US08699415B2

A method and system for connection management in a wireless data network, such as a 1xEV-DO network adds connections to new network sectors upon receipt of a connection request from an active terminal, but removes data connections that the active terminal requests to be dropped only after confirmation from the active terminal that a channel allocation message has been received and applied. The active network maintains an active set of connections that is at least as large as the active set maintained by the active terminal and does not initiate a connection termination if no confirmation of the channel allocation message is received. This allows for a reduction in the number of dropped connections.
US08699413B2

Network servers, systems, and methods are disclosed which relate to providing a plurality of user identities or personas on a single mobile device. The mobile device has a unique address to communicate with entities on the network. The mobile device further has a plurality of telephone numbers associated with it. The usage of each telephone number may be billed to a separate account. Each telephone number further has a plurality of personas associated with it. Each persona has its own visual interface on the mobile device and a corresponding set of rules. The relationship between personas and telephone numbers, and associated rules, are stored on an application server on the network. The application server routes incoming connections to a specific persona on the single mobile device based on the plurality of rules. The rules can be edited by a user of the mobile device via an interface or via another device connected to the network. An SIP stack on the mobile device enables seamless communication with an IP Multimedia Subsystem.
US08699393B2

Systems, methods and wireless devices are provided that utilize a timer to ensure a receiver of a wireless device is on to receive downlink transmissions. In the event the timer runs out without further resource allocation, the mobile device turns its radio off. If a further resource allocation occurs while the timer is running, the timer is restarted.
US08699392B2

A method for conserving the power usage of access points in a WLAN is disclosed. The method includes detecting, by a peripheral access point during periods of low network usage, that a mobile device has entered a wireless network coverage area. The method also includes providing, by the peripheral access point, initial services to the mobile device and monitoring movements of the mobile device in the network coverage area. Upon determining that the mobile device is in a vicinity of a powered-off non-peripheral access point, powering on a first non-peripheral access point which is determined to be closest to the mobile device and a set of first concentric access points to provide a coverage buffer around the first access point and using the first non-peripheral access point and the set of first concentric access points as serving access points for the mobile device.
US08699390B2

The invention relates to a telecommunications chip card for carrying personalization data for connection to at least a mobile telecommunications network, said telecommunications chip card further comprising: means for receiving a dialed telephone number from a first wireless terminal coupled to a first network, wherein said first wireless terminal is adapted for initiating a call between said first wireless terminal and a second wireless terminal, wherein said dialed telephone number belongs to said second wireless terminal; means for obtaining a geographic location of said first wireless terminal; —means for fetching an access point address from a look-up table according to said geographic location, wherein said look-up table is stored in said telecommunications chip card, wherein said access point address belongs to an access point coupled to a second network and within said geographic location, wherein said second network is coupled to said first network; means for initiating a connection with said access point; means for sending said dialed telephone number to said access point for establishing connection through a third network between said first wireless terminal and a second wireless terminal having said dialed telephone number; means for connecting said call between said first and said second wireless terminal.
US08699382B2

One embodiment identifies all one-hop neighbor nodes and two-hop neighbor nodes of a node; determines an active set of one-hop neighbor nodes for the node, comprising: includes in the active set each one-hop neighbor node that is either an edge node or connected with at least one two-hop neighbor node with which no other one-hop neighbor nodes are connected; and if the active set is not yet complete, then: determine all combinations of one-hop neighbor nodes that are not already in the active set; and tests each combination in order of each combination's total-energy value to determine whether a specific combination is able to complete the active set; if no combination is able to complete the active set, then including all one-hop neighbor nodes in the active set; and communicates a message to each one-hop neighbor node in the active set indicating that it is in the active set.
US08699381B2

One of many aspects of the invention relates to an ad hoc network in which inbound messages are communicated from an originating node to a gateway node via a plurality of intermediate nodes. In this respect, a method performed by an intermediate node in communicating the inbound message to the gateway node includes: maintaining a routing table; and using the routing table, selecting a node for use as the next hop by determining whether a maximum number of allowable hops for an inbound message is exceeded by using such node, and comparing a preference of using such node to preferences of using other known nodes by which the maximum number of allowable hops would not be exceeded. Another aspect includes sending a “leave” message when an intermediate node leaves the ad hoc network, whereby the intermediate node is removed from similar routing tables maintained by other intermediate nodes.
US08699378B2

Methods and apparatus for discovering hosts on an Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 (IPv6) network are disclosed. An example implementation includes probing a network to determine an Internet Protocol (IP) version 4 (IPv4) address that is in use on the network; determining a Media Access Control (MAC) address associated with the IPv4 address; determining a local-prefix; determining a first IP version 6 (IPv6) address, the first IPv6 address including the MAC address and the local-prefix; determining a second IPv6 address, the second IPv6 address including the MAC address and the local-prefix and the second IPv6 address being different than the first IPv6 address; probing the network to determine if the first IPv6 address is in use; probing the network to determine if the second IPv6 address is in use; and storing an indication of whether at least one of the first or second IPv6 address is in use.
US08699377B2

The following describes data structures, communication protocol formats and process flows for controlling and facilitating secure communications between the nodes of a mesh network, such as utility meters and gateway nodes comprising a utility network. The enabled processes include association, information exchange, route discovery and maintenance and the like for instituting and maintaining a secure mesh network.
US08699370B2

Multiple packets are received that were transmitted by multiple mobile electronic device sensors located in a predefined area. The packets each include data detected by the sensors of multiple mobile electronic devices. At least a portion of the collected data is stored including multiple unique device identifiers that belong to multiple mobile electronic devices. Responsive to determining that at least two of the unique device identifiers are sequential, a set of values based on the at least two unique devices identifiers are associated as belonging to a same one of the mobile electronic devices.
US08699365B2

A communication device according to the present invention includes a header compressor (121) which measures a time from a start of communications with a communication partner and changes a compression ratio of a header of a packet to a compression ratio lower than a present compression ratio each time that a time represented by a timer value elapses, and a controller (12) which controls the timer value based upon at least one information from among channel quality information of the communication device and channel quality information received from the communication partner.
US08699363B2

The present invention relates to a method and an arrangement for the power management of a digital communication line such as a digital subscriber line DSL. A problem addressed by the invention is that the transitioning of the digital subscriber line from a low transmission power state to a high transmission power state can cause disturbance to adjacent lines. This problem is solved by the current invention by an access node AN that is arranged to step-wise increase the power state until the high transmission power state has been reached. The invention also comprises embodiments of monitoring and detecting traffic events that serve as triggers of the transitioning.
US08699362B2

In cooperative sensing in which a plurality of cognitive radio apparatus collaboratively exchange sensing information on a status of frequency band usage as a secondary system, the sensing information is efficiently exchanged in the secondary system without influencing communication of the primary system. In a radio communication system according to this invention, a first radio communication device includes means for observing a surrounding radio communication environment, means for converting information obtained by the observation into a parameter used for radio communication, and means for performing transmission by using the parameter, and a second radio communication device includes means for receiving a signal transmitted from the first radio communication device and means for extracting, from the received signal, information on the surrounding radio communication environment that is observed on a transmission side.
US08699356B2

A fault injection circuit injects a test signal into a data bus with a normal high logic level and a normal low logic level. The test signal has a greater logic level greater than the normal high logic level of the data bus or a lower logic level lower than the normal low logic level of the data bus. An analog-to-digital converter is coupled to a voltage level detector for sensing an aggregate level of an aggregate signal on the data bus. The aggregate signal is composed of the termination circuit signal and the test signal. A diagnostic tool determines whether a faulty connection between the data bus and a network device exists, where the sensed aggregate level exceeds at least one of the normal high logic level and the normal low logic level.
US08699354B2

The mode of operation in which a port is configured to operate may be selected so that the manner in which the port will interpret a loss of signal on a receive fiber may be specified. In an immediate mode, the port will interpret a loss of signal on a receive fiber as an indication of a fault on the transmit fiber (or interfaces associated with the transmit fiber) and will immediately shut its transmit interface down. In a multiple cycle detection mode, the port will not immediately interpret a loss of signal on a receive fiber as an indication of a fault on the transmit fiber, but rather will begin monitoring the receive fiber to look for a specified loss of signal pattern on the receive fiber. In this mode the port will interpret a repetitive loss of signal on the receive fiber as an indication of a fault on the transmit fiber. By providing a mode selector, the manner in which the ports are configured to operate may be adjusted individually, as a group, or globally.
US08699350B1

Systems and methods for optimizing traffic in a data network are provided. Network traffic may be optimized by associating costs with data links that connect network nodes. The method includes determining a set of lowest cost paths between a source network node and a destination network node. Paths that contain loops may be excluded from the set of lowest cost paths. Exploration of certain paths may also be delayed or prevented entirely.
US08699341B2

This invention aims to avoid and resolve congestions in wireless 4G networks. The method is based on a central self-organizing network (SON) server, which dynamically changes neighbor lists on congested base station and on all base stations in vicinity. The procedure is triggered by measuring relative committed traffic rate and air interface utilization of the base station. When base station enters into congested state, it notifies the SON server. The SON server creates new neighbor lists for all base stations in the vicinity and removes the congested base station from these lists. With new neighbor lists propagated to mobile stations, the latter won't scan and initiate handovers to the congested base station. The SON server additionally creates a new dense neighbor list and changes handover triggers settings of the congested base station. The mobile stations consequently find other handover opportunities and connect to different base stations. As the air interface resources are released, the base station leaves the congested state.
US08699334B2

A method and apparatus for uplink (UL) starvation avoidance includes determining a current buffer status information. The current buffer status information is reported to an evolved Node B (eNB). A grant that includes a determination of a number of tokens a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may accumulate is received from the eNB.
US08699309B2

A recording apparatus includes: a light-emitting/receiving unit which emits a recording beam, an ATS beam, and a position control beam toward an optical disc recording medium via a common object lens; a tracking mechanism which drives the object lens in a tracking direction parallel to a radial direction of the optical disc recording medium; a reference plane-side tracking error signal generation unit which generates a reference plane-side tracking error signal; a reference plane-side tracking servo signal generation unit which generates a reference plane-side tracking servo signal to cancel out a tracking error; a tracking driving unit which drives the tracking mechanism; an ATS-side tracking error signal generation unit which generates an ATS-side tracking error signal; an ATS control signal generation unit which generates an ATS control signal to cancel out a tracking error; and a signal providing unit which provides the ATS control signal to a tracking servo loop.
US08699308B2

Provided are a test method for an information storage medium and a recording and reproducing method using the test method. The test method includes recording a test signal in an optimum power control (OPC) zone formed in either a lead-in area or a lead-out area of the information storage medium, and recording the test signal in a protection zone formed in the other of the lead-in area and the lead-out area.
US08699302B2

An electromagnetic system having a reaction mass with a field winding embedded therein, a base plate having an inner annular surface and an outer annular surface, and an armature winding coupled to at least a portion of the inner annular surface and at least a portion of the outer annular surface of an upper end portion of the base plate. In operation, directing an electric current in at least one of the field winding and the armature winding causes at least one of the base plate and the reaction mass to move relative to each other. The electromagnetic system can be used for seismic exploration and vibroseis applications, among other uses.
US08699289B2

Techniques for reducing disturbance in a semiconductor memory device are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a semiconductor memory device having reduced disturbance. The semiconductor memory device may comprise a plurality of memory cells arranged in arrays of rows and columns. The semiconductor memory device may also comprise a plurality of data sense amplifiers, coupled to the plurality of memory cells, configured to perform one or more operations during an operation/access cycle, wherein the operation/access cycle may comprise an operation segment and a disturbance recovery segment.
US08699284B2

A semiconductor integrated circuit according to one aspect of the present invention may includes a plurality of driving circuits to drive a respective plurality of word lines with either a first voltage supplied from a first power supply or a second voltage supplied from a second power supply in accordance with a control signal, and a plurality of gate transistors in each of which a gate is connected to one of the plurality of word lines, and a connection state between a storage node and a bit line is changed based on the voltage provided to the word line connected to the gate. In the semiconductor integrated circuit, a gate oxide film of each of the plurality of gate transistors is thinner than a gate oxide film of each of transistors constituting the plurality of driving circuits.
US08699283B2

The present invention is a semiconductor device including: a resistor R11 (first resistor part) and an FET 15 (second resistor part) connected in series between a power supply Vcc (first power supply) and ground (second power supply); an output node N11 provided between the resistor R11 and FET 15 and used for outputting a reference voltage; a feedback node N12 provided between the power supply Vcc and the ground; and a voltage control circuit (19) that maintains a voltage of the feedback node N12 at a constant level by using the reference voltage of the output node N11 and the voltage of the feedback node N12. The present invention can provide a semiconductor device having a reference voltage generating circuit capable of generating the reference voltage that does not greatly depend on a power supply voltage and its control method.
US08699273B2

Systems and methods are provided to minimize write disturb conditions in an untargeted memory cell of a non-volatile memory array. Bitline driver circuits are provided to control a ramped voltage applied both to a bitline of a target memory cell and a neighboring bitline of an untargeted memory cell. Various embodiments advantageously maintain the integrity of data stored in the untargeted memory cells by applying a controlled voltage signal to a previously floating bitline of a neighbor cell to reduce a potential difference between the source and drain nodes of the untargeted neighbor memory cell during a write operation at a target memory cell. In another embodiment, an increased source bias voltage is applied on a “source” bitline of the target cell during the ramping of the drain bias voltage and then reduced to a ground or near ground potential during the write operation.
US08699271B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes memory cells, word lines, a driver circuit, and a control circuit. The memory cells are stacked above a semiconductor substrate, and each includes a charge accumulation layer and control gate. The word lines are coupled to the control gates. The driver circuit repeats a programming operation to write data in a memory cell coupled to a selected word line. In the programming operation, a first voltage is applied to the selected word line, a second voltage to a first unselected word line, and a third voltage to a second unselected word line. The control circuit steps up the first voltage and steps down the second voltage in repeating the programming.
US08699266B2

A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced performance for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A voltage baseline of a prior write is identified, and a data write uses the threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding for data being written to the MLC memory responsive to the identified voltage baseline.
US08699262B2

Adverse effects of a parasitic resistance and a parasitic capacitance of a driver circuit to a memory cell causes problems of thermal disturbance to a not-selected cell, unevenness of application voltage, degradation of a memory element in reading. A capacitor (C) is provided above or beneath a memory cell (MC) that includes a memory element to which a current write memory information and a selection element connected to the memory element. A charge stored in this capacitor writes to the memory element.
US08699258B2

Memory devices and methods for operating such devices are described which can effectively program the metal-oxide memory elements in an array, while also avoiding applying unnecessarily high voltage pulses. Programming operations described herein include applying a lower voltage pulse across a metal-oxide memory element to establish a desired resistance state, and only applying a higher voltage pulse when the lower voltage pulse is insufficient to program the memory element. In doing so, issues associated with applying unnecessarily high voltages across the memory element can be avoided.
US08699254B2

In a power inverter, a coolant passage is fixed to a chassis to cool the chassis; the chassis is divided into a first region and a second region by providing the coolant passage in the chassis; a power module is provided in the first region as fixed to the coolant passage; a capacitor module is provided in the second region; and the DC terminal of the capacitor module is directly connected to the DC terminal of the power module.
US08699251B2

A direct current generating, management and distribution system includes a first armature winding, a first active rectifier having a first controller and coupled to the first armature winding, a first direct current bus coupled to the first active rectifier, a second armature winding, a second active rectifier having a second controller and coupled to the second armature winding, a second direct current bus coupled to the second active rectifier, a unit controller coupled to the first and second controllers, a first set of switches coupled to the first direct current bus and to the unit controller, a second set of switches coupled to the second direct current bus and to the unit controller, a third switch coupled to the first direct current bus and to the unit controller and a fourth switch coupled to the second direct current bus and the unit controller.
US08699248B2

A converter circuit and related technique for providing high power density power conversion includes a reconfigurable switched capacitor transformation stage coupled to a magnetic converter (or regulation) stage. The circuits and techniques achieve high performance over a wide input voltage range or a wide output voltage range. The converter can be used, for example, to power logic devices in portable battery operated devices.
US08699247B2

A charge pump system can provide multiple regulated output levels, including several concurrently, in an arrangement that can reduce the area and power consumption of such a high voltage generation system. The charge pump system can be dynamically reconfigurable based on output requirements. When output level is low, but required for a large AC, DC load, the system is configured in parallel to share the load. When a higher output is required, such as for a programming in a non-volatile memory, the system is configured in serial to generate the desired high output level. The exemplary embodiment uses all of the pump units in each operation and, hence, is able to be optimized for smaller pump area and less power consumption, while still delivering the same pump ability as larger, more power consuming arrangements.
US08699237B2

An inverter with soft switching is used for a high step-up ratio and a high conversion efficiency. The inverter includes an isolation voltage-quadrupling DC converter and an AC selecting switch. The isolation voltage-quadrupling DC converter includes an active clamping circuit. By a front-stage converter circuit, a continuous half-sine-wave current is generated. By a rear-stage AC selecting switch, the half-sine-wave current is turned into a sine-wave current. Thus, electricity may be supplied to an AC load or the grid. The circuit is protected by isolating the low-voltage side from the high-voltage side. The conversion efficiency is high. The leakage inductance is low. The switch stress is low. The inverter is durable and reliable. Hence, the inverter is suitable for use in a photovoltaic system to increase the total conversion efficiency.
US08699229B2

A display capable of inhibiting deformation of a component during transport or the like and an electronic unit including the display are provided. A display includes: a main section; and a board-mounting plate disposed on one surface of the main section, and having a board-mounting region on a main surface on a side opposite to a side facing the main section, in which the board-mounting plate includes, at corners at both ends of a side of the mounting region, hook sections allowing corners of a board to be hooked thereto, and the hook sections each are fixed to the main surface on two sides of the corner of the mounting region.
US08699225B2

A liquid cooled power electronics assembly configured to use electrically conductive coolant to cool power electronic devices that uses dielectric plates sealed with a metallic seal around the perimeter of the dielectric plates to form a device assembly, and then forms another metallic seal between the device assembly and a housing. The configuration allows for more direct contact between the electronic device and the coolant, while protecting the electronic device from contact with potentially electrically conductive coolant. Material used to form the dielectric plates and the housing are selected to have similar coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) so that the reliability of the seals is maximized.
US08699223B2

A two-way latch mechanism includes a hook disposed inside a host for engaging with a first hole on a panel and for engaging with a second hole on the panel after the panel rotates relative to the host at 180 degrees. The two-way latch mechanism further includes an actuating component. Two pushing portions are respectively disposed on two sides of the actuating component. One of the pushing portions slides at a first direction for separating the hook from the first hole, and the other slides at the first direction for separating the hook from the second hole. The two-way latch mechanism further includes two elastic components for respectively providing elastic forces on the actuating component, so as to hold the actuating component at a predetermined position stably.
US08699218B2

A portable computer system is disclosed according to the invention. The portable computer system comprises: a multi-functional processing unit with power consumption of no more than approximately 10 watts consisting of a single chip having a plurality of processors thereon, wherein each processor is operable for at least one task selected from a group consisting of computing, graphic processing and audio processing; a mother board to which the multi-functional processing unit is connected; a memory unit connected to the motherboard and in communication with the multi-functional processing unit; and an I/O interface connected to the motherboard and in communication with the multi-functional processing unit, the portable computer system is configured to insert into a interface of a peripheral device to communicate between the portable computer system and the peripheral device.
US08699210B2

A system for cooling a multi-cell power supply, the system including a water pump, a water-to-air heat exchanger in fluid communication with the water pump, and a supply water manifold in fluid connection with the water-to-air-heat exchanger. The system further includes a plurality of power cells in fluid communication with the supply water manifold via one or more water hoses, and a multi-winding device in fluid communication with the plurality of power cells via at least one water-cooled bus, wherein the at least one water cooled bus electrically connects the power cells to secondary windings of the multi-winding device. The water-cooled buses provide both electrical current as well as cooling fluid to each winding of the multi-winding device, thereby eliminating a need for separate cooling and power connections.
US08699209B2

A solar power generation system includes an array of photovoltaic modules, a plurality of positive wire lines leading from the photovoltaic modules, and a junction box including components for receiving the plurality of conductive wire lines from the photovoltaic modules and combining the plurality of conductive wire lines into a smaller number of conductive wire lines leading from the junction box and toward a load. An in-line fuse is connected to each of the positive wire lines leading from the photovoltaic modules. The in-line fuses are positioned proximate but physically outside of the junction box, such that the fuses are accessible without opening the junction box.
US08699205B2

Provided is a package type multi-layer thin film capacitor for large capacitance, including: a ceramic sintered body formed with slots on one side and another side thereof, respectively; a plurality of first internal electrode layers formed within the ceramic sintered body; a plurality of second internal electrode layers formed within the ceramic sintered body to be positioned between the plurality of first internal electrode layers; a pair of first main connection electrode members inserted into the slots to be connected to the first internal electrode layers or the second internal electrode layers, respectively; a pair of first main lead members inserted into the slots and to be connected to the first main connection electrode members, respectively; and a sealing member sealing the ceramic sintered body to partially expose each of the pair of first main lead members.
US08699196B2

A thermal protection method and system of an Integrated Circuit (IC) are provided, which are applicable to a wireless terminal equipment. The method includes: measuring a temperature value of a protection point; comparing the measured temperature value with a thermal protection temperature threshold; and starting a protection measure when the measured temperature value reaches or exceeds the thermal protection temperature threshold and a duration of reaching or exceeding the thermal protection temperature threshold exceeds a preset time.
US08699191B2

A method of controllably disconnecting a utility power service from a load includes generating in a metrology circuit of a meter metering information regarding electrical power provided to the load from the utility power service. The meter includes a service switch having a controller to controllably interrupt a connection between the utility power service and the load. The method also includes connecting an energy storage device to the controller responsive to a service disconnect command. The method further includes connecting at least a portion of the metrology circuit to the energy storage device and disconnecting a meter power supply from the portion of the metrology circuit responsive to a power interruption detection signal.
US08699190B2

The invention relates to a soft-magnetic metal strip for electromechanical components, wherein the soft-magnetic metal strip has a nanocrystalline or amorphous structure. The metal strip has strip thickness to roughness ratios d/Ra of 5≦d/Ra≦25.
US08699183B2

A first trench sidewall has a continuous first taper angle that terminates at a first plane. At least one layer may be deposited that forms a second trench sidewall with a continuous second taper angle that extends a predetermined depth past the first plane and is less than the first taper angle. A write pole may then be formed on the second trench sidewall with the write pole being closer to the first trench sidewall at the predetermined depth than at the first plane.
US08699179B1

A novel disk drive includes an enclosure and a disk rotatably mounted to and within the enclosure. The disk drive enclosure has a fill port opening with an internally threaded section and an internal annular seating surface. A fill port valve is disposed within the fill port opening. The fill port valve includes an externally threaded section that is engaged with the internally threaded section of the fill port opening, an external annular seating surface in contact with and forming a continuous annular seal with the internal annular seating surface of the fill port opening, and a gas flow channel spanning the externally threaded section of the fill port valve. The disk drive may be helium-filled, and may also include a metal foil seal that is externally adhered to the disk drive enclosure and covers the fill port opening and the fill port valve.
US08699177B2

A system for and method of properly positioning a media magazine in a mass data storage library.
US08699175B1

A drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks. A random access write zone is defined on the disk comprising a first plurality of the data tracks, and a circular buffer write zone is defined on the disk comprising a second plurality of the data tracks. Write commands are received comprising logical block addresses (LBAs). First frequency and second frequency write LBAs are identified, where the second frequency is higher than the first frequency. Data associated with the first frequently write LBAs is stored in the circular buffer write zone, and data associated with the second frequency write LBAs is stored in the random access write zone.
US08699169B2

A system and method for monitoring fly height between a magnetic recording medium and a transducing head. In a first exemplary embodiment, magnetic spacing change value is calculated using media noise on the recording medium (instead of prerecorded tones) to provide a broadband frequency distribution that results in improved Wallace equation accuracy. In a second exemplary embodiment, a magnetic spacing change value is acquired by any suitable method but is adjusted as necessary to reflect transducing head wear, thus providing a methodology for calculating changes in fly height by taking into account the signal loss that is attributable to wear. In this way, a basic understanding of the mechanism causing changes in magnetic spacing is achieved.
US08699165B2

A HDD comprising a temperature sensor disposed inside the HDD configured to periodically measure temperature inside of said hard disk drive; a magnetic disk; a read head; a write head; memory for storing RWO data. The RWO data is a function of a distance between the read head and the write head. The HDD also includes a RWO data adjustor configured to adjust the RWO data in response to a change in temperature of the HDD to compensate for a change in the distance between the read head and the write head based on the change in temperature.
US08699159B1

Apparatus and methods for managing data stored in a disk drive having at least one disk including a first zone of tracks for storing data and a second zone of tracks for storing data, with the second zone being adjacent the first zone. It is determined whether a write counter for the first zone exceeds a threshold value. The write counter for the first zone represents a number of times the first zone has been completely written with data. If it is determined that the write counter for the first zone exceeds the threshold value, the disk drive is controlled to rewrite data from at least a portion of the second zone.
US08699154B2

A camera lens assembly is provided, including a holder, a lens module, and a metal frame. The lens module is fixed in the holder by an adhesive and includes a lens, a substrate connected to the lens, and a plurality solder balls disposed on the substrate. The metal frame is disposed around the lens module and fixed to the holder, wherein the metal frame forms an opening with the solder balls exposed thereto, and the lens module and the metal frame form a gap there between.
US08699151B2

An imaging lens includes, sequentially from an object 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; and a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power. The third lens group is configured by a single lens element, and is moved along an optical axis, whereby focusing is performed.
US08699150B1

A wide-angle image capturing lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element and each of the first through fifth lens elements is single and non-cemented. The first lens element with negative refractive power has a concave image-side surface. The second lens element with refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element has negative refractive power, wherein at least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the fourth lens element is aspheric. The fifth lens element with positive refractive power has a convex image-side surface, wherein at least one of an object-side surface and the image-side surface of the fifth lens element is aspheric.
US08699145B2

A zoom lens includes a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, and a fourth lens group. The first lens group includes a first lens that has positive refractive power, a second lens that has negative refractive power, and a prism. The second lens group includes a third lens that has positive refractive power and a fourth lens that has negative refractive power. The third lens group includes a stop, a fifth lens that has positive refractive power, and a sixth lens that has negative refractive power. The fourth lens group includes a seventh lens that has positive refractive power. Upon changing magnification from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first and fourth lens groups are fixed, the second lens group first moves toward an image plane side and then moves toward an object side, and the third lens group linearly moves toward the object side.
US08699144B2

This invention discloses an optical zoom lens assembly, sequentially arranged from an object side to an image side along an optical axis comprising: a first lens-group, a second lens-group and a third lens-group. The first lens-group with negative refractive power comprises at least one positive lens, and at least one negative lens. The second lens-group with positive refractive power comprises at least one positive lens, and at least one negative lens. The third lens-group with a positive refractive power comprises at least one aspheric lens. Therein, refractive indexes of the first lens-group, the second lens-group and the third lens-group are small than 1.69. Therefore, the present invention can reduce manufacturing costs and provide good image quality to be applied to cameras, cell phone cameras and other devices.
US08699141B2

An optical apparatus includes a first membrane, a second membrane and at least one electromagnetically displaceable component. The first membrane includes an optically active area. The first membrane and the second membrane are coupled by a filler material disposed in a reservoir. At least one electromagnetically displaceable component is coupled to the filler material via the second membrane, such that a displacement of the at least one electromagnetically displaceable component is operative to cause a deformation of the optically active area of the first membrane by movement of the filler material.
US08699139B2

A variable-focal-length lens system for projection which achieves focusing by movement of the entire system has a second to a fourth lens group as focal-length-varying lens groups and a first lens group as a distance-compensation lens group. The second to fourth lens groups individually move in the optical axis direction to vary the group-to-group distances so as to vary the focal length of the entire system. During focusing, the first lens group moves in the optical axis direction such that, as the projection distance varies from a remote distance to a close distance, curvature of field varies to the under side.
US08699137B2

A device that provides light beam switching, agile steering of the light beam over a range of angles, and generation of arbitrary wavefront shapes with high spatial and temporal resolution. The agile device can include a volume diffractive structure comprising Bragg planes having one refractive index and the Bragg planes separated by regions containing an active optical medium. Electrodes (which may be the Bragg planes themselves, or may be arrayed adjacent to the active optical medium) are used to control the electric field intensity and direction across the structure, and thereby control the diffraction efficiency of the structure and the local phase delay imposed on a diffracted wavefront. Means are provided for addressing the many thousands of electrodes required for precise and rapid wavefront control. Applications include free-space atmospheric optical communications, near-eye displays, direct-view 3D displays, optical switching, and a host of other applications.
US08699131B2

In a microscope controller by which is performed an operation for controlling an operation of each of a plurality of electric units included in a microscope system, the control unit establishes a plurality of functional areas in the display region of the touch panel as regions for making operable the plurality of electric units. When an input to any of the functional areas is detected, the control unit generates a control instruction signal for controlling an electric unit corresponding to this functional area. The communication control unit transmits the control instruction signal to an external device controlling an operation of a corresponding electric unit. When an input to a predetermined functional area is detected, the control unit then reestablishes a plurality of functional areas within the display region of the touch panel so as to enlarge this functional area or a plurality of specific functional areas including this functional area.
US08699130B2

Microscope, particularly laser scanning microscope, for optical detection of light radiation excited in a specimen, having a detection beam path for detecting spectral components of the light radiation in a plurality of detection channels, wherein the light radiation arrives at a variable longpass filter or shortpass filter from which reflected and/or transmitted components are reflected back with a parallel offset, and the latter arrive at a detector after at least one back-reflection of this kind.
US08699127B2

An optical amplifier of the present invention includes: an optical amplifier circuit that amplifies input signal light and outputs the amplified light as output signal light; a first monitor for monitoring the presence or absence of the input signal light; and a control circuit that, when receiving a shutdown control signal, controls the optical amplifier circuit such that a shutdown control speed for reducing a level of the output signal light to zero differs according to the presence or absence of the input signal light.
US08699118B2

A border structure for viewable area of electronic paper display, including: a planarization layer; a border electrode, made of metal and disposed on the planarization layer; a glue layer, disposed on the border electrode and having on its bottom surface at least one downward extruding portion for enhancing its adhesive strength; and an electrophoretic display layer, disposed on the top surface of the glue layer.
US08699116B2

A microactuator includes a base member, a plate-shaped member which is deflectively deformable, and a driving force applying device. A driving objective is connected to a predetermined portion of a deflectively deformable area of the plate-shaped member. The driving force applying device deflectively deforms the deflectively deformable area to change an inclination of the predetermined portion of the plate-shaped member between a first inclination and a second inclination; and a part of the plate-shaped member or a part of a member fixed to the plate-shaped member is brought into abutment against a member when the inclination is the first inclination, and the part of the plate-shaped member or the part of the member fixed to the plate-shaped member is brought into abutment against the base member when the inclination is the second inclination.
US08699109B2

Parallel coherent light from the laser 210 is irradiated through the light bending device 215 onto the hologram recording medium 220 having a hologram image of a scatter plate recorded, and a hologram reproduction real image 235 of the scatter plate is generated using the parallel light flux LL as illumination light for reproduction. The spatial light modulator 240 composed of a liquid crystal display, etc., is disposed so as to overlap on the position of the hologram reproduction real image 235, thereby obtaining a modulated image on a surface of the reproduction real image 235 of the scatter plate. The modulated image is projected onto the screen 260 by the projection optical system 250. The light bending device 215 is composed of a diffraction grating in which the pitch and direction of the grating lines are changed in terms of time, wherein the irradiation angle of the parallel light flux LL is changed in terms of time, and the illumination light beam scans on the screen 260. The scanning speed is caused to become 200 mm/sec or more, and the distribution angle of incident light θ incident into point Q1 is caused to become 0.4 degrees or more.
US08699101B2

An image reader is provided, which includes a feed tray that has a loading surface and is swingable around a first swing axis parallel to a width direction of a document sheet placed on the feed tray between a first position where the loading surface is directed downward above a housing and a second position where the loading surface is directed upward at an upstream side relative to the housing in the feeding direction, a first opening formed between the housing and the feed tray placed in the second position, the first opening being configured such that an inside of the housing communicates with an outside of the housing therethrough, a second opening formed in a position higher than a power supply unit and lower than the first opening inside the housing, and a communication path through which the first opening communicates with the second opening.
US08699093B2

An image reading apparatus includes a body; a circuit board fixed to the body; a light emitter disposed on a first surface of the circuit board, the light emitter emitting light with which a document is irradiated; a light guide disposed opposite the circuit board with the light emitter therebetween, the light emitted from the light emitter passing through the light guide; an urging unit; a supporting unit fixed to the body; and a pressing unit. The pressing unit includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is pressed in a direction from the light emitter toward the light guide as a result of receiving a force from the urging unit. The second portion presses the light guide against the light emitter as a result of receiving a reaction force from the supporting unit when the first portion is pressed.
US08699087B2

Additional image data of an additional image, which is based on first data and second data concerning security of obtained data, is added to image data that is based on the obtained data, and an image based on the image data to which the additional image data is added is outputted onto a recording medium, for example. Furthermore, when the additional image data is added to image data of the image obtained from the recording medium, the first data and second data are separated from the additional image data, and reference is made to these pieces of data to perform subsequent processing of the image data.
US08699082B2

An apparatus to control a printing density in an image forming device and a method thereof, capable of controlling the printing density of a printed matter according to an amount of pages for a single page and a print rate. The apparatus and method solve a problem wherein the printing density is recognized as being degraded due to an increase of pages for a single paper or a reduced print rate. The printing density is set automatically or manually, and a bias voltage applied to a developing roller is controlled according to set-up information so that the printing density is controlled.
US08699081B2

Methods and systems herein provide for halftoning of Run length (RL) encoded datastreams. In one embodiment, a print controller identifies a packet within a RL encoded datastream. The packing includes a header and a block of continuous tone data. The print controller identifies an array of conversion values for converting RL encoded data to halftone data, and indexes the array using one or more bytes of the block of bitmap data. The print controller then outputs halftone data from the conversion array based on the index to convert the RL encoded continuous tone data of the packet to halftone data for a print engine.
US08699070B2

A recording system has a recording device that records recording data sent from a host computer to a recording medium. The host computer has a division control unit that divides recording data to be recorded into plural blocks of recording data, and a transmission control unit that sequentially transmits the blocks of divided recording data. The recording device has a reception unit that stores the transmitted blocks of recording data to a receive buffer in the order received, and a recording control unit that records the received blocks of recording data to the recording medium. The dividing position where the division control unit divides the recording data to be recorded is a position where white space data is contained in the recording data to be recorded.
US08699066B2

A high-quality image reproducibility is realized by appropriately evaluating a screen processing result and controlling the screen processing. An image processing apparatus includes a first screen processing unit for performing screen processing on input image data using first screen information, an evaluation unit for acquiring an evaluation value of a processing result of the first screen processing unit based on a difference between a low-frequency component of the processing result of the first screen processing unit and a low-frequency component of the input image data, a setting unit for setting screen information acquired by performing calculation using the first screen information and second screen information that is different from the first screen information, according to an evaluation value of a processing result of the first screen processing unit, and a second screen processing unit for performing screen processing on the input image data using the set screen information.
US08699060B2

In the case of transmitting an image data, a controller causes a re-destination storage to store an identification number of a destination. Thereafter, when a user presses a re-destination key long, a display controlling section causes a display device to display a confirmation screen to let the user confirm whether or not to delete the identification number stored as a re-destination. If the user depresses an OK key, a re-destination deleting section deletes the identification number stored in the re-destination storage.
US08699059B2

There is provided a communication apparatus including a communication unit configured to communicate with a control apparatus, which has a recording unit and executes processing in accordance with a command that has been written to the recording unit, an accepting unit configured to accept selection of a command by a user, and a writing unit configured to write the selected command to the recording unit, the communication apparatus comprising: a sensing unit configured to sense connection to the control apparatus via the communication unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether the recording unit has been set to a write inhibit state if the connection has been sensed by the sensing unit; and a notification unit configured to notify the user of the fact that the recording unit has been set to the write inhibit state, if the determination unit determines that the recording unit has been set to the write inhibit state.
US08699055B2

A multifunction image processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a communications module, a scan subsystem, a print subsystem, and a digital signal processor (DSP) block. The communications module is used to communicate with a host computer to send and receive image data files. The scan subsystem is used to scan images. The print subsystem is used to print images. The DSP block includes at least two digital signal processors. The digital signal processors can be programmed to symmetrically multiprocess portions of an image data file to process it more quickly. Alternatively, digital signal processors can be programmed to simultaneously process the image data for the scan subsystem and image data for the print subsystem.
US08699054B2

A multi-media printer renders an image from a submitted print job. A decoding module receives the submitted print job and extracts a print client indicator from the submitted print job. A mapping module includes a plurality of entries, each of the plurality of entries including the print client indicator and a corresponding job settings file. A parameter determination module receives the at least one print client indicator and compares the print client indicator to the plurality of entries in the mapping module to determine if a matching entry corresponds to print client indicator. The parameter determination module determines if the corresponding job settings file in the matching entry includes at least one media selection parameter. The parameter determination module outputs at least one media selection parameter as one of the final media selection parameters if the corresponding job settings file in the matching entry is found in the mapping module and the media selection parameters are defined and operational.
US08699052B2

An image forming apparatus including a web server configured to generate an operation screen and a browser configured to receive the operation screen from the web server and to display the operation screen includes an identification unit configured to identify, if a connection request is given to the web server, a requestor of the connection request, a web server authentication unit configured to perform authentication of a user to use the web server, and a control unit configured to, if the requestor is identified as the browser of the image forming apparatus by the identification unit, control the web server to transmit the operation screen to the browser of the image forming apparatus without the web server authentication unit performing the authentication.
US08699050B2

An image forming device for executing an authentication print job including: a communication interface unit for receiving print data; a job data holding unit for holding job data based on the print data for the authentication print job; a user authentication unit for outputting the result of the user authentication to a control unit; a job execution unit for executing a job based on the job data; a job list generating unit for generating a list of the authentication print jobs; a display unit for displaying the list; and the control unit for, in receiving the result of the user authentication, acquiring a number of the authentication print jobs of the user authenticated by the user authentication, wherein, when the number is greater than or equal to a predetermined number, the control unit causes the job list generating unit to generate the list of the authentication print jobs of the authenticated user, the display unit to display the list, and the job execution unit to execute the authentication print job of the authenticated user.
US08699047B2

An image processing apparatus includes plural page description language processing units and a job management unit. Each of the page description language processing units corresponds to one of different page description languages. The job management unit performs management to select one of the page description language processing units, the selected page description language processing unit serving as a currently processing page description language processing unit, and to cause only the currently processing page description language processing unit to process a print job. Each of the page description language processing units includes a raster image creating unit and a raster image transferring unit. The job management unit includes a first queue, a second queue, a reception-time adding unit, an image-creation-time adding unit, a first instruction unit, a second instruction unit, a third instruction unit, a controller, and a job-being-processed list memory.
US08699043B2

An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a blank document determination section determining whether or not input image data is image data of a blank document, regardless of a process mode set for setting a process with respect to the input image data; a storage device storing the input image data in association with a determination result made by the blank document determination section; and a control section (i) reading out the input image data from the storage device and (ii) excluding the input image data determined as image data of a blank document by the blank document determination section, from images to be displayed by the image display device, when the image display device carries out a preview display of the input image data. This configuration makes it possible to carry out a preview display in which a blank document (blank page document) is skipped, without reading the document again.
US08699042B2

Systems and methods are provided for performing blending operations on color documents described in a PDL in one of at least two modes. In a first mode, a specified colorspace associated with one PDL group is replaced with a second colorspace, wherein the second colorspace is native to a target device. Blending operations can then be performed on the PDL group using the second colorspace. In the second mode, blending operations are performed using the colorspace specified for the PDL group.
US08699039B2

The document generating apparatus is provided with: an acquiring unit that acquires information on a first operation on a display screen and information on a second operation on the display screen, the first operation being for designating a part area of an image as an area to be included in an electronic document, and the second operation being for setting a size of a medium on which the electronic document is printed; an adjusting unit that adjusts the part area of the image designated in the first operation into the medium of which size is set in the second operation; and a generating unit that generates the electronic document based on the image adjusted by the adjusting unit.
US08699036B2

A device for optically scanning and measuring and environment, with a laser scanner, having a base and a measuring head which is rotatable relative to the base, with a light emitter, which emits an emission light beam, a light receiver which receives a reception light beam which is reflected by an object in the environment of the laser scanner or scattered otherwise, and a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines at least the distance to the object, has a manually movable trolley, on which the laser scanner is mounted by means of its base and which can be taken from a resting state to a moving state, wherein the trolley has a path measuring device for measuring its path.
US08699035B2

An inspection apparatus and an inspection method is provided having a wafer chuck stage equipped with one or more wafer chucks; a position measurement unit for measuring the positions of the light emitting devices on each of the expanded wafers loaded respectively on the wafer chucks; a photodetector and at least one probe provided corresponding to each of the expanded wafers; and a control unit provided with means for moving the wafer chuck stage in the X axis and/or Y-axis directions such that the light emitting devices on each of the expanded wafers are sequentially brought under the corresponding probes, means for moving each of the probes to a place corresponding to the electrodes in the light emitting devices, and means for bringing the probes into contact with the corresponding electrodes.
US08699032B2

A surface plasmon resonance sensor includes a substrate, a dielectric film having a nonlinear optical effect on a first surface of the substrate, and a probe fixed to the dielectric film. A plasmon resonance is produced by resonating a surface plasmon generated on the first surface of the substrate with an evanescent wave generated on a second surface of the substrate by incident light radiated to the second surface. The plasmon resonance is detected by measuring a change of a component of light reflected on the second surface of the substrate. The component of the reflected light is caused by the nonlinear optical effect. This surface plasmon resonance sensor has a high measuring sensitivity.
US08699025B2

Disclosed and claimed herein is an apparatus and method for measuring hexavalent chromium in water samples using a colorimetric method. The apparatus includes a means for correcting interference due to sample turbidity.
US08699011B2

A method of absorption spectroscopy to determine a rapidly variable gas parameter. The method includes transmitting light from a synchronization light source to a synchronization detector. The transmitted light is periodically interrupted by a moving mechanical part between the synchronization light source and synchronization detector. The output from the synchronization detector is used to generate a repeating time signal having variable phase delay. This signal is used to control the timing of laser spectroscopy wavelength scans. Multiple spectroscopic scans may be repeated at multiple selected time signal phase delay and the results averaged for each phase. Apparatus for implementing the above methods are also disclosed.
US08699004B2

A device for mounting a grating and a photosensitive material for stereoprojection imaging, includes: an enlarging-printing platform; and an exposure head positioned above the enlarging-printing platform; wherein the enlarging-printing platform is a chamber structure, and has a plurality of suction holes provided on an upper surface thereof and at least one exhaust port provided on a side connected with an exhaust device; the device for mounting the grating and the photosensitive material for stereoprojection imaging further includes a compressing mechanism connected with the upper surface. The device for mounting the grating and the photosensitive material provides a real-time composite device for developing stereopictures. With the mounting device, the grating and photosensitive photographic paper need either being combined beforehand, or being developed with the grating after exposure. Therefore, the drawback of high crimp ratio of the grating, high difficulty of developing, bad stereoimaging effect, and high cost is overcome.
US08698999B2

In EUV lithography apparatuses (10), it is proposed, in order to lengthen the lifetime of contamination-sensitive components, to arrange them in a protection module. The protection module comprises a housing (23-29) having at least one opening (37-47), in which at least one component (13a, 13b, 15, 16, 18, 19) is arranged and at which one or more gas feeds (30-36) are provided in order to introduce a gas flow into the housing (23-29), which emerges through the at least one opening (37-47). In order to effectively prevent contaminating substances from penetrating into the protection module, a light source (48-56) is arranged at the at least one opening (37-47), which light source illuminates the opening (37-47) with one or more wavelengths by which the contaminating substances can be dissociated before they penetrate through the opening (37-47).
US08698998B2

An exposure apparatus EXS forms an immersion area AR2 of a liquid LQ on the side of the image plane of a projection optical system PL and performs exposure of a substrate P via the projection optical system PL and the liquid LQ of the immersion region AR2. The exposure apparatus EXS has an optical cleaning unit (80) which irradiates a predetermined irradiation light Lu, having an optical cleaning effect, onto, for example, the upper surface (31) of the substrate stage PST which makes contact with the liquid LQ for forming the immersion area AR2. Thus, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the exposure accuracy and measurement accuracy due to pollution of the member in contact with the liquid in the immersion region.
US08698996B2

The present disclosure relates to a flexible substrate for a display device including a plastic layer containing a woven glass fiber, a metal film coated on either both side surfaces or one surface of the plastic layer, and an overcoating layer formed on one surface of the metal film wherein the overcoating layer is on the side of the metal film opposite from the plastic layer, and to a display device using the flexible substrate. The flexible substrate is thin, and has small thermal expansion coefficient, excellent flexibility, heat resistance, gas permeability resistance and moisture blocking property. The flexible substrate can be used in various display devices such as a TV, a notebook computer, a cellular phone, or an electronic paper.
US08698991B2

A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) includes; disposing a gate line including a gate electrode on a substrate, disposing a gate insulating layer on the gate line, disposing a data layer including a data line, source electrode and a drain electrode facing the source electrode on the gate insulating layer, disposing a color filter on the gate insulating layer, disposing an overcoat layer on the color filter, disposing a planarization layer on a portion of the overcoat layer corresponding to the gate line, the data line and the drain electrode, and disposing a pixel electrode in contacted with the overcoat layer in a region corresponding to the color filter.
US08698989B2

A viewing angle switchable liquid crystal display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of color sub-pixels and a plurality of viewing angle control (VAC) pixels. The liquid crystal layer includes liquid crystal molecules sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. The liquid crystal molecules of each color sub-pixel include twisted nematic liquid crystal molecules. Each of the color sub-pixels includes a first pixel electrode disposed on an inner surface of the first substrate, and a second pixel electrode disposed on an inner surface of the second substrate. Each of the viewing angle control pixels includes a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the inner surface of the first substrate, and a third electrode disposed on the inner surface of the second substrate.
US08698982B2

A liquid crystal device includes a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged so as to face each other, a liquid crystal layer that is pinched between the first substrate and the second substrate, one pair of polarizers that are arranged on both outer sides of the first substrate and the second substrate, a first optical element having a polarization separation function that is disposed in at least one spot of the first substrate, and a display area that contributes to display. The first optical element is arranged outside the display area.
US08698980B2

A color regulating device for illumination. includes a light-valving structure for adjusting a flux ratio of outgoing light through the light-valving structure to incident light entering the light-valving structure, and a color-adjusting structure having a wavelength-band converting element for changing incident light with a wavelength band into outgoing light with a different wavelength band through the element. The light-valving structure and the color-adjusting structure at least partially overlap on the traveling path of light, forming at least one overlapping structure. Mixing the outgoing lights of the light source passing through light-valving structure, the color-adjusting structure, and the overlapping structure to obtain a different wavelength band (or color temperature) from that of the light source. A color adjusting apparatus for illumination includes the color adjusting device and a color adjusting method.
US08698979B2

A display including an electroluminescent layer, a liquid crystal layer, a barrier layer arranged between the electroluminescent layer and the liquid crystal layer to restrict migration of liquid crystal from the liquid crystal layer to the electroluminescent layer, and a first electrode and a second electrode arranged such that the electroluminescent layer and the liquid crystal layer are disposed between the first and second electrodes and arranged to apply an electric field across both the electroluminescent layer and the liquid crystal layer.
US08698977B2

Provided is a lighting device (3) that includes a light guide plate (10) having a light entry surface (10a) through which the light originating from a light-emitting diode unit (9) enters, and a light-emitting surface (10c) from which the light that has entered through the light entry surface (10a) exits. The light-emitting diode unit (9) has light-emitting elements (26a and 27a) arranged linearly on a base member (28) with a prescribed interval therebetween, and sealing resin elements (26b and 27b) that seal respective light-emitting elements (26a and 27a). The light entry surface (10a) of the light guide plate (10) is shaped so as to engage with the sealing resin elements (26b and 27b).
US08698973B2

A liquid crystal display and a method of disassembling the same are disclosed. The liquid crystal display comprises a plastic frame, an optical film, a LCD panel and a double-sided tape. The plastic frame comprises two inner walls and two loading planes. The two inner walls respectively form a first accommodation space and a second accommodation space in communication mutually. One side of the double-sided tape respectively adheres the optical film, the other inner wall and the two loading planes, and the other side thereof adheres the LCD panel, and the optical film and the LCD panel are together installed in the plastic frame.
US08698967B2

A liquid crystal device as the electro-optic device according to the application example includes a transistor, a pixel electrode which is provided corresponding to the transistor, and a capacitive wiring of which a part is provided so as to face the pixel electrode between an element substrate and the pixel electrode, and configures a retention capacitor through the pixel electrode and a dielectric layer in which the capacitive wiring is formed so as to be embedded in an insulating film which is provided between the element substrate and the pixel electrode, the surface thereof on the pixel electrode side is planarized along with an insulating film.
US08698962B2

A content processing device includes an input section, a memory section, a selection section and an output section. The input section is configured to receive content having a video signal and a plurality of audio signals with different audio types. The memory section is configured to store selection information indicative of a predetermined audio type, and order information indicative of a preset order of a plurality of audio types. The selection section is configured to select one of the audio signals based on the selection information and the order information. The output section is configured to output the video signal and the one of the audio signals that was selected by the selection section.
US08698961B2

A video processor includes a video stream translation module configured to generate a translated luminance value for a pixel of a current frame of a video data stream. The translated luminance value is based on a first luminance value for the pixel and a first translation matrix for the current frame of the video data stream. The video processor includes a filter configured to generate an output luminance value for the pixel based on the translated luminance value and a target translated luminance value for the pixel. The output luminance value may be based on a weighted average of the translated luminance value and the target translated luminance value using a first weighting factor. The video processor may include a first weighting factor generator configured to generate the first weighting factor based on luminance values of the current frame of the video stream.
US08698960B2

A decoder and a method for separating luminance and chrominance information from a target pixel in a composite video signal are provided. The decoder comprises a delay module, a filter module, a weighting factor generator, and a separator. The delay module is configured to delay a plurality of horizontal lines of the composite video signal to output a plurality of pixels including the target pixel. The filter module is coupled to the delay module and configured to filter the composite video signal in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction to generate a plurality of frequency components. The weighting factor generator is configured to generate a first weighting factor of the target pixel according to the horizontal direction and a second weighting factor of the target pixel according to the vertical direction. The separator is configured to separate luminance information from the target pixel in accordance with the frequency components, the first weighting factor, and the second weighting factor.
US08698951B2

Disclosed herein is a camera module including: a lens barrel mounted with a camera lens; a housing including an exposing hole and guide portions formed on the top thereof, the exposing hole being opposite to the camera lens; a printed circuit board fixed to the housing; and an LC lens module including an LC lens and guided to the guide portions of the housing to thereby be coupled to the housing so that the LC lens is positioned on the same axis as the center of the lens.
US08698949B2

There is set forth herein a terminal having an image sensor array and a plurality of operator selectable operating modes. The image sensor array can have an associated light source bank. The operator selectable operating modes can include at least one camera operating mode and at least one flashlight operating mode. In the at least one camera operating mode the image sensor array and light source bank can be controlled for optimization of frame capture. In the at least one flashlight operating mode the image sensor array and the light source bank can be controlled for optimizing illumination of an operators viewing area with reduced average power consumption.
US08698945B2

In automatically focusing on a subject in the field of view of a camera device, the camera device sets a focal length successively at one or more focal positions with an angle of the focus plane tilted so as not to be orthogonal to a normal optical path through the camera device. An image is taken at each of the focal positions. A comparison of data from each image is made so as to determine best focus. This comparison includes comparing data from at least two different locations along the tilted focus plane of at least one of the images.
US08698935B2

An solid state image pickup device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions (PD1, PD2) for generating carriers by photoelectric conversions to accumulate the generated carriers, an amplifying unit for amplifying the carriers, being commonly provided to at least two photoelectric conversion regions, a first and a second transfer units (Tx-MOS1, Tx-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions, respectively, a first and a second carrier accumulating units (Cs1, Cs2) for accumulating the carriers flowing out from the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions through a first and a second fixed potential barriers, respectively, and a third and a fourth transfer units (Cs-MOS1, Cs-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second carrier accumulating units to the amplifying unit, respectively.
US08698931B2

A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes signal processing units having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, a first output unit having a plurality of first output terminals and include first output blocks provided in correspondence with the first output terminals, and a second output unit having one or more second output terminals and include second output blocks provided in correspondence with the second output terminals.
US08698930B2

A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of unit pixels each including a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit, and a pixel output unit shared by the first photoelectric conversion unit and the second photoelectric conversion unit. The first photoelectric conversion unit is configured to be depleted when it is reset, while the second photoelectric conversion unit is configured not to be depleted when it is reset.
US08698929B2

The image sensor includes a plurality of column lines, a plurality of active road circuits and a selection circuit. The plurality of column lines are each connected to a corresponding one of a plurality of pixels. The plurality of active road circuits are each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of column lines. The selection circuit is configured to enable a portion of the plurality of active road circuits based on a plurality of column selection signals.
US08698925B2

An image sensor is disclosed that includes a solid state semiconductor imager having a metallized catch pad, a collimator having a metallized layer that faces a sensor anode, the metallized layer joined with the metallized catch pad to form a metal bond between the solid state semiconductor imager and the collimator. Methods of making the joined solid state semiconductor imager and collimator assembly are also disclosed.
US08698923B2

An image processing device includes a texture direction determining unit that determines a texture direction of an image, a defective pixel detecting unit that calculates a pixel value average for each of pixel groups including a plurality of pixels, and detects a defective pixel position on the basis of difference information of the pixel value average according to an arrangement direction of the pixel groups, and a correction unit that corrects, as a correction target, a pixel value at the defective pixel position detected on the basis of the difference information in the same pixel group arrangement direction as the texture direction determined by the texture direction determining unit.
US08698920B2

An image display apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a face detection section detecting a face image within a photographed image; a classification section classifying the photographed image by a pattern of the face image and a color or a pattern under the face image; and a display control section displaying an image of the same face with the different color or pattern according to the classification by the classification section, and displays images of the same person among the plurality of images classified by the classification section at the same time or sequentially in the display of the display control section.
US08698908B2

A rolling shutter digital camera. Each photographic image of a given exposure duration is captured as a multi-frame burst of frames each having a shorter exposure duration to minimize motion blur and to reduce sensor noise by averaging. Each frame is quantized into swaths, captured sequentially by the rolling shutter. Swaths of the first frames are analyzed to select a set of best motion detection reference regions. Swaths of subsequent frames are analyzed versus only those regions, to reduce required computation, and are re-registered accordingly. Corresponding swaths of each frame are accumulated. The accumulator is normalized to the desired bit depth and written as the final image. Averaging of the multiple frames is improved by re-registering swaths rather than entire frames, because of the time delta caused by the rolling shutter. Computation is further reduced by selecting candidate points only along a key line of each swath of the first frame, and still further by pre-limiting the search by using a thumbnail version of the first frame to cull most candidate points. Thresholds are used to ensure adequate motion detection regions are used for each swath.
US08698907B2

Provided is an image capture apparatus which allows concurrent output of high resolution video images and high resolution still images even if the number of readout pixels is reduced. In the image capture apparatus, a solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels disposed in rows and columns, generates: first pixel mixture signals each obtained by mixing pixel signals for a first region including a predetermined number of the pixels; second pixel mixture signals each obtained by mixing pixel signals for a second region in the first region; and third pixel mixture signals each obtained by mixing pixel signals for a third region in the first region, and outputs, for each first region, one of the first pixel mixture signals, at least one of the second pixel mixture signals, and at least one of the third pixel mixture signals.
US08698904B2

An image capturing apparatus comprises: at least one vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration applied to the image capturing apparatus and outputting a vibration signal; a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the vibration signal output from the vibration detection unit, respective vibration correction signals for a plurality of correction units for performing a plurality of different correction processes, respectively; the correction units configured to correct the vibration based on the respective vibration correction signals calculated by the calculation unit; and a control unit configured to, when stopping the plurality of correction processes based on the vibration correction signals, shift the correction units to initial states serving as states of the correction units obtained when the vibration is not detected, wherein the control unit controls to simultaneously start moving the correction units to the initial states, and simultaneously stop moving the correction units.
US08698900B1

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for concurrently displaying on a display device, a selected main presentation and graphical shapes representative of button presses on a remote control. In one embodiment, the graphical shapes and the selected main presentation are displayed in two separate regions on the display screen. In another embodiment, the graphical shapes are overlaid on the selected main presentation. In yet another embodiment, the graphical shapes and the selected main presentation are displayed in a picture-in-picture format.
US08698898B2

Among other disclosed subject matter, a system includes a first camera generating a live image of a scene, the first camera configured for being placed in a plurality of locations by robotic motion. The system includes a handheld device that includes a display device for continuously presenting the live image, wherein movement of the handheld device causes the handheld device to generate an output that controls the robotic motion.
US08698893B2

A device for monitoring an area of coverage on a work tool may comprise a sensor, a camera, an evaluation unit, and at least one circuit output to activate the work tool only if no object is located in the area of coverage. The sensor may comprise a lighting unit to emit light rays to illuminate the area of coverage and a camera to detect three-dimensional images of the area of coverage, where the camera may include receiving elements in a matrix-type arrangement, the receiving elements to generate output signals. The evaluation unit is adapted to measure the output signals, to determine a distance value for each receiving element based on emitted light rays from the lighting unit traveling to the area of coverage and being reflected back.
US08698890B2

A method for controlling a scanning apparatus for scanning a continuously moved object includes seizing the actual momentary position of the moving object, and controlling the time instant or period in which image information is captured by the scanning devices in dependence of the actual momentary position of the object. The scanning apparatus in which the method is used includes a multiplicity of line scanning devices arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of the movement of the moved object. Each of the line scanning devices has a multiplicity of pixels that are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction across a path along which the object is moved. The pixels of the line scanning devices accumulate charges according to the amount of incident light. A controlling means is provided for transferring the charges accumulated in individual pixels to pixels in the adjacent line scanning device in synchronism with direction of the movement and the speed of the moving object. The object is illuminated or transilluminated by a light source.
US08698888B2

A method, system, and computer-readable medium receive module configuration settings to configure a customized human movement examination module for a human movement examination item. A patient is instructed with audio instructions associated with the customized human movement examination module. A single camera is controlled having progressive scan capabilities according to the module configuration settings to allow recording of a performance by the patient of the human movement examination item. The recorded data is analyzed based on the information provided by the single camera to measure human movement exhibited by the patient.
US08698886B2

An apparatus for estimating a shape of an insertion portion includes an insertion portion, an acceleration calculation unit calculating acceleration at measurement points, and a determination unit which determines whether the measurement points move. The apparatus further includes an attitude information calculation unit calculating attitude information of the measurement points in a resting state, an attitude estimation unit estimating a movement period attitude, a movement vector calculation unit calculating a movement vector of the measurement points, and a position calculation unit calculating a position of the measurement points. The apparatus further includes an image generation unit generating a display image expressing the position and the movement vector.
US08698884B2

A light source apparatus includes: a first light source unit including a plurality of light sources arranged therein, the plurality of light sources each emitting illuminating light in a first wavelength band; a second light source unit including a plurality of light sources arranged therein, the plurality of light sources each emitting illuminating light in a second wavelength band; an in-light source light guiding channel that guides the light emitted from the first light source unit and the light emitted from the second light source unit to a proximal end-side input end of a light guiding channel in an endoscope; and a light source control section that, based on endoscope information from an endoscope information storing section, divides the plurality of light sources in the first light source unit into a first light source group, light from which enters a vicinity of an optical axis of the proximal end-side input end of the light guiding channel in the endoscope, and a second light source group in a periphery of the first light source group, and divides the plurality of light sources in the second light source unit into a third light source group, light from which enters the vicinity of the optical axis of the proximal end-side input end of the light guiding channel in the endoscope, and a fourth light source group in a periphery of the third light source group, and performs control to decrease an output of the second light source group to be lower than an output of the first light source group and decrease an output of the fourth light source group to be lower than an output of the third light source group.
US08698876B2

An embodiment of the present invention may include an apparatus that captures 3D images having a lens barrel. The lens barrel may include a lens disposed at the first end of the lens barrel, an image capture element at the second end of the lens barrel, and a pair of refracting lenses positioned along the optical axis of the lens barrel. The first and second refracting lenses may be mounted to a first set and second set of positioning elements. The image capture element may capture images continuously at a predetermined frame rate, and the first and second set of positioning elements may continuously change the position of the first and second refracting lenses among a series of predetermined correlated positions based on the predetermined frame rate.
US08698863B2

Laser-markable compositions and methods for providing an image on a substrate are provided. A laser-markable composition can include a pigment, a solvent, and a conductive polymer that absorbs IR radiation. This can be used to mark a substrate, using a low-energy laser. Irradiation can be by means of a near-IR laser source, and the conductive polymer can absorb radiation and transfer heat to the pigment.
US08698845B2

A method of operating a multifunction device includes: displaying a respective view of a first application on the touch screen display, detecting a first touch gesture within the respective view, and in response to detecting the first touch gesture, displaying a popup view of the first application partially covering the respective view of the first application. The popup view corresponds to a full-screen-width view in a corresponding first application on a second multifunction device having a touch screen display with lower resolution than the touch screen display of the first multifunction device. The method further includes: detecting one or more second touch gestures within the popup view, and in response to detecting the one or more second touch gestures within the popup view, performing an action in the first application that updates a state of the first application.
US08698819B1

Embodiments for programming a graphics pipeline, and modules within the graphics pipeline, are detailed herein. One embodiment described a method of implementing software assisted shader merging for a graphics pipeline. The method involves accessing a first shader program in memory, and generating a first shader instruction from that program. This first instruction is loaded into an instruction table at a first location, indicated by an offset register. A second shader program in memory is then accessed, and used to generate a second shader instruction. The second shader instruction is loaded into the instruction table at a second location indicated by the offset register.
US08698818B2

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for optimizing emulated fixed-function and programmable graphics operations are provided. Data comprising fixed function and programmable states for an image or scenario to be rendered is received. The data for the image is translated into operations. One or more optimizations are applied to the operations. The optimized operations are implemented to render the scenario.
US08698816B2

Multiple graphics processors in a graphics processing system are interconnected in a unidirectional or bidirectional ring topology, allowing pixels to transferred from any one graphics processor to any other graphics processor. The system can automatically identify one or more “master” graphics processors to which one or more monitors are connected and configures the links of the ring such that one or more other graphics processors can deliver pixels to the master graphics processor, facilitating distributed rendering operations. The system can also automatically detect the connections or lack thereof between the graphics processors.
US08698806B2

A method and a system are provided for performing volume rendering a 3D array of image data to produce images with an increased spatial information and thus increase the usefulness of the generated images.
US08698802B2

One embodiment of the present invention sets forth technique for watertight tessellation in a displaced subdivision surface. A subdivision surface is represented as a novel parametric quad patch that is continuous with respect to position (C0) and partial derivatives (C1) along boundaries as well as interior regions. The novel parametric quad patch is referred to herein as a Hermite Gregory patch and comprises a Hermite patch augmented to include a pair of twist vector parameters per vertex. Each pair of twist vectors is combined into one twist vector during evaluation, according to weights based on proximity to parametric boundaries. Evaluation yields an approximation mesh comprising a position for each vertex and a corresponding normal vector for the vertex. Displacement is performed based on the approximation mesh and a displacement map to generate a displaced approximation mesh that is reflective of the displaced subdivision surface.
US08698801B2

A method of constructing an enveloping mesh geometry (EMG) for a plurality of sample mesh geometries (MG). The enveloping mesh geometry is a geometric representation of the mean of the probability distribution underlying the sample space from which the enveloping mesh geometry (MG) have been drawn. The method is based on estimating probability densities fj using the kernel density method. The method further comprises constructing, based on the enveloping mesh geometry (EMG) so constructed, further enveloping mesh geometries (EMG-α) related to the α-Quantiles of the probability distribution. The enveloping mesh geometries (EMG, MG-α) are suitable for development and test procedures in aircraft and automotive manufacturing processes.
US08698797B2

A method and a device for generating a multi-views three-dimensional (3D) stereoscopic image are based on displaying positions of target image elements of each view image of a multi-views 3D stereoscopic image in a 3D stereo display. Source image elements suitable to be displayed at each displaying position are obtained from a 2D-depth mixed image formed by combining a source 2D image and a corresponding depth map through an inverse view image searching manner, thereby generating a multi-views 3D stereoscopic image from the set target image elements for being displayed in the 3D stereo display.
US08698796B2

In an image processing apparatus, a feature point acquirer acquires feature points, which are characteristic points on a face in an image presenting a face. A supplementary feature point calculator calculates supplementary feature points on the basis of the feature points acquired by the feature point acquirer. An image transform unit utilizes the feature points and the supplementary feature points to transform the image so as to match the structure of a face in a projected image that depicts the surface of a given three-dimensional face shape projected onto a flat plane.
US08698794B2

In a virtual three-dimensional space, an overhead image of a region in the virtual three-dimensional space is shot by a virtual camera provided in the virtual three-dimensional space. Next, it is determined whether or not the information about a color included in the shot overhead image satisfies a predetermined condition. Image data of the overhead image which it is determined in the result of the determination does not satisfy the predetermined condition is accumulated in a predetermined storage medium, thereby generating resource data. The above processing is repeated until all overhead images corresponding to a predetermined region in the virtual three-dimensional space are shot.
US08698781B2

An optical touch device includes a transparent substrate and at least a light emitting and receiving unit. The transparent substrate has a touch surface, a first light incidence surface and a first light emitting surface. Each light emitting and receiving unit includes a linear light source, a light path adjusting component and a light sensing component. The linear light source is disposed beside the first light incidence surface. The light path adjusting component is disposed between the linear light source and the first light incidence surface and configured for adjusting the incidence angles of the optical signals striking at the first incidence surface so that each of the optical signals enters into the transparent substrate through the first incidence surface with a predetermined angle. The light sensing component is disposed beside the first light emitting surface. The optical touch device has a high light utility efficiency.
US08698774B2

Provided is a capacitance coupling type on-screen input image display device that enables multipoint detection in a short period of time. The on-screen input image display device includes: a detection circuit (4) for detecting a change in capacitance between the plurality of X coordinate electrodes and the plurality of Y coordinate electrodes of the touch sensor (3); a touch panel control circuit (6) for determining a touched coordinate point; and a main control circuit (7) for receiving touch coordinate data from the touch panel control circuit (6). The main control circuit (7) judges occurrence of a user's touch and coordinates of the occurrence from the touch coordinate data, and supplies a display signal corresponding to the judged coordinates to the display device (1) via the display control circuit (2), whereby the display signal is reflected on the display.
US08698772B2

In one example, a method includes outputting, at a first location of a presence-sensitive display of a computing device, a first graphical object and receiving an indication of a first touch gesture detected at a second location of the presence-sensitive display. The method may further include, in response to receiving the indication of the first touch gesture, outputting, at the second location, a second graphical object and receiving an indication of a second touch gesture originating within a predetermined distance of the second location and moving towards the first location. The method may further include outputting movement of the second graphical object into contact with the first graphical object. The method may also include, in response to outputting movement of the second graphical object into contact with the first graphical object, outputting at a third location, the first graphical object that is a determined distance away from the first location.
US08698757B2

The present invention is a calibration program executed by a computer of an information processing apparatus which is capable of utilizing designation detection means for detecting a position designation by a user. The calibration program causes the computer to function as designation image display means and calibration means. The designation image display means displays a predetermined designation image indicating a designation reference position which is a predetermined position on display means. The calibration means receives, while the designation image is displayed, a designation by the user using the designation detection means, sets a designated position at which continuous designation by the user has ended as a fixed position, and executes calibration processing in accordance with the fixed position and the designation reference position.
US08698754B2

A keypad for an electronic device and manufacturing method thereof having at least one or more ink layers which selectively let pass or cut off a light wavelength of at least one or more light emitting diodes generating light in accordance with an opened or closed direction of a folder. At least one or more light emitting elements for generating light in various colors are provided, and a diffusion ink layer is arranged above the light emitting elements. At least one or more ink layers provided on the diffusion ink layer, wherein the ink layers selectively let passes or cut-off light wavelengths of the light emitting elements when the folder is rotated or slid in a longitudinal or perpendicular direction. A transparent or semi-transparent ink layer is provided on the ink layers, and a sheet film layer is provided on the transparent or semi-transparent ink layer.
US08698752B2

A system and method are used to provide a user control interface for controlling multiple device functionality. The system comprises a support structure, control regions, depressible interaction devices, and a controller. The control regions are formed on the support structure. Each of the control regions comprises one or more light emitting panels. The depressible interaction devices cover respective ones of the control regions. The controller is coupled to the control regions and controls which portion of the one or more light emitting panels is output from respective ones of the interaction devices based on one or more modes of operation of the user control interface.
US08698745B2

A control device controls the functionality of two or more sets of control elements. A processing unit of the control device determines that it is oriented in a first zone or in a second zone based on input received from a magnetometer. The first and second zones are defined with respect to a magnetic reference point and are oriented relative to a controlled device or an electronic device. If the processing unit determines that the control device is oriented in the first zone, the processing unit configures a first functionality for the first set of control elements. If the control device's orientation changes from being oriented in the first zone to being oriented in the second zone, the processing unit configures the first set of control elements with a second functionality.
US08698744B2

Methods and apparatuses for operating a portable device based on an accelerometer are described. According to one embodiment of the invention, a movement of a portable device is detected using an accelerometer attached to the portable device. An orientation of the portable device after the movement is determined based on movement data provided by the accelerometer. It is determined whether the portable device is held by a user after the movement based on the movement data provided by the accelerometer. Locations of the hands of the user for holding the portable device are determined based on the orientation of the portable device. At least one interface that is not within the predicted locations of the hands of the user is activated.
US08698739B2

An input apparatus includes a command input unit to input a command, a key input unit having at least one key, a navigation key input unit having a rotatable navigation key, and a display panel unit to perform displaying according to manipulation of the command input unit, the key input unit, and the navigation key. In the input apparatus, the command input unit, the key input unit, the navigation key input unit, and the display panel unit are arranged in sequence according to a task flow, so a user-friendly input apparatus can be implemented.
US08698734B2

An electrophoretic display device is provided with a first substrate, a second substrate, an electrophoretic layer which is arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate and has at least a dispersion medium and particles mixed in the dispersion medium, a first electrode which is formed in an island shape on the electrophoretic layer side of the first substrate for each pixel, and a second electrode which is formed on the electrophoretic layer side of the second substrate with an area wider than the first electrode, where gradation is controlled using an area of the particles which are visually recognized when the electrophoretic layer is viewed from the second electrode side.
US08698724B2

In one embodiment, a liquid crystal display device is disclosed in which a gate driver applies a gate-on pulse so that a second period is longer than a first period. Among gate-on pulses applied before the moment of polarity inversion of a data signal, the last end of the gate-on pulse nearest to the moment of the polarity inversion is earlier than the end time of the horizontal period during which the gate-on pulse is applied. The first period starts at the last end of the gate-on pulse and ends at the end time of the horizontal period during which the gate-on pulse is applied. The second period starts at the moment of the polarity inversion and ends at the moment of the application start of the gate-on pulse nearest to the moment of the polarity inversion among the gate-on pulses applied after the polarity inversion.
US08698713B2

Fluorescent screens and display systems and devices based on such screens using at least one excitation optical beam to excite one or more fluorescent materials on a screen which emit light to form images. The fluorescent materials may include phosphor materials and non-phosphor materials such as quantum dots. A screen may include a multi-layer dichroic layer.
US08698712B2

A pixel structure of active matrix organic electroluminescent display panel includes a first light emitting device, a first driving switching device electrically connected to the first light emitting device for driving the first light emitting device, a second light emitting device, a second driving switching device electrically connected to the second light emitting device for driving the second light emitting device, and at least one addressing switching device electrically connected to at least one of the first driving switching device and the second driving switching device.
US08698688B2

An antenna with an improved holed system ground plane comprises a substrate, a radiation conductor member, a grounding member and a system ground plane. The radiation conductor member is arranged on the surface of the substrate. The grounding member is arranged on one edge of the substrate. The radiation conductor member is connected with the grounding member. The system ground plane is connected with one side of the grounding member. The system ground plane has at least one arbitrary-shaped hole. A radiation-enhancing filler is disposed in the arbitrary-shaped hole. The present invention solves the conventional problems that the system ground plane is drilled or cut to accommodate components and IC chips, keep away from wiring routes and avoid protrusions on the appearance, via disposing radiation-enhancing fillers in the arbitrary-shaped holes. Thereby is kept integrality of the system ground plane and promoted omnidirectionality of signal transmission.
US08698677B2

A mobile wireless terminal includes a housing, a cover removably attached to the housing, and an antenna device disposed inside the housing. The antenna device includes a first antenna element that is disposed inside the housing and serves as a feed element, a plate that provides a ground plane for the first antenna element, and a second antenna element that is formed on one surface of the cover so as to face the first antenna element with the cover being attached to the housing and capacitively couple to the first antenna element and that serves as a parasitic element.
US08698673B2

A multiband antenna includes a ground plane, a dielectric substrate and a radiating metal portion. The dielectric substrate is located at one side edge of the ground plane. The radiating metal portion is disposed on one surface of the dielectric substrate and includes a first metal portion and a second metal portion. The first metal portion is substantially of an L-shape. One end of the first metal portion is adjacent to the side edge of the ground plane and is the antenna's feeding point connected to a signal source, and the other end of the first metal portion is an open end. The second metal portion comprises a U-shape portion. The second metal portion includes a first open end and a second open end, which are respectively located on two opposite sides of the open end of the first metal portion. The first open end has a first coupling gap between the first open end and the open end of the first metal portion, and the second open end has a second coupling gap between the second open end and the open end of the first metal portion. The second metal portion is further short-circuited to the ground plane by a shorting metal line.
US08698657B2

The present invention relates to data compression using compression dictionary. A compression method according to the invention comprises obtaining an initial compression dictionary and a separate secondary dictionary SD; determining at least one subpart of the secondary dictionary that correlates with a block of data DB to compress; updating the initial compression dictionary by inserting the determined at least one subpart therein, to obtain an updated compression dictionary used for compressing the block of data; and compressing the block of data using one or more references to entries of the obtained updated compression dictionary.
US08698645B2

A method for event sensing employs an event sensor comprising a detector and circuitry, connected thereto, produced by printed electronics processes. Operation may rely on fixed characteristic devices, such as a series resistive chain, or variable characteristic devices such as thin film transistors (TFTs) and the like. A pulse is input to the printed electronic circuitry. The printed electronic circuitry divides the pulse across the various devices comprising the circuitry according to pulse amplitude and pulse width. The circuitry provides an output signal which is provided to a plurality of display elements capable of indicating the division performed at the printed electronic circuitry. In one embodiment, each display element is an electrophoretic display which changes contrast as a function of the applied voltage. Not only the pulse amplitude and pulse width, but the number of pulses applied to the printed circuitry (i.e., sensed by the detector) may be indicated.
US08698644B2

The present invention is a sample processing apparatus including: a sample processing unit configured to process a sample contained in a sample container; one or more detectors located to detect the sample container both before and after the sample contained therein is processed by the sample processing unit; and a controller configured to perform an operation to alert a user if the one or more detectors fail to detect the sample container after the sample processing unit processed the sample in the sample container.
US08698630B2

An RFID remote antenna security system for preventing unauthorized reading of RFID cards. The RFID remote antenna security system generally includes a remote unit that is attached to or near a conventional RFID reader. The remote unit includes at least one remote contact in communication with a remote antenna. A carrier member is provided that includes at least one contact and an RFID chip that is in communication with the at least one contact. When the contact of the carrier member is physically connected to the remote contact of the remote unit, the radio waves received by the remote antenna are communicated to the RFID chip and the RFID chip transmits radio waves including data from the remote antenna for reading by the RFID reader.
US08698623B1

The child monitor device provides a caregiver monitor for communication with a plurality of bracelets, each lockable, flexible and softly covered bracelet typically for a child to wear. Bracelet locks are provided as purely mechanical and also in electronic locking. Locks used further include a lock sleeve to cover the lock. Each bracelet includes audio alarm. Each bracelet provides for GPS and a USB port for communication with other devices and even for charging the battery pack. The caregiver monitor provides a touchscreen that further comprises fingerprint recognition so that only those approved in advance by the caregiver monitor are allowed device control. The touchscreen further provides GPS mapping and function controls such as alarm distances between the monitor and the bracelets and alarm controls.
US08698604B2

An RFID reader control system and method is provided. A protocol for controlling an RFID reader and an RFID reader control unit of a mobile phone is defined. Messages, information, commands, responses, and notification are constructed and transmitted between the RFID reader and the RFID reader control unit.
US08698601B2

A method for card-reading anti-collision with automatic frequency hopping is provided, which is used for a system in which a card reader simultaneously reads a plurality of cards in radio frequency identification technologies. The method comprises: both the card reader and the cards to be read are configured to have an automatic frequency-sweep function and a function of hopping from a current channel to another channel, and to store access addresses and transaction addresses; when the card reader is in a frequency-hopping card-seeking state, it is in an n-channel frequency-hopping working state, in which, the access address of each channel is the same, and the card reader reads the cards by means of hopping frequencies in a sequence iteratively through n channels. When the card reader detects that two or more cards collide, the card reader sends a command of random frequency hopping, making all the conflicting cards to hop to other channels randomly and to wait to access those channels. The beneficial effects of said method includes: it can quickly realize a card-reading anti-collision mechanism and improve the card-reading speed.
US08698598B2

A method for verifying a location of a user of a mobile device is disclosed. The method involves: receiving an indicia of a location of the mobile device based on an at-location element proximate to the mobile device; receiving a global positioning system (GPS) position associated with the mobile device; determining whether at least one security condition is satisfied based on the indicia of the location and the GPS position; and causing a next action to occur when the at least one security condition is satisfied, or not causing the next action to occur when the at least one security condition is not satisfied.
US08698595B2

A system and method for using an RFID read/write device to secure an RFID operable instrument or an RF communication is provided. The invention includes security databases in communication with a processor for storing and communicating security protocols to the RFID read/write device. The invention includes a method for restricting the unauthorized use of an RFID read/write device. The invention includes a subscription service for communicating user credentials to a certificate authority to obtain a counter security protocol. The invention also includes decrypting information stored on an RF operable device or transmitted via radio-frequency using counter security protocols.
US08698593B2

There is provided a chip resistor including a ceramic substrate; a first resistance layer formed on the ceramic substrate and including a first conductive metal and a first glass; and a second resistance layer formed on the first resistance layer, including a second conductive metal and a second glass, and having a smaller content of glass than the first resistance layer, thereby obtaining relatively low resistance and a relatively small temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).
US08698591B2

A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
US08698590B2

A multi-layer, multi-turn structure for an inductor having a plurality of conductor layers separated by layers of insulator is described. The inductor further comprises a connector electrically connected between the conductor layers. The structure of the inductor may comprise a cavity therewithin. The structure of the inductor constructed such that electrical resistance is reduced therewithin, thus increasing the efficiency of the inductor. The inductor is particularly useful at operating within the radio frequency range and greater.
US08698582B2

A relay includes two stators and a movable element. Each stator has a fixed contact and includes an excitation portion that has a winding shape and generates a magnetic field. The movable element has movable contacts. In a magnetic flux of the magnetic field generated by the excitation portion, a movable element passing magnetic flux that passes through the movable element is orthogonal to a direction of current flowing in the movable element and a moving direction of the movable element. A Lorentz force that is generated by the movable element passing magnetic flux and the current flowing in the movable element acts in a direction for bringing the movable contacts into contact with the fixed contacts.
US08698580B2

A surface acoustic wave device includes first interconnections and second interconnections connected to a potential different from a potential connected to the first interconnections that are arranged on a piezoelectric substrate. The first interconnections three-dimensionally intersect with the second interconnections with insulating layers made of a thermosetting resin, disposed therebetween. Interdigital electrodes defining IDTs are films which have six-fold rotational symmetric spots appearing in an XRD pole figure and which are defined by Al films or Al—Cu alloy films containing Cu in an amount not greater than the solubility limit at about 25° C.
US08698577B2

An apparatus comprising a first power combiner/divider network and a second power combiner/divider network. The first power combiner/divider network splits a first electromagnetic signal into split signals that are connectable to signal processor(s). The second power combiner/divider network combines processed signals into a second electromagnetic signal. The apparatus includes a three-dimensional coaxial microstructure.
US08698576B2

An exemplary communication device includes a combiner having a first transmission line configured to be coupled with a first communication component. A second transmission line is configured to be coupled with a second communication component. A third transmission line is coupled with the first and second transmission lines. An isolation module is coupled with the first and second transmission lines. The isolation module has a resistance, a capacitance and an inductance configured to isolate the first communication component from the second communication component if one of the components is inoperative. The isolation module components are also configured to provide RF matching for the first and second transmission lines if one of the components is inoperative.
US08698572B2

A tunable delay line is calibrated to maintain the delay of the delay line at a desired value or within a desired range of values. In some aspects a signal is passed through a delay line multiple times so that the cumulative delay of the signal through the delay line (e.g., as indicated by a count) may be calculated over a period of time. The count is compared with an expected count and, based on this comparison, the delay of the delay line is adjusted as necessary. In some aspects the signal may comprise a digital signal. In some aspects a delay through a delay line may be calculated based on analysis of amplitude changes in a signal caused by a phase shift imparted on the signal by the delay line. In some aspects a delay line is incorporated into a transmitted reference system to generate and/or process transmitted reference signals.
US08698567B2

In a phase-locked loop (PLL) calibration system and method, the PLL input reference clock is phase-modulated, the resulting PLL output modulation is measured, and PLL calibration signals, such as a PLL proportional path adjustment signal and a PLL integral path adjustment signal, are derived from the measured PLL output modulation.
US08698549B2

A power device possesses a built-in fuse function and can continue to normally operate after a short circuit failure. The power device includes a plurality of output cells, a plurality of bonding wires provided corresponding to the output cells, and a control terminal driving circuit. Each of the output cells includes an output transistor. First side electrodes of the output transistors are commonly coupled to a first power source. Each of second side electrodes of the output transistors is coupled to an output terminal through the corresponding bonding wire. The control terminal driving circuit supplies a drive signal to the control terminals of the individual output transistors to control the output transistors. Each of the bonding wires is designed to be fused and cut if the output transistor included in the corresponding output cell fails and is shorted.
US08698539B1

A clock generation circuit in an IC is provided for mitigating signal interferences caused by an aggressor block operable on a first clock signal with a frequency range of a victim block. The clock generation circuit includes a gating circuit configured to perform gating of a second clock signal to generate a third clock signal based on control signal. An average frequency of the third clock signal is substantially matched to a frequency of the first clock signal, and harmonics of the third clock signal do not interfere with the frequency range of the victim block. The clock generation circuit further includes a FIFO buffer circuit configured to receive the first clock signal as a write clock and the third clock signal as read clock, and a control circuit for generating the control signal based on an occupancy level of FIFO buffer circuit and a plurality of random numbers.
US08698530B2

Method of synchronizing clocks between a first reference clock and a second clock to be slaved on the frequency of the reference clock, the two sharing a common clock, this method comprising the following steps: calculation of the integer part of the timestamp using the reference clock and the common clock; generation of a system clock local to the reference clock; calculation of the phase shift between the system clock signal and the reference clock signal; calculation of the phase shift between the system clock signal and the common clock signal; calculation of the decimal part of the timestamp; sending of the decimal timestamp to the second clock; slaving of the second clock using the common clock and the timestamp received.
US08698520B2

This document discusses, among other things, output slew rate control. Methods and structures are described to provide slew rate control of an output driver circuit such as a DRAM output driver on a die. A selectable combination of series coupled transistors are configured as a parallel array of complementary inverter pairs to provide a divided voltage to a calibrator. The calibrator is configured to respond to a differential voltage to adjust the divided voltage such that the differential voltage is forced to zero. The calibrator outputs a plurality of discrete signals from an up/down counter to toggle the individual transistors of the parallel array to increase and decrease a collective current. In some embodiments, transistor channel currents are modulated to step-adjust a voltage based on a ratio associated with a static resistance. In various embodiments, the divided voltage is an analog voltage based on a resistance associated with trim circuitry.
US08698517B2

A computing multi-magnet device and method for solving complex computational problems is provided. Embodiments include a first magnet, a second magnet, and an interconnect between and interconnecting the first and second magnets, the interconnect configured to allow the first and second magnets to communicate via a voltage or current applied to the first and second magnet and conducted by the interconnect. The scalability of computing multi-magnet device provides solutions to algorithms that have exponentially increasing complexity.
US08698516B2

A field programmable gate array (FPGA) includes a set of monitor circuits adapted to provide indications of process, voltage, and temperature for at least one circuit in the FPGA, and a controller adapted to derive a range of body-bias values for the at least one circuit from the indications of process, voltage, and temperature for the at least one circuit. The FPGA further includes a body-bias generator adapted to provide a body-bias signal to at least one transistor in the at least one circuit. The body-bias signal has a value within the range of body-bias values.
US08698514B2

An electrical characteristic measuring substrate includes a plurality of laminated dielectric layers, front-surface coplanar lines disposed at a front surface of the substrate, back-surface coplanar electrodes disposed at a back surface thereof, and interlayer ground electrodes disposed between dielectric layers. First ends of the front-surface coplanar lines define a front-surface component mounting electrode, and first ends of the back-surface coplanar lines define a back-surface component mounting electrode. The front-surface component mounting electrode and the back-surface component mounting electrode have substantially the same pattern when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the front surface. Each of the front-surface component mounting electrode and the back-surface component mounting electrode has an electrode pattern asymmetric about a substantially central line of the front surface or about that of the back surface.
US08698505B2

A measurement apparatus includes a display unit, a current detection unit configured to output a detection signal if an increase in a consumption current of the display unit is detected, a plurality of setting units each of which is configured to output an output signal, each of the plurality of setting units changing the output signal if the detection signal is received, and a diagnosis unit configured to receive the output signal, the diagnosis unit diagnosing the increase in the consumption current.
US08698502B2

A method for analyzing a subterranean formation porosity is disclosed. The apparent dielectric constant of the subterranean formation and an apparent resistivity of the subterranean formation are measured. The measured values are used to determine a measured formation loss tangent. The formation water loss tangent can be expressed by the water dielectric constant and the water resistivity. The measured formation loss tangent and the formation water loss tangent are then used to determine at least one of an actual dielectric constant of the subterranean formation water and an actual resistivity of the subterranean formation water. The actual formation porosity may be obtained using the estimated water resistivity and water dielectric constant.
US08698501B2

A method is described for use in a region which contains at least first and second in-ground cables, each of which cables includes an electrically conductive component such that, when the first cable is driven at a locating signal frequency to emit a locating signal in an electromagnetic form, the locating signal can be coupled to the second cable in a way which causes the second cable to generate a false locating signal in electromagnetic form. The locating signal is received along with the false locating signal as well as receiving a reference signal which contains the locating signal frequency impressed thereon. The locating signal is distinguished from the false locating signal based on the locating signal frequency as contained by the reference signal.
US08698498B2

Low field SQUID MRI devices, components and methods are disclosed. They include a portable low field (SQUID)-based MRI instrument and a portable low field SQUID-based MRI system to be operated under a bed where a subject is adapted to be located. Also disclosed is a method of distributing wires on an image encoding coil system adapted to be used with an NMR or MRI device for analyzing a sample or subject and a second order superconducting gradiometer adapted to be used with a low field SQUID-based MRI device as a sensing component for an MRI signal related to a subject or sample.
US08698497B2

A coil assembly for a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system includes a primary gradient coil, and a corrector coil, at least a portion of the corrector coil being interwoven with a portion of the primary gradient coil such that the portion of the primary gradient coil is concentric with the portion of the corrector coil. An MRI imaging system and a method of fabricating the coil assembly are also provided.
US08698490B2

Magnetoresistive angle sensors, sensor systems and methods are disclosed. In an embodiment, a magnetoresistive angle sensor includes a first plurality of conductors arranged in parallel with one another in a first plane to form a first array; a second plurality of conductors arranged in parallel with one another in a second plane to form a second array, the second plane being different from and spaced apart from the first plane, and the second plurality of conductors being orthogonally arranged with respect to the first plurality of conductors; and at least one magnetoresistive element disposed between the first plane and the second plane.
US08698482B2

The invention relates to a measuring device, especially for a machine tool and/or a manual measuring device, comprising a measuring unit (12a-d) that is adapted to measure and an external signal recognition unit (14a-d). The invention is characterized in that the external signal recognition unit (14a-d) is adapted to recognize an external signal during and/or prior to a measurement of the measuring unit (12a-d).
US08698474B2

A start-up circuit with low standby power loss for power converters according to present invention comprises a first diode and a second diode coupled to an input voltage of the power converter. A start-up resistor is coupled to the join of the first diode and the second diode. A high-voltage switch is coupled to the start-up resistor to generate a power source. A control circuit generates a switching signal for switching a transformer. A detection circuit generates a disable signal in response to the input voltage to disable the switching signal. A winding of the transformer is coupled to the power source to generate the power for the power source. The high-voltage switch is turned off to cut off the start-up resistor for saving the power loss once the voltage of the power source is higher than a threshold.
US08698472B2

An adjustable driver voltage source for a switching power supply uses a linear regulator to provide a driver voltage, and a modulator to adjust the driver voltage according to the loading change of the switching power supply. The modulator may lower the driver voltage at light load to reduce the switching loss and thereby increase the power efficiency of the switching power supply.
US08698469B1

A system includes a sinc filter module and a cyclic integrator module. The sinc filter module (i) determines a direct current (DC) voltage component of an error between a measured output voltage of a switched-mode power supply and a reference voltage and (ii) determines a signal with ripple by subtracting the determined DC voltage component from the error. The cyclic integrator module (i) applies a learning gain to a difference between the determined signal with ripple and a predicted ripple, (ii) performs integration of each of N segments of the gain-applied difference, and (iii) generates the predicted ripple by reconstructing the N integrated segments, wherein N is an integer greater than one.
US08698465B2

A control circuit for controlling a power supply including a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first potential and a second potential. The control circuit includes a detection circuit that detects a magnitude relation of a voltage value at a node between the first and second switches and a reference value during a period in which the first switch and the second switch are inactivated. The detection circuit generates a control signal corresponding to the magnitude relation. A regulation circuit regulates a switching timing of the second switch in response to the control signal to decrease a difference between the voltage value at the node and the reference value.
US08698459B2

A battery pack and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. According to some aspects, the battery pack includes at least one chargeable battery cell, and a charge control circuit that receives a control signal from an external source. The charge control circuit is configured to control charging of the battery cell according to the control signal. As a result, a charging operation may be stably performed.
US08698458B2

A method of charging a battery pack, the battery pack including at least one battery cell. The method includes comparing a battery cell voltage to a first voltage; comparing the battery cell voltage to a second voltage that is greater than the first voltage; and controlling a current amplifying unit coupled to the at least one battery cell to amplify a current from a charger to the at least one battery cell if the battery cell voltage is between the first voltage and the second voltage.
US08698454B2

A charging apparatus is used to support and charge an electronic device 90, and includes a holding portion, a rotating portion and an adjusting portion. The holding portion defines a receiving groove. The rotating portion is pivotedly received in the receiving groove to support the electronic device and fixed with a slave gear. The adjusting portion is fixed on the holding portion and includes a motor accompanying with a master gear engaging with the slave gear. The master gear is driven by the motor to rotate and subsequently dives the slave gear rotate causing the rotating portion to rotate relative to the holding portion by engagement between the master gear and the slave gear, so as to adjust an angle between the electronic device and the holding portion.
US08698453B2

A full charge control apparatus includes a temperature detection accuracy decision unit and a full charge decision unit. The temperature detection accuracy decision unit detects an engine speed, a vehicle speed and an ambient temperature and, based on these surrounding conditions, determines whether the difference between the temperature of the battery estimated from a measurement by a temperature sensor and a true battery temperature falls within a specified accuracy range. If the battery temperature measurement accuracy is not within the specified range, the criteria for judging the fully charged state of the battery are modified to ensure that the battery will not be under-charged.
US08698447B2

A system and method are provided for reducing the energy consumed by a pump jack electric motor by reducing the supply voltage to the motor when the motor would be generating energy in open loop mode. By substantially eliminating the energy generation mode, the braking action of the utility grid in limiting the acceleration of the motor and system that would otherwise occur is substantially removed. The motor and system will speed up, allowing the natural kinetic energy of the cyclic motion to perform part of the pumping action.
US08698446B2

A system and method are disclosed for turning off the voltage to a pump jack electric motor during predetermined periods of time to save energy. In the method, the motor's response to closed-loop control may be evaluated over several pump strokes. The periods of the pump stroke when it is feasible to turn off the motor may be identified. The consistency of the measurements over several strokes may be evaluated. The motor may be turned off during predetermined periods on subsequent pump strokes when each pump stroke shows sufficiently similar behavior to that predicted during the closed-loop control process. The system may return to the closed-loop control process after a predetermined period of time to adjust to any changes in the system.
US08698445B2

The method for activating an asynchronous motor comprising at least two windings is provided, in order, for the purpose of a change in the rotational speed, to connect a first winding and at least one second winding by way of at least two electronic switches. On switching, both switches are opened for one or more time intervals in order to avoid current peaks.
US08698418B2

A lamp assembly is provided. The lamp assembly has a housing that functions as a heat sink for the dissipation of heat therefrom. A plurality of light emitting diodes are also present and are configured to be driven by a current regulated by a linear current regulator and a switch mode current regulator. Thus, the amount of heat generated through driving the plurality of light emitting diodes is decreased such that the housing is optimally sized and still function as a heat sink.
US08698417B2

A lighting device includes first and second power source lines supplied with a driving current, first and second switching portions that respectively allow or prohibit supply of the driving current to the first and second power source lines, first and second current application lines respectively coupled with the first and second power source lines, first and second light-emitting element groups respectively disposed on the first and second current application lines, a driving portion coupled with the first and second current application lines and allowing flow of the driving current to the first and second current application lines, and a control portion that controls the first and second switching portions and the driving portion.
US08698415B2

A regulation circuit is provided for making available a constant current supply on the basis of a transformer principle, in which there flows through the luminescent diodes a triangular a.c. current varying periodically around a d.c. current value. Circuitry is provided so that both the charging and the discharging current of an inductive reactance connected in series to the luminescent diodes, functioning as a storage choke for filtering of mains harmonics, flows as diode current through the luminescent diodes. An advantage of this method consists in a significant reduction of the overall power loss of the LED illumination module. According to one embodiment, the ceramic circuit board of the LED illumination module has a direct mains current supply, which, for protection from mechanical damage, is accommodated in a transparent housing having a highly transparent polymer mass serving as an optically active lens surface.
US08698411B2

In a discharge lamp lighting apparatus comprising a short arc type discharge lamp and a power supply unit, a relation of the natural frequency fe (Hz) of the electrodes, the ripple frequency fd (Hz) of the alternating current that is supplied to the discharge lamp, and the ripple power Pr (W) of the alternating current, satisfies a formula: Pr ≤  f e - f d  · ( - 0.13 × Vh Va + 3.0 ) , wherein the volume of the electrode head portion is represented as Vh and the volume of the segment of the electrode axis portion that projects into the arc tube is represented as Va. When the alternating current supplied to the discharge lamp satisfies the formula, it is possible to prevent or control damage in the electrode axis portion, since vibration produced in the electrodes during lighting of the discharge lamp is small even if the discharge lamp is lighted for a long time.
US08698405B2

The present invention relates to a control device adapted to control properties of light emitted from a light source. The control device may comprise a touch-sensitive user interface adapted to visually indicate a range of available values representing at least one of the properties and to enable a user to control the represented property on the basis of a location touched on the touch-sensitive user interface. The controlled property may be adjusted by means of a communication unit adapted to communicate to the light source control signals corresponding to user input. The control device may be adapted to enable the user to control a property associated with an activation area with the user interface upon activation of the activation area by the user.
US08698404B2

A driving arrangement for light emitting diode (LED) based illumination constituted of: a comparison circuitry arranged to compare an integral of a target current over a target illumination time for at least one LED based luminaire with an integral of an illumination current over an illumination time for the at least one LED based luminaire, the comparison circuitry arranged to output a comparison signal; and a control circuitry in communication with the comparison circuitry and arranged to alternately: allow the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a first condition of the comparison signal; and prevent the flow of electrical current through the at least one LED based luminaire responsive to a second condition of the comparison signal, the second condition different from the first condition.
US08698398B2

Various embodiments provide a fuse for a light emitting diode fluorescent lamp retrofit lamp, the fuse including a first electrical fuse connecting element for the electrical connection to an electric socket connecting element of a socket of the light emitting diode fluorescent lamp retrofit lamp; and a second electrical fuse connecting element for the electrical connection to a driver of the light emitting diode fluorescent lamp retrofit lamp; wherein the first fuse connecting element is designed as a connecting pin which is provided and equipped for a rigid connection to the socket connecting element.
US08698395B2

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display and a method for fabricating the same. The OLED display includes: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate and including a reflecting layer; an organic layer formed on the first electrode and including at least an organic emission layer; a second electrode formed on the organic layer; and an organic capping layer formed on the second electrode. The organic capping layer is formed by stacking an organic material having a refractive index of 1.7 or more, thereby providing a high-efficiency and long-life top-emitting OLED display.
US08698394B2

Electronic articles such as, for example, electroluminescent lamps useful for displays and method of making the same are provided. The electronic articles include a substrate, a conductive element adjacent to the substrate, a high dielectric composite adjacent to the conductive element and an electrically-active layer adjacent to at least a portion of the high dielectric composite. The high dielectric composite includes a polymeric binder and from 1 to 80 volume percent of filler retained in the binder. The filler comprises particles that include an electrically-conducting layer and an insulating layer substantially surrounding the electrically-conducting layer. In some embodiments the binder includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive and the composite has adhesive properties.
US08698392B2

This invention provides an organic electroluminescent element comprising two opposed electrodes connected to an external circuit for applying electrical energy, at least one of the electrodes being transparent or semitransparent, and provided between the electrodes, a plurality of luminescent units, for emitting light through recombination of holes with electrons, each comprising one or more organic layers, one of the organic layers being a luminescent layer, and a charge generation layer held between two of the plurality of luminescent units, characterized in that each two adjacent luminescent units in the plurality of luminescent units are partitioned by the charge generation layer, the charge generation layer comprises at least one metal or its compound (A) having a work function of not more than 3.0 eV and at least one compound (B) having a work function of not less than 4.0 eV, and in at least one of the plurality of luminescent units, the luminescent layer contains a polymeric luminescent material.
US08698380B2

Provided is a manufacturing method for preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics having a high degree of crystal orientation. The manufacturing method includes: obtaining slurry containing an oxide crystal B having magnetic anisotropy; applying a magnetic field to the oxide crystal B, and obtaining a compact of the oxide crystal B; and subjecting the compact to oxidation treatment to obtain preferentially-oriented oxide ceramics including a compact of an oxide crystal C having a crystal system that is different from a crystal system of one of a part and a whole of the oxide crystal B. By (1) reacting raw materials, (2) reducing the oxide crystal A, or (3) keeping the oxide crystal A at high temperature and quenching the oxide crystal A, the oxide crystal B is obtained to be used in the slurry.
US08698367B2

An electric machine is provided including a rotor having a plurality of magnets retained on the rotor. The plurality of magnets are retained via a sleeve. The sleeve is retained via a band. The band includes a stacked plurality of washer laminations. Each of the plurality of washer laminations is electrically insulated from an adjacent washer lamination.
US08698366B2

A flat type vibration motor realizing strong fastening of a rotor frame and an eccentric weight without welding, that is, a flat type vibration motor provided with a cover case having a tubular part with an opening closed by a stator structure and supporting one end of a shaft and with a rotor frame supported to be able to rotate via a slide bearing through which the shaft runs and having an axial direction field-type rotary magnet and an eccentric weight, wherein the rotor frame has a disk part having a burring part into which a slide bearing is fitted and at least one rivet hole, while the eccentric weight has a covering part superposed over the disk part at the side opposite to the stator structure, at least one rivet which is inserted from the covering part through the rivet hole and have heads which are crushed at the stator structure side of the disk part, and an eave-shaped taper part hanging down from the covering part over the outer circumferential edge of the disk part to the stator structure side.
US08698365B2

Apparatuses are disclosed and directed to a substantially cylindrical containment layer, and methods for containment, for a flywheel apparatus comprising a plurality of predictably deformable brackets oriented to contain an impact. The brackets each have a plurality of layers and a surface for absorbing an impact, with the surface providing a glancing angle in the direction of an impact of from about 0.1° to about 5°.
US08698360B2

A permanent magnet, in particular a permanent magnet rotor for a machine, includes a first sleeve, a first cap and a second cap arranged to close off an inner opening of the first sleeve, and a permanent magnet material formed in the inner opening of the sleeve between the first cap and the second cap. The permanent magnet material is a compressed, non-bonded powder material including hard magnetic powder material, soft magnetic powder material, or a combination of hard and soft magnetic powder material. A method for manufacturing a permanent magnet rotor is also provided.
US08698348B2

A system and method for managing a power source in a vehicle that has an engine and an electric machine operable to provide torque to start the engine, includes the step of setting a first discharge power limit for the power source that is at least partly based on the power capability of the power source. A second discharge power limit for the power source is also set. The second discharge power limit is higher than the first discharge power limit, and it is a function of at least the power capability of the power source and the first discharge power limit.
US08698346B2

A vehicle having an electricity accumulator for driving a vehicle, a charging inlet for receiving power supplied from a power supply provided on the outside of the vehicle, a circuit for charging the electricity accumulator with power from the power supply, and power lines for connecting the charging inlet and the charging circuit. An abnormality detector of vehicle having a circuit for applying a test voltage to the power lines, and an ECU as a short circuit detecting section. When the voltage value of the power line deviates from a predetermined normal range including the test voltage value although the test voltage is applied to the power line from the voltage application circuit, the ECU detects short circuit of the power line. The ECU specifies a short circuit mode corresponding to the detected short circuit among a plurality of short circuit modes based on the voltage value of the power line.
US08698341B2

A wind turbine includes a rotor shaft having thereon rotor blades exposed to wind energy, a first stage gear set on the rotor shaft, a discretely variable ratio gear set coupled to the first stage gear output shaft and having a gear set output shaft, a differential on the gear set output shaft having a differential control shaft facilitating changing the gear box ratio by whole numbers of gear teeth, and a generator operating at a constant frequency coupled to an electric grid operating at the constant frequency. The wind turbine may take a variable speed input of the gear box to create a fixed speed output fed to the generator operating at constant frequency and coupled directly to the power grid without power electronics. Existing wind turbines whether fixed speed fixed pitch or variable speed variable pitch can be retrofitted with the gear box of the present invention.
US08698334B2

A wind park, a method of correcting voltage imbalances, and a wind turbine are provided. The wind park includes at least one wind turbine; a transformer coupled between the at least one wind turbine and a power grid. The transformer includes a primary winding arrangement coupled to the power grid, and a secondary winding arrangement coupled to the at least one wind turbine. The power grid includes at least three power lines, each power line conducting a respective phase of a multi-phase current. Each power line of the power grid is coupled to the primary winding arrangement via an individual tap changer. Influences of the detected voltage imbalances on the wind turbines can be compensated.
US08698331B2

A bidirectional axial flow turbine with self-pivoting blades is provided for use in a central opening of submerged horizontally-aligned structure forming a wave energy conversion device. Entry and exit inner guide vanes are positioned on opposite sides of the vertically-aligned central opening, for directing the bidirectional fluid flow into and out of the central opening and inducing a vortex swirl in both directions of fluid flow that has the same direction of rotation. Within the opening, a turbine hub is mounted with a plurality of uniformly spaced self-pivoting blades that have a symmetrical blade profile to the bidirectional flow. The self-pivoting blades automatically change their blade angle in response to the force of water flow on the blades, so that they turn the turbine shaft in the same rotational direction in both flow directions.
US08698329B2

An apparatus for harvesting energy from motion of a prosthetic limb, wherein the prosthetic limb has motion in at least one degree of freedom, may include a piston configured to receive an input motion and provide an output motion when a first motion in a degree of freedom of the prosthetic limb causes pressure and motion of hydraulic fluid. The apparatus may include an electromagnetic motor for converting mechanical energy of the output motion into corresponding electrical energy delivered to an electrical load and a variable-impedance energy harvesting circuit across terminals of the motor.
US08698321B2

A vertically stackable die having a chip identifier structure is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a semiconductor device is disclosed that includes a die comprising a first through silicon via to communicate a chip identifier and other data. The semiconductor device also includes a chip identifier structure that comprises at least two through silicon vias that are each hard wired to an external electrical contact.
US08698316B2

According to an embodiment of the invention, a chip package is provided. The chip package includes: a substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface; a plurality of conducting pads located under the lower surface of the substrate; a dielectric layer located between the conducting pads; a trench extending from the upper surface towards the lower surface of the substrate; a hole extending from a bottom of the trench towards the lower surface of the substrate, wherein a sidewall of the hole is substantially perpendicular to the lower surface of the substrate, and the sidewall or a bottom of the hole exposes a portion of the conducting pads; and a conducting layer located in the hole and electrically connected to at least one of the conducting pads.
US08698314B2

A semiconductor device of the invention include a rectangular semiconductor element mounted on a substrate formed with an external input terminal, an external output terminal, and a plurality of wiring patterns connected to each of the external input terminal and the external output terminal. The semiconductor element comprises, a plurality of first electrodes formed along a first edge of a surface thereof, a plurality of second electrodes formed along an edge opposite to the first edge of the surface, a plurality of third electrodes formed in the neighborhood of a functional block, and an internal wiring for connecting the first electrodes and the third electrodes. The substrate comprises, a first wiring pattern for connecting the external input terminal and the first electrodes, a second wiring pattern for connecting the external output terminal and the second electrodes, and a third wiring pattern for connecting the first electrodes and the third electrodes.
US08698310B2

A structure for a signal line has the signal line having a base, a lower insulating layer formed at an upper surface of the base, a semiconductor layer disposed along a pathway at an upper surface of the lower insulating layer, at least a part of the semiconductor layer configured to transmit a signal, an upper insulating layer formed at an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, at least a part of the upper insulating layer being mounted along the semiconductor layer; and a strip conductor formed at an upper surface of the upper insulating layer, at least a part of the strip conductor being mounted along the upper insulating layer.
US08698309B2

A semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor device and second semiconductor device stacked on the first semiconductor device. The first semiconductor device includes a first interconnect substrate, a first semiconductor element provided on an upper surface of the first interconnect substrate, a first electrode provided on the upper surface of the first interconnect substrate, and an insulating layer having an opening portion through which part of the first electrode is exposed. The second semiconductor device includes a second interconnect substrate, a second semiconductor element provided on an upper surface of the second interconnect substrate, a second electrode provided on a lower surface of the second interconnect substrate, and an inter-device connection terminal connected to the second electrode. Part of the first electrode exposed through the opening portion has a smaller area than an area of the opening portion.
US08698303B2

A substrate for mounting a semiconductor includes a first insulation layer having first and second surfaces on the opposite sides and having a penetrating hole penetrating through the first insulation layer, an electrode formed in the penetrating hole in the first insulation layer and having a protruding portion protruding from the second surface of the first insulation layer, a first conductive pattern formed on the first surface of the first insulation layer and connected to the electrode, a second insulation layer formed on the first surface of the first insulation layer and the first conductive pattern and having a penetrating hole penetrating through the second insulating layer, a second conductive pattern formed on the second insulation layer and for mounting a semiconductor element, and a via conductor formed in the penetrating hole in the second insulation layer and connecting the first and second conductive patterns.
US08698302B2

A structurally robust power switching assembly, that has a power transistor, comprising a thin and delicate layer of metal oxide, and a major surface of the layer of metal oxide being substantially coincident with a major surface of the power transistor, the major surface of the power transistor defining both an emitter and a gate. Also, dielectric material is placed over a portion of the emitter, so that it abuts the gate and a highly conductive pillar is constructed out of a relatively soft material, supported by the gate and the dielectric material, so that it has a larger area than would be possible if it was supported only by the gate.
US08698301B2

Semiconductor packages are provided. The semiconductor packages may include an upper package including a plurality of upper semiconductor devices connected to an upper package substrate. The semiconductor packages may also include a lower package including a lower semiconductor device connected to a lower package substrate. The upper and lower packages may be connected to each other.
US08698300B2

A chip-stacked semiconductor package including a stacked chip structure including a plurality of separate chips stacked on each other; a flexible circuit substrate having the stacked chip structure mounted on a first side of the flexible circuit substrate in a first region of the flexible circuit substrate, and being electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of separate chips of the stacked chip structure by folding a second region of the flexible circuit substrate; a sealing portion sealing the stacked chip structure and the flexible circuit substrate; and an external connecting terminal on a second side of the flexible circuit substrate.
US08698297B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a base substrate; applying a molded under-fill on the base substrate; forming a substrate contact extender through the molded under-fill and in direct contact with the base substrate; mounting a stack device over the molded under-fill; attaching a coupling connector from the substrate contact extender to the stack device; and forming a base encapsulation on the stack device, the substrate contact extender, and encapsulating the coupling connector.
US08698293B2

A multi-chip package comprises a first chip accommodated in a first housing and a second chip accommodated in a second housing. The first housing and the second housing are arranged in a laterally spaced-apart relationship defining a gap between the first housing and the second housing. An interconnecting structure is configured to span the gap and to electrically couple the first chip and the second chip.
US08698290B2

An LED lamp (A1) includes a plurality of LEDs (2), a retainer (1) on which the light LEDs (2) are mounted, and a wiring pattern formed on the retainer (1) and electrically connected to the LEDs (2). The retainer (1) includes a plurality of substrates (11, 12, 15). Of the plurality of substrates (11, 12, 15), two adjacent substrates (11, 12) are connected to each other by a pair of bendable connection members (32a, 32b). The two substrates (11, 12) are arranged in such a manner that their normal line directions differ from each other.
US08698280B2

In the semiconductor device composing MOS transistor on which impurities are added from the surface of a P-type substrate, the region of immediate below a gate layer is the P-type substrate on which the impurities are not added, and first and second MOS devices, having an N-type diffusion layer are provided on the surface region of the P-type substrate circumscribing the gate layer. The gate layer of the first MOS device, and the N-type diffusion layer of the second MOS device are connected, and the N-type diffusion layer of the first MOS device and the gate layer of the second MOS device are connected, and thereby a first capacitive element is composed.
US08698275B2

An electronic circuit arrangement has a substrate which has at least one metallization layer. At least one electrical interconnect and/or at least one via are formed in the metallization layer such that the electrical interconnect and the via are in the form of an electrical fuse link. In addition, the substrate has electrical circuit components which are arranged in the circuit layer. The circuit components are electrically coupled to one another by means of the electrical interconnect and by means of a plurality of vias.
US08698266B2

An image sensor with decreased optical interference between adjacent pixels is provided. An image sensor, which is divided into a pixel region and a peripheral region, the image sensor including a photodiode formed in a substrate in the pixel region, first to Mth metal lines formed over the substrate in the pixel region, where M is a natural number greater than approximately 1, first to Nth metal lines formed over a substrate in the peripheral region, where N is a natural number greater than M, at least one layer of dummy metal lines formed over the Mth metal lines but formed not to overlap with the photodiode, and a microlens formed over the one layer of the dummy metal lines to overlap with the photodiode.
US08698259B2

A magnetic junction is described. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The magnetic junction may also include an additional nonmagnetic spacer layer and an additional pinned layer opposing the nonmagnetic spacer layer and the pinned layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer is configured to be switchable using a write current passed through the magnetic junction. The free layer is also configured to be thermally stable in a quiescent state and have a reduced thermal stability due to heating from the write current being passed through the magnetic junction. In some aspects, the free layer includes at least one of a pinning layer(s) interleaved with ferromagnetic layer(s), two sets of interleaved ferromagnetic layers having different Curie temperatures, and a ferrimagnet having a saturation magnetization that increases with temperature between ferromagnetic layers.
US08698258B2

A microelectronic device structure including increased thermal dissipation capabilities. The structure including a three-dimensional (3D) integrated chip assembly that is flip chip bonded to a substrate. The chip assembly including a device substrate including an active device disposed thereon. A cap layer is physically bonded to the device substrate to at least partially define a hermetic seal about the active device. The microelectronic device structure provides a plurality of heat dissipation paths therethrough to dissipate heat generated therein.
US08698255B2

A simple and cost-effective form of implementing a semiconductor component having a micromechanical microphone structure, including an acoustically active diaphragm as a deflectable electrode of a microphone capacitor, a stationary, acoustically permeable counterelement as a counter electrode of the microphone capacitor, and means for applying a charging voltage between the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode of the microphone capacitor. In order to not impair the functionality of this semiconductor component, even during overload situations in which contact occurs between the diaphragm and the counter electrode, the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode of the microphone capacitor are counter-doped, at least in places, so that they form a diode in the event of contact. In addition, the polarity of the charging voltage between the deflectable electrode and the counter electrode is such that the diode is switched in the blocking direction.
US08698250B2

A semiconductor device includes: an N-type drift layer; a P-type anode layer above the N-type drift layer; an N-type cathode layer below the N-type drift layer; a first short lifetime layer between the N-type drift layer and the P-type anode layer; and a second short lifetime layer between the N-type drift layer and the N-type cathode layer. A carrier lifetime in the first and second short lifetime layers is shorter than a carrier lifetime in the N-type drift layer. A carrier lifetime in the N-type cathode layer is longer than the carrier lifetime in the N-type drift layer.
US08698245B2

Disclosed are embodiments of a field effect transistor with a gate-to-body tunnel current region (GTBTCR) and a method. In one embodiment, a gate, having adjacent sections with different conductivity types, traverses the center portion of a semiconductor layer to create, within the center portion, a channel region and a GTBTCR below the adjacent sections having the different conductivity types, respectively. In another embodiment, a semiconductor layer has a center portion with a channel region and a GTBTCR. The GTBTCR comprises: a first implant region adjacent to and doped with a higher concentration of the same first conductivity type dopant as the channel region; a second implant region, having a second conductivity type, adjacent to the first implant region; and an enhanced generation and recombination region between the implant regions. A gate with the second conductivity type traverses the center portion.
US08698243B2

Improved MOSFET devices are obtained by incorporating strain inducing source-drain regions whose closest facing “nose” portions underlying the gate are located at different depths from the device surface. In a preferred embodiment, the spaced-apart source-drain regions may laterally overlap. This close proximity increases the favorable impact of the strain inducing source-drain regions on the carrier mobility in an induced channel region between the source and drain. The source-drain regions are formed by epitaxially refilling asymmetric cavities etched from both sides of the gate. Cavity asymmetry is obtained by forming an initial cavity proximate only one sidewall of the gate and then etching the final spaced-apart source-drain cavities proximate both sidewalls of the gate along predetermined crystallographic directions. The finished cavities having different depths and nose regions at different heights extending toward each other under the gate, are epitaxially refilled with the strain inducing semiconductor material for the source-drain regions.
US08698238B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided. The method includes preparing a substrate having a transistor region and an alignment region, forming a first trench and a second trench in the substrate of the transistor region and in the substrate of the alignment region, respectively, forming a drift region in the substrate of the transistor region, forming two third trenches respectively adjacent to two ends of the drift region, and forming an isolation pattern in the first trench, a buried dielectric pattern in the second trench, and dielectric patterns in the two third trenches, respectively. A depth of the first trench is less than a depth of the third trenches, and the depth of the first trench is equal or substantially equal to a depth of the second trench.
US08698235B2

A slit recess channel gate is provided. The slit recess channel gate includes a substrate, a gate dielectric layer, a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The substrate has a first trench. The gate dielectric layer is disposed on a surface of the first trench and the first conductive layer is embedded in the first trench. The second conductive layer is disposed on the first conductive layer and aligned with the first conductive layer above the main surface, wherein a bottom surface area of the second conductive layer is substantially smaller than a top surface area of the second conductive layer.
US08698230B2

An electrical circuit includes first and second transistors. Each transistor includes a substrate and, positioned thereon, a first electrically conductive material layer including a reentrant profile functioning as a gate. First and second discrete portions of a second electrically conductive material layer are in contact with first and second portions, respectively, of a semiconductor material layer in contact with an electrically insulating material layer, both of which conform to the reentrant profile. The first and second discrete portions are source/drain and drain/source electrodes of the first and second transistors, respectively. A third electrically conductive material layer, in contact with a third portion of the semiconductor material layer, is positioned over the gate, but is not in electrical contact with it. The third electrically conductive material layer is physically separate from the electrodes of the first and second transistors and a common unconnected electrode of the first and second transistors.
US08698227B2

A mesa-type bidirectional Shockley diode delimited on its two surfaces by a peripheral groove filled with a glassivation including a substrate of a first conductivity type; a layer of the second conductivity type on each side of the substrate; a region of the first conductivity type in each of the layers of the second conductivity type; a buried region of the first conductivity type under each of the regions of the first conductivity type, at the interface between the substrate and the corresponding layer of the second conductivity type, each buried region being complementary in projection with the other; and a peripheral ring under the external periphery of each of the glassivations, of same doping profile as the buried regions.
US08698219B2

A semiconductor device has a non-volatile memory cell including a write transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor and has small leakage current in an off state (off-state current) between a source and a drain, a read transistor including a semiconductor material different from that of the write transistor, and a capacitor. Data is written or to the memory cell by applying a potential to a node where one of a source electrode and drain electrode of the write transistor, one electrode of the capacitor, and a gate electrode of the read transistor are electrically connected to one another so that the predetermined amount of charge is held in the node. The memory window width is changed by 2% or less, before and after 1×109 times of writing.
US08698217B2

A device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front side and a backside. An active image sensor pixel array is disposed on the front side of the semiconductor substrate. A metal shield is disposed on the backside of, and overlying, the semiconductor substrate. The metal shield has an edge facing the active image sensor pixel array. The metal shield has a middle width, and a top width greater than the middle width.
US08698216B2

The present disclosure provides a fabricating method of a semiconductor chip which includes the following steps. First, a substrate is provided. The substrate defines a memory unit region and a peripheral logic region. Then, a first spacer is formed around a stack structure of the memory unit region. The first space includes a first silicon oxide layer and the first silicon oxide layer directly contacts with the stack structure. After that, a silicon nitride layer is formed on both the first spacer and the peripheral logic region. Finally, the additional silicon nitride layer on the first spacer is removed but portions of the additional silicon nitride layer around gate structures in the peripheral logic region are remained.
US08698207B2

The instant disclosure describes a photodetector that includes at least one portion of a semiconducting layer formed directly on at least a portion of a reflective layer and to be illuminated with a light beam, at least one pad being formed on the portion of the semiconducting layer opposite the reflective layer portion, wherein the pad and the reflective layer portion are made of a metal or of a negative permittivity material, the optical cavity formed between said at least one reflective layer portion and said at least one pad has a thickness strictly lower than a quarter of the ratio of the light beam wavelength to the optical index of the semiconducting layer, and typically representing about one tenth of said ratio.
US08698204B2

In one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, and device regions in the substrate to extend in a first direction. The device further includes select gates on the substrate to extend in a second direction, and a contact region provided between the select gates and including contact plugs on the respective device regions. The contact region includes partial regions, in each of which N contact plugs are disposed on N successive device regions to be arranged on a straight line being non-parallel to the first and second directions, where N is an integer of 2 or more. The contact region includes the partial regions of at least two types whose values of N are different. Further, each of the contact plugs has a planar shape of an ellipse, and is arranged so that a major axis of the ellipse is tilted with respect to the first direction.
US08698197B2

The present invention is directed to a position sensing detector made of a photodiode having a semi insulating substrate layer; a buffered layer that is formed directly atop the semi-insulating substrate layer, an absorption layer that is formed directly atop the buffered layer substrate layer, a cap layer that is formed directly atop the absorption layer, a plurality of cathode electrodes electrically coupled to the buffered layer or directly to the cap layer, and at least one anode electrode electrically coupled to a p-type region in the cap layer. The position sensing detector has a photo-response non-uniformity of less than 2% and a position detection error of less than 10 μm across the active area.
US08698196B2

A low capacitance transient voltage suppressor with reduced clamping voltage includes an n+ type substrate, a first epitaxial layer on the substrate, a buried layer formed within the first epitaxial layer, a second epitaxial layer on the first epitaxial layer, and an implant layer formed within the first epitaxial layer below the buried layer. The implant layer extends beyond the buried layer. A first trench is at an edge of the buried layer and an edge of the implant layer. A second trench is at another edge of the buried layer and extends into the implant layer. A third trench is at another edge of the implant layer. Each trench is lined with a dielectric layer. A set of source regions is formed within a top surface of the second epitaxial layer. The trenches and source regions alternate. A pair of implant regions is formed in the second epitaxial layer.
US08698181B2

A light emitting device includes a second metal layer, a second semiconductor layer on the second metal layer, an active layer on the second semiconductor layer, a first semiconductor layer on the active layer, a first metal layer on the first semiconductor layer, an insulating layer between the second metal layer and the second semiconductor layer at a peripheral portion of an upper surface of the second metal layer, and a passivation layer surrounding lateral surfaces of the insulating layer, the second semiconductor layer, the active layer, and the first semiconductor layer, the passivation layer being on the second metal layer, wherein a lateral surface of the insulating layer is adjacent to a lateral surface of the second metal layer, and wherein a lowermost surface of the passivation layer is disposed lower than a lowermost surface of the insulating layer.
US08698175B2

The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode (LED). The LED comprises an LED die, one or more metal pads, and a fluorescent layer. The characteristics of the present invention include that the metals pads are left exposed for the convenience of subsequent wiring and packaging processes. In addition, the LED provided by the present invention is a single light-mixing chip, which can be packaged directly without the need of coating fluorescent powders on the packaging glue. Because the fluorescent layer and the packaging glue are not processed simultaneously and are of different materials, the stress problem in the packaged LED can be reduced effectively.
US08698167B2

In a display apparatus, a light sensor of a display includes a light sensing layer, a source electrode, a drain electrode, an insulating layer, and a gate electrode to sense light from an external source. The light sensing layer is disposed on the substrate to sense light, and the source and drain electrodes are disposed on the light sensing layer and are covered by the insulating layer. The gate electrode is disposed on the insulating layer. An edge of the gate electrode is disposed on the light sensing layer at least in an area where the light sensing layer is overlapped with the source and drain electrodes.
US08698157B2

A capacitance element includes a first capacitance electrode formed over a TFT with a insulating interlayer therebetween, and a second capacitance electrode formed so as to oppose the first capacitance electrode with a first dielectric layer therebetween, the second capacitance electrode being electrically connected to a semiconductor layer of the TFT through a contact hole formed in the insulating interlayer. The second capacitance electrode includes a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer stacked on the first conductive layer. A portion of the first conductive layer overlapping the contact hole is removed, and the second conductive layer and the semiconductor layer are electrically connected to each other through the contact hole.
US08698156B2

It is an object of the invention to improve the production efficiency in sealing a thin film integrated circuit and to prevent the damage and break. Further, it is another object of the invention to prevent a thin film integrated circuit from being damaged in shipment and to make it easier to handle the thin film integrated circuit. The invention provides a laminating system in which rollers are used for supplying a substrate for sealing, receiving IC chips, separating, and sealing. The separation, sealing, and reception of a plurality of thin film integrated circuits can be carried out continuously by rotating the rollers; thus, the production efficiency can be extremely improved. Further, the thin film integrated circuits can be easily sealed since a pair of rollers opposite to each other is used.
US08698155B2

The time taken to write a signal to a pixel is shortened in a display device. Further, a signal is written at high speed even when high voltage is applied. The display device includes a pixel including a transistor and a liquid crystal element electrically connected to a source or a drain of the transistor. The transistor includes an intrinsic or substantially intrinsic oxide semiconductor as a semiconductor material and has an off-state current of 1×10−17 A/μm or less. The pixel does not include a capacitor. Since it is not necessary to provide a capacitor, the time taken to write a signal can be shortened.
US08698151B2

An electroluminescent device including a substrate on which a first electrode is formed; a transparent substrate disposed on the first electrode side of the substrate; a color filter disposed between the first electrode and the transparent substrate; an electroluminescent layer disposed between the first electrode and the color filter; and a second electrode disposed between the electroluminescent layer and the color filter.
US08698149B2

An embodiment of the disclosed technology discloses an array substrate comprising: a base substrate; a first layer transparent common electrode formed on the base substrate; a gate metal common electrode formed on the first layer transparent common electrode; an insulation layer formed on the gate metal common electrode, with via holes being formed in the insulation layer; and a second layer transparent common electrode formed on the insulation layer. A side portion of via holes is in contact with the gate metal common electrode, another side portion is in contact with the first layer transparent common electrode, such that the second layer transparent common electrode is connected electrically with the first layer transparent common electrode and the gate metal common electrode in the via holes.
US08698142B2

The present invention provides an organic semiconductor element which has a low hygroscopic property and whose property is hardly deteriorated with time and an electronic device and electronic equipment each provided with such an organic semiconductor element and having high reliability. The organic semiconductor element of the present invention includes: a source electrode 20a; a drain electrode 20b; a gate electrode 50; a gate insulating layer 40; an organic semiconductor layer 30; and a buffer layer (another insulating layer) 60, wherein at least one of the gate insulating layer 40 and the buffer layer 60 contains an insulating polymer with a main chain having both end portions and including repeating units represented by the following general formula (1) or (2): where R1 and R2 are the same or different and each of R1 and R2 is a divalent linkage group, and Y is an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom.
US08698136B2

A manufacturing method for an organic electroluminescent device that includes an effectively optical area including display pixels for display and a dummy area surrounding the effectively optical area, the dummy area including dummy pixels not for display is provided. The manufacturing method includes coating a first composite material on a first portion in the effectively optical area, the first portion corresponding to one of the display pixels, and coating a second composite material separately from the coating of the first composite material, the second composite material being coated on a second portion of the dummy area, the second portion corresponding to one of the dummy pixels, the first composite material including a first organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent and the second composite material including a second organic electroluminescent material that is dissolved or dispersed in a solvent.
US08698127B2

A superlattice layer including a plurality of periods, each of which is formed from a plurality of sub-layers is provided. Each sub-layer comprises a different composition than the adjacent sub-layer(s) and comprises a polarization that is opposite a polarization of the adjacent sub-layer(s). In this manner, the polarizations of the respective adjacent sub-layers compensate for one another.
US08698123B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type semiconductor layer, a p-type semiconductor layer, and a light emitting part. The n-type semiconductor layer includes a nitride semiconductor. The p-type semiconductor layer includes a nitride semiconductor. The light emitting part is provided between the n-type and the p-type semiconductor layers and includes an n-side barrier layer and a first light emitting layer. The first light emitting layer includes a first barrier layer, a first well layer, and a first AlGaN layer. The first barrier layer is provided between the n-side barrier layer and the p-type semiconductor layer. The first well layer contacts the n-side barrier layer between the n-side and the first barrier layer. The first AlGaN layer is provided between the first well layer and the first barrier layer. A peak wavelength λp of light emitted from the light emitting part is longer than 515 nanometers.
US08698122B2

A silicon nanowire including metal nanoclusters formed on a surface thereof at a high density. The metal nanocluster improves 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.
US08698121B2

A resistive switching memory is described, including a first electrode comprising doped silicon having a first work function, a second electrode having a second work function that is different from the first work function by between 0.1 and 1.0 electron volts (eV), a metal oxide layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the metal oxide layer switches using bulk-mediated switching using unipolar or bipolar switching voltages for switching from a low resistance state to a high resistance state and vice versa.
US08698120B2

A memory device includes a first metal layer and a first metal oxide layer coupled to the first metal layer. The memory device includes a second metal oxide layer coupled to the first metal oxide layer and a second metal layer coupled to the second metal oxide layer. The formation of the first metal oxide layer has a Gibbs free energy that is lower than the Gibbs free energy for the formation of the second metal oxide layer.
US08698119B2

Embodiments of the invention generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has improved device switching performance and lifetime, due to the addition of a current limiting component disposed therein. The electrical properties of the current limiting component are configured to lower the current flow through the variable resistance layer during the logic state programming steps by adding a fixed series resistance in the resistive switching memory element of the nonvolatile memory device. In one embodiment, the current limiting component comprises a tunnel oxide that is a current limiting material disposed within a resistive switching memory element in a nonvolatile resistive switching memory device. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.
US08698117B2

The present invention relates to compounds represented by the following Formulas (I) and (II), Ring-A of Formulas I and II can be, for example, an aryl group, and Q′ and Q′″ can each be independently selected from groups, such as, halogen, —OH, —CN, amine groups, amide groups, carboxylic acid ester groups, carboxylic acid groups, alkenyl groups, alkynyl groups, carbonate groups, sulfide groups, and sulfonic acid ester groups. The present invention also relates to photochromic compositions and photochromic articles that include one or more photochromic compounds, such as represented by Formula II.
US08698116B2

An extreme ultraviolet light source apparatus using a spectrum purity filter capable of obtaining EUV light with high spectrum purity. The apparatus includes a chamber; a target supply unit for supplying a target material; a driver laser using a laser gas containing a carbon dioxide gas as a laser medium, for applying a laser beam to the target material to generate plasma; a collector mirror for collecting and outputting the extreme ultraviolet light radiated from the plasma; and a spectrum purity filter provided in an optical path of the extreme ultraviolet light, for transmitting the extreme ultraviolet light and reflecting the laser beam, the spectrum purity filter including a mesh having electrical conductivity and formed with an arrangement of apertures having a pitch not larger than a half of a shortest wavelength of the laser beam applied by the driver laser.
US08698115B1

A light source device repeatedly implements a first state and a second state in alternate shifts. The energy of a standing wave generated in a cavity resonator is absorbed by a rare gas or the like existing in a hollow member. This implements the first state in which plasma is generated and the electron temperature thereof is increased, and then the extreme ultraviolet light emitted from the plasma is emitted out of the cavity resonator through a window. The supply of the electromagnetic wave to the cavity resonator is interrupted. This implements the second state in which the plasma is extinguished.
US08698113B2

A chamber apparatus used with a laser apparatus may include a chamber, a beam expanding optical system, and a focusing optical system. The chamber may be provided with at least one inlet, through which a laser beam outputted from the laser apparatus is introduced into the chamber. The beam expanding optical system is configured to expand the laser beam in diameter. The focusing optical system is configured to focus the laser beam that has been expanded in diameter.
US08698089B2

An X-ray detector including photodetecting pixels that reduce kTC switching noise. Each pixel includes a first transistor having a first electrode connected to a first power line, a second electrode connected to a first node, and a gate electrode receiving the reset signal; a second transistor having a first electrode connected to the first power line, a second electrode connected to a second node, and a gate electrode connected to the first node; a third transistor having a first electrode connected to the second node, a second electrode connected to a data line, and a gate electrode connected to a gate line; a fourth transistor having a first electrode connected to the first node, a second electrode connected to a photodetecting diode, and a gate electrode receiving the control signal; and the photodetecting diode having a first electrode connected to the fourth transistor, and a second electrode connected to ground.
US08698087B2

Provided are time-of-flight positron emission tomography devices comprising a detector array having at least two segments configured to accommodate a body part and to acquire tracer emission signals from a target within an imaging situs with a timing resolution of less than about 600 ps and a processor that receives the acquired signals from the detector array and converts the signals into a three dimensional image reconstruction of the target.
US08698084B2

3D sensors, systems, and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a monolithic 3D sensor for detecting infrared and visible light can include a semiconductor substrate having a device surface, at least one visible light photodiode formed at the device surface and at least one 3D photodiode formed at the device surface in proximity to the at least one visible light photodiode. The device can further include a quantum efficiency enhanced infrared light region functionally coupled to the at least one 3D photodiode and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation. In one aspect, the quantum efficiency enhanced infrared light region is a textured region located at the device surface.
US08698082B2

A high-fidelity device for single-shot pulse contrast measurement based on quasi-phase-matching includes a generating unit of sampling pulse, a high-fidelity cross-correlation unit of nonlinear SFG and a high-sensitivity signal detecting unit. An innovatively designed dot-mirror or dot-attenuator and correlating crystal. The dot-mirror or dot-attenuator is adopted to suppress the scattering noise, which is mainly induced by air scattering of the main peak of the correlation beam, to a level below the real pulse background. While the crystal is introduced into the device as a nonlinear correlation crystal to move two kinds of artifacts introduced by a correlation process respectively out of the temporal window and behind the main pulse, so that effects of the artifacts on the contrast measurement in a pulse leading edge are removed, without obviously affecting other parameters. The device is also fit for measuring contrasts of high-power lasers of various wavelengths.
US08698068B2

A landing surface is in physical communication with a face of an optical sensor. The landing surface extends at least 0.5 millimeters (mm) beyond a side of the optical sensor. A sensor orifice provides optical sensing by the optical sensor through the landing surface.
US08698059B2

An air vehicle includes a fuselage, and one or more lifting surfaces attached to the fuselage. The lifting surfaces deploy form a stowed, compact condition, to a deployed condition in which the lifting surfaces are deployed to provide lift to the air vehicle. The lifting surfaces each include a top member and a bottom member, which are joined at leading and trailing edges, such as by welds along the seams, or by flexible material placed along the seams. In deploying the thickness of the lifting surfaces increase, with middle portions of the members (portions of the members between the leading and trailing edges) moving away from one another. This may be accompanied by a lessening of the chord of the lifting surface, with the leading edge and the trailing edge moving closer together as the lifting surface deploys.
US08698058B1

A ranging seeker apparatus includes an RF antenna and a bistatic ranging detector operatively connected with the RF antenna. The RF antenna and bistatic ranging detector are operative for detecting one or more guidance objects in a RF band and providing angle and range data to the missile. Also, a missile including a missile body, a missile propulsion system disposed in or on the missile body, and the ranging bistatic RF seeker disposed in or on the missile body.
US08698044B2

The invention provides a laminate composite fabric which is robust, laundry-durable, and a method for forming such fabric. The laminate fabric is provided with at least one element that provides heat or warmth (heating element). Generally, the laminate fabric with heating element(s) is sufficiently robust for incorporation into garments or warming textile structures (pads and blankets). The laminate fabric may include one or more stretch and recovery elements to cause the laminate to be more adaptable for securing about any three dimensional body.
US08698043B2

A grip member with an electric heater, in which the surface of a core body when a heater is installed is flat. A metal conductive plate, such as a SUS plate with a thickness of about 30 μm formed in a belt-like shape, is spirally embedded along a flat groove section provided in a core body, the surface of the core body is made flat, and the metal conductive plate is fixed at both ends to the core body. An electric current is passed through the metal conductive plate to cause it to generate heat.
US08698042B2

A device for applying a composition may include an independent electrical energy source, at least one heater member that is powered by the independent electrical energy source and a circuit for controlling the power supply to the heater member. The circuit may be configured to power the heater member at least two power settings that differ at least as a function of the depletion state of the independent electrical energy source.
US08698038B2

The present invention relates to a system and method for automated or “robotic” application of hardfacing to the surface of a steel-toothed cutter of a rock bit. In particular, the system incorporates a grounded adapter plate and chuck mounted to a robotic arm for grasping and manipulating a rock bit cutter beneath an electrical or photonic energy welding source, such as a plasma arc welding torch manipulated by a positioner. In this configuration, the torch is positioned substantially vertically and oscillated along a horizontal axis as the cutter is manipulated relative along a target path for the distribution of hardfacing. Moving the cutter beneath the torch allows more areas of more teeth to be overlayed, and allows superior placement for operational feedback, such as automatic positioning and parameter correction. In the preferred embodiment, sensors provide data to the control system for identification, positioning, welding program selection, and welding program correction. The control system, aided by data from the sensors, manipulates the robotically held cutter while controlling the operation and oscillation of the torch.
US08698031B2

Among other things, for use in directional motion of chiral objects in a mixture, a field is applied across the chamber and is rotating relative to the chamber to cause rotation of the chiral objects. The rotation of the objects causes them to move directionally based on their chirality. The method applies to sugars, proteins, and peptides, among other things, and can be used in a wide variety of applications.
US08698026B2

A push button switch includes: a support structure of a generally box-like shape, defining an internal space, the support structure having at least an opening communicating with the internal space and an opening axis, the opening being defined by an internal opening edge; an actuation mechanism having a push button and a mechanical coupling arrangement for connecting the push button to the support structure, the mechanical coupling arrangement having a guiding arrangement for the push button to traverse with respect to the support structure in a direction generally parallel to the opening axis; a key which is fixable to the push button for manually actuating the push button; and an anti-jamming protection device having a protective plug interposable between the key and push button and being appliable onto the support structure for interacting with the internal edge, to protect the guiding arrangement from undesired intrusion by dust particles and such.
US08698012B2

A fast, dynamic scale has a weighing unit formed by a weighing cell and a transport mechanism with a first motor to drive the transport mechanism. The transport mechanism) is arranged with the motor on the weighing cell, so the weighing cell is loaded with a preliminary load. A first sensor is located at the beginning of the weighing unit. This first sensor emits a first signal to a control unit to start the weighing process for a cargo piece B. A second sensor emits a second signal to the control unit that thereupon generates a communication that a cargo piece Bn following the cargo piece B can be supplied. A weighing unit with a shortened effective length for the weighing is provided. The shortened length allows the interval between successive cargo pieces to be correspondingly shortened. A switchable extraction device is arranged after the weighing unit in the transport direction. The control unit controls the cargo piece transport by means of a third motor of the extraction device and to control the extraction device depending on the length of the cargo piece and on the termination of the weight determination as a result of the weighing, with the extraction device being switched by an actuator.
US08698007B2

There is provided a printed circuit board including an insulating substrate having a guide hole, a solder resist layer coated on a surface of the insulating substrate, and a connection pad arranged on the surface of the insulating substrate and having an outer periphery covered with the solder resist layer and a central portion exposed in an opening formed in the solder resist layer. The solder resist layer has a positioning hole having a diameter smaller than that of the guide hole and formed by photolithography above the guide hole simultaneously with the opening.
US08697998B2

A lightweight composite electrical wire having a fusible alkali core encased or enclosed by a wall, and further including a plurality of transverse bulkheads that separate the core into a plurality of sections. In embodiments the core is sodium, and the wall is aluminum. The transverse bulkheads separate the core longitudinally, precluding or mitigating any loss of core material in accident scenarios, and may include visual and/or tactile indicators to facilitate identifying locations for cutting and connecting the conductor. A insulative outer layer may also provided. In an embodiment the fusible alkali core comprises a plurality of parallel elements separated laterally by wall material and longitudinally by the bulkheads. At least a portion of the bulkheads may be formed from a material having a melting temperature higher than the maximum normal operating temperature of the wire, but lower than the boiling point of the alkali core.
US08697997B2

A cable has an integrated cable management system for organizing multiple cables. The body of the cable has a first mating surface with a first interlocking element disposed thereon and a second mating surface with a second interlocking element disposed thereon the second mating surface, where the first interlocking element is configured as a complementary interlocking element for the second interlocking element, so that multiple cables may be joined without the use of additional cable-organizing devices. The first interlocking element may include at least one coupling recess formed in the first mating surface and configured to engage with an interlocking element having the same configuration as the second interlocking element.
US08697995B2

A method of coating the junction area between elongated elements, in particular between electric cables. This method includes the steps of: arranging a rigid tubular support having two axially separable tubular halves; mounting an elastic tubular sleeve in an elastically radially expanded condition on an outer surface of the support; interposing a lubricating material between the support and sleeve; arranging a circumferentially continuous sealing element between the halves to prevent the lubricant from percolating between the halves; positioning the support around the junction area; and moving the halves apart from each other to enable the sleeve to collapse on the junction area. A device for coating the junction area between elongated elements and a method of making the device and a joint for electric cables.
US08697989B2

A meter box cover including a first portion that engages an inner surface of an opening in a lid of a meter box to prevent the passage of the cover through the opening and a second portion that extends through the opening and beyond an outermost surface of the opening in the lid of the meter box. The meter cover blocks substantially an entirety of the opening and the second portion prevents the cover from being displaced within the opening.
US08697985B2

The invention relates to a protective film for a solar cell module, to a process for manufacturing said protective film and to a solar cell module comprising said protecting film, and to a method for protecting a solar cell module comprising using of such protective film. The protective film comprises at least one layer comprising a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) polymer [polymer (F)], the polymer being obtainable by cross-linking a composition [composition (C)] comprising: a) at least one functional perfluoropolyether compound [compound (E)], the compound (E) comprising a (per)fluoropolyalkylene chain [chain (Rf)], and at least one unsaturated moiety, the compound (E) being present in an amount included in the range of 10% to 95% wt with respect to composition (C); b) at least one nonfuorinated compound [compound (M)] having at least one unsaturated moiety, provided that the nonfluorinated compound (M) has at least two unsaturated moieties if compound (E) has one unsaturated moiety; and c) at least one crosslinking initiator.
US08697976B2

Each parameter is provided with increase/decrease switches and a slider. In a case where a user desires seamless rough control of the value of a target parameter, the user is to use the slider. In a case where the user desires easy control of the value of the parameter with the smallest unit of the resolution, the user is to use the increase/decrease switches. Since the slider specifies a parameter value in accordance with the position of the manipulated slider, the range within which the parameter value can change is determined on the basis of the current parameter value and the maximum value and the minimum value of the parameter. Because the increase/decrease switch increases/decreases a parameter value by “1” at each manipulation, the range within which the parameter value can change by a single manipulation of the increase/decrease switch is “±1”.
US08697969B2

A bridge assembly having a saddle plate, a tremolo block, and a bushing extending through the saddle plate and tremolo block. The bushing has an internal bore, and an engagement member extends through the bushing and is partially disposed in the internal bore. A tremolo arm has an engagement section with a flat engagement surface that defines a plane substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the engagement section. The engagement member is perpendicular to and laterally disposed from the internal bore's longitudinal axis. The engagement member frictionally engages the flat engagement surface when the engagement section is disposed in the internal bore. The tremolo arm's engagement section rotates with the busing as a unit relative to the tremolo block.
US08697956B1

A novel oat cultivar, designated ROMAR-07, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of oat cultivar ROMAR-07, to the plants of oat ROMAR-07 and to methods for producing a oat plant produced by crossing the cultivar ROMAR-07 with itself or another oat variety. The invention further relates to hybrid oat seeds and plants produced by crossing the cultivar ROMAR-07 with another oat cultivar.
US08697942B2

The invention relates to methods and compositions for identifying and selecting maize plants with enhanced resistance to Fusarium ear mold. Maize plants generated by the methods of the invention are also a feature of the invention.
US08697938B2

A disposable absorbent article worn about the lower torso of a wearer includes at least one pair of side panels connecting a first waist region to a second waist region forming a waist opening and a pair of leg openings. Each side panel includes a waist region, a hip region and a leg region wherein the waist region, the hip region and the leg region differs structurally, functionally and visually to provide an improved initial fit and sustained fit while exhibiting a garment-like appearance.
US08697936B2

An intravaginal device has a fluid storage element and at least one fluid transport element in fluid communication with the fluid storage element. The at least one fluid transport element has a first plate and a second plate coupled to the first plate. The second plate is capable of separating from the first plate sufficiently to provide inter-plate capillary action. The at least one fluid transport element is bendable about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fluid storage element. The invention also includes methods and apparatus useful in the production of an intravaginal device.
US08697935B2

System and method for alerting the occurrence of wetness on a skin area under a cover layer, comprising detection means for detecting the occurrence of wetness on the skin area under the cover layer, exposure means for exposing at least part of the skin area to a temperature having a course which mainly corresponds to the temperature course which would have occurred in the absence of said cover layer, and actuation means for actuating said exposure means under control of said detection means. The exposure means may comprise an electricity source, electricity/temperature conversion means, and control means for controlling the electrical current or voltage in accordance with a predetermined curve which results in an output temperature of the electricity/temperature conversion means which mainly corresponds to the temperature course which would have occurred in the absence of said cover layer. The electricity/temperature conversion means may comprise one or more Peltier elements.
US08697931B2

A first aid bandage includes bandaging material, a dressing pad and a bandaging element. The dressing pad is attached underneath the bandaging element. The bandaging material is attached to the bandaging element. The bandaging element has been rolled up so that there is a rolled-up portion and a straight portion in the bandaging element. The rolling has been done so that the rolled-up portion can be rolled up over the straight portion, whereby the bandaging element is put in a state of tension. There is an opening arrangement in the rolled-up portion of the bandaging element, in which opening arrangement there are guiding structures. The bandaging material is arranged to fit into the opening arrangement so that a part of the bandaging material is under the guiding structures.
US08697930B2

Convert a methylamine (e.g. monomethylamine, dimethylamine and trimethylamine) to a mixture of olefins (e.g. ethylene, propylene and butylene) by placing the methylamine, optionally in a mixture with at least one of ammonia and an inert diluent, in contact with a microporous acidic silicoaluminophosphate catalyst or a microporous aluminosilicate catalyst.
US08697927B1

A new family of crystalline microporous metallophosphates designated AlPO-67 has been synthesized. These metallophosphates are represented by the empirical formula R+rMm2+EPxSiyOz where R is an organoammonium cation such as the ETMA+ or DEDMA+, M is a framework metal alkaline earth or transition metal of valence 2+, and E is a trivalent framework element such as aluminum or gallium. The AlPO-67 compositions have the LEV topology and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes, and separation properties for separating at least one component.
US08697922B2

Described is a method for producing fluoropropenes of formula CF3CX═CX2 wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, comprising pyrolyzing a hydrofluorochloropropane of formula CF3CXYCX2Y, wherein each X is F or H, at least one X is H, and at least one X is F, and one Y is Cl and the other Y is H, in the gas-phase in a reaction vessel, maintained at a temperature high enough to effect the pyrolysis of said hydrofluorochloropropane to said fluoropropene, wherein the selectivity for the production of the fluoropropene is at least 80%, in the absence of a catalyst.
US08697921B2

The invention relates to a process for purifying crude aromatic nitro compounds which originate from the nitration of aromatic compounds, comprising the single or multiple performance of the following wash stage (a): (a) contacting the crude aromatic nitro compound (N-in) with an aqueous phase (W-res) and then separating the phases to obtain an organic phase (N-res) and an aqueous phase (W-res), wherein at least one demulsifier (D) is present in one or more of the wash stages (a).
US08697914B2

Process for preparing bis(para-amino-cyclohexyl)methane by multiphase reaction of methylenedianiline with hydrogen, in which the reaction is performed in 5 to 50 series-connected reaction zones under adiabatic conditions.
US08697912B2

The present invention relates to an N-(1-hydroxyethyl)carboxamide compound represented by formula (1) (in the formula, RA and RB represent independently from each other a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms except for a case where RA and RB represent a hydrogen atom at the same time) and a method for producing the same; a method for producing an N-(1-alkoxyethyl)carboxamide compound; a method for producing an N-vinyl carboxylic acid amide compound; and a method for producing an N-vinyl carboxylic acid amide (co)polymer. An N-(1-alkoxyethyl)carboxamide compound can be obtained by reacting N-(1-hydroxyethyl)carboxamide compound with alcohol in the presence of an acid catalyst, and an N-vinyl carboxylic acid amide compound, which is a monomer of the N-vinyl carboxylic acid amide (co)polymer, can be obtained by thermally decomposing or catalytically decomposing the N-(1-alkoxyethyl)carboxamide compound.
US08697903B2

A fluorinated ester monomer is provided having formula (1) wherein R1 is H, CH3 or CF3, R2 and R3 are H or a monovalent hydrocarbon group, or R2 and R3 forms a hydrocarbon ring, R4 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group, and k is 0 or 1. A polymer obtained from the monomer has transparency to radiation with a wavelength of up to 200 nm and appropriate alkaline hydrolysis, is constructed such that any of water repellency, water slip and surface segregation may be adjusted by a choice of its structure, and is useful in forming ArF immersion lithography materials.
US08697897B2

A process is provided for preparing C8-C22 acyl glycinate acid or salt thereof via reacting and heating a mixture of glycine or salt thereof with a C1-C3 alkyl ester of a C8-C22 fatty acid in a medium of glycerol or propylene glycol. The reaction proceeds well where the mixture is formulated to have a pKa ranging from 9.5 to 13.
US08697894B2

A new process for preparing a compound of Formula V, wherein P is a hydroxy protecting group and R is acetyl, said process including the steps of: i) selectively deacetylating the 10-hydroxy group of 9-dihydro-13-acetylbaccatin III with N,N-dimethylethylenediamine to produce 9-dihydro-10-deacetyl-13-acetyl-baccatin III; ii) concomitantly protecting 7-hydroxy and 10-hydroxy groups of the reaction product of step i); and iii) oxidizing the 9-hydroxy group of the reaction product of step ii) with an oxidizing agent to produce the compound of formula V.
US08697886B2

According to the present invention, unstable hydrogen of 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole, which is a promising material for insensitive high-performance molecular explosives, may be stabilized by aminoguanidium to provide di(aminoguanidium) 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole, thereby solving the hygroscopicity of 4,4′,5,5′-tetranitro-2,2′-biimidazole, and enhancing performance and insensitivity thereof.
US08697885B2

An object is to provide a novel carbazole compound that can be used for a transport layer, a host material, or a light-emitting material in a light-emitting element. A carbazole compound where nitrogen of a carbazole group, the carbazole skeleton of which whose 3-position is bonded to the 4-position of a dibenzofuran skeleton or a dibenzothiophene skeleton, is bonded to a benzimidazole skeleton through a phenylene group, is provided. The carbazole compound has a high carrier-transport property, and can be suitably used for a material for a light-emitting element or for an organic semiconductor material.
US08697881B2

Disclosed is a practical method for efficiently producing an alcohol compound by hydrogenating an aldehyde by using a homogeneous copper catalyst which is an easily-available low-cost metal species. Specifically disclosed is a method for producing an alcohol compound, which is characterized in that a hydrogenation reaction of an aldehyde compound is performed in the presence of a homogeneous copper catalyst, a monophosphine compound and an alcohol selected from the group consisting of primary alcohols, secondary alcohols and mixtures of those.
US08697875B2

The invention provides for compounds that are phosphodiesterase inhibitors. The invention further provides for a method for screening compounds that bind to and modulate a phosphosdiesterase protein. The invention also provides methods for treating conditions associated with accumulated amyloid-beta peptide deposit accumulations by administering a phosphodiesterase-binding compound to a subject.
US08697865B2

The present invention provides a cyclic amide derivative useful as a drug for treating thrombosis, which is represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 represents an optionally substituted cyclic hydrocarbon group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group, W represents a bond or an optionally substituted divalent chain hydrocarbon group, a represents 0, 1, or 2, X1 represents an optionally substituted lower alkylene or an optionally substituted lower alkenylene, Y1 represents —C(O)—, —S(O)— or —S(O)2—, A represents a piperazine ring which may be further substituted or a piperidine ring which may be further substituted, X2 represents a bond or an optionally substituted lower alkylene, Y2 represents —C(O)—, —S(O)—, —S(O)2— or —C(═NR7)—, X3 represents an optionally substituted C1-4 alkylene or an optionally substituted C2-4 alkenylene, Z3 represents —N(R4)—, —O— or a bond, Z1 represents —C(R2) (R2′)—, —N(R2)—, etc., and Z2 represents —C(R3)(R3′)—, —N(R3)—, etc., or a salt thereof.
US08697863B2

The present disclosure relates to compounds that are sodium channel inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula I: wherein Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, X, Y, R2, R3 and R4 are as described herein, to methods for the preparation and use of the compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.
US08697862B2

Novel synthesis routes for preparation of thiodigalactosides and intermediates are presented. The method includes the use of a 3-azido-galactosyl thiouronium salt derivative, which is activated to the corresponding thiol in situ, which in turn is directly reacted with a 3-azido-galactosyl bromide resulting in the 3,3′-di-azido-thio-di-galactoside before the thiol has a chance to reduce the azido 10 group. Hence, in situ formation of the 3-azido-galactosyl thiol from the thiouronium salt is essential in the synthesis procedure, because any other method that generate the thiol separately results in extensive unwanted azide reduction.
US08697860B1

Provided herein are methods, compounds, and compositions for reducing expression of transthyretin mRNA and protein in an animal. Such methods, compounds, and compositions are useful to treat, prevent, delay, or ameliorate transthyretin amyloidosis, or a symptom thereof.
US08697855B2

The present invention relates to new antibodies capable of binding specifically to the human CD151 protein, especially monoclonal antibodies of murine origin, which are chimeric and humanized, and also to the amino acid and nucleic sequences coding for those antibodies. The invention also includes use of those antibodies as medicaments for the prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatment of cancers and in diagnostic methods or kits for diseases associated with overexpression of the CD151 protein. Finally, the invention includes products and/or compositions comprising such antibodies in association with antibodies and/or anti-cancer agents or conjugated with toxins and/or radioelements and their use in the prevention and/or treatment of certain cancers.
US08697854B2

The present invention is directed to a high affinity T cell receptor (TCR) against a tumor-associated antigen, an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding same, a T cell expressing said TCR, and a pharmaceutical composition for use in the treatment of diseases involving malignant cells expressing said tumor-associated antigen.
US08697848B2

The present invention provides methods for reducing and/or evaluating the immunogenic potential of a therapeutic protein preparation. The present invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions of therapeutic proteins and methods of treatment with the same, the compositions having low immunogenic potential and/or improved efficacy. The invention achieves these goals by evaluating therapeutic protein preparations for subvisible protein particulates, which can contribute significantly to the overall immunogenic potential of the protein preparation. Further, by maintaining the content of such subvisible protein particulates to below an immunogenic threshold level, the resulting pharmaceutical composition is less likely to result in a loss of tolerance (e.g., upon repeated administration), thereby improving both the safety and efficacy profile of the therapeutic.
US08697843B1

The present disclosure provides superabsorbent materials comprising wheat gluten chemically modified with citric acid, methods of producing superabsorbent materials and methods of use.
US08697837B2

The present application provides peptides that serve as substrates for proteasome enzymatic activity, e.g., the enzymatic activity of Rpn11, a metalloprotease of the 19S regulatory particle. The present application also provides methods and compositions employing the peptide substrates.
US08697832B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing lactic acid polymers of highly crystallinity and molecular weight, the process comprising melt polymerization of a lactide to form prepolymers having active end groups followed by solid state polymerization. The polymerization is carried out in the presence of a catalyst complex comprising a lactide, an organic metal-oxo compound and a lactic acid oligomer. The residual lactide after the melt polymerization is removed by heating the reaction mixture in the temperature range of 98° C. to a temperature less than the melting point of the prepolymer. The metal to oligomer ratio in the catalyst complex is in the range of 0.1 to 10, preferably in the range of 0.5 to 5, more preferably in the range of 0.8 to 1.5.
US08697826B2

A self-crosslinkable latex polymer includes: a polymer chain having a plurality of ethylenically unsaturated units; and a plurality of peroxide functional groups bonded to the polymer chain and having a structure represented by —R1—C—O—O—R2 or —R4—(COO)—C—O—O—R5, wherein R1 and R4 each represents a hydrocarbon group and is bonded to the polymer chain and R2 and R5 each represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms.
US08697819B2

The present invention relates to a process for producing steam using heat recovered from a polymerization reaction. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for producing steam using heat recovered from a polymerization reaction for producing polyolefin, comprising the steps of: thermally contacting said polymerization reaction with a cooling fluid such that the cooling fluid removes heat from said reaction, thermally contacting at least part of said cooling fluid with at least one absorption cycle thereby transferring heat from the cooling fluid to said absorption cycle, using said absorption cycle to produce steam from a condensate, wherein the cooling fluid is used as a hot source for heating at least one evaporator and at least one generator comprised in said at least one absorption cycle. The present invention also relates to a process for cooling a polymerization reaction using a process as described herein. Said invention also relates to a polyolefin producing unit.
US08697814B2

A polyamide molding composition is condensed up in the melt by means of a masterbatch containing a compound having at least two carbonate units and also a polyetheramide in which at least 50% of the end groups are present as amino end groups, whereupon the melt mixture is discharged and solidified to give a molding composition or a molding. The product obtained has an increased amino end group content and consequently an improved hydrolysis resistance.
US08697812B2

The present invention relates to a method of preparing a superabsorbent polymer, including the steps of: preparing a hydrous gel phase polymer by thermal polymerizing or photo-polymerizing a monomer composition including a water-soluble ethylene-based unsaturated monomer and a polymerization initiator; drying the hydrous gel phase polymer; milling the dried polymer; adding a surface cross-linking agent to the milled polymer; and elevating the temperature of the polymer including the surface cross-linking agent at a speed of 3° C./min to 15° C./min, and carrying out a surface cross-linking reaction at 100° C. to 250° C.
US08697803B2

An epoxy resin composition for encapsulating a semiconductor chip according to this invention comprises (A) a crystalline epoxy resin, (B) a phenol resin represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 and R2 are independently hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and two or more R1s or two or more R2s are the same or different; a is integer of 0 to 4; b is integer of 0 to 4; c is integer of 0 to 3; and n is average and is number of 0 to 10, (C) a (co)polymer containing butadiene-derived structural unit or its derivative, and (D) an inorganic filler in the amount of 80 wt % to 95 wt % both inclusive in the total epoxy resin composition.
US08697797B2

The present invention pertains to particular HASE rheology modifiers: they are aqueous emulsions whose solids content may reach about 25%, based on acrylic thickeners having an associative monomer functionalized by an oxo alcohol based hydrophobic group. Their method of synthesis, as well as a method for thickening an aqueous formulation containing them, also constitute objectives of the present invention.
US08697790B2

A composition includes a dispersion, having an aqueous phase containing a dissolved water soluble cationic coagulant polymer and if needed a dissolved inorganic salt. The aqueous phase further contains a dispersed water soluble flocculant polymer, wherein the water soluble flocculant polymer is formed of a water soluble ethylenically unsaturated monomer or monomer blend which are polymerized in the aqueous phase. The water soluble cationic coagulant polymer is cationic poly(alkyleneamine), which is the reaction product of the following reaction: H2N—(CH2)m—NR—(CH2)m—NH2+Cl—CH2CH2—Cl, wherein R is selected from the group consisting alkyl radicals containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms m is an integer of from 1 to 4. The amount of dissolved inorganic salt is less than 10% by weight of the composition, and the composition is in a stable, pourable, dispersion form.
US08697779B2

A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding gas phase, the resulting polymer particles having a water content of at least 5% by weight, and being aftertreated thermally in the fluidized state in the presence of steam at a temperature of at least 60° C.
US08697778B2

The present invention relates to a black matrix formed by applying a curable coating composition onto a substrate to form a curable coating, curing the curable coating imagewise to form a coating, and developing and drying the coating. The curable coating composition comprises a vehicle, a curable resin, and at least one modified pigment comprising a pigment having attached at least one organic group having the formula -X-I or -X-NI, wherein X, which is directly attached to the pigment, represents an arylene or heteroarylene group, an alkylene group, an aralkylene group, or an alkarylene group, I represents a non-polymeric group comprising at least one ionic group or at least one ionizable group, and NI represents a non-polymeric group comprising at least one nonionic group. The curable coating composition, curable coating, and cured coating are also described. Also disclosed is a method of controlling the resistivity of a coating.
US08697775B2

Provided is a polymer nanoparticle comprising a core and a vulcanizable shell, wherein the core has a glass transition temperature (Tg) of at least about 150° C. Also provided is a method of preparing polymer nanoparticles with a core and a vulcanizable shell, comprising (a) in a liquid hydrocarbon medium, polymerizing conjugated diene monomers to produce a poly(conjugated diene) block and (b) copolymerizing the poly(conjugated diene) block with a mixture of mono-vinyl aromatic monomers and multiple-vinyl aromatic monomers to produce an aromatic block, wherein the core has a Tg of at least about 150° C. Also provided is a composition comprising (a) a rubber matrix; and (b) a polymer nanoparticle including a core and a vulcanizable shell; wherein the Tg of the core is at least about 150° C.
US08697772B2

Certain novel polymerizable phosphoric acid derivatives (hereinafter referred to as monomers) comprising a polyalicyclic structure element, mixtures comprising one or a plurality of these compounds and corresponding curable blends and products as well as their respective use as a dental material or for the preparation of a dental material are described. The compounds are eminently suitable as bonding agents, in particular in dental adhesive materials. A process for preparing these compounds or mixtures and a method for preparing a product, preferably a product suitable for dentistry, are also described.
US08697771B2

Disclosed herein are biocompatible coatings for a substrate, the biocompatible coating including at least one polyanionic/polycationic bilayer including at least one nitric oxide generating moiety, wherein the polyanionic/polycationic bilayer has a layer of a polycationic polymeric material; and a layer of polyanionic material capable of non-covalently bonding to the polycationic polymeric material. Devices incorporating such coatings, and methods of making and using such coatings are also disclosed herein.
US08697767B2

Provided is a production method for a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition capable of sufficiently expressing each of “attachment position correction workability” that enables a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape containing the composition to be easily aligned by the expression of good temporary attachment property, “reworkability” that enables the tape to be easily reattached, and “temperature-sensitive strong pressure-sensitive adhesiveness” that enables the tape to express strong temperature-sensitive pressure-sensitive adhesiveness. The production method for a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition is a production method for a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition containing a cross-linked polymer in which an acrylic copolymer (A) is cross-linked by a polyurethane(meth)acrylate (B), the method including irradiating a monomer mixed liquid essentially containing a (meth)acrylate and a (meth)acrylamide with an active energy ray in the presence of the polyurethane(meth)acrylate (B).
US08697763B2

Described herein are methods of making open celled foams including a matrix of interconnected spheres. The open celled foams are silicone based materials and can be used to coat implants, such as breast implants, and function to encourage tissue ingrowth and reduce capsular formation.
US08697758B2

A urea compound of the present invention is represented by general formula (I) shown below: wherein each of X1, X2 and X3 independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group. The aryl group may have one or more functional groups selected from the group consisting of halogen groups, alkyl groups and alkoxy groups.
US08697748B2

A method for treating glycogen storage disease by administering an effective amount of a composition that includes ketogenic odd carbon fatty acids that ameliorate the symptoms of these diseases.
US08697743B2

The present invention is directed to antioxidant derivatives of camptothecin and antioxidant derivatives of camptothecin analogs and the preparation of nanometer-sized camptothecin prodrugs. Methods of synthesizing the antioxidant derivatives of camptothecin and antioxidant derivatives of camptothecin analogs, spontaneous emulsification or nanoprecipitation thereof to produce antioxidant camptothecin nanosphere prodrugs and their use in treating cancerous diseases are also provided. A further aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant camptothecin nanosphere prodrugs for the preparation of delivery devices of other pharmaceuticals and/or drugs. Additionally, methods of treating cancer with the camptothecin and antioxidant derivatives of camptothecin analogs, and nanometer-sized camptothecin prodrugs are also provided.
US08697741B2

A process for the preparation of amorphous atorvastatin calcium. The process includes providing a reaction mixture having a pH between 6.5 and 8.0 containing a sodium salt of atorvastatin and tetrahydrofuran. A non-cyclic chlorinated organic solvent selected from the group consisting of dichloromethane, trichloroethane, tetrachloroethane and chloroform or addition of cyclic hydrocarbon solvent selected from the group consisting of cyclohexane, cyclopentane and methyl cyclohexane is added to provide a mixture of organic solvents. An equivalent or an excess quantity of a source of calcium ions selected from the group consisting of calcium acetate and calcium chloride is added. Amorphous atorvastatin calcium is isolated from an organic phase comprising the mixture of organic solvents.
US08697740B2

The present invention relates to polymorphic forms of a compound of formula A: This compound is useful as a glucagon receptor antagonist and serves as a pharmaceutically active ingredient for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and related conditions, such as hyperglycemia, obesity, dyslipidemia, and the metabolic syndrome. Hydrates, hemihydrates, anhydrates and similar polymorphic forms are included.
US08697739B2

The present invention provides compounds of formula (I); or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein the variables are defined as herein. The present invention provides a method for manufacturing the compounds of formula (I), their therapeutic uses, combinations with other of pharmacologically active agents, and a pharmaceutical compositions.
US08697737B2

The present invention relates to compounds of the Formula I, wherein G, A, X1, X2, X3, Z, E, Y, and X are defined herein. The compounds modulate protein kinase enzymatic activity to modulate cellular activities such as proliferation, differentiation, programmed cell death, migration and chemoinvasion. Compounds of the invention inhibit, regulate and/or modulate kinases, particularly Raf. Methods of using and preparing the compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, to treat kinase-dependent diseases and conditions are also an aspect of the invention.
US08697733B2

The present invention relates to novel pyridine derivatives, processes for preparing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as pharmaceuticals as modulators of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US08697722B2

The disclosure provides compounds capable of selectively or non-selectively modulating nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The compounds, compositions, and methods described herein are useful, for example, in treating patients suffering from various medical conditions including pain, chemical addictions, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. In one embodiment, the compounds comprise a 7- to 11-membered azabicyclo ring.
US08697715B2

Compounds of Formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are provided, which are useful for the treatment of hyperproliferative, pain and inflammatory diseases. Methods of using compounds of Formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, for in vitro, in situ, and in vivo diagnosis, prevention or treatment of such disorders in mammalian cells, or associated pathological conditions are disclosed.
US08697714B2

The present invention relates to a compound of the general formula (I) useful in the determining the presence, amount or activity of an enzyme in living cells, a method of preparing said compounds and a kit thereof.
US08697691B2

In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having a general structure: which are useful as selective allosteric or bitopic agonists of the M1 muscarinic receptor; synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of using the compounds, for example, in treating neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's Disease. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08697687B2

A compound of Formula I in free or salt or solvate form, where R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10 and R11 have the meanings as indicated in the specification, is useful for treating diseases which respond to the blockade of the epithelial sodium channel. Pharmaceutical compositions that contain the compounds and processes for preparing the compounds are also described.
US08697682B2

This invention relates to a hydrochloride, malate, oxalate and tartrate salt forms of 1-(4-{1-[(E)-4-cyclohexyl-3-trifluoromethyl-benzyloxyimino]-ethyl}-2-ethyl-benzyl)-azetidine-3-carboxylic acid (Compound I), to pharmaceutical compositions comprising this salt, to processes for forming this salt and to its use in medical treatment. In addition, the present invention also relates to new polymorphic forms of each of these salts, as well as to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these polymorphic forms, to processes for obtaining them, and their use in medical treatment.
US08697673B2

Compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds are disclosed, wherein the compounds have the structure of Formula I as defined herein. Corresponding pharmaceutical compositions, methods of treatment, methods of synthesis, and intermediates are also disclosed.
US08697668B2

Compositions and methods of using compositions that induce UBE1L or a ubiquitin-like protein ISG15, or inhibit a deconjugase UBP43 to degrade oncogenic proteins and enhance apoptosis of cancer (neoplastic) or pre-cancerous (pre-neoplastic) cells are provided. Methods for the prevention or treatment of cancer via administration of these compositions are also provided.
US08697658B2

Compounds of formula (I): wherein X, Y, and Z are defined herein. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions and therapeutical methods related to these compounds.
US08697652B2

This invention relates to the cosmetic use of at least one compound of formula (I) wherein A1 is the radical corresponding to D- or L-Ser A2 is the radical corresponding to D- or L-Asp or Glu, A3 is the radical corresponding to D- or L-Lys, Arg or Orn, A4 is the radical corresponding to D- or L-pro, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in the claims as anti-aging and restructuring agents.
US08697645B2

Provided are hemoglobins having at least two chemical modifications that lower oxygen affinity, hemoglobins chemically modified by the addition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, and hemoglobins having at least two specific chemical modifications. PEGylated versions of these hemoglobins are also provided, as are certain tetraPEGylated and diPEGylated hemoglobins. Methods of modifying a hemoglobin are additionally provided, as are methods of making a hemoglobin. Pharmaceutical compositions and blood substitutes using these hemoglobins are further provided, as are methods of treating a subject using these pharmaceutical compositions and blood substitutes.
US08697644B2

Stable formulations for parenteral injection of peptide drugs and methods of using such stable formulations are provided. In particular, the present invention provides stable formulations for parenteral injection of glucagon and methods of using such glucagon formulations to treat hypoglycemia, especially severe hypoglycemia in emergency situations.
US08697643B2

A conjugate that includes a drug covalently linked to a polymer. Upon administration, the conjugate is digested by an enzyme that is present at the site of administration thereby releasing a therapeutic agent. The conjugate may demonstrate substantially the same pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic behavior as the drug itself. A material for controllably releasing a conjugate in response to the local concentration of a molecular indicator. The material includes a plurality of conjugates and a plurality of multivalent cross-linking agents. The polymers of the conjugates include an analog of the indicator within their covalent structure. The multivalent cross-linking agents include cross-link receptors that interact with the indicator analog and thereby cross-link the conjugates. These non-covalent interactions are competitively disrupted when an amount of the molecular indicator is present thereby causing the material to release the conjugate in a manner that is dependent on the local concentration of indicator.
US08697637B2

The present invention relates to an antimicrobial peptide characterised in that said peptide includes the sequence SEQ ID No. 1 or the sequence SEQ ID No. 2, the sequence SEQ ID No. 2 representing a fragment of the sequence SEQ ID No. 1, for use as a drug. Advantageously according to the invention, the peptide having sequence SEQ ID No. 1 is used specifically for treating bacterial, viral and/or parasitic infections, and the peptide having sequence SEQ No. 2 is used for treating bacterial and/or viral infections.
US08697635B2

The present application relates to a pharmaceutical preparation to be administered into respiratory organs for treating or preventing inflammatory respiratory diseases, comprising a peptide which acts on formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) or receptors analogous thereto, in an amount which is effective in suppressing respiratory inflammation. The present application also relates to a method for treating or preventing inflammatory respiratory diseases by using the preparation, and to a kit containing the preparation. As compared with systemic administration of the peptide by injection, direct administration of the peptide to respiratory organs remarkedly improves the effect in suppressing respiratory inflammation.
US08697634B2

Peptides having at least 2 amino acids and no more than 15 amino acids are provided. The peptides comprise amino acid sequence X—Y or Y—X, wherein X is an aromatic amino acid and Y is any amino acid other than glycine. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and kits including such peptides as well as methods using same for diagnosing and treating amyloid associated diseases.
US08697633B2

Embodiments of methods of treating atherosclerosis are described. In some embodiments an emulsifier is provided to achieve levels in the systemic circulation that are effective to solubilize atherosclerotic plaque, resulting in plaque regression. In some embodiments, levels of greater than 50 μM are achieved; in some embodiments levels ranging from about 100 μM to about 600 μM are achieved; in some embodiments, levels ranging from about 100 μM to about 300 μM are achieved. Emulsifiers can include bile salts, saponins, and ionic, nonionic, and zwitterionic detergents, or salts, conjugates, hydrates, solvates, or polymorphs thereof. In some embodiments, a statin can be administered simultaneously or sequentially with an emulsifier.
US08697626B2

The present invention relates to use of a compound of formula (I) in the form of any one of its stereoisomers or a mixture thereof, and wherein the dotted lines represent a single or double bond, and at least one of said dotted lines represents a double bond; n represents simultaneously 0, in which case the oxygen atom is bounded to the cyclanic carbon atom by a double bond, or 1, in which case the oxygen atom is bounded to the cyclanic carbon atom by a single bond, each R represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group; and R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl or ethyl group; and the groups R, R1 and R2 have in total, i.e. all together account for 1 to 4 carbon atoms; as perfuming ingredient, for instance to impart odor notes of the woody type together with balsamic/spicy and/or musky notes.
US08697623B2

An automatic dishwashing detergent composition comprising by weight of the composition: a) at least 9% of coated bleach particles the particles having a coating comprising at least 5% by weight of the particle of an efflorescent material; b) at least 0.5% of granulates containing active enzyme wherein the granulates comprise efflorescent material.
US08697620B2

The object of the present invention is to improve the solidification point and the hardness of a soap of the fatty acid soap series wherein the percentage of potassium used as the counter ion is large. The solid soap of the present invention to achieve the above-described object is characterized by comprising 1 to 5 mass % of a betaine, and in that sodium and potassium are contained as the fatty acid counter ion, and potassium is 20 mole % or more of the counter ion.
US08697618B2

A method in which an improved lubricating composition containing ionic liquids is used to enable operation of chains, steel belts, wheel bearings, roller bearings, sliding bearings and electric motors for at least 48 hours by reducing the evaporation loss and the lackification tendency of the lubricant due to the lubricant being protected against thermal and oxidative attack.
US08697610B2

Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using polymer viscosified fluid crosslinked with metal complexes with amino and/or phosphonic acids to provide an increased crosslinking temperature and a low pH sensitivity. The metal complexes can be used with borate crosslinkers to provide continuous viscosification as the temperature is increased.
US08697600B2

An exhaust gas purifying catalyst that contains a first oxygen storage material on which no noble metal is supported and which has a pyrochlore phase type regular array structure, and a second oxygen storage material which has a higher oxygen storage rate and a lower oxygen storage capacity than the first oxygen storage material and on which a platinum group noble metal is supported.
US08697586B2

A fire retardant structural board is provided that includes a body of fibrous material, a triglycidyle polyester binder, a sodium borate pentahydride fire retardant, and a sodium borate pentahydride fire retardant. The body of fibrous material has a weight, first and second surfaces, first and second sides, and a thickness. The fibrous material and triglycidyle polyester are dispersed throughout the thickness of the body. The sodium borate pentahydride fire retardant is dispersed between individual fibers of the fibrous material and throughout the thickness of the body. A sodium borate pentahydride fire retardant composition also coats at least the first surface of the body.
US08697584B2

By forming an additional dielectric material, such as silicon nitride, after patterning dielectric liners of different intrinsic stress, a significant increase of performance of N-channel transistors may be obtained while substantially not contributing to a performance loss of the P-channel transistor.
US08697580B2

Provided is a method of forming patterns for a semiconductor device in which fine patterns and large-width patterns are formed simultaneously and adjacent to each other. In the method, a first layer is formed on a substrate so as to cover a first region and a second region which are included in the substrate. Both a blocking pattern covering a portion of the first layer in the first region and a low-density large-width pattern covering a portion of the first layer in the second region are simultaneously formed. A plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are formed on the first layer and the blocking pattern in the first region. A plurality of spacers covering exposed sidewalls of the plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are formed. The plurality of sacrificial mask patterns are removed. The first layer in the first and second regions are simultaneously etched by using the plurality of spacers and the blocking pattern as etch masks in the first region and using the low-density large-width pattern as an etch mask in the second region.
US08697579B2

A method of forming an isolation structure includes forming a trench at an upper portion of a substrate, forming a first oxide layer on an inner wall of the trench, oxidizing a portion of the substrate adjacent to the trench to form a second oxide layer such that the portion of the substrate adjacent to the trench has the first oxide layer thereon, forming a nitride layer on the first oxide layer, and forming an insulation layer pattern on the nitride layer such that the insulation layer pattern fills a remaining portion of the trench.
US08697578B2

A method for using a film formation apparatus for a semiconductor process to form a thin film on a target substrate while supplying a film formation reactive gas from a first nozzle inside a reaction chamber includes performing a cleaning process to remove a by-product film deposited inside the reaction chamber and the first nozzle, in a state where the reaction chamber does not accommodate the target substrate. The cleaning process includes, in order, an etching step of supplying a cleaning reactive gas for etching the by-product film into the reaction chamber, and activating the cleaning reactive gas, thereby etching the by-product film, and an exhaust step of stopping supply of the cleaning reactive gas and exhausting gas from inside the reaction chamber. The etching step is arranged to use conditions that cause the cleaning reactive gas supplied in the reaction chamber to flow into the first nozzle.
US08697569B2

A method of forming a conductive element on a substrate and the resulting assembly are provided. The method includes forming a groove in a sacrificial layer overlying a dielectric region disposed on a substrate. The groove preferably extends along a sloped surface of the substrate. The sacrificial layer is preferably removed by a non-photolithographic method, such as ablating with a laser, mechanical milling, or sandblasting. A conductive element is formed in the groove. The grooves may be formed. The grooves and conductive elements may be formed along any surface of the substrate, including within trenches and vias formed therein, and may connect to conductive pads on the front and/or rear surface of the substrate. The conductive elements are preferably formed by plating and may or may not conform to the surface of the substrate.
US08697568B2

Disclosed is a method of fabricating a semiconductor chip. The method includes forming a silicon layer; forming a first layer formed on the silicon layer and including a first seal ring surrounding a first chip area and a second seal ring surrounding a second chip area; and forming a second layer formed on the first layer and including a metal interconnection connecting one of the first and second chip areas and an external terminal.
US08697566B2

A manufacturing method of a bump structure is provided. A substrate having at least one pad and a passivation layer is provided. The passivation layer has at least one first opening exposing the pad. An insulating layer is formed on the passivation layer. The insulating layer has at least one second opening located above the first opening. A metal layer is formed on the insulating layer. The metal layer electrically connects the pad through the first and second openings. A first bump is formed in the first and second openings. A second bump is formed on the first bump and a portion of the metal layer. The metal layer not covered by the second bump is partially removed by using the second bump as a mask, so as to form at least one UBM layer. The first bump is completely covered by the UBM layer and the second bump.
US08697563B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a transistor having a stacked structure in a peripheral circuit region to increase net die and forming a metal silicide layer over a source/drain region of a transistor formed over an upper layer to reduce a contact resistance. The semiconductor device may include: a second active region including a silicon layer connected to a first active region of a semiconductor substrate; a gate formed over the second active region; a spacer formed on sidewalls of the gate; a source/drain region form at both sides of the spacer; and a metal silicide layer formed over the gate and the source/drain region.
US08697561B2

A finFET structure includes a semiconductor fin located over a substrate. A gate electrode is located traversing the semiconductor fin. The gate electrode has a spacer layer located adjoining a sidewall thereof. The spacer layer does not cover completely a sidewall of the semiconductor fin. The gate electrode and the spacer layer may be formed using a vapor deposition method that provides for selective deposition upon a sidewall of a mandrel layer but not upon an adjoining surface of the substrate, so that the spacer layer does not cover completely the sidewall of the semiconductor fin. Other microelectronic structures may be fabricated using the lateral growth methodology.
US08697560B2

An electronic device can include a transistor structure, including a patterned semiconductor layer overlying a substrate and having a primary surface, wherein the patterned semiconductor layer defines a first trench and a second trench that extend from the primary surface towards the substrate. The electronic device can further include a first conductive electrode and a gate electrode within the first trench. The electronic device can still further include a second conductive electrode within the second trench. The electronic device can include a source region within the patterned semiconductor layer and disposed between the first and second trenches. The electronic device can further include a body contact region within the patterned semiconductor layer and between the first and second trenches, wherein the body contact region is spaced apart from the primary surface. Processes of forming the electronic device can take advantage of forming all trenches during processing sequence.
US08697550B2

The present method of manufacturing a GaN-based film includes the steps of preparing a composite substrate, the composite substrate including a support substrate in which a coefficient of thermal expansion in a main surface is more than 0.8 time and less than 1.2 times as high as a coefficient of thermal expansion of GaN crystal in a direction of a axis and a single crystal film arranged on a side of the main surface of the support substrate, the single crystal film having threefold symmetry with respect to an axis perpendicular to a main surface of the single crystal film, and forming a GaN-based film on the main surface of the single crystal film in the composite substrate. Thus, a method of manufacturing a GaN-based film capable of manufacturing a GaN-based film having a large main surface area and less warpage is provided.
US08697534B2

A wiring substrate in which a capacitor is provided, the capacitor comprising a capacitor body including a plurality of dielectric layers and internal electrode layers provided between the different dielectric layers, wherein said capacitor body has, in at least one side face of said capacitor body, recesses extending in a thickness direction of said capacitor body from at least one of a first principal face of said capacitor body and a second principal face positioned on the side opposite to the first principal face.
US08697531B2

A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate having a protrusion, a gate insulating film formed over an upper surface of the protrusion of the silicon substrate, a gate electrode formed over the gate insulating film, a source/drain region formed in the silicon substrate on the side of the gate electrode, a first side wall formed over the side surface of the protrusion of the silicon substrate, the first side wall containing an insulating material, a second side wall formed over the first side wall, the second side wall having a bottom portion formed below the upper surface of the protrusion of the silicon substrate, the second side wall containing a material having a Young's modulus greater than that of the silicon substrate, and a stress film formed over the gate electrode and the second side wall.
US08697526B2

A semiconductor manufacturing method includes exposing on a photoresist film a first partial pattern of a contact hole, overlapping a part of a gate interconnection in alignment with an alignment mark formed simultaneously with forming the gate interconnection, exposing on the photoresist film a second partial pattern, overlapping a part of an active region in alignment with an alignment mark formed simultaneously with forming the active region, developing the photoresist film to form an opening at the portion where the first partial pattern and the second partial pattern have been exposed, and etching an insulation film to form a contact hole down to the gate interconnection and the source/drain diffused layer.
US08697520B2

A semiconductor device having a plurality of transistors includes a termination area that features a transistor with an asymmetric gate.
US08697518B2

A trench MOSFET with trench contact holes and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The MOSFET includes an N type substrate, an N type epitaxial layer on the substrate; a P well region on top of the epitaxial layer; a source region formed on the P well region; an oxide layer on the source region; a plurality of trenches which traverse the source region and the P well region and contact the epitaxial layer; a gate oxide layer and polysilicon formed in the trenches; a source contact hole and a gate contact hole, wherein the source contact hole and the gate contact hole have a titanium metal layer, a titanium nitride layer, and tungsten metal sequentially, respectively; a P+ implanted region; a source electrode formed above the source contact hole and a gate electrode formed above the gate contact hole.
US08697514B2

A method for forming a field effect transistor device includes patterning an arrangement of fin portions on a substrate, patterning a gate stack portion over portions of the fin portions and the substrate, growing an epitaxial material from the fin portions that electrically connects portions of adjacent fin structures, and removing a portion of the gate stack portion to expose a portion of the substrate.
US08697511B2

A method for producing a semiconductor device includes a step of forming a first insulating film around a fin-shaped silicon layer and forming a pillar-shaped silicon layer in an upper portion of the fin-shaped silicon layer; a step of implanting an impurity into upper portions of the pillar-shaped silicon layer and fin-shaped silicon layer and a lower portion of the pillar-shaped silicon layer to form diffusion layers; and a step of forming a polysilicon gate electrode, a polysilicon gate line, and a polysilicon gate pad. The polysilicon gate electrode and the polysilicon gate pad have a larger width than the polysilicon gate line. After these steps follow a step of depositing an interlayer insulating film, exposing and etching the polysilicon gate electrode and the polysilicon gate line, and depositing a metal layer to form a metal gate electrode and a metal gate line, and a step of forming a contact.
US08697508B2

A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A gate structure is formed on a substrate. An oxide layer is formed and covers the gate structure and the substrate. A plasma process without oxygen is performed to densify the oxide layer. A material layer is formed and covers the oxide layer. The material layer and the oxide layer are etched to form a dual spacer.
US08697496B1

An integrated circuit package may be formed using a leadframe having an open space extending therethrough. A shunt is located within the open space such that it is not in contact with any portion of the leadframe. Tape may be applied to the lower surface of the leadframe to support the shunt and hold it in place relative to the leadframe until wirebonding and encapsulation have been completed. Thereafter, the tape may be removed.
US08697490B2

A flip chip interconnection structure is formed by mechanically interlocking joining surfaces of a first and second element. The first element, which may be a bump on an integrated circuit chip, includes a soft, deformable material with a low yield strength and high elongation to failure. The surface of the second element, which may for example be a substrate pad, is provided with asperities into which the first element deforms plastically under pressure to form the mechanical interlock.
US08697485B2

Printed electronic device comprising a substrate onto at least one surface of which has been applied a layer of an electrically conductive ink comprising functionalized graphene sheets and at least one binder. A method of preparing printed electronic devices is further disclosed.
US08697482B1

A method for manufacturing a junction plane of a solar cell through an aluminum induced crystallization method includes steps of: providing a substrate; forming an aluminum film layer on a surface of a first growth area on a back side of the substrate; forming an N-type amorphous silicon layer on a surface of the aluminum film layer and a surface of a second growth area on the back side of the substrate; performing a thermal treatment to allow aluminum to induce the N-type amorphous silicon layer to crystallize and form a P-type polycrystalline silicon layer, such that positions of the aluminum film layer and the P-type polycrystalline silicon layer are switched due to the thermal treatment to allow the P-type polycrystalline silicon layer to be formed between the aluminum film layer and the substrate to form a PN junction plane with the N-type amorphous silicon layer.
US08697474B2

Embodiments of the invention provide for fabricating a filter, for electromagnetic radiation, in at least three ways, including (1) fabricating integrated thin film filters directly on a detector; (2) fabricating a free standing thin film filter that may be used with a detector; and (3) treating an existing filter to improve the filter's properties.
US08697469B2

The present invention discloses a protein transistor device, wherein an antibody molecule (antibody-antigen) is bonded to at least two gold nanoparticles in a high reproducible self-assembly way to form molecular junctions, and wherein the two gold nanoparticles are respectively joined to a drain and a source. The protein transistor device can be controlled to regulate current via applying a bias to the gate. The conformational change of the protein molecule will cause the variation of the charge transport characteristics of the protein transistor device. The protein transistor device can be further controlled by different optical fields via conjugating a quantum dot to the molecular junctions. Therefore, the present invention has diversified applications.
US08697458B2

A silicone protective coating for an electronic light source and a method for applying the coating over an exposed or outer surface of the electronic light source assembled as part of or mounted to a circuit board or other substrate.
US08697457B1

A method for manufacturing an electronic multi-chip module that involves stacking at least six tested devices to form the module. These devices may be individually tested prior to assembling the electronic module. After individually testing the devices, the devices may be stacked one on top of the other to form an electronic multi-chip module having at least six stacked devices. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08697447B2

The present invention includes a cleavable surfactant/detergent compound of the following formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Embodiments of the cleavable surfactant/detergent compound are useful, for example, in methods for isolating a hydrophobic molecule that include providing a plasma comprising a hydrophobic molecule, applying the cleavable surfactant to the plasma so that the surfactant engages the hydrophobic molecule, cleaving the surfactant from the hydrophobic molecule, and analyzing said hydrophobic molecule.
US08697438B2

Provided is a cell cultivation method in which the cell is cultured using a peptide hydrogel as a scaffold, for carrying out high-dimensional culture of a cell such as porcine hepatocyte, human hepatocyte, porcine pancreatic islet or human pancreatic islet for a long period under conditions where cell survival, cell morphology and cell functions are maintained. Also provided are a cell culture including a cell and a peptide hydrogel obtained by the above-described cultivation method, a bioreactor including the cell culture, and a cell preparation including the cell culture.
US08697435B2

A system for sample preparation and analyte detection includes a cartridge, with a fluidic channel, a waveguide, and a capture spot. The system further includes a force field generator, an imaging system, and a fluid, which includes a sample potentially containing a target analyte, first type particles, which include binding moieties specific for the target analyte and are responsive to a force field, and second type particles, which include binding moieties specific for the target analyte and are capable of generating a signal. When the sample contains the target analyte, specific binding interactions between the target analyte and binding moieties link first and second type particles via the target analyte to form multiple-particle complex capturable at a capture spot. The force field allows manipulation of the particles and multiple-particle complex such that the detected signal from the second type particles is indicative of the target analyte within the sample.
US08697427B2

Disclosed herein are obligate heterotrophic microalgae cells containing an exogenous gene. In some embodiments the gene is a sucrose utilization gene, and further disclosed are methods of manufacturing triglyceride oils using sugar cane or sugar beets as a feedstock in a heterotrophic fermentation. In other embodiments the feedstock is depolymerized cellulosic material. Also disclosed are cells that produce medium chain fatty acids at levels not produced in non-recombinant cells of the same species and genus.
US08697426B2

Contamination was controlled in fermentations using Zymomonas mobilis as the biocatalyst, without negative impact on fermentation production, by the addition of virginiamycin. The effective concentration of virginiamycin was found to be dependent upon the type of fermentation medium used.
US08697420B2

Provided is a method for producing corn gluten hydrolysate comprising: (a) separating corn gluten protein by removing carbohydrate, water soluble sugars, inorganic materials and fiber material; (b) preparing corn gluten protein lysate by carrying out acid hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis or natural fermentation; and (c) increasing a content of branch chain amino acid (BCAA) which is included in the hydrolysate by isolating, concentrating, precipitating, desalting and filtering the resultant corn gluten protein lysate. With improved pre-treatment and concentration processes as compared with the conventional method, the hydrolysate prepared according to the present invention is rich in amino acids and low-molecular-weight peptides. In particular, free amino acids and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are included in large quantity.
US08697416B2

4-(Indol-3-ylmethyl)-4-hydroxy-2-oxoglutarate, which is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of monatin, may be synthesized from indole pyruvic acid and pyruvic acid (and/or oxaloacetic acid) by using a novel aldolase derived from the genus Pseudomonas, Erwinia, Flavobacterium, or Xanthomonas.
US08697415B2

The present disclosure relates to a deacetylation hydrolase of a hyaluronic acid a hyaluronic acid deacetylated by same and a derivative thereof. The deacetylated hyaluronic acid and the derivative thereof have the following characteristic: a delayed initial decomposition rate on a living body; minimized decrease of molecular weight and viscosity; accelerated gelation due to a lower gelation temperature than the gelation temperature for a non-deacetylated hyaluronic acid; and an hMSC survival rate that is hardly affected by increased concentration of the deacetylated hyaluronic acid and the derivative thereof in a culture medium. As a result, the deacetylated hyaluronic acid and the derivative thereof can be useful as a bioingredient such a delivery system for a cell, gene, drug, and the like, or a support for tissue engineering, etc.
US08697412B2

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having glucoamylase activity, catalytic domains, carbohydrate binding domains and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding domains. The invention also relates to nucleic acid constructs, vectors, and host cells comprising the polynucleotides as well as methods of producing and using the polypeptides, catalytic domains or carbohydrate binding domains.
US08697403B2

Disclosed are processes for producing lipids for biofuel or lubricant and Streptomyces bacteria used in the processes. The processes include steps whereby bacterial cells of the germs Streptomyces are cultivated in a medium comprising organic waste(s) or residue(s) or mixtures thereof as carbon and/or nutrient source(s), wherein the organic waste(s) or residue(s) comprise lignocellulosic waste(s) or lignocellulosic residue(s), recovering lipids from the cells of the bacteria or from the cultivation medium, and using the recovered lipids or a fraction thereof as biofuel and/or lubricant, or as a starting material for biofuel and/or lubricant production.
US08697400B2

A DNA amplification method including: subjecting a blood sample having DNA to be amplified, to a pretreatment using an alkaline aqueous solution under ordinary temperature, so as to extract double-stranded DNA from the blood sample and dissociate the double-stranded DNA into a single-stranded DNA to obtain a blood-derived sample including the single-stranded DNA; preparing an isothermal amplification reaction solution comprising a mixture of the blood-derived sample, a primer, dNTP, a strand-displacing DNA polymerase, a magnesium salt and a buffer, to establish an isothermal amplification reaction system meeting optimum conditions for the strand-displacing DNA polymerase; and amplifying DNA in the isothermal amplification reaction system using the single-stranded DNA as a template.
US08697392B2

The invention relates to a process of fermenting plant material in a fermentation medium into a fermentation product using a fermenting organism, wherein one or more carbonic anhydrases are present in the fermentation medium.
US08697391B2

A method for determining the percentage of live cells or viability of cells in a sample is disclosed. In this method, a cell-containing sample is contacted with hydroxyethyldisulfide and the amount of mercaptoethanol produced is measured. The amount of mercaptoethanol is then compared to reference standard curves to determine the percentage of live cells in the sample or the viability of the cells.
US08697390B2

The present invention provides simple, rapid methods and procedures for analyzing cells, hereunder quantitative and qualitative assessment of cells. The present invention relates to the use of N-(9-acridinyl)maleimide (NAM) or to the use of 7-diethylamino-3-((4′-(iodoacetyl)amino)phenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPI), particularly detectable upon its reaction with species (e.g., sulphur-containing species) present in higher concentrations in intact (e.g., living) cells than in non-intact (e.g., dead) cells. The present invention also relates to the use of NAM or to the use of 7-diethylamino-3-((4′-(iodoacetyl)amino)phenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPI), particularly detectable upon its reaction with species present in intact and/or non-intact cells. Moreover, the present invention relates to the use of measuring techniques and/or instruments coupled with the use of NAM or with the use of 7-diethylamino-3-((4′-(iodoacetyl)amino)phenyl)-4-methylcoumarin (CPI). The invention further relates to compositions used in methods for analyzing cells.
US08697389B2

The present invention relates to cell labeling and imaging using a multifunctional perfluorocarbon (PFC) nanoemulsion. In particular, the perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion containing optical nanoparticle is provided with both optical characteristics and 19F magnetic resonance characteristics, thus can be used for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and optical imaging (OI) simultaneously. Cell labeling and imaging using the perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion containing quantum dot nanoparticle exerted no effect on cell viability. Therefore, perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion can be applied to methods for multifunctional and effectively cell labeling and imaging.
US08697386B2

The invention provides methods and compositions for modulating hepsin activity and the MSP/Ron pathway, in particular by regulating pro-MSP activation by hepsin.
US08697381B2

The present invention provides methods for identifying compounds that selectively and specifically modulate RGS21 gene expression, RGS21 protein expression, and/or the interaction of RGS21 with G proteins in taste signal transduction. In particular, the present invention provides methods for identifying modulators of RGS21 activity for enhancing sweet taste, or other taste perception. Compositions comprising modulators of RGS21 activity for modulating taste signaling transduction are also provided.
US08697379B2

The presently disclosed subject matter provides compounds of the formula, formula (Ia): and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, X, Y, and n are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods for making the compounds of the formula as set forth hereinabove, their use in inhibiting acid ceramidase and ceramidase-related activity, and their use as drugs and prodrugs in the treatment and/or prevention of diseases associated with undesirable ceramidase or sphingosine kinase activity, including, but not limited to, cancer, cancer metastasis, atherosclerosis, stenosis, inflammation, asthma, and atopic dermatitis.
US08697366B2

The present invention relates to a method for screening an anticancer agent using RORα, the method comprising the steps of: culturing cells; bringing a potential substance into contact with the cells; determining whether the phosphorylation level of RORα in the cells increases as compared to that in control cells (not brought into contact with the potential substance); and selecting the potential substance as an anticancer agent if the phosphorylation level of RORα in the cells increases.
US08697359B1

The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for altering expression of target gene sequences and related gene products. Provided are vectors and vector systems, some of which encode one or more components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells and methods for utilizing the CRISPR-Cas system.
US08697349B2

A method for immobilizing microobject to a solid-phase material is provided. The method comprises a step of preparing the solid-phase material having on its surface an intermediate agent that includes a first element that is capable of interacting with at least the above microobject, and a microobject immobilizing step of immobilizing the microobject to the solid-phase material in a state in which the interaction of the intermediate agent is exhibited.
US08697340B2

A method of forming a semiconductor structure is provided. First, a target layer and a mask layer are sequentially formed on a substrate. Thereafter, a first pattern transfer layer having a plurality of openings is formed on the mask layer. Afterwards, a second pattern transfer layer is formed in the openings of the first pattern transfer layer. The mask layer is then patterned, using the first pattern transfer layer and the second pattern transfer layer as a mask, so as to form a patterned mask layer. Further, the target layer is patterned using the patterned mask layer.
US08697324B2

Environmentally friendly toner particles are provided which may include a bio-based amorphous polyester resin including camphoric acid, optionally in combination with a crystalline resin. Methods for providing these toners are also provided.
US08697323B2

A toner composition including toner particles that have a resin, an optional wax, and an optional colorant; and a surface additive at least partially coating toner particle surfaces. The surface additive includes a mixture of a hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) surface treated silica, a sol-gel silica that is not surface treated, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surface treated silica.
US08697311B2

An arrangement for interconnecting electrochemical cells of the type having a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) interposed between an anode gas diffusion layer (208) and a cathode gas diffusion layer (210), and first and second current collectors coupled to said anode and cathode gas diffusion layers (GDL), respectively, wherein the first current collector extends from the anode side of one cell to the cathode side of an adjacent cell, and wherein the cell components are clamped together. The first current collector (206) which is in contact with the anode gas diffusion layer (GDL; 208) of a first electrochemical cell (200a) is configured to be connected to the cathode side of a second, adjacent electrochemical cell (200b) via an inert and electrically conductive member (204b), without being in electrochemical contact with the electrochemically active components of the adjacent cell.
US08697308B2

A solid oxide electrolyte including an oxide represented by Formula 1: (1−a−b)(Ce1-xMaxO2-δ)+a(Mb)+b(Mc)  Formula 1 wherein 0
US08697304B2

The deformation of a plate-like member (a separator) or the degradation of a seal function due to heat generated during power generation is suppressed. To realize this, disclosed is a heat insulation cell for a fuel cell in which an insulation layer is constituted of one or more plate-like members and a seal member, the heat insulation cell being provided with a communication section which is disposed in at least a part of a seal line formed by the seal member to seal the insulation layer and the outside of the cell and which connects the insulation layer to the outside. A portion provided with the communication section in at least one of the plate-like members preferably has a projection. It is also preferable that the insulation layer is formed by an insulation member and that the insulation member is disposed in the communication section.
US08697302B2

To provide a fuel cell system capable of performing a purge operation necessary for realizing a stable output and being miniaturized without using a controller or a sensor, there is provided a fuel cell system having a main power generation part and a sub-power generation part positioned on a downstream side of a fuel flow path of the main power generation part, including: a purge valve provided on a downstream side of the fuel flow path of the sub-power generation part; and an actuator for opening/closing the purge valve with an electromotive force of the sub-power generation part.
US08697286B2

An anode active material for lithium batteries, an anode including the anode active material, a method of manufacturing the anode, and a lithium battery including the anode. The anode active material includes secondary particles formed of agglomerated primary nanoparticles. The primary nanoparticles include a non-carbonaceous material bound with hollow carbon nanofibers. The anode includes the anode active material and a polymeric binder having an electron donor group.
US08697278B2

A battery cell casing comprises a first casing element (1) with a first contact surface (7) and a second casing element (2) with a second contact surface (8). In an assembled position the first and second contact surfaces (7, 8) contact each other and the first and second casing elements (1, 2) encase active materials (9, 10) of a battery cell in an interior space. At least one seal layer is arranged between the first and second contact surfaces (7, 8) to seal the interior space, wherein one of first and second contact surface (7; 8) comprises a void volume layer and the other of first and second contact surface (7; 8) comprises a formable material layer, which fills voids on a surface of the void volume layer hermetically in the assembled position and forms the seal layer.
US08697277B2

A joint section where covering films 2a, 2b of film-covered battery 1 are heat-sealed together is formed with flat surface 6′ having thickness t1 and groove 6 having thickness t2. Groove 6 serves to reduce the projection area of film-covered battery 1 by folding side 2c toward receiving section 2a1 with groove 6 serving as an edge, and groove 6 is made thinner than flat surface 6′ by Δt=t1−t2. Therefore, the length of covering films 2a, 2b produced on outer side 6a is shortened as compared with the case of folding the portion that has thickness t1.
US08697272B2

A rechargeable battery includes: an electrode assembly including: a positive electrode, a negative electrode and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode that are wound together; a case housing the electrode assembly; a terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly; and an insulating member installed between the electrode assembly and the case wherein the insulating member has a base and four insulating plates extending from the base.
US08697252B2

Disclosed is a hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet that stably exhibits satisfactory phosphatability. It is a high-strength hot-dip galvannealed steel sheet which includes a base steel sheet and, arranged on at least one side thereof, an Fe—Zn alloyed galvanized layer. The base steel sheet contains 0.03% to 0.3% of carbon, 0.5% to 3.0% of silicon, and 0.5% to 3.5% of manganese, with the remainder including iron and inevitable impurities. The Fe—Zn alloyed galvanized layer has a concentration of silicon present as an oxide of [Si] (percent by mass) and a concentration of manganese present as an oxide of [Mn] (percent by mass), and these parameters satisfy the following conditions (1) and (2): [Si]≦0.25  (1) [Mn]/[Si]≦3.0  (2).
US08697248B2

The present invention discloses an aluminum alloy product having a first outer layer, a central layer, and a second outer layer. The central layer of the aluminum alloy product has a higher concentration of particulate matter than said first or second outer layers. The particular matter has a size of at least about 30 microns. And, the aluminum alloy product has a thickness ranging from between about 0.004 inches to about 0.25 inches.
US08697239B2

The polishing pad is suitable for polishing patterned semiconductor substrates containing at least one of copper, dielectric, barrier and tungsten. The polishing pad includes a polymeric matrix; and the polymeric matrix being a polyurethane reaction product of a polyol blend, a polyamine or polyamine mixture and toluene diisocyanate. The polyol blend is a mixture of 15 to 77 weight percent total polypropylene glycol and polytetramethylene ether glycol; and the mixture of polypropylene glycol and polytetramethylene ether glycol having a weight ratio of the polypropylene glycol to the polytetramethylene ether glycol from a 20 to 1 ratio to a 1 to 20 ratio. The polyamine or polyamine mixture is 8 to 50 weight percent; and the toluene diisocyanate is 15 to 35 weight percent total monomer or partially reacted toluene diisocyanate monomer.
US08697235B2

Disclosed is a barrier laminate excellent in adhesiveness. The barrier laminate comprises a first organic layer, an inorganic layer, a second organic layer adjacent to the inorganic layer, and an adhesive layer adjacent to the second organic layer in that order, wherein the second organic layer is obtained by curing a polymerizable composition comprising a (meth)acrylate compound comprising a hydroxyl group at a terminal of the compound; and the adhesive layer comprises an epoxy series adhesive.
US08697233B2

A metal-coated material comprising a metal-coated lipid bilayer vesicle and a preparation method thereof are provided. A metal-coated material comprising a metal-coated lipid bilayer vesicle having a network of siloxane bonding (Si—O—Si) on its surface. a method for preparing the metal-coated lipid bilayer vesicle comprising the following steps: (1) rendering the functional group(s) having the ability of carrying the metal catalyst to the surface of lipid bilayer vesicle having a network of siloxane bonding (Si—O—Si bonding) on its surface, at or after the formation, by self-organization, of the lipid bilayer vesicle; (2) immobilizing the metal catalyst on the surface of the lipid bilayer vesicle; (3) optionally, reducing the metal catalyst; and (4) performing electroless plating.
US08697231B2

The present invention relates to a porous structure having a controlled pattern (1), which is repeated in space, in three dimensions, said porous structure enabling the production of surgical implants for filling in bone defects. According to the invention, said structure is characterized in that said pattern (1) consists of three wings (2) arranged in a star shape, each angle (A) formed between two wings being substantially equal to 120°, each wing having a generally rectangular shape and being hollowed (3) at the center thereof. Each of the three wings (2) of said pattern is advantageously beveled at its free end or tip (4), and the width of the base (5) of each bevel is slightly greater than the thickness of the wings (2) of which it forms an extension.
US08697230B2

To provide a graphene sheet that has a large area, is homogeneous, and has a small amount of domain boundaries, a novel method for producing a graphene sheet suitable for industrial applications, such as application to electronics, that is capable of producing a graphene sheet that has well aligned crystal orientation at a low cost, and a graphene sheet.In the method for producing a graphene sheet of the present invention, a substrate containing a single crystal substrate having formed on the surface thereof an epitaxial metal film is used, and a graphene sheet is grown by making a carbon material into contact with the surface of the epitaxial metal film. In the graphene sheet of the present invention, the graphene sheet is constituted by a number of graphene domains, the domains each have an area of from 0.000001 μm2 to 100,000 mm2, and the orientations of 6-membered rings in the domains are averagely aligned in a single direction over the graphene sheet.
US08697226B2

The present invention is directed to a door skin having an exterior surface with an woodgrain pattern formed therein, and an etched plate for use as an embossing plate or with a molded die set, for forming the woodgrain pattern in the door skin. The exterior surface has outer portions lying on a first plane, spaced grooves recessed from the plane of the outer portions, and halftone portions. The halftone portions have spaced protrusions defined by channels, wherein the channels are recessed from the plane of the outer portions.
US08697225B2

A magnetic sheet, which contains: a magnetic layer including a magnetic powder and a resin composition containing the magnetic powder therein; and a convex-concave forming layer, in which the convex-concave forming layer has Bekk smoothness of 70 sec/mL or less. A method for producing a magnetic sheet, which contains: adding a magnetic powder to a resin composition to prepare a magnetic composition, and giving the magnetic composition a shape to form a magnetic layer; and placing and stacking a convex-concave forming layer and a pattern transferring material on a surface of the magnetic layer in this order, and hot pressing the stacked layers so as to bond the convex-concave forming layer with the magnetic layer to form a laminate, as well as to transfer a surface configuration of the pattern transferring material to a surface of the laminate of the convex-concave forming layer and the magnetic layer.
US08697222B2

A ceramic honeycomb substrate for use in an automotive catalytic converter system which exhibits improved light-off performance by virtue of a high porosity of 45 to 75% while still maintaining a wall thickness of greater than 2.0 mil (0.0020 inch, 0.0508 mm), preferably 2.5 mil (0.0025 in., 0.0635 mm) to 7 mil (0.0070 in., 0.1778 mm), and more preferably 2.5 mil (0.0025 in., 0.0635 mm) to 3 mil (0.0030 in., 0.0762 mm). The median pore size is in the range of 2-10 micrometers, and a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) (25-800° C.) of less than 15×10−7/° C.
US08697210B2

A polymer and coating composition containing the polymer are provided that are useful in coating applications such as, for example, food or beverage packaging containers. The polymer preferably includes a backbone having one or more polycyclic groups. In one embodiment, the polymer is a polyester and, more preferably, a polyester-urethane polymer. In one embodiment, the one or more polycyclic groups is a tricyclic or higher group.
US08697208B2

Disclosed is a polystyrene based polymer/layered compound nanocomposite for injection blow molding or injection stretch blow molding of articles. The nanocomposite can reduce shrinkage and warpage to the preform during the reheating process compared to neat polystyrene. The incorporation of layered compounds can increase the processability of PS preforms, help improve heating efficiency, and improve bottle mechanical properties. The layered compound can be treated with chemicals or compounds having an affinity with the styrene monomer or polystyrene, thus producing a treated layered compound having an affinity with the styrene monomer or polystyrene. The monomer and the layered compound can be combined prior to polymerization. The polymer and layered compound can be combined by solution mixing in a solvent. The layered compound can also be incorporated into the mixture by compounding a polymer product with the layered compound, or the combination of any of the above three approaches.
US08697191B2

Described is a process for coating at least part of a surface of a support with a porous metal-organic framework comprising at least one at least bidentate organic compound coordinated to at least one metal ion, which process comprises the steps (a) spraying of the at least one part of the support surface with a first solution comprising the at least one metal ion; (b) spraying of the at least one part of the support surface with a second solution comprising the at least one at least bidentate organic compound, wherein step (b) is carried out before, after or simultaneously with step (a), to form a layer of the porous metal-organic framework.
US08697184B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing a coating on a gas turbine component, in which particles at least of parts of a material to be applied as coating are accelerated by means of kinetic gas dynamic cold spraying in a spray jet onto the surface (2) of the component (1) to be coated, wherein a reactive gas is fed into the spray jet (6), so that the reactive gas reacts at least partially with the particles of the coating material when the particles impinge on the surface (2) to be coated and/or wherein the deposited layer (9) is heated locally and/or over a large area and impacted with a reactive gas, as well as a gas turbine component produced in this way.
US08697182B2

The invention relates to a synthetic binder characterized in that said binder includes: from 20 wt % to 100 wt % of at least one polyester based essentially on material from renewable resources, in particular of vegetable origin, having: a hydroxyl number below 100 mg KOH/g, an acid number below 25 mg KOH/g, an iodine number below 100 g I2/100 g, and from 0 wt % to 80 wt % of at least one natural or modified resin from renewable resources, in particular of vegetable origin.
US08697180B2

Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to large-area transparent conductive coatings (TCCs) including carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and nanowire composites, and methods of making the same. The σdc/σopt ratio of such thin films may be improved via stable chemical doping and/or alloying of CNT-based films. The doping and/or alloying may be implemented in a large area coating system, e.g., on glass and/or other substrates. In certain example embodiments, a CNT film may be deposited and then doped via chemical functionalization and/or alloyed with silver and/or palladium. Both p-type and n-type dopants may be used in different embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, silver and/or other nanowires may be provided, e.g., to further decrease sheet resistance. Certain example embodiments may provide coatings that approach, meet, or exceed 90% visible transmission and 90 ohms/square target metrics.
US08697177B2

There is described a method for varnishing security documents, especially intaglio-printed security documents such as banknotes, wherein both sides of the security documents are covered by a protective varnish. The method comprises the step of applying a thicker layer of protective varnish on a side of the security documents which exhibits a greater surface roughness, especially the side which is opposite to the side of the security documents which was last printed by intaglio printing. Also described in a varnishing machine for carrying out the above method.
US08697173B2

The present invention is directed to a novel organic peanut butter formulation and method for production. The peanut butter includes an organic, non-hydrogenated palm stearin oil stabilizing agent that reduces or prevents separation of oils from the peanut butter during storage. Peanut butter incorporating the palm oil, methods for manufacturing the peanut butter, and foods incorporating the peanut butter are also disclosed.
US08697166B2

A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole with the introduction of steam and controlling the steam to maintain a predetermined level of humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole.
US08697162B2

Container containing a gassed acidulated beverage capable of producing a foam when the container is opened and the beverage poured. The beverage contains an additive which reduces the rate of release of the gas from the beverage when the container has been opened, without the beverage being poured. The additive has one or more of the following: an HLB value in the range 7-16; a molecular weight in the range 200-3000; and it is present in an amount of from 0.01 to 100 mg/l.
US08697159B2

Coated snack products are provided whose coating are reminiscent of high fat compound fat coating, resistant to rub-off of a powdery or fat based topping as well as methods for preparing such coated snack products. The present invention provides methods for preparing such coated food product including providing a hot (about 60-85° C.), oil-in-water emulsion coating slurry containing a hydrated film forming hydrophilic colloid. The slurry comprises about 5%-30% of the emulsion of flavor solids in powder form. The methods include applying the hot emulsion to a food base to provide a wet emulsion coated food base. The methods include drying the wet slurry emulsion coated food product to a moisture content of about 1-4% at a temperature of less than the sugar melting point to provide a finished dried food product having non-powdered coating.
US08697150B2

A process for producing an essential oil. The essential oil can be white mustard essential oil. The white mustard essential oil can include a moisture sensitive isothiocyanate compound. The moisture sensitive isothiocyanate compound can be 4-HBITC. The essential oil can be produced from mustard seed, which can comprise a precursor sinalbin and myrosinase enzyme. The mustard seed can be reduced into a powder. Activation of the myrosinase enzyme by using a water solvent and a promoter to form a slurry can be performed, wherein the myrosinase enzyme catalyzes the production of an essential oil comprising an isothiocyanate from the sinalbin precursor.
US08697143B2

A composition for durable non-permanent shaping or durable retention of a non-permanent shape of least one keratinous fiber comprising: (a) at least one film forming agent; and (b) at least one saccharide type compound chosen from C3 to C5 monosaccharides, optionally substituted with at least one C1 to C22 carbon chain, and compounds comprising at least one C5 to C7 saccharide unit substituted with at least one amino group.
US08697134B2

Described is a direct method for the fabrication of resorcinarene nanocapsules by photopolymerization of compounds of formula (I), such as resorcinarene tetraalkene tetrathiol (RTATT), in the absence of any template or preorganization. Further, by varying the polymerization media, a variety of other polymeric architectures like lattices, fibrous networks, and nanoparticles were obtained. The morphology and structure were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. These morphologically distinct resorcinarene polymeric architectures contain residual thiol and ene functional groups offering potential functionalization opportunities.
US08697132B2

The present invention includes an oral pharmaceutical capsule comprising a shell, lanthanum carbonate or lanthanum carbonate hydrate, and a lubricant such as talc, wherein the shell encapsulates the lanthanum carbonate or its hydrate and the lubricant. Capsule shells comprise, for example, gelatin. The present invention also includes an oral pharmaceutical powder comprising lanthanum carbonate or lanthanum carbonate hydrate and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient. The oral pharmaceutical capsules and powders of the present invention can be administered to treat a patient at risk of or suffering from hyperphosphatemia, at risk of or suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), at risk of or suffering from soft tissue calcification associated with CKD, or at risk of or suffering from secondary hyperparathyroidism.
US08697123B2

The invention relates to medicine and chemico-pharmaceutical industry. A medication for treating human hyperplastic and inflammatory diseases containing 3,3′-diindolylmethane as an active agent and a carrier containing a mixture of cod-liver oil and at least one polysorbate at the following proportions of the components in mass %: 3,3′-diindolylmethane 1-20 cod-liver oil10-20 polysorbatethe balance.
US08697122B2

A new pharmaceutical formulation for retinoid-containing soft gelatin capsules is disclosed. The new formulation comprises a soft gelatin capsule filled with a fill mass comprising a retinoid as an active ingredient, a natural vegetable oil, a partially hydrogenated natural vegetable oil and medium chain triglycerides. Optionally, the new formulation also comprises a natural wax. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the soft gelatin capsule comprises pig gelatin in the capsule shell in combination with the above fill mass.
US08697116B2

A pet food is provided, comprising a sorbent food body and a fluid carrier comprising a functional ingredient absorbed into the body. The body preferably is relatively moist, having a moisture content for example of from 35% to 60% by weight and firm structure that is resilient under initial biting by a pet animal. Protein content is preferably at least 20% by weight. The sorptivity of the body is increased by depleting the body of a first liquid, for example by causing drying by exposure to a source of dry heat, such as in roasting, grilling, frying and baking. Methods of manufacture are disclosed including providing a sorptive food body, causing the body to take up a carrier fluid containing a functional ingredient and packing the body in suitable packaging. The invention further provides delivery means for delivering a functional ingredient to a pet animal, the delivery means comprising a sorbent food body with the functional ingredient absorbed therein. The functional ingredient may be a nutrient or a pharmaceutical.
US08697114B2

Described is a medically useful article comprising a three-dimensional body including one or more implantable substances, wherein the body defines one or more reservoirs for receiving amounts of a biocompatible wetting liquid. In certain embodiments the body is disruptable upon wetting with the biocompatible liquid to form a conformable implantable material such as a putty, paste or more flowable wetted implant material. Also described are methods for manufacturing such medical materials, and methods for using such medical materials to treat patients.
US08697112B2

A method for treating a surface with a therapeutic agent is disclosed. The method comprises precipitating a therapeutic agent from a hydrophilic polymeric base layer with which the therapeutic agent has been complexed, to form a layer comprising microparticles of the therapeutic agent on the hydrophilic polymeric base layer, the hydrophilic polymeric base layer being grafted to the surface. Devices comprising a surface having a hydrophilic polymeric base layer comprising a hydrophilic polymer grafted to the surface and a layer comprising microparticles of a therapeutic agent disposed on and complexed with the hydrophilic polymeric base layer are also disclosed.
US08697105B2

The invention provides an injectable formulation that includes an active agent; a biocompatible solvent system, crosslinkable polymers such as polysaccharides; and crosslinking agents; wherein the formulation is substantially free of water. The invention also provides a drug delivery depot formed from the injectable formulation wherein the polymers crosslink in the presence of water in the body of a patient, or in the air, prior to implantation in the patient. Also provided are methods of treatment using such formulations and drug delivery systems.
US08697104B2

The present invention creates an immunologically protected/enhanced space in viva in a mammal by removing the impact of soluble inhibitors of the mammal's immune system in a defined space within the body. Placing an antigen source within the defined protected space along with a monocyte-containing blood sample from the mammal being treated and a dendritic cell-inducing factor allows a dendritic-antigen presentation process to proceed to completion. The protected/enhanced space is created by surrounding the protected space with ligands which absorb and/or bind to one or more soluble inhibitors. The implant can be loaded with a patient's cancer cells to treat cancer.
US08697103B2

An alcoholic foam composition, which can be dispensed as a foam via a pump-foam system contains a) at least 52 to ≦99 wt % of an alcohol or mixture of alcohols, b) a surfactant or a surfactant mixture, c) at least one polyalkylene glycol, d) optionally, at least one foam stabilizer, e) optionally, at least one member selected from the group consisting of cosmetic auxiliaries, adjuvants, active ingredients, and mixtures thereof, and f) optionally water. The surface tension of component b) lies in the range of ±15 dyn/cm of the surface tension of component a) or corresponds to the surface tension of component a), and the sum of components a) to f) is 100 wt % relative to the total quantity of the foam composition.
US08697095B1

A method of treating gamma oncogenic herpesviruses, in vivo, through use of Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC inhibits KSHV and EBV reactivation as well as inhibiting lytic replication of MHV 68 and HVS in vitro. Specifically, THC inhibits immediate early gene ORF 50 promoter activity.
US08697083B2

The present invention relates to recombinant DNA molecules which encode chimeric polypeptides of differing allergens of Parietaria judaica which can be used for the prevention and treatment of allergies, in particular pollen allergies. Specifically, chimeric polypeptides composed of fragments of the allergens Par j 1 and Par j 2 having hypoallergenic characteristics are described. Methods for producing these recombinant polypeptides in heterologous expression systems are also described. Efficient methods of purifying the chimeric proteins are also described.
US08697082B2

The invention provides improved agents and methods for treatment of diseases associated with synucleinopathic diseases, including Lewy bodies of alpha-synuclein in the brain of a patient. Such methods entail administering agents that induce a beneficial immunogenic response against the Lewy body. The methods are particularly useful for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of Parkinson's disease.
US08697071B2

The present invention relates to molecules comprising a variant Fc region, wherein said variant Fc region comprises at least one amino acid modification relative to a wild-type Fc region, which variant Fc region binds FcγRIIIA and/or FcγRIIA with a greater affinity relative to a comparable molecule comprising the wild-type Fc region. The molecules of the invention are useful in preventing, treating, or ameliorating symptoms associated with a disease, disorder, or infection. The molecules of the invention are particularly useful for the treatment or prevention of a disease or disorder where an enhanced efficacy of effector cell function mediated by FcγR is desired, and in enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of therapeutic antibodies the effect of which is mediated by ADCC.
US08697070B2

Antagonists of human proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin type 9 (“PCSK9”) are disclosed. The disclosed antagonists are effective in the inhibition of PCSK9 function and, accordingly, present desirable antagonists for use in the treatment of conditions associated with PCSK9 activity. The present invention also discloses nucleic acid encoding said antagonists, vectors, host cells, and compositions comprising the antagonists. Methods of making PCSK9-specific antagonists as well as methods of using the antagonists for inhibiting or antagonizing PCSK9 function are also disclosed and form important additional aspects of the present disclosure.
US08697068B2

Methods of detecting synovial sarcoma using differentially expressed genes are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods of identifying agents for treating synovial sarcoma. Further, a method for treating or preventing a disease that is associated with Frizzled homologue 10 (FZD10) in a subject is provided.
US08697067B2

The present invention relates to an ex vivo method for increasing the effectiveness of antibodies and Fcγ receptor-binding active ingredients, comprising the steps of: a) preparing a blood sample of a patient; b) subjecting the blood sample to an immunoapheresis; c) administering a therapeutically effective antibody or an Fcγ receptor-binding active ingredient to the patient.
US08697065B2

The present invention is directed toward the delivery of a toxic protein to pathogenic cells, particularly cancer cells. In preferred embodiments, the toxic protein is a ribonuclease that has been modified to make it toxic to target cells and that can be conjugated to a target cell-specific delivery vector, such as an antibody, for delivery to pathogenic cells.
US08697054B2

The invention relates to a novel strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, having antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, and to compositions containing said strain.
US08697049B2

Provided is a modified bacteriophage capable of infecting a target bacterium, which bacteriophage includes an α/β small acid-soluble spore protein (SASP) gene encoding a SASP which is toxic to the target bacterium, wherein the SASP gene is under the control of a constitutive promoter which is foreign to the bacteriophage and the SASP gene.
US08697046B2

Particular aspects of the invention provide methods for decreasing the amount of fluid present in the subretinal space of the eye by administering interferon gamma to the basolateral side of the retinal pigment epithelium. Adverse ocular conditions associated with the accumulation of fluid in the subretinal space can be treated by administering an amount of interferon gamma to the basolateral side of the retinal pigment epithelium effective to remove excess fluid from the subretinal space.
US08697038B2

An oil-in-water type emulsion sunscreen cosmetic composition having improved ultraviolet blocking capability, excellent emulsion stability and good usability. The oil-in-water type emulsion sunscreen cosmetic composition is characterized by containing (A) 1-7.5% by mass of octyl methoxycinnamate, (B) 0.5-4% by mass of t-butyl methoxybenzoyl methane and/or 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, (C) 0.5-3% by mass of a polyoxyethylene-polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether block polymer having a specific structure and (D) not less than 10% by mass of a nonpolar oil relative to the total amount of the oil component. The oil-in-water emulsion sunscreen cosmetic composition is also characterized by having an average emulsion particle diameter of not more than 700 nm.
US08697025B2

In the raw coke composition of the invention, as the starting material for a negative electrode material of a lithium ion secondary battery, the ratio of the crystallite size Lc(002) and lattice constant co(002) (Lc(002)/co(002)) on the 002 plane is no greater than 180, and the ratio of the crystallite size La(110) and the lattice constant ao(110) (La(110)/ao(110)) on the 110 plane is no greater than 1500, as determined by X-ray diffraction upon graphitizing in an inert gas atmosphere at a temperature of 2800° C.
US08697024B2

A precursor formulation of a silicon carbide material that includes a ceramic material and a boron-11 compound. The ceramic material may include silicon and carbon and, optionally, oxygen, nitrogen, titanium, zirconium, aluminum, or mixtures thereof. The boron-11 compound may be a boron-11 isotope of boron oxide, boron hydride, boron hydroxide, boron carbide, boron nitride, boron trichloride, boron trifluoride, boron metal, or mixtures thereof. A material for use in a nuclear reactor component is also disclosed, as are such components, as well as a method of producing the material.
US08697011B2

The present invention generally relates to devices, systems, and methods for acquiring and/or dispensing a sample without introducing a gas into a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. An exemplary embodiment provides a sampling device including: a sampling member for acquiring or dispensing a sample; and a supply of a fluid that is immiscible with the sample; in which the device is configured to provide a continuous flow of immiscible fluid enveloping the sampling member.
US08697010B2

A dispensing device for reducing the dead volume of a liquid sample includes a main channel connected to a sample inlet and sample outlet, and branch channels connected to the main channel. Each branch channel is connected to a different liquid reservoir. High inflow-withstanding pressure sections are provided in the main channel between the branch channels and between the branch channel and the sample outlet. Each high inflow-withstanding pressure section has a channel inner wall forming a contact angle of 90° or larger with a liquid sample. A liquid sample enters the main channel through the sample inlet, reaches a branch point between the first branch channel and the main channel flows into the first branch channel and the liquid reservoir, and then passes through the high inflow-withstanding pressure section to a branch point between the next branch channel and the main channel.
US08697005B2

Multiplex binding assay assemblies are disclosed. The assemblies include at least one assay bar that has a top side, a bottom side, and at least one well accessible from the top side of the assay bar, with each well including a side surface, a bottom surface, an open top end. Each well also includes at least one secondary container, with each secondary container including a capillary tube that (i) begins at a location within an interior volume of the well and (ii) ends at a location beneath the bottom side of the assay bar. The assemblies further include a guiding track, which includes a set of two rails, with each rail having its own separate groove. Such grooves are configured to run parallel to each other with a distance between such grooves, with a first groove configured to receive a protruding element (or an end) of a first side of the assay bar, and a second groove configured to receive a protruding element (or an end) of a second side of the assay bar. The set of two separate grooves are configured to allow the assay bar to glide along the grooves from one side to a second side of the guiding track.
US08697004B2

The present teachings provide a device including a memory. According to various embodiments, the memory is readable, writable, and rewritable. The present teachings further provide processing stations, e.g., for carrying out electrophoresis, per, genetic analysis, sample preparation, and/or sample cleanup, etc., that are capable of reading from and/or writing/rewriting to such memory.
US08697003B2

The invention describes a color-developing composition that contains at least four major components: (1) a leuco dye or a combination of leuco dyes, (2) an electron-withdrawing color-developer agent or a combination of color-developers that can form colored complexes with the leuco dyes, (3) a separator or combination of separators that when present in sufficient amounts, can prevent the formation of the colored complexes between the color-developer and leuco dyes, all contained within (4) an encapsulation matrix that includes at least one film-forming and one aqueous-insoluble polymer. All of the foregoing components are dissolved together in a volatile organic solvent medium to form a homogeneous solution that can be applied as an ink on substrates, which can be incorporated as part of absorbent articles or personal care products.
US08697002B2

One exemplary embodiment may be a latch for a hydroprocessing vessel. The latch may include an elongated substantially cylindrical shaft, a helical pawl coupled to the elongated substantially cylindrical shaft, and a grip coupled to the elongated substantially cylindrical shaft. Usually, the grip forms a polygon having at least three sides and adapted to be engaged by a tool.
US08697001B2

Methods and apparatus for liquid, gas, and gas plasma sterilization of items. The apparatus includes two chambers and a holder to connectorlessly secure a lumened instrument such that a first portion of the lumened instrument lies in the first chamber and a second portion of the instrument lies in the second chamber, a liquid medium contained within the two chambers, and pumping means for simultaneously increasing fluid pressure within the first chamber of said container while decreasing fluid pressure within the second chamber of the container in a reciprocating fashion. The pumping means displaces at least a total internal volume of the liquid medium through the lumen for a given highest volume of a lumened instrument during a stroke.
US08697000B2

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for disinfecting a target area of a patient's body, such as an arm, leg or a chest, in a pre-surgical environment. The apparatus and method disclosed herein further provides for maintaining the target area of the patient's body in an aseptic condition while transporting the patient to and into the surgery room. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention contemplate the use of one or more sterile layers (e.g., sterilized bags or the like) that are used to enclose the target area of the patient's body coupled with a sterile substance delivery mechanism that disinfects the target area and also maintains the target area in an aseptic condition. The most preferred embodiments of the present invention comprise a single-layer disposable garment or an inner bag nested inside an outer bag with a sterilization material being introduced into the inner bag, thereby disinfecting the target area. Once the patient has been transported into the operating room, the healthcare professional can remove the disposable garment or the outer bag, and then expose the target area for the selected procedure. Since the target area has been disinfected and also maintained in an aseptic condition, the healthcare professional can immediately begin to perform a selected procedure on the patient without having to spend additional time in the operating room to disinfect the target area of the patient's body that will undergo the selected procedure.
US08696995B2

Methods and apparatus for preventing coke formation in a plenum are provided. The apparatus can include a turbulator for use in a plenum. The turbulator can include a deflector disposed inside the plenum proximate an inlet to the plenum from a cyclone, wherein the plenum and the cyclone are disposed in a fluid catalytic cracker.
US08696985B2

A foot/shoe sanitizing system includes a housing having at least one opening and at least one ultraviolet emitting device supported within the housing. The ultraviolet emitting devices direct ultraviolet light around and/or through the set of foot/shoe support bars towards the foot or shoe placed on the foot/shoe support bars. The ultraviolet emitting devices are controllably powered to emit ultraviolet light and/or ozone onto the foot/shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the ultraviolet emitting device emits light that includes short wavelength ultraviolet light, causing the formation of ozone in the area of the shoe, thereby killing pathogens that are not easily killed with ultraviolet light alone. The system detects the identity of a user and records/transmits usage of the system by the user for sanitizing enforcement and recording.
US08696984B2

A method for medical device sterilization comprises staggering a stack of packages so that a back surface of each package partially overlaps a front surface of another of the packages. Each package contains a medical device. The stack of packages are positioned so that the front surfaces of the packages face toward a radiation source. The packages are then exposed to radiation.
US08696976B2

The invention relates to a method for regulating the flow rate and for slowing down non-ferromagnetic, electrically conducting liquids and melt streams through magnetic fields, in particular in the tapping of metallurgical containers such as blast furnaces and melt furnaces. The method is characterized in that the melt stream is routed in a closed routing element using at least one stationary magnetic field with a constant polarity, at least one stationary magnetic alternating field or using a multi-poled magnetic travelling field, in such a way that the magnetic field lines transversally penetrate the melt flow across the entire cross section thereof and such that a voltage is induced in the melt stream by the magnetic fields, there being eddy currents induced thereby in the melt stream that are disposed radially and axially when a stationary magnetic field of constant polarity is used and that are disposed axially when a stationary alternating magnetic field or electromagnetic travelling field is used, and that due to the interactions between the magnetic fields and the eddy currents forces are generated that can affect the flow rate of the melt stream.
US08696968B2

A method of producing a stretchable sheet that involves: passing a nonwoven fabric including a plurality of types of fibers through a gap between a pair of gear rolls and that rotate while a plurality of teeth and formed on an outer circumferential surface and of each of the pair of gear rolls and engage with one another; and drawing the nonwoven fabric in a circumferential direction of the gear rolls and by the teeth. A circumferential velocity S of the gear rolls and is within a range of 50 to 300 m/min. A maximum value of distortion per unit time applied to the nonwoven fabric in the gap between the pair of gear rolls and is within a range of 5 to 100 sec−1.
US08696960B2

This invention is to an improved method for cleaning contaminated polymer when that polymer is to be blended with clean material. The method involves combining the contaminated material and the clean material in a compartmentalized pellet wherein the contaminated material is placed in the outermost compartment, the clean material is placed in an inner compartment and then subjecting the pellet to an extraction process.
US08696955B2

A method for making a hollow polymer particle having a single, substantially circular opening in its surface.
US08696950B2

A liquid crystal display device including an array of pixels each including first and second substrates, first and second electrodes formed on opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, which surfaces are positioned opposite to the second and first substrates, first and second alignment restricting portions provided in the first and second electrodes, first and second alignment films covering respectively the first and second electrodes, the first and second alignment restricting portions, and the opposing surfaces of the first and second substrates, and a liquid crystal layer formed between the first and second alignment films and containing liquid crystal molecules, wherein, in each pixel, major axes of a group of liquid crystal molecules are positioned substantially in the same imaginary plane in a predetermined overlapped region between the first and second electrodes, and a pre-tilt is given to the liquid crystal molecules by at least the first alignment film.
US08696948B2

The present invention is directed to an electroconductive thick film paste composition comprising Ag and a lead-tellurium-lithium-titanium-oxide both dispersed in an organic medium. The present invention is further directed to an electrode formed from the paste composition and a semiconductor device and, in particular, a solar cell comprising such an electrode.
US08696942B2

The adhesive composition of the invention comprises a radical generator, a thermoplastic resin and a urethane(meth)acrylate having two or more radical-polymerizing groups in the molecule and a weight-average molecular weight of 3000-30,000.
US08696941B2

The invention relates to a material for applying thin organic layers having a specifically adjustable conductivity. Said material comprises at least one mixture of two different fractions of a functional polymer, preferably in a solvent, and is used, for example, with the aid of various application techniques, as a functional layer for an organic electronic component.
US08696933B2

Polar nematic compounds, one example of which has the following structure: is a caged boron structure, where the sphere of the caged boron structure is C and each non-sphere vertex of the caged boron structure is B—H. R is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an acyl, an aryl, an alkylaryl, a halogen, a cyano group, or an isothiocyanoto group, or R is a group that forms an ether, a ketone, an ester, a thioester, a sulfide, or a sulfone. X is COOR′ or COSR′. R′ is H, an alkyl, a cycloalkyl, a bicycloalkyl, an alkenyl, a cycloalkenyl, a bicycloalkenyl, an alkynyl, an aryl, a halogen, or a cyano group. The compounds may be used in liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and in television sets, laptop computers, computer monitors, hand-held communication devices, gaming devices, watches, cash registers, clocks, and calculators having liquid crystal displays.
US08696932B2

The present invention provides a liquid-crystalline polymer composition comprising: 100 parts by weight of a liquid-crystalline polymer and 1-150 parts by weight of the total weight of talc particles (A) and talc particles (B), wherein talc particles (A) have an aspect ratio of 3.1-5.0 and a median particle diameter of 5-100 μm; and talc particles (B) have an aspect ratio of 1.0-3.0 and a median particle diameter of 5-100 μm; wherein the weight ratio of talc particles (A)/talc particles (B) is from 1/9 to 9/1, and wherein the liquid-crystalline polymer composition according to the present invention exhibits improved molding flowability without impairing mechanical properties.
US08696929B2

A polishing slurry including an oxidant, a metal oxide dissolver, a metal inhibitor and water and having a pH from 2 to 5. The polishing slurry having a high metal-polishing rate, reducing etching rate and polishing friction, results in the production, with high productivity, of semiconductor devices reduced in dishing and erosion in metal wiring.
US08696916B2

A process for purifying water via freezing is disclosed. The process may include: contacting an aqueous mixture with a flotation medium, wherein the flotation medium has a density greater than or equal to the density of ice or hydrate and less than the density of the aqueous mixture or concentrated brine at its freezing point; reducing the temperature of the aqueous mixture to a temperature equal to or below the freezing point of the aqueous mixture to form ice or hydrate and a concentrate; phase separating the concentrate and the flotation medium; recovering the concentrate; and recovering the ice or hydrate and flotation medium as a slurry. Upon melting, phase separation of the resultant water from the flotation medium may provide a purified water product.
US08696915B2

A method of treating water in order to minimize scaling and biomass buildup in water conduits or containers in which the treated water is used includes pressurizing and optionally filtering ambient air, processing the pressurized ambient air in a chamber including at least one ultraviolet light source operated to generate an output flow mixture of pressurized air and reactive oxygen species (ROS) gas, mixing the pressurized ROS/gas output mixture to realize a flow of water/pressurized ROS gas/air mixture and outputting the flow of water/pressurized ROS gas/air mixture as the treated water process product. The process includes generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) gas in the pressurized ROS/gas output mixture including at least one of Super Oxide (O2−), Peroxide (—O2—), Hydro peroxide (HO2−), Hydroxyl Radicals (OH.), Ozone (O3−) and Molecular Oxygen (O2). The ultraviolet light source, the flow rate of the pressurized air, the water, the water/pressurized ROS gas/air mixture and the output volume are controlled to optimize scaling and biomass reduction.
US08696913B2

A method of assessing biofilm thickness in a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a lumen containing a gas phase, a liquid phase, and a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between the gas and liquid phases, the method comprising the steps of charging the lumen with an inert gas, closing the lumen to establish an initial elevated pressure in the lumen, measuring the rate of change of pressure within the lumen, and correlating the rate of change of pressure (dP/dt) with biofilm thickness. The step of correlating dP/dt with biofilm thickness involves correlating dP/dt with the rate of diffusion of the inert gas (dn/dt), correlating dn/dt with an overall mass transfer coefficient (K), correlating K with the mass transfer coefficient of the biofilm (ICB), and correlating kβ with the biofilm thickness. Also described is a membrane supported biofilm reactor (MSBR) of the type comprising a gas permeable membrane providing an interface between a lumen containing a gas phase, and a liquid phase, characterized in that the MSBR comprises means for flushing the lumen with an inert gas, means for closing and re-opening the lumen, and means for detecting intra-membrane pressure within the lumen. The means for detecting intra-membrane pressure is provided by a pressure transducer.
US08696907B2

The invention relates to a plant and a method for the treatment and disposal of waste water containing salts and oil, in particular produced water, comprising at least one settling area for receiving the waste water and for separating oil proportions from the waste water, at least one subsequent reed bed area having plants for the uptake and degradation of contaminants in the waste water, at least one modular basin area having a plurality of utility basins, whereby a utility basin, controlled by way of distribution means, can be supplied with treated waste water from the reed bed area and/or from at least one other utility basin, and at least one saline area for the reception of the residual water from the modular basin area and for the evaporation of water and the concentration of salt.
US08696899B2

A dispenser for a nutritional composition comprises a water reservoir, water heating means, water discharge means, a bacterial filter between the water heating means and the water discharge means such that heated water passes though the filter prior to discharge from the dispenser, and means to heat surfaces of the dispenser which come into contact with filtered water.
US08696897B2

The gray water recycling system includes a first holding tank for filtering and storing gray water from a washer. The processed water passes through an inline filter to a second holding tank. The second holding tank includes a first float switch operatively associated with a pump that shuts off power to the pump when the second tank contains less than a predetermined amount of processed water. An outlet pipe inside the second tank includes another filter to clean the processed water as the water passes through the outlet pipe. A second float switch activates the pump to pump the processed water to a toilet tank when the toilet tank water drains below a predetermined level. A battery power unit is operatively connected to the pump, providing power for selective operation thereof.
US08696895B2

A percolation filtering system comprises a flow path of the water to be filtered including a filter cartridge seat (4) for removably receiving a filter cartridge (5) so that said flow path extends through said filter cartridge when said filter cartridge is inserted into said seat, characterized in that it comprises recognition means and counter-means of the suitability of said cartridge, respectively on said cartridge and said seat, suitable for reciprocal interaction when the cartridge is inserted in the seat to enable operation of the filtering system following the cartridge's suitability recognition, or to disable it or signal the suitability/unsuitability respectively of the cartridge if the cartridge is recognized/ not recognized respectively by the recognition means.
US08696893B2

There is a water enhancement system coupled to a water conduit, wherein the water enhancement system is configured to enhance a water supply. The water enhancement system includes a filtration system coupled to a water conduit, configured to filter water flowing therethrough. The water enhancement system also includes an enhancement system coupled to the filtration system, configured to treat water flowing therethrough by dispensing a fluid therein. The enhancement system includes a plurality of cartridge sockets and matching cartridges configured to selectably couple together and contain enhancing fluid. The water enhancement system further includes a treatment bracket coupled about the water conduit and to the enhancement system. The water enhancement system additionally includes a treatment device coupled about the treatment bracket and configured to alter a characteristic of the water flowing therethrough.
US08696892B2

An apparatus for treating a radioactive nitrate waste liquid includes: a denitrification tank (12) that accommodates active sludge which adsorbs or takes in a radioactive substance in a nitrate waste liquid (11) containing nitrate and the radioactive substance and in which an anaerobic microorganism that reduces the nitrate to nitrogen gas grows; a reaeration tank (14) that aerates and mixes a denitrification-treated liquid (24) treated in the denitrification tank (12) with the active sludge in which the aerobic microorganism grows; and a sludge dissolution tank (81) that dissolves redundant sludge (26A, 26B) discharged from the denitrification tank (12) and the reaeration tank (14). Acetic peracid (80) is supplied to the sludge dissolution tank (81) to dissolve redundant sludge, a sludge lysate is supplied to the denitrification tank (12) as a carbon source (22), and acetic acid is supplied to the denitrification tank (12).
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