-output calibration phase switch is in communication with the negative amplifier output, the first and second terminal of the output resistor. An adjustable resistance is in communication with the emitter of the first transistor, the emitter of the second transistor, and the second terminal of the output resistor.
US08680837B2
A driver for driving a driving element includes: a signal source, for providing a square signal; a first modulation circuit, for providing on-pulses and off-pulses according to edges of the square signal; a transformer for coupling output signals of the first modulation circuit to a secondary winding of the transformer to form coupled signals; a second modulation circuit for providing first operating pulses according to coupled on-pulses of the coupled signals, and providing second operating pulses according to coupled off-pulses of the coupled signals; a switch device for turning off the switch device according to the first operating pulses and turning on the switch device according to the second operating pulses, and when the switch device is turned off, coupled on-pulses charge an equivalent capacitor of the driving element to a first driving potential to turn on the driving element, and when the switch device is turned off, the equivalent capacitor discharges to a second driving potential to turn off the driving element, and the width of the on-pulses is less than 1000 ns.
US08680833B2
There is disclosed a voltage supply stage comprising: a selection means for selecting one of a plurality of power supply voltages in dependance on a reference signal representing a desired power supply voltage; a combining means for combining the selected power supply voltage with a correction signal to generate an adjusted power supply voltage; and an adjusting means adapted to generate the correction signal in dependence on the reference signal and the adjusted power supply voltage, wherein the selection means is arranged to select the one of the plurality of supply voltages further in dependence on a signal derived from one of the inputs to the combining means.
US08680829B2
A Low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator (1) includes: —a Ballast Transistor PBaI (3) of the P-channel MOS or Bipolar type, having a gate (34) and a main conduction path (D-S) connected in a path between the input VDD (4) and the output VOUT (5) of the regulator—an Operational Transconductance Amplifier (OTA) (2) being implemented as an adaptative biasing transistor amplifier and having an inverting input coupled to the output VOUT (5) through a voltage divider R1-R2 (61), a non-inverting input coupled to a voltage reference circuit (7) and having an output connected to the gate (34) of the Ballast transistor (3). To stabilize the output (5) and to increase the power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of the LDO voltage regulator (1), OTA (2) includes a resistance RS, which enables to stabilize the output (5) and to increase the Power Supply Rejection Ratio (PSRR).
US08680826B2
A regulator apparatus having an input terminal and an output terminal, the regulator apparatus includes: a plurality of regulators arranged in parallel between the input terminal and the output terminal; an conversion efficiency characteristic information obtaining unit that obtains conversion efficiency characteristic information representing a characteristic of a conversion efficiency with respect to an output current with regard to each of the plurality of regulators; a memory that stores the conversion efficiency characteristic information of each of the plurality of regulators obtained by the conversion efficiency characteristic information obtaining unit; and a switching control unit that performs a switching control on the plurality of regulators based on a value of the output current output from the output terminal and the conversion efficiency characteristic information stored in the memory.
US08680823B2
A power supply apparatus includes a front-stage power circuit, a bus capacitor, a standby power circuit, a standby power circuit, an auxiliary switching circuit and a controlling unit. The auxiliary switching circuit is electrically connected between the bus capacitor and the standby power circuit. The controlling unit is electrically connected with the auxiliary switching circuit and the front-stage power circuit for controlling operations of the front-stage power circuit and the auxiliary switching circuit. When the input voltage is normal but the front-stage power circuit is disabled, the auxiliary switching circuit is turned off under control of the controlling unit, so that electric energy of the input voltage is transmitted to an input terminal of the standby power circuit through the protecting circuit.
US08680817B2
According to some embodiments of the present invention, a battery heating circuit includes a switch unit, a switching control module, a damping component, an energy storage circuit, and an energy superposition unit, wherein: the energy storage circuit is connected with the battery and includes a current storage component and a charge storage component; the damping component, the switch unit, the current storage component, and the charge storage component are connected in series; the switching control module is connected with the switch unit, and configured to control ON/OFF of the switch unit, so as to control the energy flowing between the battery and the energy storage circuit.
US08680810B1
Various technologies pertaining to a microscale autonomous sensor and communications module are described herein. Such a module includes a sensor that generates a sensor signal that is indicative of an environmental parameter. An integrated circuit receives the sensor signal and generates an output signal based at least in part upon the sensor signal. An optical emitter receives the output signal and generates an optical signal as a function of the output signal. An energy storage device is configured to provide power to at least the integrated circuit and the optical emitter, and wherein the module has a relatively small diameter and thickness.
US08680804B2
A method according to an example of the present invention is a servo control method to be applied to a feed drive mechanism configured to drive an object to be driven by using a plurality of motors, in which velocity control of the object to be driven is carried out by using a signal obtained by mixing velocity feedback signals of the motors with each other, and a torque instruction obtained by the velocity control is used for drive of all the motors. By this example, there is provided a servo control system capable of preventing a phenomenon in which a transfer function changes depending on the position of the object to be driven, and the phase abruptly lags to make the operation unstable, thereby making it difficult to increase the gain, from occurring.
US08680803B2
In accordance to an aspect of the disclosed embodiments, a substrate transport apparatus is provided. The substrate transport apparatus includes a frame defining a chamber, at least one stator module embedded at least partly into a peripheral wall of the chamber, the at least one stator module defining an axis of rotation. The substrate transport apparatus further includes at least one rotor substantially concentrically disposed relative to the at least one stator module about the axis of rotation, the at least one rotor being configured to interface with the at least one stator module and being suspended by a respective one of the at least one stator module substantially without contact within the chamber. The substrate transport apparatus further includes at least one substrate transport arm connected to the at least one rotor and having at least one end effector configured to hold at least one substrate.
US08680795B2
An automotive electric drive system may include an electric power source, an electric machine, and a DC-DC power converter electrically connected between the electric power source and the electric machine. The DC-DC power converter may include an inductor and a first switch each disposed in a different current path connecting the electric power source and the electric machine. The currents paths may be electrically in parallel.
US08680792B2
An accelerator assembly includes a first chip and a second chip. An acceleration channel is formed into a surface of a first side of the first chip. The first side of the first chip is covalently bonded to a first side of the second chip such that the channel is a tubular void between the first and second chips. The channel has a tubular inside sidewall surface, substantially no portion of which is a metal surface. The channel has length-to-width ratio greater than five, and a channel width less than one micron. There are many substantially identical channels that extend in parallel between the first and second chips. In one specific example, the assembly is part of a Direct Write On Wafer (DWOW) printing system. The DWOW printing system is useful in semiconductor processing in that it can direct write an image onto a 300 mm diameter wafer in one minute.
US08680791B2
Provided is an organic EL panel which is passively driven and is capable of preventing variations in wiring resistance of electrode wirings without restricting the degree of freedom for wiring design and improving evenness in brightness of an organic EL element. The organic EL panel is formed of a light-emitting display unit (2) having a plurality of first electrode lines (2a) formed on a support substrate (1), an organic light-emitting layer (2d) formed on the first electrode lines (2a), and a plurality of second electrode lines (2e) formed so as to intersect the first electrode lines (2a). The organic EL panel has a plurality of electrode wirings (4) which is formed by being routed on the support substrate (1) so as to be connected with the second electrode lines (2e) or the first electrode lines (2a), and the electrode wirings (4) each have parts (4a, 4c) each of which is formed of one wiring and/or apart (4b) in which a plurality of wirings are connected in parallel with each other. The numbers of wirings provided in parallel are set to be different in an area where the wirings are formed in the same direction so that the difference in the wiring resistance between the electrode wirings becomes 5Ω or less.
US08680787B2
An LED driver for controlling the intensity of an LED light source includes a power converter circuit for generating a DC bus voltage, an LED drive circuit for receiving the bus voltage and controlling a load current through, and thus the intensity of, the LED light source, and a controller operatively coupled to the power converter circuit and the LED drive circuit. The LED drive circuit comprises a controllable-impedance circuit coupled in series with the LED light source. The controller adjusts the magnitude of the bus voltage to a target bus voltage and generates a drive signal for controlling the controllable-impedance circuit. To adjust the intensity of the LED light source, the controller controls the magnitudes of both the load current and the regulator voltage. The controller controls the magnitude of the regulator voltage by simultaneously maintaining the magnitude of the drive signal constant and adjusting the target bus voltage.
US08680785B2
A variable master current mirror circuit may be used to balance the currents through parallel Light Emitting Diode (LED) strings in an illumination module when the LED string with the largest forward voltage changes due to events, such as a short failure of an LED. The variable master current mirror circuit includes a switching circuit that is coupled to the parallel LED strings and a current mirror circuit that is coupled to the parallel LED strings and the switching circuit. The switching circuit switchably connects the LED string with the largest forward voltage to the current mirror circuit as a master LED string. The current mirror circuit maintains equal currents through the LED strings with reference to the current through the master LED string.
US08680768B2
A method and apparatus for controlling lighting in a saddle-ride type vehicle includes a control unit configured to turn on a lamp comprising a light emitting diode. The apparatus also includes a manipulation switch which is turned on and off based upon manipulation by a rider. The control unit includes an input port receiving power from a power source based upon actuation of the manipulation switch, and an input circuit configured to determine a leak state of the manipulation switch based on an input voltage to the input port. A control part is configured to control lighting of the lamp based on a result of the determination. An erroneous lighting prevention resistance is connected between the manipulation switch and input circuit on one end, and ground on the other end. An intermittent power source switch is configured to be cyclically turned on or off by the control part, and is provided between the manipulation switch and the power source.
US08680767B2
A flat panel display apparatus includes a substrate; a display unit disposed on the substrate; a sealing substrate disposed to face the display unit; a sealing member disposed between the substrate and the sealing substrate to surround the display unit; a wiring unit disposed between the substrate and the sealing substrate, including a region that overlaps the sealing member, and including a plurality of wiring members that are spaced apart from each other in at least a portion of the region that overlaps the sealing member; and a lead-in unit connected to the wiring unit to apply a voltage to the wiring unit, and formed to be electrically connectable to an external power source.
US08680766B2
An organic EL element section (1000) is formed on a circuit formation section (102) formed on a circuit board (101). The organic EL element section (1000) is covered with a protective layer (113) including an SiNxOy film. The SiNxOy film has infrared absorption characteristics including: an Si—O—Si stretching vibration absorption peak appearing at energy lower than 1,000 cm−1; an absorption intensity of an Si—N stretching vibration absorption peak appearing in the vicinity of around 870 cm−1 which is 0.75 or more times an absorption intensity of the Si—O—Si stretching vibration absorption peak; and an absorption peak intensity in a range of 2,000 to 4,000 cm−1, which is 5% or less of the absorption intensity of the Si—N stretching vibration absorption peak. Thus, the protective film having an excellent moisture-blocking property may be obtained, and life property of an organic EL display device may be improved.
US08680758B2
A spark plug and method of construction thereof is provided. The spark plug includes a metal shell having a through cavity, a lower insulator and a plastic upper insulator. The lower insulator is received in the through cavity and has a through passage with a center electrode received therein. A ground electrode is operatively attached to the shell in spaced relation from the ground electrode to provide a spark gap. The plastic upper insulator has a distal end received in the through cavity of the shell and a terminal end extending axially outwardly from the shell. The upper insulator has a through passage extending between the terminal end and the distal end. An elongate conductive member is received in the through passage of the upper insulator and is configured for electrical communication with the center electrode.
US08680755B2
A lighting device may be provided that includes: a heat sink which includes a base and a member extending from the base; a light source module which is disposed on a lateral surface of the member; and a reflector which is disposed on the member and has a disposition recess exposing the light source module, wherein the at least two light source modules are provided and the light source module includes a terminal plate which electrically connects the at least two light source modules, and wherein the terminal plate is disposed on the reflector.
US08680737B2
A stator 3 is provided with a plurality of magnetic poles 3a on the outer circumference thereof, and is configured from a plurality of layers of plate-shaped members. A rotor 4 is rotatably disposed around the stator. The inner circumferential face of the rotor is provided with a magnet 5. The outer circumferential ends of the magnetic poles of the stator are provided with an extended portion that is bent such that at least one plate-shaped member, including an outermost layer, of the plurality of plate-shaped members is substantially parallel to the magnet. When the inner diameter of a bent portion of a plate-shaped member that is the closest to the magnet of the at least one plate-shaped member constituting the extended portion is taken as R1i, and the thickness of the closest plate-shaped member is taken as T1, R1i
US08680736B2
An armature core includes a core portion formed of a lamination of plural non-crystalline metallic foil bands, wherein the armature core is provided with at least two cut surfaces with respect to the lamination layers. Amorphous metal is used as the iron base of the non-crystalline metallic foil bands. The cut surfaces are perpendicular to the lamination layers of the non-crystalline foil bands. Still further, the stator includes a stator core holding member in a disc form, the stator having a plurality of holes or recessions that are substantially in the same shape as a cross-sectional shape of the stator cores and wherein the stator cores are inserted in the holes or recessions of the stator core holding member and held by fixing in vicinities of respective central portions thereof, the central portions being with respect to the axial direction thereof.
US08680734B2
A power system for a vehicle may comprise an electric machine attached to an engine of the vehicle. The electric machine may comprise only one stator core; a stator main winding wound on the one stator core; a stator exciter winding wound on the one stator core. The stator main winding and the stator exciter winding may be magnetically independent from one another even though magnetic-field-isolation material is not interposed between the stator main winding and the stator exciter winding.
US08680726B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor module and a pressing member configured to press the semiconductor module to a heat radiation member. The semiconductor module includes switching elements, conductors, and a molded member. Each of the switching elements is mounted on a corresponding one of the conductors. The molded member covers the switching elements and the conductors. More than three of the switching elements are disposed around the pressing member. The switching elements are disposed in a region in which a pressure generated between the semiconductor module and the heat radiation member by pressing with the pressing member is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure with which heat generated from the switching elements is releasable from the semiconductor module to the heat radiation member.
US08680725B2
An electric motor with an n-pole stator comprising a first stator winding and a second stator winding that can alternatively be supplied with current for the constitution of a pole-changeable electric motor. The supply winding is constituted by at least one turn of the first stator winding or of the second stator winding. Thus, a conventional winding design or coil design of the electric motor can be used to provide a supply voltage for electric equipment. The electric motor features an unchanged compact construction. Only at particular locations of existing stator turns current is tapped, such that a supply voltage of predetermined magnitude can be tapped based on the existing magnetic flux linkage during operation of the electric motor.
US08680720B2
A system for automatically regulating voltage on a distribution-level AC bus having an actual voltage and a nominal voltage includes an electronic power converter connected to the distribution-level AC bus. The system generates a feedback signal representative of the actual voltage of the distribution-level AC bus and produces an input control signal in response to the feedback signal. The input control signal is representative of a commanded level of reactive power. The electronic power converter is responsive to the input control signal to deliver a commanded reactive power output to the distribution-level AC bus, and the commanded reactive power output pushes the actual voltage towards the nominal voltage.
US08680708B2
In response to turning-on of a lock-type power switch, an initial controller outputs a first voltage for a first period and a gate is turned on for the period via a first driver responsive to the first voltage, then DC power is supplied to a main circuit. During the period, a control processor causes a voltage output section to start outputting a second voltage so that the gate is turned on via a second driver to continue the DC power supply. When no event has been generated for a second period, the second voltage from the voltage output section is stopped to turn off the gate, thus the power supply to the main circuit is shut off. Once a power from outside is switched from OFF to ON while the power switch kept ON, the power supply to the main circuit is resumed via the controller and first driver.
US08680707B2
The present invention relates to power distribution systems (e.g. a marine power distribution and propulsion system) that include first and second ac distribution busbars. The first ac distribution busbar will typically be a medium voltage busbar for the propulsion drive systems and the second ac distribution busbar will typically be a low voltage for ships services. A 12-pulse rectifier has its ac terminals electrically connected to the first ac distribution busbar. A multiple output generator has first and second galvanically-isolated stator windings. The first stator winding provides a six-phase ac output and is connected to the first ac distribution busbar. The second stator winding provides a three-phase ac output and is connected to the second ac distribution busbar. The six-phase ac output is phase shifted relative to the three-phase ac output to reduce the problematic coupling of harmonic distortion between the first and second ac distribution busbars.
US08680706B2
A system includes a first communication module to be coupled to a first transmission medium for distributing power using a voltage waveform having a first amplitude; and a second communication module to be coupled to a second transmission medium for distributing power using a voltage waveform having a second amplitude different from the first amplitude, the second transmission medium being coupled to the first transmission medium. Each of the first and second communication modules is configured to use signals that propagate between the first and second transmission media.
US08680703B2
A wave energy harnessing mechanism comprising a grid of piston members interconnected at respective ends thereof. Each of the piston member includes a hollow chamber with a driving shaft, a movable magnet, and a coil therein, wherein the driving shafts are adapted to move the magnets back and forth through the coils and thereby induce an electric current within the coils. A plurality of cables interconnecting the coils of the piston members that are adapted and used to transfer the electric current generated within the coils to a storage accumulator located a distance therefrom.
US08680701B2
A circuit for regulating a DC voltage is provided. The circuit includes: a controllable switch system, a resistor, a first control circuit and a second control circuit. The controllable switch system includes a first terminal, a second terminal, a first control terminal, and a second control terminal. The controllable switch system is configured to establish an electrical connection between the first terminal and the second terminal, if a first control signal applied to the first control terminal satisfies a first criterion or if a second control signal applied to the second control terminal satisfies a second criterion; A method for regulating a DC voltage and an AC-to-AC-converter are described.
US08680699B2
A light kit in combination with a pump system. The light kit includes a coil and a LED, where power produce by the coil when exposed to a rotating magnetic field powers the LEDs. The pump has a housing defining a pump interior, a driven magnet coupled to a pump impellor positioned in the pump interior, where the pump housing has an inlet and an outlet, and the is to be immersed in a fluid and to pump a fluid through the interior of the pump from the inlet to the outlet.
US08680697B2
The roadway bump electricity generation system converts kinetic energy obtained from a vehicle into electrical energy, which is intended for use on roads, highways and parking garages. At least one guide-mounted, spring-loaded member is disposed in the roadway and operates an electric generator when displaced by the vehicle wheels rolling over the bump.
US08680686B2
A system and method for a thin multi chip stack package with film on wire and copper wire. The package comprises a substrate and a first die overlying the substrate. Copper wires electrically connect the first die to the substrate. A film overlies the first die and a portion of the copper wires. In addition, the film adheres a second die to the first die. The film also electrically insulates the copper wires from the second die.
US08680679B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device including: an insulating layer; a source electrode and a drain electrode embedded in the insulating layer; an oxide semiconductor layer in contact and over the insulating layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode; a gate insulating layer over and covering the oxide semiconductor layer; and a gate electrode over the gate insulating layer, where the upper surfaces of the insulating layer, the source electrode, and the drain electrode exist coplanarly. The upper surface of the insulating layer, which is in contact with the oxide semiconductor layer, has a root-mean-square (RMS) roughness of 1 nm or less, and the difference in height between the upper surface of the insulating layer and the upper surface of the source electrode or the drain electrode is less than 5 nm. This structure contributes to the suppression of defects of the semiconductor device and enables their miniaturization.
US08680673B2
The thermal energy transfer techniques of the disclosed embodiments utilize passive thermal energy transfer techniques to reduce undesirable side effects of trapped thermal energy at the circuit level. The trapped thermal energy may be transferred through the circuit with thermally conductive structures or elements that may be produced as part of a standard integrated circuit process. The localized and passive removal of thermal energy achieved at the circuit level rather just at the package level is both more effective and more efficient.
US08680668B2
A device including a semiconductor chip and metal foils. One embodiment provides a device including a semiconductor chip having a first electrode on a first face and a second electrode on a second face opposite to the first face. A first metal foil is attached to the first electrode of the semiconductor chip in an electrically conductive manner. A second metal foil is attached to the second electrode of the semiconductor chip in an electrically conductive manner.
US08680656B1
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided multiple embodiments of a concentrated photovoltaic receiver package or module. In each embodiment of the present invention, the module comprises a leadframe including a first section and a second section disposed in spaced relation to each other. Mounted to the first section of the leadframe is a receiver die. The receiver die is electrically connected to both the first and second sections of the leadframe. In one embodiment of the present invention, the receiver die is electrically connected to the second section of the leadframe by a plurality of conductive wires. In another embodiment of the present invention, the receiver die is electrically connected to the second section of the leadframe by a conductive bonding material. Portions of the leadframe may optionally be covered by a molded body which can be used to define an alignment feature for a light concentrating device such as a light guide or optical rod.
US08680654B2
Interconnect structures for stacked dies, including penetrating structures for through-silicon vias, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first semiconductor substrate having a first substrate material, and a penetrating structure carried by the first semiconductor substrate. The system further includes a second semiconductor substrate having a second substrate material with a preformed recess. The penetrating structure of the first semiconductor substrate is received in the recess of the second semiconductor substrate and is mechanically engaged with the recess and secured to the second semiconductor substrate.
US08680651B2
Techniques for incorporating nanotechnology into decoupling capacitor designs are provided. In one aspect, a decoupling capacitor is provided. The decoupling capacitor comprises a first electrode; an intermediate layer adjacent to the first electrode having a plurality of nanochannels therein; a conformal dielectric layer formed over the intermediate layer and lining the nanochannels; and a second electrode at least a portion of which is formed from an array of nanopillars that fill the nanochannels in the intermediate layer. Methods for fabricating the decoupling capacitor are also provided, as are semiconductor devices incorporating the decoupling capacitor design.
US08680647B2
A device includes a substrate, a metal pad over the substrate, and a passivation layer having a portion over the metal pad. A Post-Passivation Interconnect (PPI) line is disposed over the passivation layer and electrically coupled to the metal pad. An Under-Bump Metallurgy (UBM) is disposed over and electrically coupled to the PPI line. A passive device includes a portion at a same level as the UBM. The portion of the passive device is formed of a same material as the UBM.
US08680641B2
An article of manufacture and a method of defining a photodetector element are provided. The article of manufacture includes a photodector element comprising a junction formed by a first III-V semiconductor layer having a first charge type and a second III-V semiconductor layer comprising a second dopant having a second charge type. The second III-V semiconductor layer is disposed between the first III-V semiconductor layer and a wafer. Patterned dopant regions having a third charge type, the third charge type being the same as the first charge type, are disposed in the first III-V semiconductor layer.
US08680638B2
Example embodiments are directed to a stack-type image sensor including resistance change elements. The stack-type image sensor includes at least two light-sensing layers that detect different color light stacked on different layers. The stack-type image sensor may not require a size of a unit pixel that detects a light color to be less than 1 μm in order to generate a high resolution color image. As such, resolution saturation may be avoided.
US08680636B2
A solid-state imaging apparatus is provided. A solid-state imaging device chip is enclosed in a package having an optically transparent member. An adhesive layer is formed on an internal surface of the package, and a penetration hole is formed in a bottom part of the package to communicate with an open space in the package.
US08680633B1
A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, the first magnetic layer including a magnetic film of MnxGey (77 atm %≦x≦82 atm %, 18 atm %≦y≦23 atm %, x+y=100 atm %).
US08680627B2
According to an exemplary embodiment, a stacked half-bridge package includes a control transistor having a control drain for connection to a high voltage input, a control source coupled to a common conductive clip, and a control gate for being driven by a driver IC. The stacked half-bridge package also includes a sync transistor having a sync drain for connection to the common conductive clip, a sync source coupled to a low voltage input, and a sync gate for being driven by the driver IC. The control and sync transistors are stacked on opposite sides of the common conductive clip with the common conductive clip electrically and mechanically coupling the control source with the sync drain, where the common conductive clip has a conductive leg for providing electrical and mechanical connection to an output terminal leadframe.
US08680615B2
A customized shield plate field effect transistor (FET) includes a semiconductor layer, a gate dielectric, a gate electrode, and at least one customized shield plate. The shield plate includes a conductive layer overlying a portion of the gate electrode, one of the gate electrode sidewalls, and a portion of the substrate adjacent to the sidewall. The shield plate defines a customized shield plate edge at its lateral boundary. A distance between the customized shield plate edge and the sidewall of the gate electrode varies along a length of the sidewall. The customized shield plate edge may form triangular, curved, and other shaped shield plate elements. The configuration of the customized shield plate edge may reduce the area of the resulting capacitor and thereby achieve lower parasitic capacitance associated with the FET. The FET may be implemented as a lateral diffused MOS (LDMOS) transistor suitable for high power radio frequency applications.
US08680612B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an element region partitioned by an isolation region in a semiconductor substrate, and a source region and a drain region formed in a surface layer of the element region by being isolated by a gate trench along a predetermined direction across the element region. The semiconductor device includes a gate electrode formed to reach a position deeper than the source region and the drain region by embedding at least part thereof in the gate trench with a gate dielectric film interposed therebetween. An interface in the drain region, which is in contact with the gate dielectric film, includes a projection projecting toward the gate electrode side.
US08680605B2
A stacked memory device may include at least one memory unit and at least one peripheral circuit unit arranged either above or below the at least one memory unit. The at least one memory unit may include a memory string array, a plurality of bit lines, and a plurality of string selection pads. The memory string may include a plurality of memory strings arranged in a matrix and each of the memory strings may include a plurality of memory cells and a string selection device arranged perpendicular to a substrate. The plurality of bit lines may extend in a first direction and may be connected to ends of the plurality of memory strings. The plurality of string selection pads may be arrayed in a single line along the first direction and may be connected to the string selection devices included in the plurality of memory strings.
US08680601B2
A nonvolatile charge trap memory device is described. The device includes a substrate having a channel region and a pair of source/drain regions. A gate stack is above the substrate over the channel region and between the pair of source/drain regions. The gate stack includes a multi-layer charge-trapping region having a first deuterated layer. The multi-layer charge-trapping region may further include a deuterium-free charge-trapping layer.
US08680600B2
A vertical transistor structure includes a substrate, a plurality of pillars located on the substrate and spaced from each other at a selected distance, a gate line and a plurality of conductors. The pillars are aligned in a straight line in a first direction and have respectively a primary control wall along the first direction and two ancillary control walls perpendicular to the primary control wall. The gate line is connected to the primary control wall in the first direction through a first isolated layer. The conductors are interposed between the ancillary control walls through second isolated layers. By providing the gate line merely on the primary control wall and the conductors to aid the gate line to control ON/OFF of the pillars, problems of etching and separating gate material during gradually shrunken feature size process that are difficult to control etching positions and etching duration can be prevented.
US08680592B2
A method of forming a magnetic tunnel junction device is disclosed that includes forming a trench in a substrate, the trench including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, a fourth sidewall, and a bottom wall. The method includes depositing a first conductive material within the trench proximate to the first sidewall and depositing a second conductive material within the trench. The method further includes depositing a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure within the trench. The MTJ structure includes a fixed magnetic layer having a magnetic field with a fixed magnetic orientation, a tunnel junction layer, and a free magnetic layer having a magnetic field with a configurable magnetic orientation. The method further includes selectively removing a portion of the MTJ structure that is adjacent to the fourth sidewall to create an opening such that the MTJ structure is substantially u-shaped.
US08680590B2
A multi-trench termination structure for semiconductor device is disclosed, where the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and an active structure region. The multi-trench termination structure includes multiple trenches defined on an exposed face of the semiconductor substrate, a first mask layer formed on a partial exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate and corresponding to a termination structure region of the semiconductor device, a gate insulation layer formed in the trenches, a conductive layer formed on the gate insulation layer and protruding out of the exposed surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a metal layer formed over the first mask layer and conductive layer on the termination structure region of the semiconductor device.
US08680589B2
A method for forming a nanowire field effect transistor (FET) device includes forming a nanowire on a semiconductor substrate, forming a first gate structure on a first portion of the nanowire, forming a first protective spacer adjacent to sidewalls of the first gate structure and over portions of the nanowire extending from the first gate structure, removing exposed portions of the nanowire left unprotected by the first spacer, and epitaxially growing a doped semiconductor material on exposed cross sections of the nanowire to form a first source region and a first drain region.
US08680578B2
A III-nitride based field effect transistor obtains improved performance characteristics through manipulation of the relationship between the in-plane lattice constant of the interface of material layers. A high mobility two dimensional electron gas generated at the interface of the III-nitride materials permits high current conduction with low ON resistance, and is controllable through the manipulation of spontaneous polarization fields obtained according to the characteristics of the III-nitride material. The field effect transistor produced can be made to be a nominally on device where the in-plane lattice constants of the material forming the interface match. A nominally off device may be produced where one of the material layers has an in-plane lattice constant that is larger than that of the other layer material. The layer materials are preferably InAlGaN/GaN layers that are particularly tailored to the characteristics of the present invention.
US08680574B2
A hybrid nanostructure array having a substrate and two types of nanostructures, including a set of first nanostructures extending from the substrate and a set of second nanostructures interspersed among the first nanostructures. The first and second nanostructures comprise structures having nanoscale proportions in two dimensions and being elongate in the third dimension. For example, the nanostructures can be nanotubes, nanowires, nanorods, nanocolumns, and/or nanofibers. Also disclosed is a hybrid nanoparticle array using two different types of nanoparticles that have all three dimensions in the nanoscale. The two types of nanostructures or nanoparticles can vary in composition, shape, or size.
US08680571B2
A light emitting diode (LED) capable of improving brightness by forming a InGaN layer having a low concentration of indium, and whose lattice constant is similar to that of an active layer of the LED, is provided. The LED includes: a buffer layer disposed on a sapphire substrate; a GaN layer disposed on the buffer layer; a doped GaN layer disposed on the GaN layer; a GaN layer having indium disposed on the GaN layer; an active layer disposed on the GaN layer having indium; and a P-type GaN disposed on the active layer. Here, an empirical formula of the GaN layer having indium is given by In(x)Ga(1−x)N and a range of x is given by 0
US08680570B2
Semiconductor structures comprising a III-nitride (e.g., gallium nitride) material region and methods associated with such structures are provided. In some embodiments, the structures include an electrically conductive material (e.g., gold) separated from certain other region(s) of the structure (e.g., a silicon substrate) by a barrier material in order to limit, or prevent, undesirable reactions between the electrically conductive material and the other component(s) which can impair device performance. In certain embodiments, the electrically conductive material may be formed in a via. For example, the via can extend from a topside of the device to a backside so that the electrically conductive material connects a topside contact to a backside contact. The structures described herein may form the basis of a number of semiconductor devices including transistors (e.g., FET), Schottky diodes, light-emitting diodes and laser diodes, amongst others.
US08680564B2
A Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device exhibiting reduced contact resistance between a p contact layer and an ITO electrode. The Group III nitride semiconductor light-emitting device has an AlGaN dot-like structure on the p contact layer, and an ITO electrode on the p contact layer and the dot-like structure. The dot-like structure has a structure in which a plurality of AlGaN dots are discretely distributed on the top surface of the p contact layer. The dot-like structure is bonded to oxygen, and oxygen increases on an interface between the p contact layer and the ITO electrode.
US08680561B2
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type, a light emitting layer, a first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer. The light emitting layer is between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer is on a side of the second semiconductor layer opposite to the first semiconductor layer. The first electrode layer includes a metal portion and a plurality of opening portions piercing the metal portion along a direction from the first semiconductor layer toward the second semiconductor layer. The metal portion contacts the second semiconductor layer. An equivalent circular diameter of a configuration of the opening portions as viewed along the direction is not less than 10 nanometers and not more than 5 micrometers.
US08680560B2
A light emitting device (LED) and Package of the same are provided. The LED comprises a first conductivity type semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second conductivity type semiconductor layer, a first dielectric layer, and a first electrode layer. The first conductivity type semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the second conductivity type semiconductor layer are on a substrate. The first dielectric layer covers the edges of the second conductivity type semiconductor layer and the active layer. The first electrode layer covers the edge of the first conductivity type semiconductor layer.
US08680556B2
A high efficiency light emitting diode with a composite high reflectivity layer integral to said LED or package to improve emission efficiency. One embodiment of a light emitting diode (LED) chip comprises a LED and a composite high reflectivity layer integral to the LED to reflect light emitted from the active region. One embodiment of a LED package comprises a LED mounted on a substrate with an encapsulant over said LED and a composite high reflectivity layer arranged to reflect emitted light. The composite layer comprises a plurality of layers such that at least one of said plurality of layers has an index of refraction lower than the encapsulant and a reflective layer on a side of said plurality of layers opposite the LED. In some embodiments, conductive vias are included through the composite layer to allow an electrical signal to pass through the layer to the LED.
US08680544B2
The present disclosure involves a lighting instrument. The lighting instrument includes a board or substrate, for example, a printed circuit board. The lighting instrument also includes a plurality of light-emitting devices disposed on the substrate. The light-emitting devices may be light-emitting diode (LED) dies. The LED dies belong to a plurality of different bins. The bins are categorized based on the light output performance of the LED dies. In some embodiments, the LED dies may be binned based on the wavelength or radiant flux of the light output. The LED dies are distributed on the substrate according to a predefined pattern based on their bins. In some embodiments, the LED dies are bin-mixed in an interleaving manner.
US08680538B2
In order to obtain a silicon carbide semiconductor device that ensures both stability of withstand voltage and reliability in high-temperature operations in its termination end-portion provided for electric-field relaxation in the perimeter of a cell portion driven as a semiconductor element, the termination end-portion is provided with an inorganic protection film having high heat resistance that is formed on an exposed surface of a well region as a first region formed on a side of the cell portion, and an organic protection film having a high electrical insulation capability with a little influence by electric charges that is formed on a surface of an electric-field relaxation region formed in contact relation to an outer lateral surface of the well region and apart from the cell portion, and on an exposed surface of the silicon carbide layer.
US08680536B2
A HEMT device has a substrate; a buffer layer disposed above the substrate; a carrier supplying layer disposed above the buffer layer; a gate element penetrating the carrier supplying layer; and a drain element disposed on the carrier supplying layer. The carrier supplying layer has a non-uniform thickness between the gate element and the drain element, the carrier supplying layer having a relatively greater thickness adjacent the drain element and a relatively thinner thickness adjacent the gate element. A non-uniform two-dimensional electron gas conduction channel is formed in the carrier supplying layer, the two-dimensional electron gas conduction channel having a non-uniform profile between the gate and drain elements.
US08680524B2
A method of arranging pads in a semiconductor memory device, the semiconductor memory device using the method, and a processing system having mounted therein the semiconductor memory device. The method includes classifying pads provided in a memory chip of the semiconductor memory device into monitoring pads configured for a memory chip test on a wafer, a package pads configured for wire connection in a package, and common pads configured for both the memory chip test on the wafer and wire connection in the package and arranging the monitoring pads and the package pads separately in columns on the memory chip.
US08680515B2
Various embodiments provide materials and methods for direct digital marking, wherein a surface charge contrast can be formed by oppositely addressing adjacent charge injection pixels of a bipolar imaging member and developed with enhanced image contrast at a reduced voltage of the transistors.
US08680508B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type layer, a p-type layer, and a light emitting unit provided between the n-type layer and the p-type layer and including barrier layers and well layers. At least one of the barrier layers includes first and second portion layers. The first portion layer is disposed on a side of the n-type layer. The second portion layer is disposed on a side of the p-type layer, and contains n-type impurity with a concentration higher than that in the first portion layer. At least one of the well layers includes third and fourth portion layers. The third portion layer is disposed on a side of the n-type layer. The fourth portion layer is disposed on a side of the p-type layer, and contains n-type impurity with a concentration higher than that in the third portion layer.
US08680502B2
A memory device includes: first and second electrodes; a semiconductor layer of a first conduction type provided on the first electrode side; a solid electrolyte layer containing movable ions and provided on the second electrode side; and an amorphous semiconductor layer of a second conduction type which is provided between the semiconductor layer and the solid electrolyte layer so as to be in contact with the solid electrolyte layer and, at the time of application of voltage to the first and second electrodes, reversibly changes to the first conduction type.
US08680496B2
A system for sanitizing an enclosed structure has a plurality of sensors, a germicidal ultraviolet light source, and a controller. A first sensor detects the presence of humans or animals within the enclosed structure, and a second sensor detects the position of at least one door of the enclosed structure. The ultraviolet light source provides electromagnetic radiation in the ultraviolet range. The controller receives inputs from the first and second sensors and instructs emission or cessation of emission of the electromagnetic radiation based on the received input.
US08680493B2
A radiation source includes a fuel supply configured to deliver fuel to a plasma emission location for vaporization by a laser beam to form a plasma, and a collector configured to collect EUV radiation emitted by the plasma and direct the EUV radiation towards an intermediate focus. The collector includes a diffraction grating configured to diffract infrared radiation emitted by the plasma. The radiation source includes a radiation conduit located in between the collector and the intermediate focus. The radiation conduit includes an entrance aperture connected by an inwardly tapering body to an exit aperture. The radiation conduit includes an inner portion and an outer portion, the inner portion being closer to the intermediate focus than the outer portion. The inner portion is configured to reflect incident diffracted infrared radiation towards the outer portion.
US08680489B2
An installation and method for etching at least one wafer coated with an etch-ready, blank photosensitive layer is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment, the wafer has thickness irregularities, wherein the wafer is arranged to be able to be submitted to irradiation-beam scanning, a sheet transparent to the radiation to which the photosensitive layer is sensitive covers the wafer, and a probe beam intended to reflect on the upper portion of the sheet perpendicularly to the irradiation beam spot on the photosensitive layer is provided.
US08680483B2
A fluorescence detector in which a sample substrate is provided with a structure unit comprising a prism or a diffraction grating. After excitation light falling on the sample substrate is totally reflected at a biomolecule-immobilized face that is located in the opposite side of the structure unit, the structure unit allows the emission of the reflected light therefrom. To ensure multiple visual field measurement, a sample substrate-driving unit is provided to scan the sample substrate.
US08680474B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented method for parallel readout for an X-ray image sensor module having a pixel array. Specifically, among other things, embodiments of the present invention provide a computer-implemented infrastructure comprising: capturing an electrical signal at each of a plurality of pixels within the pixel array; converting each of the captured electrical signals into a respective voltage; comparing each of the respective voltages with a reference voltage to discriminate whether the electric signal from the sensor represents a photon detection; counting a photon detection for each of the plurality of pixels within the pixel array based upon an output of the comparator; connecting all pixels in each of the columns; and sequentially selecting said rows of pixels for readout over the column bus lines at a sensor output.
US08680467B2
A method of obtaining submicron resolution IR absorption data from a sample surface. A probe microscope probe interacts with the sample surface while a tunable source of IR radiation illuminates the sample-tip interaction region. The source is modulated at a frequency substantially overlapping the resonant frequency of the probe and may be modulated at the contact resonance frequency of the probe when the probe is in contact with the sample surface. The modulation frequency is continually adjusted to account for shifts in the probe resonant frequency due to sample or other variations. A variety of techniques are used to observe such shifts and accomplish the adjustments in a rapid manner.
US08680465B2
A charged particle beam apparatus of the present invention comprises a transmission electron detector (113; 206) having a detection portion divided into multiple regions (201 to 205; 301 to 305), wherein a film thickness of a sample is calculated by detecting a transmission electron beam (112) generated from the sample when the sample is irradiated with an electron beam (109), as a signal of each of the regions in accordance with scattering angles of the transmission electron beam, and thereafter calculating the intensities of the individual signals. According to the above, there is provided a charged particle beam apparatus capable of performing accurate film thickness monitoring while suppressing an error due to an external condition and also capable of processing a thin film sample into a sample having an accurate film thickness, which makes it possible to improve the accuracy in structure observations, element analyses and the like.
US08680453B2
Imaging device comprising at least one photosite comprising a charge storage semiconductor zone, a charge collection semiconductor zone and transfer means designed to permit charge transfer between the charge storage zone and the charge collection zone, characterized in that the charge storage semiconductor zone comprises a lower semiconductor zone and a conduction channel buried beneath the upper surface of the photosite and connecting said lower semiconductor zone to the charge collection zone.
US08680451B2
A light receiving device that receives light having passed through an image forming optical system and outputs a light reception signal includes: a light receiving element array formed by arraying a plurality of light receiving elements; a micro-lens array disposed between the image forming optical system and the light receiving element array, which includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed in correspondence to the plurality of light receiving elements; and a storage unit that stores position-related information pertaining to a relative positional relationship assumed by the micro-lens array and the light receiving element array with respect to a plane perpendicular to optical axes of the micro-lenses.
US08680443B2
A layered heater is provided with a dielectric layer formed by a first layered process, a resistive layer formed on the dielectric layer, the resistive layer formed by a second layered process, and a protective layer formed on the resistive layer, wherein the protective layer is formed by one of the first or second layered processes or yet another layered process. The first layered process is different than the second layered process in order to take advantage of the unique processing benefits of each of the first and second layered processes for a synergistic result. The layered processes include, by way of example, thick film, thin film, thermal spraying, and sol-gel. Additional functional layers are also provided by the present invention, along with methods of forming each of the individual layers.
US08680442B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an electrical outlet including a power output adapted to provide electricity to an electrically coupled device, a switch adapted to activate and deactivate the power output, a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature, and a control unit in communication with the switch and the temperature sensor. The control unit is adapted to control the power output using the switch based at least in part on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
US08680441B2
A heating plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable planar heater zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the planar heater zones. Each planar heater zone includes one or more heater element made of an insulator-conductor composite. A substrate support assembly in which the heating plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the heating plate include bonding together ceramic having planar heater zones, power supply lines, power return lines and vias.
US08680437B2
The invention relates to a heating system for a liquid conveyor system, particularly for a urea supply system of a catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine, comprising at least one first heater (4) for defrosting a liquid, and at least one filter heater (14) for heating a filter (5) for liquid filtering, wherein the filter heater (14) is formed by a heating section—designed as a resistance heating element—of an electrical connecting line (12) of the first heater (4).
US08680435B2
An electrical heating device includes a flat heating block, which is held in a housing forming oppositely situated frame openings and which comprises parallel layers of heat dissipating and heat generating elements. The heat generating elements on the face side have fitting elements projecting beyond the heating block, and fitting element receptacles assigned to these fitting elements are formed on the housing. The fitting elements and the assigned fitting element receptacles of different heat generating elements are formed such that the heat generating elements cannot be inserted at just any random place in the housing.
US08680432B2
The present invention includes a welding system that has at least two metal inert gas (MIG) welders configured to perform a cooperative pulsed MIG welding process. The welding system also includes at least one communications link connecting the at least two MIG welders to deliver at least one of subordination commands and superiority commands to either of the at least two MIG welders to synchronize the cooperative pulsed MIG welding process.
US08680431B2
Apparatus, devices, and methods for providing a voltage reduction capability in a welding power source for safety purposes. The resistive load and the output voltage of the welding power source output are monitored and compared to predefined or preselected threshold values to generate a load condition signal and an output voltage condition signal (e.g., logic signals). The load condition signal and the output voltage condition signal serve as inputs to a voltage reduction device control logic which generates control signals to enable and disable the input and output of the welding power source according to the defined control logic. As a result, an extra measure of safety in preventing electrical shock is provided to users of the welding power source during hazardous operating conditions.
US08680427B2
A device on a supporting substrate is provided including a semiconductor film, having two or more rectangular crystalline regions spaced from each other, wherein each of the two or more rectangular crystalline regions comprises one single crystal region. The device can further include two or more thin-film transistors, wherein each of the two or more thin-film transistors comprises one or more active-channel regions. Each of the one or more active-channel regions can comprise at least one of said two or more rectangular crystalline regions. The device can further include an integrated circuit which comprises of the two or more thin-film transistors.
US08680403B2
An apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a substrate and a circuit trace. The substrate includes a region that is adapted to receive a discrete component, a metal layer, a dielectric layer formed over the metal layer, a window formed in the metal layer that underlies the region, and a conductive strap that extends across the window. The circuit trace is formed on the dielectric layer and is discontinuous across the region.
US08680390B2
Highly expressive and flexibly programmable foot-operated controllers are described. Specific implementations are intended for musical applications and allow musicians an unprecedented degree of control of a wide variety of musical components and subsystems for recording and/or performance.
US08680386B2
A signal processing device that identifies a piece of music of an input signal by comparing the input signal with a plurality of reference signals including only a piece of music includes a weight distribution generating section that generates a weight distribution corresponding to a likeness to music in regions of the input signal transformed into a time-frequency domain, and a similarity calculating section that calculates degrees of similarity between a feature quantity in the regions of the input signal transformed into the time-frequency domain and feature quantities in the regions of the reference signals transformed into the time-frequency domain on the basis of the weighting based on the weight distribution.
US08680379B1
A novel maize variety designated X08A234 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 X08A234 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08A234 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08A234, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08A234. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08A234.
US08680377B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026767. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026767. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026767 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026767 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08680373B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB21T12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB21T12, cells from soybean variety XB21T12, plants of soybean XB21T12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB21T12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB21T12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB21T12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB21T12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB21T12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB21T12 are further provided.
US08680372B2
A novel soybean variety, designated XB29P12 is provided. Also provided are the seeds of soybean variety XB29P12, cells from soybean variety XB29P12, plants of soybean XB29P12, and plant parts of soybean variety XB29P12. Methods provided include producing a soybean plant by crossing soybean variety XB29P12 with another soybean plant, methods for introgressing a transgenic trait, a mutant trait, and/or a native trait into soybean variety XB29P12, methods for producing other soybean varieties or plant parts derived from soybean variety XB29P12, and methods of characterizing soybean variety XB29P12. Soybean seed, cells, plants, germplasm, breeding lines, varieties, and plant parts produced by these methods and/or derived from soybean variety XB29P12 are further provided.
US08680369B2
Sunn hemp plants capable of flowering and producing seed when grown in the continental United States are provided. Two plant varieties capable of flowering and producing seed when grown in the continental United States, named AU Golden and AU Durbin, are described herein.
US08680364B2
Aphis glycines resistance (RAG) genes are provided by this invention, along with methods for identifying their presence using marker-assisted selection. Varieties of G. max and G. soja having resistance to A. glycines have been identified. The RAG genes, as well as the methods, aphid-resistant varieties, and markers disclosed herein may be used to breed new elite lines expressing soybean aphid resistance.
US08680360B2
A wound dressing, a method of manufacturing a wound dressing, and in particular to a material for use as and in a wound dressing. A wound dressing can comprise a material movable between an initial conformation and an expanded conformation resulting from applying an extensive force to the material, such that removal of the extensive force can cause a contraction of the material toward a center of a wound. In addition, the wound dressing can comprise a retaining mechanism removably coupled to the material and configured to retain the material in the expanded conformation.
US08680354B2
Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
US08680353B2
A process for preparing oligomers by continuous oligomerization of butenes is described, wherein a) a feed stream 1) comprising 1-butene and 2-butene in a total concentration of from 10 to 70% by weight and from 10 to 60% by weight of isobutane is reacted until more than 60% by weight of the 1-butene comprised in the feed stream 1 but less than 50% by weight of the 2-butene comprised in feed stream 1 have been converted into oligomers. b) The oligomers obtained in a) are separated off and optionally passed to a further work-up and the remaining residual stream is fed to work-up by distillation. c) Isobutane is separated off by distillation from the residual stream, and d) the isobutane-depleted stream obtained after the work-up by distillation c) is reacted to form oligomers.
US08680351B2
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and passing each feedstream to separation reformers. The reformers are operated under different conditions to utilize the differences in the reaction properties of the different hydrocarbon components. The process utilizes a common catalyst, and common downstream processes for recovering the desired aromatic compounds generated.
US08680348B2
A method for producing a linear paraffin product from natural oil and kerosene includes providing a first feed stream comprising kerosene, pre-fractionating the first feed stream to produce a heart cut paraffin stream comprising paraffins in a heart cut range, and combining the heart cut paraffin stream with a second feed stream comprising natural oil to form a combined stream. The method further includes deoxygenating the natural oil and fractionating the combined stream to remove paraffins that are heavier than the heart cut range.
US08680347B2
A high assay decabromodiphenylalkane product in which the alkylene group contains in the range of about 1-10 carbon atoms and has an occluded free bromine content of <500 ppm is prepared. The process comprises brominating, in a liquid phase reaction mixture, at least one α,ω-diphenylalkane having an alkylene group of 1-10 carbon atoms, with a limited excess of bromine, in the presence of an aluminum, aluminum halide or a ferric halide catalyst in which the original halogen atoms of such halides are chlorine atoms, bromine atoms, or both. The limited excess of bromine is such that the maximum excess amount of bromine used in conducting the reaction is about 20 mole % relative to the stoichiometric amount required to convert the amount of α,ω-diphenylalkane used to decabromodiphenylalkane. Crude high assay decabromodiphenylalkane product is prepared without use of heat treatment, oven ageing, or grinding or other forms of pulverization.
US08680341B2
An arylalkenyl ether oligomer is produced by the reaction of a polyhaloalkene with a polyhydroxyaryl compound. Halogenation of the resultant oligomer produces a flame retardant having both aromatic and aliphatic bromine groups.
US08680332B2
The invention relates to disubstituted-aminodifluorosulfinium salts represented by the formula (I). Processes for preparing same and methods of use as deoxofluorinating reagent is also provided.
US08680327B2
The present invention generally relates to synthetic methods for preparing tetranor-prostaglandin D, J, E, A, and F metabolites.
US08680322B2
A method for producing an α-acyloxycarbonyl compound of the present invention includes performing an intermolecular reaction between a carboxylic acid and a carbonyl compound selected from the group consisting of ketones, aldehydes, and esters, which have a hydrogen atom at the α-position, using a hydroperoxide as an oxidizer and an iodide salt as a catalyst precursor, thereby introducing an acyloxy group derived from the carboxylic acid into the α-position of the carbonyl compound.
US08680321B2
A process for selective formation of ethanol and/or ethyl acetate from acetic acid by hydrogenating acetic acid in the presence of a Pt/Sn catalyst or a Re/Pd catalyst. The catalyst may further comprise a support modifier to improve selectivity for the desired product.
US08680318B1
The current invention is drawn to a series of citrate esters having high melting domains and liquid domains at room temperature. This that results in an ability to alter hardness, melt point and skin feel, making outstanding waterproofing and emollient properties when applied to skin.
US08680317B2
A process for hydrogenating acetic acid to form of ethyl acetate and mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol. The hydrogenation is done in the presence of catalyst, preferably on a support that optionally includes a support modifier.
US08680313B1
Sulfonated betaines, amine oxides, and sultaines are made by the reaction of the corresponding unsaturated betaines, amine oxides or sultaines with a sulfonating agent. These amphoteric surfactants have demonstrated low adsorption properties in addition to good compatibility with brine containing high concentrations of salt and divalent cations. They can be employed in applications where their respective conventional amphoteric surfactants are used including: personal care, mining, improved oil recovery (IOR), oil field drilling, fracturing, acidizing, foaming, and agricultural formulations.
US08680311B2
High-pressure electrokinetic (“EK”) pumps comprising a hybrid monolith provide a high surface charge density and a continuous stable skeleton morphology with micrometer-sized through-pores. The hybrid monolith of the subject invention has superior mechanical strength and better stability in comparison to prior art monoliths with equivalent mechanical stability. The surface charge of the hybrid monolith can be modified and/or made stable by the use of different chemical reagents. The chemical reagents and resulting modification to the monolith serves to expand the usefulness of the hybrid monolith to a variety of pumping applications including chip-based systems and other applications where the ability to pump an acidic solution is required.
US08680305B2
A method of obtaining a polyunsaturated fatty acid derivative comprises contacting a mixture of fatty acid derivatives with a silver salt aqueous solution, and adjusting the free fatty acid content in the silver salt aqueous solution to 0.2 meq or less per gram of silver when repeatedly using the silver salt aqueous solution. A polyunsaturated fatty acid derivative having high purity and excellent quality can thus be economically obtained.
US08680303B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for the synthesis of catalysts, including epoxidation catalysts, and related compounds and catalyst compositions. Embodiments described herein may provide efficient processes for providing catalysts (e.g., epoxidation catalysts) in large quantities and using simplified methods.
US08680298B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing orlistat from amino orlistat using Pivaloyl Formic Anhydride (PFA) as an alkanoylating agent.
US08680286B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing enaminocarbonyl compounds by reacting compounds of the formula (II) with compounds of the formula (III) in which the A, R1, R2 and Z radicals are each as defined in the description, in the presence of a Brønsted acid.
US08680282B2
A CPT1 inhibitor compound is represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method of treating a subject having cancer comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound represented by Structural Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08680280B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing CCR3 inhibitors of formula 1, wherein R1 is H, C1-6-alkyl, C0-4-alkyl-C3-6-cycloalkyl, C1-6-haloalkyl; R2 is H, C1-6-alkyl; X is an anion selected from the group consisting of chloride or ½ dibenzoyltartrate j is 1 or 2.
US08680278B2
The present invention is directed to a process for enantioselectively preparing substituted piperidine alkanoic acid integrin antagonist compounds.
US08680277B2
According to the present invention, a method for preparing tetrazole methanesulfonic acid salts comprises an acylation reaction using a novel 4-iodine-4H-chromene-2-carbothionic acid S-benzothiazole-2-yl ester. The method of the present invention can shorten a reaction time and improve safety as compared to conventional methods, and can prepare high-purity tetrazole methanesulfonic acid salts at a high yield rate without using a column chromatography method.
US08680264B2
A method for converting a carbohydrate to a furan in a polar aprotic solvent in the presence of a chloride, bromide, or iodide salt or a mixture thereof and optionally in the presence of an acid catalyst, a metal halide catalyst and/or an ionic liquid (up to 40 wt %). The method can be employed in particular to produce furfural or 5-hydroxymethylfurfural.
US08680261B2
Methods are provided for producing highly purified compositions of nucleic acids by using a highly streamlined and readily automated process. The methods use static mixers for lysing cells and precipitating debris, following by centrifugation and ion exchange chromatography. The process may include a purification step using tangential flow ultrafiltration. A scaleable process for producing pharmaceutical grade plasmid DNA, useful for gene therapy, is provided.
US08680256B2
The present invention relates to a (first) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear RNA interference constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source polynucleotide comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification of a DNA source comprising a promoter using a reverse primer comprising the inhibitory RNA coding sequence of interest. The present invention furthermore relates to a (second) method for producing inducible and/or repressible expression active linear gene constructs comprising a PCR amplification of a source expression polynucleotide comprising a promoter sequence and the DNA sequence of interest or comprising a PCR amplification using the DNA sequence as a template. The present invention furthermore relates to libraries, arrays, cells and cell lines and kits utilizing the inducible and/or repressible expression active linear RNA interference constructs or the inducible and/or repressible expression active linear gene constructs.
US08680249B2
The present invention relates to a novel isolated leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide. The invention also relates to an isolated nucleic acid encoding the leafhopper ecdysone receptor polypeptide, to vectors comprising them and to their uses, in particular in methods for modulating gene expression in an ecdysone receptor-based gene expression modulation system and methods for identifying molecules that modulate leafhopper ecdysone receptor activity.
US08680248B2
Improved host cells and culture methods involving overexpression of MAN1C1 activity to improve protein production are provided.
US08680246B2
The present disclosure provides lysyl oxidase-like-2 (LOXL2) polypeptide binding agents, including, for example, antibodies that specifically bind a LOXL2 polypeptide; and further provides compositions comprising same. The binding agents can be used in various treatment and diagnostic methods, which are also provided.
US08680243B2
Antibodies that bind to a GPR49 protein and have cell proliferation inhibitory activity against cells expressing the GPR49 protein are disclosed. Cell proliferation inhibitory activities are cytotoxic activities such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Pharmaceutical compositions, cell-proliferation inhibitors, and anticancer agents containing an antibody of the present invention as an active ingredient are also disclosed. Examples of cancer include gastric cancer, colon cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, and glioma. Furthermore, methods for diagnosing cancer by detecting expression of a GPR49 protein or a gene encoding a GPR49 protein, and diagnostic agents and kits to be used in these methods are also disclosed.
US08680241B2
The present invention relates to humanized antibodies that specifically bind a polypeptide comprising peptide-6 as denoted by SEQ ID NO. 15, that is an HSP65 derived peptide. More specifically, the invention relates to humanized anti-peptide-6 antibodies, compositions, methods and uses thereof for the treatment of immune-related disorders, specifically, inflammatory disorders such as arthritis, IBD, psoriasis, diabetes and MS. The invention further provides combined compositions and kit combining the humanized antibodies of the invention and at least one anti-inflammatory agent, as well as uses of the humanized antibodies in diagnostic kits and methods.
US08680240B1
ClotFoam is a sealant and hemostatic agent for use in cases of non-compressible hemorrhage for moderate to severe bleeding. It can be applied in the operating room through laparoscopic ports, or directly over lacerated tissue in laparotomy procedures or outside the operating room through a mixing needle and/or a spray injection method following intracavitary severe trauma or surgery. Its crosslinking technology generates an adhesive scaffold that carries a fibrin sealant required for hemostasis. Clotfoam produces a foam that spreads throughout a body cavity reaching the lacerated tissue to seal tissue and promote the coagulation cascade. The composition is biocompatible and non-inflammatory.The invention uses fibrin monomer polymerized by a change of pH as active sealing component. The viscoelastic properties of the foam as well as the rapid formation of a fibrin clot ensure that the sealant remains at the site of application without being washed away by blood.
US08680236B2
Provided herein are OspA polypeptides from Lyme Disease-causing Borrelia having certain alteration(s). In one embodiment, the alteration(s) increase the conformational stability of the OspA polypeptide containing the alteration(s) while maintaining at least some of the antigenicity of the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide. In another embodiment, the altered OspA polypeptide has reduced cross-reactivity to hLFA-1, as compared to the corresponding unaltered OspA polypeptide.
US08680232B2
A method for preparing pimaric acid type resin acids includes the following steps: step (1) adding refined resin acid, turpentine, or rosin along with maleic anhydride at a mass ratio of 1:0.3-1.5 into a reaction bottle, dissolving the ingredients into a C1-C10 lower fatty acid solvent, the mass ratio of the C1-C10 low fatty acid to refined resin acid is 0.05-30:1, then carrying out additional reaction by heating directly or with assistance of a microwave, subsequently cooling, crystallizing, filtering, and washing; and step (2) combining the filtrates collected in step (1), stripping the solvent by vacuum distillation to obtain pimaric acid type resin acid coarse product, dissolving the resulting coarse product in NaOH aqueous solution to prepare aqueous solution of pimaric acid type resin acid salt, adjusting the pH level to 6-14 with a mineral acid or an organic acid while stirring, and either directly purifying or acidifying followed by purifying, the resulting precipitation to obtain the final product. The method has the characteristics of high yield, high product content, low cost, and low environmental pollution.
US08680229B2
The present invention is aimed to provide a method for producing a polyester with reduced CD content and elution amount, in which even after the production method, a reduction in physical properties of the polyester is small, and furthermore, a polyester having good moldability can be produced, and the present invention is concerned with a method for producing a polyester including an esterification reaction step of allowing an aliphatic diol and an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid to react with each other; a step of pelletizing a polyester obtained through the esterification reaction step; and a contact treatment step of bringing the obtained polyester pellets into contact with a mixed solution containing ethanol and water, wherein the mixed solution contains water in an amount of 10% by mass or more and not more than 99% by mass relative to the whole of the mixed solution.
US08680222B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of propylene polymers in the presence of a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a titanium compound having at least one titanium-halogen bond, and a blend of a diether compound and a succinate compound as internal electron donor, all supported on a magnesium halide in active form, an organoaluminium compound and an optional external donor.
US08680219B2
A method of treating a polymerization reactor effluent stream comprising recovering the reactor effluent stream from the polymerization reactor, flashing the reactor effluent stream to form a flash gas stream, separating the flash gas stream into a first top stream, a first bottom stream, and a side stream, wherein the side stream substantially comprises hexane, separating the first top stream into a second top stream and a second bottom stream, wherein the second bottom stream substantially comprises isobutane, and separating the second top stream into a third top stream and a third bottom stream; wherein the third top stream substantially comprises ethylene, and wherein the third bottom stream is substantially free of olefins.
US08680215B2
A method of using metallized and nonmetallized nanostructured chemicals as surface and volume modification agents within polymers and on the surfaces of nano and macroscopic particulates and fillers. Because of their 0.5 nm-3.0 nm size, nanostructured chemicals can be utilized to greatly increase surface area, improve compatibility, and promote lubricity between surfaces at a length scale not previously attainable.
US08680210B2
A macromolecule includes at least one polymer chain and terminal functionality. The terminal functionality includes a ring-opened radical of a cyclosilazane or cyclic hydrosiloxane. The polymer can include unsaturated mer units and can be provided via anionic polymerization techniques. The macromolecule can be used as a component of a composition that also includes particulate fillers, with the composition being useful for the production of vulcanizates.
US08680209B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a stabilized fluoropolymer which comprises producing the stabilized fluoropolymer by subjecting a treatment target substance containing a sulfonic-acid-derived-group-containing fluoropolymer to a fluorination treatment, wherein the sulfonic-acid-derived-group-containing fluoropolymer is a fluoropolymer containing —SO3M (in which M represents H, NR1R2R3R4 or M11/L; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are the same or different and each represents H or an alkyl group containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and M1 represents an L-valent metal), and the treatment target substance has a moisture content of not higher than 500 ppm by mass.
US08680207B2
Heterophasic polypropylene resin comprising a propylene random copolymer matrix phase (A), and an ethylene-propylene copolymer rubber phase (B) dispersed within the matrix phase wherein the heterophasic polypropylene resin has a MFR (2.16 kg, 230° C.) of 1.0 to 100 g/10 min, determined according to ISO 1133, and a fraction soluble in p-xylene at 25° C. (XCS fraction) which is present in the resin in an amount of 28 to 50 wt %, and which has a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) of 1.0 to 4.0.
US08680204B2
The present invention relates to golf balls comprising a crosslinked ionomer composition formed by the reaction of either one or more ionomers, or an ionomer precursor composition, with one or more crosslinking agents including polyisocyanates, blocked polyisocyanates, polyurethane prepolymers, blocked polyurethane prepolymers, polyurea prepolymers, blocked polyurea prepolymers, polyamines, blocked polyamines and dicyanodiamides. The resulting modified ionomer compositions exhibit increased tensile strength and a decrease in tensile elongation as compared to the uncrosslinked ionomer analogs while maintaining Shore D hardness.
US08680203B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a particulate nanocomposite material, in which the particles of the nanocomposite material comprise a) at least one inorganic or organo(semi)metallic phase which comprises at least one (semi)metal M; and b) at least one organic polymer phase. The invention also relates to the nanocomposite materials obtainable by this process.The process comprises the polymerization of at least one monomer MM which has at least one first cationically polymerizable monomer unit A which has a metal or semimetal M, and at least one second cationically polymerizable organic monomer unit B which is joined to the polymerizable unit A via at least one, e.g. 1, 2, 3, or 4, covalent chemical bond, under cationic polymerization conditions under which both the polymerizable monomer unit A and the polymerizable unit B polymerize with breakage of the bond or bonds between A and B, wherein the polymerization is performed in an aprotic solvent in which the nanocomposite material is insoluble, in the presence of at least one polymerization initiator and of at least one further substance selected from α) at least one surface-active substance and β) at least one particulate material.
US08680201B2
The present invention relates to a compounding method for producing impact-modified thermoplastic compositions with a low content of volatile organic compounds (hereinafter VOCs), wherein relatively inexpensive polymer raw materials with a comparatively elevated initial VOC content may be used, resulting in lowered production costs for producing such VOC-reduced polymer compositions.
US08680192B2
A thermoplastic compound is disclosed, comprising polyhydroxyalkanoate and an effective amount of a nucleating agent of surface treated precipitated calcium carbonate. Optionally the compound also includes additional polymers and functional additives to modify physical properties of the compound. Molded or extruded plastic articles can be made from the compound. The compound has a crystallization temperature of more than about 108° C.
US08680189B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a binder resin which, when used in an inorganic fine particle-dispersed paste composition, leaves little amount of residual carbon after sintering and can be degreased even under low temperature conditions. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle composition and an inorganic fine particle-dispersed paste composition, which are obtained by using the binder resin.The binder resin of the present invention is for use in an inorganic fine particle-dispersed paste composition containing inorganic fine particles. The binder resin contains from 5 to 55% by weight of a segment derived from methyl methacrylate, from 30 to 80% by weight of a segment derived from isobutyl methacrylate, and from 5 to 20% by weight of a segment derived from polyoxyalkylene ether monomethacrylate.
US08680188B2
The invention relates to reaction products of amines with polymers containing dicarboxylic acids anhydride groups, method for the production thereof and use thereof as a dispersing additive for pigments. The invention also relates to solid pigment preparations containing said reaction products.
US08680186B2
A semi-crystalline polyolefin composition comprising: a thermoplastic crystallizable polyolefin; and one or more di-alkyl bis-oxalamide compounds having the formula: wherein R1 is a spacer group and each R2 is a peripheral group and wherein each of R1 and R2a and R2b is an independently selected hydrocarbyl group is provided. Also provided are a method for producing the semi-crystalline polyolefin composition and articles made therefrom.
US08680185B2
A composition for protecting a surface of an inorganic substrate, such as concrete, terrazzo, or ceramic tile, includes a silicate (i.e., an alkali metal polysilicate or a colloidal silica), a siliconate (e.g., a metal siliconate, such as an alkali metal methyl siliconate, etc.), acrylic latex, a silane coupling agent, and a solvent, such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. Inorganic substrates, such as concrete, stone, and ceramic materials, with such a composition on their surfaces are also disclosed, as are methods for polishing and protecting inorganic substrates.
US08680183B2
A mixture comprising (a) one or more liquid UV absorbers, with the proviso that Tinuvin 384-2 as a liquid UV absorber is excluded, (b) one or more branched polymers comprising stabilizing groups, (c) optionally one or more further additions. Use of such a mixture for stabilizing inanimate organic materials against the effect of light, oxygen and/or heat. Inanimate organic materials comprising at least one such mixture, and also articles produced from such inanimate organic materials. Methods of stabilizing inanimate organic materials against the effect of light, oxygen and/or heat by adding to said inanimate organic materials at least one such mixture in an effective amount.
US08680181B2
The present invention provides a process to hydrophobize a mortar which is essentially free of cement, comprising the steps of mixing the mortar with an additive and water and subsequently allowing the mortar to cure, wherein the additive contains a component which is a rosin, a rosin derivative, a mixture of a resin with a rosin, or a mixture of a resin with a rosin derivative, wherein when the softening point of the component is higher than 60° C., the curing step is performed at a temperature that is not lower than the softening point of the component minus 20° C. and when the softening point of the component is 60° C. or lower, the curing step is performed at 40° C. or lower, and wherein the rosin and/or rosin derivative have an acid number of at least 50 mg KOH/g, and when the component is a mixture of a resin with a rosin, or a mixture of a resin with a rosin derivative, the resin at 23° C. and pH 7 has a water solubility of about 5 g/l or less and a Brookfield viscosity of less than 20,000 mPas, measured at 23° C. and 20 rpm. The invention also covers an additive as well as a pasty and a dry mortar composition.
US08680170B2
The invention relates to a body, particularly a molded body made of polystyrene, particularly polystyrene particle foam or polystyrene hard foam, wherein the polystyrene, particularly the polystyrene particle foam or the polystyrene hard foam, comprises petroleum coke, particularly petroleum coke particles.
US08680168B2
The invention is the use of low boiling point, low vapor pressure blowing agents with froth polyurethane or polyisocyanurate foams to fill cavity voids when compared to higher vapor pressure or more ozone-depleting blowing agents.
US08680164B2
The present embodiment relates to a method for recovering a boron adsorbent, including: preparing water having an electric resistivity of 0.01 MΩ·cm or more and kept at a temperature within a temperature range; and contacting the water with the boron adsorbent to release boron adsorbed at the boron adsorbent.
US08680162B2
A process for regenerating a spent particulate wax-containing cobalt-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis catalyst is provided. The process includes subjecting the spent wax-containing catalyst sequentially to a dewaxing treatment, an oxidation treatment and a reduction treatment. During the dewaxing treatment, the spent wax-containing catalyst is at least partially dewaxed, with dewaxed catalyst particles being produced. During the oxidation treatment, an oxygen-containing gas is passed through a bed of the dewaxed catalyst particles at an operating temperature T° C. where 150
US08680159B2
Substituted benzamide compounds corresponding to formula (I) in which R5, R6, R7, R8, a, b, c, d, t, D and X have defined meanings, a process for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and a method of using such compounds to treat pain and other conditions mediated at least in part via the bradykinin 1 receptor.
US08680155B2
Novel synthetic bis(benzylidene-benzenamine)disulfides and the preparation method are disclosed in the present invention. These compounds are afforded with the oxidizing reagent at low temperature and short time period via intra-molecular coupling reaction. In vitro experiments have been revealed that bis-disulfides are cytotoxic to cancer cells, especially human breast cancer cells MCF-7. Additionally, bis-disulfides arrest the cell cycle at sub-G1 phase and increase p38 phosphorylation to result in apoptosis. Bis-disulfides also inhibit growth of murine melanoma B16 cells but have no cytotoxicity to human fibroblasts. Bis-disulfides also can reduce murine melanoma size in the mouse model. The prepared compounds of the invention would be applicable in anticancer and anti-tumor therapies.
US08680154B2
Injectable veterinary composition comprising a fluorinated chloramphenicol or thiamphenicol derivative and a solvent system comprising an ether of 1,2-ethanediol oligo- or polymers, and a pyrrolidone solvent.
US08680149B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of an individual afflicted with mast cell mediated diseases comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of a 1-amino-alkylcyclohexane derivative.
US08680145B1
The invention describes methods and compositions for treating fear of medical procedures comprising administering proglumide to a patient having fear of medical procedures, followed by subjecting the patient to the fear-inducing medical procedure. Representative examples of fear of medical procedures that can be treated according to the methods and compositions described herein include: dental phobia, fear of needles, fear of surgery, and fear of childbirth.
US08680139B2
Disclosed are novel compounds which are useful as therapeutics, especially in anti-neoplastic therapy and in other therapeutic regimes where cysteine protease inhibition is implicated.
US08680138B2
A soluble oligomeric compound for forming an organic thin film transistor, has repeat units comprising two or more fused thiophene residues. The repeat units comprise the structure: The compound may include two or more terminating groups comprising solvating groups. A solution of the material can be used to form a thin film transistor by ink jet printing.
US08680137B2
This invention relates to methods of screening for modulators of mammalian cell injury cause by TRPM7 gene and protein activity, compounds that modulate TRPM7 gene and protein activity and methods of treatment of mammalian cell injury using modulators of TRPM7 gene and protein activity.
US08680132B2
Provided herein are compounds, compositions, and methods in the field of medicinal chemistry. The compounds and compositions provided herein relate to spiro-oxindoles which function as antagonists of the interaction between p53 and MDM2, and their use as therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and other diseases.
US08680126B2
Compounds of formula (I) or their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or their stereoisomers or mixtures of stereoisomers, where: R1 is selected from the group consisting of: phenyl, and phenyl mono-, di-, or tri-substituted by a radical independently selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, (C1-C6)-alkyl, COO—(C1-C6)-alkyl, and (C1-C6)-alkoxy; and R2 is a radical selected from the same group as R1, further including a phenyl substituted in 4-position by a radical independently selected from the group consisting of —O(CH2)CONH(CH2)3CH3 and OCH2COOC(CH3)3, a biphenyl-4-yl, thiazol-2-yl, and a thiazol-2-yl mono- or di-substituted by a radical selected from F and phenyl; inhibit cell proliferation of tumor cells independently of p53 protein and may also induce apoptosis in several tumor cells independently of p53 protein, being useful for the treatment of several types of cancer.
US08680118B2
A compound of formula: wherein Ar1, Ar2, V, X, R3, R4, and m are as disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Cyclo(hetero)alkenyl Compound”); compositions comprising an effective amount of a Cyclo(hetero)alkenyl Compound; and methods for treating or preventing, e.g., pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, or IBS in an animal, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Cyclo(hetero)alkenyl Compound are disclosed herein.
US08680115B2
The present invention relates to tetrahydroquinoline compounds as muscarinic receptor agonists; compositions comprising the same; methods of inhibiting an activity of a muscarinic receptor with said compounds; methods of treating a disease condition associated with a muscarinic receptor using said compounds; and methods for identifying a subject suitable for treatment using said compounds.
US08680114B2
The present invention provides compounds, including resolved enantiomers, diastereomers, solvates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, comprising the Formula: A-L-CR where CR is a cyclical core group, L is a linking group and A is as defined herein. Also provided are methods of using the compounds of this invention as AKT protein kinase inhibitors and for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases such as cancer.
US08680108B2
The present invention provides fused aryl and heteroaryl derivatives of Formula I: wherein X, V, Y, U, W, Z, R1, R2, Cy, and Ar are defined herein, that modulate the activity of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) and are useful in the treatment of diseases related to the activity of PI3Ks including, for example, inflammatory disorders, immune-based disorders, cancer, and other diseases.
US08680104B2
The present invention relates to compounds of Formula I: wherein variable substituents are defined herein, that modulate the activity of or bind to chemokine receptors such as CCR5. In some embodiments, the compounds of the invention are selective for CCR5. The compounds can be used, for example, to treat diseases associated with chemokine receptor expression or activity such as inflammatory diseases, immune diseases and viral infections.
US08680103B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition of a crystalline monohydrate of the compound of formula (IV) wherein the crystalline monohydrate is characterized by certain unit cell parameters.
US08680094B2
The present invention includes compositions and methods for inhibiting kinase activity to protect against neurodegeneration including diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, or Huntington's disease, and conditions such as ischemic stroke comprising the step of providing the subject with a therapeutically affective amount of 1,4-benzoxazine compounds and derivatives thereof.
US08680092B2
A compound represented by formula (I): (wherein the symbols are the same as defined in the description), a salt thereof, an N-oxide thereof, a solvate thereof or a prodrug thereof, and medicinal use thereof. The compound represented by formula (I) has CXCR4 antagonistic activity. It is hence useful as, e.g., a preventive and/or therapeutic agent for CXCR4-mediated diseases such as inflammatory/immunologic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, arthritis, retinopathy, pulmonary fibrosis, and rejection reactions of transplanted organs), allergic diseases, infections diseases (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunologic deficiency syndrome), psychoneurotic diseases, cerebral diseases, cardiac/vascular disease, metabolic diseases, cancer diseases (e.g., cancer, cancer metastasis) or as an agent for regeneration therapy.
US08680085B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating an incretin related disease such as diabetes, obesity and the like by delivery of butyric acid, bile acid, long chain fatty acid, or glutamine to the colon by bypassing the upper digestive tract.
US08680084B2
This invention relates to a method of preventing pregnancy and treating PMS including PMDD. More particularly, the invention relates to a method, which involves administering one of several combination oral contraceptive regimens in combination with an antidepressant and a kit containing the same.
US08680082B2
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for the treatment of otic disorders with steroid, NSAID, and/or adenosine triphosphatase (“ATPase”) modulator agents. In these methods, the steroidal, NSAID, and/or ATPase compositions and formulations are administered locally to an individual afflicted with an otic disorder, through direct application of these compositions and formulations onto or via perfusion into the targeted auris structure(s).
US08680079B2
The application relates to novel heterocyclic compounds of the general formula (I) in which R, R1, R2, X, Y, Z and n have the meanings defined in the description, to a process for their preparation and to the use of these compounds as medicaments, in particular as aldosterone synthase inhibitors.
US08680078B2
Disclosed herein are stable formulations suitable for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
US08680071B2
Provided herein are compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of liver disorders, including HCV infections. In one embodiment, compounds and compositions of nucleoside derivatives are disclosed, which can be administered either alone or in combination with other anti-viral agents.
US08680057B2
The invention features a tribonectin and a method of tribosupplementation carried out by administering tribonectins directly to an injured or arthritic joint.
US08680046B2
Described herein are compositions and methods for inhibiting HIV integrase activity. Also described are methods of identifying agents that inhibit HIV integrase for use in treating or preventing HIV. Also disclosed are methods of identifying agents that inhibit HIV viral mutants that are resistant to integrase inhibitors.
US08680044B2
The present disclosure provides methods and uses of Slit proteins and nucleic acids for inhibiting platelet coagulation and related disorders. Further provided is a vascular device coated with Slit protein or a cell expressing a Slit protein.
US08680041B2
Nucleotide and amino acid variations associated with tumors are provided. Methods for detecting variations and for diagnosing and treating tumors are provided.
US08680037B2
Azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are disclosed. The azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions are mixtures of Z-1,1,1,4,4,4-hexafluoro-2-butene with ethanol, 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, methanol, E-1,1,1,4,4,5,5,5-octafluoro-2-pentene, 2-bromo-3,3,3-trifluoropropene, methyl acetate, acetone, chloroform, n-hexane or 1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene. Also disclosed is a process of preparing a thermoplastic or thermoset foam by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as blowing agents. Also disclosed is a process of producing refrigeration by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as solvents. Also disclosed is a process of producing an aerosol product by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as heat transfer media. Also disclosed is a process of extinguishing or suppressing a fire by using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions. Also disclosed is a process of using such azeotropic or azeotrope-like compositions as dielectrics.
US08680022B2
The invention relates to a complex comprising a phage particle, said phage particle comprising (i) a polypeptide; (ii) a nucleic acid encoding the polypeptide of (i); (iii) a connector compound attached to said polypeptide wherein said connector compound is attached to the polypeptide by at least three discrete covalent bonds. The invention also relates to libraries, and to methods for making complexes and to methods of screening using same.
US08680017B2
A method for identifying aptamers that bind to target molecules may include contacting an oligonucleotide library with target molecule and digesting unbound oligonucleotides with one or more endonucleases, one or more exonucleases, or one or more endonucleases in combination with one or more exonucleases. The unbound oligonucletides lend themselves to nuclease digestion because their flanking sequences are complementary and form predictable, terminal, secondary structure (a Lariat Aptamer). Bound molecules (aptamers) are protected from nuclease digestion and become enriched. A method for identifying aptamers may further include optionally subjecting selected aptamers to one or more rounds of selection under conditions of increased stringency. A method for identifying aptamers may include yet further amplifying selected aptamers. The described methods may be performed in a screen for identifying aptamers either alone or in combination with other methods typically employed in the art for selecting aptamers (such as, e.g., SELEX). Also contemplated herein are systems and kits for accomplishing the above.
US08680016B2
A testing method of nucleic acid binding protein based on biochip, comprises the following steps: 1. puts a plurality of groups solution including nucleic acid captured probes into biological sample including a plurality of nucleic acid binding protein to be test, and thus forming nucleic acid captured probe-nucleic acid binding protein complexes; such nucleic acid captured probe includes at least a segment of binding sequence which can bind with aimed nucleic acid binding protein; 2. separates such nucleic acid captured probe-nucleic acid binding protein complexes, then recoveries nucleic acid captured probes; 3. hybridizes the nucleic acid captured probes according to step 2 with a plurality of single strand blotting probes on biochip substrate; the sequence of such blotting probe compensates with such nucleic acid captured probe or one of its strand; 4. detects the result of hybridization.
US08680015B2
A method includes locating a defect in a first segment of high temperature superconducting wire. A second segment of high temperature superconducting wire is then positioned onto the first segment of high temperature superconducting wire such that the second segment of high temperature superconducting wire overlaps the defect. A path is then created such that current flows through the second segment of high temperature superconducting wire. The first segment of high temperature superconducting wire and second segment of high temperature superconducting wire are then laminated together.
US08680010B2
A synergistic herbicidal composition containing (a) penoxsulam and (b) florasulam provides weed control in multiple crops and settings, e.g., rice, cereal and grain crops, turf, industrial vegetation management, sugar cane, range and pasture, and tree and vine orchards.
US08680006B2
A method of saturating reversible ammonia storage materials inside a container for the purpose of achieving high volumetric ammonia storage capacity and containers filled with the materials are disclosed.
US08680003B2
N2-phosphinyl amidine compounds, N2-phosphinyl amidinates, N2-phosphinyl amidine metal salt complexes, N2-phosphinyl amidinate metal salt complexes are described. Methods for making N2-phosphinyl amidine compounds, N2-phosphinyl amidinates, N2-phosphinyl amidine metal salt complexes, and N2-phosphinyl amidinate metal salt complexes are also disclosed. Catalyst systems utilizing the N2-phosphinyl amidine metal salt complexes and N2-phosphinyl amidinate metal salt complexes are also disclosed along with the use of the N2-phosphinyl amidine compounds, N2-phosphinyl amidinates, N2-phosphinyl amidine metal salt complexes, and N2-phosphinyl amidinate metal salt complexes for the oligomerization and/or polymerization of olefins.
US08679985B2
A dry etching method for a silicon nitride film capable of improving throughput is provided. A dry etching method for dry-etching a silicon nitride film 103 includes dry-etching the silicon nitride film 103 without generating plasma by using a processing gas containing at least a hydrogen fluoride gas (HF gas) and a fluorine gas (F2 gas), with respect to a processing target object 100 including the silicon nitride film 103.
US08679972B1
The present invention pertains to methods for forming a metal diffusion barrier on an integrated circuit wherein the formation includes at least two operations. The first operation deposits barrier material via PVD or CVD to provide some minimal coverage. The second operation deposits an additional barrier material and simultaneously etches a portion of the barrier material deposited in the first operation. The result of the operations is a metal diffusion barrier formed in part by net etching in certain areas, in particular the bottom of vias, and a net deposition in other areas, in particular the side walls of vias. Controlled etching is used to selectively remove barrier material from the bottom of vias, either completely or partially, thus reducing the resistance of subsequently formed metal interconnects.
US08679969B2
A system for forming self-aligned contacts includes electroplating a first metal contact onto a Group III-V semiconductor substrate, the first metal contact having a greater height than width and having a straight sidewall profile, etching back the semiconductor substrate down to a base layer to expose an emitter semiconductor layer under the first metal contact, conformally depositing a dielectric layer on a vertical side of the first metal contact, a vertical side of the emitter semiconductor layer and on the base layer, anisotropically etching the dielectric layer off of the semiconductor substrate to form a dielectric sidewall spacer on the vertical side of the first metal contact and providing a second metal contact immediately adjacent the dielectric sidewall spacer.
US08679967B2
The present invention provides apparatus, methods, and systems for fabricating memory lines and structures using double sidewall patterning for four times half pitch relief patterning. The invention includes forming features from a first template layer disposed above a substrate, forming half-pitch sidewall spacers adjacent the features, forming smaller features in a second template layer by using the half-pitch sidewall spacers as a hardmask, forming quarter-pitch sidewall spacers adjacent the smaller features, and forming conductor features from a conductor layer by using the quarter-pitch sidewall spacers as a hardmask. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed.
US08679965B2
A semiconductor device having a reduced bit line parasitic capacitance and a method of making same is presented. The semiconductor device includes a first, second, third, and fourth interlayer dielectric layers, first and second bit lines, first and second landing plug and first and second storage node contacts. An optional capacitor may be added to complete a CMOS configuration for the semiconductor device. The storage node contacts traverse through the interlayer dielectric layer and are electrically coupled to their respective landing plug contacts. The storage node contacts are deliberately offset, relative to the center of the corresponding landing plug contacts, at a predetermined distance in a direction away from the first bit line. This offsetting aids reducing the parasitic capacitance between the bit line and a storage node.
US08679960B2
A method of processing a substrate having horizontal and non-horizontal surfaces is disclosed. The substrate is implanted with particles using an ion implanter. During the ion implant, due to the nature of the implant process, a film may be deposited on the surfaces, wherein the thickness of this film is thicker on the horizontal surfaces. The presences of this film may adversely alter the properties of the substrate. To rectify this, a second process step is performed to remove the film deposited on the horizontal surfaces. In some embodiments, an etching process is used to remove this film. In some embodiments, a material modifying step is used to change the composition of the material comprising the film. This material modifying step may be instead of, or in addition to the etching process.
US08679951B2
A method of directly growing graphene of a graphene-layered structure, the method including ion-implanting at least one ion of a nitrogen ion and an oxygen ion on a surface of a silicon carbide (SiC) thin film to form an ion implantation layer in the SiC thin film; and heat treating the SiC thin film with the ion implantation layer formed therein to graphenize a SiC surface layer existing on the ion implantation layer.
US08679949B2
A silicon nanowire includes metal nanoclusters formed on a surface thereof at a high density. The metal nanoclusters improve electrical and optical characteristics of the silicon nanowire, and thus can be usefully used in various electrical devices such as a lithium battery, a solar cell, a bio sensor, a memory device, or the like.
US08679946B2
A process for manufacturing a stacked structure comprising at least one thin layer bonded to a target substrate, in which a thin layer is formed by introduction gaseous species into an initial substrate, to form a weakened layer separating a film from the rest of the initial substrate, a first contact face of the thin layer is bonded to a face of an intermediate substrate by molecular adhesion, and the initial substrate is fractured at the weakened layer so as to expose a free face of the thin layer. The intermediate substrate is then removed in order to obtain the stacked structure.
US08679941B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided where in one embodiment an STI fill is recessed below the pad nitride and pad oxide layers, to a level substantially coplanar with the top surface of the substrate. A thin (having a thickness in the range of about 10 Å-100 Å) wet etch resistant layer is formed in contact with and completely covering at least the top surface of the recessed STI fill material. The thin wet etch resistant layer is more resistant to a wet etch process than at least the pad oxide layer. The thin wet etch resistant layer may be a refractory dielectric material, or a dielectric such as HfOx, AlyOx, ZrOx, HfZrOx, and HfSiOx. The inventive wet etch resistant layer improves the wet etch budget of subsequent wet etch processing steps.
US08679938B2
A method for formation of a shallow trench isolation (STI) in an active region of a device comprising trench capacitive elements, the trench capacitive elements comprising a metal plate and a high-k dielectric includes etching a STI trench in the active region of the device, wherein the STI trench is directly adjacent to at least one of the metal plate or high-k dielectric of the trench capacitive elements; and forming an oxide liner in the STI trench, wherein the oxide liner is formed selectively to the metal plate or high-k dielectric, wherein forming the oxide liner is performed at a temperature of about 600° C. or less.
US08679931B2
The present invention relates to a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material layer, a first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer stacked in this order, and a film for semiconductor back surface stacked on the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer of the dicing tape, in which a peel strength Y between the first pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is larger than a peel strength X between the second pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and the film for semiconductor back surface, and in which the peel strength X is from 0.01 to 0.2 N/20 mm, and the peel strength Y is from 0.2 to 10 N/20 mm.
US08679929B2
A method of fabricating a one-time programmable (OTP) memory cell with improved read current in one of its programmed states, and a memory cell so fabricated. The OTP memory cell is constructed with trench isolation structures on its sides. After trench etch, and prior to filling the isolation trenches with dielectric material, a fluorine implant is performed into the trench surfaces. The implant may be normal to the device surface or at an angle from the normal. Completion of the cell transistor to form a floating-gate metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) transistor is then carried out. Improved on-state current (Ion) results from the fluorine implant.
US08679917B2
An anti-fuse one-time-programmable (OTP) nonvolatile memory cell has a P well substrate with two P− doped regions. Another N+ doped region, functioning as a bit line, is positioned adjacent and between the two P− doped regions on the substrate. An anti-fuse is defined over the N+ doped region. Two insulator regions are deposited over the two P− doped regions. An impurity doped polysilicon layer is defined over the two insulator regions and the anti-fuse. A polycide layer is defined over the impurity doped polysilicon layer. The polycide layer and the polysilicon layer function as a word line. A programmed region, i.e., a link, functioning as a diode, is formed on the anti-fuse after the anti-fuse OTP nonvolatile memory cell is programmed. The array structure of anti-fuse OTP nonvolatile memory cells and methods for programming, reading, and fabricating such a cell are also disclosed.
US08679913B2
A film is formed so that the atomic numbers ratio of Sr to Ti, i.e., Sr/Ti, in the film is not less than 1.2 and not more than 3. The film is then annealed in an atmosphere containing not less than 0.001% and not more than 80% of O2 at 500° C. or above. An SrO film forming step or a TiO film forming step are repeated a plurality of times so that a sequence, in which a plurality of SrO film forming steps or/and a plurality of TiO film forming steps are performed continuously, is included. When Sr is oxidized after the adsorption of Sr, O3 and H2O are used as an oxidizing agent.
US08679910B2
Provided are methods of fabricating a semiconductor device including a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistor. The methods include forming a gate pattern on a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor substrate is etched using the gate pattern as an etching mask to form a pair of active trenches spaced apart from each other in the semiconductor substrate. Epitaxial layers are formed in the active trenches, respectively. The respective epitaxial layers are formed by sequentially stacking first and second layers. The first and second layers are formed of a semiconductor layer having a lattice constant greater than the semiconductor substrate, and a composition ratio of the second layer is different from that of the first layer. Semiconductor devices having the first and second layers are also provided.
US08679905B2
A method of forming ohmic source/drain contacts in a metal oxide semiconductor thin film transistor includes providing a gate, a gate dielectric, a high carrier concentration metal oxide semiconductor active layer with a band gap and spaced apart source/drain metal contacts in a thin film transistor configuration. The spaced apart source/drain metal contacts define a channel region in the active layer. An oxidizing ambient is provided adjacent the channel region and the gate and the channel region are heated in the oxidizing ambient to reduce the carrier concentration in the channel area. Alternatively or in addition each of the source/drain contacts includes a very thin layer of low work function metal positioned on the metal oxide semiconductor active layer and a barrier layer of high work function metal is positioned on the low work function metal.
US08679902B1
A method for fabricating a nanowire field effect transistor device includes depositing a first sacrificial layer on a substrate, depositing a first layer of a semiconductor material on the first sacrificial layer, depositing a second sacrificial layer on the first layer of semiconductor material, depositing a second layer of the semiconductor material on the second sacrificial layer, pattering and removing portions of the first sacrificial layer, the first semiconductor layer, the second sacrificial layer, and the second semiconductor layer, patterning a dummy gate stack, removing the dummy gate stack, removing portions of the sacrificial layer to define a first nanowire including a portion of the first semiconductor layer and a second nanowire including a portion of the second semiconductor layer, and forming gate stacks about the first nanowire and the second nanowire.
US08679901B2
A method of forming a memory cell is provided. The method includes forming a steering element pillar having a first stiffness and a sidewall, forming a sidewall collar along at least a portion of the sidewall of the steering element pillar, the sidewall collar having a second stiffness, wherein the second stiffness is greater than the first stiffness, and forming a memory element coupled to the steering element pillar. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08679889B2
A method for manufacturing high efficiency solar cells is disclosed. The method comprises providing a thin dielectric layer and a doped polysilicon layer on the back side of a silicon substrate. Subsequently, a high quality oxide layer and a wide band gap doped semiconductor layer can both be formed on the back and front sides of the silicon substrate. A metallization process to plate metal fingers onto the doped polysilicon layer through contact openings can then be performed. The plated metal fingers can form a first metal gridline. A second metal gridline can be formed by directly plating metal to an emitter region on the back side of the silicon substrate, eliminating the need for contact openings for the second metal gridline. Among the advantages, the method for manufacture provides decreased thermal processes, decreased etching steps, increased efficiency and a simplified procedure for the manufacture of high efficiency solar cells.
US08679879B2
Disclosed are a method for fabricating a quantum dot. The method includes the steps of (a) preparing a compound semiconductor layer including a quantum well structure formed by sequentially stacking a first barrier layer, a well layer and a second barrier layer; (b) forming a dielectric thin film pattern including a first dielectric thin film having a thermal expansion coefficient higher than a thermal expansion coefficient of the second barrier layer and a second dielectric thin film having a thermal expansion coefficient lower than the thermal expansion coefficient of the second barrier layer on the second barrier layer; and (c) heat-treating the compound semiconductor layer formed thereon with the dielectric thin film pattern to cause an intermixing between elements of the well layer and elements of the barrier layers at a region of the compound semiconductor layer under the second dielectric thin film.
US08679878B2
Disclosed is a method of forming array substrates having a peripheral wiring area and a display area. The method is processed by only three lithography processes with two multi-tone photomasks and one general photomask. In the peripheral wiring area, the top conductive line directly contacts the bottom conductive line without any other conductive layer. The conventional lift-off process is eliminated, thereby preventing a material (not dissolved by a stripper) from suspending in the stripper or remaining on the array substrate surface.
US08679875B2
A high-quality light emitting device is provided which has a long-lasting light emitting element free from the problems of conventional ones because of a structure that allows less degradation, and a method of manufacturing the light emitting device is provided. After a bank is formed, an exposed anode surface is wiped using a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)-based porous substance or the like to level the surface and remove dusts from the surface. An insulating film is formed between an interlayer insulating film on a TFT and the anode. Alternatively, plasma treatment is performed on the surface of the interlayer insulating film on the TFT for surface modification.
US08679873B2
The present invention discloses a method for fabricating a heat-resistant, humidity-resistant oxide-confined vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) by slowing down the oxidizing rate during a VCSEL oxidation process to thereby reduce stress concentration of an oxidation layer and by preventing moisture invasion using a passivation layer disposed on a laser window. The VCSEL device thus fabricated is heat-resistant, humidity-resistant, and highly reliable. In a preferred embodiment, the oxidation process takes place at an oxidizing rate of less than 0.4 μm/min, and the passivation layer is a SiON passivation layer.
US08679870B2
Provided is a method of manufacturing a semiconductor element having at a cut portion with excellent quality, which minimizes a region on a silicon substrate necessary for cutting, and which prevents cutting water used when cutting by dicing is carried out from entering the semiconductor element. The method of manufacturing a semiconductor element includes: arranging, on the silicon substrate, multiple semiconductor element portions so as to be adjacent to one another; bonding the silicon substrate and a glass substrate together using the resin; and cutting the silicon substrate and the glass substrate, respectively, in a region in which the resin is provided, the cutting the silicon substrate and the glass substrate including: half-cutting the silicon substrate by dicing; cutting the glass substrate by scribing; and dividing the silicon substrate, the glass substrate, and the resin.
US08679861B2
In one aspect, a method of enhancing semiconductor chip process variability and lifetime reliability through a three-dimensional (3D) integration applied to electronic packaging is disclosed. Also provided is an arrangement for implementing the inventive method. In another aspect, a method and on-chip controller are disclosed for enhancing semiconductor chip process variability and lifetime reliability through a three-dimensional (3D) integration applied to electronic packaging. Also provided is an on-chip reliability/variability controller arrangement for implementing the inventive method. In yet another aspect, base semiconductor chips, each comprising a plurality of chiplets, are manufactured and tested. For a base semiconductor chip having at least one non-functional chiplet, at least one repair semiconductor chiplet chiplet is vertically stacked. A functional multi-chip assembly is formed, which provides the same functionality as a base semiconductor chip in which all chiplets are functional.
US08679857B2
The invention provides pipette tip extraction columns for the purification of a DNA vector from un-clarified cell lysate containing cell debris as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the pipette tip column, above a bottom frit and with an optional top frit.
US08679853B2
A test strip or biosensor comprising a base substrate on which an electrode system is formed. One or more laminate layers overlie the base substrate to form a sample-receiving chamber in which a reagent is deposited. An opening is provided from the sample-receiving chamber to the exterior of the biosensor. The layers and the base substrate are laser welded to secure the biosensor. One of the layer and base substrate is light transmissive to allow laser welding at the interface therebetween. The biosensor may be formed from a series of continuous webs that are subsequently sliced to form individual biosensors.
US08679849B2
This disclosure discloses a method and a device for the detection of heavy metal ions in water. The method includes: providing a detection material, wherein the detection material includes a hydrophilic layer which is at least partially covered by a hydrophobic layer formed from a long-chain compound selected from the group consisting of a long-chain thiol, a long-chain fatty acid and combinations thereof, and wherein a detection area is an area covered by the hydrophobic layer, and the detection area has a surface having an initial contact angle with water of more than or equal to about 120°; contacting the detection area with an aqueous solution sample; determining whether the surface of the detection area has a hydrophobicity-hydrophilicity change after contact with the aqueous solution sample; and deciding whether heavy metal ions exist in the aqueous solution sample according to the determination.
US08679841B2
A method of manipulating allogeneic cells for use in allogeneic cell therapy providing a composition of highly activated allogeneic T-cells which are infused into immunocompetent cancer patients to elicit a novel anti-tumor immune mechanism, or “Mirror Effect”. In contrast to current allogeneic cell therapy protocols where T-cells in the graft mediate the beneficial graft vs. tumor (GVT) and detrimental graft vs. host (GVH) effects, the allogeneic cells of the present invention stimulate host T-cells to mediate the “mirror” of these effects. The mirror of the GVT effect is the host vs. tumor (HVT) effect. The “mirror” of the GVH effect is the host vs. graft (HVG) effect. The anti-tumor HVT effect occurs in conjunction with a non-toxic HVG rejection effect. The highly activated allogeneic cells of the invention can be used to stimulate host immunity in a complete HLA mis-matched setting in a patient.
US08679838B2
It is intended to provide a serum which contains a large amount of growth factors capable of efficiently promoting the growth of stem cells. A human serum for cell culture which shows a residual ratio of platelets remaining within 20 minutes after blood collection in relation to the whole amount of the platelets is 0% to 20%, and a release ratio of cell growth factors is 20% to 100%.
US08679835B2
Provided herein are an isolated or enriched population of tumor initiating cells derived from normal cells, cells susceptible to neoplasia, or neoplastic cells. Methods of use of the cells for screening for anti-hyperproliferative agents, and use of the cells for animal models of hyperproliferative disorders including metastatic cancer, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic methods are provided.
US08679808B2
The present invention discloses a method for fabricating aerogels, a method for fabricating surface-modified aerogels, and a method for fabricating biocomposites. Take the fabricating method of biocomposites for example, first, a precursor solution is provided and the precursor solution comprises a hydrophilic ionic liquid, a catalyzed hydrolysis and/or condensation reagent, at least one biomolecule. Next, a curing process is performed for the precursor solution to hydrolyze and polymerize the at least one alkoxide monomer and/or aryloxide monomer to wrap at least one biomolecule and thus form biocomposite. Afterwards, an extracting process is performed by a solvent for the biocomposite to substitute the ionic liquid in the biocomposite. Finally, a drying process for the biocomposite is carried out after the extracting process so as to remove the solvent in the biocomposite. Therefore, the biocomposite is formed.
US08679796B2
This invention concerns a biopolymer consisting of a polysaccharide composed of galactose (50-90%), glucose (1-25%), mannose (1-25%) and rhamnose (0.5-20%), which may additionally contain, in trace amounts, xylose, fucose, ribose, arabinose and/or fructose. The galactose-rich polymer also contains non-saccharide components, namely, acyl groups. This invention also concerns a process for the production of the galactose-rich polymer, by microbial fermentation using glycerol or glycerol-rich substrates as carbon source, and recovery of the polymer from the culture broth. From the process for the production of the galactose-rich polymer results the co-production of intracellular biopolymers, namely, polyhydroxyalkanoates. This invention also concerns to the application of the galactose-rich polymer and the products of its partial or complete degradation and/or derivatization, namely, galacto-oligosaccharides, galactose, rhamnose and others, by physical, chemical and/or biological methods, in food, agricultural, textile and paper industries, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, oil and metal recovery in mining industry, industrial waste treatment and wastewater treatment, among others.
US08679793B2
The present invention is directed to methods for producing high levels of alcohol during fermentation of plant material, and to the high alcohol beer produced. The present invention is also directed to methods for producing high protein distiller's dried grain from fermentation of plant material, and to the high protein distiller's dried grain produced. The present invention also relates to reduced stack emissions from drying distillation products from the production of ethanol.
US08679792B2
The present disclosure relates to variants of a parent glucoamylase having altered properties (e.g., improved thermostability and/or specific activity). In particular, the present disclosure provides compositions comprising the variant glucoamylases, including starch hydrolyzing compositions and cleaning compositions. The disclosure also relates to DNA constructs encoding the variants and methods of producing the glucoamylase variants in host cells.
US08679790B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for enhanced gene expression. The invention provides a composition comprising a 28-codon leader sequence operably linked to a desired gene which encodes the desired protein.
US08679788B2
The invention provides methods permitting the detection of small amounts of different nucleic acids in the presence of an excess amount of wild-type nucleic acids. Also provided herein are method so detecting infectious disease minority variants, methods of forensic identification, methods of diagnosing cancer and monitoring disease progress.
US08679786B2
The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a copper-enriched biomass, comprising, in a first step, culturing Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells in a liquid nutrient medium comprising a carbon source, a nitrogen source, at least one amino acid and a copper salt, so as to obtain copper-enriched yeast biomass in the form of a Cu-GSH complex, wherein the intracellular content of Cu-GSH is higher than 1% dw and, in a second step, separating the copper-enriched yeast biomass from the nutrient liquid medium. Two strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae are described, designated as SA 221 BM and SA 586 BM, respectively (accession numbers DSM 21530 and DSM 21531, deposited with the DSMZ on Jun. 6, 2008), which have the ability to accumulate particularly high levels of intracellular copper. Moreover, the invention relates to the copper-enriched yeast biomass obtainable by the method of the invention, which has an intracellular Cu-GSH content higher than 1% dw, and its use in cosmetic and probiotic products.
US08679775B2
A method for testing for presence of a microbe in a sample includes measuring an instantaneous transmission rate of two or more wavelengths through the sample (1403), providing predetermined transmission rates corresponding to positive or negative samples for the presence of the microbe for each of the two or more wavelengths, and determining a probability of the presence of the microbe based on the instantaneous transmission rate for each of the two or more wavelengths through the sample by comparing the instantaneous transmission rate to the predetermined transmission rates (1404).
US08679774B2
The substrate specificity of a lipolytic enzyme can be modified by making alterations to the amino acid sequence in a defined region of the lipolytic enzyme, so as to increase the level of a desired activity or to decrease the level of an undesired activity. Thus, the inventors have developed lipolytic enzyme variants with a modified amino acid sequence with a substrate specificity which can be tailored for specific uses.
US08679765B2
The invention relates, at least in part, to the identification of paratarg as a paraprotein target in various malignant and non-malignant gammopathies, which can be used in the diagnosis and treatment of either.
US08679761B2
A method for detecting inflammation in the urinary tract or urethra of a patient, especially urethritis, comprises a) contacting leucocytes obtained from a urine sample provided by the patient with a luminescence reagent which emits light on reaction with an oxidant; b) adding an activator to the mixture of leucocytes and luminescence reagent; c) continuously monitoring and/or measuring light emitted by the luminescence reagent over a predetermined time period commencing before and ending after the addition of the activator. The light emission is indicative of the presence or absence of inflammation in the urinary tract or urethra of the patient. The urine sample is preferably a sample of first pass urine. The method makes possible a diagnosis especially of urethritis and, in particular, urethral infections selected from Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which can be carried out quickly without invasive procedures. A diagnostic kit for carrying out the method, comprising a luminescence reagent which emits light on reaction with an oxidant, an activator and a library of standard signature light emission curves is also disclosed.
US08679753B2
The invention provides molecular switches which couple external signals to functionality, and combinatorial methods of making and using the same involving circular permutation of nucleic acid and amino acid sequences. The switches according to the invention can be used, for example, to regulate gene transcription, target drug delivery to specific cells, transport drugs intracellularly, control drug release, provide conditionally active proteins, perform metabolic engineering, and modulate cell signaling pathways. Libraries comprising the switches, expression vectors and host cells for expressing the switches are also provided.
US08679751B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure feature a filtration system comprising a filtration module for particle filtration and methods of using the device for the isolation of particles (e.g., viable cells). Advantageously, embodiments of the device provide for the high throughput filtration of large volumes of sample while preserving cell viability and. providing high yields.
US08679732B2
In one embodiment, a method for removing a resist includes irradiating, with an UV light having a wavelength of less than about 240 nm, a structure having a resist on a pattern surface in an atmosphere having oxygen. The resist is used as a mask as it remains above the pattern after the pattern has been transferred to a magnetic recording medium surface having a magnetic film thereon, and the irradiating is performed during production of the magnetic recording medium. In another embodiment, a method for forming a magnetic recording medium includes applying a resist to a surface of a magnetic film above a substrate, curing the resist by irradiating the resist with first UV light to form a pattern, transferring the pattern to the magnetic film using the pattern, and removing the resist by irradiating using second UV light having a shorter wavelength in an atmosphere including oxygen.
US08679728B2
A method for fabricating a patterned layer is disclosed. Firstly, a semiconductor substrate is provided. Then, a precursory gas on the semiconductor substrate is formed. Finally, a patterned layer on the semiconductor substrate is deposited by reacting the precursory gas with at least one electron beam or at least one ion beam. The present invention not only fabricates a patterned layer on the substrate in a single step but also achieves a high lithographic resolution and avoids remains of contaminations by using the properties of the electron beam or the ion beam and the precursory gas.
US08679724B2
A positive resist composition comprises: (A) a resin of which solubility in an alkali developer increases under an action of an acid; (B) a compound capable of generating an acid upon irradiation with actinic rays or radiation; (C) a resin having at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom; and (D) a solvent; and a pattern forming method using the positive resist composition.
US08679723B2
A method of manufacturing toner is provided. The method includes preparing a toner constituents liquid by dissolving or dispersing toner constituents in an organic solvent. The toner constituents includes a binder resin and a charge controlling agent. The charge controlling agent includes a polycondensation product of a phenol with an aldehyde. The method further includes forming a liquid column resonance standing wave in the toner constituents liquid in a chamber having at least one nozzle by vibrating the toner constituents liquid. The method further includes forming the toner constituents liquid into liquid droplets by discharging the toner constituents liquid from the nozzle. The nozzle is disposed within an area including antinodes of the liquid column resonance standing wave. The method further includes removing the organic solvent from the liquid droplets to solidify the liquid droplets.
US08679719B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a carrier containing core material particles having magnetism and a coating layer on the surfaces of the core material particles, wherein the core material particles have a magnetization at a magnetic field of 1,000 Oersted of 40 emu/g to 100 emu/g, and the carrier has a weight average particle diameter of 20 μm to 45 μm, a resistance (Log R) of 11 Ω·cm to 17 Ω·cm and a relaxation time τ of 150 seconds to 800 seconds.
US08679716B2
A two-component developer includes a positively chargeable toner and a carrier. The positively chargeable toner is composed of an external additive and toner base particles containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent, and a release agent. The external additive contains at least silica. The silica has an average primary particle diameter (X) of 12 nm or more and 30 nm or less, an average agglomeration ratio (Y2/Y1) between an average agglomeration number (Y1) on a surface of the toner base particles and an average agglomeration number (Y2) on a surface of the carrier is 0.97 or more, and the average agglomeration number (Y2) on a surface of the carrier is 5 or more and 15 or less, is used.
US08679710B2
The present invention provides an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a photosensitive layer that contains at least a charge generating agent, a hole transport agent and a prede mulas (A) and (B). The electrophotographic photoreceptor prevents image defect termined additive. The hole transport agent satisfies the following for from occurring and can meet the demand for higher speed image forming apparatuses, by reducing the adhesion of paper dust and preventing the occurrence of cracks. μ M < 1.2 × 10 - 8 ( A ) μ > 5.0 × 10 - 6 μ : Hole mobility ( cm 2 · V - 1 · second - 1 ) of hole transport agent in the electric field intensity of 3 × 10 5 ( V / cm ) M : Molecular weight of hole transport agent ( B )
US08679709B2
According to the invention, there is provided an electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on a surface of the conductive substrate, an outermost layer of the photosensitive layer containing a crosslinked product composed of a guanamine compound and at least one charge transporting material having at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of —OH, —OCH3, —NH2, —SH, and —COOH.
US08679707B2
A method of fabricating an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) mask is disclosed. The method includes providing a substrate, forming a reflective multilayer (ML) over the substrate, forming a buffer layer over the reflective ML, forming an absorption layer over the buffer layer and forming a capping layer over the absorption layer. The capping layer and the absorption layer are etched to form the EUV mask.
US08679706B2
Techniques are disclosed for enhancing critical dimension (CD) resolution in photomask processing. In some cases, the techniques can be implemented, for instance, to enhance space and line pattern resolution independently on a given phase-shifting photomask (PSM). The disclosed techniques can be implemented, for example, to extend existing photolithography techniques/technologies (e.g., 193 nm photolithography) to additional process nodes. For instance, some embodiments can be used to produce extremely high-resolution photomasks which generate features having sizes in the 10 nm node and beyond. The disclosed techniques can be implemented in the fabrication of a wide range of integrated circuits (ICs) and other devices.
US08679700B2
A method and apparatus for energy conversion cycle based on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) and utilizing CO2 source (referred to as SOFC-CO2-ECC) adopt CO2 as energy sources from waste/stock gas or convert and fix it in the useful compounds. CO2 is converted into CO and O2 via simultaneously catalytic and electrochemical reactions in SOFC for power generation and CO2 cracking. Furthermore, CO is used either as the fuel in SOFC for power generation or starting materials in the chemical reactors to produce CO-derivatives of energy source materials and useful chemical compounds. Hence, SOFC-CO2-ECC is an active or scientific carbon cycle with zero emission of CO2.
US08679693B2
A fuel cell including a stack of electrochemical cells, a pair of end plates located at each end of the stack of cells, and a cooling system for cooling the cells. The cooling system includes a coolant fluid circulating in closed loop through the stack and in the end plates, such that the coolant fluid exchanges heat with the end plates.
US08679692B2
A fuel cell is provided that prevents destabilization of power generation due to heat generated in an electrochemical device portion. In a fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly which performs power generation by chemical reaction, a membrane-electrode assembly is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or two membrane-electrode assemblies are provided adjacent to each other so that the pair is disposed with a space from another membrane-electrode assembly or another pair, and one of the main surfaces of a membrane-electrode assembly is in contact with outside air. Conductive plates are disposed in contact with the membrane-electrode assembly in order to exchange a current generated in the membrane-electrode assembly with the outside, and radiation fins are provided on the conductive plate on the main surface side in contact with outside air so that the conductive plate serves as a radiation member.
US08679689B2
A casing of a fuel cell system is divided into a first fluid supply section, a second fluid supply section, a module section, and an electrical equipment section. A water supply apparatus, a fuel gas supply apparatus, and a detector are provided in the first fluid supply section. An oxygen-containing gas supply apparatus is provided in the second fluid supply section. A fuel cell module and a combustor are provided in the module section. A power converter and a control device are provided in the electrical equipment section. The module section is interposed between the first fluid supply section and the electrical equipment section. The second fluid supply section is disposed on the lower surface of the module section.
US08679686B2
The invention relates to a positive electrode/electrolyte pair for lithium batteries operating at a voltage above 4.2 V versus Li+/Li. The electrolyte of the lithium battery used in the invention includes at least a first additive chosen from optionally substituted, cyclic or acyclic, carboxylic or dicarboxylic anhydrides and carboxylic or dicarboxylic acids, and mixtures thereof, and optionally a second additive which is a lithium salt, the total content of additive(s) being greater than or equal to 0.01% by weight and less than or equal to 30% by weight, relative to the total weight of electrolyte, and the positive electrode is made of a material having a spinel structure. The lithium batteries of the invention are applicable in particular in the field of portable equipment, such as telephones, computers, camcorders, cameras and tooling.
US08679678B2
A current collector for an electrochemical cell includes a member having an outer member and an inner member coupled to the outer member by a plurality of flexible arms configured to allow the inner member to move relative to the outer member.
US08679673B2
Provided are a cap assembly and a can, and a secondary battery. The secondary battery includes a plurality of bare cells, each of which includes a cap-up used as an electrode terminal; and a conductive plate installed on top of the cap-ups and connecting a plurality of adjacent bare cells in series or in parallel, wherein a plurality of embossments are formed on the cap-up, a slit is formed in the conductive plate, and the conductive plate is welded to the embossments. Therefore, since a cap-up may be properly welded to a desired position on a conductive plate, bad welding may be reduced, and welding strength may be improved.
US08679669B2
Disclosed herein is a battery module including a plurality of battery cells mounted in a module case in a stacked state, wherein cooling members are mounted at interfaces between the battery cells, the module case is configured in a structure in which two opposite sides of the module case are open so that corresponding portions of the battery cell stack are exposed outward through the two open opposite sides of the module case, the cooling members are partially exposed outward through the two open opposite sides of the module case, and a coolant flows along the two open opposite sides of the module case while contacting the outwardly exposed portions of the cooling members.
US08679667B2
A prismatic repeating frame assembly for a battery pack includes a main body and a hollow compression limiter. The main body is formed from a first polymer. The main body has an aperture formed therein. The hollow compression limiter is formed from a second polymer. The compression limiter is disposed in the aperture of the main body and permits a compression rod to be disposed therethrough. The second polymer is configured to withstand forces during an assembly of the battery pack and frequency inputs during an operation of the battery pack.
US08679666B1
The battery pack includes a case that contains batteries and includes terminals through which power from the batteries can be accessed. The battery pack also includes a frame that defines battery receiving compartments that are each configured to receive one of the batteries with the frame immobilizing the position of each battery relative to the other batteries. The frame has a perimeter and at a portion of the frame perimeter serves as an outermost wall of the case.
US08679657B2
A battery pack that can prevent an electrical short of a lead tab that electrically connects a battery cell and a protective circuit module. The battery pack includes a plurality of battery cells, a protective circuit module electrically connected to the battery cells, a case including a lower case in which the battery cells and the protective circuit module are mounted, and an upper case coupled to the lower case, a cell tab electrically connected to electrode terminals of the battery cells and extending to the outside of the case, a protective circuit electrically connected to the protective circuit module and extending to the outside of the case, and a connection tab formed at the outside of the case and electrically connecting the cell tab and the protective circuit tab.
US08679656B2
A lubricant containing a compound of the formula (I) wherein n is substantially 2, 3 or 4, R is C1-4 fluoroalkyl and Rf is —CF2O(CF2CF2O)x(CF2O)yCF2— or —CF2CF2O(CF2CF2CF2O)zCF2CF2— in which x, y and z are each 0 or a positive real number to give a number average molecular weight of 500 to 2000 to a fluoropolyether of the formula HOCH2—Rf—CH2OH including said Rf, the fluoropolyether having a molecular weight distribution (PD, weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight) of 1.0 to 1.5.
US08679648B2
A heterocyclic compound represented by Formula 1 below and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) including the same: wherein R1 through R12, Ar1, Ar2, A, B, a, and b are the same as defined above. An OLED including an organic layer including the heterocyclic compound has low driving voltage, high luminous efficiency, and a long lifetime.
US08679645B2
The present invention relates to novel materials which can be used in organic electronic devices, in particular electroluminescent devices, and are certain derivatives of fused aromatic systems.
US08679630B2
A modified porous anodic alumina template (PAA) containing a thin CNT catalyst layer directly embedded into the pore walls. CNT synthesis using the template selectively catalyzes SWNTs and DWNTs from the embedded catalyst layer to the top PAA surface, creating a vertical CNT channel within the pores. Subsequent processing allows for easy contact metallization and adaptable functionalization of the CNTs and template for a myriad of applications.
US08679617B2
Disclosed are infrared reflective coating systems. The coating compositions include an infrared transparent pigment and an infrared reflective pigment.
US08679615B2
A porous ceramic (honeycomb) structure skin coating and a method of producing a porous ceramic structure skin coating which provides a hardshell, strong, acid- and alkali-resistant, chip-resistant ceramic honeycomb structure coating which resists pollution control catalyst from being absorbed into the skin coating.
US08679613B2
This invention relates to the use of an open, plain Leno Aramid fiber weave wrapped around the armor base plate in such a fashion that the wrap on the strike face surface is bonded with a thermoset resin while the continuous fibers around the back are left resin-free and able to distort, allowing localized deformation while keeping the remainder of the “wrap” holding tight. This wrap technique keeps the composite backing tight to the strike surface while allowing all of the benefits of localized fiber movement and tensile failure on the backside of the target. Other high performance fibers, such as fiberglass, also woven in a Leno weave and applied in the same method will yield similar results. This invention also relates to the placement of a “slip layer” between the fiber surface and the polymer coating of an armor system. This layer, consists of Teflon, silicone, or other low friction, bonding resistant materials, and prevents intimate bonding of the polymer coating to the fiber back and allows a low friction slip surface that isolates the polymer from the trauma of fiber deformation and breakage.
US08679612B2
A fabric material for use in craft activities, the fabric material comprising a textile substrate and a pressure sensitive adhesive carried by opposite surfaces of the substrate, whereby upon the application of pressure to one piece of the fabric material against another piece of the fabric material causes the adhesion of the pieces of fabric.
US08679602B2
Ethylene-based polymers and compositions, methods of making the same and articles prepared therefrom
The invention provides an ethylene-based interpolymer comprising the following features: a) density from 0.910 to 0.930 g/cc; b) melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.5 g/10 min; and c) a high density fraction in an ATREF short chain branch distribution (SCBD) curve, eluting above 92° C., of greater than 10 percent to less than 28 percent of the total ATREF SCBD curve area. The invention also provides a composition comprising an ethylene-based interpolymer that comprises the following features: a) a density from 0.919 to 0.928 g/cc; b) a melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.8 g/10 min; and c) a high density fraction in an ATREF short chain branch distribution (SCBD) curve, eluting above 92° C., of greater than 10 percent to less than 28 percent of the total ATREF SCBD curve area. The invention also provides a hollow tube comprising at least one component formed from a composition comprising an ethylene-based interpolymer that comprises the following features: a) a density from 0.919 to 0.928 g/cc; b) a melt index (I2) from 0.1 to 0.8 g/10 min; and c) a high density fraction in an ATREF short chain branch distribution (SCBD) curve, eluting above 92° C., of greater than 10 percent to less than 28 percent of the total ATREF SCBD curve area; and wherein the tube has a hydrostatic design basis (HDB) of at least 1000-psi at 23° C. per ASTM D-2837 regression method.
US08679598B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to composite pillar arrangements for VIG units that include both harder and softer materials. The softer materials are located on the outside or extremities of the central, harder pillar material. In certain example embodiments, a high aspect ratio mineral lamellae is separated by an organic “glue” or polymer. When provided around a high strength pillar, the combination of the pillar and such a nano-composite structure may advantageously result in superior strength compared to a monolithic system, e.g., where significant wind loads, thermal stresses, and/or the like are encountered.
US08679583B2
A method of making an antifouling article includes providing a mold having a mold cavity and a mold surface for defining an article. The method also includes applying a mold release material to the mold surface. The method further includes coating the mold surface with a plurality of metallic powder particles comprising an antifouling agent. Still further, the method includes filling the mold with a curable polymeric material. Yet further, the method includes curing the polymeric material and forming an article having a surface defined by the mold surface, the surface of the article having the plurality of metallic powder particles disposed thereon and comprising an antifouling coating.
US08679576B2
A plating apparatus and method to perform plating in non-through-hole openings or through-hole openings of a printed wiring board having at least either non-through holes or through-holes to form via-hole conductors or through-hole conductors. The plating method contacts a printed wiring board having the non-through holes or through-holes with a plating solution including plating ingredients, and plates metal on a surface of the printed wiring board while making contact with at least a portion of a pliable contact body.
US08679569B2
Disclosed herein are compositions that include a blend of sucrose polyesters, wherein each sucrose polyester includes a sucrose moiety and a plurality of fatty acid ester moieties, wherein a percentage range of the combined fatty acid ester moieties of the sucrose polyesters in the blend have a carbon chain that has trans content.
US08679564B2
Aspects of the present invention are directed to methods for manufacturing shaped, comestible articles. Multiple comestible articles are connected by flash, and stress lines in the flash surround the articles. The comestible articles are subsequently separated from the flash at the stress lines. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to an intermediate comestible product. In certain embodiments, the intermediate comestible product comprises multiple articles, web-like flash connecting the articles, and stress lines formed in the flash and about each article.
US08679562B2
The present invention relates to a system and method of preventing oxygen from contacting coconut water during extraction from a coconut, the method including: penetrating the shell of a coconut with a probe, the probe further having a gas inlet and an egress port, the coconut further including a coconut water; injecting a gas under pressure into the coconut through the gas inlet; and allowing at least the gas pressure to effectuate the coconut water transfer, by way of the egress port, from the coconut to an oxygen free collection vessel. Additional embodiments of the present invention include conveying the coconut to a coconut water extraction point, placing the coconut in a chamber and removing oxygen from around the coconut, macerating the coconut to form a composting material, and processing the coconut from a mobile platform proximate the coconut groves.
US08679559B2
Method of preparing an edible oil, characterized by an increased shelf-life, and edible oil obtainable by such method is provided. A method of preparing an edible oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil, is described, including the operation of introducing a predetermined number of olives having a polyphenolic content ranging between 1000-3000 mg of polyphenols/kg of olives in a predetermined volume of oil. In a preferred embodiment, the olives are preventively treated with an anti-mould agent, and are dehydrated, preferably by thermal treatment in an oven at a temperature ranging between 80° C. and 160° C., so as to achieve the elimination of a water amount ranging between 1% and 30%, preferably between 7% and 15%, more preferably of about 10%. The method of the invention allows obtaining an edible oil, particularly extra virgin olive oil, having an increased polyphenolic content, thereby an increased shelf-life, while maintaining the organoleptic characteristics unaltered.
US08679550B2
Fortified food and dietary supplement products may be administered to produce desirable physiological improvement. In particular, embodiments of the invention relates to the administration of products enhanced with plant products and iridoids. A study was performed to evaluate the iridoid content, as well as the in vitro and in vivo bioactivities, of a beverage containing noni fruit, Cornelian cherries, and olive leaf extract. The major iridoids present were identified as asperulosidic acid, deacetylasperulosidic acid, oleuropein, morroniside, loganic acid, and loganin In the 2,2-Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, remarkably high in vitro antioxidant activity was observed, with an IC50 of 3.8 μL/mL. In vivo bioactivities were evaluated in type 2 diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. In a dose-dependent manner, the composition reduced abnormal weight gain, blood glucose levels, and serum advanced glycation end products (AGEs), as well as improved immunity via increased T cell counts and CD4+/CD8+ ratios.
US08679547B2
Provided is a method that enables a calcium silicate-based material to be produced more efficiently. The method of producing a calcium silicate-based material comprises: (1) a step of obtaining a reaction product by reacting raw materials containing a calcium component, a silicon component and an aluminum component in an aqueous medium; and (2) a step of forming calcium silicate by subjecting the reaction product to hydrothermal treatment.
US08679546B2
The subject of this invention is a controlled release composition for zootechnical use. In particular, the subject of this invention is a composition comprising micro-pellets that are able to release the physiologically active substances they contain in a controlled manner. In addition, this invention refers to a procedure for preparing said composition as well as the use of said composition in the zootechnical sector.
US08679542B2
A nucleic acid cleavage kit is used to cleave a target nucleic acid. The nucleic acid cleavage kit includes a carrier, an oligonucleotide, and a nucleic acid cleavage agent. The oligonucleotide recognizes at least partial sequence of the target nucleic acid. Then, the nucleic acid cleavage agent cleaves the target nucleic acid. A nucleic acid cleavage detection apparatus including the nucleic acid cleaving kit and a gene therapy by administering the nucleic acid cleavage kit are also disclosed.
US08679539B2
A process for preparing the drug-loaded cyanoacrylate nanoparticles is described. The cyanoacrylate nanoparticles which effectively deliver biological and therapeutic agents are synthesized by miniemulsion polymerization with surfactant, pluronic F127 or F68. Before initiation of polymerization, active agents with particularly highly hydrophobicity are dissolved in cyanoacrylate monomer. Compared with the drug-loaded polyalkylcyanoacrylate nanoparticles produced by emulsion polymerization, those produced by miniemulsion polymerization possess higher loading and encapsulation efficiencies. While the content of dissolved agents increases, furthermore, the loading and encapsulation efficiencies increase concurrently.
US08679538B2
Silicon particle nano-clusters formed with crystalline cores and amorphous shells are used for absorbing ultraviolet wavelength radiation. Silicon nano-particles are synthesized by plasma-chemical sputtering of bulk silicon crystal to form particles which are then quenched in an atmosphere of oxygen or oxygen and nitrogen. Analysis of these particles is presented for their scattering and absorption properties for use as ultraviolet protection elements.
US08679535B2
Disclosed are sustained release oral solid dosage forms comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a medicament having a solubility of more than about 10 g/l; a pH modifying agent; and a sustained release matrix comprising a gelling agent, said gelling agent comprising a heteropolysaccharide gum and a homopolysaccharide gum capable of cross-linking said heteropolysaccharide gum when exposed to an environmental fluid, said dosage form providing a sustained release of said medicament after oral administration to human patients.
US08679534B2
Controlled release oral solid dosage form for the reduction of serum cholesterol levels in humans include a drug comprising an alkyl ester of hydroxy substituted naphthalenes (e.g., lovastatin) and a controlled release carrier, such that the dosage form provides a mean time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) of the drug which occurs at about 10 to about 32 hours after oral administration on a once-a-day basis to human patients. The dosage form provides a therapeutically effective reduction in serum cholesterol levels. Methods of reducing serum cholesterol levels in humans are also disclosed.
US08679528B2
The present invention relates to a hemostatic dressing which comprises a plurality of layers that contain resorbable materials and/or coagulation proteins. In particular, the invention includes dressings in which a layer of thrombin is sandwiched between a first and second layer of fibrinogen and wherein the layer of thrombin is not coextensive with the first and/or second layer of fibrinogen. The hemostatic dressings are useful for the treatment of wounded tissue.
US08679514B2
Fungicidal mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) azolopyrimidinylamines of the formula I, in which the substituents are as defined in the description and 2) at least one active compound II selected from the following groups: azoles, strobilurins, carboxamides, heterocylic compounds, carbamates and other active compounds selected from the group consisting of guanidines, antibiotics, sulfur-containing heterocyclyl compounds, organophosphorus compounds, organochlorine compounds, inorganic active compounds, growth retardants and cyflufenamid, cymoxanil, dimethirimol, ethirimol, furalaxyl, metrafenone and spiroxamine; in a synergistically effective amount. Methods for controlling harmful fungi using mixtures of the compound I with active compounds II and the use of the compound I with active compounds II for preparing such mixtures, and also compositions comprising these mixtures.
US08679507B2
A composition of an olfactory stimulus mechanism for stimulating the production of testosterone. A method of increasing the level of testosterone in an individual by smelling the truffle extract, causing androgens in the truffle extract to attach to the olfactory bulb in the individual, and inducing testosterone production. A method of preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease in an individual by the individual smelling the truffle extract, and inducing testosterone production in the individual. A method of treating symptoms of menopause in a woman by the woman smelling the truffle extract, and inducing testosterone production in the woman. A method of treating andropause in a man by a man smelling the truffle extract, and inducing testosterone production in the man.
US08679505B2
An effective Staphylococcus aureus vaccine may require several antigenic components, and so various combinations of S. aureus antigens are identified for use in immunization. These polypeptides may optionally be used in combination with S. aureus saccharides.
US08679499B2
Molecules that interact with the NKT cell antigen receptor and its counterpart antigen presenting molecule, but which inhibit the NKT cell immune function, are administered to a patient. Conditions of particular interest include the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cancer, atherosclerosis, and allergic disease. In some embodiment of the invention, the inhibitory agent is an anergizing glycolipid, for example β-galactosylceramide. Pharmaceutical formulations of such glycolipids are provided, and find use in the treatment of diseases involving undesirable NKT cell activation.
US08679492B2
The present invention relates to humanized antibodies or fragments thereof that bind to human CD19. More specifically, the present invention relates to a humanized antibody or fragment thereof that binds to human CD19 comprising a heavy chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27, and/or a heavy chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, and/or a heavy chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29; and/or comprising a light chain CDR1 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30, and/or a light chain CDR2 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31 and/or a light chain CDR3 comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
US08679487B2
Methods for treating medical conditions induced by interleukin-4 involve administering an IL-4 antagonist to a patient afflicted with such a condition. Suitable IL-4 antagonists include, but are not limited to, IL-4 receptors (such as a soluble human IL-4 receptor), antibodies that bind IL-4, antibodies that bind IL-4R, IL-4 muteins that bind to IL-4R but do not induce a biological response, molecules that inhibit IL-4-induced signal transduction, and other compounds that inhibit a biological effect that results from the binding of IL-4 to a cell surface IL-4R. Particular antibodies provided herein include human monoclonal antibodies generated by procedures involving immunization of transgenic mice. Such human antibodies may be raised against human IL-4 receptor. Certain of the antibodies inhibit both IL-4-induced and IL-13-induced biological activities.
US08679486B2
The present invention provides improved formulations of botulinum toxin that increase delivery of the botulinum toxin to neural and associated tissues and exhibit a higher specific neurotoxicity and higher potency (in LD50 Units) than available formulations of botulinum toxins. These improved formulations enable physicians to treat a wide variety of pathological conditions with a lower toxin load that reduces the risk of inducing an immune response against the toxin and its associated proteins that may ultimately lead to the development of toxin resistance. These benefits are particularly important in the treatment of conditions that require high-dose or chronic administration of botulinum toxin. Additionally, the decreased in LD50 Unit doses of inventive formulations allows for controlled administration limits diffusion. The present invention also provides methods of treating neuromuscular diseases and pain, using low-dose botulinum toxin.
US08679480B2
A method and corresponding pharmaceutical composition to inhibit neuropathic pain by injecting intrathecally into a mammalian subject a neuropathic pain-inhibiting amount of a phosphatase falling within E.C. 3.1.3.x, more specifically a protein phosphatase falling within E.C. 3.1.3.16, and most specifically calcineurin.
US08679479B2
Methods and composition for generation of arginase variants with high serum persistence are provided. For example, in certain aspects methods for purifying pegylated arginase are described. Furthermore, the invention provides stabilized arginase multimers or pharmaceutical composition thereof.
US08679468B2
The present invention provides a deoxidizing multilayered body, which sufficiently suppresses the production of odorous organic components produced with oxidation, and which absorbs oxygen at a fast rate. The present invention is the deoxidizing multilayered body that is constituted by laminating at least an isolation layer (A) that contains a thermoplastic resin, an odor absorption layer (B), which is made from an odor absorbent resin composition (b) that contains an oxidizable thermoplastic resin, a transition metal catalyst, and an odor absorbent, an oxygen absorption layer (C), which is made from an oxygen absorbent resin composition (c) that contains an oxidizable thermoplastic resin and a transition metal catalyst, and an oxygen barrier layer (D), which contains an oxygen barrier substance, in this order.
US08679464B2
A wax-resin composite is made by melting thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin, optionally with an antioxidant. The melted thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin and waxes are blended at a temperature sufficient to melt the waxes. After blending and melting, the blended thermoplastic hydrocarbon resin and waxes are allowed to solidify. Solidification is followed by post-processing the wax-resin composite mixture to form slabs, pastilles, flakes or other forms. A method for producing a wax-resin composite comprises at least partially solvating a thermoplastic resin in a solvent to form a resin-solvent blend. This may be done at a heat of 80-85° C. A composition of molten wax is blended with the resin-solvent blend. The resin-solvent blend and a molten wax are blended to form a wax-resin blend. This is followed by removing the solvent from said wax-resin blend.
US08679462B2
Methods for inhibiting the development of respiratory infections in humans are disclosed. One embodiment of the methods comprises pouring a predetermined amount of an oral rinse, capable of rendering ineffective a pathogen which has recently infected the respiratory tract, into the mouth of the human, agitating the oral rinse with air for a predetermined period in order to generate concentrated vapor of the oral rinse, stopping the agitating a plurality of times during which the head is tilted forward to allow the predetermined amount of an oral rinse to move away from the back of the mouth and throat, then exhaling before inhaling such that the concentrated vapor of the oral rinse is gently forced along with exhaled air from the throat thorough the nasopharynx and the nasal passages of the human, and then inhaling slowly to pass air over the oral rinse in the mouth such that concentrated vapor of the oral rinse is gently forced along with inhaled air through the larynx, over the vocal cords, and through the trachea to the lungs. The method is performed within about one hour after the human experiences the first minor symptom and before the onset of the first major symptom of infection of the respiratory tract.
