US08780581B2

Electronic devices may be provided that contain conductive paths. A conductive path may be formed from an elongated metal member that extends across a dielectric gap in an antenna. The antenna may be formed from conductive structures that form an antenna ground and conductive structures that are part of a peripheral conductive housing member in the electronic device. The gap may separate the peripheral conductive housing member from the conductive structures. A conductive path may also be formed using one or more springs. A spring may be welded to a conductive member and may have prongs that press against an additional conductive member when the spring is compressed. The prongs may have narrowed tips, curved shapes, and burrs that help form a satisfactory electrical contact between the spring prongs and the additional conductive member.
US08780577B2

The invention discloses a COF packaging unit and a COF packaging tape. The COF packaging unit comprises COF baseband(s), IC Die(s) packaged on the COF baseband(s), and input end wires and output end wires connected with the IC Die(s); the input end wires and the output end wires are respectively provided with input terminals and output terminals at two edges of the COF baseband. In the invention, because the input terminals and the output terminals are pitched along the edges of the COF baseband, the length of the single COF packaging unit is set in accordance with the pitching requirement of the input end wires and the output end wires, so that the COF baseband can have sufficient area for wiring, to adapt to the requirement of large LCD panels. Thus, resources are reasonably integrated and used, equipment utilization rate is increased, material purchasing cost is saved, and economic benefits are increased.
US08780572B2

A printed circuit board that include: an electronic component having a plating electrode pad having a predetermined thickness; an insulating resin layer that exposes a lower surface of the electrode pad, receives the electronic component, and embodies the electronic component so that the center of the base body forming the electronic component is positioned at the center of the insulating resin layer; and circuit layers that include a circuit pattern disposed on the electrode pad, form inter-layer connection, and are disposed on both surfaces of the insulating resin layer, respectively, the plating electrode pad having a thickness that conforms to a thickness from an upper surface of the electronic component to an upper surface of the insulating resin.
US08780570B2

In embodiments of a double hinge torsion bar, a portable device includes a first housing integrated with a display device, and a second housing movably coupled to the first housing. Double hinges attach to the first and second housings of the portable device, and the double hinges are operable to open and close the first and second housings relative to each other. A torsion bar movably couples the double hinges to open and close at approximately a same timing rate, which can prevent the double hinges from binding when the first and second housings are opened and closed relative to each other.
US08780568B2

A flexible display device comprises a device substrate and a flexible circuit substrate, and achieves high reliability of electrical connection. The device substrate includes a flexible substrate, a display unit and a first terminal part. The flexible circuit substrate includes a second terminal part. An ACF including conductive particles connects the first and second terminal parts. Each conductive particle consists of a core part covered by a metal layer. An electrode layer and a cushioning layer are provided between the flexible substrate and the first terminal part. A quotient of a sum of a product of average particle diameter and elastic modulus for the core part, and a product of double average thickness and elastic modulus for the metal layer, divided by a sum of products of average thickness and elastic modulus for the first terminal part, the cushioning layer and the electrode layer, is no greater than 1.5.
US08780565B2

A rail assembly having a stab-in inner rail member that inserts into and withdraws from an intermediate rail member supports an information handling system chassis disposed in a rack. Insertion of the inner rail member into the intermediate rail member is aided by a resting surface extending from the insertion end of the intermediate rail member. The inner rail member rests on and is aligned with the resting surface so that opposing pairs of rail assemblies can have their inner rail members aligned with their intermediate rail members during a stab-in assembly of a chassis into the rack.
US08780561B2

A method of forming a heat-dissipating structure for semiconductor circuits is provided. First and second semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) chips are provided, where the first and second semiconductor chips each have first and second opposing sides, wherein the first and second semiconductor IC chips are configured to be fixedly attached to a top surface of a substantially planar circuit board along their respective first sides. The respective second opposing sides of each of the first and second semiconductor IC chips are coupled to first and second respective portions of a sacrificial thermal spreader material, the sacrificial thermal spreader material comprising a material that is thermally conductive. The first and second portions of the sacrificial thermal spreader material are planarized to substantially equalize a respective first height of the first semiconductor chip and a respective second height of the second semiconductor chip.
US08780549B2

An electronic device support has a receptacle with an electronic device receiving cavity and a first magnetic indexing part. A base is hingedly coupled to the receptacle and has a second magnetic indexing part. The first and second magnetic indexing parts are configured to allow the receptacle to rotate relative to the base when rotationally apart from a specified orientation and to magnetically support the receptacle when in the specified orientation.
US08780546B2

A docking station used for receiving an electronic device. The docking station includes a housing, a retractable docking port, and a rotating shaft. The housing defines a receiving groove. The docking port can be positioned by manipulation of the rotating shaft to be exposed in the receiving groove or retracted and hidden inside the housing.
US08780545B2

An enclosure includes a chassis and a bracket. The chassis comprises a rear panel with a latch hole. The bracket comprises a first sidewall. A resilient piece and a sustaining piece are located on the first sidewall. The resilient piece is elastically deformable as the bracket is rotated relative to the chassis, from a first position to a second position. When the bracket is in the first position, the resilient piece is engaged in the latch hole, and the sustaining piece is located between the first sidewall and the rear panel; when the bracket is in the second position, the resilient piece is disengaged from the latch hole, and the sustaining piece is engaged with the rear panel.
US08780542B1

An electrical energy generation device includes an energy conversion device thermally coupled to an electrical component and configured to convert thermal energy produced by the electrical component to mechanical motion. An electricity generation device is coupled to the energy conversion device and is configured to convert the mechanical motion to electrical energy. At least a portion of the electrical energy energizes the electrical component.
US08780531B2

An integrated capacitor assembly that contains at least two solid electrolytic capacitor elements electrically connected to common anode and cathode terminations is provided. The capacitor elements contain an anode, a dielectric coating overlying the anode that is formed by anodic oxidation, and a conductive polymer solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric layer. The capacitor elements are spaced apart from each other a certain distance such that a resinous material can fill the space between the elements. In this manner, the present inventors believe that the resinous material can limit the expansion of the conductive polymer layer to such an extent that it does not substantially delaminate from the capacitor element. In addition to possessing mechanical stability, the capacitor assembly also possesses a combination of good electrical properties, such as low ESR, high capacitance, and a high dielectric breakdown voltage.
US08780530B2

A capacitor assembly that includes an electrolytic capacitor that contains an anode body, dielectric overlying the anode, and a solid electrolyte overlying the dielectric is provided. An anode lead is also electrically connected to the anode body and extends therefrom, The capacitor and leadframe are enclosed and hermetically sealed within a ceramic housing in the presence of an inert gas. In this manner, the solid electrolyte (e.g., conductive polymer) is less likely to undergo a reaction in high temperature environments, thus increasing the thermal stability of the capacitor assembly.
US08780523B2

There is provided a high voltage and high capacitance multilayer ceramic electronic component having enhanced reliability, including: a ceramic body; a first layer including conductive patterns; and a second layer including a floating pattern, wherein the sum of the number of the first and second layers is 100 or more, the ceramic body has first and second external electrodes formed on outer surfaces thereof, and a ratio of a length of the floating pattern to a length of the ceramic body is 0.7 to 0.9, and a ratio of a length of the overlapped portion to the length of the floating pattern is 0.5 to 0.95, in a cross section taken in a length direction in which the first and second external electrodes are connected to and extended from the ceramic body and a stacking direction of the first and second layers.
US08780519B2

A surge suppression system provides surge protection both locally within the radio station building were the power plant and telecommunication equipment are located and remotely next to the radios and antennas located outside of the building on the communication tower. An external surge suppression unit provides a waterproof enclosure for both surge suppression devices and fiber optic connectors. A rack mountable surge suppression unit provides local in-line surge suppression protection for the electrical equipment located in the communication station. A unique surge suppression tray is hot swappable so that multiple surge suppression devices can be replaced at the same time without disrupting radio operation. Pluggable surge suppression modules can be used in both the external surge suppression unit and the rack mountable surge suppression unit.
US08780515B2

A control circuit with protection circuit for power supply according to the present invention comprises a peak-detection circuit and a protection circuit. The peak-detection circuit detects an AC input voltage and generates a peak-detection signal. The protection circuit comprises an over-voltage protection circuit. The over-voltage protection circuit generates an over-voltage protection signal in response to the peak-detection signal. The protection circuit generates a reset signal to reduce the output of the power supply in response to the over-voltage protection signal. The present invention can protect the power supply in response to the AC input voltage effectively through the peak-detection circuit.
US08780505B1

A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including a first shield, a read sensor, and a second shield. The read sensor is between the first shield and the second shield. The second shield includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, a second ferromagnetic layer and a pinning layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is between the read sensor and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The pinning layer is adjacent to the second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer is coupled antiparallel with the second ferromagnetic layer. At least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer includes a CoFe portion adjacent to the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The CoFe portion includes at least twenty-five atomic percent and not more than fifty atomic percent Fe.
US08780501B2

A head support mechanism includes a slider on which a head element is mounted is arranged at a tip end part of a load beam. The head support mechanism includes a support projection arranged at the tip end part of the load beam, a gimbal part including the slider and arranged to support the slider in a revolvable manner around the support projection, a displacement member arranged to revolve the slider around the support projection, and a counter balance aligned along a symmetric axis of the gimbal part so as to align a centroid of the gimbal part including the slider with the support projection.
US08780495B2

There is provided a base for a motor, the base including: a base body formed of a steel plate through a pressing process; and an outer wall part defining an exterior of the base body, in which the outer wall part has a thickness smaller than a thickness of the steel plate in order to increase a contact area with a sealing part.
US08780494B1

A rotating device includes a sleeve which encircles a shaft, a housing which supports the shaft and which forms an annular supporting recess where the lower end of the sleeve enters together with the shaft, a ring member which is provided above the sleeve and which is fixed to the shaft in a manner encircling the shaft. A first gap between the sleeve and the shaft includes first and second radial dynamic pressure generating portions. An annular sleeve recess is formed in upper face of the sleeve. The ring member includes a ring entering portion that enters the sleeve recess in a non-contact manner. An outward gap in the radial direction where the ring entering portion and the sleeve recess face with each other in the radial direction includes a second air-liquid interface of a lubricant.
US08780490B2

A tape cartridge library that is equipped with a cleaning device is described. The tape cartridge library essentially includes a plurality of tape cartridges each possessing recording tape media. A plurality of tape drives that read and write data to and from each of the tape cartridges. A tape cleaning drive incapable of transferring data to and from the recording tape media which is independent of the tape drives, the tape cleaning drive disposed entirely within the tape cartridge library. The tape cleaning drive automatically receives one of the tape cartridges and cleans its respective recording tape medium when a predetermined reason for cleaning the tape cartridge is justified.
US08780489B1

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head, a disk surface, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop comprising a VCM and a microactuator servo loop comprising a microactuator operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. A microactuator compensator processes a position error signal (PES) to generate a first control signal, and a disturbance sinusoid is injected into the first control signal to generate a second control signal, wherein the microactuator is controlled in response to the second control signal. Feed-forward compensation is generated corresponding to the injected disturbance sinusoid, and a third control signal is generated in response to the PES and the feed-forward compensation, wherein the VCM is controlled in response to the third control signal. A gain of the microactuator is estimated in response to the feed-forward compensation.
US08780472B2

According to one embodiment, an information reproducing apparatus is configured to obtain, from a read sample value sequence obtained by sampling a read signal read from a first recording track of a magnetic recording medium, an interference-component-removed read sample value sequence, from which an interference component from a second recording track adjacent to the first recording track is removed. The apparatus includes a decoding module. The decoding module is configured to generate a first interference-component-removed read sample value sequence based on a cancellation weight column which varies according to a difference in polarity between a first bit of the first recording track and a second bit of the second recording track adjacent to the first bit.
US08780453B2

A zoom lens includes, in order from object side, a positive first lens unit which does not move for varying magnification, a negative second lens unit which moves for varying magnification, a negative third lens unit which moves for varying magnification, and a positive fourth lens unit which does not move for varying magnification, wherein the first lens unit includes a positive lens which satisfies the following conditions: 70<νp<85; 2.31
US08780449B2

A method for compensating an aberration of a variable focus liquid lens is configured to compensate the aberration associated with a first lens surface and a second lens surface of the liquid lens. The first lens surface is of a first radius of curvature. The second lens surface is of a second radius of curvature.
US08780444B2

A screen in which observation distance may be adjusted while maintaining image brightness and a projection system using the screen. In a light control layer of a screen, a first angle region that determines a diffusion distribution of a reflected light is different according to the screen position in a control direction in which light diffusion control is performed. Accordingly, a diffusion distribution of image light emitted from a screen surface is adjusted to be tilted downward by an upper end and upward by a lower end according to the screen position. Thus, for example, a size of a diffused angle range is maintained to be 30°, and a direction in which the image light is diffusion-emitted corresponds to an assumed position of an observer. The projection image can be observed while maintaining brightness of an image and the observation distance L can be adjusted to be short.
US08780440B2

A chirped pulse amplification system includes a laser source providing an input laser pulse along an optical path. The input laser pulse is characterized by a first temporal duration. The system also includes a multi-pass pulse stretcher disposed along the optical path. The multi-pass pulse stretcher includes a first set of mirrors operable to receive input light in a first plane and output light in a second plane parallel to the first plane and a first diffraction grating. The pulse stretcher also includes a second set of mirrors operable to receive light diffracted from the first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating. The pulse stretcher further includes a reflective element operable to reflect light diffracted from the second diffraction grating. The system further includes an amplifier, a pulse compressor, and a passive dispersion compensator disposed along the optical path.
US08780439B2

Tunable plasmon resonant cavity arrays in paired parallel nanowire waveguides are presented. Resonances can be observed when the waveguide length is an odd multiple of quarter plasmon wavelengths, consistent with boundary conditions of node and antinode at the ends. Two nanowire waveguides can satisfy the dispersion relation of a planar metal-dielectric-metal waveguide of equivalent width equal to the square field average weighted gap. Confinement factors of over 103 are possible due to plasmon focusing in the inter-wire space.
US08780435B2

An electrowetting display device includes a base substrate, an electrowetting layer having first and second fluids immiscible with each other, a wall to define a pixel area, a hydrophobic layer in the pixel area, and an electronic device to control the electrowetting layer. A method of manufacturing the electrowetting display device is also provided.
US08780434B1

A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device has a movable member supported in elevated position spaced by a sloped support structure above a substrate. The movable member may be a polished metallic plate such as a mirror of a digital micromirror device (DMD) supported by a flexible hinge above an integrated circuit wafer die region. The plate may supported centrally at a raised juncture of two upwardly oppositely directed and symmetrically converging hinge legs for pivoting about a parallel axis. The plate may also be supported at a top end of a hinge leg in cantilever fashion, for pivoting about a perpendicular axis. Optional spring tips are provided for limiting movement and recovering energy. In a described fabrication method, hinge material is deposited over a sacrificial layer that has been directly or indirectly patterned using a grayscale photoresist exposure to define sloped surfaces which provide a template for configuring the hinge and optional other components.
US08780430B2

A display apparatus includes a first substrate and a second substrate. The first substrate includes a light blocking layer and the second substrate includes a shutter part. The shutter part includes first, second, third, and fourth operators and a shutter. The first, second, third, and fourth operators are operated independently from each other in response to first, second, third, and fourth voltages, respectively. The shutter is connected to the first to fourth operators to be rotationally moved. Thus, the display apparatus display may display various gray scales.
US08780423B2

There are provided a paper conveying apparatus that can prevent a drop in quality of the image data while enabling stable conveyance of paper. The paper conveying apparatus includes a first image capture unit, a second image capture unit, a pair of conveyor rollers including a first roller and a second roller, a first conveyor guide, and a second conveyor guide, wherein a nip position of the pair of conveyor rollers is arranged above an extended plane of a top surface of the first image capture unit extended to the pair of conveyor rollers side, an axis of rotation of the second roller is arranged offset to the first image capture unit side compared with an axis of rotation of the first roller at projections on the extended plane, and the first conveyor guide guides the medium conveyed to above from the extended plane, to make the medium turn downward.
US08780419B2

A light guide includes a main body, an input surface, an output surface, a reflecting surface, a first diffusing portion and a second diffusing portion. The main body is guiding light. The light is inputted the input surface of the main body. The light is emitted from the output surface in a direction intersecting with the longitudinal direction. The reflecting surface is provided on the main body and opposite to the output surface. The first diffusing portion is formed on the reflecting surface closer to the input surface. The second diffusing portion is formed on the reflecting surface closer to a side opposite to the input surface. The first and the second diffusing portions have a first and a second length respectively in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the first length is longer than the second length.
US08780414B2

An image processing apparatus comprises: a division unit which divides the input image data into blocks each including a predetermined number of pixels; a determination unit which determines whether the number of colors that is the number of types of colors of the pixels included in the block is not less than a predetermined number; a pseudo halftone processing unit which performs pseudo halftone processing of image data for the block if the number of colors in the block is not less than the predetermined number; an acquisition unit which acquires a color arrangement and color information in each of the block, in which the determination unit determines that the number of colors is less than the predetermined number, and the block having undergone the pseudo halftone processing; and a storage unit which stores the color arrangement and the color information, acquired, for each block.
US08780411B2

Attribute information representing the attributes of a printing medium is stored for each printing medium. Upon receiving a print job which designates the attributes of a printing medium, it is determined whether attribute information representing the attributes designated by the print job is stored. When it is determined that the attribute information is not stored, the attribute information representing the attributes designated by the print job is newly registered.
US08780391B2

An image processing apparatus is connected to other image processing apparatuses and a file server via a network and includes a document obtaining unit configured to obtain document data and attribute information including format information and generator apparatus information of the document data from the file server, a processability determining unit configured to determine whether the obtained document data are processable by the image processing apparatus based on the format information, an apparatus identifying unit configured to identify one of the other image processing apparatuses as a generator apparatus that has generated the document data based on the generator apparatus information if the processability determining unit determines that the obtained document data are not processable by the image processing apparatus, and a function obtaining unit configured to obtain a functional program for processing the document data from the generator apparatus.
US08780388B2

A printing apparatus, which is capable of making effective use of the extended setting set up once without performing the extended setting each time, and is capable of improving user's convenience. A printing apparatus is connected to an information processing apparatus that instructs printing execution, is connected to a server via a network, and executes printing according to a print job generated by the information processing apparatus. A request unit requests an extended print setting from the server when receiving a request of the extended print setting that extends a predetermined basic print setting from the information processing apparatus. A holding unit holds extended print setting information showing the extended print setting corresponding to the printing apparatus received from the server in response to the request. A sending unit sends the extended print setting information held by the holding unit to the information processing apparatus.
US08780386B2

Systems and methods are provided for real-time communication (e.g., fax, voice, video) via an IP Network even if a firewall or other restriction element is present or encountered. The real-time nature of the communication is ensured by preestablishing a communication session between a transfer client and a transfer server, between which the firewall or other restriction element is located. Following the preestablishment of the communication session, transmission control messages are exchanged between the transfer server and the transfer client via the preestablished communication session. The preestablished communication session prevents the firewall or other restriction element from blocking or delaying traffic (e.g., fax, voice, video traffic). The preestablished communication session establishes a full duplex communication link without restriction of or by the firewall or other communication restriction element. Accordingly, the firewall or restriction element considers traffic originating from outside of the portion of the IP network where the firewall is located to be in response to a request from the inside the IP Network. Thus, the firewall or restriction element will not act to block or delay the traffic from entry.
US08780385B2

A print control unit 118 that, once it receives a datacasting automatic activation notification or a datacasting manual activation notification, determines whether or not datacasting is present for a currently selected channel. In a case in which datacasting is present, the print control unit 118 acquires maintenance information acquired from a printer 200 through a maintenance information acquisition process. Based on the acquired maintenance information, the print control unit 118 determines whether or not to issue a command to the printer 200 requesting execution of a maintenance process.
US08780375B2

A printing system that performs printout based on encrypted, submitted data includes a printing apparatus including a decrypting unit that decrypts the submitted data; and an editing apparatus that accepts an editing operation to be performed on the submitted data. The editing apparatus transmits an execution instruction for performing a process of creating an image for editing used for the editing operation, to the printing apparatus. In response to the execution instruction, the printing apparatus performs a process on an image obtained by decrypting the submitted data using the decrypting unit, and thereby creates a non-equivalent decrypted image as the image for editing, and transmits the non-equivalent decrypted image to the editing apparatus, the non-equivalent decrypted image being a decrypted image non-equivalent to a printed material related to the submitted data. The editing apparatus displays the non-equivalent decrypted image as the image for editing.
US08780373B2

Systems and methods are provided for error correction in a parallel RIP environment. The system is operable to receive a print job comprising logical pages, to separate the logical pages into segments, to distribute the segments to parallel RIPs for interpretation and rasterization, and to transmit the segments to a serial RIP for interpretation. The system is further operable to determine that a parallel RIP has encountered a dependency error that prevents the parallel RIP from rasterizing one of the segments, and to instruct the serial RIP to rasterize the one segment responsive to detecting the dependency error.
US08780360B2

A method for identifying the orientation of wood fibres (2) comprises the operating steps of generating at least one beam of light (4) polarised in a predetermined first polarisation plane, projecting the beam of light (4) onto a surface of a piece of wood (3) to illuminate a zone of said surface and generate diffuse light without polarisation and reflected light (5) polarised in a second polarisation plane (pX2), detecting the linearly polarised reflected light (5) and identifying the orientation of the illuminated fibres (2) at least indirectly based on the orientation in space of the second polarisation plane (pX2) of the reflected light (5). Also claimed is an apparatus (1) for implementing the method, comprising means for supporting a piece of wood (3), a light source (10) for generating at least one beam of light (4) polarised in a first polarisation plane (pS), a detection device (6) for detecting, in practice, the light coming from a zone of the piece of wood (3) illuminated by the beam of light (4) and for filtering said light based on its polarisation, and a processing device operatively connected at least to the detection device (6) for processing what is detected and identifying the orientation of the wood fibres (2) at the illuminated zone.
US08780355B2

According to a first aspect the invention relates to a reconstruction process of a narrow-band signal acquired by an instrument producing irregular sampling, in which two series of samples are acquired at the same sampling period, the two series being offset relative to one another such that the sampling errors are identical or quasi identical over both series. According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an instrument configured to carry out the process according to the first aspect of the invention.
US08780353B2

The embodiments of the invention relate to a method and apparatus for determining at least one characteristic of a physical resource for use in a physical resource consuming apparatus.
US08780352B2

Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and first and second integrated computational elements arranged in primary and reference channels, respectively. The first and second integrated computational elements produce first and second modified electromagnetic radiations, and a detector is arranged to receive the first and second modified electromagnetic radiations and generate an output signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample.
US08780351B2

A method for detecting the presence of molecules includes bringing into contact with at least one optical grating comprised of a first liquid phase, a second liquid phase which cannot be mixed with the first liquid phase. The first liquid phase is arranged on a substrate in a form of periodic structures having a periodicity ranging from about 190 nm to about 10 μm. The molecules to be detected, which are capable of changing the optical characteristics of the at least one optical grating are added to the first liquid phase or to the second liquid phase either before, during or after the bringing step. The presence of molecules is detected by measuring a changed reflection or transmission of light at the at least one optical grating or a changing spatial course of the diffraction pattern as soon as the first liquid phase makes contact with the second liquid phase and with the molecules to be detected.
US08780342B2

The invention is generally related to the estimation of position and orientation of an object with respect to a local or a global coordinate system using reflected light sources. A typical application of the method and apparatus includes estimation and tracking of the position of a mobile autonomous robot. Other applications include estimation and tracking of an object for position-aware, ubiquitous devices. Additional applications include tracking of the positions of people or pets in an indoor environment. The methods and apparatus comprise one or more optical emitters, one or more optical sensors, signal processing circuitry, and signal processing methods to determine the position and orientation of at least one of the optical sensors based at least in part on the detection of the signal of one or more emitted light sources reflected from a surface.
US08780339B2

In certain variations, fiber shape sensing or measuring systems, devices and methods are described herein, which allow for measurement of three dimensional bending as well as twist measurements of various fibers, e.g., optical fibers and fiber optic probes of various sizes. In certain variations, the systems are designed to take advantage of unique light guiding properties of optical fibers and various fiber gratings.
US08780337B2

A method and a system for characterization of optical components through characterized decomposition of an optical device includes: directing incident light over a range of wavelengths to a device under test, wherein the incident light includes a primary signal and at least one sideband signal, the distance between the primary signal and any one of the sideband signals is substantially larger than the width of the band pass area of the device under test; detecting output light from the device under test to obtain a detected signal; correcting the detected signal to account errors associated with the sideband signal.
US08780329B2

An exposure apparatus of the present invention is configured to expose a pattern on an original onto a wafer via a projection lens system 110. The exposure apparatus includes a setting leg 105, platens 103, 107, and 109 on which at least one of a reticle stage apparatus 108 configured to hold the original, the projection optical system 110, a wafer stage apparatus 102 configured to hold the wafer, and an interferometer configured to measure a position of the original stage or the wafer stage is mounted, a vibration isolation support mechanism 105 which is provided between the platens 103, 107, and 109 and the setting leg 105 and configured to reduce a vibration, and a filling member 122 formed by hardening a hardening type liquid 113 which is filled between the setting leg 105 and a setting floor 101.
US08780311B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides a TFT array substrate, in which TFT elements and pixel electrodes being correspondingly connected with the TFT elements are arrayed in matrix on an insulating substrate, the TFT array substrate including: gate bus lines made from a first metal material; source bus lines made from a second metal material; pixel electrodes made from a third metal material; a clock wiring made from the first metal material; a branch wiring made from the second metal material; and a connection conductor made from the third metal material, the connection conductor connecting the clock wiring and the branch wiring at a connection part in a periphery area, the connection part having a branch-wiring via hole, which exposes the branch wiring which is covered with the connection conductor, and overlaps the clock wiring at least partly in a plane view.
US08780307B2

To provide a semiconductor device, a liquid crystal display device, and an electronic device which have a wide viewing angle and in which the number of manufacturing steps, the number of masks, and manufacturing cost are reduced compared with a conventional one. The liquid crystal display device includes a first electrode formed over an entire surface of one side of a substrate; a first insulating film formed over the first electrode; a thin film transistor formed over the first insulating film; a second insulating film formed over the thin film transistor; a second electrode formed over the second insulating film and having a plurality of openings; and a liquid crystal over the second electrode. The liquid crystal is controlled by an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08780305B2

A liquid crystal display includes a first substrate with pixel electrodes, and a second substrate with a common electrode facing the first substrate. The common electrode has depression patterns corresponding to the pixel electrodes. The side wall of each depression pattern is at an angle of 30-120 degrees with respect to the first substrate. The depression patterns of the common electrode are formed through making depression patterns at color filters. In this structure, the liquid crystal display bears wide viewing angle and good picture quality.
US08780299B2

Provided are a backlight unit and a display device having the same. The backlight unit includes a light source configured to generate light and a plurality of light guide members stacked so that individual surfaces of each light guide member contact a surface of another one of the light guide members, the plurality of light guide members configured to guide the light. Each of the light guide members includes a light incident for receiving incident light from the light source, an opposite surface facing an adjacent one of the light guide members, and a plurality of light path change patterns disposed on the opposite surface. Thus, brightness of the display device may be improved.
US08780297B2

The present invention discloses a backlight module which has a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The light-emitting diodes are divided into a plurality of light groups according to pitches between the adjacent light-emitting diodes. The light-emitting diodes with respect to a display-area center line have a position center, and the light group having the light-emitting diodes with larger pitches therebetween is in a position relatively close to the position center and is in a higher bright bin; the light group having the light-emitting diodes with smaller pitches therebetween is in a position relatively away from the position center and is in a lower bright bin. Therefore, luminous conditions of the overall light-emitting diodes tend to correspondence, and proportion of usage of light-emitting diodes in different bright bins can be increased.
US08780294B2

A display device includes a liquid crystal display panel that varies a phase of polarized light via liquid crystal molecules, and having first and second polarizing plates respectively disposed on opposite sides of the liquid crystal display panel; a first light guide plate including a surface having a plurality of recessed patterns, to reflect light input through a side surface of the first light guide plate, and to output two-dimensional light towards the liquid crystal display panel; and a second light guide plate including a surface having a plurality of recessed patterns, the plurality of recessed patterns of the second guide plate facing the plurality of recessed patterns of the first light guide plate.
US08780293B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device, backlight module and frame unit thereof. The frame unit comprises: back frame and resilient fastening element. The back frame comprises: bottom plate and connected side wall. The bottom plate is for carrying optical part of backlight module. The resilient fastening element comprises a first support part, a second support part, and a side plate. The first support part contacts the bottom plate, the second support part is for supporting liquid crystal panel, and a positioning trench formed between the first support part and the second support part is for clamping a side of the optical part, the second support part is located between the liquid crystal panel and the optical part, and the side plate and the side wall are disposed correspondingly. The present invention can replace known mold frame with frame unit to reduce cost.
US08780290B2

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which includes a waveguide, a liquid crystal display panel, a backframe, a middle frame, a printed circuit board, a light source and a deflector. The backframe includes a base plate which is arranged adjacent to a bottom surface of the waveguide and sidewall arranged adjacent to the light inlet surface of the waveguide. The base plate is defined with an opening. The middle frame includes a supporting portion and positioning portion which defines a receiving space with the backframe. The receiving space is corresponding to the through the opening. The printed circuit board is arranged on the outside of the base plate. A deflector is arranged within the receiving space. The base plate is defined with an opening, the light source can be mounted onto the printed circuit board close to the base plate through the opening. Accordingly, a compact, slim design of a liquid crystal display device is achieved with reduced cost.
US08780286B2

A three-dimensional image display device includes a display and a polarization switching panel. The display includes a signal transmitter, and is configured to alternately display a left eye image and a right eye image. The polarization switching panel includes a signal receiver, an upper substrate, an upper electrode disposed on the upper substrate, a lower substrate, and a lower electrode disposed on the lower substrate. The signal transmitter and the signal receiver are synchronized by a 3D synchronization signal.
US08780284B2

A capacitive input device includes: an input device substrate having a position detection electrode on a second surface side which is reverse to a first surface side on which an input operation is performed; and a shielding film which has a shield electrode layer on a base film and is adhered to the second surface side of the input device substrate by an adhesive layer.
US08780279B2

A television is manipulated by a control device. The control device transmits position information mapped with a position on the control device in response to an operation. The television includes a screen to display a number of icons associated with a plurality of functions. Positions on the screen are mapped with positions on the control device correspondingly. A control method is applied to the television to cause the television to detect whether the position information is received from the control device; generate a cursor and calculate a position on the screen based on the position information; and display the cursor on the calculated position on the screen to select the icon located on the calculated position.
US08780276B2

Methods and apparatus for providing access to program channels, e.g., high definition programs and program channels which corresponding to a standard definition program and/or program channels are described. In accordance with the invention, a high definition auto tune function is supported. When enabled, in one exemplary embodiment, if a user selects a standard program definition channel, a check is automatically made to determine if a corresponding high definition program channel is available. The corresponding high definition program channel is a channel which provides the same program as on the selected standard definition channel but in high definition. When the auto tune function is enabled and a corresponding high definition channel is available, the device, e.g., set to box or tuner implementing the auto tune feature of the present invention, automatically tunes to the high definition channel instead of the standard definition channel. The content from the high definition channel is then displayed instead of the content from the user selected standard definition channel.
US08780272B2

Techniques and tools for high accuracy position calculation for picture resizing in applications such as spatially-scalable video coding and decoding are described. In one aspect, resampling of a video picture is performed according to a resampling scale factor. The resampling comprises computation of a sample value at a position i,j in a resampled array. The computation includes computing a derived horizontal or vertical sub-sample position x or y in a manner that involves approximating a value in part by multiplying a 2n value by an inverse (approximate or exact) of the upsampling scale factor. The approximating can be a rounding or some other kind of approximating, such as a ceiling or floor function that approximates to a nearby integer. The sample value is interpolated using a filter.
US08780270B2

Compatible video signal information having first information indicating a pixel number of a video signal displayable by a video display apparatus and second information that is setting information required in order for the video display apparatus to display a video signal having the pixel number is transmitted to a video output apparatus. In the case where a video signal received from the video output apparatus after the compatible video signal information is transmitted is a video signal having a pixel number displayable by the video display apparatus but not being displayable, the compatible video signal information is updated so that setting information for the pixel number of that video signal is included in the second information.
US08780269B2

A television (100) includes: a receiving section (202) for receiving additional information which is added to and transmitted along with a broadcast content; a processing section (222) for processing additional information so that a mobile device (120) can obtain information that is specific to unique information which the television (100) has; and a transmitting section (224) for transmitting processed additional information.
US08780258B2

Provided are a mobile terminal and a method for generating an out-of-focus image, whereby a preview image and a depth map are displayed when an out-of-focus function of the mobile terminal is selected by a user, the displayed depth map is adjusted based on a specific object that is selected from the displayed preview image, an image is captured via a camera of the mobile terminal, and an out-of-focus image is generated by blurring the captured image according to the adjusted depth map.
US08780254B2

There is provided an eyepiece optical system including a lens, a surface nearest to an observer side of the lens disposed nearest to the observer side being formed in a convex shape on the observer side, and the eyepiece optical system satisfying a conditional expression (1) |RL/DH|<1.7, where RL is a radius of curvature of the surface nearest to the observer side, and DH is a shortest distance in a radial direction from an optical axis to an edge surface of the lens nearest to the observer side.
US08780253B2

A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate having a principal surface, and three or more pixel regions formed in at least one direction of two different directions along the principal surface of the semiconductor substrate. Each pixel region includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions having different sensitivities. The photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in peripheral pixel regions of the pixel regions has a higher sensitivity than the photoelectric conversion region having the highest sensitivity in a central pixel region of the pixel regions.
US08780252B2

An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a measurement unit that measures a current time, a counter, an acquisition unit that acquires a first value from the measurement unit at setting of an initial value, and a first difference between a value of the counter at measurement timing of the measurement unit and a value of the counter at the setting of the initial value, a generation unit that acquires a second value of the measurement unit at starting display, and a second difference between a value of the counter at measurement timing of the measurement unit and a value of the counter at the starting display, and to generate a time code concerning an elapsed time from the initial value, based on the initial value, the first value, the first difference, the second value and the second difference, and an output unit that outputs the time code.
US08780247B2

Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including: a photoelectric conversion region; a transistor; an isolation region of a first conductivity type configured to isolate the photoelectric conversion region and the transistor from each other; a well region of the first conductivity type having the photoelectric conversion region, the transistor, and the isolation region of the first conductivity type formed therein; a contact portion configured to supply an electric potential used to fix the well region to a given electric potential; and an impurity region of the first conductivity type formed so as to extend in a depth direction from a surface of the isolation region of the first conductivity type in the isolation region of the first conductivity type between the contact portion and the photoelectric conversion region, and having a sufficiently higher impurity concentration than that of the isolation region of the first conductivity type.
US08780244B2

An image pickup apparatus according to one or more embodiments includes a power line and first through fourth photodiodes. The first, second, and third photodiodes are arranged along a first direction so that the first photodiode is adjacent to the second photodiode, and the second photodiode is adjacent to the third photodiode. The power line includes a first conductor disposed along the first direction and a second conductor disposed along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The second conductor is disposed on a region between the second and third photodiodes. First and second transistors corresponding to the first and second photodiode, respectively, are connected to the power line. The fourth photodiode is disposed adjacent to the second photodiode in the second direction. A third transistor corresponding to the fourth photodiode is connected to the power line.
US08780242B2

Designs of multi-band sensor array to generate multi-spectral images are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a multi-band sensor array includes one linear sensor configured to sense a scene in panchromatic spectrum to produce a panchromatic (PAN) sensing signal, and four color-band linear sensors to sense the same scene in different color bands to produce respective sensing signals. These sensors are packaged in a single module that is disposed on a single optical plane when used to scan a scene. A multi-spectral image is produced by combining these sensing signals. Further a unique packaging of the sensor array and a combination of soft and hard PCB are disclosed to withstand extremes in a harsh environment.
US08780240B2

A method for continuously generating a (grayscale) map of a scene in electronic form, characterized by high time resolution and minimal data volume, is presented. The method involves repeated measurement of the instantaneous exposure of the image elements in an image sensor, the start of every exposure measurement being determined autonomously and asynchronously by every image element independently, and hence the redundancy which is typical of synchronous image sensors in the image data to be transmitted being largely suppressed.The stimulation for the purpose of exposure measurement is provided by the autonomous detection of a relative light intensity change in the scene detail which the image element views, by the transient detector in the respective image element. To increase the signal-to-noise ratio and the dynamic range, the exposure measurement is preferably performed on the basis of time, that is to say the exposure of an image element is represented by the period between two asynchronous events.The address of the image element, corresponding to the coordinates of the image element in the sensor array, is transmitted asynchronously at the time of every detection of a light intensity change for the purpose of storage and/or further processing. In addition, the result of the resultant exposure measurement is likewise transmitted together with the address of the image element, asynchronously for the purpose of storage and/or further processing.No external control signals are required for controlling timing, particularly for the exposure measurement. The image sensor is typically implemented in CMOS technology.
US08780222B2

The image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining part configured to obtain a first image and a second image. The first image is an image generated by image capturing or generated by expanding part of the captured image and includes a first object image. The second image corresponds to an image captured at a higher image capturing magnification than that for the first image and includes a second object image corresponding to part of the first object image. The apparatus includes a processing part configured to produce a third image whose resolution is higher than that of the first image by performing image processing on the first image using the second image as a constraint condition.
US08780221B2

A facial expression recognition apparatus (10) detects a face image of a person from an input image, calculates a facial expression evaluation value corresponding to each facial expression from the detected face image, updates, based on the face image, the relationship between the calculated facial expression evaluation value and a threshold for determining a facial expression set for the facial expression evaluation value, and determines the facial expression of the face image based on the updated relationship between the facial expression evaluation value and the threshold for determining a facial expression.
US08780205B2

A body-mountable image capture device comprising a device body and a cover slidably mounted onto the device body, the device body comprising a camera, the cover sliding between a first position and a second position such that in the first position the camera is concealed and in the second position the camera is exposed. The body-mountable image capture device comprises activation means operable to initiate the camera when the cover is in the second position and the camera is exposed. The orientation of the camera is adjustable with respect to that of the device body such that the orientation of the camera can be maintained. The orientation of the camera may be automatically adjusted to keep the field of view generally horizontal. The camera may automatically rotate left and right in a horizontal plane responsive to movement of a head mounted sensor to thereby track a user's head movements.
US08780198B2

An image processing sensor system functions as a standalone unit to capture images and process the resulting signals to detect objects or events of interest. The processing significantly improves selectivity and specificity of detection objects and events.
US08780192B2

A sample observation device includes: an excitation light generation unit; an intermediate image forming unit projecting excitation light to a sample and forming an intermediate image of the sample at an intermediate image position with observing light; a confocal modulation unit modulating spatial intensity distributions of the excitation light and the intermediate image at the position; a modulation drive unit moving a pattern of the modulation unit; an image relay unit relaying on a image forming surface the intermediate image; an image pickup unit converting the distribution of relayed intermediate image into digital image data; and an image processing unit processing on the digital image data. Cutoff frequency of the relay unit and Nyquist frequency of the pickup unit exceed cutoff frequency of the forming unit, and the processing unit performs a high frequency enhancing process for enhancing the high frequency component exceeding the cutoff frequency of the forming unit.
US08780182B2

A system for generating an image of contoured surface includes a light source that is configured to project an electromagnetic radiation beam onto the contoured surface, wherein the projected beam generates first radiation reflected from a first portion of the contoured surface to form a speckle pattern, and second radiation reflected from a second portion of the contoured surface which is substantially uniform in intensity. The reflected first and second reflected radiation is received by an optical detector, and may be processed. The processing is configured to (1) generate a plurality of images from the first and second reflected radiation, with each image being generated using different coherence length electromagnetic radiation from the light source, and (2) generate a 3-D image of the contoured surface from the plurality of images. Methods for generating a 3-D image of a contoured surface are also disclosed.
US08780174B1

A three-dimensional vision system, device, and methods using the same are disclosed. The system or device includes an image device capable of capturing a plurality of sequential individual or scanned images of a field-of view, a buffer that stores the images for a predetermined time delay, first and second image stabilizers coupled to the buffer, and a display. The predetermined time delay signals the buffer to transmit an older image and a newer image, sequentially separated in time by the predetermined time of the predetermined time delay. The display is coupled to the first and second image stabilizers to present the images to a viewer in a format that enables the viewer to see a three-dimensional image. At least one of the first and second image stabilizers adjust the orientation of either the older image or the newer image to correspond to the orientation of the other image.
US08780166B2

A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input.
US08780165B2

A tele-presence system that includes a portable robot face coupled to a remote station. The robot face includes a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker and a robot microphone. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The portable robot face can be attached to a platform mounted to the ceiling of an ambulance. The portable robot face can be used by a physician at the remote station to provide remote medical consultation. When the patient is moved from the ambulance the portable robot face can be detached from the platform and moved with the patient.
US08780161B2

The present invention describes a method of modifying an image in a video that includes the step of capturing a visible light image of an area, where the visible light image captured at a first frame rate. The method in addition includes the step of capturing a corresponding infrared light image of an area, the infrared light image being captured when the area is illuminated with an infrared light source, the infrared light image captured at the substantially the same frame rate as the visible light image. Based on the infrared light image, at least a subset of the human perceptible characteristics of the captured visible light image are modified.
US08780153B2

A thermal head wherein abrasion of an insulating protection film of a heating resistor formed on a partial glaze layer can be suppressed. A heating resistor is provided on the partial glaze layer provided on a ceramic substrate in the longitudinal direction, and the entire surface including the heating resistor is covered by the insulating protection film. A level difference is formed between the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and a flat portion of the insulating protection film over the area outside of the partial glaze layer. The level difference is set so that the insulating protection film on the heating resistor defines a higher portion and a platen roller can press thermal paper on the insulating protection film over the heating resistor and on the flat insulating protection film outside of the partial glaze layer. Thereby, the pressing force of the platen roller can be dispersed.
US08780152B2

Automated print head alignment uses thermal expansion. By leveraging thermal expansion to position print heads within the carriage, the tedious manual adjustment process is eliminated. The need for costly precision references within the printer and on the print head is also reduced.
US08780151B2

A printer includes a feeding portion, a printing portion, and a processor. The feeding portion is configured to feed a printing medium in a sub-scanning direction that is orthogonal to a main scanning direction. The printing portion includes a plurality of heating elements that are arrayed in the main scanning direction and that is configured to perform printing on the printing medium fed by the feeding portion when heating pulses are applied to the plurality of heating elements each corresponding to a single dot. A length of each of the plurality of heating elements in the sub-scanning direction is shorter than a length of each of the plurality of heating elements in the main scanning direction. The processor is configured to apply one or more heating pulses to one of the plurality of heating elements in response to a command to print one dot.
US08780148B2

A light emitting element array chip includes first and second light emitting element rows including light emitting elements that are arranged in a main scanning direction in a zigzag, a first light emission signal line transmitting a light emission signal for allowing the light emitting elements forming the first light emitting element row to emit light, and a second light emission signal line transmitting a light emission signal for allowing the light emitting elements forming the second light emitting element row to emit light, wherein the first light emission signal line or the second light emission signal line is arranged in the main scanning direction between the first light emitting element row and the second light emitting element row and is provided in regions between the light emitting elements forming the first light emitting element row and between the light emitting elements forming the second light emitting element row.
US08780147B2

A printer for printing on a semiporous recording medium includes a dryer adapted to dry the semiporous recording medium to a moisture content not to exceed that of the recording medium equilibrated to 20% RH. A liquid-deposition unit deposits hydrophilic liquid in a selected fluid pattern on the recording medium within 15 seconds after the completion of drying. A charging member charges the recording medium so that a charge pattern of charged and discharged areas is formed on the recording medium and the charged areas have a potential of at least 100 V. A development station deposits charged dry ink on the medium, the dry ink having charge of the same sign as the charged areas, so that the charged dry ink is deposited on the paper in a dry ink pattern corresponding to the selected fluid pattern.
US08780143B2

A method of displaying image data is provided, which includes analyzing histograms by color signals of an input image frame; confirming grayscales by color signals in a predetermined frame unit with reference to the analyzed histograms; determining dimming factors in consideration of maximum grayscale values of the grayscales; determining image gains of the image data by color signals using the determined dimming factors; and outputting an image signal by applying the image gains to the input image and applying the dimming factors to a light source.
US08780139B2

Resolution monitoring when using visual manipulation tools is described, including determining a minimum resolution for a visual manipulation tool, monitoring a usage of the visual manipulation tool, and interrupting the usage of the visual manipulation tool if the visual manipulation tool is operating below the minimum resolution.
US08780133B2

In a method of processing data of a display apparatus, red, green and blue data are gamut mapped as red, green, blue and white data. The red, green, blue and white data are reconstructed by means of subpixel rendering to generate metameric sets dot pixels composed for example of one such dot pixel having red and green color components and another such dot pixel having blue and white color components such that when the metameric set dot pixels is lit up it produces a white colored region on the display apparatus and when un-lit it appears as contrastingly dark colored region on the display apparatus. By selectively forcing one metameric set of dot pixels to be un-lit, the method allows an immediately adjacent metameric set of dot pixels to be lit-up as a contrasting white region on the display apparatus.
US08780128B2

Data for data elements (e.g., pixels) can be stored in an addressable storage unit that can store a number of bits that is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Similarly, a number of the data elements can be transferred per unit of time over a bus, where the width of the bus is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Data for none of the data elements is stored in more than one of the storage units or transferred in more than one unit of time. Also, data for multiple data elements is packaged contiguously in the storage unit or across the width of the bus.
US08780125B2

In one embodiment, a display device comprises a graphics interface, an image processing system, an input device coupled to the image processing system to receive a screen capture signal and transmit the screen capture signal to the image processing system, and a storage subsystem coupled to the image processing system to store, in response to the screen capture signal, screen capture data generated by the image processing system.
US08780112B2

A computer-animated scene is shaded by a computing system having an in-core memory and coupled to one or more out-of-core storage devices. The scene is comprised of shading locations on a surface element of an object in the scene. A point cloud representation of the scene is generated. An octree data structure based on the point cloud representation of the scene is generated. To generate the octree data structure, the Morton code for each point in the point cloud representation of the scene is computed. The points are then sorted based on the Morton code, recursively subdivided to find at most a threshold number of nodes, and written to the one or more out-of-core storage devices. The shading locations are then shaded based on the nodes written to the out-of-core storage devices.
US08780107B2

A frequency of each gradation in an image for the left eye histogram is compared with a frequency of each gradation in an image for the right eye histogram. An integration histogram is generated using at least a larger one of the frequency of each gradation in the image for the left eye histogram and the frequency of each gradation in the image for the right eye histogram. A gradation correction parameter is set based on the generated integration histogram. The gradations of the image for the left eye and the image for the right eye are corrected using the gradation correction parameter.
US08780101B2

By reducing the potential drop of a storage node that occurs due to feedthrough, the capacitance of a storage capacitor is reduced and sensor sensitivity is improved. In a photosensor, the first terminal of a storage capacitor (C2) and the gate of a MOS transistor (M1), which outputs a signal in accordance with the potential of a storage node (N2), are connected to the storage node (N2). A forward biased pulse voltage is supplied to the anode of a first photodiode (DS) in a reset period, and a reverse biased voltage is supplied to the anode of the first photodiode in a storage period and a readout period. A reverse biased voltage is supplied to the anode of a second photodiode (DM) in all operation periods. A voltage that keeps the potential of the storage node lower than the threshold value of the MOS transistor (M1) is supplied to the second terminal of the storage capacitor in the reset period and the storage period, and a voltage that thrusts the potential of the storage node (N2) upward to the threshold value of the MOS transistor (M1) or higher is supplied to the second terminal of the storage capacitor in the readout period.
US08780100B2

A display is disclosed, such as for a vehicle. A brightness sensor receives light from a flexible fiber-optic cable. An adapter element is provided proximate, such as between, the light output point of the optical fiber and the brightness sensor. The adapter element may be an angled piece, and may be extruded onto the optical cable.
US08780091B2

A vehicle instrument system is described. The vehicle instrument system includes an input device configured to receive an input command, a display screen configured to display information, and a processing device coupled to the input device and the display screen. The processing device is configured to determine at least one parameter limit, receive at least one input signal from the input device that corresponds to a manual adjustment of the at least one parameter limit from a first limit value to a second limit value, and provide the second limit value to the display screen for display on the display screen.
US08780085B2

A method of enhancing input imaging resolution includes sequentially blocking light from different portions of an object with a series of resolution-enhancing patterns displayed between the object and an image detector. The method further includes detecting light filtered by the series of resolution-enhancing patterns and integrating light detected while different resolution-enhancing patterns of the series of resolution-enhancing patterns are displayed between the object and the detector.
US08780083B2

A plurality of sensors for receiving arrival light detect the change ranges of light amount distributions generated upon the pointing operation of a pointer on a coordinate input region. Coordinate values corresponding to the change ranges are calculated on the basis of the number of change ranges in the respective sensors and the number of pen-down signals obtained from the pointer.
US08780079B2

The present invention provides a touch panel, a method for detecting touch positions thereof and a touch display apparatus. The touch panel comprises first sensing pads arranged along a first direction, second sensing pads arranged along a second direction and third sensing pads arranged along a third direction. The method comprises the following steps: detecting a capacitance variation of the first sensing pads; detecting a capacitance variation of the second sensing pads; detecting a capacitance variation of the third sensing pads; and determining the at least one touch position according to the capacitance variation of the sensing pads. The present invention can improve the ghost-point problem of multiple touching.
US08780078B2

The present invention relates to an in-cell type touch panel includes first and second substrates opposite to each other, gate and data lines crossed each other to define a plurality of pixel regions, a pixel electrode at each of the pixel region, a pixel thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines, and a pixel overlapped with the pixel electrode to have a common electrode, formed in a surface of the first substrate, a sensor electrode on a back side of the second substrate, and a touch sensor between the sensor electrode and the pixel, and a capacitance change between the sensor electrode and a touch object over the sensor electrode.
US08780075B2

Provided is an information processing apparatus including an input position acquisition unit, a depressing force acquisition unit and an input control unit. An input position acquisition unit obtains an input position detected with respect to an input operation. A depressing force acquisition unit obtains a depressing force detected with respect to the input operation. An input control unit fixes the input position as a position of an input candidate in response to a timing at which an increase amount of the depressing force has exceeded a first threshold value, at a stage prior to an input candidate determination operation of determining the input candidate as input information.
US08780073B2

An example capacitive sensor arrangement includes an integrated member residing within an interior region of a capacitive sensor element. The capacitive sensor element has a first resistance to a flow of current and the integrated member has a second resistance to the flow of current that is less than the first resistance.
US08780059B2

An apparatus, method and computer program are provided. The method comprises: controlling a touch sensitive display, while a user digit is detected hovering a distance from the touch sensitive display, to display a transient indication of first content for pasting, wherein if the user subsequently moves the user digit away from the touch sensitive display such that the user digit is no longer detected, the transient indication of the first content for pasting is removed from display on the touch sensitive display.
US08780053B2

A haptic device is provided having a substrate with a touch surface and one or more actuators for vibrating the substrate in a multiplicity of higher resonant modes, each of which has a high enough frequency to be inaudible and high enough amplitude to create a friction reduction effect at a plurality of vibrating regions on the substrate touch surface.
US08780049B2

There is provided an alphabetic character input apparatus including a data storage unit configured to store therein alphabetic character assignment information of each of keys in an alphabetic character input section and a program for inputting an alphabetic character; a key input unit configured to detect a key manipulation signal of a user to select an alphabetic character assigned to each of the keys; and a memory configured to store therein alphabetic character assignment information of a key corresponding to a key manipulation signal lately input by the user such that the alphabetic character assignment information of the key is assigned to a clone key.
US08780047B2

An interface system and method are provided for facilitating cross-disability access to an electronic device. A first screen of a plurality of screens is displayed on the electronic device. Each screen includes at least one of a non-input element and an input element. The interface system includes a keyboard having a plurality of alpha-numeric keys and a plurality of keys or selectors that allow a user to navigate through the non-input elements and input elements of the plurality of screens.
US08780031B2

Disclosed are a multi-functional integrated circuit and a source driver having the same. The integrated circuit (IC) chip includes: a first high-voltage transistor configured to precharge a storage node in response to a first control signal; a decoding unit configured to decode a plurality of input signals to output the decoded signal to the storage node; and a second high-voltage transistor configured to transfer an output of the decoding unit to the storage node in response to a second control signal.
US08780029B2

A multiprimary liquid crystal display device in which deteriorations in display quality caused by the coloration of a gray representation when viewed from an oblique direction are suppressed, and a signal conversion circuit for use in such a multiprimary liquid crystal display device are provided.A signal conversion circuit according to the present invention is for use in a multiprimary liquid crystal display device, the multiprimary liquid crystal display device having a pixel defined by a plurality of subpixels including a red subpixel, a green subpixel, a blue subpixel, and a yellow subpixel, and performing multicolor display by using four or more primary colors to be displayed by the plurality of subpixels, the signal conversion circuit converting an input video signal to a multiprimary signal corresponding to four or more primary colors. When a video signal for the pixel to display a gray color having a normalized luminance of no less than 0.2 and no more than 0.3 is input, the signal conversion circuit according to the present invention performs a conversion of the video signal so that, among the normalized luminances of the plurality of subpixels, the yellow subpixel has the lowest normalized luminance.
US08780025B2

Light reflecting layers 45a that totally reflect light are provided inside the subpixels 10 disposed in particular regions on an inner face of a TFT array substrate 4, and light reflecting layers 45b that scatter light are provided inside the subpixels 10 other than those. Thanks to this, the reflectance of the light reflecting layers 45a can be rendered different from that of the light reflecting layers 45b. As a result, differences can be created in the display light formed by the light reflecting layers 45a and by the light reflecting layers 45b, by means of the light that is reflected thereat. Thereby, fine adjustment of the display light brightness and contrast is enabled, so that a liquid crystal display device 1 with extensive power of expression and superior display characteristics is provided.
US08780022B2

A pixel circuit and driving method are disclosed, wherein the pixel circuit comprises a first transistor, a second transistor, and a capacitor. The first transistor is connected between a power source and a light emission portion, and the second transistor is connected to a data line. The capacitor is initialized according to a potential, and a video signal is applied from the data line to the capacitor through the second transistor. For driving, an initialization voltage is applied to the data line and the video signal is supplied to the data line, with the second transistor being turned ON prior to applying the initialization voltage to the data line.
US08780020B2

A self-luminous display device includes: pixel circuits; and a drive signal generating circuit, wherein each of the pixel circuits includes a light-emitting diode, a drive transistor connected to a drive current path of the light-emitting diode, and a holding capacitor coupled to a control node of the drive transistor, and the drive signal generating circuit generates the drive signal containing a second level signal adapted to stop the light emission without reverse-biasing the light-emitting diode, a first level signal, lower than the second level signal, adapted to reverse-bias the light-emitting diode, and a third level signal, higher than the second level signal, adapted to enable the light-emitting diode to emit light, the drive signal generating circuit supplying the drive signal to the pixel circuits.
US08780014B2

A head-mounted display apparatus includes a head-mounted display, the head-mounted display including a plurality of independently controllable switchable viewing areas that can each be independently switched between a transparent state and an information state. The transparent state enables a user of the head-mounted display to see the scene outside the head-mounted display through the independently controllable switchable viewing areas. The information state is opaque and displays information in the independently controllable switchable viewing areas visible to a user of the head-mounted display. Circuitry produces a control signal for controlling the states of the independently controllable switchable viewing areas and a controller responsive to the control signal independently switches each of the independently controllable viewing areas between the transparent state and the information state.
US08780002B2

A MIMO antenna includes first and second radiating elements and a conductive neutralization line. Each of the first and second radiating elements includes a straight portion connected to a serpentine portion. The straight and serpentine portions are configured to resonate in at least two spaced apart RF frequency ranges in response to the straight portion being electrically excited through a RF feed. The conductive neutralization line conducts resonant currents between the first and second radiating elements and has a conductive length that is configured to phase shift the conducted resonant currents to cause at least partial cancellation of currents in the first and second radiating elements which are generated by wireless RF signals received by the first and second radiating elements from each other.
US08780000B2

A high-throughput multi-beam telecommunication antenna is configured to cover a geographical area from a geostationary orbit.It comprises a single reflector and a feed block configured so that each elementary feed is able to generate a different unique beam, the angular separation of any two adjacent primary beams is substantially equal to the angular separation of any two adjacent secondary beams, and the spillover energy losses associated with each source are between 3 and 10 dB, preferably between 3 and 7.5 dB.
US08779998B1

A wideband horizontally polarized antenna includes a metallic antenna housing having four sides, a rectangular or hourglass slot in each side that is preferably offset from center, a square coaxial transmission or feed line positioned along a central axis of the metallic antenna housing, and a metal tab connecting each of the slots to the feed line. The antenna operates over a wide bandwidth and has a small profile.
US08779995B2

This high-frequency waveguide is formed by first and second conductors disposed opposite each other at a spacing of λ0/2, where λ0 is the free space wavelength of the operating frequency of a high-frequency signal. A ridge is provided at the waveguide formation portion between these first and second conductors, which protrudes from one of the first and second conductors toward the other and is formed extending along the waveguide formation portion. A plurality of columnar protrusions with a height of λ0/4 are disposed at a spacing of less than λ0/2 to at least one of the first and second conductors on the outside of the waveguide formation portion and to the outside of the ridge.
US08779994B2

A transmitting signal from a signal generator is divided in seven transmitting signals in a divider, and the phase and the amplitude of each of divided transmitting signals are changed in a phase shifter circuit and an attenuator circuit. The respective transmitting signals from the attenuator circuit are radiated from scatterer antennas. A receiver receives a multiple wave of radiated radio waves by using a receiving antenna. A computer substantially simultaneously starts operations of a D/A converter, the signal generator, and the receiver by using a trigger generator circuit.
US08779990B2

An antenna which is laid out efficiently while ensuring a predetermined antenna directivity. An antenna area is formed on a corner of a substrate. An antenna conductor is formed in the antenna area, and is shaped so that a bend is formed between its ground end and its open end. A first ground area is formed on the substrate near the ground end of the antenna conductor, and is connected to the ground end. A second ground area is formed on the substrate near the open end of the antenna conductor. A feed unit feeds electricity to the antenna conductor.
US08779981B2

The invention provides systems and methods of locating a network device based on the time latency between a request by a user device and the receipt of the request by a plurality of satellite servers provided at different locations. Preferably three or more satellites may be employed. The request may be for an item, which may have a known file size, and which may or may not exist. Triangulation techniques may be utilized to determine the location of the device relative to the satellite servers.
US08779979B2

Described herein is a multi-antenna signal receiving device that includes a plurality of reception antennas that is capable of maximizing a diversity gain while eliminating a multi-path interference (MPI). The device receives a first received signal of a first antenna that includes components corresponding to a plurality of first paths and the device receives a second received signal of a second antenna that includes components corresponding to a plurality of second paths. The multi-antenna signal receiving device detects a component corresponding to a first path among the plurality of first paths, and a component corresponding to a second path among the plurality of second paths.
US08779969B2

In a radar device, an azimuth estimating module estimates, when there are a plurality of arrival echo and an angular range between the arrival azimuth of one of adjacent arrival echoes in the plurality of arrival echoes and the arrival azimuth of the other thereof is equal to or smaller than a predetermined azimuth resolution of a plurality of receiving antennas, a virtual azimuth and virtual power for each of first frequency components and second frequency components. The virtual azimuth is within the angular range between the arrival azimuth of one of adjacent arrival echoes in the plurality of arrival echoes and the arrival azimuth of the other thereof, and the virtual power is received power of a virtual arrival echo from the virtual azimuth.
US08779967B2

A movable platform has a front end, a back end, a longitudinal axis, and at least one axle oriented generally transverse to the longitudinal axis and located between the front and back ends for supporting wheels of the platform. A position sensor is affixed on the platform at a location other than at a location defined by a plane passing through the axle and normal to the longitudinal axis. The position sensor provides position data as the platform traverses a path. A sensor arrangement is supported by the platform and configured to provide subsurface sensor data as the platform traverses the path. A processor is configured to associate the position data with the sensor data relative to a reference frame and in a manner that accounts for dynamic motion of the platform.
US08779962B2

This document discusses, among other things, apparatus and methods including an analog-to-digital controller (ADC) configured to receive an enable signal and to provide an ADC output signal to control logic, wherein the control logic is configured to provide a control voltage to a control input of a switch. In an example, the control voltage includes the ADC output signal when the ADC output signal is below a first threshold or above a second threshold. In certain examples, the control logic is configured to transition the control voltage from the first threshold to the second threshold when the ADC output signal is between the first and second thresholds.
US08779957B2

A low distortion feed forward delta sigma modulator includes a first adder configured to receive a feedback signal and an input signal. The modulator also includes a first integrator configured to receive an output from the first adder, and a second integrator configured to receive an output from the first integrator. The modulator further includes a second adder configured to receive a second integrated path from the second integrator, a first integrating path from the first integrator and a first summing path from the input signal. The modulator also has a last integrator configured to receive an output from the second adder.
US08779954B2

An AD (analog-to-digital) conversion circuit includes a capacitor array formed of a plurality of capacitors; a sample hold circuit configured to apply an analog input voltage input through an input terminal to the capacitor array so that the analog input voltage is accumulated in the capacitor array until a sampling time set is elapsed; a comparator circuit configured to sequentially retrieve the analog input voltage accumulated in each of the capacitors of the capacitor array, and to compare the analog input voltage with a reference voltage defined in advance to generate a digital signal; and a sampling time adjusting circuit configured to measure a period of time when a voltage on an input side of the sample hold circuit reaches a threshold value defined in advance relative to the reference voltage, and to set a time determined according to the period of time as the sampling time.
US08779951B2

According to one embodiment, a multi-bit delta-sigma time digitizer circuit includes a delay array including delay selection circuits respectively including a delay element and a multiplexer, a phase comparator calculating a time difference, an integrator integrating the time difference output, a flash A/D converter executing digital conversion, a ring oscillation circuit including the delay array, a counter measuring a number of clock signal pulses, a memory storing a delay value of the delay element, and a processor correcting an output result of the A/D converter based on the delay value when the rising timing interval is measured.
US08779947B2

Vehicle-related messaging methods and systems are disclosed herein. In one of the methods, a telematics unit disposed in a vehicle detects that the vehicle is no longer in operation. Upon making the detection, the telematics unit automatically transmits a message to a device, where the message includes a suggestion, a recommendation, an indication, or a notification pertaining to a vehicle utility. An application resident on the device, or on a cloud computing system in communication with the device, presents the message on the device by displaying i) the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification and ii) a plurality of actionable items associated with the suggestion, the recommendation, the indication, or the notification.
US08779940B2

A facility for providing guidance for locating street parking is described. The facility receives an indication of a geographic location with respect to which provide parking guidance, and determines an effective time for which to provide guidance. The facility then provides parking guidance relating to the indicated location at the effective time for a use.
US08779939B2

A method for assisting a driver of a vehicle when parking in a parking space is disclosed. The method involves measuring a possible parking space, calculating a parking trajectory on the basis of a current parking space geometry determined from the measurement of the parking space and on the basis of a vehicle position relative to the parking space, and a parking process is subsequently carried out during which the vehicle is steered along the parking trajectory into the parking space, continuing to determine, during the parking process, the current parking space geometry and is compared with a previous parking space geometry determined before the start of the parking process, where, if the two parking space geometries differ from one another, a deviation which is present is evaluated and the parking trajectory corrected and/or re-calculated.
US08779936B2

A method for providing a safety guidance service from a local server to a nomadic device includes gathering information regarding surrounding conditions within a service area on a road, receiving device information from the nomadic device, which enters the service area, determining whether or not the nomadic device is placed in a situation based on the device information, and when it is recognized that the situation has happened, providing safety guidance message suitable to the situation to the nomadic device.
US08779931B2

A system, device, and method of providing information for a power distribution system is provided. In one embodiment, a method of using a device that receives power from the low voltage power of the power distribution system and experiences a power loss during a local power outage may perform the processes of monitoring a voltage of the low voltage power line, detecting a voltage reduction below a threshold voltage for a predetermined time period, storing information of the voltage reduction in a non-volatile memory prior to the power outage, and transmitting a notification to a remote computer system prior to the outage. The monitoring may comprise making a plurality of measurements of the voltage during a time interval and averaging the plurality of voltage measurements. In addition, the method may include transmitting an alert message upon power up after the outage to indicate a power restoration local to the device.
US08779929B2

A semiconductor element drive device which individually drives semiconductor elements configuring a power converter includes plural protection circuits which detect information necessary for carrying out a protection operation for the semiconductor elements, an alarm signal output circuit which, having set therein pulse signals with pulse widths differing from one of the plural protection circuits to another, continuously outputs a pulse signal corresponding to a protection circuit, among the plural protection circuits, which has first detected that a protection operation is necessary, as an alarm signal during a period in which it is detected that the protection operation is necessary, and a notification signal output circuit which, when the alarm signal is output from the alarm signal output circuit, outputs one pulse thereof equivalent to the set pulse width as a protection operation notification signal.
US08779919B1

A method and apparatus is described for transmitting event codes from a base station to a remote location. In one embodiment, a method is described, executed by a processor within an event communication module, the method comprising receiving an encoded event code from a base station over an interface connection, selecting a first transmission method from two or more communication methods based on the received event code, encoding the event code based on the first communication method, and transmitting the encoded event code to remote location by a communication module configured to communicate using the first communication method.
US08779913B2

A transmission indicator apparatus for a vehicle, may include a base provided on a side of a gearshift lever of the vehicle, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) circuit mounted on the base and provided with light sources, a cover provided above the PCB circuit to shield an internal structure therein, wherein stage characters of a stage character part and stage selection displays of a stage selection part may be formed on the cover to transmit light of the light sources and be thus distinguished, and a partition provided in a space between the PCB circuit and the cover and located between the stage character part and the stage selection part of the cover, thus preventing light interference between the light sources.
US08779911B2

An exterior rear view mirror assembly (10) for a motor vehicle (1) with a blind spot indicator for visually alerting a driver (5) to the presence of an object (2) in the blind spot (3) of the motor vehicle (1). The mirror assembly (10) includes a first mirror surface (30) and a second mirror surface (32). The mirror assembly (10) further includes a transition surface (34) disposed between the first and second mirror surfaces (30, 32) for displaying a blind spot indicator to the driver (5) when an object (2) is detected in the vehicle's blind spot (3). The transition surface (34) for displaying the blind spot indicator is oriented generally towards the driver of the vehicle and away from other road users. Preferably, the transition surface (34) forms a discrete step or discontinuity between the first and second mirror surfaces (30, 32).
US08779906B2

A personal safety and alarm system including a siren/strobe light, and a pepper spray container which are selectively removably positioned in a holder with the holder being selectively detachably secured to a stand for use on a bedside table or the like or which may be placed in the person's purse or pocket. The system also includes a flashlight which is selectively removably secured to the stand.
US08779900B2

Disclosed is an RFID interrogator having a collision type identification function and a control method thereof. It verifies whether or not a collision occurs in a received signal by analyzing data of a signal received from an RF communication unit and performs a corresponding collision resolution operation by diagnosing a collision type in accordance with a collision generation means between the corresponding RFID interrogator and other interrogators or a tag. Since all types of collisions that occur between the RFID interrogator and the tag can be identified, a reason for occurrence of the collisions can be rapidly recognized to cope with the reason for the collisions.
US08779899B2

As an RFID interrogator transmitting a command depending on a collision situation and a control method thereof, the RFID interrogator includes a collision diagnosis unit that analyzes data of a received signal received during a receive time in correspondence with a transmitted signal from an RF communication unit that can transmit and receive signal to and from one or more tag, verifies whether or not a collision occurs in the received signal, and diagnoses a collision type depending on an analysis result of the data of the received signal; and a collision resolution unit that can retransmit a command to the tag through the RF communication unit depending on the collision situation on the basis of whether or not occurrence of the collision or not and the collision type that are received from the collision diagnosis unit.
US08779896B2

Provided are an RFID reader and a method for controlling a gain thereof. The RFID reader includes an amplifier and an AGC circuit. The amplifier controls the gain of an RX signal, received from an RFID tag, in response to an AGC signal. The AGC circuit measures a signal level in an ante-preamble period of the RX signal and generates an AGC signal to control the gain of the RX signal, on the basis of the measured signal level.
US08779892B2

A wireless illumination controller with the function to set the lowest driving power includes a microprocessor, a driver, an illumination control switch, and a wireless receiving module. The microprocessor is built in with an adjustable lowest power and connected with the driver, the illumination control switch, the wireless receiving module and a power processing module. The illumination control switch is used to set the lowest power of the microprocessor. After the wireless receiving module receives a wireless illumination adjustment command, the power of the driving signal output from the driver is controlled to be not lower than the lowest power. Therefore, when a user adjusts the illumination, the driving power is never lower than the lowest driving power of the corresponding light bulb, thereby avoiding flickering.
US08779890B2

According to various embodiments, a radio device may be provided. The radio device may include a configurable component, a configuration information transmitter configured to transmit information identifying the radio device and an identifier of a configuration of the configurable component to a regulation server; and a permission information receiver configured to receive from the regulation server information indicating as to whether the radio device is permitted to use the configuration of the configurable component or as to whether a pre-determined configuration of the configurable component is to be used by the radio device.
US08779880B2

A transformer includes an enclosed tank having an interior and an enclosed radiator spaced from the tank and in fluid communication with the interior. The radiator includes two panels joined to define a substantially enclosed space. The panels have opposing faces and bottom ends. The bottom ends of the panels are joined together by a first weld and portions of the opposing faces of the panels are joined together by a plurality of second welds. The first weld and the plurality of second welds are constructed and arranged such that when an over-pressure condition occurs in the tank and thus in the radiator, the second welds will break generally uniformly permitting the panels to balloon generally uniformly, directing a rupture of the radiator to occur at the first weld, without any rupture of the tank occurring.
US08779873B2

In a ferrite phase shifter, a temperature rise at ferrites can be suppressed to maintain the characteristics of the frites even when used at high power. Thus, the phase shifter can stably demonstrate high performance. The ferrite phase shifter includes a rectangular waveguide, substantially sheet-like ferrites disposed to face each other with respective mounting surfaces kept in tight contact with inner walls of wide surfaces of the rectangular waveguide facing each other, and a coil which is wound around the periphery of the rectangular waveguide in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the ferrites and through which a current is passed.
US08779872B2

A radio is provided for transmit-receive isolation and filtering (INTRIFWA) that are sealed and/or integrally built-in a housing of a transmitter, which can be used in microwave communication systems, including satellite based communications systems and terrestrial based microwave communication systems.
US08779868B2

A mobile device includes an adjustable impedance matching network coupled between a power amplifier and an antenna and has an adjustable impedance element. An impedance sensor is coupled between the power amplifier and adjustable impedance matching network. A processor is configured to a) calculate a corrected antenna load impedance based upon a sensed impedance at inputs of the impedance matching network and a current value of the adjustable impedance element, and b) determine a new value for the adjustable impedance element based upon the corrected antenna load impedance. The processor is also configured to c) set the adjustable impedance element to the new value, and d) sense a new impedance at the inputs and determine if the sensed new impedance is within a threshold value of the power amplifier impedance, and repeat steps a), b), and c) if the sensed new impedance is not within the threshold value.
US08779862B2

An oscillator having a plurality of operatively coupled ring oscillators arranged in hyper-matrix architecture. The operatively coupled ring oscillators are either identical or non-identical and are coupled through a common inverter or tail current transistors. Due to the arrangement of the ring oscillators in a hyper-matrix structure, the ring oscillators are synchronized and resist any variation in frequency or phase thereby maintaining a consistent phase noise performance.
US08779861B2

An electrical circuit includes a first transistor having a first source, a first drain, and a first gate, whereby the first transistor receives an input voltage through the first gate. An output voltage terminal outputs voltage from the first transistor and is connected to the first drain. A second transistor includes a second source, a second drain, and a second gate, whereby the second transistor receives a bias voltage through the second gate, and wherein the first source is connected to the second drain. A first capacitor is connected to the first source, the second source, and the second drain. An inductor is connected to the first drain. A second capacitor is connected in parallel with the inductor and further connected to the first drain.
US08779858B2

An amplifier circuit comprises a measurement path with an amplifier (1) for providing an output voltage (Vout) depending on a measuring current (Ipd) with a first and a second amplifier input (11, 12), and an amplifier output (13). A return path of the amplifier circuit comprises a first filter (2), an auxiliary amplifier (3) and a second filter (4). In this case, the first filter (2) is designed to filter a DC voltage from the output voltage (Vout) and is connected to the amplifier output (13). The auxiliary amplifier (3) serves to convert an input voltage (Vfil) into an output current (Ifil) and has a first and a second auxiliary amplifier input (31, 32) and an auxiliary amplifier output (33). In this case, the first auxiliary amplifier input (31) is connected to the first filter (2). The second filter (4) is designed to filter noise from the output current (Ifil) and couples the auxiliary amplifier output (33) to the first amplifier input (11).
US08779856B2

A symmetric Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier and a peaking amplifier of the same size as the main amplifier. The symmetric Doherty amplifier is configured to operate at peak output power when the main amplifier and the peaking amplifier are each in saturation, and at output-back-off (OBO) when the main amplifier is in saturation and the peaking amplifier is not in saturation. Phase shift circuitry is configured to shift the phase at an output of the peaking amplifier at OBO so that a load impedance seen by the main amplifier and efficiency of the symmetric Doherty amplifier both increase at OBO as a function of the phase shift at the peaking amplifier output.
US08779854B2

A variable gain amplifier circuit (300) comprising a first transistor (310) and a second transistor (312); and an additional transistor (320). The first transistor (310) and second transistor (312) are arranged as common base transistors. The additional transistor (320) is configured to provide part of a translinear loop with the first (310) and second transistors (310). A current through the conduction channel of the first transistor (310) is configured to contribute to an output of the variable gain amplifier circuit current. The circuit (300) is configured such that a current through the conduction channel of the second transistor (312) is copied to the additional transistor (322).
US08779851B2

A circuit for linearizing a power amplifier. The circuit includes a main signal path comprising a digital-to-analog converter, wherein a main signal is transmitted through the main signal path to said power amplifier; and a digital pre-distortion path disposed outside of the main signal path, wherein the digital pre-distortion path includes a digital pre-distorter for digitally pre-distorting the main signal.
US08779833B2

The current-mode CMOS logarithmic function circuit provides an ultra-low power circuit that produces an output current proportional to the logarithm of the input current. An OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) constructed from CMOS transistors, in combination with two PMOS transistors configured in weak inversion mode for providing a reference voltage input and a voltage input from the input current to the OTA, provides the circuit with a high dynamic range, controllable amplitude, high accuracy, and insensitivity to temperature variation.
US08779822B2

Examples of circuits and methods for compensating for power supply induced signal jitter in path elements sensitive to power supply variation. An example includes a signal path coupling an input to an output, the signal path including a delay element having a first delay and a bias-controlled delay element having a second delay. The first delay of the delay element exhibits a first response to changes in power applied thereto and the second delay of the bias-controlled delay element exhibits a second response to changes in the power applied such that the second response compensates at least in part for the first response.
US08779820B2

Described embodiments provide a delay cell for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit. The delay cell includes a delay stage to provide an output signal having a programmable delay through the delay cell. The delay cell has a selectable delay value from a plurality of delay values and a selectable output skew value from a plurality of output skew values, where the cell size and terminal layout of the delay cell are relatively uniform for the plurality of delay values and the plurality of output skew values. The delay stage includes M parallel-coupled inverter stages of stacked PMOS transistors and stacked NMOS transistors. The stacked transistors have configurable source-drain connections between a drain and a source of each transistor, wherein the selectable delay value corresponds to a configuration of the configurable source-drain connections to adjust a delay value of each of the M inverter stages and an output skew value of the delay cell.
US08779819B1

A method and apparatus to independently adjust the output rise and fall time of a transmitter for the purposes of improving high-speed signaling characteristics and reducing electromagnetic interference (EMI). Also described is an apparatus to provide a high-speed edge-rate control feature. The disclosed method and apparatus for rise and fall time equalization has a closed-loop calibration system that includes an actuation apparatus within the transmitter driver, a sensing means at the output of the transmitter to measure the degree of rise/fall time imbalance, and a calibration state machine operating on the sensor output to devise correction control inputs to the actuator in the transmitter driver to correct the rise/fall time imbalance. Also described is how the actuation apparatus within the transmitter driver can further be used to provide an open-loop edge-rate control feature for the transmitter.
US08779817B2

An apparatus and method for reducing effects of spurs in a phased-locked loop having a sigma-delta modulator and digital circuits. The apparatus includes a clock dithering circuit coupled to each of the sigma-delta modulator and the digital circuits. Each clock dithering circuit is configured to dither flanks of a respective first and second clock input signal, and generate a dithered clock output signal, one for each of the sigma-delta modulator and digital circuits. A frequency of each dithered clock output signal follows a frequency of the respective first and second clock input signals, and a phase between each dithered clock output signal and the respective first and second clock input signal is shifted and constantly changing.
US08779812B1

Clock circuits are presented for providing a clock signal using multiple reference clock signals, including a PLL operating from a PLL reference clock signal, an FLL operating from an FLL reference clock signal, and a multiplexer circuit that selectively provides up and down signals from either a PFD of the PLL or the FLL to a charge pump of the PLL according to a reference clock select signal.
US08779804B2

A high side driver circuit includes a driver stage having an input, an output, a first power terminal and a second power terminal, a transistor having a first power terminal, a second power terminal, and a control terminal coupled to the output of the driver stage, and a switch coupled between the second power terminal of the driver stage and the second power terminal of the transistor.
US08779798B2

In order to reduce power consumption, an arithmetic circuit having a function of performing a logic operation processing based on an input signal, storing a potential set in accordance with the result of the logic operation processing as stored data, and outputting a signal with a value corresponding to the stored data as an output signal. The arithmetic circuit includes an arithmetic portion performing the logic operation processing, a first field-effect transistor controlling whether a first potential, which is the potential corresponding to the result of the logic operation processing is set, and a second field-effect transistor controlling whether the potential of the output signal data is set at a second potential which is a reference potential.
US08779794B2

A transistor power switch device comprising an array of vertical transistor elements for carrying current between first and second faces of a semiconductor body. The device also comprises a semiconductor monitor element comprising first and second semiconductor monitor regions in the semiconductor body and a monitor conductive layer distinct from the current carrying conductive layer of the transistor array. The semiconductor monitor element presents semiconductor properties representative of the transistor array. Characteristics of the semiconductor monitor element are measured as representative of characteristics of the transistor array. Source metal ageing of a transistor power switch device is monitored by measuring and recording a parameter which is a function of a sheet resistance of the monitor conductive layer when the transistor power switch device is new and comparing it with its value after operation of the device. A measured current is applied between a first location on an elongate strip element of the monitor conductive layer and a first location on one of a pair of lateral extensions of the strip, and the corresponding voltage developed between a second location on the elongate strip element and the other of said pair of lateral extensions is measured.
US08779792B2

Provided are a tester and a semiconductor device test apparatus having the tester. The tester includes a tested head configured to transfer electronic signals to a probe card. The tester also includes a leveling unit is provided on the tester head. The leveling unit is configured to apply a load to the probe card to maintain a level state of the probe card.
US08779790B2

An integrated circuit probing structure (40) is provided for evaluating functional circuitry (42), such as a slow slew-rate square wave signal from a low power circuit, where the probing structure includes two or more probe pads (48, 49) for testing the functional circuitry which are formed to be electrically separate from one another, and a probe test circuit (46) connected to the functional circuitry (42) for conveying a signal from the functional circuitry to a probe needle (47) only when the probe needle (47) electrically connects the two or more probe pads (48, 49).
US08779785B2

A water content detection sensor includes a circuit member in which low resistance conductors disposed in parallel to each other and a high resistance conductor connecting end portions of the respective low resistance conductors, a carrier body having a water-proof property and an insulating property, and a coating body having a water-proof property and an insulating property, the circuit portion being disposed between the carrier body and the coating body. A plurality of exposure holes is provided which expose the low resistance conductors at plural portions. When water content adheres between the exposure holes and the low resistance conductors are then short-circuited and a current value is made larger than that before the adhesion of the water content. When a small current passes, it is judged that the circuit is normal, and on the other hand, a large current passes, it is judged that water is generated.
US08779782B2

A detection device for detecting an object by measuring the capacitance variation of the detection device includes at least a pair of sensor pads, each sensor pad being able to transmit or to receive an electric field. Each sensor pad can be used to measure the impedance variation of the pad, each sensor pad being driven by a driven rail impedance measuring system including an inverter, an oscillator, a power supply rail driver and switches, the measuring system being able to change the sensor pad function from electric field transmitter to electric field receiver or impedance measurer by turning on and off the oscillator to the input of the power supply rail driver of the inverter.
US08779771B2

In a magnetic resonance marking system marking a flowing medium in a marking region, as well as in a magnetic resonance system with such a magnetic resonance marking system, a method to control a magnetic resonance marking system, and a method to generate magnetic resonance exposures, a radio-frequency transmission device generates marking radio-frequency signals, and a marking radio-frequency transmission coil emits the marking radio-frequency signals in the marking region. A magnetic field determination device determines a magnetic field strength in the marking region, and a control unit derives a marking transmission frequency from the determined magnetic field strength and to control the radio-frequency transmission device so that marking radio-frequency signals at the derived marking transmission frequency are emitted by the marking radio-frequency transmission coil.
US08779762B2

An inspection device that is capable of inspecting all heat-transfer-tube sealing portions in a steam generator and that is also capable of analyzing a defect shape is provided. An inspection device that employs the eddy-current flaw detection method to inspect the presence/absence of a defect in a welded portion (103) between a tube (101) and a tube plate (102) is provided with a main unit (41) that has a circular-column portion (41A), which is inserted into the tube (101), and a flange portion (41B), which is pressed against the tube plate (102), and that is rotatable with respect to the welded portion (103); a probe (42) that is disposed inside the main unit (41), that can be moved close to and away from the welded portion (103), and that detects a defect in the welded portion (103); and a pressing portion (44) that presses the probe (42) toward the welded portion.
US08779761B2

A rotation angle detecting unit includes an IC package having a magnetism detecting element, a sealing body, and leads; and a covering member having a fixing part and a supporting part, which are integrally formed from resin. The element outputs a signal according to change of a magnetic field generated upon rotation of a magnetism generating device attached to a detection object. The sealing body covers the element. The leads are connected to the element, and project from the sealing body. The fixing part is fixed to a supporting body so that the covering member is attached to the supporting body. The supporting part supports the package such that the element can output the signal. The package is press-fitted into the supporting part after its formation, so that the package is supported by the supporting part with a predetermined pressure applied to part of an outer wall of the sealing body.
US08779757B2

A current sensor includes a conductive element, and at least two magnetic field sensors arranged on the conductive element and configured to sense a magnetic field generated by a current through the conductive element, wherein the at least two magnetic field sensors are arranged on opposite sides of a line perpendicular to a current flow direction in the conductive element. The current sensor further includes an insulating layer arranged between the conductive element and the magnetic field sensors, and at least two conductor traces provided on the insulating layer, wherein one end of the conductor traces connects to a respective magnetic field sensor, and the other end of the conductor traces providing a terminal for outputting the sensor signals. The conductor traces are arranged such that they do not extend entirely around the conductive element.
US08779754B2

Delay associated with each of two signals along respective transmission paths is accurately measured using a delay measurement circuit that is fabricated in situ on the actual device where the circuitry for propagating the two signals is fabricated. Thus, the measured delay associated with each of the two signals is subject to the same fabrication-dependent attributes that affect the actual circuitry through which the two signals will be propagated during operation of the device. The skew between the two signals is quantified as the difference in the measured delays. Coarse and fine delay modules are defined within the transmission path of each of the two signals. Based on the measured skew between the two signals, the coarse and fine delay modules are appropriately set to compensate for the skew. The appropriately settings for the coarse and fine delay modules can be stored in non-volatile memory elements.
US08779751B2

To restrict a bowing amount of a piezoelectric actuator, provided is a switching apparatus comprising a contact point section including a first contact point; and an actuator that moves a second contact point to contact or move away from the first contact point. The actuator includes a first piezoelectric film that expands and contracts according to a drive voltage to change a bowing amount of the actuator, and a second piezoelectric film that is provided in parallel with the first piezoelectric film and restricts bowing of the actuator when the drive voltage is not being supplied to the first piezoelectric film.
US08779750B2

A reference voltage generating circuit includes: a reference voltage generating circuit element including a first diode characteristic element and a second diode characteristic element, a density of a current flowing through the second diode characteristic element being different from a density of a current flowing through the first diode characteristic element, the reference voltage generating circuit element being configured to output a reference voltage generated based on a difference between voltages respectively applied to the first diode characteristic element and the second diode characteristic element; a first adjusting circuit element configured to adjust a first-order temperature coefficient of the reference voltage; and a second adjusting circuit element configured to adjust a second-order temperature coefficient of the reference voltage.
US08779745B2

A three-quarter bridge power converter includes a first switch configured to selectively couple a switch node to a higher voltage. The power converter also includes a second switch configured to selectively couple the switch node to a lower voltage. The power converter further includes a third switch configured to selectively cause a third voltage to be provided to the switch node when the first and second switches are not coupling the switch node to the higher and lower voltages. The third switch may be configured to selectively couple the switch node to an energy storage or energy source, such as a capacitor. The third switch may also be configured to selectively couple an energy storage or energy source to ground, where the energy storage or energy source is coupled to the switch node.
US08779742B2

The switched-mode power supply includes a power stage, and a control unit to control the operation of the power stage based on a critical parameter of the power stage, wherein the control unit is configured to control the operation of the power stage to change from a first operational mode to a second operation mode if the critical parameter leaves a pre-defined range, and to change from the second operational mode to the first operational mode based on a measurement of a first time interval.
US08779738B2

The invention improves the voltage regulation rate of the switching regulator in lag control. A divided output voltage divided by the first resistor and the second resistor is input to a first polarity input terminal of a comparator. A driver is used for controlling a switching transistor and a synchronous rectified transistor according to an output pulse of the comparator. A feedback circuit is used for outputting a switching signal to the reverse input terminal of the comparator according to the output pulse, wherein the switching signal is used for switching two voltage levels between the input voltage and a ground voltage. The error amplifier is used for amplifying an error between the divided output voltage and a first reference voltage and generating a second reference voltage to output to a second polarity input terminal of the comparator.
US08779730B2

A method and a device to discharge cell capacitors in a cell based voltage source converter. Each cell has switching elements in half bridge or full bridge configuration and a capacitor in parallel to the half or full bridge. Each cell has two terminals, whereof at least one is between two switching elements. The converter has AC and DC terminals, with the possibility to connect each of the terminals to ground, via a further switching element. A resistor is implemented into at least one of the ground connections. To discharge to capacitors, the switching elements in the respective cells are configured such, that the capacitor is in parallel connection to the terminals. The capacitors are thus discharged via the resistor to ground.
US08779729B2

An electric storage device monitor includes a measurement unit detecting and obtaining a detected value, a power supply switch portion switching a power supply state of the monitor between a monitoring state and a low power consumption state, a wakeup timer to which an actuation time is set and starting counting time in response to switching to the low power consumption state and continuing counting time and outputting an actuation signal if reaching the actuation time, and a control unit. The switch portion switches from the low power consumption state to the monitoring state every time the wakeup timer outputs the actuation signal. The control unit controls the measurement unit to detect and obtain the detected value in the monitoring state, compares the detected value and a reference value, and changes the actuation time according to a comparison result of the detected value and the reference value.
US08779724B2

A controller includes a data accumulation unit that obtains data of an amount of electric power consumed in a residence and accumulates the obtained data a representative pattern creation unit that creates a representative pattern based on the data accumulated in the data accumulation unit, the pattern representatively indicating how the electric power storage device varies in state of charge for its discharging period and a limit value determination unit that determines a limit value to correspond to the pattern.
US08779720B2

Charging station for electric vehicles. A network stabilization is achieved by a network frequency measuring device 8 being arranged to acquire a network frequency and to detect a network frequency which deviates from a reference frequency, and a load regulating device 10 being in operational connection with the network frequency device 8 such that, upon a deviation from the reference frequency being detected in the network frequency, the load regulating device 10 regulates the electrical power emitted to an electric vehicle by the charging station 2.
US08779709B2

An apparatus is provided for controlling operation of an electric motor through use of an additional power storage arrangement connected across the DC busses of a motor drive and controlling the speed of the motor. The additional power storage arrangement includes an additional capacitor arrangement and a rate limiting arrangement in a series circuit relationship with one another.
US08779708B2

A brushless motor driving circuit includes a battery for supplying a power to the brushless motor driving circuit; a driver circuit; a bridge circuit including a plurality of N-channel FETs; a control unit for rotating a brushless motor by switching the bridge circuit through the driver circuit based on a rotor position detection signal; a floating voltage generator for applying a voltage to a first group of the FETs of the bridge circuit; and a converter which is powered from the battery. The converter has an output connected to an input of the floating voltage generator for the first group of the FETs of the bridge circuit and an input of the driver circuit for a second group of the FETs of the bridge circuit to dedicatedly supply a power to gates of the FETs, and the control unit is powered from the battery without using the converter.
US08779703B2

A method for operating a polyphase machine having a pulse-width-modulated inverter includes: determining a setpoint current value respectively for a current in the longitudinal direction and/or the transverse direction based on a specified torque, ascertaining a setpoint voltage value respectively for a voltage in the longitudinal direction and/or the transverse direction with the aid of the setpoint current value and/or of an actual current value determined at the pulse-width-modulated inverter, controlling and/or regulating the polyphase machine corresponding to the ascertained setpoint voltage value. In this context it is provided that, in addition, using a model, a model value is determined respectively for the voltage in the longitudinal direction and/or the transverse direction, the difference between the setpoint voltage value and the model value is ascertained, and in response to the exceeding of a specifiable maximum difference, an error signal is triggered.
US08779702B2

A control system for use with a motor is disclosed. The control system may have a controller that is configured to receive a torque command for the motor and receive a rotor angular velocity signal indicative of an angular velocity of a rotor of the motor. The controller may also be configured to generate a field weakening command by adding a field weakening adjustment signal to the rotor angular velocity signal, and generate a torque voltage command and a flux voltage command based on the torque command and the field weakening command. Further, the controller may be configured to convert the torque voltage command and the flux voltage command into phase voltage commands and output the phase voltage commands.
US08779698B2

An HVAC system includes a blower motor and a variable speed motor drive. The variable speed motor drive is configured to receive line power and provide modulated power to the motor. The blower motor is configured to produce airflow in response to the modulated power. A unit controller is configured to bypass the variable speed motor drive to provide the line power directly to the blower motor in the event that a measured airflow is less than a predetermined value.
US08779696B2

An LED driver IC for driving external strings of LEDs comprises a prefix register and a data register connected in series with each other and with the prefix and data registers in other driver ICs. The prefix and data registers of the driver ICs are connected in a daisy chain arrangement with an interface IC. The interface IC loads data identifying a functional latch into the prefix register and data defining a functional condition into the data register of each driver IC. The data in the data register is then transferred to the functional latch to control the functional condition within the LED driver IC.
US08779694B1

An LED lighting arrangement on a flexible substrate. The flexible substrate has an adhesive on a first surface. Straps are attached to the first surface of the flexible substrate by the adhesive. Each strap has a first surface, a second surface, and first and second terminals exposed on the first surface. The attachment of each strap to the substrate is with the second surface of the strap adhered to the substrate. LEDs are attached to the straps and coupled to the terminals on the straps. An arrangement of one or more wires is attached to the first surface of the flexible substrate by the adhesive. The wires are connected to the first and second terminals on the first surfaces of the plurality of straps to provide power to the LEDs.
US08779661B2

An electric light having a semiconductor mounted to a base (6). The semiconductor, preferably a LED is at least partly surrounded by a liquid container (18), which is filled with liquid such that the liquid is in thermal conducting path with the liquid and the base. The light emitted from the semiconductor passes through the liquid. An electronic ballast (16) is provided in the base between supply contacts (8) and semi conductor (2).
US08779655B2

An organic electroluminescence device includes: a cathode; an anode; and a single-layered or multilayered organic thin-film layer provided between the cathode and the anode. The organic thin-film layer includes at least one emitting layer. The at least one emitting layer contains at least one phosphorescent material and a host material represented by the following formula (1). Ra—Ar1—Rb  (1) In the formula, Ar1, Ra and Rb each represent a substituted or unsubstituted benzene ring or a condensed aromatic hydrocarbon ring selected from a substituted or unsubstituted naphthalene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted chrysene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted fluoranthene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted phenanthrene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted benzophenanthrene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted dibenzophenanthrene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted triphenylene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted benzo[a]triphenylene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted benzochrysene ring, a substituted or unsubstituted benzo[b]fluoranthene ring and a substituted or unsubstituted picene ring. Substituents for Ra and Rb are not aryl groups.
US08779653B2

A solid state lighting devices includes a heatsink having a first end arranged proximate to a base end, and a second end arranged between the first end and a solid state emitter, wherein at least a portion of the heatsink is wider at point intermediate the first end and the second end than the width of the heatsink at the second end. Such reverse angled heatsink reduces obstruction of light. A heatsink may include multiple fins and a heatpipe.
US08779644B2

A group of coils used in a stator of a rotating electrical machine, wound continuously upon a divided core with a crossover wire, in which 2N coils (where N is a natural number) are arranged at approximately regular intervals, wherein a winding direction of N coils, which are first through Nth continuously wound coils, of a front half of the 2N coils, and a winding direction of rear half coils which are (N+1)-st through (2N)-th continuously wound coils, are opposite.
US08779643B2

A stator includes a stator core and a stator coil comprised of a plurality of electric wires. Each of the electric wires has, at least, first, second, and third in-slot portions and first and second turn portions. The first to third in-slot portions are respectively received in three different slots of the stator core. The first turn portion is located on one axial side of the stator core outside of the slots to connect the first and second in-slot portions. The second turn portion is located on the other axial side of the stator core outside of the slots to connect the second and third in-slot portions. For each of the electric wires, the radial distances of the first to third in-slot portions from the axis of the stator core successively decrease. All of the electric wires are offset from one another in the circumferential direction of the stator core.
US08779642B2

An electric power distribution member for stator is a member for connecting a plurality of coils to one another, each having coil opposing end portions located on an inner circumferential side and on an outer circumferential side in a radial direction of a stator, and it includes a plurality of conductor pieces and a plurality of insulating holding portions. The conductor piece has a first connection end portion in a flat plate shape connected to an inner circumferential side end portion of a coil and a second connection end portion in a flat plate shape connected to an outer circumferential side end portion of another coil. In addition, the insulating holding portion integrally holds adjacent conductor pieces at a distance from each other at a portion other than the opposing connection end portions of each conductor piece. The insulating holding portions are arranged in a manner discrete from one another.
US08779641B2

In a busbar unit, which is a distributing device arranged to supply electrical currents to coils, a busbar holder is arranged to support coil connection busbars and sensor connection busbars. Conductor wire connection portions of the coil connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides and welded to a conductor wire defining the coils. The sensor connection busbars are combined with a plurality of electronic components to define a Hall IC circuit designed to output and receive electrical signals to or from Hall ICs. Sensor connection portions of the sensor connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides, and welded to terminals of the Hall ICs. Electronic component connection portions of the sensor connection busbars are exposed on both axial sides, and welded to the electronic components.
US08779639B2

A drive apparatus for a hybrid vehicle, includes an input shaft configured to be rotatably connected to an engine, a motor including a rotor and a stator held inside a stator holder, an output shaft arranged coaxially with a rotation axis of the rotor and connected integrally with the rotor, a clutch device selectively engaging the input shaft with the output shaft, and a case supporting the input shaft and the output shaft, accommodating the motor and the clutch device, and including an oil sump for pooling oil, wherein at least one recessed portion is provided on a peripheral wall portion of the case, at a position where the peripheral wall portion is located lower than a level of the oil pooled in the oil sump and where the peripheral wall portion faces the stator holder.
US08779635B2

A reticle positioning apparatus for actinic EUV reticle inspection including a sealed inspection chamber containing a reticle stage for holding a reticle. The reticle stage has a magnetically suspended upper stage with a long travel in a “y” direction and a magnetically suspended lower stage with a long travel in an “x” direction; and a cable stage chamber isolated from the inspection chamber by a cable chamber wall. The cable stage chamber has a cable stage movable in the “y” direction; and a tube connected at one end to the reticle stage and to the cable stage at the other end. The tube passes from the cable stage through the inspection chamber through a seal in the chamber wall and opening into the cable entry chamber for entry of cables and hoses within the cable stage chamber, which cables and hoses pass through the tube to the reticle stage.
US08779633B2

A device includes a load sensor configured to measure a load demand that indicates that a load is operating in an active state or an inactive state. A load switch is configure to selectively supply electric energy to the a load in accordance with a load control signal. A controller in communication with the load switch and the load sensor is configured to compare the load demand to a load threshold, generate the load control signal based at least in part on the load demand relative to the load threshold, and transmit the load control signal to the load switch when the load demand is substantially equal to or greater than the load threshold. The controller is further configured to determine the load threshold based at least in part on the load demand when the load is operating in either the active state or the inactive state.
US08779632B2

A solar module includes a plurality of serially connected photovoltaic solar cells and current connections configured to provide solar current generated by the photovoltaic solar cells and configured for connecting the solar module to at least one additional solar module. A mechanical switching contact is connected in parallel with the serially connected solar cells and a pressure actuator is connected to the switching contact. The pressure actuator is configured so as to open the switching contact against the action of a spring element in response to a control pressure above a predetermined threshold and so as to allow closure of the switching contact by action of the spring element in response to a control pressure below the predetermined threshold. The pressure actuator is connected to a control connection for coupling to a control pressure line.
US08779613B2

The invention relates to a system for generating energy from ocean wave movement, comprising at least: one vessel (2) having at least one rotor shaft (3) that acts on an electricity generator; at least one tank (5) which is joined and solidly connected to the vessel (2) and which is full of sea water such that it remains at the water line (f); at least one float (1) joined to the vessel (2) by means of a boom (11); and mechanical means for transmitting the movement of the float (1) to the corresponding rotor shaft (3). In addition, the vessel (2) is attached to a float frame (4). A plurality of vessels (2) can be connected to a float frame (4) and/or a plurality of float frames (4) can be connected to one another. Furthermore, one or more tanks (5) can be attached to said float frames.
US08779608B2

A swing system of a construction machine having a power generation function is provided. The construction machine includes a lower driving structure capable of traveling, an upper swing structure mounted on an upper portion of the lower driving structure and provided with a working device, a swing ring gear fixed to the lower driving structure, a swing ring gear cover fixed to the upper swing structure and engaged with the swing ring gear to perform a rotational operation, a permanent magnet installed on one of the swing ring gear and the swing ring gear cover, and an induction coil installed on the other of the swing ring gear and the swing ring gear cover. Induction current is generated in the induction coil in accordance with the rotational operation of the swing ring gear cover.
US08779605B2

A method of making a semiconductor die includes forming a trench around a conductive stud extending from the first side to a second side of a substrate to expose a portion of the stud and then forming a conductive layer inside the trench and in electrical contact with the stud.
US08779600B2

A dielectric stack and method of depositing the stack to a substrate using a single step deposition process. The dielectric stack includes a dense layer and a porous layer of the same elemental compound with different compositional atomic percentage, density, and porosity. The stack enhances mechanical modulus strength and enhances oxidation and copper diffusion barrier properties. The dielectric stack has inorganic or hybrid inorganic-organic random three-dimensional covalent bonding throughout the network, which contain different regions of different chemical compositions such as a cap component adjacent to a low-k component of the same type of material but with higher porosity.
US08779595B2

Provided is a semiconductor device including high-frequency interconnect and dummy conductor patterns (second dummy conductor patterns). The dummy conductor patterns are disposed in a interconnect layer different from a interconnect layer in which the high-frequency interconnect is disposed. The dummy conductor patterns are disposed so as to keep away from a region overlapping the high-frequency interconnect in plan view. The semiconductor device further includes dummy conductor patterns (first dummy conductor patterns) in the interconnect layer in which the high-frequency interconnect is disposed.
US08779593B2

Also in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a copper embedded wiring as a main wiring layer, generally, the uppermost-layer wiring layer is often an aluminum-based pad layer in order to ensure wire bonding characteristics. The aluminum-based pad layer is also generally used as a wiring layer (general intercoupling wiring such as power source wiring or signal wiring). However, such a general intercoupling wiring has a relatively large wiring length. This causes a demerit for the device to be susceptible to damages during a plasma treatment due to the antenna effect, and other demerits. With the present invention, in a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a metal multilayer wiring system having a lower-layer embedded type multilayer wiring layer and an upper-layer non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer, the non-embedded type aluminum-based pad metal layer substantially does not have a power supply ring wiring.
US08779592B2

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first conductive line disposed over a substrate. The first conductive line is located in a first interconnect layer and extends along a first direction. The semiconductor device includes a second conductive line and a third conductive line each extending along a second direction different from the first direction. The second and third conductive lines are located in a second interconnect layer that is different from the first interconnect layer. The second and third conductive lines are separated by a gap that is located over or below the first conductive line. The semiconductor device includes a fourth conductive line electrically coupling the second and third conductive lines together. The fourth conductive line is located in a third interconnect layer that is different from the first interconnect layer and the second interconnect layer.
US08779587B2

An electronic device, comprising a semiconductor substrate having a first metal pad formed thereover, a device package substrate having a second metal pad formed thereover, and, a doped solder bump. The doped solder bump is located between and in contact with said first and second metal pads. The doped solder bump consisting of Sn, one or both of Ag and Cu, and a fourth row transition metal dopant in a concentration range from 0.35 wt. % to 2 wt. %.
US08779582B2

An integrated circuit chip package is described. The integrated circuit package comprises a substrate, a chip attached to the substrate, and a heat spreader mounted over the chip for sealing the chip therein. The heat spreader includes a thermally-conductive element having a side opposed to the top of the chip for transmitting heat away from the chip to the heat spreader, and a compliant element having a first portion attached to and positioned around the periphery of the thermally-conductive element and a second portion affixed to a surface of the substrate.
US08779567B2

In a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element and a wiring substrate on which the semiconductor element is mounted. The wiring substrate includes an insulating substrate and conductive wiring formed in the insulating substrate and electrically connected to the semiconductor element. The conductive wiring includes an underlying layer formed on the insulating substrate, a main conductive layer formed on the underlying layer, and an electrode layer covering side surfaces of the underlying layer and side surfaces and an upper surface of the main conductive layer. The underlying layer includes an adhesion layer being formed in contact with the insulating substrate and containing an alloy of Ti.
US08779566B2

In one aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit package is described. The integrated circuit package includes a substrate formed from a dielectric material that includes multiple electrical contacts and conductive paths. An upper lead frame is attached with and underlies the substrate. The upper lead frame is electrically connected with at least one of the contacts on the substrate. The active surface of an integrated circuit die is electrically and physically coupled to the upper lead frame through multiple electrical connectors. A lower lead frame may be attached with the back surface of the integrated circuit die. A passive device is positioned on and electrically connected with one of the contacts on the substrate and/or the upper lead frame.
US08779563B2

A workpiece has at least two semiconductor chips, each semiconductor chip having a first main surface, which is at least partially exposed, and a second main surface. The workpiece also comprises an electrically conducting layer, arranged on the at least two semiconductor chips, the electrically conducting layer being arranged at least on regions of the second main surface, and a molding compound, arranged on the electrically conducting layer.
US08779555B2

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus to increase breakdown voltage of a semiconductor power device. A bonded wafer is formed by bonding a device wafer to a handle wafer with an intermediate oxide layer. The device wafer is thinned substantially from its original thickness. A power device is formed within the device wafer through a semiconductor fabrication process. The handle wafer is patterned to remove section of the handle wafer below the power device, resulting in a breakdown voltage improvement for the power device as well as a uniform electrostatic potential under reverse biasing conditions of the power device, wherein the breakdown voltage is determined. Other methods and structures are also disclosed.
US08779552B2

An integrated circuit chip formed inside and on top of a semiconductor substrate and including: in the upper portion of the substrate, an active portion in which components are formed; and under the active portion and at a depth ranging between 5 and 50 μm from the upper surface of the substrate, an area comprising sites for gettering metal impurities and containing metal atoms at a concentration ranging between 1017 and 1018 atoms/cm3.
US08779536B2

A pressure sensor component includes a MEMS component having at least one pattern element that is able to be deflected perpendicular to the component plane, which is equipped with at least one electrode of a measuring capacitor device, and an ASIC component having integrated circuit elements and at least one back end stack, at least one counter-electrode of the measuring capacitor device being developed in a metallization plane of the back end stack. The MEMS component is mounted on the back end pile of the ASIC component. The MEMS component includes at least one pressure-sensitive diaphragm pattern and is mounted on the ASIC component in such a way that the pressure-sensitive diaphragm pattern spans a cavity between the MEMS component and the back end stack of the ASIC component.
US08779535B2

Integrated devices and methods for packaging the same can include an external housing, an internal housing positioned within the external housing, and an external cavity formed between the external housing and the internal housing. An integrated device die can be positioned within the external cavity in fluid communication with an internal cavity formed by the internal lid. An air way can extend through the external cavity to the internal cavity, and can further extend from the internal cavity to the external cavity. The air way can provide fluid communication between the package exterior and the integrated device die, while reducing contamination of the integrated device die.
US08779529B2

A semiconductor device is formed with low resistivity self aligned silicide contacts with high-K/metal gates. Embodiments include postponing silicidation of a metal layer on source/drain regions in a silicon substrate until deposition of a high-K dielectric, thereby preserving the physical and morphological properties of the silicide film and improving device performance. An embodiment includes forming a replaceable gate electrode on a silicon-containing substrate, forming source/drain regions, forming a metal layer on the source/drain regions, forming an ILD over the metal layer on the substrate, removing the replaceable gate electrode, thereby forming a cavity, depositing a high-K dielectric layer in the cavity at a temperature sufficient to initiate a silicidation reaction between the metal layer and underlying silicon, and forming a metal gate electrode on the high-K dielectric layer.
US08779525B2

A complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) circuit incorporating a substrate and a gate wire over the substrate. The substrate comprises an n-type field effect transistor (n-FET) region, a p-type field effect transistor (p-FET) region and an isolation region disposed between the n-FET and p-FET regions. The gate wire comprises an n-FET gate, a p-FET gate, and gate material extending transversely from the n-FET gate across the isolation region to the p-FET gate. A first conformal insulator covers the gate wire and a second conformal insulator is on the first conformal insulator positioned over the p-FET gate without extending laterally over the n-FET gate. Straining regions for producing different types of strain are formed in recess etched into the n-FET and p-FET regions of the substrate.
US08779521B2

In one preferred form shown in FIGS. 2a to 2c there is provided a field effect transistor (24). The field effect transistor includes an off switch gate (42) and a switch bridge semiconductor (44). The switch bridge (44) is provided for charging the off switch gate (42) such that the off switch gate (42) is able to screen the electric field of the control gate (32) of the field effect transistor.
US08779520B2

An erasable programmable single-poly nonvolatile memory includes a substrate structure; a floating gate transistor having a floating gate, a gate oxide layer under the floating gate, and a channel region, wherein the channel region is formed in a N-well region; and an erase gate region, wherein the floating gate is extended to and is adjacent to the erase gate region and the erase gate region comprises a n-type source/drain region connected to an erase line voltage and a P-well region. The N-well and P-well region are formed in the substrate structure. The gate oxide layer comprises a first portion above the channel region of the floating gate transistor and a second portion above the erase gate region, and a thickness of the first portion of the gate oxide layer is different from a thickness of the second portion of the gate oxide layer.
US08779518B2

A structure comprises an N+ region formed over a substrate, a P+ region formed over the substrate, wherein the P+ region and the N+ region form a diode and a first epitaxial growth block region formed between the N+ region and the P+ region.
US08779515B2

An aluminum-containing material is employed to form replacement gate electrodes. A contact-level dielectric material layer is formed above a planarization dielectric layer in which the replacement gate electrodes are embedded. At least one contact via cavity is formed through the contact-level dielectric layer. Any portion of the replacement gate electrodes that is physically exposed at a bottom of the at least one contact via cavity is vertically recessed. Physically exposed portions of the aluminum-containing material within the replacement gate electrodes are oxidized to form dielectric aluminum compound portions. Subsequently, each of the at least one active via cavity is further extended to an underlying active region, which can be a source region or a drain region. A contact via structure formed within each of the at least one active via cavity can be electrically isolated from the replacement gate electrodes by the dielectric aluminum compound portions.
US08779508B2

A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate with a cell region, a second pad region, and a first pad region between the second pad region and the cell region, a first buried gate buried in a trench of the semiconductor substrate, and extended from the cell region to the second pad region, and a second buried gate buried in the trench of the semiconductor substrate, disposed over and spaced apart from an upper part of the first buried gate, and extended from the cell region to the first pad region.
US08779505B2

A semiconductor device which includes a buried layer having a first dopant type disposed in a substrate. The semiconductor device further includes a second layer having the first dopant type over the buried layer, wherein a dopant concentration of the buried layer is higher than a dopant concentration of the second layer. The semiconductor device further includes a first well of a second dopant type disposed in the second layer and a first source region of the first dopant type disposed in the first well and connected to a source contact on one side. The semiconductor device further includes a gate disposed on top of the well and the second layer and a metal electrode extending from the buried layer to a drain contact, wherein the metal electrode is insulated from the second layer and the first well by an insulation layer.
US08779490B2

A top semiconductor layer and conductive cap structures over deep trench capacitors are simultaneously patterned by an etch. Each patterned portion of the conductive cap structures constitutes a conductive cap structure, which laterally contacts a semiconductor material portion that is one of patterned remaining portions of the top semiconductor layer. Gate electrodes are formed as discrete structures that are not interconnected. After formation and planarization of a contact-level dielectric layer, passing gate lines are formed above the contact-level dielectric layer in a line level to provide electrical connections to the gate electrodes. Gate electrodes and passing gate lines that are electrically connected among one another constitute a gate line that is present across two levels.
US08779489B2

A semiconductor FET provides a resonant gate and source and drain electrodes, wherein the resonant gate is electromagnetically resonant at one or more predetermined frequencies.
US08779488B2

In the semiconductor memory device, one of a source and a drain of a first transistor is connected to one of a source and a drain of a second transistor, a gate of the first transistor is connected to one of a source and a drain of a third transistor and one of a pair of capacitor electrodes included in a capacitor, the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor and the other of the source and the drain of the third transistor are connected to a bit line, the other of the pair of capacitor electrodes included in the capacitor is connected to a common wiring, and the common wiring is grounded (GND). The common wiring has a net shape when seen from the above, and the third transistor is provided in a mesh formed by the common wiring.
US08779487B2

A Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) device can include a semiconductor substrate that includes an active region including a source region therein. A gate line can cross the active region and a first contact plug can be on the active region adjacent to the gate line and can be connected to the source region. A conductive layer can be on the first contact plug to expose a portion of the first contact plug and a capacitor storage node electrode can be on the conductive layer.
US08779480B2

Provided are a photosensor, a photosensor apparatus including the photosensor, and a display apparatus including the photosensor apparatus. The photosensor includes a substrate; a first light receiving layer which is formed on the substrate and comprises an oxide; a second light receiving layer which is connected to the first light receiving layer and comprises an organic material; and first and second electrodes which are respectively connected to the first and second light receiving layers.
US08779470B2

A semiconductor device, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of gate finger electrodes which are arranged on the substrate; a plurality of source finger electrodes which are arranged on the substrate, each source finger electrode is close to the gate finger electrode; a plurality of drain finger electrodes which are arranged on the substrate, each drain finger electrode faces the source finger electrode via the gate finger electrode; a shield plate electrode which is arranged via an insulating layer over the drain finger electrode and the first surface of the substrate between the gate finger electrode and the drain finger electrode, is short-circuited to the source finger electrode, and shields electrically the gate finger electrode and the drain finger electrode from each other; and a slot VIA hole which is formed in the substrate under the source finger electrode and is connected to the source finger electrode.
US08779466B2

An ESD protection device is manufactured such that its ESD characteristics are easily adjusted and stabilized. The ESD protection device includes an insulating substrate, a cavity provided in the insulating substrate, at least one pair of discharge electrodes each including a portion exposed in the cavity, the exposed portions being arranged to face each other, and external electrodes provided on a surface of the insulating substrate and connected to the at least one pair of discharge electrodes. A particulate supporting electrode material having conductivity is dispersed between the exposed portions of the at least one pair of discharge electrodes in the cavity.
US08779462B2

The semiconductor substrate includes a high-ohmic semiconductor material with a conduction band edge and a valence band edge, separated by a bandgap, wherein the semiconductor material includes acceptor or donor impurity atoms or crystal defects, whose energy levels are located at least 120 meV from the conduction band edge, as well as from the valence band edge in the bandgap; and wherein the concentration of the impurity atoms or crystal defects is larger than 1×1012 cm−3.
US08779461B2

A light emitting diode (LED) package comprises a LED, and a lead frame electrically connected to the LED. The lead frame includes a notch which has a predetermined size and a predetermined shape configured to separate a solder paste into two regions on either side of the notch when the solder paste is disposed on the lead frame.
US08779459B2

An LED unit includes a housing accommodating a wiring substrate mounted an LED, the housing including a light projecting portion for projecting light emitted from the LED, and wiring lines electrically connected to the wiring substrate. First and second lead-out portions, for leading out the wiring lines, are respectively provided at opposite end portions of the housing along a specified direction when seen in a plan view. First and second attachment portions for attaching the housing are respectively provided in the opposite end portions of the housing along the specified direction. The first and second lead-out portions are arranged at the opposite sides from each other with respect to a centerline of the housing extending along the specified direction. The first and second attachment portions are respectively arranged at the opposite sides from the first and second lead-out portions with respect to the centerline of the housing.
US08779458B2

A light emitting diode includes a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, a second semiconductor layer, an upper electrode, and a lower electrode. The active layer is sandwiched between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The lower electrode is electrical connected with the first semiconductor layer, and the upper electrode is electrical connected with the second semiconductor layer. A surface of the second semiconductor layer away from the active layer is used as the light extraction surface. A surface of the first semiconductor layer connected with the lower electrode is a patterned surface comprising a plurality of grooves.
US08779455B2

The present invention provides a semiconductor light-emitting device that emits light with a specific low correlated color temperature and with a high Ra, and a semiconductor light-emitting system provided with the semiconductor light-emitting device. This object is attained by the semiconductor light-emitting device having the below-described configuration.A semiconductor light-emitting device includes a LED chip as a semiconductor light-emitting element, and a phosphor emitting light using the LED chip as an excitation source, and emits light with a correlated color temperature equal to or higher than 1600 K and lower than 2400 K. The phosphor includes at least a green phosphor and a red phosphor. In the spectrum of light emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting device, the value of the peak intensity of the light emitted by the LED chip is less than 60% of the maximum peak intensity of the light emitted by the phosphor.
US08779453B2

A light-emitting element that has an improved light-extraction efficiency and an improved color purity of an emitted light. A light-emitting element includes a reflective electrode, a transparent electrode, a light-emitting layer, a functional layer, and a color filter. An optical film thickness of the functional layer is from approximately 218 nm to approximately 238 nm for a light emitting element that emits a blue light. An optical film thickness of the functional layer is from approximately 384 nm to approximately 400 nm for a light emitting element that emits a red light.
US08779450B2

Disclosed is a light-emitting device including a support member, a reflective layer on the support member, a light-transmitting electrode layer on the reflective layer, a light-emitting structure on the light-transmitting electrode layer, the light-emitting structure being provided with a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer, and a luminescence layer interposed between the reflective layer and the light-transmitting electrode layer. Accordingly, the luminescence layer is formed in the chip formation process to minimize non-uniform application of a phosphor composed of an epoxy resin and simplify fabrication of the light-emitting device.
US08779421B2

It is an object to provide a highly reliable semiconductor device including a thin film transistor with stable electric characteristics. In a semiconductor device including an inverted staggered thin film transistor whose semiconductor layer is an oxide semiconductor layer, a buffer layer is provided over the oxide semiconductor layer. The buffer layer is in contact with a channel formation region of the semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers. A film of the buffer layer has resistance distribution. A region provided over the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer has lower electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer, and a region in contact with the source and drain electrode layers has higher electrical conductivity than the channel formation region of the semiconductor layer.
US08779411B2

The present disclosure provides a light emitting diode and a method of manufacturing the same. The light emitting diode includes a graphene layer on a second conductive semiconductor layer and a plurality of metal nanoparticles formed on some region of the graphene layer, whereby adhesion between the second conductive semiconductor layer comprised of an inorganic material and the graphene layer is enhanced, thereby securing stability and reliability of the light emitting diode. In addition, the light emitting diode allows uniform spreading of electric current, thereby allowing stable emission of light through a surface area of the light emitting diode. The method of manufacturing a light emitting diode includes forming a graphene layer on a second conductive semiconductor layer, forming a mask film on the graphene layer, forming a metal layer within the patterns of the mask film, followed by removing the mask film; and heat treating the metal layer to form a plurality of metal nanoparticles, whereby the metal nanoparticles having a high index of refraction are formed on some region of the graphene layer and provide surface texturing effects, thereby improving light emission efficiency.
US08779407B2

A nonvolatile memory element is disclosed comprising a first electrode, a near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer having bistable resistance, and a second electrode in contact with the near-stoichiometric metal oxide memory layer. At least one electrode is a resistive electrode comprising a sub-stoichiometric transition metal nitride or oxynitride, and has a resistivity between 0.1 and 10 Ωcm. The resistive electrode provides the functionality of an embedded current-limiting resistor and also serves as a source and sink of oxygen vacancies for setting and resetting the resistance state of the metal oxide layer. Novel fabrication methods for the second electrode are also disclosed.
US08779402B2

A target supply device includes a target supply device body including a nozzle having a through-hole through which a target material is discharged, a piezoelectric member having first and second surfaces and connected to the target supply device body at the first surface, the piezoelectric member being configured such that a distance between the first and second surfaces changes in according with an externally supplied electric signal, an elastic member having first and second ends and connected to the second surface of the piezoelectric member at the first end, the elastic member being configured such that a distance between the first and second ends extends or contract in accordance with an externally applied force, and a regulating member configured to regulate a distance between the second end of the elastic member and the target supply device body.
US08779392B2

The invention relates to a charged particle beam lithography system comprising: a charged particle optical column arranged in a vacuum chamber for projecting a charged particle beam onto a target, wherein the column comprises deflecting means for deflecting the charged particle beam in a deflection direction, a target positioning device comprising a carrier for carrying the target, and a stage for carrying and moving the carrier along a first direction, wherein the first direction is different from the deflection direction, wherein the target positioning device comprises a first actuator for moving the stage in the first direction relative to the charged particle optical column, wherein the carrier is displaceably arranged on the stage and wherein the target positioning device comprises retaining means for retaining the carrier with respect to the stage in a first relative position.
US08779391B2

An exemplary sterilization system includes a self-propelled robotic mobile platform for locating and eradicating infectious bacterial and virus strains on floors (and objects thereon), walls, cabinets, angled structures, etc., using one or more ultraviolet light sources. A controller allows the system to adjust the quantity of ultraviolet light received by a surface by, for example, changing the intensity of energy input to a ultraviolet light source, changing a distance between a ultraviolet light source and a surface being irradiated, changing the speed/movement of the mobile platform to affect time of exposure, and/or by returning to contaminated areas for additional passes. The mobile platform may include a sensor capable of detecting fluorescence of biological contaminants irradiated with ultraviolet light to locate contaminated areas. The system is thus capable of “seek and destroy” functionality by navigating towards contaminated areas and irradiating those areas with ultraviolet light accordingly.
US08779388B2

An optical sensor is provided with reduced sensitivity toward external light influences, fluorophores, and radiation, more particularly gamma radiation. The sensor is suitable for determining at least one parameter in a medium. The sensor has a matrix that contains a fluorescent dye. The matrix is supported by a transparent substrate and has a precious metal layer on the side facing the medium. The precious metal layer provides protection against photobleaching and radiation. The optical sensor is suitable for implementation in containers and laboratory products that are sterilized by gamma radiation, such as disposable bioreactors.
US08779385B2

In accordance with the present invention, a device and method is provided for covering and sterilizing a stethoscope or other medical instrument for safer use. The device comprises a closed housing for shielding the object to be sterilized, a means for receiving the object, a power supply, an ultraviolet light source within the housing, and a switch for controlling that lamp.
US08779382B1

This invention relates to the reduction of charged particle loss by radially introducing sheath air from the porous wall. The corona-wire unipolar aerosol charger of the present invention includes a charging chamber, at least one aerosol inlet channel, a corona wire, an annular sheath air inlet opening, a porous tube defining a charging chamber, an annular sheath air outlet opening, and an aerosol outlet channel. The sheath air inlet opening is for radially introducing a sheath air flow into the charging chamber. The charged particles will not deposit on the wall surface of the charger if the radial velocity of the introduced sheath air at the wall is higher or comparable to the electrostatic velocity of charged particles. The dilution effect of charged particle due to the use of clean air can be further minimized by redirecting the excess clean air to the outside of the charger.
US08779378B2

There is provided an electron beam detector including an electron beam scatterer which is disposed at a predetermined distance below a shield including a plurality of openings formed therein, and a beam detection element disposed at a predetermined distance below the scatterer and configured to convert an electron beam into an electric signal. In the electron beam detector, the scatterer is disposed at an equal distance from any of the openings in the shield, and the beam detection element is disposed at an equal distance from any of the openings in the shield. Thus, the electron beam detector can suppress a variation in detection sensitivity depending on the position of the opening.
US08779377B2

An image pickup unit includes: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion device and a field-effect transistor; and a readout control line and a signal line that are disposed in a peripheral region of the photoelectric conversion device and are connected to the transistor. The readout control line includes a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer that are laminated and are electrically connected to each other. The first wiring layer is electrically connected to a gate electrode of the transistor, and the second wiring layer is provided in a same layer as the signal line.
US08779372B2

A radiation image pickup apparatus includes a base which transmits ultraviolet rays, a plurality of image pickup elements, a scintillator, at least one ultraviolet peelable adhesive arranged between the base and the image pickup elements so as to fix the base and the image pickup elements in a predetermined position with respect to each other, and a heat peelable adhesive arranged between the image pickup elements and the scintillators so as to fix the image pickup elements to the scintillator.
US08779369B2

A radiation detection apparatus comprising a sensor panel and a scintillator panel is provided. The scintillator panel including a substrate, a scintillator disposed on the substrate, and a scintillator protective film that has a first organic protective layer and an inorganic protective layer, and covers the scintillator. The scintillator protective film is located between the sensor panel and the scintillator. The first organic protective layer is located on a scintillator side from the inorganic protective layer. A surface on a sensor panel side of the scintillator is partially in contact with the inorganic protective layer.
US08779368B2

A scintillation detection unit for the detection of back-scattered electrons for electron and ion microscopes, in which the scintillation detection unit consists of body and at least one system for processing the light signal, where the body is at least partly made of scintillation material and is at least partly situated in a column of an electron or ion microscope and is made up of at least one hollow part. The height of the body of scintillation detection unit measured in the direction of longitudinal axis is greater than one-and-a-half times the greatest width measured in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the hollow part with the greatest width. The walls of the hollow parts are vacuum-sealed in the areas outside bottom holes and top holes and make up part of a vacuum-sealed jacket which is passed through by the primary beam of electrons.
US08779362B1

A method and apparatus for detecting the presence and concentration of organic and inorganic acids by their infrared absorption characteristics in a refrigeration unit while running. Acids of interest, such of those formed upon decomposition of refrigerant or refrigerant oil, are volatilized and subjected to infrared radiation. Optical filtering is used to limit the infrared radiation to relevant wavelengths. Organic acids are detected by the absorbance of energy between 4-6 microns while inorganic acids are detected by the absorbance of energy between 2-4 microns.
US08779361B2

An optical proximity sensor is provided that comprises an infrared light emitter an infrared light detector, a first molded optically transmissive infrared light pass component disposed over and covering the light emitter and a second molded optically transmissive infrared light pass component disposed over and covering the light detector. Located in-between the light emitter and the first molded optically transmissive infrared light pass component, and the light detector and the second molded optically transmissive infrared light pass component is a substantially optically non-transmissive infrared light barrier component. The infrared light barrier component substantially attenuates or blocks the transmission of undesired direct, scattered or reflected light between the light emitter and the light detector, and thereby minimizes optical crosstalk and interference between the light emitter and the light detector.
US08779357B1

Metrology is performed using multiple registered images derived from one or more charged particle beams. Measurements combine features from one image that may not be visible in a second image to determine relationships that cannot be determined from a single image. In one embodiment, measurements use features from different element maps to determine a relationship between features, such as a distance or angle between two features in the first image at a location determined by a distance from a feature on the second image.
US08779354B2

A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising an Electron Transfer Dissociation cell. Positive analyte ions are fragmented into fragment ions upon colliding with singly charged negative reagent ions with the cell. The cell comprises a plurality of ring electrodes which form a spherical trapping volume. Ions experience negligible RF heating over the majority of the trapping volume which enables the kinetic energy of the analyte and reagent ions to be reduced to just above thermal temperatures. An Electron Transfer Dissociation cell having an enhanced sensitivity is thereby provided. Fragment ions created within the cell may be cooled and may be transmitted onwardly to an orthogonal acceleration Time of Flight mass analyser enabling a significant improvement in the resolution of the mass analyser to be obtained.
US08779353B2

An ion guide that transports ions from an ion source at generally a high-pressure level to a mass analyzer at generally a low-pressure level has a plurality of identical electrodes fabricated with protruding elements that forming an ion tunnel or an ion funnel, when the electrodes are assembled around a common longitudinal axis. The protruding elements allow the generation of the radio frequency field necessary to radially confine ions. Each electrode may be machined from a solid block of conductive material, such as metal. The disclosed arrangement greatly simplifies the manufacturing process, reducing cost, and improving robustness and reliability of the ion guide itself.
US08779349B2

Generally described, one or more embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to pulse oximeter test instruments for testing pulse oximeters. The pulse oximeter test instruments are configured to linearize a relationship between an input signal and an output signal of a light emitting diode (LED). In some embodiments, the linearized relationship may be obtained by minimizing an amount of ambient light detected by a photosensor in a feedback loop. The photosensor may be located in a housing that limits the amount of ambient light that may be detected.
US08779342B2

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a focal plane array is provided. The focal plane array may comprise a plurality of pixels. Each pixel may include one or more capacitors operable to collect charge corresponding to an amount of light received at the respective pixel. Each pixel may further include a present state register operable to store a present state value of the respective pixel. The present state value indicates an amount of charge collected by the one or more capacitors of the respective pixel. The focal plane array may further include a logic circuit coupled to each present state register of the plurality of pixels. The logic circuit is operable to compute a next state value of each pixel based on the present state value of the respective pixel. The logic circuit may be time shared by the pixels.
US08779333B2

A direct contact segmented column heater is described. The heater is capable of a broad heating and cooling range, and exhibits a very rapid response, with heating and cooling rates better than 350° C. min−1. In one configuration one or more of the individual heating devices are provided with full independent control and temperature feedback, and developed to provide excellent thermal stability at all temperatures. The heating devices or in other words active thermal transfer devices are capable of bi-directional operation, selectively heating (i.e., providing heat to) or cooling (i.e., withdrawing heat from) a column and/or contents of a column.
US08779329B2

Embodiments of a pendant associated with a multi-process welding power supply that allows a user to switch processes and reverse an output polarity while located remotely from a power supply unit are provided. Certain embodiments include a pendant with a wire spool and wire feeder drive circuitry that is configured to activate spooling during MIG welding. Control circuitry that may include processing circuitry and memory is provided. The control system may disable redundant controls on the power supply unit user interface when the power supply unit is connected to the pendant via a supply cable. Additionally, the control system may set the process, set the polarity, enable or disable a wire feed, and enable or disable gas flow according to inputs received via a user interface on either the power supply unit or the pendant.
US08779328B2

Methods for making devices include providing a tubular member to be formed into a device, placing a removable sacrificial block material in the lumen of the tubular member and laser cutting the tubular member. A tubular member made from nickel-titanium alloy can be tightly adhered to a sacrificial sleeve utilizing the phase changes associated with nickel-titanium. A mandrel which includes an enlarged diameter section causes the workpiece to expand slightly within its elastic deformation range to dislodge islands from the workpiece. Such a mandrel could be formed from a tubular member which has a central lumen that can be used to deliver a pressurized medium to “blast” islands from the workpiece.
US08779316B2

Described is a high-voltage circuit breaker provided with two opposite-arranged arcing contacts, which are surrounded by an insulating nozzle. Furthermore provided are two main contacts, arranged opposite each other outside of the insulating nozzle, with respectively one of these contacts being assigned to one of the two arcing contacts. The high-voltage circuit breaker is provided, in at least one embodiment, with at least one device for diverting an insulating gas flow from the region between the two arcing contacts, wherein a respective insulating gas flow is conducted outside of the insulating nozzle and in the direction toward the main contacts. A diverting device is provided, which is equipped with a mechanism for diverting insulating gas from the insulating gas flow that is diverted from the region between the two arcing contacts, such that the two insulating gas flows moving from both directions toward the main contacts have approximately the same effect on the insulating gas that is present in the region of the two main contacts, thereby ensuring that the insulating gas is not displaced significantly in this region.
US08779315B2

A cover glass pressure button (CGPB) is disclosed for an electronic device that has an image display module which is protected by a cover glass. When the cover glass is pressed, the CGPB senses the pressure to output a corresponding physical parameter to a control circuit for triggering a function of the image display module.
US08779303B2

The embodiments described herein provide for a packaging configuration that provides leads or connections for a packaging substrate from opposing surfaces of a package. Through silicon vias (TSV) are provided in order to accommodate additional input/output (I/O) pins that smaller dies are supporting. Various combinations of packages are enabled through the embodiments provided.
US08779296B2

A wiring board is provided which can prevent a metal electrode from corroding due to a defect in a transparent conductive electrode covering an end face of an organic insulating film. An active-matrix substrate includes: a glass substrate; a metal wire provided on the glass substrate; a gate insulating film covering the metal wire; an interlayer insulating film covering the gate insulating film; and a transparent electrode formed on the interlayer insulating film. The scanning wire provided with a terminal area where the transparent electrode is laminated directly on the scanning wire. The transparent electrode extends over the terminal area in such a way as to cover an end face of the interlayer insulating film that faces the terminal area and an end face of the gate insulating film that faces the terminal area.
US08779286B2

A one piece integrally formed non-metallic electrical box assembly is produced by molding an electrical box onto a metallic ground strap so that the ground strap is fixed to the electrical box. The electrical box is molded with retaining members surrounding selected portions of the metallic ground strap so that the electrical box can be molded onto the metallic ground strap without buckling or deforming the electrical box and the ground strap during the molding process by compensating for the differences in expansion between the non-metallic electrical box and the metallic ground strap.
US08779283B2

A method, in certain embodiments, includes providing a metal alloy, annealing the metal alloy, and contacting the metal alloy with vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof. The metal alloy having a uniform first bulk composition and a first surface composition on annealing provides an annealed metal alloy having a non uniform second bulk composition and a second surface composition which on being contacted vapors of selenium, or sulfur, or a combination thereof, produces a selenized or a sulfurized metal alloy. Further the metal alloy may have a layer formed in situ from a low melting point metal within the alloy via diffusion rather than sequential deposition and co-evaporation.
US08779273B2

Disclosed herein is a power supply device for supplying power to a pickup device for a guitar. The pickup device includes a battery casing detachably provided with a battery for supplying power to a pickup unit and a TRS connector configured such that signal lines are connected thereto. The power supply line of the battery is connected in parallel to two of the signal lines between the battery casing and the TRS connector. The power supply device includes a pickup connector connected to the TRS connector, an external device connector connected to an external device, and a step-down transformer configured to step down commercial power and supply the stepped-down power to the pickup device via the TRS connector.
US08779272B2

In the present invention, a click sound corresponding to key depression speed is generated, and the production timings of fundamental and harmonic components respectively corresponding to each footage are changed to vary from one another in accordance with a wait time, whereby the fundamental and the harmonic components to be synthesized by additive synthesis are changed to differ from one another. Next, a click sound corresponding to key release speed is generated, and the stop timings of the fundamental and harmonic components are changed to vary from one another in accordance with a wait time, whereby the fundamental and the harmonic components to be muted are changed to differ from one another. Accordingly, by the click sound being mixed with the drawbar sound having these slight tone changes, a unique drawbar sound such as that generated by the sound producing mechanism of an actual drawbar organ is generated.
US08779270B2

Operation detection apparatus includes a sensor section, and a pad formed of a transparent or translucent material and including at least one hitting portion provided on its surface. The hitting portion is suitable for being hit by a user. The sensor section is provided in a region positionally corresponding to the hitting portion under the pad, to detect hitting of the hitting portion. The sensor section includes a see-through portion provided in association with the hitting portion for allowing a region below the sensor section to be partly seen therethrough. The sensor section is sheet-shaped as a whole, and the see-through portion is an opening provided in a predetermined position of the sheet-shaped sensor section. Display area is located under the sensor section and exposed through the opening.
US08779268B2

A system and process for producing a more harmonious musical accompaniment for a musical compilation, the process comprising determining a plurality of probable key signatures for the musical compilation, creating an interval profiling matrix for each of the probable key signatures, finding products of a major key interval profile matrix with each of the interval profiling matrices, summing each of the major key interval products into a running major key sum, finding a product of a minor key interval profile with each of the interval profiling matrices, summing each of the minor key interval products into a running minor key sum, and selecting the most probable key signature from the plurality of probable key signatures by comparing the minor key sum and the major key sum.
US08779256B2

A keyboard apparatus capable of enhancing the return capability of hammer assemblies upon key release to improve the capability of repeated key striking and capable of reducing a height size of action units to make the keyboard apparatus compact. The keyboard apparatus includes hammer assemblies each having a butt disposed pivotable about a hammer pivot shaft and a hammer shank extending from the butt. In a non-key-depression state, the hammer shank obliquely extends downward. As viewed from side, a straight line passing though a gravity center position of the hammer assembly and the hammer pivot shaft forms an acute angle less than 45 degrees relative to a horizontal plane in the entirety of a key depression and key release stroke.
US08779253B1

A novel maize variety designated X05B934 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X05B934 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05B934 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05B934, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05B934. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05B934.
US08779247B2

The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1026289. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1026289. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1026289 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1026289 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08779242B2

A soybean cultivar designated 09330782 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 09330782, to the plants of soybean cultivar 09330782, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 09330782, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 09330782. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 09330782. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 09330782, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 09330782 with another soybean cultivar.
US08779230B2

In one aspect, a wound treatment system includes an inner layer comprising a foam material impregnated with a zinc oxide containing composition with or without calamine and/or ichthammol and in the presence or absence of antimicrobial agent (inorganic and/or organic). An optional outer layer comprises a short/long stretch compression bandage. In another aspect, a method of manufacturing the foam article impregnated with the zinc oxide containing composition is disclosed. In yet another aspect, a method of applying the wound treatment system to a patient's leg is disclosed. In still another aspect, a kit is provided including a foam layer impregnated with a zinc oxide containing composition; optionally, an elastic bandage component (e.g., long or short stretch elastic bandage); and, optionally, an outer stocking or sleeve, wherein the bandage system components are packaged together.
US08779228B2

Olefins are oligomerized by bringing at least one C2 to C8-olefin into contact with a nickel-containing heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst is conditioned before contact with the olefin by passing an inert gas flow over the same, until the inert gas flow has a water content of less than 1000 ppm. Selectivity for the production of higher oligomers, in particular trimers relative to the formation of dimers is increased by the pretreatment.
US08779211B2

A process for producing 4-hydroxybutyraldehyde comprises reacting allyl alcohol with CO/H2 in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst system comprising rhodium complex and trans-1,2-bis[bis(3,5-di-n-alkylphenyl)phosphino]-cyclobutane at a pressure of about 50 psi or lower.
US08779209B2

The present invention provided a method for salting-out extraction of acetone and butanol from a fermentation broth, characterized in that one type, or two or more types of salts and one type, or two or more types of extractants are added to an acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation broth, in which the salt saturation achieves 10%˜100%; and the volume ratio of the fermentation broth containing salts to the extractants is 1:0.1˜1:5. The mixture is allowed to stand until phase separation is formed. The top phase is a solvent phase or extraction phase enriched with acetone and butanol whereas the bottom phase is a salt-enriched phase or raffinate phase. This method involves many advantages, such as the simplified operation procedure, accelerated separation process and low separation cost, and therefore becomes a promising method of separating acetone and butanol in industrial application.
US08779205B2

The present invention relates to a process for the pretreatment of hydroamination catalysts, wherein the hydroamination catalyst is brought into contact with an ammonia-comprising mixture before the reaction of olefins with ammonia, a primary or secondary amine, with the ammonia-comprising mixture comprising less than 40% by weight of olefinThe invention further relates to a process for preparing alkylamines by reaction of olefins with ammonia, primary or secondary amines over a hydroamination catalyst, wherein the hydroamination catalyst is pretreated according to the invention before the reaction of the olefins by bringing the hydroamination catalyst into contact with an ammonia-comprising mixture comprising less than 40% by weight of olefin.
US08779203B2

A process for forming arylamines by continuous Buchwald-Hartwig reaction using, in part, a plug flow reactor with a fluid flow path greater than about 1 mm in diameter and a single solvent under pressure to form a product with a space time yield of at least 100 g/L/hr.
US08779189B2

The present disclosure relates to high protein dietary supplements for treating various symptoms and diseases associated with protein deficiency including weight gain, obesity, catabolic diseases, fibromyalgia, anxiety reactions, posttraumatic stress and chronic fatigue syndrome. Embodiments of dietary supplements comprise combinations of proteins, essential and semi-essential amino acids including L-Lysine, L-Arginine, and/or L-Histidine.
US08779183B2

An acid generating agent used for chemically amplified resist compositions is provided, which agent is represented by the following formula (1): wherein X represents a monocyclic or polycyclic hydrocarbon group having 3 to 30 carbon atoms, and having at least one hydrogen atom on the ring substituted by an alkyl or alkoxy group which may be unsubstituted or substituted with a group selected from an ether group, an ester group, a carbonyl group, an acetal group, an epoxy group, a nitrile group and an aldehyde group, or by a perfluoroalkyl group, a hydroxyalkyl group, or a cyano group; R6 is an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, or a heteroatom selected from the group consisting of N, S and F; m is an integer from 0 to 2; and A+ is an organic counterion.
US08779166B2

A one pot method of preparing cyclic carbonyl compounds comprising an active pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group is disclosed. The cyclic carbonyl compounds can be polymerized by ring opening methods to form ROP polymers comprising repeat units comprising a side chain pentafluorophenyl ester group. Using a suitable nucleophile, the pendant pentafluorophenyl ester group can be selectively transformed into a variety of other functional groups before or after the ring opening polymerization.
US08779163B2

Disclosed is a novel enantiomeric synthesis ceramide-like inhibitors of UDP-glucose: N-acylsphingosine glucosyltransferase. Also disclosed are novel intermediates formed during the synthesis.
US08779162B2

There is provided a novel cyanate ester compound that can provide a cured product possessing excellent heat resistance. The cyanate ester compound is represented by general formula (1): wherein R1 represents an aromatic substituent having 6 to 10 carbon atoms or an alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; Rx1's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; Ry1's each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl or alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a halogen; m is an integer of 0 to 4; and n is an integer of 0 to 4.
US08779155B2

A TAF compound that can have substitutions on either of the two benzene rings and/or the C-5 position of the triazole to alter the properties of the TAF compound can be wherein X can be H, an aromatic group, a hetero aromatic group, an alkyl or any substituted alkyl group, ketone, aldyhyde, carboxylic acid derivatives; Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, and Y5 can be one or more of H, aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives; and Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, and Z5 can be one or more of H aromatic groups, hetero aromatic groups, alkyl or any substituted alkyl groups, ketone, aldyhyde, or carboxylic acid derivatives. Included is a preparation of the TAF compound and use as a photoactive and/or catalyst.
US08779153B2

A compound of Formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: Wherein: Het is a 5 to 10-membered heteroaromatic ring; Either X is N and Y is CR5; or X is C and Y is S; Z is selected from N and CH; R1 is selected from H and C1-2alkyl; R2 is selected from H, C1-2alkyl, OH, —CH2OH and C1-2alkoxy; Each R3 is independently selected from OH, C1-3alkyl, F, Cl, Br, NH2, and C1-3alkoxy; R4 is selected from C1-3alkyl and haloC1-3alkyl; R5 is selected from H, C1-3alkyl and haloC1-3alkyl; R6 and R7 are either i) each independently selected from H, C1-3alkyl and C1-3alkoxy; or ii) R6 and R7 together with the ring to which they are attached form a 9-membered bicylic ring; p is 0-3; and RA is selected from H and C1-3alkyl, compositions containing them, their use in therapy, for example in the treatment of tuberculosis, and methods for the preparation of such compounds, are provided.
US08779149B2

There is disclosed aminopyridine- and aminopyrimidinecarboxamide compounds useful as pharmaceutical agents, synthesis processes, and pharmaceutical compositions which include aminopyridine- and aminopyrimidinecarboxamides compounds. More specifically, there is disclosed a genus of CXCR2 inhibitor compounds that are useful for treating a variety of inflammatory and neoplastic disorders.
US08779144B2

Bicycloheteroaryl compounds are disclosed that have a formula represented by the following: The compounds may be prepared as pharmaceutical compositions, and may be used for the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions in mammals including humans, including by way of non-limiting example, pain, inflammation, traumatic injury, and others.
US08779143B2

The present invention provides novel crystalline forms of maraviroc phosphate, processes for their preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them. The present invention also provides novel process for the preparation of maraviroc amorphous form and pharmaceutical composition comprising it.
US08779136B2

The present invention provides novel ruthenium based catalysts, and a process for preparing amines, by reacting a primary alcohol and ammonia in the presence of such catalysts, to generate the amine and water. According to the process of the invention, primary alcohols react directly with ammonia to produce primary amines and water in high yields and high turnover numbers. This reaction is catalyzed by novel ruthenium complexes, which are preferably composed of quinolinyl or acridinyl based pincer ligands.
US08779134B1

A six-coordinated ruthenium complex is represented by the following formula (I): RuL1L2L3  (I) wherein L1 represents a 2,2′-bipyridine-based bidentate ligand having at least two functional groups selected from COOH, a carboxylate group and the combination thereof; and L2 and L3 independently represent a 1-(haloalkylpyrazole)-isoquinoline-based bidentate ligand of formula (II) or formula (III).
US08779133B2

Provided are novel ligands for transition metal complexes which exhibit high coordination power with respect to metals by being free of substituents at the positions ortho to phosphorus or arsenic and which have electron-withdrawing power comparable to the highest level known in conventional ligands. One ligand includes a compound represented by General Formula (1): R1R2R3A or General Formula (2): R1R2A-Y-AR3R4 and having a total of 15 to 110 carbon atoms. In the formulae, A is phosphorus or arsenic; R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each independently a substituted pyridyl group having optionally different electron-withdrawing groups bonded to the positions meta to the atom A as well as hydrogen atoms bonded to the positions ortho to the atom A; and Y is a divalent group derived from a C2-20, optionally substituted and optionally heteroatom-containing, aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic compound or from ferrocene.
US08779129B2

The present invention provides novel compounds of formula I wherein W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, B, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, E and L are as defined herein; invention compounds are gamma amino butyrique acid receptor-subtype B (“GABAB”) positive allosteric modulators (enhancers), which are useful to provide methods of treating or preventing diseases or disorders, including treatment of anxiety, depression, epilepsy, schizophrenia, cognitive disorders, spasticity and skeletal muscle rigidity, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, cerebral palsy, neuropathic pain and craving associated with cocaine and nicotine, panic disorder, posttraumatic stress disorders, urge urinary incontinence, gastroesophageal reflux disease, transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations, functional gastrointestinal disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.
US08779127B2

The present invention provides a facile process for the preparation of tri- and tetra—substituted pyrimidines. The process is useful for preparing inhibitors of protein kinases, especially Aurora kinase. These inhibitors are useful for treating or lessening the severity of Aurora—mediated diseases or conditions.
US08779121B2

Process for the synthesis of the compound of formula (I): Application in the synthesis of ivabradine, addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid and hydrates thereof.
US08779113B2

The invention provides a group of nucleic acid fragments, shown in the sequence listing, for prevention of HIV infection or AIDS and the usage thereof. In the invention, a series of RNA fragments, which are highly homogenous to all the published HIV gene sequences, were obtained by homology compare. The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) derived from these fragments can effectively inhibit the expression of the HIV genes. The RNA transcribed by plasmid, also can suppress the expression of the HIV in the cell. After the adenovirus or associated virus which carry DNA corresponding above RNA infect the cell, the transcription dsRNA can inhibit the expression of the HIV genes.
US08779110B2

The invention provides an efficient method of purification of a modified cytokine. The process includes the use of a chromatographic technique for the purification of the desired cytokine. The purified cytokine can be used as a therapeutic composition.
US08779106B2

Various embodiments of the invention provide human kinases and phosphatases (KPP) polypeptides and polynucleotides which identify and encode KPP. Embodiments of the invention also provide expression vectors, host cells, antibodies, agonists, and antagonists. Other embodiments provide methods for diagnosing, treating, or preventing disorders associated with aberrant expression of KPP.
US08779102B2

The invention relates to recognition molecules directed towards tumors, and it also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such recognition molecules, methods for the production of such recognition molecules, and to the use of such recognition molecules in the diagnosis and therapy of tumor diseases.
US08779101B2

Proteins that bind IL-17 and/or IL-17F are described along with there use in composition and methods for treating, preventing, and diagnosing IL-17 related diseases and for detecting IL-17 in cells, tissues, samples, and compositions.
US08779100B2

The invention provides therapeutic anti-beta7 antibodies, compositions comprising, and methods of using these antibodies.
US08779092B2

The present invention concerns peptide sequences that specifically recognize cells of human hepatic metastases. The invention comprises also the use of nucleic acids coding for such peptides, as well as conjugates and formulations of such peptides for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
US08779082B2

The invention relates to an improved linear microdialysis probe comprising a continuous length of flexible tubing (1) having at least one window (4) formed therein, said window covering at least one part of the circumference of the tubing, while the remaining part forms at least one unbroken connection between a first end of said tubing and a second end of said tubing, said ends adapted to be attached to an inlet for perfusion liquid and the other end forming an outlet for the dialysate, said at least one window (4) exposing a tubular semipermeable membrane (2).
US08779079B2

Novel silicone polyether copolymers of inverse structure of the formula 1, characterized in that no unsaturated functional groups caused by side reactions or conversion products thereof are present in the copolymer, and a process for preparation thereof, in which a polyether modified terminally and/or laterally with alkoxysilyl groups is reacted with silanes and/or siloxanes which bear one or more hydrolysis-labile groups, in a hydrolysis and condensation reaction.
US08779078B2

A process for condensation between at least one ≡SiOH unit and at least one ≡SiOR unit is provided. In accordance with the present invention, R=a hydrogen or a C1-C20 hydrocarbon group optionally comprising one or more heteroatoms, and the ≡SiOH and ≡SiOR units belong to at least one identical or different (organo)silicon compound P. The process is conducted in the presence of an effective amount of at least one catalyst C, comprising a carbene. Compositions are also provided.
US08779077B2

A method for the production neutral triblock all-conjugated copolymers by palladium-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization, and methods to convert these copolymers into all-conjugated triblock polyelectrolytes with well-controlled molecular weight and polydispersity. A device is provided which incorporates such all-conjugated triblock polyelectrolytes as an electron injection layer.
US08779076B2

The present invention provides a thermoplastic acrylic resin comprising (i) a repeating unit derived from a methacrylate monomer, (ii) a repeating unit derived from a vinyl aromatic monomer, (iii) a repeating unit derived from an aromatic group-containing methacrylate monomer, and (iv) a cyclic acid anhydride repeating unit, and a molding for optical material comprising the same.
US08779070B2

A polymer includes a linker represented by Formula I ([OR1OCH2OR2OCH2]m), where R1 and R2 are, independently, alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylalkylene; and the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 500 g/mol to about 2,000,000 g/mol, and m is 1 to 1000.
US08779066B2

Butadiene copolymers are brominated using certain quaternary ammonium or phosphonium tribromides as the brominating agent. The bromination is performed in solution in a mixture of n-butyl acetate and ethyl acetate. The bromination process proceeds easily under mild conditions, and produces a brominated product that has excellent thermal stability.
US08779062B2

Propylene copolymer composition (P) comprising (a) at least 2.5 wt.-% of units derivable from C5 to C12 α-olefins, (b) at least 20.0 wt-%. of a crystalline fraction having a lamella thickness of more than 5.70 nm, and (c) at least 10.0 wt-%. of a crystalline fraction having a lamella thickness of below than 3.0 nm, said crystalline fractions are determined by the stepwise isothermal segregation technique (SIST).
US08779057B2

The instant invention provides dye-encapsulated dispersions suitable for printing applications, method of producing the same, ink compositions made therefrom, delivery systems for such ink compositions, and articles having a coating layer derived from such ink compositions.
US08779043B2

A silicone resin composition contains a first organopolysiloxane having, in one molecule, both at least two ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon groups and at least two silanol groups; a second organopolysiloxane having, in one molecule, at least two hydrosilyl groups without having an ethylenically unsaturated hydrocarbon group; a hydrosilylation catalyst; and a hydrosilylation retarder.
US08779039B2

The present invention relates to polyalkylene terephthalate/polycarbonate compositions, containing A) 49 to 70 parts by weight aromatic polycarbonate, B) 21 to 40 parts by weight polyalkylene terephthalate with more than 2 carbons in the diol component, C) 6 to 25 parts by weight of a salt of a phosphinic acid, D) 0 to 24 parts by weight conventional additives, all parts by weight in the present application being standardized such that the sum of the parts by weight of components A+B+C+D in the composition adds up to 100, and which are distinguished by an optimum combination of low molding shrinkage, high chemical resistance and good heat resistance together with good fire behavior, the use of the polycarbonate compositions for the production of moldings and the moldings themselves.
US08779032B2

The present disclosure provides curable compositions such as curable compositions including: (i) at least one epoxy resin comprising at least one aromatic or aromatic-derived moiety but not containing an aromatic amine moiety; (ii) an epoxide hardener system comprising: (a) a carboxylic acid anhydride, (b) a first amine having a melting point from about 30° C. to about 100° C. and containing at least one primary amine group; and (c) a second amine having a melting point of from about 50° C. to about 180° C. and having at least one primary amine group, wherein the first and second amines have a difference in melting points of at least 10° C.; and (iii) a filler capable of reducing the density of the curable composition. Also provided are compositions obtainable by curing the curable composition and methods of using the curable composition to fill voids in honeycomb structures.
US08779015B2

Provided are a recycling method for industrially, simply and effectively recycling a phenolic body from a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization; and an olefin polymer obtained by this method.In a method for recycling a phenolic antioxidant wherein a phenolic antioxidant which is masked by an organoaluminum compound and contained in an olefin polymer obtained by supplying the masked phenolic antioxidant upon polymerization is recycled to a phenolic body, a nitrogen gas comprising water and/or a proton donor at a volume ratio of 1.0×10−6 to 2.5×10−2 with respect to 1 volume of nitrogen is brought into contact with the olefin polymer.
US08779006B2

The present invention is in the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals and rheumatology. The invention provides pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment and/or prevention of osteoarthritis in mammals, particularly humans, comprising sodium bicarbonate and calcium gluconate, and optionally comprising one or more additional components. The invention also provides methods of treating or preventing osteoarthritis by administering to a mammal, preferably via intraarticular injection, one or more compositions of the invention.
US08779005B2

The invention deals with new salts of the desvenlafaxine base of formula (I) with oxalic acid, the new salts being the hydrogen oxalate of formula (II) in the proportion of desvenlafaxine:oxalic acid of 1:1 and hemioxalate of formula (III) in the proportion of desvenlafaxine:oxalic acid of 2:1.
US08778996B2

The invention involves various embodiments of a method for treating a human being for a condition associated with (1) seizures, myoclonic seizures, epilepsy, refractory epilepsy, hyperkinetic movements or tremors of hands or feet, (2) a state of ataxia, (3) accumulation of neuronal autofluorescent storage bodies in lysosomes or neurons, or regression of motor development, and (4) low alertness, dementia or mental retardation. The method involves administering a therapeutically effective salt of N-6-trimethyl-L-lysine.
US08778994B2

The present invention relates to methods for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and involuntary weight loss. In the practice of the present invention patients are enterally administered HMB alone or alternatively in combination with eicosapentaenoic (20:5 ω-3), FOS, carnitine and mixtures thereof. HMB may be added to food products comprising a source of amino-nitrogen enriched with large neutral amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, threonine and phenylalanine and subtantially lacking in free amino acids.
US08778993B2

The present invention relates to methods for the prevention and treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases, cancer, and involuntary weight loss. In the practice of the present invention patients are enterally administered HMB alone or alternatively in combination with eicosapentaenoic (20:5 ω-3), FOS, carnitine and mixtures thereof. HMB may be added to food products comprising a source of amino-nitrogen enriched with large neutral amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine, valine, tyrosine, threonine and phenylalanine and substantially lacking in free amino acids.
US08778986B1

The bioflavonoid luteolin reduces amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) generation. Luteolin is also a selective GSK-3 inhibitor that 1) decreases amyloidogenic γ-secretase APP processing, and 2) promotes presenilin-1 (PS1) carboxyl-terminal fragment (CTF) phosphorylation. GSK-3α activity is essential for both PS1 CTF phosphorylation states and PS1-APP interaction. To validate The findings were validated in vivo, using a Tg2576 Alzheimer's Disease model system. Luteolin treatment decreased soluble Aβ levels, reduced GSK-3 activity, and disrupted PS1-APP association.
US08778977B2

The present invention provides pyridinonyl PDK1 inhibitors and methods of treating cancer using the same.
US08778976B2

The present invention relates to treatment and/or prevention of one or more metabolic disorders utilizing fatostatin A and/or a derivative and/or analog thereof. In other aspects, the compound for treatment and/or prevention of one or more metabolic disorders utilizes an A-B-C tripartite structure, wherein A, B, and C are identical or non-identical structures and are described in detail herein. In specific aspects, the metabolic disorder includes obesity or diabetes, for example.
US08778961B2

The present invention relates to methods of alleviating and inhibiting a lymphoproliferative disorder in a mammal, the method comprising administering one or more rapamycin derivatives (including rapamycin) to the mammal. Further, the invention provides a method for identifying agents which are useful for alleviating and inhibiting a lymphoproliferative disorders, as well as a method for identifying agents which are capable of inhibiting metastasis of lymphatic tumors in a mammal.
US08778956B2

The present invention is directed to novel hydroxy alkyl substituted 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one derivatives of the general formula wherein all variables are as defined herein, useful in the treatment of disorders and conditions mediated by the ORL-1 G-protein coupled receptor. More particularly, the compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of disorders and conditions such as anxiety, depression, panic, dementia, mania, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, neuropathic pain, acute pain, chronic pain, migraine, asthma, cough, psychosis, schizophrenia, epilepsy, hypertension, obesity, eating disorders, cravings, diabetes, cardiac arrhythmia, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, urinary incontinence, adrenal disorders, attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Alzheimer's disease, for improved cognition or memory and for mood stabilization.
US08778950B2

The present invention relates to certain compounds of Formula Ia and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activity of the cannabinoid CB2 receptor. The present invention further relates to certain compounds of Formula Ia and pharmaceutical compositions thereof that modulate the activities of both the CB1 receptor and the CB2 receptor. Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutical compositions thereof are directed to methods useful in the treatment of: pain, for example bone and joint pain, muscle pain, dental pain, migraine and other headache pain, inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain, pain that occurs as an adverse effect of therapeutics and pain associated with osteoarthritis; hyperalgesia; allodynia; inflammatory hyperalgesia; neuropathic hyperalgesia; acute nociception; osteoporosis; multiple sclerosis-associated spasticity; autoimmune disorders; allergic reactions; CNS inflammation; atherosclerosis; undesired immune cell activity and inflammation; age-related macular degeneration; cough; leukemia; lymphoma; CNS tumors; prostate cancer; Alzheimer's disease; stroke-induced damage; dementia; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease.
US08778948B2

The invention relates to a substituted phenylpiperazine aryl alkanol derivative represented by the following general formula and its salt and hydrate, wherein C1 and C2 represent chiral carbon atoms, and the compound is one of the six isomers: (1RS, 2SR), (1RS, 2RS), (1R, 2S), (1S, 2S), (1R, 2R) or (1S, 2R); and R, R1, R2, R3 and Ar are as defined in the specification. The derivative is non-opioid analgesic, has good analgesic effect and relatively small side effects. The invention also relates to a composition comprising the derivative and its use.
US08778947B2

The disclosure relates to improved methods of administering pirfenidone therapy when ciprofloxacin is administered concomitantly.
US08778935B2

There is provided compounds of formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 have meanings given in the description, and pharmaceutically-acceptable esters, amides, solvates or salts thereof, which compounds are useful in the treatment of diseases in which inhibition of a protein or lipid kinase (e.g. a PI3-K and/or mTOR) is desired and/or required, and particularly in the treatment of cancer or a proliferative disease.
US08778925B2

The present invention relates to pyridine and pyrimidine based compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and their potential use as therapeutic agents for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer.
US08778923B2

The invention relates to compounds that modulate the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor, methods of their synthesis, and methods of their therapeutic and/or prophylactic use. Such compounds are act as modulators or potentiators of GLP-1 receptor on their own, or with receptor ligands including GLP-1 peptides GLP-1(7-36) and GLP-1(9-36), or with peptide-based therapies, such as exenatide and liraglutide, and have the following general structure (where “” represents either or both the R and S form of the compound): where A, B, C, Y1, Y2, Z, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, W1, n, p and q are as defined herein.
US08778916B2

A pharmaceutical formulation of testosterone undecanoate is provided. Methods of treating a testosterone deficiency or its symptoms with the inventive formulations are also provided.
US08778911B2

A polyamine-depleted food compositions is provided for preparing foods, intended for humans or animals, for preventing or treating heart rate anomalies.
US08778891B2

Peptides activating dermatopontin in the skin and cosmetic compositions including such peptide, in a physiologically suitable medium, are described. Methods of treating the cutaneous signs of aging and photoaging, and in particular wrinkles, sagging, and loss of volume and elasticity of the skin are also described.
US08778889B2

A method for promoting oral hygiene that treats mature biofilms comprises the step of applying the antimicrobial peptide KSL and a surface active agent to the oral environment of applying KSL after mechanical disruption of the biofilm. An antiplaque chewing gum comprising KSL provides a sustained release oral hygiene treatment.
US08778888B2

Disclosed are peptides having a cystine knot structural motif and comprising a sequence engineered for specificity against αIIbβ3 integrin, found on platelets, and a method of using the same in anti-thrombotic therapies. The present peptides utilize a cystine knot scaffold derived from modified agouti-related protein or agatoxin, An alternate library screening strategy was used to isolate variants of peptides that selectively bound to αIIbβ3 integrin or to both αIIbβ3 and αVβ3 integrins. Unique consensus sequences were identified within the identified peptides suggesting alternative molecular recognition events that dictate different integrin binding specificities. In addition, the engineered peptides prevented human platelet aggregation in a plasma-based assay and showed high binding affinity for αIIbβ3 integrin.
US08778886B2

A peptide-POD with ability to penetrate and deliver fluorophores, siRNA, DNA and quantum dots to cells in culture and retinal and ocular tissues in vivo is provided herein. POD couples to adenovirus vectors, enhancing tropism for certain cells, potentially providing a safer and more efficacious method to deliver molecules to ocular and other tissues in vivo. POD constructs are therapeutic delivery vehicles for treating cells and tissues, including ocular cells and tissues suffering from retinal degeneration.
US08778883B2

A kit for producing a foamed biocompatible material includes a container configured to sustain a high pressure, and a tissue-repair composition placed in the container. The composition contains a biocompatible material, a liquid carrier, and a gas. The container has an internal pressure of greater than 1 atm and less than 250 atm, and includes a valve and a nozzle for releasing from the nozzle a foam formed of the composition upon opening the valve. Methods of producing and applying the biocompatible material are also disclosed.
US08778877B2

The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08778865B2

The present invention provides the softener composition containing the specific quaternary ammonium salts (I) and (II) each having a bis(polyalkoxyalkanol) structure, represented by the formulae (I) and (II) respectively, at a weight ratio of (I):(II) of 50.1:49.9 to 99.99:0.01.
US08778862B2

Concentrated liquid cleaning fluid compositions for hard surface cleaning which are particularly suited for storage and dispensing from water-dissolvable plastic pouches. In use the pouches are placed in water whereupon the plastic pouch dissolves allowing the concentrated composition to become diluted in the water to provide a cleaner. The concentrated cleaning composition has good stability and does not affect the plastic or rate of dissolution of the pouch, and allows use of a variety of colorants and fragrances with a base product formulation. The formulation includes a linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid (LABSA), a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol surfactant, and an alkanol amine or alkyl amine capable of reacting with the LABSA so that the sulfonic group is added to the amine.
US08778859B2

Polymeric additives are disclosed for compressor lubricants which can reduce the tendency of the lubricant to become entrained in compressed gases and be carried forward as fine dispersed droplets in compressed gas systems such as compressed air, natural gas, and compression refrigeration systems.
US08778855B2

A lubricating base oil contains: an overbased calcium sulfonate having a different base number provided such that a total base number is in a range of 280 to 500 mgKOH/g and a calcium concentration in a total amount is in a range of 280 to 3000 mass ppm (in terms of calcium); and orthophosphates that is at least one selected from phosphates and acid phosphates and provided such that a phosphorus concentration is 50 mass ppm or more. A high friction coefficient of 0.11 or more and a favorable wear resistance of a specific wear rate of less than 2.0×10−8 mm3/Nm are obtained, thereby reliably providing a high power transmission capacity for a long period of time, particularly in a belt-type continuously variable transmission equipped with a metallic belt.
US08778852B2

Breaker nanoparticles may be added to gelled aqueous fluids where the gelled aqueous fluid may include an aqueous base fluid, e.g. a drilling fluid, gelled with at least one viscoelastic surfactant (VES) in an amount to increase the viscosity of the aqueous base fluid. The addition of the breaker nanoparticles may reduce the viscosity, or break the gel, of the gelled aqueous fluid by the direct or indirect action of the breaker nanoparticles. The breaker nanoparticles may be or include, but are not limited to inorganic semiconductor particles, organic semiconductor particles, and combinations thereof. The inorganic semiconductor particles may be or include, but are not limited to cupric oxide, cuprous oxide, silicon, silicon carbide, germanium, and gallium arsenide, indium antimonide, gallium nitride, and combinations thereof; wherein the organic semiconductors selected from the group consisting of pentacene, anthracene, rubrene, poly(3-hexylthiophene), poly(p-phenylene vinylene), polypyrrole, polyaniline, and combinations.
US08778849B2

A microarray is designed capture one or more molecules of interest at each of a plurality of sites on a substrate. The sites comprise base pads, such as polymer base pads, that promote the attachment of the molecules at the sites. The microarray may be made by one or more patterning techniques to create a layout of base pads in a desired pattern. Further, the microarrays may include features to encourage clonality at the sites.
US08778847B2

Peptides and polypeptides that elicit immunogenic responses in a mammal; especially neutralizing antibodies, against human and avian influenza strains H1N1, H3N2, H5N1 and H7N7 are disclosed Immunogenic compositions including these peptides, and polypeptides are also provided. Compositions including these peptides and polypeptides with or without adjuvants are disclosed. Nucleic acids and expression cassettes encoding these peptides and polypeptides are also disclosed. Methods of inhibiting infection by influenza, with or without cell entry, are also disclosed using these peptides and polypeptides.
US08778840B2

The present invention relates to novel soluble liquid (SL) formulations comprising A) quinclorac ammonium salts of formula I wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are independently hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, and B) a solvents of formula IIa wherein R5 is alkyl; A is alkylene or oxyalkylene; and m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; and/or a solvent of formula IIb HO—B—OH  (IIb) wherein B is a straight-chain or branched alkylene or alkyleneoxyalkylene or alkyleneoxyalkyleneoxyalkylene.
US08778838B2

The present invention relates to aqueous concentrate formulations for plant protection comprising: 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide in the form of its anhydrate; N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine in the form of its free acid, in the form of the ammonium salt or a substituted ammonium salt or a mixture thereof; at least two different non-ionic surfactants with at least one of them comprising an ethylene oxide polymer moiety or an ethylene oxide/C3-C4-alkylene oxide block copolymer moiety, and water; wherein the pH-value of the formulation is below 6.
US08778836B2

This invention relates to a new herbicidal composition comprising desmedipham and optionally phenmedipham and/or ethofumesate.
US08778835B2

A composition comprising at least a pyridylethylbenzamide derivative of general formula (I) (a) and an insecticide compound (b) in a (a)/(b) weight ratio of from 1/1000 to 1000/1.A composition further comprising an additional fungicidal compound.A method for preventively or curatively combating the pests and diseases of crops by using this composition.
US08778828B2

A process for preparing a slurry catalyst for the upgrade of heavy oil feedstock is provided. The process employs a pressure leach solution obtained from a metal recovery process as part of the metal precursor feed. In one embodiment, the process comprises: sulfiding a pressure leach solution having at least a Group VIB metal precursor compound in solution forming a catalyst precursor, and mixing the sulfided catalyst precursor with a hydrocarbon diluent to form the slurry catalyst. In another embodiment, the pressure leach solution is mixed with a hydrocarbon diluent under high shear mixing conditions to form an emulsion, which emulsion can be sulfided in-situ upon contact with a heavy oil feedstock in the heavy oil upgrade process.
US08778822B2

The present invention provides a ceramic porous body for in-vitro and in-vivo use comprising a composition comprising a calcium aluminate (CA) containing phase and optionally at least one of an accelerator, a retarder, a surfactant, a foaming agent, a reactive alumina, water, a fiber, and a biologically active material, and combinations thereof. Ceramic compositions are provides as well as method of using the ceramic compositions and methods of manufacturing a ceramic porous body. The ceramic porous bodies of this invention may be used as artificial bones, joints, in-vitro support structures, and in-vivo support structures for cells, tissues, organs, and nerve growth and regeneration.
US08778818B2

An anti-vandalism fabric having at least one thread intertwined with itself forming a mesh, the thread in turn being formed by a bundle of between 3 and 14 filaments or a combination of filaments and yarns not plaited with one another, of which at least 3 are metal filaments, the metal filaments of the bundle having a diameter between 0.05 mm and 0.09 mm. The fabric can include more than one mesh. In one variant the mesh or meshes are embedded in a panel of non woven fabric.
US08778816B2

Methods for preparing a substrate for a subsequent film formation process are described. Methods for preparing a substrate for a subsequent film formation process, without immersion in an aqueous solution, are also described. A process is described that includes disposing a substrate into a process chamber, the substrate having a thermal oxide surface with substantially no reactive surface terminations. The thermal oxide surface is exposed to a partial pressure of water below the saturated vapor pressure at a temperature of the substrate to convert the dense thermal oxide with substantially no reactive surface terminations to a surface with hydroxyl surface terminations. This can occur in the presence of a Lewis base such as ammonia.
US08778814B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes the steps of: preparing an underlying structure having a silicon carbide layer covering a copper wiring, and growing silicon oxycarbide on the underlying structure by vapor deposition using, as source gas, tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane, carbon dioxide gas and oxygen gas, a flow rate of said oxygen gas being at most 3% of a flow rate of the carbon dioxide gas. The surface of the silicon carbide layer of the underlying structure may be treated with a plasma of weak oxidizing gas which contains oxygen and has a molecular weight larger than that of O2 to bring the surface more hydrophilic. Film peel-off and cracks in the interlayer insulating layer decrease.
US08778809B2

A device having three evaporation sources and a unit for moving the respective evaporation sources in one chamber is used, whereby it becomes possible to increase efficiency of use of an evaporation material. Consequently, manufacturing cost can be reduced, and a uniform thickness can be obtained over an entire surface of a substrate even in the case in which a large area substrate is used.
US08778807B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit structure includes providing a substrate; forming a first hard mask layer over the substrate; forming a second hard mask layer over the first hard mask layer; patterning the second hard mask layer to form a hard mask; and, after the step of patterning the second hard mask layer, baking the substrate, the first hard mask layer, and the hard mask. After the step of baking, a spacer layer is formed, which includes a first portion on a top of the hard mask, and a second portion and a third portion on opposite sidewalls of the hard mask. The method further includes removing the first portion of the spacer layer; removing the hard mask; and using the second portion and the third portion of the spacer layer as masks to pattern the first hard mask layer.
US08778802B2

A polishing method includes causing a polishing pad arranged on a turn table to rotate together with the turn table, and polishing a surface of a substrate by using the rotating polishing pad while supplying a chemical fluid to a surface of the polishing pad on a fore side of the substrate from an oblique direction with respect to the surface of the polishing pad.
US08778799B2

A method for making conductive traces and interconnects on a surface of a substrate includes, for an embodiment, forming a dielectric or polymer layer on the surface of the substrate, forming a seed layer of an electrically conductive material on the dielectric or polymer layer, patterning a photoresist on the seed layer, forming the conductive traces on the patterned photoresist and seed layer, removing the photoresist from the substrate, and irradiating the surface of the substrate with a fluence of laser light effective to ablate the seed layer from areas of the substrate surface exclusive of the conductive traces.
US08778798B1

An electronic device package is disclosed. The package includes at least one semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto, in which at least one redistribution layer is disposed on the first surface of the semiconductor chip and is electrically connected to at least one conductive pad structure. At least one abut portion is disposed on the redistribution layer and electrically contacting thereto. A passivation layer covers the first surface of the semiconductor chip and surrounds the abut portion. A substrate is attached onto the second surface of the semiconductor chip. A fabrication method of the electronic device package is also disclosed.
US08778767B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a gate structure over a substrate. Portions of the substrate are removed to form recesses adjacent to the gate structure. A silicon-containing material structure is formed in each of the recesses. The silicon-containing material structure has a first region and a second region, the second region is closer to the gate structure than the first region, and the first region is thicker than the second region.
US08778762B2

Some embodiments include methods of forming vertically-stacked structures, such as vertically-stacked memory cells. A first hardmask is formed over a stack of alternating electrically conductive levels and electrically insulative levels. A first opening is formed through the first hardmask and the stack. Cavities are formed to extend into the electrically conductive levels. A fill material is formed within the first opening and within the cavities. A second hardmask is formed over the first hardmask and over the fill material. A second opening is formed through the second hardmask. The second opening is narrower than the first opening. The second opening is extended into the fill material to form an upwardly-opening container from the fill material. Sidewalls of the upwardly-opening container are removed, while leaving the fill material within the cavities as a plurality of vertically-stacked structures.
US08778761B2

A semiconductor device fabrication method particularly suitable for the fabrication of a 90 nm embedded flash memory is disclosed. The method includes: forming a dielectric layer having a first thickness over a first device region and forming a dielectric layer having a second thickness different from the first thickness over a second device region, the dielectric layer having a first thickness serving as a tunnel oxide layer of a split-gate structure, the dielectric layer having a second thickness serving as a gate oxide layer of a MOS transistor. The method enables the fabrication of a MOS transistor including a gate oxide layer with a desired thickness.
US08778758B2

According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of electrode structures above a substrate. The method includes forming an insulating film on the plurality of electrode structures to make a gap between mutually-adjacent electrode structures. The method includes forming a silicon nitride film having compressive stress above the insulating film. The method includes forming a planarization film above the silicon nitride film. The method includes planarizing a surface of the planarization film by polishing by CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) method.
US08778752B2

A method for designing a semiconductor device includes arranging at least a pattern of a first active region in which a first transistor is formed and a pattern of a second active region in which a second transistor is formed; arranging at least a pattern of a gate wire which intersects the first active region and the second active region; extracting at least a first region in which the first active region and the gate wire are overlapped with each other; arranging at least one pattern of a compressive stress film on a region including the first active region; and obtaining by a computer a layout pattern of the semiconductor device, when the at least one pattern of the compressive stress film is arranged, end portions of the at least one pattern thereof are positioned based on positions of end portions of the first region.
US08778748B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a source electrode and a drain electrode on a front face of a semiconductor substrate which is transparent to visible light, forming a front-side gate electrode between the source electrode and the drain electrode on the front face of the semiconductor substrate; forming an aligning mark on a region of the front face of the semiconductor substrate other than a region between the source electrode and the drain electrode, aligning the semiconductor substrate based on the aligning mark that is seen through the semiconductor substrate, and forming a back-side gate electrode on a back face of the semiconductor substrate in a location opposite the front-side gate electrode.
US08778742B1

Methods and systems are disclosed for gate dimension control in multi-gate structures for integrated circuit devices. Processing steps for formation of one or more subsequent gate structures are adjusted based upon dimensions determined for one or more previously formed gate structures. In this way, one or more features of the resulting multi-gate structures can be controlled with greater accuracy, and variations between a plurality of multi-gate structures can be reduced. Example multi-gate features and/or dimensions that can be controlled include overall gate length, overlap of gate structures, and/or any other desired features and/or dimensions of the multi-gate structures. Example multi-gate structures include multi-gate NVM (non-volatile memory) cells for NVM systems, such as for example, split-gate NVM cells having select gates (SGs) and control gates (CGs).
US08778736B2

A structure for a semiconductor component is provided having a bi-layer capping coating integrated and built on supporting layer to be transferred. The bi-layer capping protects the layer to be transferred from possible degradation resulting from the attachment and removal processes of the carrier assembly used for layer transfer. A wafer-level layer transfer process using this structure is enabled to create three-dimensional integrated circuits.
US08778725B1

Avalanche photodiodes having special lateral doping concentration that reduces dark current without causing any loss of optical signals and method for the fabrication thereof are described. In one aspect, an avalanche photodiode comprises: a substrate, a first contact layer coupled to at least one metal contract of a first electrical polarity, an absorption layer, a doped electric control layer having a central region and a circumferential region surrounding the central region, a multiplication layer having a partially doped central region, and a second contract layer coupled to at least one metal contract of a second electrical polarity. Doping concentration in the central section of the electric control layer is lower than that of the circumferential region. The absorption layer can be formed by selective epitaxial growth.
US08778714B2

A gas sensitive material comprising SnO2 nanocrystals doped with In2O3 and an oxide of a platinum group metal, and a method of making the same. The platinum group metal is preferably Pd, but also may include Pt, Ru, Ir, and combinations thereof. The SnO2 nanocrystals have a specific surface of 7 or greater, preferably about 20 m2/g, and a mean particle size of between about 10 nm and about 100 nm, preferably about 40 nm. A gas detection device made from the gas sensitive material deposited on a substrate, the gas sensitive material configured as a part of a current measuring circuit in communication with a heat source.
US08778713B2

In one aspect, an encapsulation sheet, a method of manufacturing an organic light emitting display device using the encapsulation sheet, and an organic light emitting display device is provided. The encapsulation sheet includes a carrier film; and a first sheet formed on the carrier film, wherein the first sheet comprises at least one of tin fluorophosphates glass, chalcogenide glass, tellurite glass, borate glass, and phosphate glass.
US08778704B1

A self-powered integrated circuit (IC) device includes a lead frame and a solar cell having first and second main surfaces. The solar cell is mounted on a surface of the lead frame. An IC chip is also provided. A first electrical interconnector electrically couples the IC chip to the lead frame and a second electrical interconnector electrically couples the solar cell to the IC chip. A portion of the first main surface of the solar cell is configured to receive light from an external source. The solar cell converts energy of the received light into electrical power that is supplied to the IC chip. A mold compound encapsulates the IC chip, the first and second electrical interconnectors, and at least a portion of the solar cell.
US08778700B2

An integrated circuit containing a FeCap array. The FeCap array is at least partially surrounded on the sides by hydrogen barrier walls and on the top by a hydrogen barrier top plate. A method for at least partially enclosing a FeCap array with hydrogen barrier walls and a hydrogen barrier top plate.
US08778688B2

Described herein are high-throughput methods of monitoring D-serine levels in plasma. The assay involves the use of strong cation solid phase extraction (SPE) to isolate D-serine from plasma, followed by quantitation of D-serine using the D-amino acid oxidase- (DAAO-) catalyzed reaction. Also described are methods of screening for compounds that act as DAAO inhibitors.
US08778687B2

A method and apparatus for determining the hematocrit of a blood sample disposed within an analysis chamber, the method including the steps of: a) imaging at least a portion of the sample that contains one or more red blood cells and one or more areas void of red blood cells; b) determining a representative optical density value for a plurality of image units optically aligned with portions of the red blood cells, and assigning an optical density first boundary value to those image units; c) determining a representative optical density value of a plurality of image units optically aligned with the one or more regions of the sample devoid of red blood cells, and assigning a second optical density boundary value to those image units; and d) determining the hematocrit of the sample.
US08778686B2

Provided are an automatic analyzer which moves a dispensing apparatus having a dispensing probe, or a vessel by a driving mechanism to dispense plural liquids into the vessel via the dispensing probe, and measures and analyzes optical characteristic of a reaction liquid in which each of the dispensed liquids is reacted, and a dispensing method thereof. The automatic analyzer includes a drive controlling unit which controls the driving mechanism so that the liquid surface of the liquid and a distal end of the dispensing probe are moved relatively to each other in a vertical direction, and, when the liquids including precipitated substance are to be dispensed, the dispensing probe sucks in the liquids from plural different positions along the vertical direction.
US08778685B2

The present invention provides dual labeled protein standards useful for the simultaneous determination of the molecular weight of a subject protein as well as the relative mass (i.e., amount) of the subject protein present in an electrophoresis lane. The invention is also directed to methods suitable for the preparation of such dual labeled protein standards and to methods of using such dual labeled proteins to simultaneously determine the molecular weight and the relative amount of a subject protein. Further embodiments are directed to the use dual labeled protein standards to make a more accurate determination of the amount of a protein present in an electrophoresis lane. Yet further embodiments are directed to kits containing the presently described dual protein standards. Dual labeled protein standards made and used in accordance with the embodiments set forth herein may be used to simultaneously determine the molecular weight and the relative amount of a subject protein in real time.
US08778683B2

The present disclosure provides temperature sensitive essential nucleic acid molecules from a psychrophilic bacterium, proteins encoded by the nucleic acid molecules, as well as recombinant cells into which have been introduced such nucleic acid molecules. The disclosed recombinant cells containing one or more essential nucleic acid molecules from a psychrophilic bacterium are thereby made temperature sensitive, and can be administered to a mammal to induce an immune response in the mammal.
US08778667B2

The present invention relates to a unit to be used for detection of interactions of biologically relevant molecules using a carrier on which the biologically relevant molecules are immobilized, comprising: a hollow holder having an open part at one end with the other end being closed; and a carrier-supporting member that can be inserted into the hollow holder, on which is mounted a carrier upon which biologically relevant molecules are immobilized, wherein: while the carrier-supporting member is being inserted into the hollow holder, a rear-end portion of the carrier-supporting member is engaged with an edge of the open part of the hollow holder, so that the hollow holder is sealed and the positions of the carrier-supporting member and the hollow holder are determined; and the area on the left and the area on the right of the axial center, which are defined by the inner side of the hollow holder and the external side of the carrier-supporting member on which the carrier has been mounted, are approximately the same within the region from the carrier-mounting part to the apical part of the carrier-supporting member, as in a section cut along a plane including the axial center of the hollow holder in a positioned state.
US08778665B2

This invention is in the field of medical devices. Specifically, the present invention provides portable medical devices that allow detection of analytes from a biological fluid. The methods and devices are particularly useful for providing point-of-care testing for a variety of medical applications.
US08778660B2

A method of increasing yield of cultivated algae, which entails the step of cultivating one or more species of algae in the presence of one or more species of PPFM bacteria, for at least a portion of the algae cultivation.
US08778655B2

The invention relates to Gram-negative bacteria carrying an inactivated gene encoding a glycosyltransferase involved in the synthesis of the core of the LPS of said Gram-negative bacteria, wherein said inactivated gene results in the synthesis of a LPS having a modified core. These strains have an attenuated virulence but induce a humoral immunity sufficient for ensuring vaccination of the host.
US08778651B2

The invention relates to nitrilases and to nucleic acids encoding the nitrilases. In addition methods of designing new nitrilases and method of use thereof are also provided. The nitrilases have increased activity and stability at increased pH and temperature.
US08778649B2

A thermophilic endo-beta-1,4-xylanase derived from Acidothermus cellulolyticus is disclosed. The xylanase exhibits xylanase activity at an optimal temperature of 90° C. and an optimal pH range of about 4.5-6.0. The isolated xylanase is useful in the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic material.
US08778645B2

The present invention relates to a novel method for the biocatalytic production of unsaturated dicarboxylic acids by cultivating a recombinant microorganism co-expressing a glutaconate CoA-transferase and a 2-hydroxyglutaryl-CoA dehydratase system. The present invention also relates to corresponding recombinant hosts, recombinant vectors, expression cassettes and nucleic acids suitable for preparing such hosts as well as a method of preparing polyamide or polyester copolymers making use of said dicarboxylic acids as obtained by said biocatalytic production method.
US08778642B2

Aspects of the invention relate to methods for the production of difunctional alkanes in host cells. In particular, aspects of the invention describe components of genes associated with the difunctional alkane production from carbohydrate feedstocks in host cells. More specifically, aspects of the invention describe metabolic pathways for the production of adipic acid, aminocaproic acid, caprolactam, and hexamethylenediamine via 2-ketopimelic acid.
US08778641B1

The present invention relates to isolated polypeptides having cellobiohydrolase activity and polynucleotides encoding the polypeptides. 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.
US08778634B2

The present invention is directed to non-cytotoxic protein conjugates for inhibition or reduction of exocytic fusion in a nociceptive sensory afferent cell. The protein conjugates comprise: (i) a Targeting Moiety (TM), wherein the TM is an agonist of a receptor present on a nociceptive sensory afferent cell, and wherein the receptor undergoes endocytosis to be incorporated into an endosome within the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; (ii) a non-cytotoxic protease or a fragment thereof, wherein the protease or protease fragment is capable of cleaving a protein of the exocytic fusion apparatus of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell; and (iii) a Translocation Domain, wherein the Translocation Domain translocates the protease or protease fragment from within the endosome, across the endosomal membrane, and into the cytosol of the nociceptive sensory afferent cell wherein the Targeting Moiety is selected from the group consisting of BAM, β-endorphin, bradykinin, substance P, dynorphin and/or nociceptin.
US08778630B2

A first permeable mesh membrane may be configured to be tautly stretched over a tissue sample and overlaid over a surface. A first permeable mesh membrane may sandwich and secure a tissue sample in between a first permeable mesh membrane and a surface. A first permeable mesh membrane may have a sieve size of approximately 10 μm to approximately 100 μm.
US08778628B2

An arylalkylamine compound is represented by the following formula [I-e] or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08778624B2

Hydrophilic, chemiluminescent acridinium compounds containing zwitterions are disclosed. These acridinium compounds, when used as chemiluminescent labels in immunochemistry assays and the like, exhibit decreased non-specific binding to solid phases and provide increased assay sensitivity.
US08778621B2

The present invention relates to phosphodiesterase 4D7 (PDE4D7) for use as a marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, wherein the expression of the marker is increased when comparing the expression in malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer tissue, to the expression in normal tissue or benign prostate tumor tissue, and the use of PDE4D7 as a diagnostic marker for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The present invention also relates to a composition for diagnosing, detecting, monitoring or prognosticating malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, a corresponding detection method, a method allowing to discriminate between a benign and malignant hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and a method of data acquisition, as well as corresponding immunoassays. The present invention also relates to a method of identifying an individual for eligibility for malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer as well as an immunoassay for stratifying an individual with such prostate cancer. The present invention further envisages pharmaceutical compositions and their use for the treatment of malignant, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.
US08778620B2

The present invention provides an approach for the determination of the activation states of a plurality of proteins in single cells. This approach permits the rapid detection of heterogeneity in a complex cell population based on activation states, expression markers and other criteria, and the identification of cellular subsets that exhibit correlated changes in activation within the cell population. Moreover, this approach allows the correlation of cellular activities or properties. In addition, the use of modulators of cellular activation allows for characterization of pathways and cell populations. Several exemplary diseases that can be analyzed using the invention include AML, MDS, and MPN.
US08778618B2

The invention provides compositions, methods, and kits diagnosing, monitoring, and otherwise characterizing a myopathy and for detecting the presence of autoantibodies in a biological sample.
US08778616B2

The results presented herein demonstrate the specific expression of CCR3 in CNV endothelial cells in humans with AMD, and despite the expression of its ligands, eotaxin-1, -2, and -3, neither eosinophils nor mast cells are present in human CNV. The genetic or pharmacological targeting of CCR3 or eotaxins as disclosed herein inhibited injury-induced CNV in mice. CNV suppression by CCR3 blockade was due to direct inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation, and was uncoupled from inflammation as it occurred in mice lacking eosinophils or mast cells and was independent of macrophage and neutrophil recruitment. CCR3 blockade was more effective at reducing CNV than vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) neutralization, which is currently in clinical use, and, unlike VEGF-A blockade, not toxic to the mouse retina. In vivo imaging with CCR3-targeting quantum dots located spontaneous CNV invisible to standard fluorescein angiography in mice before retinal invasion. CCR3 targeting is useful in reducing vision loss due to AMD through early detection and therapeutic angioinhibition.
US08778609B1

The invention generally relates to methods for analyzing nucleic acids. In certain aspects, methods of the invention involve obtaining a sample including a nucleic acid template. A plurality of molecular inversion probes are tiled across a portion of the template. The probes are designed such that immediately adjacent probes hybridize to opposite strands of the nucleic acid template and probes on the same strand hybridize to the template in an overlapping manner. A region between targeting arms of a plurality of the molecular inversion probes is filled-in with nucleotides, and the filled-in region of a plurality of the probes is analyzed to obtain sequence information about the nucleic acid template.
US08778607B2

A method of conducting in vitro toxicity testing is disclosed which includes the steps of exposing to a test agent a population of human liver progenitor or stem cells originated from human adult liver. The cells have the characteristics that the isolated human progenitor or stem cells express at least the mesenchymal markers vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (ASMA), the hepatocyte marker albumin (ALB), are negative for cytokeratin-19 (CK-19), and have mesenchymal-like morphology. One or more effects, if any, of the test agent on the population of human liver progenitor or stem cells are observed. Also disclosed are methods of conducting in vitro drug metabolism studies by exposing to a test agent a population of the human liver progenitor or stem cells and methods of testing infected human liver progenitor or stem cells for effects of a test agent.
US08778601B2

Provided are methods of forming photolithographic patterns using a negative tone development process. Also provided are coated substrates and electronic devices formed by the methods. The methods find particular applicability in the manufacture of electronic devices.
US08778593B2

A chemical amplification resist composition contains: (A) a polymer compound having a phenolic hydroxyl group and a group formed by substituting a substituent for a hydrogen atom of a hydroxyl group in a phenolic hydroxyl group and satisfying the following (a) to (c) at the same time: (a) the polydispersity is 1.2 or less, (b) the weight average molecular weight is from 2,000 to 6,500, and (c) the glass transition temperature (Tg) is 140° C. or more.
US08778585B2

A toner with good low-temperature fixability even in light-pressure type fixing units, which causes no contamination of fixing films and provides images having stable image densities and excellent image quality after long-term use. The toner includes a toner particle containing a binder resin, a coloring agent, a release agents (a) and (b) The release agent (a) is a monofunctional or bifunctional ester wax; the release agent (b) is a hydrocarbon wax; a solubility of the release agent (a) into the binder resin is higher than that of the release agent (b). When tetrahydrofuran-soluble components of the toner are subjected to GPC, a proportion of components having a molecular weight of 500 or less is 2.5 area % or less. When the tetrahydrofuran-soluble components at 25° C. are subjected to SEC-MALLS, a weight-average molecular weight Mw thereof is 5,000-100,000, and the Mw and the radius of gyration Rw thereof satisfy 5.0×10−4≦Rw/Mw≦1.0×10−2.
US08778583B2

A toner including a mother particle and an external additive covering a surface of the mother particle is provided. The mother particle includes a binder resin, a colorant, and a release agent. The external additive includes a particulate cellulose having a number average particle diameter within a range of 15 to 105 nm.
US08778582B2

A toner having charge control agents which impart excellent triboelectric charging characteristics. In embodiments, the toner particles are made by a process in which the toner particles are made without a shell which provides homogenous distribution of the charge control agents, providing a toner with higher charge and better environmental stability.
US08778571B2

Techniques for easily fabricating defect-free EUV masks with good yield are provided. A method of manufacturing an EUV mask according to the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out a defect inspection after depositing a multilayer film on a substrate; if a defect is found in the defect inspection, determining whether the defect is a recessed defect, a protruded defect, or defects in which the recessed defect and the protruded defect are mixed, and if the defects are the mixed defects of the recessed defect and the protruded defect, determining the relation in size between the defects; and depositing an additional multilayer film on the multilayer film while changing a film forming method in accordance with the results of the determination.
US08778570B2

According to one embodiment, a photomask includes a substrate, a film portion, a pattern, and a plurality of detection marks. The film portion is provided on a surface of the substrate. The film portion has a light transmittance lower than light transmittance of the substrate. The pattern is provided in a surface of the film portion. The pattern is configured to be transferred to a transfer target. The plurality of detection marks is provided in the film portion, with intensity of light transmitted through the detection marks being suppressed so as to suppress transfer the detection marks to the transfer target.
US08778569B2

There is provided a pellicle having a pellicle frame on which an adhesive layer for attaching the pellicle onto a photo mask is made from a room temperature curable two-part adhesive, so that a formation of the adhesive layer is carried out without heating. The room temperature curable two-part adhesive dispensed on the pellicle frame is not heated for curing.
US08778567B1

A bipolar plate used in a fuel cell and a method of making a bipolar plate. The sheet is made from a ferritic or austenitic stainless steel, and defines an undulated surface pattern such that the patterned sheet may be formed into the bipolar plate. In one configuration, a stamping or related metal forming tool operation will further deform the patterned sheet into the bipolar plate shape such that the wall thickness is substantially uniform throughout the surface. In this way, there is a substantial reduction in stretching/thinning/necking at an intersection between bends and side walls that define the undulations of the pattern. In one form, the pattern defines a repeating serpentine shape. In a particular embodiment, the bends may include surface modifications to reduce the effects of sheet-to-tool misalignment.
US08778559B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cell preventing formation of a diffusion layer containing Ca and other elements, and having an excellent power generation performance at low temperature by preventing breakdown of a crystal structure of an electrolyte by firing. Disclosed is a solid oxide fuel cell which includes a fuel electrode, a solid electrolyte, and an air electrode, each being sequentially laminated on the surface of a porous support. The porous support contains forsterite, and further has a calcium element (Ca) content of more than 0.2 mass % but not more than 2 mass % in terms of CaO.
US08778553B2

A fuel cell includes a membrane electrode assembly and an anode side metal separator and a cathode side metal separator sandwiching the membrane electrode assembly. An oxygen-containing gas flows in an oxygen-containing gas flow field in a horizontal direction. A coolant flows in a coolant flow field in a vertical direction. The coolant flow field is connected to coolant supply passages and coolant discharge passages. The opening of one of the coolant supply passages and the opening of one of the coolant discharge passages are smaller than those of the other coolant supply passages and the other coolant discharge passages in cross section, respectively. Thus, the flow rate of the coolant supplied to an area near outlets of the oxygen-containing gas flow field and the fuel gas flow field become smaller than the flow rate of the coolant supplied to the other area.
US08778548B2

The invention relates to a fluid delivery head for an electrochemical cell, for example a fuel cell. The delivery head combines the inlets and outlets of the lines for delivering the fluids, notably hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen delivery line feeds an active part of the fuel cell and includes a cavity in communication with a discharge pipe via a solenoid valve. The invention performs several functions with a minimum of elements and with reduced bulk.
US08778546B2

A cell suitable for use in a battery according to one embodiment includes a catalytic oxygen cathode; a stabilized zirconia electrolyte for selective oxygen anion transport; a molten salt electrolyte; and a lithium-based anode. A cell suitable for use in a battery according to another embodiment includes a catalytic oxygen cathode; an electrolyte; a membrane selective to molecular oxygen; and a lithium-based anode.
US08778542B2

A conventional, multilayer, all-solid-state, lithium ion secondary battery where an electrode layer and an electrolyte layer are stacked has a problem that it has a high interface resistance between the electrode layer and the electrolyte layer and has a difficulty in increasing the capacity of the battery. A battery has been manufactured by applying pastes of a mixture of an active material and a solid electrolyte to form electrode layers and baking a laminate of electrode layers and electrolyte layers at a time. As a result, a matrix structure including the active material and the solid electrolyte has been formed in the electrode layers, so that a battery with a large capacity and a reduced interface resistance between the electrode layer and the electrolyte layer has been successfully achieved.
US08778541B2

A negative electrode used for a nonaqueous electrolyte solution battery having nonaqueous electrolyte solution containing lithium ion includes a metal carbon composite material. The metal carbon composite material has a porous carbon material having cavities, and a metal material made of metal to reversibly store or emit lithium ion. The metal material is arranged on a surface of the porous carbon material including inner surfaces of the cavities. The porous carbon material has a mass of 1-65 mass % when the metal carbon composite material is defined to have a mass of 100 mass %.
US08778540B1

A monolithic three-dimensional electrochemical energy storage system is provided on an aerogel or nanotube scaffold. An anode, separator, cathode, and cathodic current collector are deposited on the aerogel or nanotube scaffold.
US08778532B2

This lithium electrochemical device includes a stack of layers suitable for constituting a micro-battery deposited on a substrate and encapsulated using a protective cap sealed onto the substrate. It includes two collectors of the current generated by the micro-battery and at least one insulating layer inert as regards lithium. The collectors and the insulating layer or layers are deposited on the substrate. The protective cap is sealed onto the substrate using the layers constituting the current collectors and the insulating layer or layers. The cap has layers of the same nature, positioned in the same order in line with their respective layers deposited on the substrate, so that when the cap is sealed onto the substrate, the respective layers deposited on the cap and on the substrate come into contact with each other to provide the actual seal of the cap on the substrate.
US08778525B2

A multi-layer, microporous polyethylene membrane comprising (a) a first microporous layer made of a polyethylene resin, and (b) a second microporous layer comprising a polyethylene resin, and a heat-resistant polymer having a melting point or a glass transition temperature of 170° C. or higher, the heat-resistant polymer being dispersed in the form of fine particles in the polyethylene resin, and the second microporous layer having pores containing fine particles of the heat-resistant polymer as nuclei from which the cleavage of polyethylene resin fibrils starts, the multi-layer microporous polyethylene membrane having well-balanced shutdown properties, meltdown properties, permeability, mechanical strength, heat shrinkage resistance and compression resistance.
US08778524B2

Disclosed is an electrochemical device. The electrochemical device includes: (a) a composite separator including a porous substrate, a first porous coating layer coated on one surface of the porous substrate, and a second porous coating layer coated on the other surface of the porous substrate; (b) an anode disposed to face the first porous coating layer; and (c) a cathode disposed to face the second porous coating layer. The first and second porous coating layers are each independently composed of a mixture including inorganic particles and a binder polymer. The first porous coating layer is thicker than the second porous coating layer. The electrochemical device has good thermal stability and improved cycle characteristics.
US08778521B2

A mandrel for use in a battery assembly may include a positive mandrel portion and a negative mandrel portion. Each of the mandrel portions may include a connector element coupling region and an electrode coupling region. The connector element coupling region may be configured to be coupled to a connector element and the electrode coupling region may be configured to be coupled to an electrode.
US08778519B1

A thermal management system is provided that minimizes the effects of thermal runaway within a battery pack. The system includes a sealed battery pack enclosure configured to hold a plurality of batteries and at least one exhaust nozzle assembly. The exhaust nozzle assembly includes an exhaust nozzle that passes and directs the flow of hot gas from within the battery pack to the ambient environment during a thermal runaway event, a nozzle seal mounted within the exhaust nozzle that seals the exhaust nozzle during normal operation of the battery pack, and a nozzle seal mounting nut that holds the nozzle seal within the exhaust nozzle during normal operation and then melts during a thermal runaway event, thereby allowing the nozzle seal to be ejected through the exhaust nozzle during the event.
US08778512B2

The present invention relates new compounds and to an organic electronic device comprising at least one substantially organic layer comprising a non fully conjugated chemical compound, which compound is preferably used in electron transport layers, electron injection layers. The invention also includes a process for preparing an organic electronic device, wherein the substantially organic layer comprising a non fully conjugated chemical compound is deposited on a first layer, and a second layer is deposited on the substantially organic layer, preferably a cathode being deposited on the substantially organic layer comprising the non fully conjugated chemical compound.
US08778510B2

A pyrromethene-boron complex compound represented by the following formula (1); wherein Z1 and Z2 are independently a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryloxy group, at least one of Z1 and Z2 is an alkoxy group substituted with a fluorine atom or an aryloxy group substituted with a fluorine atom or a fluoroalkyl group, and Z1 and Z2 may form a ring.
US08778506B2

An organic electroluminescent element comprising a metal complex represented by Formula (1), wherein Z is a hydrocarbon ring or a heterocyclic ring, provided that each of the hydrocarbon ring and the heterocyclic ring has a substituent having a steric parameter (Es) of −0.5 or less at the third atom of the ring counted from a nitrogen atom attached to Z, the nitrogen atom being counted as the first atom, X, Y, A, B, X1-L1-X2, M1, m1 and m2 are described in the specification.
US08778505B2

The disclosure provides tissue webs, and products incorporating the same, where the webs comprise wood and bamboo fibers. More specifically the disclosure provides soft and durable through-air dried tissue webs comprising at least about 10 percent bamboo fiber by weight of the web. In the through-air dried tissue webs of the present disclosure, bamboo typically replaces high average fiber length wood fibers, which increases the bulk of the through-air dried web without negatively effecting softness or durability.
US08778502B2

A glass ceramic composition includes a SrZrO3 ceramic, a Li2O—MgO—ZnO—B2O3—SiO2-based glass, Mg2SiO4 in an amount of about 5 to 40 weight percent, and a SrTiO3 ceramic in an amount in the range of about 0 to about 6 weight percent of the total. The Li2O—MgO—ZnO—B2O3—SiO2-based glass accounts for about 1 to about 12 weight percent of the total.
US08778492B1

A composition comprising multistage polymeric particles having an average particle diameter from 0.5 to 15 μm and a Vicker's scale hardness from 100 to 700 Kgf/mm2; and a film-forming polymer having Tg no greater than 80° C. The refractive index difference measured from 400 nm to 800 nm between the polymeric particles and the film-forming polymer is no greater than 0.02 and the average refractive index difference measured from 800 nm to 2500 nm between the polymeric particles and the film-forming polymer is at least 0.04.
US08778491B2

A coated article is described. The coated article includes a substrate, a titanium bonding layer, a titanium-chromium alloy transition layer, and a titanium-chromium-nitrogen hard layer formed thereon, and in that order. The titanium bonding layer is a titanium layer. The titanium-chromium alloy transition layer is a titanium-chromium alloy layer. The titanium-chromium-nitrogen hard layer is a titanium-chromium-nitrogen layer. The titanium bonding layer, titanium-chromium alloy transition layer, and the titanium-chromium-nitrogen hard layer are formed by ion beam assisted sputtering.
US08778489B2

An optical layered product has a translucent substrate having at least an optically functional layer, containing translucent microparticles, provided directly or via another layer onto one or both sides of the substrate. The standard deviation of area dispersion variability of the translucent microparticles in the optically functional layer is in the range of 0.04 to 0.20.
US08778485B2

The present invention provides an elastic multi-layer film including an oil-resistant layer consisting essentially of thermoplastic polyurethane; and a tie layer consisting essentially of a grafted polymer. The elastic multi-layer film is formed by co-extruding melted resins of the oil-resistant layer and the tie layer. The present invention further provides an elastic article including the elastic multi-layer film and thermoplastic elastomer gel, wherein the elastic article is formed by incorporation of the elastic multi-layer film and thermoplastic elastomer gel using in-molding labeling and injection method.
US08778484B2

A laminated polyester film includes a layer (S) of polyester and a layer (C) including a polyester resin (A) having a fluorene backbone, wherein a surface of the layer (C) has an adhesive index after a heat and wet test of 3 to 5.
US08778482B2

The present disclosure discloses a coated substrate for electrophotographic (LEP) printing comprising an ink-receiving layer and a base layer, wherein said ink-receiving layer comprises a reactive polycarbodiimide component and a method for producing the same.
US08778481B2

The present invention relates to a security element for protecting valuable articles, having a first and a second authenticating feature. The first authenticating feature comprises a first arrangement having a plurality of focusing elements present in a first grid, and a second arrangement having a plurality of microscopic structures present in a second grid. Here, the first and second arrangement are disposed in such a way that the microscopic structures of the second arrangement are seen magnified when viewed through the focusing elements of the first arrangement. The second authenticating feature is machine and/or visually verifiable and is not influenced by the first arrangement of the first authenticating feature.
US08778478B2

Provided is an assembly including a block co-polymer film and a plurality of nano-rods; where the plurality of nano-rods are oriented at the surface of the block co-polymer film, substantially perpendicular to at least one interface between block co-polymer domains. Further provided are methods of assembly formation and devices including such assemblies.
US08778465B2

Methods of creating porous materials, such as silicon, are described. In some embodiments, plasma sheath modification is used to create ion beams of various incidence angles. These ion beams may, in some cases, form a focused ion beam. The wide range of incidence angles allows the material to be deposited amorphously. The porosity and pore size can be varied by changing various process parameters. In other embodiments, porous oxides can be created by adding oxygen to previously created layers of porous material.
US08778456B2

A coating composition comprises a high molecular weight polycarbodiimide. The high molecular weight polycarbodiimide is produced via a method. A method of preparing the coating composition and a method of forming a coating on a substrate with the coating composition are also disclosed.
US08778442B2

A process for making a highly dense legume micro pellet by preconditioning, extruding, cutting and cooling a legume flour-based mixture. The legume micro pellets made in accordance with the invention contain 70 to 90% legume, have a moisture content of 8 to 12% and a density of 700 to 850 g/L.
US08778439B2

Disclosed is a method of making nutritional emulsions, comprising: (A) heating and blending together an emulsifying agent having a melt point above about 25 C and oil having hydrophobic off-notes (e.g. non-encapsulated polyunsaturated fatty acid) in a weight ratio of at least about 1:15; (B) adding the heated blend to a fat, protein, and carbohydrate mixture comprising a maltodextrin (DE of about 10 or less), in a weight ratio of the maltodextrin to the oil having hydrophobic off-notes of at least about 1:2; and (C) homogenizing, and then cooling the combination below the melt point of the emulsifying agent to form a nutritional emulsion comprising from about 0.01% to about 5% by weight of process-encapsulated polyunsaturated fatty acid. The resulting nutritional emulsions effectively mask off-notes commonly associated with certain oils, e.g., polyunsaturated fatty acids, soy oil, beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate oils.
US08778422B2

In order to provide a composition for the treatment of degenerative joint diseases with an improved efficacy, it is proposed that the composition comprises collagen hydrolysate and rosehip powder and/or extract, wherein the weight ratio of collagen hydrolysate to rosehip powder and/or extract, in each case in relation to dry mass, lies in the range of approximately 2:1 to approximately 100:1.
US08778420B1

This invention relates to compositions and applications for a topical skin care composition that includes from about 52 wt % to about 90 wt % Camellia sinensis (green tea) extract; from about 0.5 wt % to about 15 wt % Calendula officinalis extract; from about 0.5 wt % to about 10 wt % Trifolium pratense (red clover blossom) extract; from about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % Lavandula angustifolia essential oil in coco-caprylate/caprate; from about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % glycerin; an emulsifier component in an amount from about 2 wt % to about 10 wt %; and a preservative component in an amount from about 0.5 wt % to about 3 wt %, wherein the amounts are by total weight of the composition.
US08778409B2

A composition, system and method for modifying an olfactory response to an odorant is disclosed. In some embodiments, the composition includes crystalline metal nanoparticles dispersed in an aqueous medium. The composition is applied to olfactory tissues using a suitable applicator or dispenser. The metal nanoparticles are believed to interact with a G-protein coupled to receptor located in the cilia to moderate (enhance or reduce) sensitivity or ability to smell particular odorants. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the composition includes one or more odorants.
US08778408B2

Provided an antimicrobial substance that includes a base material layer, and a copper-tin alloy layer 5-200 nm in thickness disposed on the base material layer, the copper-tin alloy layer containing copper in an amount of more than 60 atomic percent but not more than 90 atomic percent, and containing tin in an amount of not less than 10 atomic percent but less than 40 atomic percent. The copper-tin alloy layer includes a Cu41Sn11 crystalline phase, and a Cu3Sn crystalline phase. The Q value (Ω/(nm·Cu atomic percent)), which is derived by dividing the sheet resistance (Ω) of the copper-tin alloy layer by the thickness of the copper-tin alloy layer and the copper content (Cu atomic percent), is 1.5×10−4-6.0×10−4.
US08778404B2

The present inventors discovered that the onset of galactosamine hepatopathy is suppressed by nutritional compositions comprising as essential ingredients: whey protein hydrolysates; lecithin and oils and fats high in oleic acid, which are able to improve the lipid metabolism; and palatinose having an insulin-sparing effect. Furthermore, the whey protein hydrolysate included in the nutritional compositions was found to suppress endotoxin-induced TNF-a and interleukin 6 (IL-6) production in macrophages.
US08778401B2

The present invention encompasses formulations and methods for producing solid dispersions comprising mesoporous materials with poorly aqueous soluble active ingredients. The active ingredient is formed in the amorphous state and entrapped in the nanosized pores of the mesoporous excipients using a co-spray drying process. The pore walls of mesoporous channels stabilize the amorphous form of active ingredient against re-crystallization. The amorphous active ingredient entrapped in mesoporous channels exhibits good stability during extended storage under stress test conditions and possesses significantly enhanced dissolution rates.
US08778398B2

The present invention provides a solid immediate release dosage form adapted for oral administration of GHB. The solid immediate release dosage form includes an immediate release formulation comprising a relatively high weight-percentage of GHB with a bioavailability similar to that of a liquid GHB dosage form.
US08778396B2

This invention relates to an orally administrable, gastroretentive pharmaceutical dosage form which contains at least one pharmaceutically active ingredient and at least one polymeric adjuvant. The adjuvant serves to retain the dosage form in a selected region of the gastrointestinal tract for sufficient time for the pharmaceutically active ingredient to be released and absorbed. Ideally the dosage form will contain two or more pharmaceutically active ingredients which are delivered to different regions of the gastrointestinal tract.
US08778386B2

An oxidizing anti-microbial treatment and products containing such treatment are described. The treatment involves, in part, preparing a substrate to accept an attachment of charged moieties, and a number of stabilized peroxide compounds on at least part of a surface of said substrate. When microbes, such as bacteria, having a net charge opposite to that of the charged moieties come in close proximity to the treated substrate surface, peroxide molecules from the substrate are activated and released to kill the microbes.
US08778384B2

The invention relates to a composition comprising a pharmaceutically active agent and a bioadhesive delivery system that provides for the oral delivery of a vaccine to animals, particularly aquatic animals.
US08778382B2

The invention comprises a transdermal dosage form comprising an active agent component comprising an active agent and an adverse agent component comprising an adverse agent, wherein the active agent component defines at least one channel extending substantially there through.
US08778376B2

A copolymer comprising a block of an elastin pentapeptide and method of making and using the copolymer are provided.
US08778369B2

Long-lasting persistent, uniform, film-forming skin protecting compositions provide long-lasting persistent barrier films when applied to skin. The compositions have particular utility as barrier teat dips for protecting cows against mastitis and as wound care agents. A barrier film-forming agent is selected from pullulan, pullulan derivatives and combinations thereof. The barrier film-forming agent is stably solubilized in a solvent that dries to form the long-lasting, persistent, uniform film over the animal skin. The compositions may contain additives, such as antimicrobial agents that kill microorganisms.
US08778367B2

The present invention relates to vesicles for topical delivery of drugs and cosmetics, named glyceromes and characterized by high content of glycerol. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical formulations and cosmetic products containing glycerosomes.
US08778365B1

The present invention relates to improved topical gel compositions comprising an active agent, and uses thereof.
US08778354B2

Compositions and methods are provided for the treatment or prevention of RSV disease by modulating RSV infection and immunity. In particular, amino acid sequences in the RSV G glycoprotein, containing the chemokine motif defined as C-X-X-X-C (or CX3C), are identified that are essential in causing RSV infection and disease. The chemokine motif is biologically active and participates in virus binding to and infection of susceptible cells. The prevention or treatment of RSV infection is achieved by interfering with the motif, such as by administering a vaccine in which the motif is altered or by administration or induction of blocking molecules that inhibit the biological activity of the motif.
US08778351B2

The present invention relates to compositions that contain a chimeric papillomavirus virus-like particle (VLP) in combination with a DNA molecule encoding a protein or polypeptide epitope. The chimeric papillomavirus VLP is assembled from an L1 protein or polypeptide and a chimeric protein or polypeptide containing at least a portion of the L2 protein and a protein or polypeptide including an immunogenic epitope. The composition is useful for inducing an enhanced immune response against a pathogen or a tumor.
US08778348B2

The present invention relates to the intersection of the fields of immunology and protein engineering, and particularly to antigens and vaccines useful in prevention of infection by Trypanosoma protozoa. Provided are recombinant protein antigens, compositions, and methods for the production and use of such antigens and vaccine compositions.
US08778346B2

The present invention relates to anti-IL-23p19 binding compounds, in particular new humanized anti-IL-23p19 antibodies and therapeutic and diagnostic methods and compositions for using the same.
US08778340B2

This invention concerns in general treatment of diseases and pathological conditions with anti-VEGF antibodies. More specifically, the invention concerns the treatment of human patients susceptible to or diagnosed with cancer using an anti-VEGF antibody, preferably in combination with one or more additional anti-tumor therapeutic agents for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
US08778332B2

Provided is an agent or a food or drink for reducing the risk of developing breast cancer. An agent for reducing the risk of developing breast cancer which comprises a composition containing living cells of Lactobacillus casei.
US08778307B2

A system and method for transcellular transport of compositions containing agents (e.g., research, analytical, reporter or molecular probes, diagnostic and therapeutic agents, biologically active agents, research agents, analytical agents, imaging agents, monitoring agents, enzymes, proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, lipids, sugars, hormones, lipoproteins, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, cells, including modified cells, biosensors, markers, antibodies and/or ligands) across the gastrointestinal epithelial layer including use of a composition containing the agent and a targeting moiety, specific for a determinant at the target location. An exemplary composition of the system includes an anti-ICAM antibody targeting moiety, specific for targeting ICAM-1. The system enables effective, versatile, and safe targeting and transport of agents. The system is useful in research applications, as well as in the context of translational science and clinical interventions.
US08778305B2

Prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) binding compounds having radioisotope substituents are described, as well as chemical precursors thereof. Compounds include pyridine containing compounds, compounds having phenylhydrazine structures, and acylated lysine compounds. The compounds allow ready incorporation of radionuclides for single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron emission tomography (PET) for imaging, for example, prostate cancer cells and angiogenesis.
US08778296B2

A dispersible carbon nanotube (“CNT”) comprising a CNT backbone and an organic moiety attached to the carbon nanotube backbone and comprising a hydroxyl substituted C6 to C14 aromatic group are described, as well as a CNT-polymer composite and a method of manufacturing the CNT-polymer composite.
US08778295B2

Disclosed is a combinatorial synthesis of Diamond wherein a first reactive species is produced by catalytic treatment of Acetylene, a second reactive species is produced by decomposition of a hydrocarbon source having a low Hydrogen-to-Carbon ratio using a high energy discharge, and the two reactive species so obtained are combined in the vapor phase to yield Diamond without the need of post-treatments. The reaction is efficient and affords Diamond under mild conditions with high purity such that it may be useful for producing Diamond for semiconductor and microelectronics applications.
US08778290B1

An exhaust gas treatment system includes a SCR device and a DOC converter disposed upstream of the SCR device. A DEF dosing system includes an injector disposed upstream of the DOC converter for injecting ammonia reductant into the flow of exhaust gas upstream of the DOC converter. The DOC converter includes a corrugated metallic substrate having an ammonia-neutral oxidation catalyst compound that is operable to oxidize hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the flow of exhaust gas, while not reacting with the ammonia reductant in the flow of exhaust gas. The ammonia-neutral oxidation catalyst compound allows the ammonia reductant in the flow of exhaust gas to pass through the DOC converter, for reaction with a selective catalytic reduction composition in the SCR device.
US08778287B2

The invention relates to a process which makes it possible to separate together all the actinide(III), (IV), (V) and (VI) entities present in a highly acidic aqueous phase from fission products, in particular lanthanides, also present in this phase by using a solvating extractant in a salting-out medium.Applications: reprocessing of irradiated nuclear fuels, in particular for recovering plutonium, neptunium, americium, curium and possibly uranium, present in the form of traces, in a pooled but selective fashion with regard to lanthanides, from a solution for the dissolution of an irradiated nuclear fuel, downstream of a cycle for the extraction of uranium.
US08778286B2

The present invention relates to a system fixing carbon dioxide. The system comprises a first reactor for extracting alkali metal components from a slag and a second reactor for carbonating the extracted alkali metal component with carbon dioxide. With this system, carbon dioxide can be fixed in a simpler and cost-effective manner.
US08778283B2

A delivery apparatus for selectively delivering one or more liquid reagents into a reaction or test chamber (2), especially of an assay apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more respective storage chambers (5,6) for containing the one or more liquid reagents and arranged generally above the reaction or test chamber (2); and a plunger element (4) arranged and operable for insertion into the mouth of a selected storage chamber so as to displace a selected reagent from therewithin into the reaction or test chamber (2) generally therebelow by gravitational liquid overflow from the mouth of the chamber. The apparatus may conveniently be provided as a discrete delivery unit, with the storage chambers (5,6) prefilled with the selected reagents.
US08778274B2

An ozone gas output flow rate management unit configured to receive a plurality of ozone gas outputs from a plurality of ozone generation units and capable of performing an ozone gas output flow rate control for selectively outputting one or a combination of two or more of the plurality of ozone gas outputs to any of a plurality of ozone treatment apparatuses by performing an opening/closing operation of a plurality of ozone gas control valves provided in the ozone gas output flow rate management unit.
US08778273B2

Device for emitting a plasma jet at ambient pressure and temperature, includes an electric-field generator for generating discharges between an anode assembly and a cathode assembly. The cathode assembly defines an inter-cathode dielectric space that extends inside the cathode assembly and is opposite at least one cathode surface of the cathode assembly, and has at least one cathode opening extending outside the inter-cathode space, the cathode opening being defined by at least one active edge of the cathode surface, the active edge(s) extending in a cathode opening plane. The anode assembly includes at least one pointed portion that is oriented toward the outside of the inter-cathode space and is laterally and deeply placed relative to the cathode opening. The pointed portion extends up to the cathode opening plane, for causing a plasma jet emission that is spontaneously sprayed in a predetermined direction toward the outside of the inter-cathode space.
US08778271B2

Sensors for the detection of free radicals and free radical forming compounds including, for example, peroxides, as well as energetic radiation, UV light, plasma or heat each such sensor including a functional component are described herein. In addition, this disclosure includes methods for making such sensors and methods for using sensors including a functional component and devices incorporating such sensors.
US08778269B2

Nanoelectronic devices for the detection and quantification of biomolecules are provided. In certain embodiments, the devices are configured to detect and measure blood glucose levels. Also provided are methods of fabricating nanoelectronic devices for the detection of biomolecules.
US08778266B2

A slide processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprise a liquid transporter for transporting a staining liquid reserved in a first liquid container and a washing liquid reserved in a second liquid container; a first instruction receiver for receiving a first instruction that instructs to initiate preparation of a slide stained with the staining liquid; a second instruction receiver for receiving a second instruction that instructs to initiate washing of a housing element which accommodates therein a slide to be stained; and a controller. When receiving the first instruction, the controller performs staining of the slide accommodated in the housing element by causing the liquid transporter to transport the staining liquid into the housing element. When receiving the second instruction, the controller performs washing of the housing element by causing the liquid transport to transport the washing liquid into the housing element.
US08778255B2

A component, in particular an engine component, which has at least one mark with a predetermined three-dimensional shape for determining a stress in the component and where the component is constructed by a generative manufacturing method, is disclosed.
US08778254B2

A method and apparatus provided for the production of fine fibers by electrospinning fibers by applying an electrical field between a primary electrode and a counter electrode (5) spaced apart from the primary electrode and extending generally parallel thereto wherein at least an operative surface of the primary electrode is coated with a polymer solution (3) and an electric field of sufficient magnitude is generated between the primary electrode and counter electrode to cause the formation of fine fibers (9) in the space between the electrodes. The operative surface of the primary electrode that is coated with polymer solution is made up of appropriate portions of the surfaces of a multitude of operatively semi-submerged, loose (unattached) elements (1, 11, 17, 21) supported on the bottom of a trough (2) or tray or another support member or members (12, 18, 22). Facility is included for causing polymer solution to be applied to the exposed surfaces of the loose elements by causing them to roll in the polymer solution so that they become coated with a thin layer of polymer solution on their surfaces.
US08778249B2

There is provided a porous, carbon-containing preform, including a body (CL) of unidirectional carbon fiber fabrics (C1), and a friction layer (FL) of randomly-arranged-carbon-fiber fabrics (F1), combined with the body (CL) by a needle-punching operation. According to the present invention, it is by the needle-punching operation that the friction layer (FL) of the randomly-arranged-carbon fiber fabric (F1) is formed on the body (CL) of the unidirectional carbon fiber fabric (C1) and the friction layer (FL) of the randomly-arranged-carbon-fiber (F1) is cross-linked to the body (CL) of the unidirectional carbon fiber fabric (C1) in producing the porous, carbon-containing preform.
US08778247B2

The invention relates to a polymer film made of a polyamide composition comprising at least 80 weight percentage (wt. %) of a semi-crystalline semi-aromatic polyamide with a melting temperature (Tm) of at least 270° C., wherein the wt. % is relative to the total weight of the polymer composition, wherein the polymer film has an average coefficient of thermal expansion in plane in the temperature range of 20° C.-Tg, measured in plane with the method according to ASTM D969-08, of at most 40 ppm/K. The said film can be made from a polyamide moulding composition comprising said polyamide by film casting followed by biaxial stretching. The film has properties suitable for carrier films in flexible printed circuit boards.
US08778244B2

Disclosed are filtering cartridge and methods of producing the filtering cartridge for purifying drinking water and other liquids for household, medical and other purposes. A filter cartridge is filled with a filtering material and is configured in the form of an open bowl which can be closed with a lid, having side walls and a bottom with at least one outlet opening which is closed with a water-permeable material, wherein the cartridge bottom is designed such as to make it possible to use the water-permeable material which comes to the external edge of the side walls and is made of fibers with a sufficiently small diameter to allow using the filtering material containing powder particles; furthermore, the entire area between external and internal edges of the walls along the perimeter of the bottom is made of a composite based on a polymer water-permeable material.
US08778242B2

Provided is a housing for a resin fluid dynamic bearing device in which deterioration with time of a fixing force for another member is mitigated and which can maintain a high bearing performance for a long period of time. The housing formed of a resin composition exhibiting a compression creep amount of 8% or less when a compressive pressure of 80 MPa is applied for 168 hours at an atmosphere temperature of 80° C., provides a sufficient fixing force for the another member fixed with a press-fitting force, for example, a bearing sleeve press-fitted into an inner periphery of the housing even after a long term use. Thus, there is no fear of fixing positions of the another member with respect to the housing being deviated and a high bearing performance is maintained for a long period of time.
US08778231B2

Disclosed are aluminum paste compositions, processes to form solar cells using the aluminum paste compositions, and the solar cells so-produced. The aluminum paste compositions comprise 0.003% to 9%, by weight of boron nitride; 27% to 89%, by weight of an aluminum powder, such that the weight ratio of aluminum powder to boron nitride is in the range of 9:1 to 9909:1; and 0.1% to 9%, by weight of an optional glass frit-free additive, the optional glass frit-free additive comprising amorphous silicon dioxide, crystalline calcium oxide organometallic compounds, metal salts, or mixtures thereof; and 10% to 70%, by weight of an organic vehicle, wherein the amounts in % by weight are based on the total weight of the aluminum paste composition.
US08778228B2

The present invention is a method of producing an ultraviolet light emitting phosphor material. This method includes a step of heat-treating a composition containing zinc and oxygen as main components and at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium and indium as a sub-component, in the presence of at least two coexisting substances selected from the group consisting of zinc oxide, gallium oxide and phosphorus oxide under a non-oxidizing atmosphere.
US08778223B2

Provided are compounds useful for use in liquid crystal mixtures to improve the properties of the mixture. In embodiments, the compound has two cyclohexyl ring and a tail containing one more fluorine atoms.
US08778219B2

The invention is directed to an ionic liquid comprising (i) a cationic portion containing a complex of a silver (I) ion and one or more neutral ligands selected from organoamides, organoamines, olefins, and organonitriles, and (ii) an anionic portion having the chemical formula wherein m and n are independently 0 or an integer of 1 or above, and p is 0 or 1, provided that when p is 0, the group —N—SO2—(CF2)nCF3 subtended by p is replaced with an oxide atom connected to the shown sulfur atom. The invention is also directed to a method for separating an olefin from an olefin-paraffin mixture by passing the mixture through a layer of the ionic liquid described above.
US08778215B2

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a thermoelectric composite material including: a thermoelectric matrix including a thermoelectric material; and a plurality of nano-carbon material units located in the thermoelectric matrix and spaced apart from each other, wherein a spacing between two neighboring nano-carbon material unit is about 50 nm to 2 μm.
US08778213B2

The present invention relates to a ferrocene-based fire extinguishing composition. The ferrocene-based fire extinguishing composition comprises ferrocene, a ferrocene derivative, or a combination thereof at a content of 25 mass % or more; when in use, a pyrotechnic agent is used as a heat source and a power source, the pyrotechnic agent is ignited, and the high temperature generated by the combustion of the pyrotechnic agent is utilized to make a fire extinguishing composition produce a large amount of fire extinguishing substance, which is sprayed out together with the pyrotechnic agent, so as to achieve the purpose of extinguishing a fire. Compared with a conventional fire extinguishing composition, a more efficient and safer fire extinguishing composition is provided.
US08778211B2

The present invention provides chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) compositions suitable for polishing a substrate comprising a germanium-antimony-tellurium (GST) alloy. The CMP compositions of the present invention are aqueous slurries comprising a particulate abrasive, a water-soluble surface active agent, a complexing agent, and a corrosion inhibitor. The ionic character of the surface active material (e.g., cationic, anionic, or nonionic) is selected based on the zeta potential of the particulate abrasive. A CMP method for polishing a GST alloy-containing substrate utilizing the composition is also disclosed.
US08778209B2

An apparatus for altering a surface of a cylindrical object includes at least one container containing a fluid resist therein and having at least one opening from which the fluid resist is discharged; at least one roller operatively associated with the at least one container and having a surface sized and shaped to be exposed to the at least one opening, the surface area including a pattern of shapes and upon which the fluid resist is deposited; and at least one support member adjacent the at least one roller for supporting the cylindrical object during transit for contacting the at least one roller. A method is also provided.
US08778208B2

A method of making an article 2 comprising an ultra-thin sheet 26 of material secured at lateral regions to a support member, the method comprises laying the ultra-thin sheet on a substrate 20, forming the support member on the lateral regions of the ultra-thin sheet such that the lateral regions of the ultra-thin sheet are sandwiched between the support member and the substrate and adhered to the support member, and removing the substrate by vaporisation or by a dissolution step using a solvent, to leave the article. The ultra-thin sheet is supported around its periphery and has a central region in which the ultra-thin sheet is free from contact with any other material.
US08778204B2

A method and apparatus for monitoring a target layer in a plasma process having a photoresist layer is provided. The method is useful in removing noise associated with the photoresist layer, and is particularly useful when signals associated with the target layer is weak, such as when detecting an endpoint for a photomask etching process.
US08778201B2

A pattern forming material contains a block copolymer or graft copolymer and forms a structure having micro polymer phases, in which, with respect to at least two polymer chains among polymer chains constituting the block copolymer or graft copolymer, the ratio between N/(Nc−No) values of monomer units constituting respective polymer chains is 1.4 or more, where N represents total number of atoms in the monomer unit, Nc represents the number of carbon atoms in the monomer unit, No represents the number of oxygen atoms in the monomer unit.
US08778193B2

The invention provides a method for the separation of liquid from a three phase slurry bubble column. The method includes the step of charging the inside of a hollow filter element with a rinsing fluid to clean the inside of the filter for catalyst fines followed by a backflushing step. The invention also provides an installation for the separation of liquid from a three phase slurry bubble column. The installation includes at feast one hollow and enclosed filter element and one or more conduits in fluid communication with the internal volume of the filter, with at least one conduit being configured or connected for inflow of rinsing fluid and at least one conduit being configured or connection for outflow of rinsing fluid.
US08778192B2

A method and apparatus for dewatering a mixture of granulate and water are disclosed. In accordance with one example of the system described herein, the apparatus includes a casing as well as hollow sieve body with side walls formed as a sieve, the sieve body being arranged in the casing and suspended thereto. The sieve body tapers towards the bottom, and a clearance is formed between the casing and sieve body. For delivering the granulate-water mixture an inlet is arranged in the upper part of the sieve body. A corresponding outlet for the dewatered granulate is located at the bottom of the sieve body. The inlet is arranged in the sieve body and the sieve is formed such that the water laterally escapes through the sieve into the clearance due to centrifugal and gravitational forces when passing through the sieve body from top to bottom.
US08778191B2

The invention concerns a centrifugal filtering device for filtering a fluid. The device comprises a rotatable inner casing forming an inner space and a rotatable outer casing forming an outer space. The device further comprises a fluid inlet, at least one filter and drive means. The drive means is configured to rotate the inner casing to create a centrifugal pressure. The pressure forces a part of the fluid contained in the inner space through the filter and to a radially outer position of the outer space. The filtered fluid forms a filtrate, the filtrate having a kinetic energy. The outer casing is configured to transport the filtrate from the radially outer position to a radially inner position of the outer space, permitting transfer of the kinetic energy from the filtrate to the outer casing, thereby permitting regaining of mechanical energy.
US08778190B2

The invention relates to a method for purifying wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds, wherein the wastewater loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is reacted with a smectic sheet silicate, wherein a clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is obtained, and the clay material loaded with nitrogen-containing compounds is separated off, wherein purified wastewater is obtained.
US08778178B2

A system for separating liquids from solids comprising an immobilization unit comprising an immobilization vessel containing a bed of magnetizable material and a magnet configured to produce a magnetic field within the immobilization vessel, wherein the immobilization vessel further comprises an immobilization vessel outlet and an immobilization vessel inlet for a fluid comprising liquid and metal-containing particles. A method for separating solid particles from liquid by introducing a fluid comprising liquid and a first concentration of solid particles into an immobilization unit comprising an immobilization vessel and at least one magnet configured to produce high density magnetic flux lines within the immobilization vessel and/or a high field gradient at or near the surface of the magnetizable material when powered, wherein the immobilization vessel contains therein a bed of magnetizable material; and removing from the immobilization unit a product having a second particle concentration less than the first particle concentration.
US08778169B2

Conversion of a heavy hydrocarbon fraction that is obtained either from a crude oil or from the distillation of a crude oil and that has an initial boiling point of at least 300° C. by hydroconversion of at least one portion of heavy hydrocarbon fraction in the presence of hydrogen in at least one three-phase reactor containing at least one hydroconversion catalyst, separation of the effluent to obtain a light liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is less than 300° C. and a heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C., and a deasphalting of at least one portion of the heavy liquid fraction that boils at a temperature that is greater than 300° C.
US08778166B2

Process and apparatus to remove colloids and nitrogen compounds from contaminated water by coagulating the colloids and separating them from the water. The water is then continuously oxidized with chlorine electrolytically to destroy the nitrogen compounds.
US08778157B2

Provided is a method for processing a sample, which method comprises: a) contacting a binding phase, which binding phase is capable of binding an analyte, with the sample in the presence of a medium; b) applying across the medium a first alternating field composed of a plurality of pulses and having a first frequency, a first pulse duration and a first pulse rise time; c) optionally applying across the medium a second alternating field; and d) thereby influencing the sample and/or the binding phase in the medium.
US08778154B2

To provide a system by which evaluation of circumstances of contamination by microparticles having nucleic acid can be performed rapidly and accurately. The theme is achieved by a system for measuring microparticles that includes: (1) a microparticle adhesion step of adhering the microparticles having nucleic acid to a microparticle adhesion member; (2) a membrane breakage step of breaking membranes of the adhered microparticles by electrical discharge; (3) an electrophoresis step of electrophoresing the microparticles in a thickness direction of a gel to make the nucleic acid in the microparticles migrate from a negative electrode side toward a positive electrode side and adhere the nucleic acid on a surface of a nucleic acid detection member; and (4) a nucleic acid measurement step of fluorescently staining the surface of the nucleic acid detection member to measure a concentration of the nucleic acid.
US08778153B2

An ion sensor includes a sensor main body having a channel for a sample and an opening connected to the channel, a responsive portion which is filled in the opening and selectively responds to a specific ion, an electrode which has a ring shape, is set such that a central axis of the ring is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the channel, and senses the response, and an output terminal which is formed out of one metal plate out of which the electrode is formed, has a pin shape, and is held by the sensor main body such that an axis extends along a direction substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the channel and the central axis of the ring.
US08778152B2

The present invention relates to a sensor used together with a detector to measure biomaterial, and to an apparatus using same. A sensor of the present invention comprises: a body portion with a three-dimensional shape, having a biomaterial introduction hole, and attachable and detachable to/from a detector; a sensor portion with a plurality of reaction electrodes formed on one surface thereof, and a plurality of transfer electrodes formed on the other surface thereof; and an analyzer reagent fixed above the reaction electrodes. The sensor portion, together with the body portion, forms a reaction chamber connected to the biomaterial introduction hole, and is attached to the body portion such that the reaction electrodes are oriented toward the reaction chamber. According to the present invention, attachment and detachment is easy, even for the elderly, and the contamination of the sensor can be minimized.
US08778151B2

A plasma apparatus includes: a chamber which can be evacuated into vacuum; first electrode disposed within the chamber; a magnet mechanism having a magnet provided apart from and above the first electrode; a second electrode provided facing the first electrode; and a magnetic shield member provided in at least one of gaps between the first electrode and the magnet mechanism and between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08778146B2

A method for manufacturing with high productivity a magnetic recording medium having an MgO film is disclosed which uses a DC sputtering method. The method suppresses oxygen deficiency in the MgO film, and the MgO film has high crystallinity. The method includes at least a process of forming an intermediate layer of MgO on a nonmagnetic base by a reactive DC sputtering method that uses a target containing Mg and MgO in an oxygen-containing gas, and a process of forming a magnetic recording layer containing an L10 ordered alloy on the intermediate layer.
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