US08891184B2
The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus and method that is capable of non-contact cooling of a hot body by optically-enhanced radiation. An apparatus in accordance with the illustrative embodiment includes a cold body and an optical system. The optical system couples the cold body to a hot body for the transmission of infrared radiation. Once optically coupled, heat will flow, at an enhanced rate, from the hot body to the cold body, as dictated by thermodynamics, thereby cooling the hot body. In some embodiment, the temperature of the cold body is held substantially constant.
US08891182B2
Exemplary embodiments may disclose a wide angle lenses including: a first lens which has a negative refractive power; a second lens which has a positive refractive power; a third lens which has the positive refractive power; a fourth lens which has the negative refractive power; and a fifth lens which has the positive refractive power, wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens are in an order from an object to an image, wherein the wide angle lenses satisfy a condition of 0.2
US08891174B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an enlargement side to a reduction side, a first lens unit having positive refractive power and not moving for zooming, a second lens unit having negative refractive power and moving for zooming, a stop, a zooming lens unit having positive refractive power and moving for zooming, and a final lens unit having positive refractive power and not moving for zooming. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the second lens unit moves to the reduction side and the zooming lens unit moves to the enlargement side. The zooming lens unit includes a cemented lens. The cemented lens includes a negative lens and a positive lens cemented in order from the enlargement side. A cemented surface of the cemented lens has a convex shape on the enlargement side. The zoom lens satisfies predetermined conditions.
US08891172B2
The disclosure relates to an optical element configure to at least partial spatially resolve correction of a wavefront aberration of an optical system (e.g., a projection exposure apparatus for microlithography) to which optical radiation can be applied, as well as related systems and methods.
US08891171B2
The high sag thick lens is for use in an illumination apparatus, such as a solid state light source. The lens is made of a first lens part having an optical active surface and a series of elongated baffles, the baffles having a top portion, the top portions defining a line that follows the curvature of the optical active surface to create a second lens part of uniform thickness. A second lens part is fused to the first lens part to create the lens. The second lens part has an optical active surface and a series of elongated baffles, the baffles having a thickness comparable to the thickness of the corresponding optical active surfaces. The first and the second baffles are intertwined along the entire length of their lateral surfaces.
US08891165B2
A 3D filter includes a first area having a plurality of even numbered and odd numbered alternating lines, each line having an equal height, the even numbered lines formed with a first polarization characteristic, a first dummy line formed outside of the first area and adjacent to a first line of the 3D filter, the first dummy line having a height greater than a height of a single line, the odd numbered lines formed with a second polarization characteristic, a second dummy line formed outside of the first area and adjacent to a last line of the 3D filter, the second dummy line having a height greater than the height of a single line, the first dummy line formed with a polarization characteristic opposite to a polarization characteristic of a first line in the first area, and the second dummy line formed with a polarization characteristic opposite to a polarization characteristic of a last line in the first area.
US08891163B2
A reflective optical element and an EUV lithography appliance containing one such element are provided, the appliance displaying a low propensity to contamination. The reflective optical element has a protective layer system includes at least two layers. The optical characteristics of the protective layer system are between those of a spacer and an absorber, or correspond to those of a spacer. The selection of a material with the smallest possible imaginary part and a real part which is as close to 1 as possible in terms of the refractive index leads to a plateau-type reflectivity course according to the thickness of the protective layer system between two thicknesses d1 and d2. The thickness of the protective layer system is selected in such a way that it is less than d2.
US08891159B2
An optical semiconductor element includes: a grating base layer including a projection-recess structure disposed over a substrate; and a grating cover layer including a group III-V semiconductor having three or more elements, wherein the grating cover layer includes a first region which is disposed over recessed portions of the grating base layer and which has a compositional ratio of a group III-V semiconductor having a first refractive index, and a second region which is disposed over projecting portions of the grating base layer and which has a compositional ratio of a group III-V semiconductor having a second refractive index that is smaller than the first refractive index, wherein the grating base layer includes a group III-V semiconductor having a third refractive index that is smaller than the first refractive index.
US08891150B2
The invention provides flash imaging devices that include an optical change component that undergoes a change in response to an applied stimulus, a substrate and a stimulus element. Also provided are articles that include the subject devices, as well as methods of making and using the same.
US08891137B2
In a system in which a facsimile apparatus is connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) to which a plurality of computer terminals are connected, image data obtained by reading an original image by the scanner of the facsimile apparatus under the control of the operation unit of the facsimile apparatus is transmitted to a destination designated by the operation unit. In this operation, if a user ID is designated, transmitted image data and information (destination, transmission time/date, or the like) related to transmission is transferred to the LAN to notify the information to a user corresponding to the user ID. In this manner, data communication performed by a local operation of the facsimile apparatus and data communication performed by a remote designation from the computer terminal can be managed together.
US08891135B2
A method for detecting gloss non-uniformities on printed documents is provided. The method includes printing a test pattern using a print engine, the test pattern having gloss; directing one or more light beams, using an illuminator, onto the test pattern to produce at least generally specular reflectance; scanning the test pattern, using a linear array sensor, to obtain image data, the image data corresponding to the generally specular reflectance from the test pattern; and enhancing contrast of the image data to facilitate detection of image quality non-uniformities in the gloss in the test pattern.
US08891127B2
A printer includes a print head having a first print channel to print data on each page of a print medium according to a first color plane and a second print channel to print data on each page of the print medium according to the first color plane. The printer also includes a verification unit to generate a first channel identifier to identify data printed by the first print channel and a second print channel identifier to identify data printed by the second print channel.
US08891125B2
A system automatically determines whether to shrink a document to be printed by determining whether various parameters of the final page of the document satisfy certain criteria. If so, the system may automatically shrink the document by using a shrink-to-fit process and/or by automatically reducing the font size of some or all content in the document.
US08891123B2
The advantage of the invention is to improve the convenience when a preview image of processing target data is displayed in a communication terminal that does not have a preview generating function. A communication terminal has a processing target transmitting section that transmits processing target data to a server, a preview receiving section that receives preview image data of a page in which generation of preview image data is completed before generation of preview image data of all pages is completed with respect to preview image data of the processing target data generated by the server, and a preview displaying section that displays a preview image based on the received preview image data.
US08891120B2
An image processing device is connected to a management server that analyzes a data file in which information is described in a predetermined format and provides an administrator with the information. The image processing device includes a data file format management table that arranges and stores data, which is information of the image processing device, an input part that accepts from the user an instruction for changing the data in the predetermined format, a data file format management table update part that rearranges the data stored in the data file format management table based on the instruction, a data file generation part that generates a file by describing the data stored in the data file format management table after the rearrangement, and a communication part that transmits the file as the data file to the management server.
US08891112B2
An information processing apparatus for performing image processing for document data created by a document creation application to generate print data of each page and sending the generated print data to an image forming apparatus, the information processing apparatus including: a control section for specifying, based on document data, a region where drawing object data included in the document data exists as a drawing object region, and detecting blank space in each print page based on the specified drawing object region.
US08891110B2
A method and system for scheduling printing times for print jobs at least one printing device. The method and system include determining, at a processing device operably connected to a printing device, at least one non-peak time period; receiving, at a printer queue stored on a computer readable medium operably connected to a printing device, a first plurality of print jobs; storing, at the printer queue, a first subset of the plurality of print jobs until the non-peak time period; and printing, at the printing device, each of the stored print jobs during the non-peak time period.
US08891100B2
A clearing section includes a counter for measuring a period up to the reset of contents set by means of an operation panel to initial values. If a position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a first position, the clearing section starts measuring the period by means of the counter from the first entry made to the operation panel. When a count value reaches a predetermined value, the clearing section executes an automatic clear processing to reset the contents set by means of the operation panel to the initial values. On the other hand, the clearing section cancels the execution of the automatic clear processing if the position discriminating section discriminates that the operation panel is at a second position.
US08891098B2
Page-group data indicating many pages is analyzed to acquire the degree of reuse of page components as an analysis result. A set of page data pieces in the page-group data is acquired as a data block, the number of the pieces corresponding to a unit page number that is the number of pages to be processed collectively as a single task when a conversion processor in a system actually converts the page-group data into drawing data. A predetermined conversion processor converts the data block into drawing data to acquire a conversion processing time. A predicted value of a conversion processing time required for the conversion processor in the system to actually convert the page-group data is accurately obtained using the conversion processing time of the data block. An operator is notified of the analysis result and the predicted value and can easily ascertain the appropriateness of the page-group data.
US08891093B2
An image forming apparatus includes a maximum document number decision part that decides a number of media that are carried simultaneously on a medium carrying path at the time of double sided printing, a memory part that stores image data of a document, a print data editing part that generates page data to be printed on the media from the image data in the memory part, a print page generation monitoring part that monitors a page data number generated by the print data editing part, a print start timing decision part that decides a print start timing from the number of media and the page data number, a print mechanism controller that starts printing based on the print start timing determined by the print start timing decision part.
US08891084B2
The present disclosure relates to microfluidic devices adapted for facilitating cytometry analysis of particles flowing therethrough. In certain embodiments, the microfluidic devices allow light collection from multiple directions. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices use spatial intensity modulation. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have magnetic field separators. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have the ability to stack. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have 3-D hydrodynamic focusing to align sperm cells. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have acoustic energy couplers. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have phase variation producing lenses. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have transmissive and reflective lenses. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have integrally-formed optics. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have non-integral geographically selective reagent delivery structures. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have optical waveguides incorporated into their flow channels. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have optical waveguides with reflective surfaces incorporated into their flow channels. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices have virus detecting and sorting capabilities. In certain other embodiments, the microfluidic devices display a color change to indicate use or a result.
US08891082B2
The invention relates to a spectrometer comprising a hollow main optical body having at least one light channel, a light source, a diffraction grating having a grating central point, a light inlet opening, and a detector unit, which are arranged in such a way that the focal curve of the spectrometer satisfies the back focus equation. In order to create a spectrometer having sufficient spectral resolution from a low-price, light, and easy-to-process material, which spectrometer is able to operate in a large temperature interval even without thermostatic control, according to the invention the light inlet opening is arranged on a compensation body, the compensation body is arranged in the light channel and fastened to the main optical body between the light source and the diffraction grating, and the compensation body is dimensioned in such a way that the compensation body changes the distance between the light inlet opening and the grating central point when the main optical body thermally expands.
US08891079B2
Systems and methods for inspecting a wafer are provided. One system includes an illumination subsystem configured to illuminate the wafer; a collection subsystem configured to collect light scattered from the wafer and to preserve the polarization of the scattered light; an optical element configured to separate the scattered light collected in different segments of the collection numerical aperture of the collection subsystem, where the optical element is positioned at a Fourier plane or a conjugate of the Fourier plane of the collection subsystem; a polarizing element configured to separate the scattered light in one of the different segments into different portions of the scattered light based on polarization; and a detector configured to detect one of the different portions of the scattered light and to generate output responsive to the detected light, which is used to detect defects on the wafer.
US08891078B2
A solar simulator includes a light source having an optical axis linearly elongated, a feed means for feeding a long continuous film-shaped irradiation object, and a position regulating means for regulating the long continuous film-shaped irradiation object in position to surround the light source so that a center of the long continuous film-shaped irradiation object is coaxial with the optical axis. The long continuous film-shaped irradiation object regulated in position is irradiated with light from the light source.
US08891071B2
An apparatus comprising an encoded pressure signal propagating in a fluid flowing in a conduit. An optical fiber measurement element has a reflector on one end and is disposed around at least a portion of the conduit. A light source injects a second optical signal and a third optical signal propagating in first and second optical fibers, respectively. A delay section is disposed in the second optical fiber. The second optical signal and the third optical signal are directed into the optical fiber measurement element and are reflected back from the reflective end such that at least a portion of the reflected second and third optical signals propagate through the second and first optical fibers respectively to an optical detector. The optical detector senses an interference between the reflected optical signals and outputs a first signal related thereto.
US08891070B2
The invention relates to a flexible pipe system comprising an unbonded flexible pipe having a center axis and a sensor system at least partly integrated in the unbonded flexible pipe. The unbonded flexible pipe has a length and a longitudinal direction along the length and comprises an inner sealing sheath and at least a first sensor containing armoring layer. The first sensor containing armoring layer comprises a plurality of elongated armoring elements arranged around the internal sealing sheath. The sensor system comprises: a plurality of optical fiber sensor units, at least one light pump for the optical fiber sensor units, a data collecting unit, and a computing unit. The optical fiber sensor units are optically connected to the data collecting unit, and the data collecting unit is in data communication with the computing unit. At least one of the elongated armoring elements of the first sensor containing armoring layer is a sensor containing element. The sensor containing elements each having integrated therein at least a part of one or more of the optical fiber sensor units, the optical fiber sensor units of the first sensor containing armoring layer extending along a monitoring length section of the flexible pipe, and the optical fiber sensor units being arranged to measure a change in strain of the respective sensor containing elements. The invention further relates to a method of detecting a break in an elongated armoring element.
US08891068B2
A measuring apparatus for optically measuring a distance to a target object is described. The measuring apparatus has a transmitting device for emitting periodically modulated optical measuring radiation towards the target object, a receiving device for detecting optical measuring radiation which returns from the target object, and an evaluation device for receiving and evaluating detection signals from the receiving device. The measuring apparatus also has a calibration device for calibrating the measuring apparatus, wherein the calibration device is designed to calibrate the measuring apparatus on the basis of detection of uncorrelated radiation which does not correlate with the modulated measuring radiation emitted by the transmitting device. In this case, the uncorrelated radiation may be in the form of background radiation. Alternatively, uncorrelated measuring radiation can be emitted by the transmitting device and can be detected by the receiving device.
US08891066B2
In the method for geo-referencing of optical remote sensing images of an area of the earth's surface, the geo-referencing is corrected based on an SAR image which is geo-referenced.
US08891062B2
An illumination optical system which illuminates an illumination surface with light from a light source, includes a divider which divides light from the light source to generate a plurality of light beams, a first reflective integrator which uniformizes light intensity distributions of the plurality of light beams generated by the divider, a condenser which condenses the light beam from the first reflective integrator, a second reflective integrator which receives the light beam from the condenser and illuminates the illumination surface, and an aperture stop arranged between the second reflective integrator and the illumination surface, wherein the divider generates the plurality of light beams so that light beams each having a cross-sectional shape different from a cross-sectional shape of the light provided from the light source to the divider enter a plane on which the aperture stop is arranged.
US08891056B2
A wafer stage system moves a wafer stage that retains a wafer via a wafer holder along a wafer base. For example, the wafer holder is formed from a material whose density is not uniform, such that the portion that includes the reflecting surface that reflects a measuring beam for position measurement is a high-density portion, and the other portions are low-density portions. Or, the wafer stage is formed from a material whose density is not uniform, such that the portion that includes the surface that constitutes a gas bearing is a high-density portion, and the other portions are low-density portions.
US08891055B2
An exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member that has at least one of a supply outlet which supplies the liquid and a collection inlet which recovers the liquid. By immersing the nozzle member in cleaning liquid LK stored in container, the nozzle member is cleaned.
US08891045B2
A method of manufacturing a display substrate includes forming a first color filter on a base substrate in a first region, forming a second color filter on the base substrate in a second region, forming an organic layer on the base substrate, the first color filter and the second color filter, forming a third color filter on the organic layer in a third region and forming an overcoat layer on the organic layer and the third color filter.
US08891044B2
In a color display device, when using white (W) sub-pixels in addition to subpixels of red (R) and green (G) plus blue (B) without increasing a wiring line number, the per-color pixel number in a unit area decreases so that the image resolution is deteriorated. The area and number of subpixels are adjusted in accordance with the visual sensitivity or luminosity required. Practically, the area of red (R) and blue (B) subpixels which are relatively low in luminosity is set to be about two times greater than the area of green (G) and white (W) subpixels that are relatively high in luminosity while letting the number of green (G) and white (W) subpixels be twice the number of red (R) and blue (B) subpixels. A larger subpixel is configured from a plurality of unit subpixels. A smaller subpixel is formed of a one unit subpixel.
US08891039B2
A display module includes a display panel configured to display an image and a backlight. The backlight includes a light guide panel configured to guide light to the display panel, a light source element configured to supply light to the light guide panel, and a reflection sheet disposed over the light guide panel, wherein a chromaticity compensation layer is formed in the backlight unit. The chromaticity compensation layer formed in the backlight reduces yellowing.
US08891032B2
A multi-view display is arranged to display views directed to respective viewing zones, comprising pluralities of imaging units and color filters, each of said color filters is associated with one of said imaging units, the color filters being arranged according to a first pitch and in a first sequence of colors, and a barrier including a plurality of color portions comprising color filter material, the color portions being arranged according to a second pitch that is substantially equal to twice the first pitch and in a second sequence of colors that corresponds to the first sequence of colors when reversed in order, the barrier is positioned so that light exits the display panel after passing through one color portion and one color filter and the color portions of the barrier are configured to cooperate with the color filters to selectively direct said light to the first and second viewing zones.
US08891019B2
An image processing apparatus includes: a first layer summary data generation section; a second layer summary data generation section; a first search section; and a second search section.
US08891012B2
A method for converting an interlaced video signal to a non-interlaced video signal, comprising, for each pixel in each missing line of a video field in the interlaced video signal: deriving a correlation data set comprising correlation data for each of a plurality of possible interpolation schemes to be used in reconstructing the pixel; dividing each correlation data set into a plurality of correlation data zones; selecting an interpolation scheme from each correlation data zone; reconstructing the pixel using a blend of the selected interpolation schemes, wherein the blend for each pixel subsequent to a first pixel is determined based on the result of a comparison between the selected interpolation schemes and based on the blend used for a preceding pixel.
US08891007B2
A camera module with a vent in a housing thereof to allow for fluid communication between an interior of the camera module and an exterior of the camera module. A micro-porous membrane filter having a pore size smaller than 10 um is employed to cover the vent so as to reduce the flow of contaminants into the camera module.
US08891004B2
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for enabling a mobile terminal to drive a camera with low power. The mobile terminal applies power to an image sensor in response to a camera function execution request, initializes the image sensor, maintains the image sensor in a software standby state in which a streaming output of sensed data is interrupted, when a low power standby mode is set, and displays a null image on a display unit.
US08891000B2
A system and method of driving shutter by an object moving tendency. In this method, an image capture process is performed, wherein a sensor captures a first image of a moving object in a first resolution in the image capture process. Then, a prediction moving module analyzes the first image to acquire a prediction time for the moving object to reach a feature position. Finally, an automatic shutter control process is performed according to the prediction time, and a second image with a second resolution is captured, wherein the value of the second resolution is larger than that of the first resolution. This method automatically captures the second image of the moving object when situated at the feature position by using the prediction moving system to analyze the moving object.
US08890993B2
An imaging device of the present invention comprises a facial organ detection section for detecting facial organs within a face from an image that has been taken by an imaging section, an eye selection section for comparing sizes of eyes and selecting the largest eye, an eye size comparative determination section for comparatively determining the size of the eye with respect to a specified value, and an AF region setting section for setting an AF region in accordance with size and position of the selected eye when it has been determined that the size of the eye is larger than a specified value, and setting an AF region in accordance with position and size of a face to which the selected eye belongs when it has been determined that the size of the eye is smaller than a specified value.
US08890992B2
A mobile electronic device 10 includes a projector 34, a camera 36, and a processing unit 22. The projector 34 projects an image, and the camera 36 captures the image projected by the projector 34. Based on first image information for causing the projector 34 to project a predetermined image and second image information obtained by capturing the image projected by the projector 34 based on the first image information by the camera 36, the processing unit 22 determines whether the projector 34 projects the predetermined image. When determining that the projector 34 fails to project the predetermined image, the processing unit 22 suppresses output of the projector 34 for projecting the image.
US08890984B2
According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging element includes a substrate, and a plurality of color filters. A plurality of photoelectric conversion units is provided in the substrate. The plurality of color filters is provided respectively for the plurality of photoelectric conversion units. The plurality of color filters is configured to selectively transmit light of a designated wavelength band. Each of the plurality of color filters includes a stacked structure unit and a periodic structure unit. A plurality of layers having different refractive indexes is stacked in the stacked structure unit. A plurality of components is provided in the periodic structure unit at different periods according to the designated wavelength band and an incident angle of the light.
US08890978B1
During an information-extraction technique, a user of the electronic device may be instructed by an application executed by an electronic device (such as a software application) to point an imaging sensor, which is integrated into the electronic device, toward a location on a document. For example, the user may be instructed to point a cellular-telephone camera toward a field on an invoice. After providing the instruction, the electronic device captures multiple images of the document by communicating a signal to the imaging device to acquire the images. Each of these images has an associated exposure setting with a different point of interest proximate to the location). Then, the electronic device stores the images and the points of interest. Furthermore, the electronic device analyzes the images to extract the information proximate to the location on the document.
US08890977B2
Methods for storing on a storage or memory medium, and retrieving, and displaying of multiple images in a registered manner, the images have been recorded concurrently. The images may comprise at least 2 video programs. A camera system for recording multiple concurrent images is also disclosed. Lenses and corresponding image sensors are calibrated to have calibrated and associated settings for recording multiple images that are substantially registered images. A registered image may be displayed on a single display. It may also be displayed on multiple displays. A camera for recording and displaying registered multiple images may be part of a mobile phone.
US08890975B2
An apparatus and a method which enable effective removal of flicker are provided. Under an illumination environment such as a fluorescent lamp with luminance variation, flicker that occurs in images shot with an X-Y address scanning type imaging device such as a CMOS is effectively removed or reduced. The integral value of the row-by-row signal intensity of an image to be corrected from which to remove flicker is calculated, and this integral value is used to detect flicker components contained in individual rows of an image frame. The detected flicker components represent data according to the actual flicker waveform of the illumination, and a correction process is executed using flicker correction coefficients formed by an anti-phase pattern of the flicker components. Effective flicker removal becomes possible through this process.
US08890972B2
An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor comprising an imaging pixel for receiving light through an opening with a center position coincident with the optical axis of a microlens, first and second focus detection pixels for receiving pupil-divided light through a first and second opening offset in first and second directions from the optical axis of a microlens, respectively; ROM for storing shading correction data; correction coefficient generation unit for generating shading correction coefficients respectively for the imaging pixel, and the first and second focus detection pixels from the shading correction data; and correction unit for subjecting a signal for the imaging pixel to shading correction with the use of the shading correction coefficient for the imaging pixel, and subjecting signals for the first and second focus detection pixels to shading correction with the use of the shading correction coefficients for the first and second focus detection pixels.
US08890969B2
A portable device that has first and second image sensors and a central processor. The central processor has a first sensor interface and a second sensor interface for receiving data from the from the first and second image sensors respectively such that the data is simultaneously processed in the multiple processing units. The central processor integrates the multiple processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces onto a single chip.
US08890965B2
A system and method for efficiently transferring data from an electronic camera device includes a camera device that is configured to capture image data and temporarily store the image data into an economical limited local buffer memory. A transfer manager from the camera device may then periodically arbitrate for access to a wireless communications network, and may transfer the captured image data from the buffer memory to a designated data destination, such as an image service on a distributed computer network like the Internet. A system user may then efficiently access the transferred image data from a dedicated storage location on the data destination by utilizing any appropriate data-access device, such as a personal computer device or a portable electronic device.
US08890961B2
An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.
US08890951B2
A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle utilizing analysis of an image generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the image, identifying through patch-based clear path detection analysis of the image a first patch within the image that indicates a not clear path, analyzing the first patch through patch smoothing, invalidating the first patch based upon the analyzing the first patch through patch smoothing, utilizing the invalidated first patch to define a clear path of travel for the vehicle, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle.
US08890944B1
A firearms pulverizer system is disclosed which comprises a pulverizer unit having an inlet chute, a cutting chamber, and an outlet, a first image capturing device positioned above the inlet chute for capturing an image of an identification number associated with a firearm, and a second image capturing device positioned above the cutting chamber for recording destruction of the firearm inserted into the cutting chamber.
US08890943B2
The present disclosure relates to a three-dimensional image system. The present disclosure suggests a three dimensional image system comprising: a display device configured to suggest a left image and a right image alternately; a liquid crystal shutter having a liquid crystal layer and configured to switch between a λ/2 phase retardation state and a 0 phase retardation state; polarized glasses including a right glass window having a first polarization axis and a left glass window having a second polarization axis. According to the present disclosure, the left image and the right image can be exactly recognized by the left eye and the right eye, respectively, without any cross-talk problem.
US08890941B2
Systems and methods for viewing stereoscopic television are described. The methods generate stereoscopic views from 3D content; synchronize with external view ware (e.g., shuttered glasses) to include shutter information and viewing geometry; sequence 3D content for multiple viewers at multiple perspective views; and output to a display component for viewing.
US08890934B2
A stereoscopic image aligning apparatus (200) automatically aligns image pairs for stereoscopic viewing in a shorter amount of time than conventional apparatuses, which is applicable to image pairs captured by a single sensor camera or a variable baseline camera, without relying on camera parameters. The stereoscopic image aligning apparatus (200) includes: an image pair obtaining unit (205) obtaining an image pair including a left-eye image and a right-eye image corresponding to the left-eye image; a corresponding point detecting unit (252) detecting a corresponding point representing a set of a first point included in a first image that is one of the images of the image pair and a second point included in a second image that is the other of the images of the image pair and corresponding to the first point; a first matrix computing unit (254) computing a homography transformation matrix for transforming the first point such that a vertical parallax between the first and second points is smallest and an epipolar constraint is satisfied; a transforming unit (260) transforming the first image using the homography transformation matrix; and an output unit (210) outputting: a third image that is the transformed first image; and the second image.
US08890930B2
Multi-channel video communication system and method for processing multi-channel video communication
The present invention provides a multi-channel video communication system which includes a scalable video codec, a bit-stream truncating module, a network module and a multi-channel bit-stream truncating control module. The scalable video codec encodes a video source to generate a scalable original video bit-stream. The bit-stream truncating module is set between the scalable video codec and the network module, truncates the original video bit-stream to obtain a final video bit-stream and sends the final video bit-stream to the remote client device through the network module. The multi-channel bit-stream truncating control module is connected with the bit-stream truncating module, calculates a filter parameter for each bit-stream truncating unit in the bit-stream truncating module based on received device capabilities and network conditions of the remote client device. The present invention also provides a multi-channel video communication method in the above multi-channel video communication system.
US08890927B2
A visual telephony apparatus, system and method are provided. In one embodiment, the visual telephony method includes a method implemented using a processor, the method including the steps of: detecting at least one telephony attribute associated with a voice call directed from a voice communication device to a publicly switched telephone network number; identifying a visual content that has been preassociated with the at least one telephony attribute; initiating a request for the visual content in response to the detecting step; and receiving the visual content in response to the initiating step, the visual content being received at a display device.
US08890919B2
A display apparatus includes an illumination source that provides light across a surface area of a front panel of the display apparatus. A control system is configured to control the illumination source to increase an intensity of the light for a local region of a front panel of the display apparatus relative to an intensity of the light from the illumination source for at least an adjacent region of the front panel that is adjacent to the local region. The local region of the front panel corresponds to a location for a partial mirror at the front panel.
US08890918B2
A mobile terminal for selectively storing video call data and a video call data storing method therefore are provided. In the mobile terminal, a controller controls separation of video call data into audio and video data and storing of at least one of the audio and video data in a memory, and the memory stores at least one of the audio and video data under the control of the controller.
US08890909B2
Disclosed is a power control device, which generates PWM signals corresponding to obtained voltage signals, and which performs PWM control of power to be supplied to a load. The power control device is provided with a sampling section that performs sampling of the voltage signals, and a duty factor updating section, which updates the duty factor of the PWM signals on the basis of the sampling results. The sampling section is prevented from performing sampling during a masking period which is set as the on-period or the off-period of the PWM signals.
US08890907B2
A method of controlling an electro-optical device includes controlling a driving section such that, when an image is rewritten from a first image displayed in a first gradation to a second image including a background image portion to be displayed in the first gradation and a main image portion to be displayed in a second gradation, the same potential as a counter electrode is supplied to a pixel in the background image portion, and a potential corresponding to the second gradation is supplied to a pixel in the main image portion. The driving section is controlled such that at least one of the magnitude and application time of a voltage applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode is smaller in a pixel corresponding to an edge portion in the main image portion than in a pixel corresponding to a non-edge portion in the main image portion.
US08890905B2
A Point Spread Function (PSF) of a light source is controlled by the provision of a PSF modifier on a reflector at or near the light source. The modifier may be a gradient or spatially varying application of any of transmission holes, filters, and absorptive dots. The invention may be applied to displays (e.g., backlighting of displays), and arrangement of the modifiers may include patterns that vary according to artifacts occurring in the display. The PSF modifier may flatten, remove, or increase tails, or mitigate fringing colors or patterns. In backlight arrays, the PSF modifier may be similar for all centrally located light sources, and exhibit differences when applied to light sources near edges or other anomalies in the backlight or surrounding structure.
US08890897B2
An information processing device is disclosed. The information processing device includes an inclination detection unit configured to generate a first signal regarding inclination of the device. The information processing device also includes a display processing unit configured to, based on the first signal, generate a second signal to initiate a change in orientation of a display of content, and generate a third signal to cancel the change in orientation in response to receipt of a CANCEL command after initiation of the change.
US08890877B2
Updating firmware of a display device. The display device may include a display screen and a video interface for receiving video signals from a host system and providing the video signals for display on the display screen. The display device may include a memory that stores program instructions for controlling operation of the display device. The display device may include a serial bus interface (e.g., a USB interface), which may receive signals from a host computer for updating the program instructions in the memory. A serial bus to first protocol bridge may receive the serial bus signals from the serial bus interface and convert the serial bus signals to signals of the first protocol. A display controller may update the program instructions in the memory of the display in response to the signals of the first protocol.
US08890868B2
An apparatus generates three dimensional image data. Specifically, image data for a first image layer and image data for a second image layer is generated together with depth indication data for at least one of the first image layer and the second image layer. The two image layers may be used e.g. for dependent images, such as foreground and background images, or for independent images, such as initial and final images for a cross fade. A dependency indicator which is indicative of a dependency between the image layers is generated and included in the three dimensional data. A rendering device may receive the three dimensional data and generate images for a three dimensional representation based on the data. The three dimensional processing is adapted in dependence on the dependency indicator. For example, interlayer de-occlusion processing may only be performed if the dependency indicator is indicative of dependent image layers.
US08890867B2
A complicated CAD model may include thousands or tens of thousands of parts, each comprising dozens or hundreds of individual features. To reduce memory requirements and regeneration times, the present disclosure features systems and methods for dynamically loading portions of a computer-aided design model on demand. In one embodiment, a CAD application may progressively load portions of a CAD model as needed by a user for a particular design task. This reduces both memory and processing requirements, and creates the potential for a executing a CAD application with access to a complete CAD model on devices with limited resources, such as a laptop, a tablet computer, a smartphone, or any other system.
US08890863B1
A method and system for applying photo texture to geolocated 3D models operates within a 3D modeling system. The modeling system includes a modeling application operating on a workstation and a database of geotagged imagery. A 3D model created or edited within the 3D modeling system is geolocated such that every point in the 3D modeling space corresponds to a real world location. For a selected surface, the method and system search the database of imagery to identify in the database one or more images depicting the selected surface of the 3D model. The method and system identify the boundaries of the selected surface within the image by transforming two or more sets of coordinates from the 3D modeling space to a coordinate space corresponding to the image. The portion of the image corresponding to the selected surface is copied and mapped to the selected surface of the 3D model.
US08890861B2
In an electrophoretic display apparatus, a first substrate includes a plurality of pixels each including at least two sub-pixels which display colors different from each other, and a second substrate which faces the first substrate and includes a reference electrode corresponding to a boundary between adjacent sub-pixels in each pixel. An electrophoretic material is between the first substrate and the second substrate. A barrier wall is between the first substrate and the second substrate, and defines the pixels.
US08890858B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus, including, a pixel array section including a plurality of pixels disposed in rows and columns, and a number of power supply lines and scanning lines equal to the number of the rows of the pixels, each of the power supply lines being wired commonly to those of the pixels which are juxtaposed in a direction of a row.
US08890854B2
A method for calibrating a touch sensor panel including a plurality of touch electrodes is provided. The method includes determining, for each of the plurality of touch electrodes, a contribution in terms of capacitance to a total capacitance of the touch sensor panel; and allocating a fraction of a fixed period of time for measuring a capacitance of each of the plurality of electrodes based on the electrode's contribution to the total capacitance.
US08890853B2
A video display is provided with a planar piezoelectric transmitter to transmit ultrasound signals, and a display panel including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel has a data interface to accept a video signal with a variable voltage associated with a range of light intensity values, and to supply a touch signal with a variable voltage derived from a range of reflected ultrasound signal energies. Each pixel is made up of a light device to supply light with an intensity responsive to the video signal voltage, and a storage capacitor to maintain a video signal voltage between refresh cycles. A piezoelectric transducer accepts a reflected ultrasound signal energy and maintains a touch signal voltage between refresh cycles. In one aspect, the storage capacitor and the piezoelectric transducer are the same device. The light device may be a liquid crystal (LC) layer or a light emitting diode.
US08890852B2
A touch input system includes a substrate configured to support propagation of acoustic signals, a transducer in communication with the substrate and configured to transmit or receive the acoustic signals before or after the propagation, and an array of reflectors disposed on the substrate. Each reflector is oriented on an angle to redirect the acoustic signals along a path toward or away from the transducer. The transducer includes a stepped interface for the redirected acoustic signals. The stepped interface includes a set of interface elements distributed across a width of the acoustic signals and offset from one another along the path to compensate for the angle of the reflectors.
US08890849B2
Touch sensitivity is enabled using a touch system that comprises a panel configured to conduct signals, e.g. by TIR, from a plurality of incoupling points to a plurality of outcoupling points, thereby defining detection lines across a touch surface between pairs of incoupling and outcoupling points. A signal processor operates in a repeating sequence of iterations to: calculate change values for the detection lines representative of signal changes between the current and a previous iteration, and operate a reconstruction algorithm on the change values to determine a differential interaction pattern across the touch surface. The signal processor also operates to update a tracking pattern as a function of the differential interaction pattern, and generate a current offset pattern based on the tracking pattern. The offset pattern is generated to represent current touch interaction on the touch surface and is supplied for identification of touches on the surface portion.
US08890839B2
A capacitive proximity switch having a display panel including a translucent region. A first circuit board is translucent to light at least in the region of the translucent region of the display panel and supports capacitance-forming sensor layers. Light wells enclose the sensor layers on the side facing away from the observer, and protrude from the first circuit board to a second circuit board parallel to the first circuit board. Light sources are disposed within the light wells. A contact element leads from the first circuit board to the second circuit board. Optical fibers are applied on the first circuit board in the region of the translucent region. The first circuit board is encapsulated by an opaque plastic functional carrier. An opaque decorative layer covers the observer side of the optical fibers and the functional carrier, and includes characters and/or symbols in the region of the translucent region.
US08890836B2
A detection device includes a sensor unit in which a plurality of detection electrodes is positioned in a detection surface, a selection unit that selects one of the plurality of detection electrodes or a plurality of detection electrodes, an oscillation unit in which an oscillation frequency is determined by a capacitance generated in the one or plurality of detection electrodes selected by the selection unit, a conversion unit that outputs a signal corresponding to the frequency of a signal from the oscillation unit, and a switch unit that performs electrical connection/disconnection between a wiring for connecting the oscillation unit and the selection unit and a constant voltage line.
US08890835B2
An input apparatus includes: a transparent substrate with which an object is brought into contact; a rectangular single sheet electrode formed on the transparent substrate; first detection means which inputs a measurement signal to the rectangular single sheet electrode from one of two opposing perimeter portions along a first direction, and takes out the measurement signal from another one of the two opposing perimeter portions, to detect a contact point of the contacting object along the first direction; and second detection means which, after the contact point in the first direction is detected, inputs a measurement signal to the rectangular single sheet electrode from one of two opposing perimeter portions along a second direction, and takes out the measurement signal from another one of the two opposing perimeter portions, to detect the contact point along the second direction.
US08890830B2
A display device-integrated touch screen panel including an upper substrate and a lower substrate having a display region and a non-display region outside of the display region and including a first non-display region and a second non-display region at an outer side of the first non-display region, a plurality of sensing patterns on the upper substrate in the display region, a plurality of sensing lines located on the upper substrate in the non-display region, and coupled to the sensing patterns, a first guard ring pattern adjacent an edge of the first non-display region and surrounding the plurality of sensing lines, a sealing material between the upper substrate and the lower substrate in the non-display region, and a second guard ring pattern overlapping the sealing material in the non-display region, the second guard ring pattern being electrically coupled to the first guard ring pattern and including a transparent conductive material.
US08890826B2
A position detection sensor unit is provided, including: a sensor substrate on which conductors for detecting a position pointed to by a pointer are disposed; and a position pointing operation member having a first face, on which a position is to be pointed to by the pointer, and a second face on the opposite side of the first face on which the sensor substrate is fixed. A flexible cable is extended from the sensor substrate so as to be connected to a signal processing circuit for determining a position pointed to by the pointer. A portion of the flexible cable, corresponding to a predetermined length extending from an end edge of the position pointing operation member toward the interior of the position pointing operation member along the direction in which the flexible cable extends, is arranged to be movable away from the second face of the position pointing operation member.
US08890818B2
In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for controlling display operations is provided, comprising: detecting presence of an object in close proximity to an input surface, detecting at least one information item associated with the object, detecting distance information on the distance of the object to the input surface, and controlling selection of additional information associated with the at least one information item for display on the basis of the distance information.
US08890817B2
Centralized processing of touch information obtained by multiple touch sensing controllers connected to a touch sensing surface is provided. Each touch controller can obtain touch information of sense signals from different sense lines of the touch sensing surface and can store the touch information in a corresponding memory of the controller. The touch information of one or more of the touch sensing controllers can be transmitted as results data to a processor that processes all of the touch information. In some cases, prior to transfer of the results data, a determination of the validity of a sense channel can be made, and invalid channels can be excluded from the transfer.
US08890816B2
An input system for an electronic device including a main body includes an input device installed outside of the main body, comprising a plurality of input units denoted by a plurality of corresponding input symbols, a control device installed outside of the main body for pressing at least one of the plurality of input units for generating an indication signal, a camera for taking an image of the control device pressing the input unit, the image including the indication signal, and an image processing unit installed in the main body and coupled to the camera, for recognizing the pressed input unit according to a location of the indication signal in the image and generating input data corresponding to an input symbol denoting the pressed input unit.
US08890799B2
A display has a screen which incorporates a light modulator. The screen may be a front projection screen or a rear-projection screen. The screen is illuminated with light from a light source comprising an array of controllable light-emitters. The controllable-emitters and elements of the light modulator may be controlled to adjust the intensity of light emanating from corresponding areas on the screen. The display may provide a high dynamic range.
US08890798B2
Embodiments are provided herein which may be utilized to eliminate stray light emissions from an LED while ambient light is being sensed. As such, dynamic backlight control systems for use with an electronic display are presented including: an ambient light sensor for sensing ambient light intensity; a backlight for illuminating the electronic display; a switch for controlling the backlight, the switch configured to set a backlight condition to ON or OFF in response to a backlight-off frequency such that the ambient light sensor senses the ambient light intensity in the absence of the backlight; a logic module for determining a backlight level in response to the ambient light intensity; and a backlight control circuit for adjusting the backlight to the backlight level in response to the ambient light intensity.
US08890794B2
A method of compensating for pixel data includes extending a side portion and a corner portion of a real screen to set an virtual screen, setting dimming values of the virtual screen using dimming values of the real screen, calculating an amount of light of each of pixels on the real screen using the dimming values of the virtual screen mapped to a predetermined analysis area, and multiplying the amount of light of each pixel by a gain of each pixel to modulate pixel data.
US08890787B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus includes: multiple differential amplifier stages each of which is operable to generate, according to a bias current and an input voltage, an output voltage having a magnitude and a slew rate that correspond respectively to the input voltage and a magnitude of the bias current, and serving as a data voltage of a corresponding pixel unit of an LCD panel; multiple current sources controllable to generate and provide a plurality of the bias currents to the differential amplifier stages, respectively; and a bias voltage generating unit connected electrically to the current sources in a current mirror configuration for generating an input bias current and controlling the current sources to generate the bias currents according to a latch pulse signal. The slew rate of the output voltage corresponds to a logic state of the input bias current.
US08890783B2
A liquid crystal display having photo-sensing input mechanism includes a first gate line for transmitting a first gate signal, a second gate line for transmitting a second gate signal, a data line for transmitting a data signal, a pixel unit for outputting an image signal according to the first gate signal and the data signal, a readout line for transmitting a readout signal, a photo-sensing input unit and a driving adjustment unit. The photo-sensing input unit is utilized for generating a sensing voltage according to a driving voltage and an incident light signal, and is further utilized for outputting the readout signal according to the sensing voltage and the first gate signal. The driving adjustment unit is employed to provide the driving voltage according to the second gate signal and the incident light signal.
US08890781B2
Objects are to provide a display device the power consumption of which is reduced, to provide a self-luminous display device the power consumption of which is reduced and which is capable of long-term use in a dark place. A circuit is formed using a thin film transistor in which a highly-purified oxide semiconductor is used and a pixel can keep a certain state (a state in which a video signal has been written). As a result, even in the case of displaying a still image, stable operation is easily performed. In addition, an operation interval of a driver circuit can be extended, which results in a reduction in power consumption of a display device. Moreover, a light-storing material is used in a pixel portion of a self-luminous display device to store light, whereby the display device can be used in a dark place for a long time.
US08890777B2
An organic light emitting display capable of compensating for threshold voltage variations of a driving transistor may include scan and data drivers, pixels, an initial power source unit, a switching unit, a compensating unit, and a timing controller. The scan and data drivers may control current that flows from a first to a second power source via an OLED. The switching unit may selectively couple the initial power source unit to the data driver. The compensating unit may store second data corresponding to a threshold voltage of a driving transistor and may transmit the stored second data to the data driver. The timing controller may transmit the externally supplied first data input to the data driver and may control the scan driver, the data driver, and the compensating unit. The data driver may generate and supply third data signals to the pixels using the first and the second data.
US08890775B2
An information display apparatus includes a fan face that is openly/closably bent like bellows, the fan face comprising a thin film flat display formed on a flexible and bendy thin film, the thin film flat display comprising a full color organic EL display capable of displaying a full color television image, a pair of main ribs joined to respective ends of the fan face, the fan face being disposed between the main ribs, a plurality of intermediate ribs interposed between the main ribs, the fan face being joined to the intermediate ribs, and a pivot for turnably fixing the main ribs and the intermediate ribs in a root portion. A television receiver circuit is disposed in one of the main ribs.
US08890769B2
According to an aspect, a display system includes a first display unit, a second display unit, an operating unit, and a control unit. The second display unit is provided with a first icon arranged thereon. The operating unit detects an operation. When an operation of moving the first icon to a first area on the second display unit is detected by the operating unit, the control unit displays a first image associated with the first icon on the first display unit and in a second area on the second display unit.
US08890765B1
An antenna having an active radome for beam steering and/or nulling in accordance with several embodiments can include at least one omni-directional radiating element, a radome surrounding the radiating element, and a network of conductive segments that can be placed between the radome and radiating element. A plurality of switches can interconnect the conductive segments to form the network. The switches can be FET, MOSFET and optical switches, and can be selectively closed when the element radiates or receives RF energy to selectively establish connectivity between the conductive segments, which can achieve a selective Yagi-like effect for the antenna. The conductive segments network can have any geometric profile when viewed in top plan, such as octagonal, square and the like, provided the segments surround the radiating element. A processor can be used to provide a control algorithm, which can contain non-transitory written directions that selectively activate and deactivate the switches.
US08890757B1
An antenna system for satellite communication, mounted on a moving platform, includes an antenna assembly, a control and display unit, and an antenna steering unit. The antenna assembly includes mounted on an antenna mast. The antenna steering unit includes a support housing, a rotary joint comprising a BNC connector, an electronic magnetic compass. an angular velocity-sensing gyroscope, a global positioning system receiver, a signal processor and a motor. The direction of the antenna's azimuth axis is determined based on the heading of the moving platform determined by the signal processor. In one embodiment, the director elements, the antenna mast and the azimuth mast are all articulated on flexible joints comprising a cable and spring mechanism allowing the director elements to fold toward the antenna mast and allowing the antenna assembly to fold toward the azimuth mast for stowing.
US08890745B2
A method of detecting an object includes receiving first reflected radio frequency (RF) signals from a region using an antenna and generating a first backscattering signature of the region from the first reflected RF signals. The method further includes receiving second reflected RF signals from the region subsequent to receiving the first reflected RF signals and generating at least one second backscattering signature of the region from the second reflected RF signals. The method further includes detecting a difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature, and providing a warning indication in response to the difference between the first backscattering signature and the second backscattering signature.
US08890729B2
A time interleaving Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) comprises a plurality of ADCs; a timing generator that generates a dock signal for each of the plurality of ADCs such that edges of said clock signals trigger sampling of an input signal by the plurality of ADCs; and a timing adjustment circuit to receive and adjust the dock signals before the dock signals are received by the ADCs such that samplings of said input signal are spaced in time and occur at a rate of 1/N times a desired sampling rate; and a random number generator to pseudo randomly select which ADC samples the input signal; and a circuit for adjusting the bandwidth of the plurality of ADCs.
US08890724B2
The present disclosure discloses a method and device for identifying or converting data_coding, and a method and system for processing data_coding. By finding out a source data_coding adopted by information sent by a source account in communication protocols specified in the area to which it belongs and a target data_coding accepted and adopted by a target account based on preset data_coding information of a first account group and code conversion information of a second account group, the data_coding adopted by the sent information and the data_coding desired by the target account can be accurately determined, and a code conversion error is avoided. In addition, by pre-configuring code conversion information of each account and subsequently finding out the actually adopted data_coding based on finding mechanism, not only is the finding result accurate, but also the system is convenient to be extended and flexible to be configured.
US08890720B2
A light guide is provided for illuminating innumerable constructions, but which is ideally suited for illuminating the keys of a keyboard. The light guide includes a translucent planar plate having a top, a bottom and sides. Further, the light guide includes one or more cavities which project upwardly into the translucent plate from its bottom surface. The cavities are hollow or filled with a translucent material so that the translucent plate and the one or more cavities form translucent interfaces where the cavities interface with the plate. The light guide also includes a reflector which covers the plate bottom and cavity openings.
US08890702B2
Defibrillators, software and methods are provided, for transmitting inaudible audio information to one or more external personal sound devices. The audio information may encode an audible indication, which can thus be played by an external personal sound device to a user such as a rescuer.
US08890696B2
A fire detector includes a sensor (4) for, in use, detecting electromagnetic radiation emitted by a flame and generating an electronic signal corresponding to the detected electromagnetic radiation. The detector further includes a processing device (2) configured to select a portion of the electronic signal corresponding to a first time period and compare the selected signal portion with at least one parameter to determine an initial presence or absence of a flame, the processing device being further configured, upon determining the initial presence of the flame, to select a further portion of the electronic signal corresponding to a further time period and comparing the further selected signal portion with at least one parameter to determine a definite presence or absence of the flame.
US08890693B2
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for deactivating EAS markers. The device utilizes deactivating magnetic fields created by energizing electrical coils to deactivate electronic article surveillance markers. It consists of housing having an internal structure holding an electrical coil arrangement. The coil arrangement comprises two electrical coils that are arranged essentially coplanar, arranged side-by-side. A third electrical coil is arranged such that each of its windings wraps around both the first and said second electrical coils. Current flowing through the coils generates a composite deactivating magnetic field above the housing. This deactivating magnetic field allows deactivation of a tag swept in any orientation, and does not require the tag to come into physical contact with the deactivating device. Flush mounting conserves space, allowing for ease of merchandise movement over the counter. A distinctive sound indicates the presence and deactivation of the label.
US08890690B2
A system for protecting articles, especially displayed goods, from theft is typically configured to produce information about the article when a person is detected approaching the article or the article is moved but not taken. The system typically includes an alarm which may be sounded if the article is moved too far from the display position or under other conditions.
US08890689B2
Various embodiments of the invention may be directed to a security device comprising a housing, a rotatable assembly, a locking assembly, and a cable. The rotatable assembly may include a plurality of locking teeth, a spool, and an engagement portion configured to facilitate rotation the rotatable assembly. The locking assembly may include biasing elements configured to apply a biasing force so that the locking assembly and the rotatable assembly may be configured in a locked position. Further, the locking assembly may include magnetically attractive elements configured to counteract the biasing force when a specifically configured key is applied to the housing of the security device. The security device may further include a security element, an alarm, and other components.
US08890688B2
A cellular modem may give notice of changes in modes. The modem will change modes as a result of the breaking of a trip wire or the closing of contacts that are normally open or the opening of contacts that are normally closed or sensing motion or light, or sensing variations in resistance. One contact is provided to wake the unit from “sleep” and the other is provided to detect intrusion, motion, etc. Light detectors can detect light, such as when a closed container is opened. Closed contacts can be used in parallel to change any mode or open/closed contacts in parallel/series. The modem can be used to apprehend people breaking into or stealing luggage, equipment, boxes, etc. The present invention informs the user when the object being monitored is being moved or opened and can track the object's location.
US08890687B2
A method of detecting an abnormal environmental operating condition of an element embedded in an apparatus. The element is able to communicate with a telecommunications network. The method includes cyclically measuring at least one environmental operating parameter of the element, detecting that the element is operating for an excessive duration in at least one reference operating span and transmitting an alert message to the telecommunications network if the element has operated for an excessive duration in the reference operating span.
US08890678B2
A plug-and-play sensor peripheral component includes an electrically conductive physical connector; an electrical connector; a transformer; and an RF communication and data storage circuit. The electrical connector is electrically connected to the physical connector by a first conductive path. The transformer is electrically connected to the RF communication and data storage circuit. The transformer and the RF communication and data storage circuit are electrically isolated from the physical connector and the electrical connector. Electrically connecting the physical connector to the electrical connector by other than the first conductive path inductively couples the RF communication and data storage circuit to the first conductive path.
US08890675B2
An approach for site prioritization and then a review and prioritization of the alarms at the site. A feature may to first find the site most in need of attention and then check the alarms of that site. A rule algorithm may determine a prioritization of site according to primitive rules which can be customized and modified nearly at any time making site priority a dynamic determination. At the site, the alarms may be ordered by criticality.
US08890673B2
A system and method for detecting use of a wireless device is disclosed. In one embodiment, wireless device activity data is received from a wireless network. User account data is searched using selected parameters from the wireless device activity data to identify one or more subscribers that are or were using a wireless device. One or more subscriber vehicles or vehicle monitoring systems associated with each of the one or more subscribers are identified. Vehicle operation data from one or more vehicle monitoring systems is received. The vehicle operation data is used to determine whether any of the one or more subscriber vehicles were moving during use of an associated wireless device.
US08890672B2
A machine tooth for heavy equipment can be monitored by coupling an RFID tag to the heavy machine tooth and positioning an RFID reader to read the RFID tag. The RFID reader provides an indication that the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine. The heavy machine tooth is configured, for example, to be mounted on a bucket of a heavy machine.
US08890659B2
The method includes: a reader begins to count the tags, and waits for feedback of the tags; the tags are split into two subsets if the tags feedback the collision, the tags of one of the subsets feedback, the tags of the other subset begin to feedback when the tags of one of the subsets complete the count; when the collision occurs in the course of feedback, then the split continues until all the tags are completed the count; the tags of many branches are at least once split simultaneously when the tags of the subsets are split.
US08890657B2
A method of transmitting radiofrequency identification (RFID) interrogation signals is disclosed. The method comprises detecting a first movement of a user in a first direction, determining a command from the first movement, and transmitting a RFID interrogation signal in response to the command.
US08890648B2
A connecting element for a secondary battery is installed along a path of current flowing through a secondary battery to electrically connect components and includes a first metal plate having a first protrusion formed to protrude at one side end thereof from the center portion with respect to a direction along the thickness of the first metal plate, a second metal plate located spaced apart from the first metal plate with a gap being formed therebetween and having a second protrusion formed to protrude at one side end thereof from the center portion with respect to a direction along the thickness of the second metal plate and configured to face the first protrusion, and an alloy bridge made of alloy material having a melting point lower than those of the first metal plate and the second metal plate and formed to fill the gap.
US08890640B2
Exemplary embodiments relate to a drive for a switch disconnector having C or O switching capacity and a switching pin acting as switching contact. A spindle drive is driven by an electric motor and has a spindle nut. An actuating element, which is loaded by a compression spring and is capable of pivoting about a fixed pivot point, is acted upon by the spindle nut. The actuating element for its part interacts with an actuating apparatus which actuates the switching pin.
US08890634B2
A modulator generates a baseband digital signal from an information-bearing digital signal. The baseband signal has time-varying phase and amplitude defined by a sequence of complex data words, each having an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component. A noise-shaping modulator generates a noise-shaped digital signal from the baseband digital signal such that quantization noise in the noise-shaping modulator is attenuated by a spectral null of its noise transfer function. The spectral null is selected by a noise-shaping parameter corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of output frequencies. A signal converter generates an analog signal conveying the information of the information-bearing digital signal on an analog carrier signal having the selected output frequency.
US08890632B2
This invention is directed to achieve the oscillator circuit with a shorter oscillation stabilizing period and a lower consumption of the electric current. The oscillator circuit 10 has the amplifier circuit (inverter circuit 11), and the clock signal CLK is outputted from the output terminal of the inverter circuit 11. The inverter circuit 11 is configured from the first inverter 12 and the second inverter 13. The inverter circuit 11 is connected to the control circuit 30 and the control signal Ctrl controls the driving capacity of the inverter circuit 11. For example, high level control signals Ctrl 1 (H) and Ctrl 2 (H) are supplied to the first and the second inverters 12, 13 for a certain period of time right after the oscillator circuit 10 starts its operation until the oscillation is stabilized, operating both inverters. Then, either the first inverter 12 or the second inverter 13 continues its operation and the other inverter stops the operation.
US08890629B2
An oscillator circuit with a comparator is provided, wherein the comparator has a supply input. A supply circuit supplies the comparator with a first current during a first section of an oscillator period of the oscillator circuit and with a second current greater than the first current during a second, different section of the oscillator period.
US08890626B2
One or more techniques and systems for a divider-less phase locked loop (PLL) and associated phase detector (PD) are provided herein. In some embodiments, a pulse phase detector (pulsePD) signal, a voltage controlled oscillator positive differential (VCOP) signal, and a voltage controlled oscillator negative differential (VCON) signal are received. An up signal and a down signal for a first charge pump (CP) and an up signal and a down signal for a second CP are generated based on the pulsePD signal, the VCOP signal, and the VCON signal. For example, CP signals are generated to control the first CP and the second CP, respectively. In some embodiments, CP signals are generated such that the CPs facilitate adjustment of a zero crossing phase of the VCON and VCOP signals with respect to the pulsePD signal. In this manner, a divider-less PLL is provided, thus mitigating PLL power consumption.
US08890613B2
A signal amplification circuit includes a differential amplifier configured to receive a first signal and a second signal and generate an output signal, a differential amplifier configured to receive first and second signals and generate an output signal; and a controller configured to control an amount of current flowing in the differential amplifier using the output signal.
US08890609B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for providing band-limited power amplifier linearization. In one embodiment, a system includes a power amplifier configured to amplify a power amplifier input signal to provide a power amplifier output signal and a digital predistortion system configured to compensate for up to a predefined maximum order of non-linearity of the power amplifier. The digital predistortion system includes a band-limited adaptation subsystem. As compared to conventional adaptation subsystems, the band-limited adaptation subsystem is significantly less complex and consumes less power.
US08890606B2
A voltage switching circuitry comprises a switching arrangement with a given number N of switches in series between a first terminal receiving a first voltage and a second terminal receiving a second voltage. The first voltage level is higher than the second voltage level, and N is at least equal to 2. A voltage-by-N divider, having N−1 output taps, is arranged to divide the first voltage by N to a scaled down version of the first voltage having a voltage level below voltage max ratings of the switches. The N−1 output taps of the divider are arranged to respectively output N−1 third voltages having respective levels staged below the first voltage level. N−1 max voltage generators generate N−1 fourth voltages, respectively equal to the maximum of the second voltage and of each of the N−1 third voltages. A switch control unit generates N control signals using the N−1 fourth voltages. These N control signals have respective voltage levels staged between the first voltage level and the second voltage level. In addition, each of the N control signals controls one of the switches of the switching arrangement, respectively.
US08890604B2
A bipolar output charge pump circuit 100 having a network of switching paths 110 for selectively connecting an input node (VV) and a reference node (VG) for connection to an input voltage, a first pair of output nodes (VP, VN) and a second pair of output nodes (VQ, VM), and two pairs of flying capacitor nodes (CF1A, CF1 B; CF2A, CF2B), and a controller for controlling the switching of the network of switching paths. The controller is operable to control the network of switching paths when in use with two flying capacitors (CF1, CF2) connected to the two pairs of flying capacitor nodes, to provide a first bipolar output voltage at the first pair of output nodes (VP, VN) and a second bipolar output voltage at the second pair of bipolar output nodes (VQ, VM).
US08890603B2
An output circuit includes a current source and a first MOS transistor coupled in series between a power supply terminal and an output terminal. The first MOS transistor includes a backgate coupled to a drain of the second MOS transistor. The second MOS transistor includes a source coupled to a source of a third MOS transistor. The second MOS transistor includes a source coupled to backgates of the second and third MOS transistors. The backgates of the second and third MOS transistors are in a floating condition.
US08890594B1
A system for synchronizing a functional reset between first and second clock domains that operate on first and second clock signals, respectively. The system includes first, second and third synchronizer flip-flops that operate on the second clock signal. The first synchronizer flip-flop receives a functional reset signal generated by the first clock domain at its reset terminal and generates a low output signal. The low output signal causes the second synchronizer flip-flop and subsequently the third synchronizer flip-flop to generate low output signals at positive edges of the second clock signal. The low output signal generated by the third synchronizer flip-flop is used to reset the second clock domain.
US08890590B1
A wideband frequency synthesizer and a frequency synthesizing method thereof are provided. The wideband frequency synthesizer includes a phase-locked loop unit, a first voltage-controlled oscillating unit and a first frequency mixer unit. The phase-locked loop unit receives a reference signal and a feedback signal and generates a first oscillating signal according to the reference signal and the feedback signal. The first voltage-controlled oscillating unit generates a second oscillating signal. The first frequency mixer is coupled to the phase-locked loop unit and the first voltage-controlled oscillating unit, receives the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal for mixing frequencies of the first oscillating signal and the second oscillating signal to generate an output signal and taking the output signal as the feedback signal for outputting to the phase-locked loop unit.
US08890584B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a frequency division circuit that divides a frequency of a first clock signal to generate a second clock signal; a first logic circuit that receives a first chip select signal and the second clock signal to generate a second chip select signal; and a command generation circuit that is activated based on the second chip select signal, and generates a second command signal based on a first command signal.
US08890561B2
A semiconductor device includes a base film, a semiconductor chip mounted on the base film, and a plurality of leads formed on the base film, each of the leads including one end coupled to the semiconductor chip and another end being opposite to the one end. The another end of a first one of the leads and the another end of a second one of the leads are located at different positions respectively between the semiconductor chip and a cut line along which the base film is cut.
US08890559B2
[Problems] In a connector to which unbalanced-type lines are connected, providing a connector which prevents crosstalk in the connector and an interface apparatus including the connector.[Solutions] Comprising terminals to be connected with connectors, a plurality of boards having a plurality of transmission lines, one ends of the transmission lines being connected with the terminals, a housing for fixing the plurality of boards, and common mode choke coils provided on the boards and connected with balanced-type lines.
US08890555B2
An object is to provide a measuring method with high reproducibility in a bias-temperature stress test of a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer. Provided is a measuring method of a transistor, which includes the steps of disposing a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used for a semiconductor layer in a measurement room having a light-blocking property, introducing dry air, nitrogen, or argon into the measurement room, and applying a predetermined voltage to a gate electrode of the transistor in the measurement room kept under an atmosphere where the dew point is greater than or equal to −110° C. and less than or equal to −60° C., whereby the amount of change in threshold voltage over time is measured.
US08890547B2
A capacitive sensor may include a transmit electrode and a receive electrode capacitively coupled with the transmit electrode. A capacitance sensing circuit senses a capacitance between the transmit and receive electrodes by applying a signal to the transmit electrode and rectifying a signal induced at the receive electrode. A compensation circuit reduces the effect of a mutual and parasitic capacitances of the transmit and receive electrode pair by adding a compensation signal to the rectified signal.
US08890541B2
An apparatus and method for calibrating a multi-component induction logging tool. The method may include orienting a Z-transmitter coil to be substantially orthogonal to at least one Z-receiver coil, positioning an X-transmitter coil disposed on the logging tool so that the X-transmitter coil is substantially parallel to a conducting surface; encompassing the Z-transmitter coil, the X-transmitter coil, and at least one Z-receiver coil of the logging tool with at least one conducting loop of a calibrator; and calibrating the logging tool using the calibrator. The apparatus may include a calibrator configured to receive the logging tool. The Z-transmitter coil and the Z-receiver coil may be located on separate subs that are detachable from one another.
US08890539B2
A method for testing a mask article includes steps of electrically connecting the mask article to an electrical sensor, applying a bias voltage to a plurality of testing sites of the mask article with a conductor, measuring at least one current distribution of the testing sites with the electrical sensor, and determining the quality of the mask article by taking the at least one current distribution into consideration.
US08890538B2
A system includes a sensor housing having a base portion, a lid portion, and a joining portion. The joining portion is configured to be wrapped around at least a portion of an electrical wire. The lid portion includes one end detachably coupled to a first end of the base portion and another end coupled to a second end of the base portion via the joining portion. A flexible coil sensor is disposed in the sensor housing; bonded substantially along the base portion and the joining portion and configured to generate a signal representative of a fault in the electrical wire. A processing device is disposed in the sensor housing and configured to detect and locate a fault in the electrical wire in response to the signal representative of the fault in the electrical wire generated by the flexible coil sensor.
US08890528B2
A RF power transmitter (100) includes an RF synthesizer (104) that generates an analog RF signal based on a digital description of the desired RF waveform and digital feedback signals and a power module (116) that amplifies the analog RF signal and provides the amplified analog RF signal (122) to a load (102).
US08890526B2
In a method and an apparatus for making a distinction in a magnetic resonance imaging water-fat image, three echoes are acquired without phase encoding as a reference scan, a reference water-fat image projection is calculated in the phase encoding direction using the reference scan, a complete water-fat image projection is calculated in the phase encoding direction according to a water image and a fat image obtained by a three-point Dixon method, a correlation between the reference water-fat image projection and the complete water-fat image projection is calculated to obtain at least two correlated values, and the maximum correlated value is acquired therefrom, so as to determine the type of said image calculated by using the three-point Dixon method.
US08890524B2
When generating an MR image using a multi-channel transmit coil arrangement, SAR is reduced by employing a number of different RF pulses in a single scan. Each RF pulse exhibits a different performance and/or accuracy, resulting in different RF pulse-specific SAR values. As a result, the RF pulses differ slightly in actual excitation pattern, B1 waveform and/or k-space trajectory, etc. The average SAR over a single scan is thus reduced compared to a fixed RF pulse, without compromising image quality.
US08890516B2
A tension measurement apparatus that can carry out tension measurement of superior reproducibility with high sensitivity even for a target object of a stranded wire structure is provided. A cylindrical magnetizer arranged to surround a portion of a long magnetic element that becomes the target object of measurement direct-current magnetizes the magnetic element in the longitudinal direction up to the range of approach to saturation magnetization. Using a Hall element (magnetic sensor) arranged in proximity to the magnetic element at the central region in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic domain, the spatial magnetic field intensity in the neighborhood of the surface of the magnetic element, greatly differing corresponding to stress variation, is detected. Based on the detection value, the tension acting on the magnetic element is measured. Accordingly, a measurement result of superior reproducibility with high sensitivity is obtained. The tension measurement apparatus is applicable even to a target object of a stranded wire structure.
US08890515B2
A device for detecting a rotational angle of a rotatable part, e.g., a steering wheel, includes at least one magnet, at least one sensor which detects the magnetic field of the magnet, at least one housing in which the sensor and/or the magnet is/are movably situated relative to one another, and at least one printed circuit board which is contacted in an electrically conductive manner by at least one connecting element of the sensor. The printed circuit board has at least one interface or a connector plug from which the output signal of the sensor or an output signal derived therefrom is relayed to an evaluation unit which ascertains the absolute position of the rotational angle as a function of the output signal.
US08890514B2
The disclosure relates to a magnetic position sensor including at least one permanent magnet. The disclosure also relates to a magnetic device for detecting a torque between a first shaft and a second shaft that are connected via a torsion bar. The aim of the disclosure is to provide a device for determining the multi-periodic absolute position of a magnetized unit. The subject of the disclosure is therefore a magnetic position sensor including at least the following: a magnetized unit, a first magnetosensitive probe and a second magnetosensitive probe. The second magnetosensitive probe is capable of measuring a number of complete rotations of the magnetic field in an absolute, incremental and reversible manner so as to determine a second datum relating to the position of the magnet, whether or not this second magnetosensitive probe is powered. The sensor further includes a module for calculating the absolute position of the magnet on the basis of the first and second data coming from the first and second probes respectively.
US08890503B2
A power supply has first and second reference voltage sources; a step-down voltage generator, including a transistor supplied with a first voltage, a resistor string between the transistor and a second voltage, and an op-amp which controls the transistor, and outputting the voltage at a first node among nodes in the resistor string; switches, coupled to the nodes; a comparison circuit, which compares the voltage at a common node the switches coupling in common with the second reference voltage source; and a calibration control circuit, which selects any switch according to a comparison result to calibrate. During calibration, the calibration control circuit couples a second node among the nodes to a non-inverting terminal of the op-amp, and the first reference voltage source to an inverting terminal of the op-amp, and after calibration, couples the common node to the non-inverting terminal, and the second reference voltage source to the inverting terminal.
US08890496B2
A drive controller for driving an inductive load connected to a node between first and second switches connected in series with a direct current voltage source includes a first diode, a series circuit of a second diode and an inductor, and a control circuit. The first diode is a parasitic diode of the first switch and connected in antiparallel with the first switch. The series circuit is connected in parallel with the first diode. The control circuit drives the inductor load by applying a control voltage to the first switch before applying a first ON-voltage to the second switch. The first ON-voltage turns ON the second switch. The control voltage is greater than zero and less than a second ON-voltage. The second ON-voltage turns ON the first switch. The control voltage causes the first switch to operate in weak inversion.
US08890494B2
A wide input voltage power supply circuit for a load includes a first regulation stage and a second regulation stage. The first regulation stage includes a linear regulator circuit configured to maintain a bus voltage within a predefined voltage range when an input voltage exceeds a predefined input level. A second regulation stage includes a buck converter circuit configured to regulate an average bus voltage to a predetermined load level. The second regulation stage includes an under voltage lockout configuration, with the under voltage lockout configured to set a minimum turn-on voltage for the load.
US08890490B2
A power distributor includes a large reservoir capacitor, a switch coupled between at least one power supply line and the large reservoir capacitor, and a controller configured to turn on or off the switch based on whether a circuit block connected to the power supply line is in operation or not.
US08890484B2
A battery state-of-charge (SOC) estimator uses a robust H∞ filter design by taking into account the battery parameter uncertainties, which is due to battery age, variation, and operating conditions such as temperature and SOC level. Each of the time-varying battery parameter values and their variation rates are bounded. By utilizing the parameter variation bounds and parameter variation rate bounds into the design process and minimizing the H∞ gain from the measured current signal to the estimation error of Voc, the battery SOC estimator can achieve enhanced robustness to the variations of battery age, variation, and operating conditions that include temperature and SOC level.
US08890478B2
The invention is based on a rechargeable battery charging case, in particular a cordless handheld power tool case, having at least one battery attachment device and a case body. It is proposed that the rechargeable battery charging case has an electrical energy output and a supply unit, which in at least one operating state is connected to the energy output and to the battery attachment device for supplying the energy output.
US08890475B1
An apparatus for charging batteries of an electric or hybrid vehicle includes a station. The station is located at a parking lot of a business. The station is preferably connected to a telephone line, CAT 5 or other cable, Internet or Wi-Fi to accommodate communication. A computer is connected to a remote server to receive updated vehicle charging parameters. A pivoting docking boom on the station cooperatively engages with a vehicle-charging boom located on the vehicle. Electrical contact pins on the vehicle-charging boom mate with sockets on the docking boom. A centerline pin grounds the vehicle to the station. The electrical contact pins permit up to three-phase charging capability and transmission of desired data. The station monitors the charging of the batteries and reports any problems. The station performs vehicle and payment confirmation without the driver exiting the vehicle. An alternate embodiment includes the station at a residence or garage.
US08890471B2
A wireless charging device includes a casing, a carrying member, and a first coil assembly. The casing includes a receiving space, an entrance side, and a supporting part. The carrying member includes a carrying plate, a first elastic structure, and a second elastic structure. The supporting part is disposed within the receiving space. The carrying member is located over the supporting part. The first coil assembly is fixed on the carrying plate. When the entrance side of the casing is fixed on a first surface of an object, the supporting part is presses against the first elastic structure and the second elastic structure, allowing the first elastic structure and the second elastic structure to be pushed by the first surface of the object and subject to deformation. Consequently, a balanced supporting force is generated to maintain a specified distance between the first coil assembly and the first surface of the object.
US08890470B2
In the field of wireless power, to enable interoperability between chargers and receivers, it is important that the two parts of the system (the charger and receiver) can communicate in a manner that allows operation. With the proliferation of different communication schemes, a multi-protocol system that can adapt and interoperate with different communication protocols allows maximum interoperability. Described herein are systems and methods for providing such multi-protocol operation and maximum interoperability. Also described herein are methods for use of magnets in or around magnetically sensitive devices such that the operation of such a device is not impaired. Applications in various devices and systems are described. In particular, applications for fastening mobile devices to their cases or other surfaces, and also alignment or attachment for power transfer or charging are described.
US08890463B2
A direct current bus management system can include a power management and distribution unit, having a source management section, a bus management section coupled to the source management section, a load management section coupled to the bus management section, a DC bus coupled to the power management and distribution unit, a plurality of DC sources coupled to the source management section and a plurality of loads coupled to the load management section, wherein the bus management section is configured to reconfigure excess DC power on the DC bus from the DC inputs from the plurality of DC sources based on a plurality of priorities, a plurality of feedback signals and a plurality of system parameters.
US08890452B2
A control device for an electrically driven door is provided that can enhance the sensitivity of detection of a door pinch state and that can prevent a passenger from being pressed when the door pinch state occurs. The control device includes a driving force instruction value producing unit that outputs a driving force instruction value of the electrically driven door, a state observing unit that estimates a mechanical resistant force to a door driving system, a reference model that determines a dynamic characteristic of the electrically driven door to the mechanical resistant force estimated by the state observing unit, a gain compensator that computes a control compensation value that makes an output of the reference model coincide with an actual speed of the electrically driven door; and an adder that adds the control compensation value computed by the gain compensator to the driving force instruction value.
US08890437B2
A system for automatically adjusting light intensity of a lighting fixture having multiple emitters, includes a power supply for supplying at least one current source to multiple emitters, at least one first emitter capable of emitting light of a first wavelength, at least one second emitter capable of emitting light of a second wavelength and a luminous intensity adjusting circuit for adjusting light intensity of the at least one first emitter. Particularly, the luminous intensity adjusting circuit stabilizes a first current distributed from a feeding current of the at least one current source and the multiple emitters collectively emit light at a predefined variable light-intensity.
US08890425B2
The present disclosure relates to blend dimming circuits and methods for driving light loads. In one embodiment, a method can include: converting an external sinusoidal AC power supply to a phase-missing DC voltage signal; detecting a conduction angle of the phase-missing DC voltage signal to generate a first control signal representing the conduction angle; generating an analog dimming signal based on the first control signal; generating, by a PWM dimming circuit, a PWM dimming signal based on the analog dimming signal and a light load feedback signal; regulating light load brightness by PWM dimming when the conduction angle is greater than a threshold angle; regulating the light load brightness by PWM and analog dimming when the conduction angle is less than the threshold angle; and enabling a power stage circuit when the first control signal is active to regulate the brightness of the light load.
US08890422B2
A power supply circuit having at least two conversion stages wherein the first conversion stage includes input terminals for connection to an ac or dc supply, an electronic converter with constant output current characteristics and output terminals for connection to at least one second conversion stages. Each second conversion stage includes input terminals to receive a substantially constant current input from a first conversion stage, current multiplier circuit and output terminals for connection to a load. The electric converter of the first conversion stage is a high frequency resonance converter having a series parallel resonant converter with an inductance connected in series with a capacitor. The output terminals for connection to the second conversion stage are connected across the capacitor and the inductance. Circuits are particularly suitable for lighting applications, for controlling the large number of LEDs in LED display panels or in backlighting for televisions and LCD displays.
US08890420B2
A lighting device includes a first array of LEDs, a temperature sensor, memory, and a system controller. The memory may include a first duty cycle offset and first curve information that defines a relationship between temperature and a duty cycle for driving at least one LED of the first array of LEDs. The system controller will determine a temperature based on information from the temperature sensor. Based on the temperature, the system controller will determine a first pre-calibrated duty cycle that corresponds to the temperature from the first curve information and then adjust the first pre-calibrated duty cycle with the first duty cycle offset to generate a first calibrated duty cycle. The LED is then driven with a first pulse width modulated signal having the first calibrated duty cycle.
US08890413B2
In an ignition circuit for igniting a plasma fed with alternating power in a gas discharge chamber, having two line sections for connection to an alternating power source and at least one line section for connection to a housing earth of the gas discharge chamber, at least one series connection of a non-linear element and an energy store is connected between the line sections for connection to an alternating power source, and the line section for connection to a housing earth of the gas discharge chamber is connected to a connection node between an energy store and a non-linear element.
US08890412B2
An electrode tile configuration is disclosed. The tile has contoured edges dimensioned to control any coupling effects. A plurality of tiles in a matrix configuration is also described.
US08890403B2
The present invention provides a technology that allows reducing the used amount of a Mn4+-activated fluoride complex phosphor without loss of luminous efficiency, in a white light-emitting device that is provided with the Mn4+-activated fluoride complex phosphor and an LED element that is an excitation source of the phosphor.The present invention provides a white light-emitting device comprises a blue LED element, as well as a yellow phosphor and/or a green phosphor and a red phosphor as phosphors that are excited by the blue LED element. The red phosphor contains a Mn4+-activated fluoride complex phosphor and a Eu2+-activated alkaline earth silicon nitride phosphor.
US08890397B2
A corona igniter (20) includes a metal shell (32) with a corona reducing lip (38) spaced from an insulator (26) and being free of sharp edges (40) to prevent arcing (42) in a rollover region and concentrate the electrical field at an electrode firing end (48). The corona reducing lip (38) includes lip outer surfaces (88) being round, convex, concave, or curving continuously with smooth transitions (90) therebetween. The corona reducing lip (38) includes lip outer surfaces (88) presenting spherical lip radii (r1) being at least 0.004 inches. The corona igniter (20) also includes shell inner surfaces (104) and insulator outer surfaces (75) facing one another being free of sharp edges (40).
US08890392B2
A piezoelectric actuator that includes a fixed electrode in a base substrate, a dielectric layer on the surface of the base substrate, a lower electrode that is at least partially separated from the base substrate, a piezoelectric layer on the surface of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode on the side of the surface of the piezoelectric layer. At least a portion of the upper electrode or the lower electrode serves as a movable electrode, which can be moved by distortion of the piezoelectric layer caused by application of a piezoelectric drive voltage.
US08890387B2
An armature core of a stator has an annular portion and a plurality of teeth extending radially from the annular portion. A segment coil is configured by electrically connecting a plurality of segment conductors together. The segment conductors extend axially through slots S, each of which is defined between each adjacent pair of the teeth. Each of the teeth has a width adjustment portion for decreasing a slot width in a direction perpendicular to a radial direction in the radially inward direction.
US08890372B2
Some embodiments include an electrical system. In many embodiments, the electrical system can include a power input. In the same or different embodiments, the electrical system can include at least one power output configured to be electrically coupled to at least one load. In the same or different embodiments, the electrical system can include a first user input device configured to provide a start up input. In the same or different embodiments, the electrical system can include a second user input device configured to provide a time select input. In the same or different embodiments, the electrical system can include an internal assembly. In many embodiments, the internal assembly can include a power switch module, a power conserve module, a power supply module, and a control module.
US08890371B2
There is provided an AC/DC two-way switch connected between an AC power source or a DC power source and a load to control a power supply to the load. The AC/DC two-way switch includes: a bi-directional semiconductor switch element having a transistor structure connected in series between a power source and the load; a rectifying unit connected in parallel between the first input terminal and a second input terminal; a power source unit for converting an output voltage from the rectifying unit into a stable voltage; and a controller for controlling an entire operation of the AC/DC two-way switch. The AC/DC two-way switch further includes a driving unit for turning on the bi-directional semiconductor switch element in response to a control signal.
US08890362B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of internal circuits, a plurality of low drop output regulators, and a power management unit. The plurality of low drop output regulators are configured to reduce a power source voltage applied from an outside and generate supply voltages which are to be supplied to the plurality of internal circuits. The power management unit is configured to change a voltage value of the power source voltage in accordance with a state of combination of voltage values of the plurality of supply voltages generated by the plurality of low drop output regulators.
US08890353B2
Hydroconveyors are described which utilize magnetic levitation or magnetic suspension to support a collection of conveyor elements. The hydroconveyors are located above or partially within a flowstream such as a river. Additional versions of the hydroconveyors are described which include velocity increasing waterways located upstream of an end of the hydroconveyor. The various hydroconveyors can be used in conjunction with electrical generators to provide electrical power.
US08890352B2
The invention provides a device for extracting energy from a liquid flow. The device has a housing with one or more entry ports through which liquid flow can enter the housing and multiple exit ports through which liquid flow can leave the housing. An air compression chamber is provided along with multiple valve members which are operable to regulate flow of the liquid through the multiple exit ports. The exit ports are arranged in an array inclined in the direction of liquid flow and the valve members are operable to close the exit ports downstream of the liquid flow consecutively as the liquid flow is incident on each exit port, which progressively diverts flow of the liquid towards the air compression chamber and compresses air in the air compression chamber, and to open the exit ports on a return flow of liquid from the air compression chamber.
US08890336B2
A cylindrical bonding structure and its method of manufacture. The cylindrical bonding structure is formed over the bonding pad of a silicon chip and the chip is flipped over to connect with a substrate board in the process of forming a flip-chip package. The cylindrical bonding structure mainly includes a conductive cylinder and a solder block. The conductive cylinder is formed over the bonding pad of the silicon chip and the solder block is attached to the upper end of the conductive cylinder. The solder block has a melting point lower than the conductive cylinder. The solder block can be configured into a cylindrical, spherical or hemispherical shape. To fabricate the cylindrical bonding structure, a patterned mask layer having a plurality of openings that correspond in position to the bonding pads on the wafer is formed over a silicon wafer. Conductive material is deposited into the openings to form conductive cylinders and finally a solder block is attached to the end of each conductive cylinder.
US08890333B2
Stacked semiconductor chips include a bonding-wire-free interconnection electrically connecting the semiconductor chips to each. An opening in an adhesion layer between the semiconductor chips may provide a path for the interconnection from a bonding pad on one semiconductor chip, along a sidewall insulation layer of the semiconductor chip, along a sidewall insulation layer of another semiconductor chip to a bonding pad on the other semiconductor chip.
US08890330B2
Provided are semiconductor packages and electronic systems including the same. A first memory chip may be stacked on a first portion of a substrate. A controller chip may be stacked on a second portion of the substrate, which is different from the first portion. At least one first bonding wire may directly connect the first memory chip with the controller chip. At least one second bonding wire may directly connect the first memory chip with the substrate, and may be electrically connected with the at least one first bonding wire.
US08890329B2
A semiconductor device entirely having a small height, which performs a fan-out operation for input/output signals and forms a short electrical path is provided. The semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor die having a first surface, a second surface opposed to the first surface, a third surface connecting the first and second surfaces to each other, a first bond pad disposed on the first surface, and a first through electrode passing between the first surface and second surface and electrically connected to the first bond pad. A first redistribution part is disposed under the second surface and includes a first redistribution layer electrically connected to the first through electrode. A second redistribution part is disposed over the first surface and includes a second redistribution layer electrically connected to the first bond pad.
US08890322B2
A semiconductor apparatus including a semiconductor substrate having a first principal surface on which an electric circuit is formed and a second principal surface opposed to the first principal surface, and a through hole that penetrates the first principal surface and the second principal surface, a multilayered wiring layer having a plurality of conductive wiring layers connected to the electric circuit and a plurality of inter-layer insulating layers having an insulating layer opening of a same size and at a same position as a through hole opening which is an opening of the first principal surface of the through hole, an electrode pad that covers the insulating layer opening connected to the conductive wiring layer and a lead-out wiring layer having a through wiring layer connected to the electrode pad formed inside the through hole and a connection wiring layer formed integral with the through wiring layer.
US08890318B2
A contact structure includes a permanent antireflection coating formed on a substrate having contact pads. A patterned dielectric layer is formed on the antireflective coating. The patterned dielectric layer and the permanent antireflective coating form openings. The openings correspond with locations of the contact pads. Contact structures are formed in the openings to make electrical contact with the contacts pads such that the patterned dielectric layer and the permanent antireflective coating each have a conductively filled region forming the contact structures.
US08890299B2
Embodiments of the invention include methods and structures for fabricating a semiconductor structure and, particularly, for improving the planarity of a bonded semiconductor structure comprising a processed semiconductor structure and a semiconductor structure.
US08890286B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an integrated circuit system including a first active layer fabricated on a front side of a semiconductor die and a second pre-fabricated layer on a back side of the semiconductor die and having electrical components embodied therein, wherein the electrical components include at least one discrete passive component. The integrated circuit system also includes at least one electrical path coupling the first active layer and the second pre-fabricated layer.
US08890283B2
In one embodiment, a method of forming a plug includes providing a base layer, providing an intermediate oxide layer above an upper surface of the base layer, providing an upper layer above an upper surface of the intermediate oxide layer, etching a trench including a first trench portion extending through the upper layer, a second trench portion extending through the oxide layer, and a third trench portion extending into the base layer, depositing a first material portion within the third trench portion, depositing a second material portion within the second trench portion, and depositing a third material portion within the first trench portion.
US08890266B2
A magnetic sensor includes a plurality of groups, each group comprising a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) devices having a plurality of conductors configured to couple the MTJ devices within one group in parallel and the groups in series enabling independent optimization of the material resistance area (RA) of the MTJ and setting total device resistance so that the total bridge resistance is not so high that Johnson noise becomes a signal limiting concern, and yet not so low that CMOS elements may diminish the read signal. Alternatively, the magnetic tunnel junction devices within each of at least two groups in series and the at least two groups in parallel resulting in the individual configuration of the electrical connection path and the magnetic reference direction of the reference layer, leading to independent optimization of both functions, and more freedom in device design and layout. The X and Y pitch of the sense elements are arranged such that the line segment that stabilizes, for example, the right side of one sense element; also stabilizes the left side of the adjacent sense element.
US08890259B2
An SCR apparatus includes an SCR structure and a first N injection region. The SCR structure includes a P+ injection region, a P well, an N well and a first N+ injection region, the first N injection region is located under an anode terminal of the P+ injection region of the SCR structure. A method for adjusting a sustaining voltage therefor is provided as well.
US08890258B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a NMOS gate structure over a substrate. The method further includes forming an amorphized region in the substrate adjacent to the NMOS gate structure. The method also includes forming a lightly doped source/drain (LDD) region in the amorphized region. The method further includes depositing a stress film over the NMOS gate structure, performing an annealing process, and removing the stress film.
US08890257B2
Disclosed is a damascene method for forming a semiconductor structure and the resulting semiconductor structure having multiple fin-shaped channel regions with different widths. In the method, fin-shaped channel regions are etched using differently configured isolating caps as masks to define the different widths. For example, a wide width isolating cap can comprise a dielectric body positioned laterally between dielectric spacers and can be used as a mask to define a relatively wide width channel region; a medium width isolating cap can comprise a dielectric body alone and can be used as a mask to define a medium width channel region and/or a narrow width isolating cap can comprise a dielectric spacer alone and can be used as a mask to define a relatively narrow width channel region. These multiple fin-shaped channel regions with different widths can be incorporated into either multiple multi-gate field effect transistors (MUGFETs) or a single MUGFET.
US08890253B2
A semiconductor device includes: a substrate including a first epitaxial layer that has a first electrical type, and a second epitaxial layer; a transistor that includes a source region and an insulating spacer; an inner surrounding structure including an annular trench and an insulating spacer; an outer surrounding structure that has a second electrical type opposite to the first electrical type, and that is disposed adjacent to an upper surface of the second epitaxial layer to surround and contact the inner surrounding structure; and a conductive structure connecting to the source region, and the inner and outer surrounding structures.
US08890248B2
An electrostatic discharge (ESD) device for protecting an input/output terminal of a circuit, the device comprising a first transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) coupled between the input/output (I/O) terminal of the circuit and a node and a second transistor with an integrated silicon-controlled rectifier coupled between the node and a negative terminal of a supply voltage, wherein the silicon-controlled rectifier of the first transistor triggers in response to a negative ESD voltage and the silicon-controlled rectifier of the second transistor triggers in response to a positive ESD voltage.
US08890241B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate including first, second and third surfaces, the second surface being placed above the first surface, the third surface having first and second edges connecting to the first and second surfaces, respectively; an isolation region including an insulator and formed on the first and third surfaces; an active region including the second surface and fenced with the insulator of the isolation region; and first and second semiconductor pillars each protruding upwardly from the second surface in the active region, wherein the first semiconductor pillar is thinner than the second semiconductor pillar.
US08890240B2
A MOS transistor comprises a substrate, a first region formed over the substrate, a second region grown from the first region, a third region of formed in the second region, a first drain/source region formed in the third region, a first gate electrode formed in a first trench, a second drain/source region formed in the second region and on an opposite side of the first trench from the first drain/source region and a second trench coupled between the second drain/source region and the second region, wherein the second trench is of a same depth as the first trench.
US08890230B2
A semiconductor device includes two floating gates, a control gate and a first dielectric layer. The floating gates are disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The control gate partially overlaps each of the floating gates, and a part of the control gate is disposed between the two floating gates. Furthermore, the first dielectric layer disposed between the two floating gates and the control gate has a fixed thickness.
US08890223B1
An integrated circuit includes isolation capacitors which include a silicon dioxide dielectric layer and a polymer dielectric layer over the layer of silicon dioxide. The silicon dioxide dielectric layer and the polymer dielectric layer extend across the integrated circuit. Top plates of the isolation capacitors have bond pads for wire bonds or bump bonds. Bottom plates of the isolation capacitors are connected to components of the integrated circuit. Other bond pads are connected to components in the integrated circuit through vias through the silicon dioxide dielectric layer and the polymer dielectric layer.
US08890222B2
A meander line resistor structure comprises a first resistor formed on a first active region, wherein the first resistor is formed by a plurality of first vias connected in series, a second resistor formed on a second active region, wherein the second resistor is formed by a plurality of second vias connected in series and a third resistor formed on the second active region, wherein the third resistor is formed by a plurality of third vias connected in series. The meander line resistor further comprises a first connector coupled between the first resistor and the second resistor.
US08890221B2
A backside illuminated image sensor with an array of image sensor pixels is provided. Each image pixel may include a photodiode and associated pixel circuits formed in a front surface of a semiconductor substrate. Silicon inner microlenses may be formed on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate. In particular, positive inner microlenses may be formed over the photodiodes, whereas negative inner microlenses may be formed over the associated pixel circuits. Buried light shielding structures may be formed over the negative inner microlenses to prevent pixel circuitry that is formed in the substrate between two neighboring photodiodes from being exposed to incoming light. The buried light shielding structures may be lined with absorptive antireflective coating material to prevent light from being reflected off the surface of the buried light shielding structures. Forming buried light shielding structures with antireflective coating material can reduce optical pixel crosstalk and enhance global shutter efficiency.
US08890218B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes: a substrate; a gate structure disposed on the substrate; a first spacer disposed on a sidewall of the gate structure; a second spacer disposed around the first spacer, wherein the second spacer comprises a L-shaped cap layer and a cap layer on the L-shaped cap layer; a source/drain disposed in the substrate adjacent to two sides of the second spacer; and a CESL disposed on the substrate to cover the gate structure, wherein at least part of the second spacer and the CESL comprise same chemical composition and/or physical property.
US08890217B2
An electronic device including an insulating substrate, a chip and a patterned conductive layer is provided. The insulating substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to each other. The chip is disposed above the upper surface of the insulating substrate. The patterned conductive layer is disposed between the upper surface of the insulating substrate and the chip. The chip is electrically connected to an external circuit via the patterned conductive layer. Heat generated by the chip is transferred to external surroundings via the patterned conductive layer and the insulating substrate.
US08890215B2
The present invention provides for a multiprocessor device on either a chip or a stack of chips. The multiprocessor device includes a plurality of processing entities and a memory system. The multiprocessor device further includes at least one interface unit to at least one of an external memory and one or more peripherals. The multiprocessor device includes a bus system interconnecting the processing entities, the memory system and the at least one interface unit. Wherein, the memory system includes a plurality of cache segments, and the plurality of segments are located on a plurality of memory cores, each having a connection to the bus system.
US08890213B2
There is provided a semiconductor wafer including a base wafer that has an impurity region in which an impurity atom has been introduced into silicon, a plurality of seed bodies provided in contact with the impurity region, and a plurality of compound semiconductors each provided in contact with the corresponding seed bodies and lattice-matched or pseudo-lattice-matched to the corresponding seed bodies. The semiconductor wafer can further include an inhibitor provided on the base wafer and in which a plurality of apertures exposing at least a part of the impurity region are provided.
US08890206B2
An AlGaN/GaN HEMT includes a compound semiconductor laminated structure, a gate electrode formed above the compound semiconductor laminated structure, and a p-type semiconductor layer formed between the compound semiconductor laminated structure and the gate electrode, and the p-type semiconductor layer has tensile strain in a direction parallel to a surface of the compound semiconductor laminated structure.
US08890205B2
A semiconductor component includes a semiconductor substrate, and a doped well having a well terminal and a transistor structure having at least one potential terminal formed in the semiconductor substrate. The transistor structure has a parasitic thyristor, and is at least partly arranged in the doped well. The potential terminal and the well terminal are connected via a resistor.
US08890201B2
According to one embodiment, in a semiconductor light emitting device, a first electrode is provided on a first surface of the semiconductor laminated body including a light emitting layer. A joint metal layer is provided on a second surface of the semiconductor laminated body opposed to the first surface of the semiconductor laminated body. A bonding metal layer covers a first surface of the joint metal layer on a side opposite to the semiconductor laminated body and is provided on a side of the second surface of the semiconductor laminated body. A substrate provided with a second electrode is bonded to the bonding metal layer. A layer having an etching resistance property to an etchant for etching the semiconductor laminated body is formed on a side of the surface of the bonding metal layer facing to the semiconductor laminated body.
US08890197B2
Provided is a light emitting diode, including a sub-mount structure including a first substrate and electrode portions provided on the first substrate, and a light emitting structure mounted on the sub-mount structure to include a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The electrode portions may include a first electrode portion and a second electrode portion connected to the first and second semiconductor layers, respectively, and each of the first and second electrode portions may include a first metal layer, a graphene layer, and a second metal layer sequentially provided on the first substrate.
US08890193B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting apparatus having first semiconductor layer and second semiconductor layer sandwiching a light emitting layer, first and second electrodes provided on respective major surfaces of the first semiconductor and second semiconductor layers to connect thereto, stacked dielectric films having different refractive indexes provided on portions of the major surfaces not covered by the first and second electrodes, and a protruding portion erected on at least a portion of a rim of at least one of the first and second electrodes. The mounting member includes a connection member connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes. The method includes causing the semiconductor light emitting device and a mounting member to face each other, and causing the connection member to contact and join to the at least one of the first and second electrodes using the protruding portion as a guide.
US08890191B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a chip package which includes: a substrate having a first surface and a second surface; an optoelectronic device formed in the substrate; a conducting layer disposed on the substrate, wherein the conducting layer is electrically connected to the optoelectronic device; an insulating layer disposed between the substrate and the conducting layer; a light shielding layer disposed on the second surface of the substrate and directly contacting with the conducting layer, wherein the light shielding layer has a light shielding rate of more than about 80% and has at least an opening exposing the conducting layer; and a conducting bump disposed in the opening of the light shielding layer to electrically contact with the conducting layer, wherein all together the light shielding layer and the conducting bump substantially and completely cover the second surface of the substrate.
US08890190B2
A light-emitting diode element includes an optical semiconductor layer, an electrode unit to be connected to the optical semiconductor layer, and an encapsulating resin layer that encapsulates the optical semiconductor layer and the electrode unit, the encapsulating resin layer containing a light reflection component.
US08890186B2
A molded resin product or the like that is provided with a phosphor layer made of gel-like or rubber-like resin that can maintain its shape for a long period and that can be implemented easily. The molded resin product (phosphor layer 7) includes a resin member 17 made of a gel-like or rubber-like translucent resin including a phosphor material. The resin member 17 includes a shape maintaining member 19 that is formed in a lattice shape by line-like members 20 that are made of a material having a higher elasticity modulus than the resin member 17. The molded resin product (phosphor layer 7) is in the shape of a dome. The translucent resin is made of, for example, silicon resin, and the resin member 17 is gel-like.
US08890179B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus includes an organic light-emitting device including a pixel electrode, an opposite electrode facing the pixel electrode, and an organic light-emitting layer interposed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode; a first polarization plate disposed on a surface of the organic light-emitting device, the organic light-emitting device being configured to emit light through the first polarization plate; a second polarization plate facing the first polarization plate; and an optical compensation member between the first polarization plate and the second polarization plate.
US08890178B2
A light-emitting element includes a monolithic understructure including a first surface and a second surface different from the first surface; a plurality of light-emitting structure units disposed on the second surface; and a trench formed on a portion of the first surface and between the plurality of light-emitting structure units, wherein a height of the portion of the first surface is greater than a height of the second surface measured from a bottom of the monolithic understructure, and the portion of the first surface is exposed by the trench.
US08890174B2
A light emitter and a method of manufacturing a light emitter. The light emitter includes a first electrode, a charge injection transport layer, a light-emitting layer, and a second electrode that are layered in this order. At least the light-emitting layer is defined by a bank that has at least one liquid-repellent surface. The charge injection transport layer is principally composed of a metal compound that is more liquid-philic than the surface of the bank. The charge injection transport layer includes a recessed structure so that in a region defined by the bank, the charge injection transport layer is lower than a bottom surface of the bank.
US08890172B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device having high operation performance and reliability.A third passivation film 45 is disposed under the EL element 203 comprising a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, and diffusion of alkali metals from the EL element 203 formed by ink jet method into TFTs is prevented. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents penetration of moisture and oxygen from the TFTs, and suppress degradation of the EL element 203 by dispersing the heat generated by the EL element 203.
US08890168B2
An enhancement-mode GaN transistor. The enhancement-mode GaN transistor includes a substrate, transition layers, a buffer layer comprised of a III Nitride material, a barrier layer comprised of a III Nitride material, drain and source contacts, a gate III-V compound containing acceptor type dopant elements, and a gate metal, where the gate III-V compound and the gate metal are formed with a single photo mask process to be self-aligned and the bottom of the gate metal and the top of the gate compound have the same dimension. The enhancement mode GaN transistor may also have a field plate made of Ohmic metal, where a drain Ohmic metal, a source Ohmic metal, and the field plate are formed by a single photo mask process.
US08890158B2
An object is to provide a highly reliable transistor and a semiconductor device including the transistor. A semiconductor device including a gate electrode; a gate insulating film over the gate electrode; an oxide semiconductor film over the gate insulating film; and a source electrode and a drain electrode over the oxide semiconductor film, in which activation energy of the oxide semiconductor film obtained from temperature dependence of a current (on-state current) flowing between the source electrode and the drain electrode when a voltage greater than or equal to a threshold voltage is applied to the gate electrode is greater than or equal to 0 meV and less than or equal to 25 meV, is provided.
US08890156B2
An active device and an active device array substrate are provided, wherein the active device array substrate includes a substrate and a plurality of active devices being located on the substrate, and at least one of the active devices includes a first thin film transistor and a second thin film transistor. The first thin film transistor is located on the substrate and has a first channel layer. The second thin film transistor stacks on the first thin film transistor, wherein the second thin film transistor has a second channel layer. The first thin film transistor and the second thin film transistor share a common gate electrode and the common gate electrode is located between the first channel layer and the second channel layer.
US08890151B2
An organic light-emitting display apparatus having improved durability and image quality may include a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate; a first pixel definition layer formed to cover at least one lateral surface of the first electrode; a second pixel definition layer formed so as to be spaced apart from at least an upper surface of the first pixel definition layer; an intermediate layer formed on the first electrode and including an organic light-emitting layer; and a second electrode formed on the intermediate layer.
US08890146B2
An object is to improve the drive capability of a semiconductor device. The semiconductor device includes a first transistor and a second transistor. A first terminal of the first transistor is electrically connected to a first wiring. A second terminal of the first transistor is electrically connected to a second wiring. A gate of the second transistor is electrically connected to a third wiring. A first terminal of the second transistor is electrically connected to the third wiring. A second terminal of the second transistor is electrically connected to a gate of the first transistor. A channel region is formed using an oxide semiconductor layer in each of the first transistor and the second transistor. The off-state current of each of the first transistor and the second transistor per channel width of 1 μm is 1 aA or less.
US08890145B2
Disclosed is a thin film transistor including a gate electrode on a substrate. A gate dielectric layer is disposed on the gate electrode and the substrate, and source/drain electrodes are disposed on the gate dielectric layer overlying two edge parts of the gate electrode. A channel layer is disposed on the gate dielectric layer overlying a center part of the gate electrode, and the channel region contacts the source/drain electrodes. An insulating capping layer overlies the channel layer, wherein the channel layer includes an oxide semiconductor.
US08890142B2
Provided is an oxide electronic device, including: an oxide substrate; an oxide thin film layer formed on the oxide substrate and containing an oxide that is heterogeneous with respect to the oxide substrate; and a ferroelectric layer formed on the oxide thin film layer and controlling electric conductivity of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) generated at an interface between the oxide substrate and the oxide thin film layer. Provided also is a method for manufacturing an oxide electronic device, including: depositing, on an oxide substrate, an oxide that is heterogeneous with respect to the oxide substrate to form an oxide thin film layer; and forming a ferroelectric layer on the oxide thin film layer, wherein the ferroelectric layer controls electric conductivity of 2DEG generated at an interface between the oxide substrate and the oxide thin film layer.
US08890135B2
Provided is an organic light emitting display device, including a substrate, an insulating layer on the substrate, and a display element layer on the insulating layer, in which the insulating layer includes one or more low refractive layers and one or more high refractive layers.
US08890134B2
An organic photoelectric material may include a compound represented by the above Chemical Formula 1, and an organic photoelectric device and an image sensor including the organic photoelectric material.
US08890132B2
An organic light emitting display device including: a substrate; an active layer formed on the substrate; a first insulation film disposed on the substrate to cover the active layer; a transistor including a gate electrode disposed at a location corresponding to the active layer with the first insulation film in between, and source and drain electrodes electrically connected to the active layer; a first electrode layer disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to any one of the source and drain electrodes of the transistor; a second electrode layer formed on the first electrode layer; an organic light emitting layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer; and a light reflecting unit covering a side and a part of top of the first electrode layer.
US08890123B2
A thin film transistor has a semiconducting layer comprising a polythiophene and carbon nanotubes. The semiconducting layer exhibits high mobility and high current on/off ratio.
US08890118B2
The present disclosure relates to the field of microelectronic transistor fabrication and, more particularly, to the fabrication of a tunnel field effect transistor having an improved on-current level without a corresponding increasing the off-current level, achieved by the addition of a transition layer between a source and an intrinsic channel of the tunnel field effect transistor.
US08890114B2
A light-emitting device comprises a first semiconductor layer; a second semiconductor layer; an active layer formed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer; a first electron blocking layer formed between the first semiconductor layer and the active layer; and a second electron blocking layer formed between the second semiconductor layer and the active layer, wherein the thickness of the second electron blocking layer is not equal to that of the first electron blocking layer, and/or the band gap energy of the second electron blocking layer is not equal to that of the first electron blocking layer.
US08890105B2
A nonvolatile memory according to an embodiment includes a first wiring line; a second wiring line arranged above the first wiring line and extending in a direction crossing the first wiring line; and a resistance change layer arranged in an intersection region of the first wiring line the second wiring line, the second wiring line including a first member extending in the direction in which the second wiring line extends, and an electrode layer containing a metal element arranged on a side surface of the first member along the direction in which the second wiring line extends, a lower surface of the electrode layer being in contact with an upper surface of the resistance change layer.
US08890103B2
A semiconductive substrate that is suitable for realising electronic and/or optoelectronic devices that include at least one substrate, in particular of single crystal silicon, and an overlying layer of single crystal silicon. Advantageously, the semiconductive substrate comprises at least one functional coupling layer suitable for reducing the defects linked to the differences in the materials used. The functional coupling layer can comprise a corrugated portion made in the layer of single crystal silicon and suitable for reducing the defects linked to the differences in lattice constant of such materials used. Alternatively, the functional coupling layer can comprise a porous layer arranged between the substrate of single crystal silicon and the layer of single crystal silicon, and suitable for reducing the stress caused by the differences between the thermal expansion coefficients of the materials used. A manufacturing process of such a semiconductive substrate is also described.
US08890098B2
A floor curing apparatus is disclosed, including a housing, an ultraviolet lamp, and an offset wheel arrangement including a pair of inner drive wheels configured to rotate and alternately be driven about a first common axis and a pair of outer drive wheels configured to rotate and alternately be driven about a second common axis. Each of the pair of outer drive wheels are positioned a first predetermined distance outward from each of the pair of inner drive wheels, and the first axis is offset from said second axis by a second predetermined distance. The floor curing apparatus also includes a shutter device a linear actuator configured to drive a support element in a direction away from the ultraviolet lamp, the support element affixed to a plurality of rods configured to draw the shutter device away from the ultraviolet lamp.
US08890088B2
A laser cavity two-photon spectroscopy includes a gain medium, a first reflector, a second reflector, an electrical pumping module, and a two-photon absorption cell. The first reflector is disposed at a side of the gain medium. The second reflector is movably disposed at a side of the gain medium relative to the first reflector. The electrical pumping module is electrically connected to the gain medium. Therefore, the gain medium is able to emit a light beam, which bounces back and forth between the first reflector and the second reflector and forms a laser beam through enhanced by the gain medium. The two-photon absorption cell disposed between the gain medium and the second reflector includes a plurality of two-photon absorption mediums. The two-photon absorption mediums absorb a portion of the laser beam reflected between the first reflector and the second reflector and then emit fluorescence.
US08890079B2
A radiation detection device is provided. The radiation detection device includes a pair of rails spaced in a slice direction and extending parallel to a channel direction, and a plurality of collimator modules arranged along the channel direction on a radiation exit side of the pair of rails, wherein at least one of the pair of rails extending along the channel direction includes a plate member with a plurality of notches formed along the radiation exit side, and wherein the collimator modules each include a first pin protruding on a radiation incidence side and attached to the pair of rails with the first pin fitted in one of the notches of the plate member.
US08890064B2
An improved method and apparatus for S/TEM sample preparation and analysis. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide improved methods for TEM sample creation, especially for small geometry (<100 nm thick) TEM lamellae. Preferred embodiments of the present invention also provide an in-line process for S/TEM based metrology on objects such as integrated circuits or other structures fabricated on semiconductor wafer by providing methods to partially or fully automate TEM sample creation, to make the process of creating and analyzing TEM samples less labor intensive, and to increase throughput and reproducibility of TEM analysis.
US08890061B1
Provided are methods for determining the amount of reverse T3 in a sample using mass spectrometry. The methods generally involve ionizing reverse T3 in a sample and detecting and quantifying the amount of the ion to determine the amount of reverse T3 in the sample.
US08890057B2
An optical position-measuring device includes a measuring standard and a scanning unit. The measuring standard includes an incremental graduation and at least one reference marking at a reference position. The reference marking has two reference-marking subfields disposed in mirror symmetry relative to a reference-marking axis of symmetry, each of the subfields including a grating structure having a locally changeable graduation period. The scanning unit includes a divergently emitting light source, one or more gratings, and a reference-signal detector system. The reference-signal detector system has at least four detector arrays formed and positioned such that, from the scanning of the reference marking via the reference-signal detector system, first and second pairs of partial reference signals result, in each case having a signal pattern in phase opposition. The first pair of partial reference signals is offset by an offset amount relative to the second pair of partial reference signals.
US08890044B2
An automated method to monitor performance of a terrestrial solar cell array tracking the sun. The solar cell system includes drive means that adjust a position of the array along different respective axes with respect to the sun using the drive means. The techniques include predicting the position of the sun during a time period, and sampling an output parameter of the array indicative of performance. The sampled data may be used to identify a fault in the solar cell array, for example a misalignment or a failure of one or more solar cells, in which case a notification of that fault may be generated for the operator or a control signal may be output for correcting the fault. Alternatively, an output signal may be sent to an external system associated with the solar cell system. Various alignment testing routines for checking the solar tracking are described. These routines may involve moving a solar cell array to a reference position at the start of, or during, an alignment routine in order to improve accuracy of position measurement during the routine.
US08890040B2
An electrically heated aerosol-generating system for receiving an aerosol-forming substrate includes a heating element including a first electrically conductive element electrically insulated from a second electrically conductive element by an electrically insulating portion. The first and second elements are elongate and are electrically connected to each other by an electrically resistive portion. At least one electrically conductive element and the electrically resistive portion are arranged such that they are at least partially in contact with the aerosol-forming substrate.
US08890036B2
A vacuum oven or vacuum furnace is disclosed having a heat distribution sleeve that conforms to the shape of an interior heating chamber. The heat distribution sleeve may be of generally annular shape, like a ring, and located in a substantially regularly spaced and offset relationship from a heating element located within walls adjacent the interior heating chamber. The heat distribution sleeve includes a thermal conductive material which absorbs and re-radiates heat emitted from the heating element, thereby providing more consistent and regular radiation fields for heating treating a work piece that is loaded on a work holding tray and, upon the vacuum oven being in an operational position, the work piece is located within the furnace chamber.
US08890033B2
A heat pad assembly for installation and/or removal of a bracket from a structure comprises a heating element. The heat pad assembly may have at least one and, more preferably, a plurality of perforations formed therein. The heating element may be configured to generate heat upon the application of electrical current passing therethrough. The heat pad assembly may be used for temporary installation of a bracket to a mounting surface through the use of an adhesive which is installable between the bracket and the structure.
US08890032B2
Heater leads for a leading edge resistive heating element are configured to accommodate the relative movement of the propeller blades to adjust propeller blade pitch. The heater leads each include a static portion and a dynamic portion. The static portion remains fixed relative to the rotating propeller during operation and the dynamic portion moves with movements of the individual blades to adjust pitch. The length of the dynamic portion accommodates the limits of movement and includes features that provide the desired performance and operational life.
US08890022B2
A method for welding two metal parts from aluminum alloys with the steps: melting of the metal parts to be joined in a weld region through an energy input by means of a laser beam with the formation of a weld seam, smoothing the surface of the weld seam through a further energy input with partial melting of the weld seam in the region of the surface, wherein the further energy input is a defocused laser beam, of which the focal point is positioned in the beam direction in front of or behind the surface of the weld seam, wherein the defocused laser beam and the surface normal of a surface of the two metal parts to which the laser beam is applied, incorporate an angle of greater than or equal to 5 degrees, and a connecting arrangement welded with this method.
US08890018B2
A method for inspecting and sorting a plurality of IC units comprising the steps of: delivering a frame containing said IC units to a unit picking station; conducting a first inspection of said units during the delivering step and recording the subsequent result; removing said units from the frame, and moving said units from the unit picking station to a flipping station; conducting a second inspection of said units during the moving step and recording the subsequent result; flipping said units to expose an opposed face said units; conducting a third inspection of said opposed face and recording the subsequent result, then; sorting said units into categories based on the recorded results from the first, second and third inspecting steps.
US08890017B2
A motor operator for switchgear (1) for use in mains power distribution systems such as public medium high voltage distribution systems, where the switchgear comprises a closed cabinet (2) with an operating shaft (6) accessible from the front surface (4). The operating shaft is rotatable at least between two positions and has, a coupling part. The motor operator comprises a worm gear in a separate worm gear housing (11), which is mountable on the external surface of the switchgear cabinet. An adapter (21) with a connection shaft (22) is located in a recess in the worm wheel (16). The worm of the worm gear is connected to a motor which could be located remotely from the worm gear housing and connected to the worm preferably by means of a flexible shaft (15). This renders it possible to mount the motor operator in confined spaces.
US08890016B2
A touch pad for an operating button of an electronics device provides a contact point for tactile input through the button. The button is adhesively mounted to the button, the surface of the electronics device surrounding the button, or both button and surrounding surface. The pad preferably fully overlies the button, and may have a lower surface that conforms to the shape of the top surface of the button.
US08890012B2
Provided is a portable terminal including a switch button member having binding rings extending from both end portions thereof, respectively, and a case member having a seating groove on an outer circumferential surface of a side portion thereof, in which the button member is disposed on the seating groove and the binding rings are inserted into an inner side of the case member, respectively, so as to bind the switch button to said case member.
US08890004B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a cage having an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls that extend from the upper wall to the lower wall. The side walls have exterior sides. The cage includes an interior cavity and a divider that extends between the side walls and divides the interior cavity into at least two internal compartments. The cage includes a front end that is open to the internal compartments. The side walls have front edges at the front end. The internal compartments are configured to receive pluggable modules therein through the front end. An electromagnetic interference (EMI) cover is mounted to the divider such that the EMI cover is engaged with and electrically connected to the divider. The EMI cover includes a flap that wraps around the front edge of a corresponding side wall. The flap overlaps and engages the exterior side of the corresponding side wall.
US08890002B2
A resin multilayer substrate includes a component-containing layer and a thin resin layer stacked on a surface of the component-containing layer. The resin multilayer substrate further includes a surface electrode located on a surface opposite to the surface of the thin resin layer stacked on the component-containing layer, a first via conductor provided in the component-containing layer, which includes an end reaching one surface of the component-containing layer, and a second via conductor provided in the thin resin layer, which includes a first end electrically connected to the surface electrode and a second end electrically connected to the via conductor. A portion of the thin resin layer in contact with the second via conductor defines a projection projecting into the first via conductor.
US08889995B2
To reduce the RF losses associated with high RF loss plating, such as, for example, Ni/Pd/Au plating, the solder mask is reconfigured to prevent the edges and sidewalls of the wire-bond areas from being plated in some embodiments. Leaving the edges and sidewalls of the wire-bond areas free from high RF loss plating, such as Ni/Pd/Au plating, provides a path for the RF current to flow around the high resistivity material, which reduces the RF signal loss associated with the high resistivity plating material.
US08889985B2
A protective housing for an electronic device includes a main body, a protective cover, and a connecting mechanism. The protective cover is rotatably and detachably mounted to the main body by the connecting mechanism. The connecting mechanism includes a first magnetic assembly, a second magnetic assembly, and a mounting base. The first magnetic assembly is assembled within the main body, the second magnetic assembly is assembled within the mounting base. The mounting base is pivotally hinged to the protective cover, and the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly attract each other, thereby connecting the main body and the protective cover together.
US08889981B2
A photoelectric device includes a first semiconductor structure and a second semiconductor structure on a substrate, and the first semiconductor structure includes a different conductivity type from the second semiconductor structure. The photoelectric device also includes a first electrode on the first semiconductor structure and a second electrode on the second semiconductor structure, and an interlayer insulating structure adjacent to the second semiconductor structure. The interlayer insulating structure separates the first semiconductor structure from the second semiconductor structure and separates the first semiconductor structure from the second electrode.
US08889975B2
A keyboard apparatus, including: a key that is pivotable by depressing and release operations between: a pivotal movement start position corresponding to a non-key depression state; and a pivotal movement end position corresponding to a key-depression end state; a hammer body that is pivotable between: a pivotal movement start position; and a pivotal movement end position for imparting inertia to the key depressing operation; and an elastic portion to apply elastic force to at least one of the key and the hammer body, wherein the elastic portion is configured not to apply the elastic force to the key and the hammer body in the non-key depression state and configured to start to apply the elastic force in a direction toward the pivotal movement start position to the at least one of the key and the hammer body from a certain point in a forward stroke of the key depressing operation.
US08889972B1
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH752946. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH752946, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH752946 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH752946.
US08889938B2
The present disclosure provides methods to produce para-xylene, toluene, and other compounds from renewable sources (e.g., cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, sugar) and ethylene in the presence of a catalyst. For example, cellulose and/or hemicellulose may be converted into 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), which may be converted into para-xylene by cycloaddition of ethylene to DMF. Para-xylene can then be oxidized to form terephthalic acid.
US08889934B2
A process for hydrocarbon conversion, comprising: contacting a hydrocarbon with an acid catalyst containing greater than 15 wt % conjunct polymer. The acid catalyst has a molar ratio of Al to a heteroatom selected from the group of N, P, O, S, and combinations thereof greater than 2.0. The hydrocarbon is converted during the contacting. Also a method to make a catalyst having greater than 15 wt % conjunct polymer and a high molar ratio of Al to the heteroatom, wherein an acidic ionic liquid catalyst is made that is effective for catalyzing a reaction. There are also provided catalyst compositions having greater than 15 wt % conjunct polymer.
US08889926B2
A method for the synthesis of 1,3-di(chloropropyl)-5-tert-butyl benzene includes the steps of conducting Friedl-Crafts alkylation of 1,3-diisopropyl benzene by tert-butyl chloride in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to obtain 1-tert-butyl-3,5-diisopropylbenzene; peroxidizing the 1-tert-butyl-3,5-diisopropyl benzene by gaseous oxygen in the presence of a peroxidation catalyst in a basic solution to obtain 1,3-di(peroxypropyl)-5-tert-butylbenzene; reducing the 1,3-di(peroxypropyl)-5-tert-butylbenzene with a reducing agent to 1,3-di(hydroxylpropyl)-5-tert-butylbenzene; and chlorinating the 1,3-di(hydroxypropyl)-5-tert-butylbenzene to obtain 1,3-di(chloropropyl)-5-tert-butyl benzene.
US08889909B2
Photoactive compositions of matter, methods for their design and synthesis, and various applications of such compositions of matter are disclosed. Such photoactive compositions may, for example, include any one or more of the following: a core moiety; a primary electron donor moiety; an electron-withdrawing moiety; and an alkyl tail. Some photoactive compositions may further include multiple additional electron donor moieties, electron-withdrawing moieties, and alkyl tails. Applications of such photoactive compositions of matter may include use in photovoltaic cells (e.g., as a p- or n-type material of the active layer of some photovoltaic cells, or as a dye to be employed in other photovoltaic cells); batteries, field-effect transistors; and light-emitting diodes.
US08889908B2
The invention provides a method for producing amides via the reaction of aldehydes and amines with oxygen adsorbed on a metallic silver or silver alloy catalyst. An exemplary reaction is shown in Scheme 1: (I), (II), (III).
US08889903B2
A rare earth metal extractant in the form of a dialkyl diglycol amic acid is synthesized by reacting diglycolic anhydride with a dialkylamine in an aprotic polar solvent, with a molar ratio of dialkylamine to diglycolic anhydride being at least 1.0, and removing the aprotic polar solvent.
US08889901B2
A photoacid generator represented by the following formula (1), a method for producing the photoacid generator, and a resist composition containing the photoacid generator are provided. wherein in the formula (1), Y, X, R1, R2, n1, n2 and A+ have the same meanings as defined in the detailed description of the invention. The photoacid generator can maintain an appropriate contact angle at the time of ArF liquid immersion lithography, can reduce defects occurring during liquid immersion lithography, and has excellent solubility in resist solvents and excellent compatibility with resins. Furthermore, the photoacid generator can be produced by an efficient and simple method using an epoxy compound that is industrially easily available.
US08889898B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing (2,3) disubstituted succinates that allows (2,3) disubstituted succinates to be obtained in good purity and with acceptable reaction yields. The (2) and (3) substitutions may be the same or different. The process comprises reacting a haloacetate with a malonic acid ester into a tricarboxylate, which is further reacted to a (2,3) disubstituted tricarboxylate, hydrolyzed, decarboxylated and optionally esterified. Esterified (2,3) disubstituted succinic esters may be used as internal donor in Ziegler-Natta type catalysts for the polymerization of olefins.
US08889894B2
A compound of formula (I) for use in the treatment of a disease of the immune system; wherein R is an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl moiety having from 1 to 50 carbon atoms; R1 is an optionally-substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, arylalkyl or alkylaryl moiety having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; each of R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from an optionally-substituted alkylene, alkenylene, alkynylene, arylene, arylalkylene or alkylarylene moiety having from 1 to 40 carbon atoms; each of X, Y and Z is independently selected from an optionally-substituted alkylene, alkenylene, alkenylene, arylene, alkylarylene, cycloalkylene, ketone, ester, amide, imide, imine, thioether, ether, thioester and thioketone; and P is selected from hydrogen, an alkyl group, a sugar residue, or a metal, phosphonium or ammonium species; wherein at least one of X, Y and Z includes a moiety selected from cyclopropyl, C=A, C-AH and C—OR5; wherein R5 is alkyl or haloalkyl, and A is O, S or NR6, wherein R6 may be H or 20 alkyl.
US08889884B1
A phosphine derivative of DyLight dyes modified with ethylene glycol or (poly)ethylene glycol groups. In one embodiment, the compounds are useful in chemoselective ligation reactions.
US08889883B2
The present invention is directed to a fluorescence compound represented by structural Formula (I), with specificity to neural stem cells: I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The variables for structural Formula (I) are defined herein. Also described are methods for detection of neural stem cells, comprising using a compound of structural Formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. Compounds of structural Formula (I) can detect and separate neural stem cells without immunostaining, providing a much shorter and more convenient method for detection of neural stem cells.
US08889874B2
The present invention provides Chalcone linked Imidazolone compounds of formula A as anti cancer agent against fifty three human cancer cell lines. wherein
US08889869B2
A method for making the compound is set forth utilizing the starting material
US08889868B2
This invention relates to novel analogs of the DNA-alkylating agent CC-1065 and to their conjugates. Furthermore this invention concerns intermediates for the preparation of said agents and conjugates. The conjugates are designed to release their (multiple) payload after one or more activation steps and/or at a rate and time span controlled by the conjugate in order to selectively deliver and/or controllably release one or more of said DNA alkylating agents. The agents, conjugates, and intermediates can be used to treat an illness that is characterized by undesired (cell) proliferation. As an example, the agents and the conjugates of this invention may be used to treat a tumor.
US08889867B2
The present invention provides amorphous solid forms of the compound of Formula I, as well as methods for preparing the compound of Formula I by precipitation.
US08889864B2
Compounds comprising phosphorescent metal complexes comprising cyclometallated imidazo[1,2-f]phenanthridine and diimidazo[1,2-a:1′,2′-c]quinazoline ligands, or isoelectronic or benzannulated analogs thereof, are described. Organic light emitting diode devices comprising these compounds are also described.
US08889861B2
The present invention relates to new crystalline forms of a purine derivative which exhibits excellent anti-tumour activity. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition containing said crystalline forms as an active ingredient, and use thereof in the prevention or treatment of disease. The invention further relates to a process for preparing the crystalline forms.
US08889850B2
The present invention is directed to molecules that inhibit expression or a function of a eukaryotic Heat Shock RNA (HSR1) and their use for inhibiting a stress response or stress tolerance in a cell.
US08889846B2
This invention provides antibodies that specifically bind and neutralize Staphylococcus enterotoxin B. In addition, nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, and cells that express such antibodies are provided. Also provided are methods for treating diseases mediated by, and for neutralizing Staphylococcus enterotoxin B.
US08889842B2
The present invention relates to triterpene glycoside saponin-derived adjuvants, syntheses thereof, intermediates thereto, and uses thereof. QS-7 is a potent immuno-adjuvant that is significantly less toxic than QS-21, a related saponin that is currently the favored adjuvant in anticancer and antiviral vaccines. Tedious isolation and purification protocols have hindered the clinical development of QS-7. A novel semi-synthetic method is provided wherein a hydrolyzed prosapogenin mixture is used to synthesize QS-7, QS-21, and related analogs, greatly facilitating access to QS-7 and QS-21 analogs for preclinical and clinical evaluation.
US08889841B2
The present invention is a method for purifying Rebaudioside C by subjecting “waste material,” generated during the Rebaudioside A manufacturing process, to liquid-liquid extraction and recrystallizing the Rebaudioside C.
US08889839B2
This invention relates to novel Ln(III) complexes of pybox, and methods of making the same. The present invention also relates to a method of use of pybox as a chelating moiety and sensitizer for Ln(III) ion luminescence. Derivatives of pybox and methods of making the same are also provided.
US08889838B2
The present invention provides novel methods for reducing the serine protease and/or serine protease zymogen content of a plasma-derived protein composition. Also provided are methods for manufacturing plasma-derived protein compositions having reduced serine protease and\or serine protease zymogen content. Among yet other aspects, the present invention provides aqueous and lyophilized compositions of plasma-derived proteins having reduced serine protease and/or serine protease zymogen content. Yet other aspects include methods for treating, managing, and/or preventing a disease comprising the administration of a plasma-derived protein composition having a reduced serine protease or serine protease zymogen content.
US08889837B2
The invention is a method for the purification of mono-PEGylated erythropoietin using two cation exchange chromatography steps wherein the same type of cation exchange material is used in both cation exchange chromatography steps and a method for producing a mono-PEGylated erythropoietin in substantially homogeneous form.
US08889836B2
The present invention is method for non-covalently immobilizing an infectious prion protein using a magnetic substrate.
US08889831B2
Conjugates of a Factor VIII moiety and one or more water-soluble polymers are provided. Typically, the water-soluble polymer is poly(ethylene glycol) or a derivative thereof. Also provided are compositions comprising the conjugates, methods of making the conjugates, and methods of administering compositions comprising the conjugates to a patient.
US08889827B2
The present invention relates to modified opiorphin peptides as new inhibitors of metallo-ectopeptidases.
US08889819B2
A method for producing a polyester resin composition includes conducting polyconensation via esterification or transesterification, wherein an alkali metal phosphate in an amount of 1.3 mol/ton to 3.0 mol/ton and phosphoric acid in an amount of 0.4 to 1.5 times (by mole) that of the alkali metal phosphate are added at a stage between the point of time when the esterication or transesterification has been substantially completed and the point of time when the intrinsic viscosity reaches 0.4. A polyester resin composition obtained by the process exhibits excellent long-term hydrolysis resistance and excellent mechanical characteristics.
US08889817B2
Triazine polymer comprising at least a plurality of base structural units comprising at least a moiety corresponding to the formula: in which: the symbols X1 and X2, which are identical or different, represent S, SO, or SO2; the symbols Ar1 and Ar2, which are identical or different, represent a substituted or unsubstituted phenylene group; the symbol Ar3 represents a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group; the symbol Tz represents the 1,3,5-triazine nucleus. This polymer of the invention, which can be used as electrolyte in a PEM fuel cell, makes it possible to obtain membranes of high chemical and dimensional stability which additionally exhibit a high ion conductivity.
US08889813B2
An aspect of the present invention relates to a mixture of a sulfonate group-containing compound denoted by general formula (1) with a protonic acid: wherein, in general formula (1), X denotes a divalent linking group; each of R1 and R2 independently denotes an alkyl group comprising at least one hydroxyl group and equal to or more than three carbon atoms or an aralkyl group comprising at least one hydroxyl group and equal to or more than eight carbon atoms; and M denotes a cation.
US08889797B2
Disclosed are a polylactide stereocomplex with improved thermal stability and thus improved processability and a method for preparing the same. In order to confer flexibility to polymer chains, D-type polylactide polymer containing a small amount of caprolactone (poly D-lactide-caprolactone copolymer) is synthesized and it is uniformly mixed with L-type single-phase polylactide to prepare a flexible polylactide stereocomplex. Since the polylactide stereocomplex having flexible polymer chains has superior heat resistance and mechanical stability and experiences little decrease of the degree of stereocomplex formation even after thermal processing, the polylactide stereocomplex having improved thermal stability can be advantageously used for engineering plastics requiring high strength and good thermal stability, alternative materials for general-use plastics, high-performance medical materials, or the like because of its remarkably improved processability.
US08889795B2
Molecularly imprinted polymers selective for tobacco specific nitrosamines and methods of using same
A class of molecularly imprinted polymers that specifically recognizes and binds to TSNAs are useful, for example, in analysis and separation of TSNAs from biological fluids. Such polymers are also useful in methods of treating and manufacturing tobacco products and materials.
US08889791B2
Provided are novel biocompatible copolymers and compositions comprising the copolymers. The copolymers and degradation products thereof are non-toxic and typically have an LCST between room temperature and 37° C. so that they are liquid at room temperature and gelled at 37° C. which facilitates their use in humans, for example for wound treatment and as a cellular growth matrix or niche. The copolymer comprises numerous ester linkages in its backbone so that the copolymers are erodeable in situ. Degradation products of the polymer are soluble and non-toxic. The copolymer is amine-reactive so that it can conjugate with proteins, such as collagen. Active ingredients, such as drugs, can be incorporated into compositions comprising the copolymer.
US08889774B2
Disclosed are latex polymers and an aqueous coating compositions having excellent freeze-thaw stability, open time, stain resistance, low temperature film formation, foam resistance, block resistance, adhesion, water sensitivity and a low-VOC content. The latex polymers and aqueous coating compositions include at least one latex polymer derived from at least one monomer copolymerized or blended with an alkoxylated compound, for example an alkoxylated tristyrylphenol or an alkoxylated tributylphenol. Also provided is an aqueous coating composition including at least one latex polymer, at least one pigment, water and at least one freeze-thaw additive. Typically, the freeze-thaw additive in an amount greater than about 1.3% by weight of the polymer, typically in an amount greater than about 2% by weight of the polymer, in an amount greater than about 4% by weight of the polymer, in an amount greater than about 7.5% by weight of the polymer, in an amount greater than about 10% by weight of the polymer or in an amount greater than about 20% by weight of the polymer.
US08889768B2
Use of thermoplastic molding compositions comprising, as essential components, A) a polyester, B) from 20 to 200 mmol/kg of polyester A) of at least one compound of the general formula (I) where respectively independently at any position -A1- is —NR—, —O—, —S—, —CH=A4- where R is H or C1-6-alkyl, A4 is N or CH A2 is COOX or OX, where X is Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg/2, Ca/2, Sr/2, Ba/2, Al/3 A3 is C1-6-alkyl, C6-12-aryl, O7-13-alkaryl, C7-13-aralkyl, O—C1-6-alkyl, O—C6-12-aryl, O—C7-13-alkaryl, O—C7-13-aralkyl, COOX′, OX′, SX′, SO3X′, where X′ is H or X, S—C1-6-alkyl, S—C6-12-aryl, NR2, halogen, NO2, n is an integer from 1 to 4, and m is an integer from 0 to 4−n, where m=1, if A3=NO2, with the proviso that the number of mmol is based on the group(s) COOX and OX and SX′ where X′═X, to the extent that these are present in the compound of the general formula (I), and also moreover C) from 0 to 230% by weight of further added substances, based on the weight of component A), for producing laser-transparent moldings of any type.
US08889761B2
A method for making a composite material with non-spherical reinforcing particles embedded in a matrix, is disclosed. In this method, in a first step magnetic and/or superparamagnetic nanoparticles are attached to the non-spherical reinforcing particles, in a second step the resulting reinforcing particles are introduced into a liquid matrix material and/or a liquid matrix-precursor material, and in a third step the material of the matrix is solidified and/or polymerized and/or cross-linked. In accordance with the proposed invention prior to and/or during solidification and/or polymerization and/or cross-linking of the matrix material or the matrix precursor material, respectively, a magnetic field is applied so as to align the reinforcing particles in the matrix and this alignment is fixed in the matrix during and after the third step, wherein the non-spherical reinforcing particles preferably have a length (l) in one dimension of at least 0.5 μm and wherein the weight ratio of the nano-particles to the non-spherical reinforcing particles is below 0.25.
US08889760B2
Described herein is a degradable linking agent of formula Photo1-LG-Photo2, wherein Photo1 and Photo2 independently represent at least one photoreactive group and LG represents a linking group comprising one or more silicon atoms or one or more phosphorous atoms. The degradable linking agent includes a covalent linkage between at least one photoreactive group and the linking group, wherein the covalent linkage between at least one photoreactive group and the linking group is interrupted by at least one heteroatom. A method for coating a support surface with the degradable linking agent, coated support surfaces and medical devices are also described.
US08889756B2
A process for producing rigid polyurethane foams, in which a mixture of one or more high-functionality polyether alcohols having functionalities of from 3.5 to 5.5 and a hydroxyl number of from 350 to 550 mg KOH/g, one or more polyether alcohols based on aliphatic and/or aromatic amines and having functionalities of from 3 to 4 and a hydroxyl number of from 150 to 800 mg KOH/g, an OH-comprising fatty acid ester and, if appropriate, one or more low molecular weight chain extenders and/or crosslinkers having functionalities of from 2 to 3 and a molecular weight Mw of <400 g/mol is used as polyol component, is described. The rigid polyurethane foams obtained have a good surface quality.
US08889752B2
Cellular and multi-cellular polystyrene and polystyrenic foams and methods of forming such foams are disclosed. The foams include an expanded polystyrene formed from expansion of an expandable polystyrene including an adsorbent comprising alumina, wherein the multi-cellular polystyrene exhibits a multi-cellular size distribution. The process for forming a foamed article includes providing a formed styrenic polymer and contacting the formed styrenic polymer with a first blowing agent and an adsorbent comprising alumina to form extrusion polystyrene. The process further includes forming the extrusion styrenic polymer into an expanded styrenic polymer and forming the expanded styrenic polymer into a foamed article.
US08889751B2
The present specification discloses porous materials, methods of forming such porous materials, materials and devices comprising such porous materials, and methods of making such materials and devices.
US08889749B2
Provided is a method for preparing hydrophobic monolithic silica aerogel, comprising dipping monolithic wet silica gel obtained by using an alkoxide precursor into an alkylsilane solution as a dipping solution to perform hydrophobitization of the surface and inner part of the monolithic wet silica gel by a dipping process. The method is economical by virtue of the use of a small amount of alkylsilane compound and imparts hydrophobic property to monolithic silica aerogel simply in a cost efficient and time efficient manner. In addition, the method reduces shrinkage of hydrophobic monolithic silica aerogel, enables production of hydrophobic monolithic silica aerogel in a translucent form, and allows the hydrophobic monolithic silica aerogel to maintain low heat conductivity similar to the heat conductivity of hydrophilic silica aerogel. The hydrophobic monolithic silica aerogel may be used directly as a heat insulating panel by virtue of excellent hydrophobic property and heat insulating property.
US08889744B2
Compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of preparation and use thereof are disclosed. The compounds are hexafluoro-honokiol analogs. The compounds and compositions can be used to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of cancers, including drug resistant cancers. Representative hexafluoro-honokiol analogs include hexafluoro-honokiol, analogs in which one or both hydroxy groups are replaced with dichloroacetate esters, and analogs with increased fluorination. The compounds are believed to function, at least, by inhibiting angiogenesis and/or inducing apoptosis. Thus, the compounds are novel therapeutic agents for a variety of cancers.
US08889737B2
The present invention relates to the use of a 2,5-dihydroxybenzene derivative of formula (I) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, isomer, or prodrug thereof for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of, inter alia, skin cancer.
US08889735B2
The present invention relates to a method for treating asthenopia, accommodative dysfunction or ocular pain comprising an administration of a specific prostaglandin compound to a mammalian subject. The present invention also relates to a composition for treating asthenopia, accommodative dysfunction or ocular pain comprising a specific prostaglandin compound.
US08889734B2
The subject of the present invention is a novel process for the preparation of N-[2-n-butyl-3-{4-[(3-dibutylamino)propoxy]benzoyl}-1-benzofuran-5-yl]methanesulfonamide of formula I: and the new intermediates of the preparation process.
US08889728B2
A stable solid oral pharmaceutical composition comprising carvedilol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is packed using a suitable packaging material along with a desiccant. A process for manufacturing a stable solid oral dosage form containing carvedilol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is packed in the packaging configuration comprising moisture permeation inhibitory packaging. A method of preparing a stable solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form, said method comprising, encasing a pharmaceutical dosage form comprising carvedilol or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in a container comprising a desiccant. A pharmaceutical kit comprising a container impervious to moisture, wherein said container comprises a desiccant; and a solid oral pharmaceutical dosage form comprising carvedilol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein said pharmaceutical dosage form is encased in said container.
US08889724B2
Uric acid in mammalian subjects is reduced and excretion of uric acid is increased by administering a compound of Formula I. The uric acid-lowering effects of the compounds of this invention are used to treat or prevent a variety of conditions including gout, hyperuricemia, elevated levels of uric acid that do not meet the levels customarily justifying a diagnosis of hyperuricemia, renal dysfunction, kidney stones, cardiovascular disease, risk for developing cardiovascular disease, tumor-lysis syndrome, cognitive impairment, early-onset essential hypertension, and Plasmodium falciparum-induced inflammation.
US08889713B1
The compounds herein disclosed are N-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline benzamide and benzene sulfonamide compounds that have modifications on the phenyl rings by introducing groups with various electronic properties. These derivatives of N-substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline compounds have been shown to have anti-proliferative activity against cells. In particular, the compounds have been found to be effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells, such as cancer cells that originated in breast tissue. Additionally, it has been shown that the novel compounds have IC50 values against the breast cancer cells that are 6- to 10-fold less than the IC50 of Tamoxifen.
US08889706B2
The present invention relates to small molecule modulators of mTORC1 and mTORC2, syntheses thereof, and intermediates thereto. Such small molecule modulators are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases (e.g., benign neoplasms, cancers, inflammatory diseases, autoimmune diseases, diabetic retinopathy) and metabolic diseases. Novel small molecules are provided that inhibit one or more of mTORC1, mTORC2, and PI3K-related proteins. Novel methods of providing soluble mTORC1 and mTORC2 complexes are discussed, as well as methods of using the soluble complexes in a high-throughput manner to screen for inhibitory compounds.
US08889701B1
The instant invention relates to a novel compound representing a substituted phosphoramidic acid—a (2R,3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-(5-pyrimidin-1-yl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl aryl phosphoramidate of formula 1 or a (S)-(2R,3R,5R)-3-hydroxy-(5-pyrimidin-1-yl)tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)methyl aryl phosphoramidate of formula 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, a hydrate, a crystalline form or a stereoisomer thereof, as defined in the specification.The novel compound is used for a pharmaceutical composition with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient as well as with an inosine 5 monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, HCV protease NS3 inhibitor, HCV protease NS3/4A inhibitor, and RNA polymerase NS5A inhibitor. The novel compound is useful as a viral polymerase HCV NS5B inhibitor and can be used for treating a disease caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV).
US08889700B2
The present invention relates to novel 4-(4-cyano-2-thioaryl)dihydropyrimidin-2-one derivatives, to processes for their preparation, to their use alone or in combination for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases and also to their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases, in particular for the treatment and/or prevention of disorders of the lung and the cardiovascular system.
US08889691B2
The present invention relates to new indole compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or isomers thereof which are useful for the prevention or treatment of cellular necrosis and necrosis-associated diseases. The present invention also relates to a method and a composition for the prevention or treatment of cellular necrosis and necrosis-associated diseases, comprising said indole compounds as an active ingredient.
US08889690B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula IA and pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, compositions comprising an effective amount of a compound of formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, and methods for treating or preventing a condition such as pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD and IBS, comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of formula IA or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.
US08889688B2
The invention relates to novel piperazine derivatives and their use as active ingredients in the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions. The invention also concerns related aspects including pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more of those compounds and their use as medicaments for the treatment or prevention of protozoal infections, such as especially malaria.
US08889687B2
This invention in one embodiment is directed to a compound of Formula Ia; where the designation (R) indicates that the designated carbon has the (R) stereochemistry; and wherein Z1 is hydrogen or fluorine; Z2 is hydrogen, deuterium, or fluorine; Z3 is deuterium; Z4 is fluorine; m is an integer from 0 to 10; n is an integer from 0 to 2; provided that: the sum of m+n does not exceed 10; and when both Z1 and Z2 are hydrogen, the sum of m+n is greater than 0, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. This invention also provides compositions comprising one or more compounds of this invention and a carrier and the use of the disclosed compounds and compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions that are beneficially treated by administering an antihelminthic agent, such as praziquantel.
US08889685B2
Maleate salts of (6-(5-chloro-2-pyridyl)-5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyloxy]-7-oxo-6,7-dihydro-5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyrazine) are provided. The salts are useful for treating sleep disorders.
US08889683B2
The present invention relates to novel quinoxaline compounds of Formula I: as Fatty Acid Binding Protein (“FABP”) inhibitors, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the quinoxaline compounds and the use of the quinoxaline compounds for treating or preventing a cardiovascular disease, a metabolic disorder, obesity or an obesity-related disorder, diabetes, dyslipidemia, a diabetic complication, impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose.
US08889676B2
The invention relates to 3-ureidoisoquinolin-8-yl derivatives of formula I wherein R1 is alkyl, haloalkyl or cyclopropyl; R2 is H, halogen, pyridazin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl or an optionally substituted pyridin-3-yl, pyridin-4-yl or phenyl group; R3 is alkyl, alkynyl, aminoalkyl, carbamoylalkyl, methylcarbamoylalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkynyloxy, (4-hydroxybut-2-yn-1-yl)oxy, (4-aminobut-2-yn-1-yl)oxy, dimethylaminoalkoxy, carbamoylalkoxy, alkylamino, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, cycloalkylalkoxy, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkoxy, carboxyalkyl, carboxyalkoxy, alkoxycarbonylalkoxy, aryl, heteroaryl, benzyl, benzyloxy, 2-cyanoethoxy, 2,3-dihydroxypropoxy, 3,4-dihydroxybutoxy, —CH2Ra, —CH2CH2Rb, —(CH2)n—C(O)O—Rd, —(CH2)n—N(Rc)C(O)O—Rd, —O—(CH2)n—N(Rc)C(O)O—Rd, —(CH2)n—Re or —O—(CH2)n—Re; Ra is cyano, acetylamino or N,N-dimethylamino; Rb is cyano or carbamoyl; Rc is H or methyl; Rd is alkyl; Re is pyrrolidin-1-yl, piperidin-1-yl, piperidin-3-yl, morpholin-1-yl, 2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl, 5-oxopyrrolidin-2-yl, 2,5-dioxopyrrolidin-1-yl, 2-oxoimidazolidin-1-yl, 4-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)piperazin-1-yl, 4-(aminomethyl)cyclohexyl or heteroaryl; R4 is H or methyl; and to the salts of such compounds. These compounds are useful for the prevention or the treatment of bacterial infections.
US08889673B2
A compound of Formula I, enantiomers, diasteriomers, tautomers or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are defined herein, are useful as JAK kinase inhibitors. A pharmaceutical composition that includes a compound of Formula I and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, adjuvant or vehicle, and methods of treating or lessening the severity of a disease or condition responsive to the inhibition of JAK kinase activity in a patient are disclosed.
US08889669B2
The invention relates to novel benzodiazepine derivatives with antiproliferative activity and more specifically to novel benzodiazepine compounds of formula (I)-(VII). The invention also provides conjugates of the benzodiazepine compounds linked to a cell-binding agent. The invention further provides compositions and methods useful for inhibiting abnormal cell growth or treating a proliferative disorder in a mammal using the compounds or conjugates of the invention.
US08889662B2
The present invention includes methods of influencing the sex chromosome ovulated by a female bird and altering the sex ratio in avian offspring by altering the exposure of an ovulating female bird to one or more stress hormones. In some aspects, the method includes exposing an avian female to a glucocorticoid, such as for example, corticosterone, after the completion of rapid yolk deposition and prior to ovulation.
US08889652B2
The present invention relates to an injection solution for intra-articular administration for treating arthritic disorders comprising a cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative wherein part of functional groups of a hyaluronic acid are cross-linked with a cross-linking group to the extent of 0.6 to 15% of cross-linking extent as an active ingredient in an amount having a long-lasting analgesic effect and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and an analgesic composition for suppressing a cartilage degeneration caused by arthritic disorders or a composition for suppressing a cartilage degeneration or an inflammation of synovium caused by arthritic disorders each comprising the cross-linked hyaluronic acid derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08889651B2
The invention relates to trehalose derivatives with general formula (I), a preparation method and uses thereof, wherein 6,6′-bis(2,3-dimethoxybenzoyl)-α,α-D-trehalose has anti-colon cancer 26-L5 cell invasion activity which is better than that of a natural product Brartemicin, IC50 is 0.10 μg/mL (0.15 μM), and when the IC50 is 10 μg/mL, 6,6′-bis(2,3-dimethoxybenzoyl)-α,α-D-trehalose has no cytotoxicity, shows high-selectivity anti-tumor invasion activity and can be used for preparing medicaments for preventing and treating invasion and metastasis of colon cancer and the like.
US08889648B2
The problem of the present invention is to prove a medicament for decreasing body weigh, a medicament for decreasing visceral fat, a medicament for decreasing triglyceride in the liver, and a method for screening a medicament for ameliorating obesity and fatty liver. The problem is solved by a method comprising measuring an activity of a candidate material for inhibiting a sphingomyelin synthetase wherein if the candidate material has an activity for inhibiting a sphingomyelin synthetase, the candidate material is judged to have at least one function selected from the consisting of an anti-obesity drug, a drug for decreasing visceral fat, a drug for treating fatty liver and an agent for increasing adiponectin expression.
US08889646B2
The present invention relates, in general, to a pharmacologic system to modulate the biology of platelets based upon a nucleic acid ligand that can interact with and modulate the activity of platelet glycoprotein GPVI to regulate platelet function. These nucleic acid ligands are also actively reversible using a modulator that inhibits the activity of the nucleic acid ligand to neutralize this pharmacologic effect and thereby restore GPVI function, including collagen binding, platelet adhesion, collagen-induced platelet activation, and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. The invention further relates to compositions comprising the nucleic acid ligand, the ligand and a modulator, methods to generate the nucleic acid ligand and its modulator, as well as methods of using these agents and compositions in medical therapeutic and diagnostic procedures.
US08889644B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) targeting a G-alpha q subunit (GNAQ) of a heterotrimeric G gene, and methods of using the dsRNA to inhibit expression of GNAQ.
US08889643B2
The use of compounds is described which are capable of functionally blocking at least one of the genes chosen from the group composed of EphAI, EphA2, EphA8, EphB2, CSF1R, VEGFR2, RAMP2, RAMP3, CLRN1, MAPK4, PIK3C2A, PIK3CG, GSK3alpha, GSK3beta, IRAK3, DAPK1, JAK1, PIM1, TRB3, BTG1, LATS1, LIMK2, MYLK, PAK1, PAK2, CDC2, BTK, PNRC2, NCOA4, NR2C1, TPR, RBBP8, TRPC7, FXYD1, ERNI, PRSS16, RPS3, CCL23 and SERPINE1, for the manufacture of a medicament destined to diminish the resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs in the therapeutic treatment of epithelial tumor pathologies. Also described is a method for the determination of the drug resistance in tumor cells, as well as a method for the identification of tumor stem cells.
US08889641B2
The present invention provides AAV capsid proteins (VP1, VP2 and/or VP3) comprising a modification in the amino acid sequence in the three-fold axis loop 4 and virus capsids and virus vectors comprising the modified AAV capsid protein. In particular embodiments, the modification comprises a substitution of one or more amino acids at amino acid positions 585 to 590 (inclusive) of the native AAV2 capsid protein sequence or the corresponding positions of other AAV capsid proteins. The invention also provides methods of administering the virus vectors and virus capsids of the invention to a cell or to a subject in vivo.
US08889635B2
The present invention relates to novel therapeutic and diagnostic dendrimers. In particular, the present invention is directed to dendrimer-linker conjugates, methods of synthesizing the same, compositions comprising the conjugates, as well as systems and methods utilizing the conjugates (e.g., in diagnostic and/or therapeutic settings (e.g., for the delivery of therapeutics, imaging, and/or targeting agents (e.g., in disease (e.g., cancer) diagnosis and/or therapy, pain therapy, etc.)). Accordingly, dendrimer-linker conjugates of the present invention may further comprise one or more components for targeting, imaging, sensing, and/or providing a therapeutic or diagnostic material and/or monitoring response to therapy.
US08889630B2
The present invention provides a method for re-growing hair in patients with androgenic alopecia by administering effective consecutive courses of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor or derivatives. After the state of re-growth is obtained, the hair growth is maintained by administering periodic courses of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor or derivatives. The invention further provides a method for increasing cuticle growth and density using a similar administration of effective consecutive courses of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor or derivatives. The increased cuticle growth and density is maintained by administering periodic courses of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor or derivatives.
US08889621B2
The present invention is directed to a method of treating hypophosphatemia in a subject. This method involves selecting a subject with hypophosphatemia associated with elevated or normal FGF23 and administering to the selected subject an inhibitor of FGF23-Klotho-FGF receptor complex formation under conditions effective to treat the hypophosphatemia.
US08889613B2
A detergent comprises an alkalinity source, a homopolymer of acrylic acid or a salt thereof, a homopolymer of methacrylic acid or a salt thereof, and a homopolymer of maleic acid or a salt thereof. Suitable weight ratios include a weight ratio of the homopolymer of methacrylic acid or a salt thereof to the homopolymer of acrylic acid or a salt thereof between approximately 1:3 and approximately 3:1, a weight ratio of the homopolymer of acrylic acid or a salt thereof to the homopolymer of maleic acid or a salt thereof between approximately 3:1 and approximately 1:6, and a weight ratio of the homopolymer of methacrylic acid or a salt thereof to the homopolymer of maleic acid or a salt thereof between approximately 2:1 and approximately 1:4.
US08889610B2
The need for a stable, quick dissolving unit dose article delivering good fabric care benefit is met by combining a cationic polymer with a fatty acid or salt in a non-aqueous composition, that is comprised within a water-soluble or dispersible film. By combining the cationic polymer with the fatty acid, the cationic polymer is prevented from reducing the solubility of the encapsulating film.
US08889605B2
A straw biolubricant includes 70-80% mineral oil, 6-11% straw biomass oil, and 15-20% active agent. The active agent is sorbitol oleate. The straw biolubricant includes a higher contact resistance and lower coefficient of friction in comparison with a conventional lubricant, therefore to reduce the temperature of operating machine parts.
US08889595B2
Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are suitable for use as herbicides.
US08889587B2
A catalyst system comprising a first catalytic composition comprising a first catalytic material disposed on a metal inorganic support; wherein the metal inorganic support has pores; and at least one promoting metal. The catalyst system further comprises a second catalytic composition comprising, (i) a zeolite, or (ii) a first catalytic material disposed on a first substrate, the first catalytic material comprising an element selected from the group consisting of tungsten, titanium, and vanadium. The catalyst system may further comprise a third catalytic composition. The catalyst system may further comprise a delivery system configured to deliver a reductant and optionally a co-reductant. A catalyst system comprising a first catalytic composition, the second catalytic composition, and the third catalytic composition is also provided. An exhaust system comprising the catalyst systems described herein is also provided.
US08889586B2
In one embodiment, the invention is to a catalyst composition, comprising vanadium and titanium. Preferably, the molar ratio of vanadium to titanium in an active phase of the catalyst composition is greater than 0.5:1.
US08889584B2
An apparatus for production of a fuel cell catalyst layer forming a catalyst layer by a catalyst paste, the apparatus including a device for removal of water to obtain a polyelectrolyte solution by reducing, to a predetermined value or less, the concentration of water in a pre-solution in which a polyelectrolyte having a side chain including a hydrophilic functional group is dissolved in a solvent; and an agitator means for obtaining the catalyst paste by mixing a pre-paste obtained by mixing a catalyst with water and the polyelectrolyte solution.
US08889580B2
The present invention is a mixture comprising by weight 0.01 to 28% of at least one medium or large pore crystalline silicoaluminate, silicoaluminophosphate materials or silicoaluminate mesoporous molecular sieves (co-catalyst) (A) for respectively 99.99 to 72% of at least a MeAPO molecular sieve.Preferably the proportion of (A) is 1 to 15% for respectively 99 to 85% of MeAPO molecular sieves.MeAPO molecular sieves having CHA (SAPO-34) or AEI (SAPO-18) structure or mixture thereof are the most preferable. Si is the most desirable metal in MeAPO.The present invention also relates to catalysts consisting of the above mixture or comprising the above mixture.The present invention also relates to a process (hereunder referred as “XTO process”) for making an olefin product from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock wherein said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock is contacted with the above catalyst (in the XTO reactor) under conditions effective to convert the oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock to olefin products (the XTO reactor effluent).The present invention also relates to a process (hereunder referred as “combined XTO and OCP process”) to make light olefins from an oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock comprising: contacting said oxygen-containing, halogenide-containing or sulphur-containing organic feedstock in the XTO reactor with the above catalyst at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the feedstock to form an XTO reactor effluent comprising light olefins and a heavy hydrocarbon fraction; separating said light olefins from said heavy hydrocarbon fraction; contacting said heavy hydrocarbon fraction in the OCP reactor at conditions effective to convert at least a portion of said heavy hydrocarbon fraction to light olefins.
US08889579B2
A process is presented for the management of sulfur on a catalyst. The catalyst is a dehydrogenation catalyst, and sulfur accumulates during the dehydrogenation process. Sulfur compounds are stripped from the spent catalyst and the catalyst is cooled before the regeneration process. The process includes controlling the amount of sulfur that needs to be removed from the catalyst before regeneration.
US08889578B2
Processes for regenerating sulfur-poisoned, ruthenium and/or ruthenium compound-containing catalysts
Processes comprising: providing a catalyst comprising a catalytic component selected from the group consisting of ruthenium, ruthenium compounds, and combinations thereof, wherein the catalyst is sulfur-poisoned with one or more sulfur compounds; and treating the catalyst with a gas stream comprising a hydrogen halide under nonoxidative conditions such that the catalyst is regenerated.
US08889575B2
Ion exchangeable glass articles are disclosed. In one embodiment, a glass article formed from alkali aluminosilicate glass which may include Ga2O3, Al2O3, Na2O, SiO2, B2O3, P2O5 and various combinations thereof. The glass article may generally include about X mol % of Ga2O3 and about Z mol % of Al2O3, wherein 0≦X≦20, 0≦Z≦25 and 10≦(X+Z)≦25. The glass article may also include from about 5 mol % to about 35 mol % Na2O, SiO2 may be present in an amount from about 40 mol % to about 70 mol % SiO2. The glass article may further include Y mol % B2O3 where Y is from 0 to about 10. The glass article may further include (10-Y) mol % of P2O5. Glass articles formed according to the present invention may be ion-exchange strengthened. In addition, the glass articles may have a low liquid CTE which enables the glass articles to be readily formed into complex shapes.
US08889571B2
A wire cloth includes warp wires and weft wires which cross each other and are interwoven by a weave pattern. The warp wires are formed in at least two different configurations to define warp wires of first and second types. A length of the first type of warp wires deviates from a length of the second type of warp wires in relation to a particular length unit, with pores being formed in interstices between sections of two neighboring warp wires and crossing sections of two neighboring weft wires.
US08889566B2
A method of forming a dielectric layer is described. The method deposits a silicon-containing film by chemical vapor deposition using a local plasma. The silicon-containing film is flowable during deposition at low substrate temperature. A silicon precursor (e.g. a silylamine, higher order silane or halogenated silane) is delivered to the substrate processing region and excited in a local plasma. A second plasma vapor or gas is combined with the silicon precursor in the substrate processing region and may include ammonia, nitrogen (N2), argon, hydrogen (H2) and/or oxygen (O2). The equipment configurations disclosed herein in combination with these vapor/gas combinations have been found to result in flowable deposition at substrate temperatures below or about 200° C. when a local plasma is excited using relatively low power.
US08889559B2
A method of forming a pattern on a substrate includes forming spaced first material-comprising pillars projecting elevationally outward of first openings formed in second material. Sidewall spacers are formed over sidewalls of the first material-comprising pillars. The sidewall spacers form interstitial spaces laterally outward of the first material-comprising pillars. The interstitial spaces are individually surrounded by longitudinally-contacting sidewall spacers that are over sidewalls of four of the first material-comprising pillars.
US08889546B2
A method of fabricating an interconnect structure is provided which includes providing a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 3.0 or less and at least one conductive material embedded therein, the at least one conductive material has an upper surface that is coplanar with an upper surface of the dielectric material; and forming a noble metal-containing cap directly on the upper surface of the at least one conductive material, wherein the noble metal cap is discontinuous or non-uniform.
US08889542B2
A method for fabricating through-silicon vias (TSVs) for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the method involves utilizing copper contact pads in a back-end-of-line wiring level, wherein the copper contact pads act as cathodes for performing an electroplating technique to fill TSVs with plated-conductive material (e.g., copper) from an electroplating solution. Moreover, the method provides a way to fill high aspect ratio TSVs with minimal additional semiconductor fabrication process steps, which can increase the silicon area that is available for forming additional electronic components on integrated circuits.
US08889540B2
Transistors with memorized stress and methods for making such transistors. The methods include forming a transistor structure having a channel region, a source and drain region, and a gate dielectric; depositing a stressor over the channel region of the transistor structure, wherein the stressor provides a stress to the channel region; removing the stressor metal after the stress is memorized within the channel region; and depositing a work function metal over the channel region of the transistor structure, where the work function metal applies less stress to the channel region than the stress applied by the stressor. A transistor with memorized stress includes a source and drain region on a substrate; a stress-memorized channel region on the substrate that retains an externally applied stress; and a gate structure including a work function gate metal that applies less stress to the stress-memorized channel region than the externally applied stress.
US08889534B1
A method of doping a non-planar surface or a surface of a substrate subject to poor view factors is provided. The processing chamber comprises a window, walls, and a bottom of the processing chamber with oxygen-containing material, the processing chamber configured to supply oxygen radicals as an additive to doping materials. One or more quartz pieces are placed inside the processing chamber, where a magnet proximate to the processing chamber is configured to create a local magnetron plasma inside the processing chamber. Process gas containing an inert gas, sublimated doping materials, and optionally oxygen gas is flowed into the processing chamber; energy is applied to the process gas, generating a doping plasma used to expose a portion of the substrate surface while controlling operating variables to achieve target uniformity of dopant concentration, sheet resistance, degree of dopant clustering, and erosion of features on the substrate.
US08889523B2
A semiconductor process includes the following steps. A substrate having a recess is provided. A decoupled plasma nitridation process is performed to nitride the surface of the recess for forming a nitrogen containing liner on the surface of the recess. A nitrogen containing annealing process is then performed on the nitrogen containing liner.
US08889522B2
Methods and devices related to a plurality of high breakdown voltage embedded capacitors are presented. A semiconductor device may include gate material embedded in an insulator, a plurality of metal contacts, and a plurality of capacitors. The plurality of capacitors may include a lower electrode, a dielectric formed so as to cover a surface of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the dielectric. Further, the plurality of contacts may connect each of the lower electrodes of the plurality of capacitors to the gate material. The plurality of capacitors may be connected in series via the gate material.
US08889518B2
The present invention provides a laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) transistor and a method for fabricating it. The LDMOS transistor includes an n-type epitaxial layer formed on a p-type substrate, and an asymmetric conductive spacer which acts as its gate. The LDMOS transistor also includes a source and a drain region on either side of the asymmetric conductive spacer, and a channel region formed by ion-implantation on the asymmetric conductive spacer. The height of the asymmetric conductive spacer increases from the source region to the drain region. The channel region is essentially completely under the asymmetric conductive spacer and has smaller length than that of the channel region of the prior art LDMOS transistors. The LDMOS transistor of the present invention also includes a field oxide layer surrounding the active region of the transistor, and a thin dielectric layer isolating the asymmetric conductive spacer from the n-type epitaxial layer.
US08889511B2
In one general aspect, a method can include forming a shield dielectric layer in a trench in a semiconductor substrate, forming a shield electrode on at least a portion of the shield dielectric layer, and etching the shield dielectric layer so that a portion of the shield dielectric layer is recessed in the trench. The method can include forming a gate dielectric layer on the recessed portion of the shield dielectric layer in the trench, forming a first conductive gate electrode on a first side of the shield electrode and insulated from a first sidewall of the trench by the gate dielectric layer, and forming a second conductive gate electrode on a second side of the shield electrode and insulated from a second sidewall of the trench by the gate dielectric layer.
US08889508B2
Precision resistors for non-planar semiconductor device architectures are described. In a first example, a semiconductor structure includes first and second semiconductor fins disposed above a substrate. A resistor structure is disposed above the first semiconductor fin but not above the second semiconductor fin. A transistor structure is formed from the second semiconductor fin but not from the first semiconductor fin. In a second example, a semiconductor structure includes first and second semiconductor fins disposed above a substrate. An isolation region is disposed above the substrate, between the first and second semiconductor fins, and at a height less than the first and second semiconductor fins. A resistor structure is disposed above the isolation region but not above the first and second semiconductor fins. First and second transistor structures are formed from the first and second semiconductor fins, respectively.
US08889507B2
A capacitor and methods for forming the same are provided. The method includes forming a bottom electrode; treating the bottom electrode in an oxygen-containing environment to convert a top layer of the bottom electrode into a buffer layer; forming an insulating layer on the buffer layer; and forming a top electrode over the insulating layer.
US08889505B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a first-conductivity-type well and a second-conductivity-type well in a silicon substrate; stacking a first high-dielectric-constant insulating film and a first cap dielectric film above the silicon substrate; removing at least the first cap dielectric film from above the second-conductivity-type well; conducting a first annealing at a first temperature to cause an element included in the first cap dielectric film to diffuse into the first high-dielectric-constant insulating film disposed above the first-conductivity-type well; after the first annealing, stacking a second high-dielectric-constant insulating film and a second cap dielectric film above the silicon substrate; removing the second cap dielectric film disposed above the first-conductivity-type well; and conducting a second annealing at a second temperature lower than the first temperature to cause an element included in the second cap dielectric film to diffuse into the second high-dielectric-constant insulating film disposed above the second-conductivity-type well.
US08889500B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, forming a plurality of fin-formation trenches that define a fin, forming a first stressed layer within the trenches and above the fin and performing at least one etching process on the first stressed layer so as to define spaced-apart portions of the first stressed layer positioned at least partially within the trenches on opposite sides of the fin. The method also includes forming spaced-apart portions of a second stressed layer above the spaced-apart portions of the first layer, forming a third stressed layer above the fin between the spaced-apart portions of the second layer and, after forming the third layer, forming a conductive layer above the second and third layers.
US08889492B2
Embodiments generally include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has an improved device switching capacity by using multiple layers of variable resistance layers. In one embodiment, the resistive switching element comprises at least three layers of variable resistance materials to increase the number of logic states. Each variable resistance layer may have an associated high resistance state and an associated low resistance state. As the resistance of each variable resistance layer determines the digital data bit that is stored, the multiple variable resistance layers per memory element allows for additional data storage without the need to further increase the density of nonvolatile memory devices. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.
US08889486B2
A package-on-package (“PoP”) structure and a method of forming are provided. The PoP structure may be formed by forming a first set of electrical connections on a first substrate. A first material may be applied to the first set of electrical connections. A second substrate may be provided having a second set of electrical connections formed thereon. The first set of electrical connections of the first substrate having the epoxy flux applied may be contacted to the second electrical connections of the second substrate. A reflow process may be performed to electrically connect the first substrate to the second substrate. The epoxy flux applied to the first electrical connections of the first substrate may prohibit electrical bridges or shorts from forming during the reflow process.
US08889469B2
Methods and devices are provided for forming multi-nary semiconductor. In one embodiment, a method is provided comprising of depositing a precursor material onto a substrate, wherein the precursor material may include or may be used with an additive to minimize concentration of group IIIA material such as Ga in the back portion of the final semiconductor layer. The additive may be a non-copper Group IB additive in elemental or alloy form. Some embodiments may use both selenium and sulfur, forming a senary or higher semiconductor alloy. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08889467B2
The present invention relates to a semiconductor compound having the general formula AxB1-xCy, to a method of optimizing positions of a conduction band and a valence band of a semiconductor material using said semiconductor compound, and to a photoactive device comprising said semiconductor compound.
US08889460B2
The present disclosure provides an image sensor device and a method for manufacturing the image sensor device. An exemplary image sensor device includes a substrate having a front surface and a back surface; a plurality of sensor elements disposed at the front surface of the substrate, each of the plurality of sensor elements being operable to sense radiation projected towards the back surface of the substrate; a radiation-shielding feature disposed over the back surface of the substrate and horizontally disposed between each of the plurality of sensor elements; a dielectric feature disposed between the back surface of the substrate and the radiation-shielding feature; and a metal layer disposed along sidewalls of the dielectric feature.
US08889458B2
A method of converting power using a power semiconductor module includes conducting power to power semiconductor devices; converting the conducted power with the power semiconductor devices; conducting heat generated by the power conversion from the power semiconductor devices first through a conductive circuit layer, then through an insulating substrate, to a baseplate; and removing the heat from the baseplate. The conductive circuit layer and the baseplate are formed of a material with a coefficient of thermal expansion less than about 8.0×10=6/° C. and a density less than about 4 g/cm3.
US08889454B2
Methods of manufacturing a thermoelectric generator via fiber drawing and corresponding or associated thermoelectric generator devices are provided.
US08889450B2
The disclosed light emitting diode includes a substrate provided, at a surface thereof, with protrusions, a buffer layer formed over the entirety of the surface of the substrate, a first semiconductor layer formed over the buffer layer, an active layer formed on a portion of the first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer formed over the active layer, a first electrode pad formed on another portion of the first semiconductor layer, except for the portion where the active layer is formed, and a second electrode pad formed on the second semiconductor layer. Each protrusion has a side surface inclined from the surface of the substrate at a first angle, and another side surface inclined from the surface of the substrate at a second angle different from the first angle.
US08889430B2
A nanostructure and methods of synthesizing same. In one embodiment, the nanostructure includes a magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle, a hydrophobic protection structure including at least an amphiphilic copolymer, wherein the hydrophobic protection structure encapsulates the magnetic iron oxide nanoparticle, and at least one amino-terminal fragment (ATF) peptide or epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody conjugated to the amphiphilic copolymer.
US08889427B2
The invention provides for rapid response analysis through lateral flow chromatographic assays of specific antigens present in human or animal fluids, or in agricultural, microbial or biological products, with an audio and visual result of the analysis and when needed, an electronic surge to provide heat for rapid results. A lateral flow device for conducting the analysis includes a plurality of components, and a method for making the device forms components of the device on an elongate, ribbon-like substrate of dielectric material, then folds the substrate into shorter lengths which are then secured together to establish a multiple-layered, self-sustaining structure.
US08889420B2
A photoconductive sensor compound for detecting explosives can have a structure I: where R is a morphology control group, A is a linking group, B is a electron donor that is selective for transferring electrons to PTCDI backbone upon irradiation to make the resulting nanostructures conductive, and R1 through R8 are side groups.
US08889407B2
An apparatus for the aerobic in-vessel rotary drum composting of feedstock into nutrient-rich compost comprising means for shredding said input material, said means configured and powered for shredding said feedstock into a particle size no larger than one cubic inch, a vessel having an input port on top of such vessel and a discharge port, said vessel comprising one chamber, said vessel configured and powered for composting said shredded feedstock, and said vessel tilted from the input port to the discharge port, means for passing said feedstock from said means for shredding into said vessel, means for rotating said vessel, means for introducing air into said vessel and a process controller, said process controller communicating with said means for shredding, said vessel, said means for rotating said vessel and said means for introducing air into said vessel.
US08889404B2
A method and apparatus for producing biogas from organic matter including a container (1) which is charged with fermentation substrate by a delivery system (13), and at least two stirring mechanisms (2) arranged in the container, the stirring mechanisms having propellers (3) which are rotated and generate mostly horizontal currents of the fermentation substrate in the container. The propeller diameters, the propeller geometries, and the positions of the propellers in the container are selected such that a shared mixing zone of the medium is generated in the container. Data for determining the mean speed and/or the viscosity of the medium in the mixing zone are detected and transmitted to a control unit (4) which varies actuating variables which modify the power input of the stirring mechanism into the mixing zone and/or the composition and/or the flow behavior of the container contents.
US08889396B2
The present invention provides methods of improving growth performance, improving the efficiency of feed utilization, increasing feed digestibility, and decreasing mortality of immature and developing animals receiving animal feed. Methods of producing a crude keratinise enzyme extract and animal feed supplements for achieving the same are also provided.
US08889393B2
The invention provides a process and kit for serial isolation of DNA and RNA from the same sample. First, a siliceous solid support with preferential affinity for DNA over RNA is used to capture DNA in a lysate of a sample. Next, a siliceous solid support with similar affinity for RNA and DNA is used to capture RNA from the same lysate. The respective solid supports are recovered independent of each other, washed, and their bound nucleotide species are eluted. The invention further provides DNA and RNA prepared using the process in a minimal number of steps employing a minimal number of reagents. As the invention yields DNA and RNA of high quality and is amenable to automation, the invention may be used widely in the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries.
US08889389B2
The present invention relates to an efficient and economical process for producing a protein A-like protein. Hosts such as Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis have been used in the production of a protein A-like protein using a genetic recombination technique and however, their low productivity has been a big cause of high cost. Thus, it has been desired strongly to immediately establish a technique enabling the inexpensive, large-scale production of a protein A-like protein using recombinant DNA techniques other than Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The present invention provides a process for producing a protein A-like protein in large amounts, for example, a process comprising allowing a recombinant Brevibacillus genus bacterium to express and secrete the protein in large amounts into a culture solution and separating and collecting the accumulated protein A-like protein from the culture solution.
US08889379B2
An in vitro method to produce a glycoside is described which includes the steps of contacting the cellodextrin phosphorylase from Clostridium stercorarium with alpha-glucose-1-phosphate or alpha-galactose-1-phosphate and an acceptor, and glycosylating the acceptor. The acceptor may be an alkyl beta-glucoside, an aryl beta-glucoside, a glucolipid, an alkyl beta-sophoroside, an aryl beta-sophoroside or a sophorolipid. Alkylcellobiosides, arylcellobiosides, cellobiolipids, cellotriolipids, glucosophorolipids and cellobiosesophorolipids are produced when alpha-glucose-1-phosphate is used as donor. Corresponding lactosides are produced when alpha-galactose-1-phosphate is used as donor.
US08889378B2
The invention provides methods for identifying a compound that inhibits cytochrome c synthesis. This invention further provides a method for the high throughput screening of compounds that inhibit cytochrome c synthesis.
US08889371B2
The invention encompasses the use of a lipolytic enzyme obtainable from one of the following genera: Streptomyces, Corynebacterium and Thermobifida in various methods and uses, wherein the lipolytic enzyme hydrolyzes a glycolipid or a phospholipid or transfers an acyl group from a glycolipid or phospholipids to an acyl acceptor. The present invention also relates to a lipolytic enzyme that hydrolyzes at least a galactolipid or transfers an acyl group from a galactolipid to one or more acyl acceptor substrates, wherein the enzyme is obtainable from Corynebacterium species.
US08889365B2
The present inventions relates to kits and methods for diagnosing and monitoring breast cancer. An increase in the level or activity of proteins of the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, and ancillary proteins thereof, as compared to normal control or benign tissue is indicative of breast cancer.
US08889356B2
The invention provides for systems, methods, and compositions for manipulation of sequences and/or activities of target sequences. Provided are vectors and vector systems, some of which encode one or more components of a CRISPR complex, as well as methods for the design and use of such vectors. Also provided are methods of directing CRISPR complex formation in eukaryotic cells and methods for selecting specific cells by introducing precise mutations utilizing the CRISPR/Cas system.
US08889355B2
Ligation-enhanced nucleic acid detection assay embodiments for detection of RNA or DNA are described. The assay embodiments rely on ligation of chimeric oligonucleotide probes to generate a template for amplification and detection. The assay embodiments are substantially independent of the fidelity of a polymerase for copying compromised nucleic acid. Very little background amplification is observed and as few as 1000 copies of target nucleic acid can be detected. Method embodiments are particularly adept for detection of RNA from compromised samples such as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded samples. Heavily degraded and cross-linked nucleic acids of compromised samples, in which classic quantitative real time PCR assays typically fail to adequately amplify signal, can be reliably detected and quantified.
US08889353B2
The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the progression of the bisulfite-mediated conversion of DNA during DNA methylation analysis. The method is based on the reaction of the enzyme uracil-DNA-glycosylase (UNG) with at least one labeled DNA reporter molecule, the reporter molecule comprising at least one unmethylated cytosine residue in its sequence. After bisulfite-mediated conversion of unmethylated cytosine residues in uridin residues UNG removes the uracil bases from the DNA backbone, thus making it susceptible to heat-induced hydrolytic cleavage. Finally, the labels released from the DNA reporter molecule during this fragmentation process are detected.
US08889347B2
Systems and methods for performing measurements of one or more materials are provided. One system is configured to transfer one or more materials to an imaging volume of a measurement device from one or more storage vessels. Another system is configured to image one or more materials in an imaging volume of a measurement device. An additional system is configured to substantially immobilize one or more materials in an imaging volume of a measurement device. A further system is configured to transfer one or more materials to an imaging volume of a measurement device from one or more storage vessels, to image the one or more materials in the imaging volume, to substantially immobilize the one or more materials in the imaging volume, or some combination thereof.
US08889337B2
Such a film forming method is provided that can prevent peeling of surface films including a resist film from a substrate during immersion exposure.The film forming method includes the steps of forming surface films including a resist film and a protective film covering the resist film over a surface of a wafer, and forming an edge cap film by supplying an edge cap film material to at least a boundary portion including a periphery of the wafer and peripheries of the surface films such as the protective film.
US08889335B2
A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a compound represented by a formula (1), and a polymer that serves as a base resin. R1 is a monovalent group that includes at least two groups of —CO—, —NH—, —S—, and —SO2—, the at least two groups being each identical or different. A is a divalent hydrocarbon group or a divalent fluorohydrocarbon group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms. R is a fluorine atom or a hydrogen atom. a is an integer from 1 to 4. In a case where a plurality of R are present, each of the plurality of R is either identical or different. M+ is a monovalent cation.
US08889321B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a holographic film, wherein a photopolymer formulation comprising matrix polymers, writing monomers, photoinitiator system, and optionally auxiliary materials and additives is provided, the photopolymer formulation is applied as a film to the surface of a substrate, and the film is dried, wherein a photopolymer formulation having a plateau module G0 of =0.03 MPa is used. The invention further relates to a holographic medium that can be obtained by means of the method according to the invention.
US08889318B2
A power generating system may include a plurality of bipolar plates stacked to form a fuel cell assembly having an inlet side, a non-inlet side, an inlet header extending from the inlet side to the non-inlet side, an active area, and an inlet transition area. The inlet transition area may be in fluid communication with (i) the inlet header via feed passageways formed in each of the plates and (ii) the active area. The feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the inlet side may be generally smaller and/or fewer in number than the feed passageways of the plates located proximate to the non-inlet side such that, during operation of the fuel cell assembly, a flow velocity of gas through the active area is generally constant.
US08889317B2
Described herein are fuel cell systems that include a cover affecting reactant flow into an electrochemical cell array of the system. The cover includes one or more transport barrier regions and one or more opened regions. The transport barrier regions are in proximity to active regions of the electrochemical cell array.
US08889315B2
The present invention provides a catalyst which is not corroded in an acidic electrolyte or at a high potential, is excellent in durability and has high oxygen reduction ability. The catalyst of the present invention is characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride. The catalyst of the invention is also characterized by including a niobium oxycarbonitride represented by the composition formula NbCxNyOz, wherein x, y and z represent a ratio of the numbers of atoms and are numbers satisfying the conditions of 0.01≦x≦2, 0.01≦y≦2, 0.01≦z≦3 and x+y+z≦5.
US08889301B2
Nanostructured gel polymer electrolytes that have both high ionic conductivity and high mechanical strength are disclosed. The electrolytes have at least two domains—one domain contains an ionically-conductive gel polymer and the other domain contains a rigid polymer that provides structure for the electrolyte. The domains are formed by block copolymers. The first block provides a polymer matrix that may or may not be conductive on by itself, but that can soak up a liquid electrolyte, thereby making a gel. An exemplary nanostructured gel polymer electrolyte has an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10−4 S cm−1 at 25° C.
US08889296B2
The hydration of cadmium oxide in the presence of nickel acetate gives the possibility of obtaining a compound of general formula Cd1-xNix(OH)2-y(CH3CO2)y with 0
US08889289B2
A fixture is configured for holding terminals of a battery in alignment. The fixture includes a first and a second side member. The first and second side members each include a plurality of first and second teeth, respectively. The second side member is movable relative to the first side member between an open position and a closed position. The second side member opposes the first side member such that a number of the first teeth oppose a corresponding number of the second teeth and a slit is defined between each of the adjacent teeth when the fixture is in the open position. Likewise, the second side member opposes the first side member such that the number of the first teeth are staggered from the corresponding number of the second teeth to reduce the slit in size when the fixture is in the closed position.
US08889283B2
A modular frame for a battery module includes: a floor that includes an electrically non-conductive material; end walls that are perpendicular to the floor and that include the electrically non-conductive material; and side walls that are perpendicular to the floor, that are perpendicular to the end walls, and that include the electrically non-conductive material. The modular frame further includes interior walls that include the electrically non-conductive material and that define: a first row of cell slots configured to receive a first plurality of prismatic cells; a second row of cell slots configured to receive a second plurality of prismatic cells; and a chamber disposed between the first and second rows of cell slots. The modular frame further includes a first and second apertures to the chamber. The first aperture is defined by the interior walls and the side walls. The second aperture is formed through one of the end walls.
US08889280B2
A battery storage module and a mounting seat for the battery storage module are disclosed. The battery storage module includes a sliding base and a storage battery. The sliding base includes a container, a plurality of wheels, a pair of conducting members and at least one mounting member. The container has a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, the plurality of wheels are mounted on the container, the pair of conducting members are mounted on the first end of the container, and the at least one mounting member is mounted on the second end of the container. The storage battery is received in the container and electrically connected to the pair of conducting members.
US08889277B2
An assembly for preventing a fire resulting from the outgassing of a lithium battery in an electronic door lock includes a lithium battery, a circuit board, and a thermal insulation. The lithium battery and circuit board are housed within the electronic door lock. The thermal insulation is arranged between a door interfacing side of the electronic door lock and either or both of the circuit board and lithium battery. Another thermal management technique for preventing fire resulting from the outgassing of a lithium battery in an electronic door lock is achieved by using a battery cover that is selectively movable away from the circuit board or ignition source in response to temperature rise to ensure the lithium battery does not reach a critical temperature that may cause outgassing in close proximity to the ignition source.
US08889267B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a heterocyclic compound and an organic light-emitting device including the heterocyclic compound. The heterocyclic compound is represented by Formula 1 or Formula 2. The organic light-emitting devices using the heterocyclic compounds have high-efficiency, low driving voltage, high luminance and long lifespan.
US08889261B2
A gunnable adhesive composition includes a silicone resin and an organopolysiloxane, or a reaction product thereof; as well as a filler and a solvent. The silicone resin and the organopolysiloxane are present in amounts to provide a resin/polymer ratio ranging from 58% to 64%. The gunnable adhesive composition may be applied to low surface energy substrates at ambient temperatures without primer or other surface treatment. The gunnable adhesive composition and adhesive product thereof are useful in weather barrier applications, such as building wraps.
US08889256B2
Woven, knit, and non-woven fabrics, and garments and other textile goods fabricated therefrom, are prepared from yarns comprising fibers comprising a fluorinated polyester blend prepared by melt blending a fluorovinyl ether functionalized polyester with a non-fluorinated polyester. The fluoroether functionalized polyester can be a homopolymer or a copolymer. The goods so produced exhibit durable soil, oil, and water repellency.
US08889251B2
In one embodiment, a multilayer dielectric coating for use in an alkali laser includes two or more alternating layers of high and low refractive index materials, wherein an innermost layer includes a thicker, >500 nm, and dense, >97% of theoretical, layer of at least one of: alumina, zirconia, and hafnia for protecting subsequent layers of the two or more alternating layers of high and low index dielectric materials from alkali attack. In another embodiment, a method for forming an alkali resistant coating includes forming a first oxide material above a substrate and forming a second oxide material above the first oxide material to form a multilayer dielectric coating, wherein the second oxide material is on a side of the multilayer dielectric coating for contacting an alkali.
US08889244B2
A transparent electrode device includes: a substrate; an electrode region formed on the substrate using a transparent electroconductive film; and an insulating region disposed on the substrate and adjacent to the electrode region, in which a plurality of random island patterns including patterns having a width of 100 μm or greater, formed using the transparent electroconductive film, are disposed mutually distanced from one another.
US08889236B2
An optical film having: a hard coat layer; an optically anisotropic layer; and a transparent support, wherein the optically anisotropic layer contains a liquid crystalline compound and a binder, the hard coat layer, the transparent support, and the optically anisotropic layer are laminated in this order, a surface of the optically anisotropic layer contains a fluorine-containing compound not forming covalent bond with the binder of the optically anisotropic layer, a surface of the optical film on the hard coat layer-formed side contains a fluorine-containing or silicone series compound being fixed by covalent bond, and a topmost surface properties of the optical film on hard coat layer-formed side satisfies the specific conditions.
US08889224B2
A method for forming a parylene film is provided, which includes following steps. Providing a chemical vapor deposition apparatus including a buffer chamber having first and second valves and a rotative carrying apparatus, an evaporator connected with the second valve, a pyrolysis chamber connected with the evaporator, and a deposition chamber connected with the pyrolysis chamber. Placing a parylene material in the rotative carrying apparatus of the buffer chamber through the first valve. Turning off the first and second valves and balancing a pressure in the buffer chamber and a pressure in the evaporator. Turning on the second valve and delivering the parylene material into the evaporator. Evaporating the parylene material in the evaporator to form a parylene gas. Pyrolyzing the parylene gas in the pyrolysis chamber to form a parylene monomer. Delivering the parylene monomer to the deposition chamber for deposition so as to form a parylene film.
US08889205B2
A resealable package integrity closure includes a film layer forming a top of a container and a flap defining an access opening. A sealing panel completely covers the flap of the film layer. A releasable adhesive is provided on either or both the film layer and the sealing panel for adhering the sealing panel to the film layer. The sealing panel is releasable from the film layer by pulling the sealing panel back in a peeling direction and reclosable against the top to seal the access opening when the sealing panel is moved back against the top. A coating of transferable material is provided on either the sealing panel or on the film layer, which is transferable therebetween to provide a visual indication that the closure has been previously opened.
US08889202B2
The present invention relates to a steamed cake donut with a total fat content comprised between 7% and 18%, in particular comprised between 7% and 15%, more in particular comprised between 7% and 12%. The present invention further relates to methods and means (e.g. dry mix, batter) for preparing such donut. A donut of the invention can be stored in frozen state prior to or after steaming.
US08889191B2
Pharmaceutical compositions of topiramate for once-a-day oral administration are provided. The formulations comprise a sustained-release component and an optional immediate-release component, the compositions of which can be selectively adjusted, respectively, to release the active ingredient along a pre-determined release profile. Method of treating or preventing pathological disorders in mammalian subjects comprising the administration of the novel formulations disclosed herein is also provided.
US08889184B2
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition for direct oral administration which is very easy to swallow especially for young children, comprising at least one pharmaceutically active compound. The pharmaceutical composition is present in the form of one or more particles. The particles comprise a core containing the active ingredient which has been provided with one or more coatings. The pharmaceutical composition is preferably administered in combination with a powder and/or granules which, when applied to the tongue, spontaneously generate additional saliva. With the extra saliva, the coated particles form a soft, smooth, but mechanically stable surface perceived as pleasant in the mouth within seconds so that they may be swallowed easily and practically in the right quantity with the extra saliva formed.
US08889166B2
A plastic implant device for a mammal that contains a rare earth metal compound tracer and a method for detecting degradation such as wear of the implanted device are disclosed. The tracer can also be present with a separate antioxidant or the tracer compound can be can be the salt of a C6-C22 unsaturated carboxylic acid. The rare earth metal compound tracer is released when the prosthetic is worn down or otherwise degraded in the mammalian body in which it was implanted. The presence and amount of released tracer present in a body fluid or tissue sample measured and is proportional to the degree of degradation of the implant.
US08889151B2
A headache can be treated more effectively by co-administration of a botulinum toxin and a triptan drug to a patient and/or the effectiveness of a triptan medication can be increased. The botulinum toxin can be botulinum toxin type A and the botulinum toxin can be administered to or to the vicinity of where a patient experiences or is predisposed to experience pain or a headache.
US08889150B2
Agents, compositions, methods and kits useful for the treatment and diagnosis of Staphylococcal intramammary infection are disclosed. The agents, compositions, methods and kits are derived from genes expressed during Staphylococcal intramammary infection, and more particularly genes SACOL0029, SACOL0264, SACOL0442, SACOL0718, SACOL0720, SACOL1353, SACOL1416, SACOL1611, SACOL1944, SACOL2144, SACOL2365 or SACOL2599, based on the gene nomenclature from the Staphylococcus aureus COL (SACOL) genome.
US08889145B2
The present invention relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising polypeptides and polysaccharides from Staphylococcus aureus. The present invention also relates to immunogenic compositions, comprising Staphylococcus aureus capsule polysaccharides conjugated to a carrier protein. In addition, the invention relates to methods of inducing an immune response in subjects against Staphylococcus aureus using immunogenic compositions of the Staphylococcus aureus polypeptides and capsule polysaccharides.
US08889142B2
The present invention is related to antigen from Chlamydia trachomatis which are recognized by specific antibodies from individuals infected with Chlamydia or which can induce T cells from the same individuals to secrete gamma-interferon. The T cell reactive antigens are present in a whole-cell lysate and have apparent molecular weights of 5-12, 16-20, 25-35 and 58-74 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. The antigens of the invention are believed to be useful in vaccines but also as diagnostic compositions.
US08889138B2
The present invention relates to antibodies that differentially recognize multi-dimensional conformations of Aβ-derived diffusible ligands, also known as ADDLs. The antibodies of the invention can distinguish between Alzheimer's Disease and control human brain extracts and are useful in methods of detecting ADDLs and diagnosing Alzheimer's Disease. The present antibodies also block binding of ADDLs to neurons, assembly of ADDLS, and tau phosphorylation and are there useful in methods for the preventing and treating diseases associated with soluble oligomers of amyloid β 1-42.
US08889136B2
Multiple-variable dose methods for treating TNFα-related disorders, including Crohn's disease and psoriasis, comprising administering TNFα inhibitors, including TNFα antibodies, are described. Multiple-variable dose methods include administration of a TNF-inhibitor in an induction or loading phase followed by administration of the agent in a maintenance or treatment phase, wherein the TNF-inhibitor is administered in a higher dosage during the induction phase.
US08889133B2
The present invention provides methods of preventing, treating or ameliorating diabetes by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of Dll4 antagonists that block Dll4-Notch signal pathways. As observed in a mouse model of diabetes, Dll4 antagonists exhibit protective effects on pancreatic islets, lower blood glucose levels, and block the production of auto-antibodies, including those against insulin and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), via the expansion of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Thus, the present invention further provides methods of lowering the levels of blood glucose, and/or reducing or blocking the production of auto-antibodies, by administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of Dll4 antagonists. Suitable Dll4 antagonists for the invention include antibodies or antibody fragments that specifically bind Dll4 and block Dll4-Notch interactions, the extracellular domain of Dll4, and the like.
US08889130B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of osteoarthritis and pain using IL-1α and IL-1β binding proteins, including anti-IL-1α and anti-IL-1β antibodies and engineered multivalent and multispecific IL-1α and IL-1β binding proteins.
US08889117B2
Modular nanoparticle vaccine compositions and methods of making and using the same have been developed. Modular nanoparticle vaccine compositions comprise an antigen encapsulated in a polymeric particle and adaptor elements which modularly couple functional elements to the particle. The modular design of these vaccine compositions, which involves flexible addition and subtraction of antigen, adjuvant, immune potentiators, molecular recognition and transport mediation elements, as well as intracellular uptake mediators, allows for exquisite control over variables that are important in optimizing an effective vaccine delivery system.
US08889114B2
The present invention refers to the use of growth factors, which are effective on mesothelial cell proliferation, used in a sterilized carboxymethylchitosan pharmaceutical composition employed to reduce postoperative adhesions severity. The present invention also provides a method to inhibit postoperative adhesions severity.
US08889111B2
The present invention concerns a composition for the permanent shaping of human hair used both for the permanent waving of human hair with an excellent waving effect as well as for the straightening of curled hair comprising at least one ubichinone of the formula where n is a number between 1 and 10 at a concentration of 0.0001 to 1% by weight calculated to total composition.
US08889097B2
An on-board hydride storage system and process are described. The system includes a slurry storage system that includes a slurry reactor and a variable concentration slurry. In one preferred configuration, the storage system stores a slurry containing a hydride storage material in a carrier fluid at a first concentration of hydride solids. The slurry reactor receives the slurry containing a second concentration of the hydride storage material and releases hydrogen as a fuel to hydrogen-power devices and vehicles.
US08889091B2
LiPO2F2, an electrolyte salt additive for batteries, is manufactured by the reaction of POF3, PF5 or mixtures thereof, with Li3PO4 forming a reaction mixture comprising LiPO2F2. When POF3 is applied, the reaction mixture which contains essentially only LiPO2F2 is preferably extracted from the reaction mixture with a solvent which also is applicable as solvent for lithium ion batteries. If PF5 is applied, then, depending on the molar ratio of PF5 and Li3PO4, the reaction mixture also contains LiF and/or LiPF6. To isolate pure LiPO2F2 from LiF, the reaction mixture containing essentially only LiPO2F2 and LiF may for example, be extracted with dimethoxyethane, acetone, dimethyl carbonate or propylene carbonate. To isolate pure LiPO2F2 from LiPF6, the reaction mixture containing essentially only these constituents is preferably extracted with a solvent which also is applicable as solvent for the LiPF6 in lithium ion batteries to dissolve and remove LiPF6.
US08889077B2
The aim of the invention is to devise a flue gas purification system which allows the use of only one absorber even for large systems. The flue gas purification system according to the invention comprises a fluidized-bed reactor having a flue gas inlet unit and a flue gas outlet unit, a nozzle unit being mounted downstream of the flue gas inlet unit. Said nozzle unit is provided with nozzles, said nozzles having different cross-sections.
US08889076B2
One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. Generally, the fluid catalytic cracking system includes a first reaction vessel and a second reaction vessel. The first reaction vessel may contain a first catalyst having pores with openings greater than about 0.7 nm and a second catalyst having pores with smaller openings than the first catalyst. What is more, the second reaction vessel may contain the second catalyst. Generally, at least a portion of the second catalyst is directly communicated with the first reaction vessel.
US08889073B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus for recovering residual salt from the reduced uranium metal. The apparatus comprising: an evaporating chamber accommodating mixed molten salt or a reduced uranium metal; a heating furnace surrounding the evaporating chamber to heat the mixed molten salt in the evaporating chamber; an insulator disposed over the evaporating chamber to block heat generated from the evaporating chamber, and including an evaporating pipe in a center thereof to move vapor generated from the evaporating chamber; a receiver disposed over the insulator to collect powder formed by condensing and solidifying vapor passing through the evaporating pipe; and a condenser disposed over the receiver to prevent the vapor passing through the evaporating pipe from leaking out of the apparatus.
US08889069B2
A sample processing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a sample processing section, a transporting section, an identification data acquirer and a system controller. When identification data of a washing fluid tube is acquired by the identification data acquirer, the system controller controls the transporting section to supply the washing fluid tube to the sample processing section. When the washing fluid tube arrives at the sample processing section, the sample processing section aspirates the washing fluid in the supplied washing fluid tube and performs a washing of at least one part of the sample processing section. The system controller prohibits the washing with the washing fluid tube if identification data of a sample tube is acquired after the identification data of the washing fluid tube is acquired and before the washing is started.
US08889063B2
The present invention relates to a method of making cutting tools comprising a substrate having a hard phase and a binder phase, the method comprising forming green powder compacts using powder metallurgical techniques, charging the green powder compacts, placed on one or several trays, in a furnace and sintering the green powder compacts wherein the furnace comprises an insulation package, at least three individually controlled heating elements located inside the insulation package including a vertical heating element, an upper horizontal heating element arranged in an upper part of the furnace, and a lower horizontal heating element arranged in a lower part of the furnace, wherein operating the at least three heating elements such that an average controlled cooling rate from a sintering temperature down to at least a solidification temperature of the binder phase is 0.1-4.0° C./min, and a sintering furnace operable to obtain a controlled cooling rate.
US08889057B2
An apparatus for shaping plastics material pre-forms to form plastics material containers may include at least one blowing station, a compressed air supply, and a compressor device. The blowing station forms a hollow space in the interior of which the plastics material pre-forms are capable of being shaped to form plastics material containers. The compressed air supply supplies the compressed air to at least one element of the blowing station, and the compressor device produces the compressed air. The compressor device is arranged in the vicinity of the apparatus in such a way that a flow connection between the compressor device and the blowing station is shorter than 15 m.
US08889054B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing hybrid materials of thin polymer films with single, laminated, complete and/or partially embedded nanofibers to obtain products with unique functional properties. In one embodiment, the present invention involves a method that comprises the combination of two process technologies; a thin film solution casting process (tape casting, solvent casting) and an electrospinning process, in order to produce hybrid materials of thin polymer films with single, laminated, completely and/or partially embedded electrospun nanofibers to obtain products with unique functional properties. In another embodiment of the present invention, fibers and/or nanofibers of a chosen material are spun directly on to substrates of polymer solutions and/or monomers solutions, were such solutions are located on a carrier belt that is electrically and/or ionically conductive.
US08889050B2
A method for producing a fiber composite component, in particular for aerospace, the method comprising the following steps: forming a mold core from a material comprising cork by a molding tool to establish an outer geometry of said mold core; arranging the so formed mold core adjacent to an at least partly hardened stiffening element on a base element of said composite component to be produced for the shaping of at least one molded portion of said fiber composite component to be produced; and multistage exposure of at least said molded portion to heat and/or pressure to produce said fiber composite component; a corresponding mold core and a corresponding fiber composite component.
US08889040B2
A conductive paste composition for a solar cell includes a conductive powder, a glass frit, and a vehicle, the glass frit consisting of glass containing 0.6 to 18.0 (mol %) Li2O, at least one of 0.1 to 6.0 (mol %) P2O5 and 0.1 to 4.0 (mol %) Sb2O5, 20 to 62 (mol %) PbO, 1 to 18 (mol %) B2O3, 18 to 65 (mol %) SiO2, 0 to 6 (mol %) Al2O3, 0 to 6 (mol %) TiO2, and 0 to 30 (mol %) ZnO in oxide conversion, the glass having a ratio of Pb/Si (mol ratio) within a range of 0.5 to 1.7.
US08889036B2
The present disclosure describes a scintillation crystal having the general formula RE(1−y)MyF3XA3(1−x), wherein RE includes; A is selected from Cl, Br or I; and M is an activator ion selected from the Ce3+, Pr3+ or Eu3+; x is greater than 0.01 mole% and strictly less than 100 mole%, and y is greater than 0.01 mole% and strictly less than 100 mole%; and wherein the at least one activator ion is further combined with ions from the group of Ho3+, Er3+, Tm3+, or Yb3+.
US08889026B2
A transparent heat-shielding material having a chemical formula CsXNYWO3-ZClC, characterized by being co-doped with elements of different groups in the periodic table, wherein Cs is cesium; N is tin (Sn) or antimony (Sb) or bismuth (Bi); W is tungsten; O is oxygen; and X, Y, Z, and C are positive numbers satisfying the following conditions: X≦1.0, Y≦1.0, Y/X≦1.0, Z≦0.6, and C≦0.1; the transparent heat-shielding material is used to make a highly transparent and highly effective heat-shielding film which can be adhered to glass panels of buildings and automobiles to block infrared radiation in the wavelength range of 800-2000 nm, thereby insulating heat and saving energy; and the film is also applicable as a composite substrate for electronic components.
US08889024B2
A plasma etching method that can improve an etching selection ratio of a film to be etched to a film different from the film to be etched compared with the related art is provided. The present invention provides a plasma etching method for selectively etching a film to be etched against a film different from the film to be etched, in which plasma etching of the film to be etched is performed using a gas that can cause to generate a deposited film containing similar components as components of the different film.
US08889021B2
A sensing device for measuring a plasma process parameter in a plasma chamber for processing workpieces may include a substrate with one or more sensor embedded in the substrate. The substrate can have a surface made of substantially the same material as workpieces that are plasma processed in the plasma chamber. Each sensor can include a collector portion made of substantially the same material as the substrate surface. The collector portion includes a surface that is level with the surface of the substrate. Sensor electronics are embedded into the substrate and coupled to the collector portion. When the substrate surface is exposed to a plasma one or more signals resulting from the plasma can be measured with the sensor(s).
US08889016B2
A processing system for processing raw slurry material comprises a barrel member defining a processing chamber, at least one intermediate opening, and an outlet opening, a trough system arranged to contain the raw slurry material, at least one transport member, and a drive system. As the drive system rotates the barrel member, the at least one transport member transports at least a portion of the raw slurry material from the trough system and through the processing chamber such that at least a first portion of the raw slurry material is transported to outlet opening, at least a second portion the raw slurry material exits the processing chamber through the intermediate opening, and at least at third portion of the raw slurry material is allowed to flow back towards the trough system.
US08889008B2
A method of conditioning a membrane biological reactor mixed liquor containing one or more nonionic polysaccharides and/or one or more organic molecules is disclosed.
US08889000B2
A stormwater treatment unit comprising a containment vault having an inlet and an outlet separates debris from a flow of stormwater through the unit. The water flow is controlled by a wall which directs flow from the inlet to the outlet through a reservoir of fluid in the unit. Debris separation by density occurs whereby lighter elements such as oil float on top of the fluid and heavier elements such as sediment collect at the bottom of the unit or in collectors in the reservoir. A wire mesh, deflector, and/or ripple boards placed beneath the inlet further increase efficiency of the separation, and a vent pipe is placed above the outlet to release pressure built up in the outlet during operation. A stormwater treatment system and method of retrofitting an existing stormwater trunk line locates the stormwater treatment unit in an off-line position from an existing drainage trunk line.
US08888998B2
A head for a water filter system having a filter element including a three-way valve member movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the valve member is in the first position, incoming water is directed to the filter element to remove sediment and impurities from the water. When the valve member is in the second position, the incoming water is blocked from passing through the filter element and the valve member. Lastly, when the valve member is in the third position, the incoming water passes through the valve member and not the filter element so that the filter element can be removed and replaced without interrupting the incoming water flow.
US08888997B2
A centralized supply system for electrolyzed oxidizing water comprises a water softener (1), several parallel electrolyzed oxidizing water generators (2) connected, liquid storage tanks (3, 4) and delivery pumps (5, 6). A central controller (10) implements independent control over the several parallel electrolyzed oxidizing water generators (2). Liquid level sensors (9) are mounted in the liquid storage tanks (3, 4) and are connected with the central controller (10) via data collection cables (12). With the detection, determination and calculation for the liquid level signal in the liquid storage tanks (3, 4) using the central controller (10), the volume magnitude and the rate of change of the volume for the liquid in the liquid storage tanks (3, 4) can be exactly obtained in time. The electrolyzed oxidizing water generators (2) are effectively controlled based on above data. An intelligent control method for the system is also provided.
US08888996B2
A filter (1) to purify the water distributed by a dispenser, fitted with a special sanitizing device incorporated therein. Inside of the said filter (1), below the water chamber (3), is a disinfectant chamber (4) that contains the solution designed to sanitize the said dispenser. A mechanism causes the sanitizing solution to flow into the water chamber (3) of the filter (1) and into the piping, for performing the subsequent sanitizing action.
US08888994B2
Method for deep desulphurization of hydrocarbon fuels includes following steps: (1) treatment of a hydrocarbon fuel under the condition of its mixing with gaseous oxidant selected from the group consisting nitrogen monoxide, dry air, ozone and a mixture of at least two of said reagents in order to oxidize sulfur-containing compounds presented in said fuel, and with a fine-dispersed adsorbent based on montmorillonite in order to adsorb oxidized sulfur-containing compounds, and (2) separation of spent adsorbent together with adsorbed oxidized sulfur-containing compounds from refined fuel.
US08888992B2
A process for improving flow properties of crude may include processing a first crude stream, which may in turn include cracking the first crude stream with fresh catalyst to form a cracked stream and spent catalyst, and then mixed with an unprocessed second stream. The spent catalyst may be regenerated to form fresh catalyst, which may then be recycled. At least part of the cracked stream may be mixed with a second crude stream. A ratio of the second crude stream to the first crude stream may be between about 0.5:1 and about 9:1. A ratio of part of the cracked stream to add to the second crude stream may be selected to achieve a API gravity of at least about 18. The first crude stream may be heated and stripped before being cracked.
US08888983B2
Metal implants (10) are treated by anodising the surface (11, 12) in contact with an electrolyte, and then briefly subjecting the anodised surface to a reversed voltage. During a first anodising stage the surfaces are passivated, while during a subsequent anodising stage pits are formed in the passivating surface layer. Rough portions (15) of the surface, in particular portions produced by plasma spraying of metal powder, are sealed with a watertight cover (20) during at least part of the anodising process. After rinsing, biocidal metal ions are subsequently absorbed into the surface of the implant. This provides the implant with biocidal properties. The use of the cover (20) enables a more uniform geometric distribution of biocidal metal ions to be achieved.
US08888976B2
The present invention is directed to a corrosion resistance evaluator suitable for corrosion testing coated metals substrates, such as autobodies. A corrosion resistance evaluator provided with a chamber containing electrolyte to which anode and cathode coated with protective coating being tested are exposed. These coatings are provided with predetermined and standardized defects, such as micro-holes to accelerate the corrosion of the underlying metal substrate in a predictable and repeatable manner. The coated cathode/anode pair is subject to a start-up period followed by series preset DC voltages for preset durations that are interspaced with recovery periods. The impedance date collected is then used to arrive at the corrosion performance resistance of the coating applied over the cathode/anode pair. The foregoing evaluator substantially reduces the time required to test corrosion from several days (40 plus days) to few days (about two days).
US08888971B1
A synergistic improvement of a precious metal assaying device with its associated electronic decoding algorithms further employing a precise feed of an electrolyte from a disposable flexing cartridge and through porous media for conveying electrolyte to create a reproducible electrochemical contact by a wetting action between a reference electrode in the assaying device and an external specimen under test where the electrolyte is passed through a novel slit diaphragm permitting efflux of electrolyte and reflux of unused electrolyte that results in a self-cleaning flush of the assaying device. The synergistic slit diaphragm permits the flow of electrolyte from the flexing cartridge in response to the positive pressure and the cleansing return of unused electrolyte on negative pressure of the cartridge, thereby solving a contamination problem which was a major shortcoming in such assaying devices.
US08888968B2
An apparatus for the electrolytic splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen gases is disclosed. The apparatus comprises: (i) a first hemi-enclosure; (ii) a second hemi-enclosure; (iii) a diaphragm electrode array positioned between the first hemi-enclosure and the second hemi-enclosure comprising: (a) a diaphragm, that passes ions and impedes the passage of gases, comprising a first side and a second opposed side; (b) a first plurality of electrodes in a first vicinity of the first side of the diaphragm; and (c) a second plurality of electrodes in a second vicinity of the second opposed side of the diaphragm; (iv) a fastener, for leak-tight fastening of the first hemi-enclosure, the diaphragm electrode array, and the second hemi-enclosure, whereby a leak-tight enclosure is formed; (v) contacts, for electrically powering the first and second pluralities of electrodes, and; (vi) pathways, configured to remove hydrogen and oxygen gases from the enclosure.
US08888951B2
A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing chamber that plasma processes a target object therein, first and second electrodes that are provided in the processing chamber to face each other and have a processing space therebetween, and a high frequency power source that is connected to at least one of the first and second electrodes to supply high frequency power to the processing chamber. At least one of the first and second electrodes includes a base formed of a metal, a dielectric material provided at a central portion of a plasma side of the base, and a first resistor provided between the dielectric material and plasma, and formed of a metal with a predetermined pattern.
US08888949B2
A gas distribution apparatus for a plasma processing equipment is provided. The gas distribution apparatus includes a support plate (3) and a showerhead electrode (5) that are secured together parallelly to define a chamber for gas distribution. A first gas distribution plate (4) is arranged in the chamber horizontally. On an upper surface of the gas distribution plate (4), at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) around its axis and a plurality of radial gas-flow grooves (42) communicating with the at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) is arranged. A plurality of axial viahole (43) are formed in the at least one circumferential gas-flow groove (41) and the plurality of radial gas-flow grooves (42). The gas distribution apparatus can achieve a uniform gas distribution in the plasma processing equipment.
US08888946B1
A dual-tip straight pin is disclosed. The pin includes a main shaft having a first tip and a pin leg extending from the main shaft, having a second tip. The pin is suitable for temporarily retaining a plurality of assembly components, such as wood, cloth and the like, to an assembly support workstation retaining the plurality of assembly components in a precisely aligned relationship to each other. The main shaft is located proximate a first side of the assembly component. The first tip extends beyond the second tip enabling the user to insert the main shaft into the workstation and use the main shaft as a pivot to position the pin leg against the second side of the assembly component. The pin is inserted into the assembly support workstation to a depth where a transverse segment of the pin leg engages with an upper surface of the assembly component.
US08888941B2
A process of making a multilayered product having an interior honeycomb layer or core. The interior layer is formed by extruding a generally corrugated web of material. The corrugated web is cut and folded to create the honeycomb core. Outer protective skins are applied to exterior surfaces of the interior layer to create a multilayered material which is then cut to size.
US08888935B2
A composition capable of producing either solid propellant grains, liquid or gel monopropellants, all of which are electrically ignitable and capable of sustained controllable combustion at ambient pressure. Additional compositions capable of sustained controllable combustion at elevated pressures are described. Applications for the compositions disclosed herein are provided, and include among other applications use in small micro thrusters, large core-burning solid propellant gains, shaped explosives charges for military application, and pumpable liquids and gel monopropellants or explosives for military, commercial mining or gas and oil recovery. In alternative embodiments the above compositions may also incorporate an energetic nitrate polymer, bum rate modifiers, and/or metal fuel(s). The HIPEP formulation makes it possible to ignite and sustain combustion at ambient and vacuum conditions (a) without continuous electrical power and (b) while providing faster bum rates.
US08888931B2
A dishwasher is provided having a wash chamber that is supplied with wash water by a water circulation pump assembly. The pump assembly has a motor, an inlet in fluid communication with a sump, and an outlet in fluid communication with the wash chamber. A macerator system is configured with the pump assembly and includes a filter screen disposed across the inlet and a chopper blade rotationally driven by the pump assembly at a defined axial distance upstream from the filter screen. The chopper blade is biased by materials in magnetic flux communication to the defined axial distance so as to maintain the defined distance in a running and stopped states of the pump assembly.
US08888926B2
A medical instrument cleaning concentrate and method for cleaning medical equipment. The method includes contacting the equipment with a cleaning concentrate dissolved in water. The cleaning concentrate contains (i) a biofilm permeation agent, (ii) a nonionic alkoxylated alcohol surfactant having an HLB ranging from about 5 to less than 8, wherein a weight ratio of (i) to (ii) in the cleaning concentrate based on 100 wt. % active ingredients ranges from about 0.5:1 to about 1.5:1, and (iii) and an inert diluents. After contacting the equipment with the cleaning concentrate dissolved in water, the contacted surfaces are rinsed to substantially remove detectible traces of the ingredients of the cleaning concentrate from the surfaces.
US08888925B2
A nozzle for discharging droplets of a processing liquid for processing a substrate has a main body including a supply port, a drain port, a processing liquid flow passageway connecting the supply port and the drain port, and a plurality of discharge ports from which the processing liquid is discharged. The processing liquid flow passageway includes a plurality of branch flow channels, which branch out between the supply port and the drain port and collect together between the supply port and the drain port. The plurality of discharge ports form a plurality of columns respectively corresponding to the plurality of branch flow channels; and are aligned along and connected to the corresponding branch flow channels. A piezo element applies vibration to the processing liquid flowing through the plurality of branch flow channels.
US08888915B2
A high-purity vitreous silica crucible which has high strength and is used for pulling a large-diameter single-crystal silicon ingot, includes a double laminated structure constituted by an outer layer composed of amorphous silica glass with a bubble content of 1 to 10% and a purity of 99.99% or higher and an inner layer composed of amorphous silica glass with a bubble content of 0.6% or less and a purity of 99.99% or higher, and in the portion between the upper opening end of the high-purity vitreous silica crucible and the ingot-pulling start line of a silicon melt surface in the step of pulling a single-crystal silicon ingot, a portion corresponding to 40 to 100 volume % from the upper opening end of the crucible is in a crystalline structure free from the crystallization promoter.
US08888905B2
A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, and a crystalline material, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In particular, the functional group(s) present in the amorphous component differ from the functional group(s) present in the crystalline component. In particular, the phase change inks compositions solidify fast and are suitable for high speed printing.
US08888904B2
This invention describes the processes of formulating heat generating graphite-sodium silicate (G-S) coating agents/mixes, and coating these mixes on base layer boards/panels to construct moderate to high surface temperature heating devices that are environmentally safe, fire retardant, and economically viable. The core to such heating devices is the formulation of G-S coating agents/mixes that are composed of graphite, sodium silicate, and aluminum silicate. In these coating mixes, the graphite is the primary heat generating agent, the sodium silicate is the main fire resisting agent, and the aluminum silicate primarily serves as surface heat control and water proofing functions.
US08888900B2
Apparatus for treating gas comprises a casing (100) containing a gas scrubber section (118) and an electrostatic precipitator section (120) located above the scrubber section. A partition (136) may be located within the casing (100) to separate the precipitator section (120) from the scrubber section (118). The casing has a gas inlet (102) for supplying gas to the scrubber section, a gas outlet (104) for exhausting gas from the precipitator section, a scrubbing liquid inlet (106) for supplying scrubbing liquid to the precipitator section, and a scrubbing liquid outlet (126) for draining scrubbing liquid from the scrubber section. In one embodiment the partition comprises a set of apertures (138) through which scrubbing liquid drains from the precipitator section into the scrubber section, and a set of gas passages (140) for conveying gas from the scrubber section to the precipitator section.
US08888896B1
A system and method of cleaning and scrubbing contaminants, including sulfides, from an unclean or raw gas includes one or more containers, each of which include a gas permeable receptacle or bag containing an appropriate gas scrubbing medium for removing the contaminants from the gas stream. A gas extraction device is adapted via inserted into the gas scrubbing medium with the gas permeable receptacle wherein the gas extraction device is connected to at least one gas outlet port in the container. A series of containers can be used wherein the containers are connected sequentially to remove the gas. A system for bypassing one of the plurality of containers in order to clean out the container while the gas cleaning mechanism is still in operation is also described.
US08888890B2
A redox ore leaching treatment method utilizing sulfurous acid to act as either an oxidizing or a reducing solution via pH adjustment for ore leaching and bioleaching.
US08888882B2
A filter device (10) for an internal combustion engine includes a separator that is embodied as a cyclone preseparator (26), a main filter element (36) exchangeably arranged in a housing compartment (68) of the filter housing (12), and a secondary filter element (38. The housing compartment (68) includes insertion stays (64). The main filter element (36) is embodied in as a double bellows filter including a first radially inwardly positioned filter bellows (40) and a second radially outwardly positioned filter bellows (42) surrounding it. Upon closing of a servicing housing cover (18) a sealing force is generated that acts onto the main filter element (36) and is maintained in the closed state of the servicing cover (18).
US08888879B1
In an embodiment, a method of non-destructively testing a polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) element includes providing a PCD element including a plurality of bonded diamond grains defining a plurality of interstitial regions, at least a portion of the plurality of interstitial regions including one or more interstitial constituents disposed therein. The method further includes exposing the PCD element to neutron radiation from a neutron radiation source, receiving a portion of the neutron radiation that passes through the PCD element, and determining at least one characteristic of the PCD element at least partially based on the portion of the neutron radiation received. For example, the at least one characteristic may be the presence and distribution of metal-solvent catalyst, residual metal-solvent catalyst, an infiltrant, residual infiltrant, or other interstitial constituents within a PCD element.
US08888878B2
A coated abrasive product includes a particulate material containing green, unfired abrasive aggregates having a generally spheroidal or toroidal shape, the aggregates formed from a composition comprising abrasive grit particles, a nanoparticle binder, a dual function material, and a cross-linking agent. These green unfired abrasive aggregates can also be used in free abrasive products and bonded abrasive products.
US08888869B2
Provided herein are methods, apparatuses and systems for fabricating photovoltaic cells and modules. In certain embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems involve coating ferromagnetic substrates with thin film solar cell materials and using magnetic force to constrain, move or otherwise manipulate partially fabricated cells or modules. According to various embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide magnetically actuated handling throughout a photovoltaic cell or module fabrication process, from forming photovoltaic cell layers on a substrate to packaging the module for transport and installation. The magnetically manipulated processing provides advantages over conventional photovoltaic module processing operations, including fewer mechanical components, greater control over placement and tolerances, and ease of handling. As a result, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide highly efficient, low maintenance photovoltaic module fabrication processes.
US08888868B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing composite carbon fibers in which two or more carbon fibers are dispersed in a nearly homogenous state, the composite carbon fibers capable of being easily dispersed in a matrix such as a resin without leaving aggregate, and imparting low resistance. Disclosed is a method for producing composite carbon fibers, which comprises imparting a cavitation effect to slurry containing 6% by mass or less of two or more carbon fibers each having a different average fiber diameter under a pressure of 100 MPa or more and less than 245 MPa thereby to form a composite.
US08888863B2
A surgical implant has a mesh-like base structure (2) and a film (4). The film (4) extends over at least part of the base structure (2), is connected to the base structure (2) in partial regions, and has a coefficient of kinetic friction, relative to rat skin, of not more than 0.25. The film (4) is preferably absorbable.
US08888862B2
A bone implant comprises a core 10 having an integral anchoring structure 12 at its surface. The structure 12 comprises an array of upwardly extending mutually spaced pointed claw-like teeth 14 for digging into bone to which the implant is to be attached, and a network of pores 16 underlying the array and communicating with the exterior of the surface via openings 18 between the teeth, the pores allowing for the circulation of nutrients to promote bone growth.
US08888860B2
A prosthesis comprising: an inner layer (4) formed from a polyaryletherketone; a first outer layer (2a) adjacent to said inner layer formed from a porous polyaryletherketone, at least some of said pores having located therein material to promote osteointegration; and a second outer layer (2b) adjacent to said first outer layer formed from a porous polyaryletherketone, a portion of said pores being free of material to promote osteointegration. The invention also relates to a method of manufacture of the prosthesis. In an alternative arrangement, the prosthesis comprises: an inner layer formed from a polyaryletherketone; a first outer layer adjacent to said inner layer formed from a porous polyaryletherketone, at least some of said pores having located therein material to promote osteointegration having a crystallinity of from about 60% to about 90%; and a second outer layer adjacent to said first outer layer formed from a porous polyaryletherketone, at least a portion of said pores having located therein material to promote osteointegration having a crystallinity of less than about 50%.
US08888854B2
The present invention provides an expandable fusion device capable of being installed inside an intervertebral disc space to maintain normal disc spacing and restore spinal stability, thereby facilitating an intervertebral fusion. In one embodiment, the fusion device includes a body portion, a first endplate, and a second endplate, the first and second endplates capable of being moved in a direction away from the body portion into an expanded configuration or capable of being moved towards the body portion into an unexpanded configuration. The fusion device is capable of being deployed and installed in both configurations.
US08888847B2
A cover for receiving an implantable medical device includes self-anchoring protrusions that engage tissue of a pocket where the device is implanted to resist movement including rotation and flipping. The implantable medical device is placed into the cover prior to being placed into the pocket so that once in the pocket, the device may reduce rotating, flipping, or otherwise moving. The self-anchoring protrusions may include barbs of various shapes to frictionally engage the tissue of the pocket. The cover may include features such as a strap and elastic construction to assist in holding the implantable medical device within the cover. Apertures may be included to enable the device. The cover may include additional features like suture tabs to allow additional fixation via suturing the cover to the surrounding tissue.
US08888846B2
An ossicle prosthesis has, at on one end, a first fastening element for connection to the tympanic membrane or a component of the ossicular chain, on the other end, a second fastening element for connection to a further component of the ossicular chain, or directly to the inner ear, and a connecting element that connects the two fastening elements in a sound-conducting manner, and it also includes an elongated applicator for transferring the ossicle prosthesis from a sterile packaging to the surgical site and for insertion into the middle ear or the auditory meatus, with a free end extending away from the prosthesis and used for handling purposes, and with an engagement part which is initially fastened to the prosthesis in a non-positive or form-fit manner, or via a material bridge which may be broken off or sheared off, and which may be detached and removed together with the applicator once the prosthesis has been inserted into the ear. This prosthesis may be removed from the sterile packaging and immediately inserted directly into the auditory meatus of the patient, or inserted into the middle ear in a standardized manner, without the use of additional tools, while ensuring that handling during surgery is optimal and tailored to the geometry of the prosthesis and ruling out the possibility of damage occurring via the gripping and transfer of the prosthesis.
US08888843B2
The invention relates to a device for use in the transcatheter treatment of mitral valve regurgitation, specifically a coaptation enhancement element for implantation across the valve; a system including the coaptation enhancement element and anchors for implantation; a system including the coaptation enhancement element, catheter and driver; and a method for transcatheter implantation of a coaptation element across a heart valve.
US08888823B1
A flexible, bendable organic decalcified or partially decalcified bone, cortical or cancellous, adapted for use in augmentation or repair of animal skeletal structures comprising a continuous plate or sheet of natural bone, as well as dermis is described. The thickness, flexibility and tensile strength of the construct is such as to allow it to be shaped and contoured without damage to it. The composition is ultimately remodeled by the body, thus obviating the need for additional surgical intervention. The clinical indications for the use of the invented construct are many, but are particularly prominent in dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery and implantology. It is particularly useful in the maxillary sinus augmentation. A unique new method, different from previously described methods for the preparation of the disclosed constructs, is described.
US08888820B2
A bone attachment device comprises an attachment collar having a hinged lid is disclosed. The bone attachment device may also comprise a bone fastener (such as a bone screw). A bone attachment device including an attachment collar and a spinal rod locking device is disclosed. A bone attachment device as described herein may be used together with a spinal stabilization rod and one or more additional bone attachment devices. Such devices are adapted to clamp and hold a spinal stabilization rod. Methods for implanting a spinal stabilizer having a bone attachment device including a hinged lid are disclosed.
US08888813B2
Retractor cannula systems may be used for accessing and visualizing the spine and related methods of treatment, including a forward-looking retractor cannula system for creating a working space and the retractor cannula system having atraumatic dissection capability to allow visualization in spine. The devices and methods described may be used, for example, to perform annulus repair, herniated disc excision, and denervation of neurological tissue; to dispense pharmacological agents and/or cell or tissue therapy agents; to diagnose disc degeneration and bony degeneration, spinal stenosis, and nucleus decompression, and to perform disc augmentation.
US08888811B2
This invention generally relates to devices and methods for repairing an aperture in biological tissue. In certain embodiments the invention provides as system for closing an aperture in a biological tissue including a handle, an elongate shaft connected to the handle, a deployment scaffold connected to the shaft, in which the scaffold is configured to releasably retain a surgical implant, and at least one adhesive dispensing system.
US08888809B2
A surgical instrument for supplying energy to tissue may comprise a handle, a trigger, an electrical input, and a shaft extending from the handle. The surgical instrument may comprise an end effector. The end effector may comprise a cammed compression surface. The end effector may comprise an electrode comprising a tapered tissue contacting surface. Some surgical instruments may comprise an overload member.
US08888806B2
The vasoocclusive device for use in interventional therapy and vascular surgery adapted to be inserted into a portion of a vasculature, includes a vasoocclusive coil disposed about an inner reinforcement coil wherein said vasoocclusive coil is helically wound and the inner reinforcement coil forms a reverse helical winding opposite the vasoocclusive coil winding, thereby forming a biplex wound coil. The vasoocclusive device biplex winding provides improved mechanical properties to the device. An inner reinforcement stretch resistant member attached within the biplex windings limits coil stretchability.
US08888804B2
Lancet device that includes a body. A front cover includes a skin engaging end that includes a lancet opening through which a lancet needle extends. A holding member is movably mounted within the body. The holding member includes a front end and a rear end. The front end is configured to receive a lancet. A main spring is disposed between the front and rear ends of the holding member. A first stop surface is arranged on a front portion of the holding member. A second stop surface is axially retained to a front portion of the body. At least partial rotation of the front cover causes the skin engaging end to move axially relative to the second stop surface.
US08888801B2
The devices and methods generally relate to treatment of occluded body lumens. In particular, the present devices and methods relate to removal of the occluding material from the blood vessels as well as other body lumens. In some variations, the devices comprise a catheter body, a cutter assembly, a drive mechanism, a torque shaft, and a deflecting mechanism. The deflecting mechanism may be slidable within the catheter body to point the cutter assembly toward a side of a body lumen.
US08888787B2
A method for creating a tract in retrograde fashion for nephrostomy tube creation comprising the steps of providing a puncture wire having a tissue penetrating tip shielded in a sheath, inserting the puncture wire and sheath through a channel in an ureteroscope, advancing the puncture wire from the sheath while visualizing under direct vision a position of the puncture wire, advancing the puncture wire through a selected calyx, and inserting antegrade a coaxial catheter over the puncture wire.
US08888786B2
A device for detecting and measuring a change in angular position with respect to a reference plane is useful in surgical procedures for orienting various instruments, prosthesis, and implants with respect to anatomical landmarks. One embodiment of the device uses three orthogonal rate sensors, along with integrators and averagers, to determine angular position changes using rate of change information. A display provides position changes from a reference position. Various alignment guides are useful with surgical instruments to obtain a reference plane.
US08888785B2
An apparatus and method for performing an open wedge osteotomy. The apparatus includes devices for forming an open wedge osteotomy in bone, including a keyed-wedge implant. The method includes the steps of forming a cut in a bone, forming a keyhole in the bone surface at the proximal end of the cut, and positioning a keyed wedge-shaped implant into the cut formed into the bone.
US08888782B2
A method of performing hip surgery with a robotic guided system on a patient with femoral acetabular impingement can include touching at least one of proximal femur and acetabulum of the hip joint of the patient at a plurality of locations with a stylus coupled to a robotic arm associated with the robotic guided system and acquiring a plurality of corresponding data. A three-dimensional model of at least one of the patient's proximal femur and acetabulum is created based on the data acquired. A location and amount of bone to be removed is determined. Dynamic movement limits of a cutting tool associated with the robotic guided system is set based on the determination. The determined bone of at least one of the proximal femur and acetabulum is removed with the tool while being inhibited from moving the tool outside of the dynamic limit by the robotic guided system.
US08888776B2
An electrosurgical surgical instrument can comprise a handle and an end effector, wherein the end effector can comprise first and second jaws which can be opened and closed in order to capture tissue therebetween. In various embodiments, the first and second jaws can comprise one or more electrodes configured to apply a voltage across the tissue, wherein at least one of the electrodes can comprise a conductive material positioned within a non-conductive, or high-resistance, material. In use, current flowing through the conductive material can heat the conductive material and cause it to evaporate and leave behind the non-conductive material. In such circumstances, the current flowing through the electrode may cease or may be substantially reduced.
US08888775B2
A forceps includes a housing having a shaft attached thereto. The shaft has an end effector assembly disposed at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes a pair of jaw members disposed in opposing relation relative to one another. At least one of the jaw members is moveable relative to the other between a spaced apart position and an approximated position for grasping tissue therebetween. At least one shape memory cutting member is coupled to one of the jaw members. The shape memory cutting member(s) is transitionable between a retracted state and an extended state. In the extended state, the cutting member(s) extends between the jaw members to cut tissue disposed therebetween when the jaw members are in the approximated position.
US08888773B2
Catheter apparatuses, systems, and methods for achieving renal neuromodulation by intravascular access are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present technology, for example, is directed to a treatment device having a multi-electrode array configured to be delivered to a renal blood vessel. The array is selectively transformable between a delivery or low-profile state (e.g., a generally straight shape) and a deployed state (e.g., a radially expanded, generally spiral/helical shape). The multi-electrode array is sized and shaped so that the electrodes or energy delivery elements contact an interior wall of the renal blood vessel when the array is in the deployed (e.g., spiral/helical) state. The electrodes or energy delivery elements are configured for direct and/or indirect application of thermal and/or electrical energy to heat or otherwise electrically modulate neural fibers that contribute to renal function.
US08888760B2
The ostomy receiving bag comprises a front wall (2) and a rear wall and has a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the rear wall is provided with an inlet to receive a stoma, and one wall is provided with at least one first half of a fixation pair (A), and the same effective wall after closure of the bag, if available, is provided with at least one second half of a fixation pair (B), such that when the first half and the second half of the fixation pair are attached, the volume of the receiving bag is reduced.
US08888755B2
The present invention relates to a disposable bag which comprises a multilayer film for accommodating a fluid, and a device which comprises a support holder for the disposable bag according to the invention in which the disposable bag is arranged. The present invention also relates to a process for the production of the disposable bag.
US08888754B2
The present invention relates to disposable absorbent articles such as diapers and adult incontinence products, which collect and retain urine and fecal material deposited thereon by the wearer. The disposable absorbent articles of the present invention comprise a color-pigmented backsheet, which further comprises visually discernible ornamental designs printed thereon.
US08888748B2
A fixing plaster (10) for fixing tubes, hoses or catheters, in particular a tube-fixing plaster (10) for fixing endotracheal tubes in particularly user-friendly form.
US08888734B2
A device for implantation a patient may include a tubular fiber wall that defines at least one opening and at least one lumen continuous with the one opening and adapted to allow the passage of fluid. The tubular fiber wall typically contains a porosity gradient that is adapted to permit passage of different size substances at different locations along the gradient. In one aspect, a second tubular fiber wall substantially encircling the tubular fiber wall.
US08888733B2
Devices, systems, and methods for autoretroperfusion. In at least one embodiment of a perfusion system of the present disclosure, the system comprises a first catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a first lumen therethrough, the distal end configured for insertion into a luminal organ of a patient, a coupler defining an outlet port and a first port, the coupler configured to engage the proximal end of the first catheter at the outlet port and to receive blood from a blood supply through the first port, a first tube having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen therethrough, the distal end of the first tube configured to engage the first port of the coupler and to receive the blood from the blood supply, and a first flow regulator in communication with one or more of the coupler and the first tube, the first flow regulator operable to regulate a flow and/or a pressure of the blood through at least part of the system, wherein the system is configured to permit the blood from the blood supply to flow through the first tube, the coupler, and the first catheter into the patient to treat a patient condition.
US08888731B2
Systems, devices, methods, and compositions are described for providing an actively controllable shunt configured to, for example, monitor, treat, or prevent an infection.
US08888726B2
A two dimensional moving massage device includes a base, a first movable device in the base, a second movable device in the first movable device, and two massage assemblies disposed on the second movable device. The first stage power gear of the first motor cooperates with the toothed bar of the base to make the first movable device move in the up-and-down direction. The left-and-right moving driven gear is restricted to only be movable in the left-and-right direction and in the up-and-down direction by the first guiding portions and the direction restricting groove. Therefore, rotation of the left-and-right moving driven gear will be converted into displacement of the left-and-right moving driven gear along the left-and-right direction and the up-and-down direction. The massage assembly disposed on the second movable device is also capable of moving both in the up-and-down and left-and-right directions.
US08888721B2
An interactive virtual care system may include a user sensory module to acquire multi-modal user data related to user movement. A data analysis module may compare the multi-modal user data to predetermined historical user data and/or statistical norm data for users to identify an anomaly in the user movement.
US08888720B2
A limb movement biosensor for wearing upon a great toe or other appendage, the wearing upon the great toe being particularly useful for sensing dorsiflexion of the great toe as an indicator of contraction of a wearer's tibialis anterior muscle. A particular configuration of one embodiment allows for extended, multi-night data collection of limb movements by allowing an embedded microcontroller to sleep until movement greater than a pre-determined magnitude is detected by an accelerometer, by recording into memory such detection, while avoiding recording of the actual magnitude value of the detected movement. According to another optional embodiment feature, a light sensor is configured to wake up the processor from a lower power state, such as when a user removes the device from a light-protected package.
US08888717B2
Various methods, techniques or modules are provided to allow for the automated analysis of the 3-D representation of the upper front torso (i) to recognize 3-D anatomical features, (ii) to orient the subject with reference to their anatomy or a display, (iii) to determine dimensional analysis including direct point-to-point lines, 3-D surface lines, and volume values, (iv) to simulate the outcome with the addition of breast implants including breast and nipple positioning, (v) to assist in the selection of the breast implants, and/or (vi) to assist in the planning of breast surgery. The automated analysis is based on the analysis of changes in a 3-D contour map of the upper torso, orientation analysis of 3-D features and planes, color analysis of 3-D features, and/or dimensional analysis of 3-D features and positions of the upper torso.
US08888716B2
An article suitable for conducting one or more assays with an apparatus, e.g., a meter, for determining the presence or concentration of an analyte in a sample of biological fluid. The article contains a plurality of biosensors arranged in such a manner that each of the biosensors can be utilized before the article must be removed from the apparatus.
US08888696B2
A surgical lamp that includes a lamp body having a central axis, and a suspension system for connecting the lamp body with a carrying system. The suspension system can include a first pivot joint around a first pivot axis that is perpendicular to the central axis, and the first pivot joint can be located in the central region of the lamp body.
US08888694B2
A surgical method of operating on the spinal column includes the steps of making a slit in the back of a patient proximate to the spinal column, such to divide a first muscle portion around the spinal column into a pair of separate side muscle portions, and detaching at least one of the separate side muscle portions from the spinal column by force-fitting an elongate gauze member into the slit and compressing the gauze member between the spinal column and the at least one of the side muscle portion, such to controllably detach an additional separate muscle portion of the side muscle portions from the spinal column.
US08888683B2
A scope adapted for insertion and manipulation in a difficult pathway is disclosed. The scope comprises at least one module for manipulating the scope. The scope may further comprise an illumination source, an image sensor, a power source, and a viewing member for viewing images of a cavity or other anatomical member of a patient. In one embodiment the scope is intended to facilitate insertion of an intubating device, which comprises an elongated semi-rigid stylet including first and second ends and at least one inner lumen connected to a module. Additionally, a flexible tip is provided for manipulating one end of the scope and allowing greater flexibility when maneuvering a difficult pathway. In another embodiment, fluids are provided through an interior portion of the scope, allowed to at least partially contact the lens located at the distal end of the scope, and subsequently cleanse or defog the lens for improving vision via the scope. A method for navigating a difficult pathway and for using the apparatus described herein is also disclosed.
US08888677B2
A pressure sensing or monitoring device may be used with an implantable band system. In some versions, the device may be used with a syringe. The device may comprise a visual indicator for monitoring pressure. The device may govern operation of the syringe by setting a threshold pressure to limit the amount of pressure applied to an implantable band system by the syringe.
US08888674B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for trapping or focusing magnetizable particles comprising therapeutic agents at a distance using a dynamic magnetic field and feedback control, to enable the treatment of diseased areas deep inside a patient's body. The methods may be used to diagnose or treat diseased areas deep within a patient, for example tumors of the lungs, intestines, and liver, and is also useful in enhancing the permeability of solid tumors to chemotherapeutic agents.
US08888672B2
Described are methods, devices, and systems for a novel, inexpensive, easy to use therapy for a number of disorders. Described are methods and devices to treat disorders that involves no medication. Methods and devices described herein use alternating magnetic fields to gently “tune” the brain and affect mood, focus, and cognition of subjects.
US08888667B2
A clamp device is for use with an elastic band and includes first and second clamp components and a coupling unit. The first clamp component has a resiliently deformable clamping arm portion connected to one end of a connecting arm portion, cooperating therewith to define a clearance, and defining a clamping side. The second clamp component has a clamping side disposed to confront that of the first clamp component. The coupling unit couples the two clamp components together in a manner that permits relative movement of the clamp components between a non-clamping state and a clamping state. In the clamping state, the clamping arm portion of the first clamp component deforms to contract the clearance and the clamping sides of the clamp components clamp cooperatively and tightly a portion of the elastic band therebetween.
US08888662B1
An artificial limb assists a user in combat training. The artificial limb comprises a first arm retainer mechanically coupled to a first upper arm and a first cord, where the first cord travels through a first hollow portion of the first upper arm. The first cord is immediately adjacent to a first lower arm and terminates at first end ball. The first arm retainer is mechanically coupled to a piece of equipment by an upper strap and a lower strap. When a user strikes the piece of equipment the first upper arm, first lower arm and first end ball flail in a manner that simulates an actual assailant.
US08888657B2
A control apparatus of a working vehicle including a hydraulic pump driven by an engine and two hydraulic motors connected in parallel to the hydraulic pump, a clutch being released or engaged so that a power is transmitted to one of the hydraulic motors via the clutch, includes: a load detection unit determining a load of the working vehicle from a throttle output amount and an engine speed of the engine; and a control unit reducing a pump injection amount of the hydraulic pump under an upper limit injection amount of the hydraulic pump predetermined based on the load at a time of release shift control of the clutch and increasing a pump injection amount of the hydraulic pump under a lower limit injection amount of the hydraulic pump predetermined based on the load at a time of engagement shift control of the clutch.
US08888651B2
A curvilinear gear system and method for transferring force and speed through a wide range of angles is disclosed. The system can optionally incorporate curvilinear U joints to increase effective range of angles to tailor the system to specific applications. The system includes complimentary gear heads, one of which is a curvilinear gear such as a hemispherical gear. A method of using the gear systems in a transmission apparatus is also disclosed.
US08888650B2
A vehicle drive apparatus includes a motor generator, a speed reduction mechanism connected to a rotor shaft of the motor generator, an output shaft connected to the speed reduction mechanism, an intermediate wall separating the motor generator from the speed reduction mechanism, and a bearing that is fixed to the intermediate wall and supports the rotor shaft. The motor generator, intermediate wall, speed reduction mechanism, and output shaft are disposed in this order, and a ring gear of the speed reduction mechanism is fixed. The ring gear is fixed to the intermediate wall via a ring gear flange that is positioned relative and fixed to the intermediate wall by a centering mechanism and a locking mechanism. The centering mechanism is formed by fitting a boss of the ring gear flange and the intermediate wall. The locking mechanism is disposed on an outer peripheral side relative to the centering mechanism.
US08888643B2
Disclosed embodiments are directed to components, subassemblies, systems, and/or methods for continuously variable transmissions (CVT). In one embodiment, a CVT has a number of spherical planets in contact with an idler. Various idler assemblies can be used to facilitate to improve durability, fatigue life, and efficiency of a CVT. In one embodiment, the idler assembly has two rolling elements having contact surfaces that are angled with respect to a longitudinal axis of the CVT. In some embodiments, a bearing is operably coupled between the first and second rolling elements. The bearing is configured to balance axial force between the first and second rolling elements. In one embodiment, the bearing is a ball bearing. In another embodiment, the bearing is an angular contact bearing. In yet other embodiments, needle roller bearings are employed.
US08888640B2
A torque split type automatic transmission which transmits the torque output from an engine through two paths, adds the torque passing through and increased in each path, and outputs a final torque is provided, wherein the torque of the engine is divided into two portions by a torque split device and each portion of the torque is transmitted respectively to first and second power delivery paths, wherein the first power delivery path is directly connected to a driving wheel, and wherein the second power delivery path is provided with a launching device and a transmission device disposed in series so as to increase the torque, and output of the second power delivery path is added to the torque of the first power delivery path to output the final torque.
US08888631B2
A sprocket comprises a set of standard sprocket teeth, each having a first face width and capable of entry between the inner link plates of a transmission chain and engaging sprocket tooth-engaging driving elements of the chain while restricting side slip of the chain by contact with the inner link plates of the chain. The sprocket also comprises a set of narrow sprocket teeth also capable of engaging driving elements of the chain. Each of the narrow sprocket teeth is narrower than the standard sprocket teeth, and can engage driving elements without contacting the inner link plates of the chain. Contact resistance between the sprocket teeth and the chain is reduced and periodic sounds are reduced, while a stable running path of the chain is maintained.
US08888622B2
An isolator decoupler comprising a shaft, a pulley journalled to the shaft, a clutch carrier journalled to the shaft through a one-way clutch, a torsion spring engaged between the pulley and the clutch carrier, the torsion spring loadable in an unwinding direction, the torsion spring and the pulley having a predetermined clearance between a torsion spring outside diameter surface and a pulley inside diameter surface, and whereby the torsion spring outside diameter surface and a pulley inside diameter surface come into a progressive frictional engagement by torque load dependent radial expansion of the torsion spring.
US08888615B2
Rotatable and hinged goal posts are operably rotatable so that the goal post may rotated to a first position with the uprights being disposed toward a playing field such as for use when playing football, and to second position where the uprights being disposed away from the playing field such as for use when playing soccer. In addition, the rotatable and hinged goal posts are operably pivotable from a raised orientation and a lowered orientation, and vice versa.
US08888614B2
A warm-up and training bat includes a tubular shell with a handle section, a barrel section, and a tapered section connecting the handle section with the barrel section. The handle is attached at an end of the handle section of the bat. An end cap is attached at an end of the barrel section of the bat. A sliding weight mechanism is entirely contained within a pipe disposed within the barrel section of the bat. The sliding weight mechanism can be held in place at an end of the pipe proximate the handle. When a centripetal force is applied during a swing, the sliding weight mechanism moves to a distal end of the pipe. The weight may make a sound or the user may feel the weight shift, helping them perfect their swing.
US08888613B2
The invention provides a golf ball with a surface having a plurality of dimples formed thereon. Some or all of the dimples on the ball surface have a cross-sectional shape in which, letting a straight line passing through any one edge of the dimple and a foot of a perpendicular (pedal) dropped from an imaginary plane defined by a peripheral edge of the dimple to a deepest point of the dimple serve as a reference line, and establishing a plurality of specific regions on the reference line from the dimple edge as 0% to the pedal as 100%, the average depths of the dimple from the reference line in the respective established regions satisfy specific conditions. By reducing the air resistance during flight and thus enhancing the aerodynamic performance, this golf ball achieves a higher trajectory, enabling the ball to travel further.
US08888612B2
Provided is a golf ball having an improved structure of a plurality of circular dimples formed on a surface of the golf ball to improve flight stability and increase a flying distance. With a golf ball having a plurality of circular dimples on a surface thereof, a plurality of concaves, each of which has a shape of an arc concentric with the circular dimple, are formed at a predetermined interval along a circumference of the entire or a portion of the circular dimple.
US08888607B2
A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution.
US08888606B2
A weighted grip for a golf club is disclosed. The weight is preferably a metal, such as iron and its alloys, especially steel, copper and its alloys, such as brass and bronze, tungsten and its alloys, especially tungsten, aluminum and its alloys, ceramics, including cermets, and can take the form of a cylindric shape concentric with the grip, and embedded in the moldable composition forming the grip. In other embodiments the weight can be at, or near, the extreme end of the grip. Other shapes, forms and locations of the weight are disclosed, as well as combinations of the weight with a grip formed of a moldable composition having a heavy filler therein. The combination of the grip and a golf club are also disclosed.
US08888604B2
An integrated golf club and analysis system that measures and analyze the performance characteristics of both: 1) a free golf swing without impact with a golf ball and 2) a golf swing with ball impact analysis. Free swing analysis provides critical information needed to analyze swing style so that dynamics swing characteristics optimization can be evaluated throughout the entire swing without ball impact, while impact analysis provides critical information on ball impact location on the club face, however, they cannot be measured simultaneously since ball impact eliminates the ability to identify the swing metric peaks such as velocity if it were to occur after ball impact. To achieve both, an integrated electronics golf club head comprises multiple types of sensors for measuring club head motion, impact and spatial location information with a weight and balance of a regulation golf club head.
US08888602B2
An electric tool may include an electric motor, a spindle to which a working tool may be attached, and a torque transmission path provided between the electric motor and the spindle and including a first rotary member and a second rotary member. A torque transmission device may be provided between the first rotary member and the second rotary member and may include a plurality of resiliently deformable torque transmission members.
US08888596B2
Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to a gesture enhanced game play system that includes a display system, a sensor system, a feedback system, and one or more computing systems. The sensor system is configured to detect at least one touch gesture when the touch gesture is at least proximate the virtual game layout. During play of the base game, when a player makes a touch gesture the touch gesture is evaluated as either a direct gameplay touch gesture or an indirect gameplay touch gesture. Each direct gameplay touch gesture relates directly to reaching an outcome of a current game. Each indirect gameplay touch gesture may be associated with a feedback system that responds to the indirect gameplay touch gestures by the player with visual, audio, and/or tactile feedback. The feedback system enables indirect gameplay touch gestures by the player to altered game parameters by modifying a hit frequency and corresponding prize pay range, enabling the player to indirectly modify the hit frequency and prize pay range by making indirect gameplay touch gestures. The sensor system is configured to detect multiple touch gestures, wherein gestures include simultaneous touches by multiple fingers, consecutive touches by a single finger, touching and sliding of a finger, touching and sliding of multiple fingers, and combinations thereof.
US08888588B2
Gaming machines and gaming systems having a game rating system are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the gaming device includes a plurality of games where each game has a distinct game style that is based in part on game volatility. The gaming device also includes a game controller for managing and operating the plurality of games, and a game rating system in communication with the game controller. The game rating system includes a player interface for selecting a game, and an icon presented on the display of the gaming device where the icon represents the distinct game style.
US08888587B2
A gaming device may be modified in a way that is aimed at the similar interests in a focus group rather than on an individual. Groups are formed where the patrons in the groups have related elements. The related elements are compared to modifiable elements of the gaming device and modifications are made to the modifiable elements to attract the members of the focus group.
US08888584B2
The present disclosure provides a gaming system and method providing a fantasy sports game. The gaming system enables a player to create a fantasy sports team associated with a sports league, select one or more athletes who play or have played in that sports league to include on the player's team, and enter the player's team into a competition against other teams. For each of the teams, for each of the athletes on that team, the gaming system determines a simulated performance of that athlete based on designated historical performance data and determines an athlete score of that athlete based on the simulated performance. The gaming system determines a total team score for each team. The gaming system determines which of the teams has the highest total team score, identifies that team as the winner, and provides one or more awards to the winning team.
