US09019810B2
A method of allocating Walsh codes and Quasi-orthogonal Functional, QoF, codes in a CDMA system in which a finite number of Walsh codes are defined, and some mobile terminals operating in the CDMA system are capable of supporting Advanced Quasi-Linear Interference Cancellation, AQLIC, and some mobile terminals operating in the CDMA system are non-AQLIC-capable. Walsh codes are allocated to control channels. A code allocation unit then determines a threshold number of Walsh codes to reserve for non-AQLIC-capable mobile terminals. When a current Walsh code usage level is less than the threshold, the unit allocates Walsh codes to both the AQLIC-capable mobile terminals and the non-AQLIC-capable mobile terminals. When the current Walsh code usage level is greater than the threshold, the unit allocates QoF codes only to AQLIC-capable mobile terminals, and allocates Walsh codes to non-AQLIC-capable mobile terminals.
US09019801B2
Electromechanical timepiece fitted with a gear train including an hour hand and a minute hand for the current time display on the dial side of the timepiece. The timepiece is arranged to provide at least one additional piece of information relating to a magnitude of time, or to a non-time related piece of information. The timepiece further includes an additional indicator hand arranged to display the additional information, the additional indicator hand being mounted on the back cover side of the timepiece on an arbour of the gear train of the timepiece, so that the additional indicator hand and the hour hand and/or minute hand rotate at the same time and at the same angle, the hour hand and/or the minute hand being driven either to display the current time, or to enable the additional indicator hand to indicate the additional information.
US09019795B2
An object is measured to record the relative surface coordinates. Then, a portion of the object “the front side” immersed in a fluid is imaged by directing a sonar pulse at the object and recording sonar signals reflected from the object with a sonar imaging array. Then, the recorded relative surface coordinates are iteratively fit to coordinates calculated from the sonar image. Thereafter, the coordinates of the surface of the “backside” of the object that is not observable in the sonar image are known, and a computer generated image of the backside is stitched to sonar image so that the object can be viewed from a plurality of viewpoints separated from the sonar imaging array.
US09019784B2
A data training device includes a training control block configured to activate driving signals for driving a bit line sense amplifier, with a word line deactivated, when a write training operation is performed according to a mode register write command; and the bit line sense amplifier configured to store training data according to the driving signals from the training control block.
US09019782B2
A memory macro comprises a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of first amplifying circuits, a first driver circuit, and a first level shifter. The plurality of memory cells is arranged in groups of a first direction and groups of a second direction. Each amplifying circuit is coupled to a plurality of first memory cells arranged in a first group of the first direction via a first data line. The first driver circuit is configured to drive the plurality of first amplifying circuits. The first level shifter is configured to level shift an input signal operating in a first power domain to an output signal operating in a second power domain. The output signal of the first level shifter is for use by the first driver circuit. The first driver circuit and a sense amplifier of an amplifying circuit operate in the second power domain.
US09019781B2
An internal voltage generation circuit includes: a selection unit configured to select one of first and second reference voltages as a selection reference voltage in response to a self refresh signal and a power-down mode signal and output the selection reference voltage; a driving signal generation unit configured to compare the selection reference voltage with a negative word line voltage applied to an unselected word line and generate a driving signal; and a driving unit configured to change the negative word line voltage in response to the driving signal.
US09019778B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes a memory chip which includes: a memory area; a data input/output block configured to communicate with the memory area; and a data transmission/reception block configured to connect one of a plurality of channels and a pad to the data input/output block, wherein the plurality of channels are configured to input and output normal data to and from another chip, and the pad is configured to input and output test data.
US09019775B2
An erase operation for a 3D stacked memory device applies an erase pulse which includes an intermediate level (Vgidl) and a peak level (Verase) to a set of memory cells, and steps up Vgidl in erase iterations of the erase operation. Vgidl can be stepped up when a specified portion of the cells have reached the erase verify level. In this case, a majority of the cells may have reached the erase verify level, such that the remaining cells can benefit from a higher gate-induced drain leakage (GIDL) current to reached the erase verify level. Verase can step up before and, optionally, after Vigdl is stepped up, but remain fixed while Vgidl is stepped. Vgidl can be stepped up until a maximum allowed level, Vgidl_max, is reached. Vgidl may be applied to a drain-side and/or source-side of a NAND string via a bit line or source line, respectively.
US09019769B2
A semiconductor device and a manufacturing method and an operating method for the same are provided. The semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a doped region and a stack structure. The doped region is in the substrate. The stack structure is on the substrate. The stack structure comprises a dielectric layer, an electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer and an ion supplying layer.
US09019766B2
Embodiments are provided that include a memory system that includes a memory system, having an access device coupled between a global line and a local line and a voltage source coupled to the global line and configured to output a bias voltage on the global line when the memory system is in a non-operation state. The access device is selected when the memory system is in the non-operation state, and the access device is deselected when the memory system is in an other state. Further embodiments provide, for example, a method that includes coupling a global access line to a local access line, biasing the local access line to a voltage other than a negative supply voltage while a memory device is in a first state and uncoupling the global access line from the local access line while the memory device is in an other state.
US09019761B1
A memory device includes a memory cell array and a column decoder. The memory cell array includes a plurality of even local bit lines and a plurality of odd local bit lines. The column decoder includes a plurality of even pass transistors and a plurality of odd pass transistors. Each of the even pass transistors has a, control terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of even selection lines, a first terminal coupled to a respective one of the even local bit lines, and a second terminal coupled to an even global bit line. Each of the odd pass transistors has a control terminal coupled to a respective one of a plurality of odd selection lines, a first terminal coupled to a respective one of the odd local bit lines, and a second terminal coupled to an odd global bit line.
US09019747B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes word lines, bit lines, a cross-point cell array including cells, each of which includes memory cells and at least one offset detection cell, a word line selection circuit, a bit line selection circuit, a write control circuit, a current sensing circuit which detects a current and converts it into an electrical signal, wherein a write control circuit adjusts a write electrical signal for causing a second write current higher than a first write current to flow through the memory cell.
US09019738B2
A memory device is provided. The memory device is used for data transmission at around 1600 megahertz (MHz). A wire layout is used to sequentially cascade memory dices with greatly shortened distances between the wire layout and the memory dices. At the same time, distances between the wire layout and UA controllers are shortened as well for effectively simplifying the design of wires.
US09019726B2
A power converter system, method and device powers a load when coupled to the load and draws a quasi-zero amount of power from the power supply when not coupled to the load. The power converter system maintains an output voltage such that the power converter system is able to properly “wake-up” when a load is coupled by intermittently operating the power converter for a preselected number of cycles when it is detected that the output voltage has fallen below a threshold level.
US09019714B2
The present invention provides a circuit component that enables satisfactory connection between a substrate and an IC chip and a method of making the same. The circuit component includes an IC chip and a substrate connected to each other using an electrically conductive adhesive containing electrically conductive particles. Bump electrodes and a non-electrode surface are provided on a mounting surface of the IC chip. The non-electrode surface is a portion of the mounting surface other than a portion where the bump electrodes are formed. Electrically conductive particles are placed in a first state between the surfaces of the substrate and the non-electrode surface so as to be in contact with both surfaces. Electrically conductive particles are placed in a second state between the surfaces of both the substrate and the bump electrodes, so as to be more flattened than the first state and dig into the bump electrodes.
US09019708B2
Apparatus and systems for improved access to storage devices from the sides of sleds mounted in storage enclosures. Embodiments provide apparatus and systems for a sled in a storage enclosure that provides access to storage devices on either side of the sled when the sled is slid forward out of its enclosure. Multiple sleds may be enclosed within a single enclosure to permit access to a portion of the storage devices in the enclosure hence reducing the problems of instability of the rack if the enclosure is mounted near the top of the rack.
US09019701B2
A rack server system includes a container, an electrically conductive component, a power supply, a signal connecting base, a server, and an RMC. The electrically conductive component and the signal connecting base are fixed in the container. The power supply is electrically connected to the electrically conductive component for supplying a direct current power. The signal connecting base includes multiple connectors. The server, disposed in the container removably, includes a power input port and a connecting element. The power input port is electrically connected to the electrically conductive component removably. The connecting element is connected to the connector removably. When the connecting element is electrically connected to the connector, the RMC communicates with the server via the connecting element and the one of the connectors and determines the position of the server in the container according to another position of the connector which is electrically connected to the server.
US09019693B2
An electronic device capable of ejecting a peripheral element is disclosed, including a housing, a first wheel and a driving unit. The housing has a chamber, wherein the peripheral element is stored in the chamber. The first wheel is disposed in the housing, wherein the first wheel contacts the peripheral element. The driving unit is disposed in the housing, the driving unit rotates the first wheel, and the first wheel moves the peripheral element from a first position to a second position.
US09019685B2
A spiral capacitor-inductor device in which an array of unit capacitors 101 is arranged in a loop along the length is provided as the fourth circuit element. An input signal is applied to one end of the array of the unit capacitors, an output signal is taken out from the other end, an electric charge stored in each unit capacitor increases or decreases in accordance with increase or decrease in the bias applied to the device, the increase or decrease in the electric charge causes the current of the loop to increase or decrease, and, as a result, the magnetic flux 103 generated in the device varies. Accordingly, the fourth circuit element is provided that follows after an inductor, a capacitor, and a resistor is provided in which the electric charge stored determines the magnitude of its magnetic flux.
US09019681B2
A reduced pressure treatment system includes a control unit having a control system and a reduced pressure source. The reduced pressure treatment system further includes a manifold unit in fluid communication with the reduced pressure source and a component module to augment treatment. The component module is configured to communicate with the control system of the control unit, and the component module includes a first mounting region configured to be coupled to a complimentary mounting region of the control unit. The component module further includes a second mounting region identical to the complimentary mounting region of the control unit to allow a second component module to be coupled to the first component module.
US09019675B2
A method comprising: a) during at least part of a conduction phase of the triac, measuring the gate potential of the triac; and b) comparing a value based on said measurement with a reference threshold and deducing the presence or the absence of an overcurrent based on said comparison.
US09019663B2
A tolerance ring is formed of a plate member, in a ring shape that is substantially circular along a predetermined direction, and provided with a plurality of protrusions projected radially in a circumferential direction, wherein an even number of the protrusions are arranged along the circumferential direction, and a plurality of straight lines that pass through a central portion of the plurality of protrusions and a center of a circle that circumscribes the tolerance ring cross one another.
US09019646B2
An apparatus includes a write element configured to apply a magnetic field to write data on a portion of a heat-assisted magnetic recording media in response to an energizing current. An energy source is configured to heat the portion of the media being magnetized by the write element. A preheat energizing current is applied to the write element during an interval before writing the data to the portion of the media. The preheat energizing current does not cause data to be written to the media and brings at least one of the write element and driver circuitry into thermal equilibrium prior to writing the data on the portion.
US09019645B1
A system for providing an accumulated phase to an interpolator of a read channel, the interpolator configured to provide a digital clock signal. A frequency accumulator is configured to generate a frequency offset based on a difference between the digital clock signal and a desired clock signal. A zero phase start module is configured to, during a zero phase start, output an incremental phase jump. A phase accumulator is configured to generate the accumulated phase based on the difference between the digital clock signal and the desired clock signal, and, during the zero phase start, the incremental phase jump output by the zero phase start module, or the frequency offset generated by the frequency accumulator or a predetermined frequency offset.
US09019644B2
Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for format efficient data storage. As an example, a data storage device is described that includes: a storage medium, a read/write head assembly, and a read channel circuit. The read/write head assembly is disposed in relation to the storage medium and operable to sense information corresponding to an encoded codeword. The read channel circuit is operable to receive the encoded codeword. The read channel circuit includes a missing symbols insertion circuit, a codeword de-scramble circuit, an address insertion circuit, and a data decoder circuit. The missing symbols insertion circuit, the codeword de-scramble circuit, and the address insertion circuit together are operable to pad a derivative of the encoded codeword with a plurality of symbols, to de-scramble the derivative of the encoded codeword, and to insert address information corresponding to the derivative of the encoded codeword to yield a modified encoded codeword. The data decoder circuit is operable to apply a data decoding algorithm to the modified encoded codeword to yield a decoded output.
US09019642B1
A method for detecting an information pattern includes obtaining a first sample stream and a second sample stream. The first sample stream and the second sample stream are obtained by sensing recorded information at a target location of a storage medium using a first sensor and a second sensor, respectively. A first metric is computed by comparing the first sample stream to a reference pattern representative of a target information pattern to be detected. A second metric is computed by comparing the second sample stream to the reference pattern. A combined metric is computed by combining the first metric and second metric using a weighting function. The target information pattern is detected using the combined metric.
US09019638B1
A read/write channel module including a sampling module configured to sample a read signal corresponding to data stored on a disk. A first preamble is encoded with a first timing recovery pattern on a first track of the disk. The first timing recovery pattern includes a first pattern that changes every x bits. A second preamble is encoded with a second timing recovery pattern on a second track of the disk adjacent to the first track. The second timing recovery pattern includes a second pattern that changes every y bits. A data processing module is configured to process the read signal to remove inter track interference from the read signal based on a difference between the first timing recovery pattern and the second timing recovery pattern.
US09019629B2
An optical module having an object side and an image side; the module comprising, from the object side to the image side: a first positive meniscus lens having a convergence C1, made of a material having a refractive index Nd1 and an Abbe number Vd1, a second negative meniscus lens having a convergence C2 made of a material having a refractive index Nd2 and an Abbe number Vd2, a third positive meniscus lens having a convergence C3, made of a material having a refractive index Nd3 and an Abbe number Vd3, a fourth negative lens having a convergence C4, made of a material having a refractive index Nd4 and an Abbe number Vd4, wherein: 1.1
US09019627B2
A lens assembly includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens, all of which are arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side along an optical axis. The first lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side. The second lens is a meniscus lens with negative refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the object side. The third lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side. The fourth lens is with positive refractive power and includes a convex surface facing the image side. The fifth lens is a biconcave lens with negative refractive power.
US09019615B2
A wide field-of-view virtual image projector includes a rod light guide that is embossed with at least a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating that is substantially parallel to the first diffraction grating. The first diffraction grating is configured to receive a first light ray, and to project first diffracted light rays from the rod light guide at a first range of angles. The second diffraction grating is configured to receive a second light ray, and to project second diffracted light rays from the rod light guide at a second range of angles. The virtual image projector further includes a slab light guide configured to receive the first diffracted light rays and the second diffracted light rays, and to diffract the first diffracted light rays and the second diffracted light rays out of the slab light guide to generate a virtual image with a wide field-of view.
US09019606B2
An optical element has layers formed on a substrate, including alternating first and second layers having first and second refractive indices, nL and nH that exhibit a spectral characteristic, providing, for incident light at a predetermined wavelength and directed toward the optical element within a range of angles bounded by first and second incident angles θ1 and θ2, between 0 and 80 degrees and differing by at least 1 degree, substantially linear polarization-averaged attenuation of the incident light energy wherein, for any incident angle θn between θ1 and θ2, Aθn is the corresponding polarization-averaged attenuation, and wherein the polarization-averaged attenuation at Aθn at angle θ1 is less than or equal to an optical density value of 0.2 and the polarization-averaged attenuation Aθn at angle θ2 exceeds an optical density value of 4.
US09019595B2
Optical resonators that are enhanced with photoluminescent phosphors and are designed and configured to output light at one or more wavelengths based on input/pump light, and systems and devices made with such resonators. In some embodiments, the resonators contain multiple optical resonator cavities in combination with one or more photoluminescent phosphor layers or other structures. In other embodiments, the resonators are designed to simultaneously resonate at the input/pump and output wavelengths. The photoluminescent phosphors can be any suitable photoluminescent material, including semiconductor and other materials in quantum-confining structures, such as quantum wells and quantum dots, among others.
US09019591B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rare earth doped fiber whose transient response is suppressed and an optical amplifier for optical packet communication having a good characteristic even if there is little traffic.The above-mentioned problem is solved by an optical amplifier for optical packet communication comprising a first rare earth doped fiber (EDFA) having an active region whose diameter is between 3.4 μm and 10 μm, inclusive, an intermediate gain equalizing filter, and a second EDF, wherein the first EDFA is shorter than the second EDFA, and wherein the intermediate gain equalizing filter adjusts the intensity of each wavelength channel so as to equalize the light intensity of each wavelength channel having transmitted through the second EDF.
US09019589B2
An electrowetting display device comprising a picture element comprising a first fluid and a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid. At least one wall comprises a first surface and a second surface at different locations on a perimeter of a display area, the first surface being less wettable to the second fluid than the second surface.
US09019583B2
A method of generating an electronic document for mobile terminals is described. The method includes: obtaining a target image to be scanned and recognized; performing image and text scanning and recognition on the target image and obtaining a scanning and recognition result; generating an electronic document based on the scanning and recognition result. A mobile terminal is also described. According to the method, a user can generate electronic documents from information of interest to the user whenever and wherever, using a mobile terminal, thereby greatly enhancing the capability of the user to obtain information while traveling.
US09019571B2
A reading device comprising a connection unit configured to be connected with a storage medium, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the storage medium is connected to the connection unit, a judging unit configured to judge if there is a document to be read by a reading unit and an execution unit configured to execute the advising process when the judgment unit judges that there is the document to be read and the determination unit determines that the storage medium is connected to the connection unit.
US09019562B2
An image forming apparatus includes a specific graphic form storage section, an image determination section, and determination color conversion processing section. The specific graphic form storage section is configured to store a visual image of a specific graphic form and attribute information specific to the specific graphic form as a reference image and reference attribute information, respectively. The image determination section is configured to determine at least one of (i) whether or not an image matching with the reference image is included in target data and (ii) whether or not an image having the reference attribute information is included in the target data, and detect the image identified through the determination as an image corresponding to the specific graphic form. The color conversion processing section is configured to perform specific color conversion processing for the image corresponding to the specific graphic form.
US09019552B2
Provided is an information processing apparatus that processes document data including a plurality of objects. The information processing apparatus acquires a size of an output medium to which an image based on the document data is output, acquires an output condition of an image based on the document data, extracts an object to be output alone to the output medium from among the plurality of objects included in the document data on a basis of the acquired size and the acquired output condition, and generates, on a basis of the extracted object, output data for outputting an image of the extracted object alone to the output medium based on the extracted object.
US09019548B2
A system can include a page type classifier to determine a page type of a file. The system can also include a print intent identifier to map the page type of the file to a print intent subtype of the file. The print intent identifier can also map the print intent subtype of the file to a print intent type of the file. The print intent type of the file can characterize a reason to at least one of print and store the file.
US09019547B2
The present invention is directed to a system and user interface wherein a multifunction copier, equipped with a Universal Serial Bus port, accepts data directly from a USB-Data Storage Device (USB-DSD) for the purpose of printing, e-mailing, and faxing. The system contains a copier containing a computer-controller having at least one USB port interface. The controller has a service that can either be enabled or disabled by a system administrator. The service is capable of performing email, printing and facsimile functions. When a user inserts a USB-DSD into the USB port on the controller, the service presents the user with the three options stated above. Once the user selects the desired function, the service then invokes a document conversion utility, which scans the USB-DSD and displays the supported files found on the DSD. Each desired function will have multiple options for a user to choose. For example, when the printing option is selected, the service will present to the user on the display choices such as duplex, portrait/landscape, multipage, number of prints and the like.
US09019546B2
Method, systems, and media for processing a digital slide image. In an embodiment, an identification of a macro, representing a plurality of algorithms, and an identification of digital slide image(s) are received over a network. Parameter data is obtained for the identified macro, and the digital slide image(s) are retrieved. The plurality of algorithms represented by the identified macro are executed on the digital slide image(s) according to the parameter data.
US09019543B2
An operation device receives information indicating an image processing job to be executed according to specific image processing settings and sends an execution check request to each one of a plurality of image processing apparatuses. The operation device displays, at a display, one or more image processing apparatuses capable of executing and currently available to perform the image processing job according to the specific image processing settings, based on responses respectively received from the plurality of image processing apparatuses.
US09019533B2
An approach is provided for ranking cloud printing devices. A printing device ranking service is configured to retrieve printing device information data that specifies one or more attributes of a plurality of printing devices and print job data that specifies one or more attributes of a plurality of print jobs that have been processed by the plurality of printing devices. The printing device ranking service determines, based at least upon the printing device information data and the print job data, rankings data for the plurality of printing devices, wherein the rankings data indicate a ranking of the printing devices from the plurality of printing devices.
US09019531B2
A host computer acquires a usage amount of a memory of a printing apparatus upon accepting a print instruction, and if the acquired free capacity of the memory is greater than a predetermined value, transmits generated print data based on the accepted print instruction. If the acquired free capacity of the memory is less than the predetermined value, the host computer displays a message before transmitting the print data.
US09019526B2
An image examination apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate an examination image for examining a read image; an extraction unit configured to extract, from the examination image, multiple reference points used for alignment between the examination and read images; a calculation unit configured to calculate information on misalignment between positions of the reference points and positions corresponding respectively to the reference points in the read image; an excluding unit configured to exclude a reference point from the multiple reference points, based on the information on misalignment; an alignment unit configured to perform alignment between the examination and read images based on the reference points other than the excluded reference point; and an examination unit configured to perform examination for determining whether there is a defect in the read image on the basis of a difference between the read and examination images.
US09019513B2
The multi-dimensional data registration integrated circuit for driving array-arrangement devices, comprising: a plurality of the i-th hierarchy sets, each of the i-th hierarchy sets is divided into a plurality of the (i+1)-th hierarchy sets; a i-th hierarchy address selection circuit, comprising a signal generation unit and a multiplexing unit, wherein the former generates an enable signal, the latter is connected to the signal generating unit and shifts the input data based on the enable signal and a second timing signal to further generate n bits of address signals, the i-th hierarchy address selection circuit is used to scan the plurality of the i-th hierarchy sets and select at least one of the i-th hierarchy sets to function; and a data supply circuit to follow a scan sequence of a j-th hierarchy address selection circuit and write a plurality of data into the selected j-th hierarchy sets.
US09019506B1
A system for controlling a phase measurement in an atom interferometer comprising one or more lasers, a processor, and a memory. The one or more lasers are for providing interrogating beams. A first group of atoms and a second group of atoms traverse an interrogating region of the atom interferometer in substantially opposite directions. The interrogating beams interact substantially simultaneously with both atoms in the first group and atoms in the second group. The first group of atoms and the second group of atoms interact with each of the interrogating beams in a different order. The processor is configured to determine a phase adjustment offset of at least one interrogating beam based at least in part on one or more past interactions of one or more interrogating beams with either the first group of atoms or the second group of atoms.
US09019504B2
A transportable goniospectrometer with a constant observation center for a radiometric measurement of the reflection of a natural surface includes a spectrometer having an optical unit and a sensor. A main pillar has a lower and an upper pillar end. An arc has a fixed and a free arc end. A slide is disposed displaceably and fixably along the arc. The slide carries the optical unit orientated towards the observation center. A cantilever has a fixed cantilever end connected to the upper pillar end via a screw connection, and a free cantilever end which has a suspension that is rotatable and fixable about a vertical axis. The suspension is connected to the sensor and to the fixed arc end of the arc. The suspension is configured to position the arc at a distance of the arc radius of the arc above the natural surface.
US09019502B1
The disclosure relates to a method of detecting a change in a chemical composition by contacting a electronically conducting perovskite-based metal oxide material with a monitored stream, illuminating the electronically conducting perovskite-based metal oxide with incident light, collecting exiting light, monitoring an optical signal based on a comparison of the incident light and the exiting light, and detecting a shift in the optical signal. The electronically conducting perovskite-based metal oxide has a perovskite-based crystal structure and an electronic conductivity of at least 10−1 S/cm, where parameters are specified at the gas stream temperature. The electronically conducting perovskite-based metal oxide has an empirical formula AxByO3-δ, where A is at least a first element at the A-site, B is at least a second element at the B-site, and where 0.8
US09019496B2
The invention relates to a method for estimating the amount of entities deposited on microparticles in suspension in a solution, and also to an associated device. The method comprises the following steps: (a) the solution is illuminated with a light source; (b) an optical signal formed by the scattering, in the solution, of the illuminating light is detected; (c) the optical signal obtained in step (b) is analyzed in order to obtain an indicator relating to this signal; (d) the indicator obtained in step (c) is compared with a reference indicator, obtained for a reference solution, the comparison making it possible to estimate the amount of entities deposited on the microparticles.
US09019491B2
The invention provides a new dual-sided Moiré wafer analysis system that integrates wafer flatness measurement capability with wafer surface defect detection capability. The invention may be, but is not necessarily, embodied in methods and systems for simultaneously applying phase shifting reflective Moiré wafer analysis to the front and back sides of a silicon wafer and comparing or combining the front and back side height maps. This allows wafer surface height for each side of the wafer, thickness variation map, surface nanotopography, shape, flatness, and edge map to be determined with a dual-sided fringe acquisition process. The invention also improves the dynamic range of wafer analysis to measure wafers with large bows and extends the measurement area closer to the wafer edge.
US09019486B2
A fiber end-surface inspection device and method illuminates the fiber end-surface from at least 2 different illumination angles, taking observations at the different angles, for detection of fiber end-surface imperfections, scratches or the like.
US09019481B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an optical remote airflow measurement apparatus with which even colored noise corresponding to an external environment of the apparatus can be reduced, thereby reducing measurement reliability deterioration and enabling long-distance measurement in a wide flying speed range. A colored noise reduction method according to the present invention includes: considering a signal strength of scattered light to be substantially non-existent in a remotest region and beyond; calculating a noise distribution by performing processing to average the signal strength in respective Doppler frequency components divided at intervals of a certain frequency in the remotest measurement region and beyond, and performing subtraction processing in each of the Doppler frequency components on all signal strength distributions of the measurement region, which are obtained by dividing the noise distribution at intervals of a certain distance.
US09019479B2
Disclosed is an imaging apparatus for generating data of a phase image based on an interference pattern acquired by a shearing interferometer, including: a differential phase data calculating unit that calculates first differential phase data expressing a change of a phase in a first direction and second differential phase data expressing a change of a phase in a second direction, based on interference pattern data generated by an electromagnetic wave transmitted through a subject; a second-order differential phase data calculating unit that calculates first second-order differential phase data by differentiating the first differential phase data in the first direction, and calculates second second-order differential phase data by differentiating the second differential phase data in the second direction; and a phase data calculating unit that calculates the phase image by solving a second-order differential equation including the first and second second-order differential phase data as functions.
US09019476B2
A lithographic apparatus arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate is disclosed, the apparatus including a substrate table constructed to hold a substrate, a first clamping system configured to clamp the substrate table to a substrate table support structure, and a second clamping system configured to clamp a substrate to the substrate table after the substrate table has been clamped to the substrate table support structure.
US09019472B2
An exposure apparatus is equipped with an encoder system which measures positional information of a wafer stage by irradiating a measurement beam using four heads installed on the wafer stage on a scale plate which covers the movement range of the wafer stage except for the area right under a projection optical system. Placement distances of the heads here are each set to be larger than width of the opening of the scale plates, respectively. This allows the positional information of the wafer stage to be measured, by switching and using the three heads facing the scale plate out of the four heads according to the position of the wafer stage.
US09019470B2
The invention relates to a lithographic apparatus including an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam, a patterning device support constructed to support a patterning device, the patterning device being capable of imparting the radiation beam with a pattern in its cross-section to form a patterned radiation beam, a substrate support constructed to hold a substrate; a projection system configured to project the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate, and an encoder-type measurement system configured to at least during projection of the patterned radiation beam onto a target portion of the substrate continuously determine a position quantity of a patterning device supported on the patterning device support using a grid or grating provided on the patterning device.
US09019468B2
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an interference projection exposure system comprising a beam-providing subsystem and an objective lens subsystem that can provide a plurality of light beams which intersect and interfere at an image plane to produce a high spatial frequency periodic optical-intensity distribution. The interference projection system can further comprise a pattern mask that can alter the periodic optical-intensity distribution so as to incorporate functional elements within the periodic optical-intensity distribution. The beam providing subsystem can comprise a beam generating subsystem, a beam conditioning subsystem and a beam directing subsystem. Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides for a method of producing a high spatial frequency periodic optical-intensity distribution using a interference projection exposure system.
US09019466B2
A lithographic apparatus that includes a reflector configured to reflect a cleaning beam of radiation projected through a projection system onto an underside of a liquid retrieval system. The construction of the reflector is also described as is a method for irradiating the underside of a liquid supply system for use in cleaning.
US09019458B2
A display device includes: a substrate, on which pixel areas arranged substantially in a matrix form having pixel rows and pixel columns are defined; a thin film transistor disposed on the substrate; a pixel electrode disposed in the pixel areas and connected to the thin film transistor; common electrodes disposed on the pixel electrode and spaced apart from the pixel electrode, where a microcavity is defined between the pixel electrode and the common electrodes; a roof layer disposed on the common electrodes, where a liquid crystal injection hole is defined through the common electrodes and the roof layer and exposes the microcavity; a liquid crystal layer disposed in the microcavity; and an encapsulation layer disposed on the roof layer, where the encapsulation layer covers the liquid crystal injection hole and seals the microcavity, where the common electrodes in the pixel rows are connected to each other.
US09019446B2
A method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device including first, second, and third pixels for displaying different colors comprises the steps of: forming a first electrode on a substrate; forming a liquid crystal layer including a cholesteric liquid crystal as a mixed material of a non-polymeric liquid crystal compound and a photosensitive chiral additive; irradiating a different intensity of light on the liquid crystal layer positioned on the first pixel, the liquid crystal layer positioned on the second pixel, and the liquid crystal layer positioned on the third pixel; and forming a second electrode facing the first electrode.
US09019443B2
A backlight unit adapted to prevent light leakage and damage of its internal components due to a thermal deformation is disclosed.The backlight unit includes: a bottom cover with an opened upper surface; a printed-circuit-board disposed on at least one inner side surface of the bottom cover; a plurality of LEDs loaded on the printed-circuit-board; and a plurality of slits formed on at least one edge of the bottom cover opposite to the printed-circuit-board and configured to reduce thermal deformation of the bottom cover.
US09019440B2
An object is to reduce the number of photomasks used for manufacturing a transistor and manufacturing a display device to less than the conventional one. The display device is manufactured through, in total, three photolithography steps including one photolithography step which serves as both a step of forming a gate electrode and a step of forming an island-like semiconductor layer, one photolithography step of forming a contact hole after a planarization insulating layer is formed, and one photolithography step which serves as both a step of forming a source electrode and a drain electrode and a step of forming a pixel electrode.
US09019432B2
After a television transmits an audio signal, which is generated by decoding an audio stream, to a mobile electronic device located within a detectable range of the television in a wireless manner, the mobile electronic device plays the audio signal received from the television for fulfilling surround sound performance.
US09019431B2
A portable video and imaging system includes a camera for capturing video of an event, and a video recording device for recording the captured video of the event. The camera is housed in a first housing, the recording device is housed in a second housing, and the first and second housings are physically separate. Various embodiments provide for the system to be mounted to a user's body, an article of clothing, such as a shirt or a hat, to a vehicle, or to an ancillary component carried by the user, such as a firearm.
US09019420B2
An image redirection system having a case that includes a body configured to removably attach to a mobile device, and an optical housing on the body, the optical housing configured to position one or more optical elements over the mobile device lens and flash unit when the case is attached to the mobile device. The optical housing is configured to enable one-handed operation such that a user can deploy and retract the optical housing with only one digit of a hand that holds the case and enable operation of the camera with another finger or thumb of the holding hand.
US09019417B2
An object is to provide an imaging system for taking an image of a subject with high reproducibility. It includes an imaging device for taking a picture in accordance with imaging conditions which are set values concerning imaging, a display device for displaying the image taken with the imaging device in accordance with display conditions which are set values concerning display, and an imaging condition decision unit for determining imaging conditions corresponding to the display conditions. When the display device alters the display conditions, the imaging condition decision unit determines the imaging conditions corresponding to the display conditions after the alteration, and the imaging device alters the imaging conditions stored in an imaging condition altering unit to the imaging conditions the imaging condition decision unit determines.
US09019416B2
The present invention provides a display device which has a display unit on a main body, comprising a cover member that can be deformed into a first shape for covering the display unit and a second shape for forming a grip in order to solve the problems in the conventional cameras. The problem is such that the size of the camera becomes large by the size of the grip, which impairs portability of the camera because the conventional camera provides a fixed grip on the camera body on which a display unit with a large screen is mounted. In addition, another conventional camera has a space for accommodating the cover members within the grip, so that the size of the grip becomes accordingly large and thus the camera itself becomes large.
US09019408B2
To provide a semiconductor device and a driving method of the same that is capable of enlarging a signal amplitude value as well as increasing a range in which a linear input/output relationship operates while preventing a signal writing-in time from becoming long. The semiconductor device having an amplifying transistor and a biasing transistor and the driving method thereof, wherein an electric discharging transistor is provided and pre-discharge is performed.
US09019407B2
An image processing apparatus comprises a first calculation unit which calculates information regarding a pixel whose pixel level is equal to or greater than a first threshold in an input image, and calculates a ratio of pixels whose signal levels are equal to or greater than a second threshold in pixel data of a detected person; a second calculation unit which calculates a control amount for a tone control based on information regarding the pixel whose pixel level is equal to or greater than the first threshold; a third calculation unit which calculates a correction amount for correcting the control amount in accordance with the ratio of pixels whose signal levels are equal to or greater than the second threshold; and a control unit which determines an input-output characteristic of an image, based on the control amount and correction amount.
US09019392B1
An image capture system including a statistics module. An image processing module is configured to receive image data corresponding to a plurality of pixels of a captured image, wherein the image data includes respective locations of each of the plurality of pixels, and implement an image processing pipeline configured to modified image data. The statistics module is configured to gather a plurality of sets of statistics using the image data and the modified image data, each of the sets of statistics corresponding to a different one of a plurality of zones within the captured image. To gather the statistics, the statistics module is further configured to determine, based on the respective location of a first pixel, a first zone of the plurality of zones that the first pixel is located in, and store data in a corresponding set of statistics for the first pixel based on the determined first zone.
US09019390B2
In one example, an actuator device useful in, e.g., a camera for, e.g., optical image stabilization (OIS), includes a stage resiliently supported for movement within a plane, three or more actuators, each coupled to an outer periphery of the stage and operable to apply a force acting in the plane and tangentially to the stage when actuated, and an outer frame surrounding and supporting the stage and the actuators.
US09019383B2
A device comprising a first shared image device that captures at least one image representation. The first shared image device receives a request to share the at least one image representation to an at least one other shared image device. The first shared image device and the at least one other shared image device are each capable of capturing image representations. The first shared image device transmits the at least one image representation.
US09019381B2
Video tracking systems and methods include a peripheral master tracking process integrated with one or more tunnel tracking processes. The video tracking systems and methods utilize video data to detect and/or track separately several stationary or moving objects in a manner of tunnel vision. The video tracking system includes a master peripheral tracker for monitoring a scene and detecting an object, and a first tunnel tracker initiated by the master peripheral tracker, wherein the first tunnel tracker is dedicated to track one detected object.
US09019368B2
Provided is a spatial phase shifting interferometer using a multi wavelength. More particularly, provided is a spatial phase shifting interferometer using a multi wavelength capable of more rapidly measuring a precise shape of a measurement object by simultaneously oscillating laser having different wavelengths and passing the oscillated laser through a beam splitter and a lens to analyze an interference fringe of the measurement object.
US09019365B2
The problem is solved by generating a gob image A by capturing, with a line scanning camera, an image of a falling gob that has been cut off at an orifice; generating an image B by binarizing the gob image A with a boundary value that turns a general part of the gob black and turns a peripheral lustrous portion and a defect of the gob white; generating an image C by binarizing the gob image A with a boundary value that turns the entire gob white and turns a background black and inverting the black and white; generating an image D by combining the image B and the image C together; setting a region located a given number of pixels inside an outer edge of the black area of the image D as an inspection region; and inspecting the inspection region of the gob image A to determine whether the gob is good.
US09019342B2
A wide-angle lens having a field angle larger than 180 degrees includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a front group, a reflection surface, and a back group, wherein the front group includes three lenses having a negative refractive power, the reflection surface is configured to curve an optical axis of the front group at 90 degrees toward the back group, the back group includes four lenses having a positive refractive power, a front principle point is set between a second lens and a third lens from the object side in the front group, and a focal length of an entire system f and a distance between an intersection of the reflection surface and the optical axis of the front group and the front principle point d satisfy the following condition (1) 7.0
US09019341B2
The present invention provides a method for obtaining a composite image, which performs a mathematically correct image-processing on images obtained by wide-angle lenses which are rotationally symmetrical with regard to an optical axis, to achieve a desirable projection system. The present invention also provides a variety of imaging systems using the method. Further, the present invention provides a CMOS image sensor which has an accurate arrangement of pixels to perform image processing using hardware without the need for image processing by software.
US09019340B2
Systems, apparatus, articles, and methods are described including operations for content aware selective adjusting of motion estimation.
US09019338B2
A federated media server system. The federated media server system may include a plurality of media servers. A first media server may be coupled to a second media server over a network. The first media server may also be coupled to a third media server over the network. Additionally, the second and third media servers may be coupled to a plurality of respective clients. The first media server may be configured to record video, e.g., videoconferences, and stream recordings to clients and/or the second and third media servers. The second and third media servers may assist in performing video recording, transcoding, storage of recordings, multicasting, etc.
US09019335B2
Controlling a bridge in a videoconferencing system through a remote endpoint. The endpoint may receive a generic menu-navigation user input command, such as a navigation command from a simple remote control device. The endpoint may then convert the user input into a bridge control command comprising at least one of a dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signal or a far-end camera control (FECC) signal. The use of DTMF and FECC signals is transparent to the user.
US09019333B2
An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source; and a rotational polygon mirror having N reflecting surfaces, the rotational polygon mirror being configured to reflect a light flux emitted from the light source so that a scanning surface is scanned along a main-scanning direction with reflected from the rotational polygon mirror. A width of the light flux incident on the rotational polygon mirror in a direction corresponding to the main-scanning direction is smaller than a width of each reflecting surface of the rotational polygon mirror in the direction corresponding to the main-scanning direction.
US09019332B2
A cover member to be attached to a housing including a bottom portion and a side wall, the cover member including: a closing surface configured to close an opening surrounded by the side wall; at least three protruding portions protruding from the closing surface so as to be located on an inside of the housing; and a protection portion configured to protect a circuit board fixed to the side wall, the protection portion having: a first opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and provided to stand on the closing surface; a second opposed portion opposed to the circuit board and protruding with respect to the first opposed portion away from the circuit board; and a connecting portion configured to connect the first opposed portion and the second opposed portion, wherein a length of the at least three protruding portions is larger than a length of the first opposed portion.
US09019327B2
A display device which effectively reduces the occurrences of a false contour is provided. A driver digitally drives each pixel by obtaining a plurality of bit data from pixel data for one pixel to assign the plurality of bit data to a corresponding subframe; configuring one frame with a predetermined number of unit frames; and supplying corresponding bit data in each unit frame to each pixel. Specifically, an analyzing circuit 5-5 predicts a probability of occurrence of a false contour in one screen of the video signal based on the presence or absence of a true contour. A display method based on the video signal is set in accordance with an analysis result.
US09019325B2
A liquid crystal display device includes: a liquid crystal display unit including pixels and displaying an image based on an input image signal; a drive unit that applies a voltage based on the input image signal to the pixels while inverting a polarity of the voltage for each of frames; a luminance determination unit that determines whether a detected average luminance has changed, between the frames, by an amount equal to or more than a reference luminance; and a signal generation unit that generates a phase inversion enabling signal for inverting a phase of the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixels, in a case where the luminance determination unit determines that the average luminance has changed by the above amount, wherein the drive unit inverts the phase of the polarity of the voltage applied to the pixels when the phase inversion enabling signal is generated.
US09019322B2
A display driver circuitry with permutation and superposition gray-level control comprises a gray-level controller. The controller may comprise a permutation and superposition adder configured to divide N-bit gray-level data G into M most significant bits, serving as a superposition reference GH, and (N−M) least significant bits, serving as a superposition increment GL, and to superpose superposition values Xi onto GH to derive pieces of scan data Gi for S scan operations; an overflow bit setting unit configured to set an overflow bit F; and an output unit configured to output the scan data Gi. A display driven this way has an improved refreshing frequency with the same gray-level reproduction ability as PWM-based schemes. Further, the duration of each scan operation, or scan period, is constant, resulting in convenience in software implementations. Furthermore, the pulse width representative of the gray-level value is determined by superposition of the scan operations.
US09019319B2
A display device for a vehicle includes: a self-luminous indicator which has a display screen with a plurality of pixels; a display control unit that displays image information indicating at least a given display pattern on a display screen of the self-luminous indicator; a display time measuring unit that measures a display time of the self-luminous indicator; and a brightness adjusting unit that adjusts the brightness of the display screen on the basis of at least the display time measured by the display time measuring unit in order to suppress non-uniform brightness deterioration of the display screen when the non-uniform brightness deterioration occurs on the display screen. The display control unit displays the image information on the display screen of the self-luminous indicator with the brightness adjusted by the brightness adjusting unit.
US09019317B2
A liquid crystal display includes a liquid crystal display panel including data lines and gate lines, a data driving circuit configured to drive the data lines, a gate driving circuit configured to drive the gate lines, a timing controller configured to divide a unit frame period into a first sub-frame period and a second sub-frame period, a backlight unit configured to provide light to the liquid crystal display panel wherein the backlight unit includes a plurality of light sources, and a light source driving circuit configured to turn off all the plurality of light sources during the first sub-frame period and turns on all the plurality of light sources at a turn-on time within the second sub-frame period.
US09019313B2
A display device includes a flexible display including a flexible display panel and a flexible touch panel, and a housing configured to enclose the flexible display while allowing the flexible display to move relative to the housing such that a portion of the flexible display is drawn out of the housing and retracted into the housing. The display device further includes a marker configured to contact a location of the flexible touch panel when a portion of the flexible display is drawn out of the housing. The marker is provided such that the contact location changes as the flexible display moves relative to the housing. The display device also includes at least one processor configured to compute the contact location on the flexible display and to adjust the size of an image displayed on the flexible display panel based on the computed contact location.
US09019307B1
A computer-based system and method that provides an automatic warning when a planned dose of radiation exceeds a predetermined safety limit. A tissue mass and surrounding healthy tissue is imaged to obtain imaged data. A dose volume histogram is generated that plots at least some of the imaged tissue versus proposed doses of radiation. The dose volume histogram presents a data curve when plotted. At least one dose tolerance limit is recalled from a reference database. The system computer analyzes the dose tolerance limits and compares this data to the data curve. The system computer determines if the data curve surpasses any selected dose tolerance limit at any point along the data curve.
US09019300B2
A framework for performing graphics animation and compositing operations has a layer tree for interfacing with the application and a render tree for interfacing with a render engine. Layers in the layer tree can be content, windows, views, video, images, text, media, or any other type of object for a user interface of an application. The application commits change to the state of the layers of the layer tree. The application does not need to include explicit code for animating the changes to the layers. Instead, an animation is determined for animating the change in state. In determining the animation, the framework can define a set of predetermined animations based on motion, visibility, and transition. The determined animation is explicitly applied to the affected layers in the render tree. A render engine renders from the render tree into a frame buffer for display on the computer system. Those portions of the render tree that have changed relative to prior versions can be tracked to improve resource management.
US09019299B2
A filtering method and apparatus for anti-aliasing takes advantage of improved existing hardware by using as input the data stored in the multisampling anti-aliasing (MSAA) buffers after rendering. The standard hardware box-filter is then replaced with a more intelligent resolve implemented using shader programs. Embodiments find scene edges using existing samples generated by Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) hardware. Using samples from a footprint larger than a single pixel, a gradient is calculated matching the direction of an edge. A non-linear filter over contributing samples in the direction of the gradient gives the final result.
US09019293B2
Disclosed herein is an image display device, including: a display block displaying thereon an image by using pixels disposed in a two dimensional matrix; and a gradation converting block executing gradation converting processing by using an error diffusion method, wherein the gradation converting block partitions an area in which the pixels are disposed into virtual partitions, and carries out the error diffusion when the gradation converting processing is executed with respect to the pixels within the virtual partition exclusively within the virtual partition, thereby carrying out gradation conversion for the image which is displayed on the display block.
US09019290B2
A detecting section which detects a carrier wave near the receiving section, a switching control section which controls a switching section so as to, when the detecting section detects the carrier wave, switch connecting destination of the first storage section into the receiving section, and when the detecting section does not detect the carrier wave, switch the connecting destination of the first storage section into the reading section, a second storage section which stores the data conversion information read by the reading section, and a display control section which converts the read display data using the data conversion information stored in the second storage section so as to display the information on the display section are provided.
US09019256B2
A shift register including a plurality of stages, each of them including a first node, a second node, and a third node being in a high-impedance state when the first node is in a high-impedance state. The shift register includes an input circuit unit inputting a driving voltage to the first node in response to an output signal of a previous stage, a driving circuit unit generating an output signal according to a voltage of the first node, and a holding unit holding the output signal at a level of a gate-off voltage according to a voltage of the second node in an inactive period of a current stage, in which the holding unit comprises a first diode which applies a clock signal to the second node.
US09019255B2
An organic light emitting display apparatus includes a polarizer film arranged on a substrate or an encapsulation substrate that faces an image realized by a display unit, wherein the polarizer film includes a plurality of regions having different light transmittances. By using the polarizer film, a luminance difference due to a voltage drop may be compensated for so that a uniform luminance may be obtained when the image is realized.
US09019252B2
A display device includes a display unit, a display control unit, and a control unit. The display unit includes a first and second glass plates, each formed with an electrode connected to a power supply and configured to transmit a light, and a light dispersing element sealed between the first and the second glass plates. The light dispersing element transmits the light when a voltage from the power supply is turned on, and disperses the light when the voltage is turned off. The display control unit controls a timing of turning the voltage on or off, or switching the voltage between positive and negative when the voltage is turned on. The control unit instructs the display control unit to set a display frame rate to a predetermined value during a standby mode, and set it higher than the predetermined value during an information display mode.
US09019247B2
One embodiment provides a method for modifying information stored in storage by modifying information on a hand writable physical medium with a digital pen, wherein the hand writable physical medium includes a predetermined field including one or more item field name and one or more first region for information entry associated with the one or more item field name. The information stored in the storage includes attribute values corresponding to each of the one or more item field name of the physical medium, and attribute values corresponding to information entered into each of the one or more first region. The method for modifying includes an apparatus communicable with the digital pen detecting that a modification symbol is added, by using the digital pen, to information which has been entered into any of the one or more first region in the predetermined field.
US09019244B2
An input tool includes a body in the form of a stylus with plurality of vibro-acoustically distinct regions. The vibro-acoustically distinct regions produce vibro-acoustic responses when the regions touch the surface of the touch screen. The vibro-acoustic responses are used in a computing device to detect what region of the input tool was used.
US09019233B2
A projected capacitive touch panel has a glass cover, a touch sensing circuit layer, an insulating ink Layer, a conductive wire layer, an insulator layer, a conductive glue layer and a flexible printed circuit (FPC) board. The touch sensing circuit layer, the insulating ink layer the conductive wire layer, the insulator layer and the conductive glue layer are mounted on a circuit surface of the glass cover in sequence. The insulating ink layer cover the touch sensing circuit layer and has multiple through slots. Each through slot is filled with an electric conductor. The FPC is fastened on the conductive wire layer by a conductive glue layer.
US09019227B2
An input apparatus of an information device is selectively locked by physically installing a selective lock key in the information device, executing an application program installed therein, and blocking, if the selective lock key is handled after the application program is executed, input through a system key of the information device while accepting input through an application button. With this method, for example, an unintended touch on a system key while using an information device can be prevented.
US09019212B2
A passive architecture for scanning a touch panel includes a master IC and at least one passive touch IC connected to the master IC. The master IC generates a command to configure the scan parameters of the at least one passive touch IC, and the at least one passive touch IC scans the touch panel with the scan parameters in response to the command.
US09019211B2
Methods and apparatus provide for a touch sensitive display, which may include: a display layer; a cover glass layer formed from ion exchanged glass; and an optional touch glass layer, where, either on a first side of the touch glass or on a first side of the cover glass, a grid of electrode traces is disposed, which is sensitive to distortions of a local electrostatic field caused by a touching event, and the grid may be positioned between the display layer and the cover glass layer.
US09019209B2
Touch location determination approaches involving a plurality of touch location techniques are described. Each touch location technique is capable of independently determining a location of a touch within a touch area of the touch sensitive device. The touch location determination made by at least one touch location technique is enhanced using touch location information associated with the touch acquired from one or more other touch location techniques. One touch location technique may use a different type of sensor, signal, and/or algorithm from the one or more other touch location techniques.
US09019207B1
An apparatus includes a keyboard and a trackpad, where a spacebar for the keyboard is integrated as a part of the trackpad.
US09019206B2
A user-interface for controlling a data processing system using a joystick includes a joystick for controlling input to the data processing system. The joystick has a pivoting component for assuming tilted positions by tilting in directions that lie in a reference plane associated with the component, and a sensor for sensing at succeeding sampling moments the direction corresponding to succeeding tilted positions of the component, and a difference determination device for determining a difference in direction between a first direction sensed at a first sampling moment and a second direction sensed at a second sampling moment after the first moment, and a parameter modifier for modifying a value of a parameter of the data processing system by adding or subtracting a difference value that depends upon the difference in direction.
US09019204B2
An electronic apparatus and a control method are provided that are capable of reducing power consumption. The electronic apparatus having a normal mode in which first electric power is consumed and a power-saving mode in which second electric power lower than the first electric power is consumed includes a first sensor and a second sensor whose power consumption is lower than that of the first sensor. In the power-saving mode, supply of power to the first sensor is restricted, the second sensor is set to the power-saving mode, a trigger for restoring the power-saving mode to the normal mode is detected by using the second sensor set to the power-saving mode, and the power-saving mode is restored to the normal mode based on the detected trigger.
US09019184B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of subpixels arranged in one column and n rows (where n is an even number ≧ four) within each pixel. In two of the pixels, which are adjacent to each other in the row direction, subpixels that represent the same color belong to the same row. If two of the pixels, which are adjacent to each other in the column direction, are called first and second pixels, respectively, a first half of the subpixels having a combination of first colors are located in odd-numbered rows in the first pixel and in even-numbered rows in the second pixel, while a second half of the subpixels having a combination of second colors, the second colors being different from the first colors, are located in even-numbered rows in the first pixel and in odd-numbered rows in the second pixel.
US09019175B2
An optical device for virtual image display with unequal focal length and high magnification, comprising an image display, an optically transparent material and a mirror; the optically transparent material being disposed at an oblique angle between the image display and the mirror, and, on the optically transparent material, the side opposite the image display being coated with a reverse anti-reflective film, the other side being coated with a polarizing film or successively with a polarizing film and a forward anti-reflective film; and the included angle between the mirror and the optically transparent material together with the deposition angle M of the reverse anti-reflective film being 90°. The present invention is an optical device structural design with a virtual image optical design including a birefringence function, providing a new design with innovative and improved optics. When magnifying a spatial and virtual image to an even greater extent, the image is larger and clearer, and the planarity of the image is greater, there is no distortion, and user requirements for a head mounted display in the HMD product market can be met.
US09019172B2
The image display apparatus includes an observation optical system including first and second optical elements which respectively introducing first and second light fluxes from first and second image-forming elements to first and second exit pupils, and a relay optical system. The relay optical system causes third and fourth light fluxes from the second and first image-forming elements to form intermediate images and introducing them to the first and second optical elements. The observation optical system displays images corresponding to the first and second original images in mutually different viewing angle areas by introducing the first and third light fluxes to the first exit pupil through the first optical element, and displays images corresponding to the second and first original images in mutually different viewing angle areas by introducing the second and fourth light fluxes to the second exit pupil through the second optical element.
US09019169B2
An antenna module includes a center base and several antennas disposed around the center base. The center base has several extension legs extending from the center base, and each antenna extends from an end of the corresponding extension leg opposite to the center base, so as to form the antenna module symmetrically arranged around the center base. The type of the antenna may be a single-frequency antenna and a dual-frequency antenna. The antenna module is an integral structure formed by directly bending a single metal plate, thus greatly reducing the volume and the manufacturing cost of the antenna module. Moreover, with the design of the center base and a symmetrical antenna group, the antenna module is capable of receiving and transmitting signals with two or more frequency bands, thus greatly increasing the application range of the antenna module.
US09019161B1
A low drag TCAS antenna includes a plurality of broadband antenna elements in a housing having at least three fins. L band radios in the aircraft may utilize the broadband antenna elements, thereby reducing power consumption, cost and aerodynamic inefficiency due to a plurality of antennas protruding from the aircraft.
US09019152B2
A standard wafer is provided including a substrate; a first layer of semiconductor material formed on the substrate; a bar formed over the first layer of semiconductor material with an interlayer interposed therebetween; and a first sidewall spacer and a second sidewall spacer formed on the opposite sides of the bar respectively, in which the bar and the first layer of semiconductor material are formed of a same semiconductor material, and the interlayer interposed between the first layer of semiconductor material and the bar is formed of a first oxide, and the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer are formed of a second oxide. A corresponding fabrication method of the standard wafer is also provided.
US09019145B1
A weather radar system is coupled to a weather radar antenna. The weather radar system includes a processor for combining or summing portions of the radar return data to obtain a null. The processor associates the null with the ground (e.g., steers the null toward ground or processes data so that the null corresponds to ground) to obtain a null to alleviate ground clutter when sensing weather. The null can be a single null or multiple nulls associated with different ranges.
US09019144B2
The present invention relates to a method for acquiring SAR images for interferometric processing. The method comprises acquiring, by one or more airborne SAR sensors, SAR images of one and the same area with an acquisition geometry such that to enable interferometric processing of said SAR images. The method is characterized by an acquisition geometry in which each SAR image of the area is acquired in a respective direction of acquisition that defines a respective squint angle with respect to the direction of flight, and in which the squint angles are such that to determine a mean squint angle different from zero.
US09019143B2
This invention relates to improved ultra-wideband synthetic aperture radar and inverse synthetic aperture radar, capable of simultaneously and independently imaging a plurality of spectral and polarimetric channels covering multiple radio frequency octaves. Advances in technologies relating to signal processing, graphical user interfaces, color representations of multi-spectral radar images, low aerodynamic drag polarimetric SAR antenna systems, and synthetic aperture radar aircraft platforms are some of the advancements disclosed herein.
US09019137B1
A charge canceling multiplying digital-to-analog converter (MDAC) is provided with a reference block having inputs to accept reference voltages each sample clock cycle. The MDAC includes a sampling block having inputs to accept differential analog input voltage signals each sample clock cycle. A differential amplifier has a negative input and positive input connected to the reference block and sampling block to receive differential amplifier input signals, and a positive output and a negative output to supply differential output voltage signals each amplify clock cycle. The sampling section includes a first pair of feedback capacitors connected between the differential amplifier negative input and positive output, and a second pair of feedback capacitors connected between the differential amplifier positive input and negative output each amplify clock cycle. A capacitor from the first pair of parallel feedback capacitors is swapped with a capacitor from the second pair prior to each sample clock cycle.
US09019131B2
Methods and apparatus for human body communication are provided. A communication signal for transmission through the human body is generated. The communication signal is transmitted when the terminal is in contact with the human body. The touch is detected, and a communication signal is determined based on a number of the touch and a duration of the touch. A function corresponding to the communication signal is executed.
US09019125B2
Apparatus of guiding safe driving at intersections and method of guiding safe driving using the same
Disclosed are herein an apparatus of guiding safe driving at intersections and a method of guiding safe driving using the same. The driving guiding apparatus at intersections includes an intersection condition sensing unit installed at one side of a vehicle and sensing the current conditions around an intersection, an intersection pre-entry condition calculation unit installed at the other side of the vehicle and calculating in advance current condition data before the vehicle enters the intersection based on current condition data corresponding to the current conditions around the intersection sensed by the intersection condition sensing unit, and an intersection pre-entry vehicle speed indication unit installed at the other side of the vehicle and indicating a reference vehicle speed, corresponding to the current condition data calculated by the intersection pre-entry condition calculation unit, before the vehicle enters the intersection.
US09019124B2
A system and method is disclosed herein for monitoring and alerting on equipment errors. A server may receive data on a periodic basis. The data is indicative of operational states of at least one machine. The server may then analyze a quality issue associated with the received data over an alert period greater than one day, determine a type of the quality issue, and generate a warning message including an indication of the quality issue and the type of the quality issue.
US09019116B2
A signaling device includes an audio signaling unit for emitting an acoustic signal and a light signaling unit for emitting a visual signal. A base housing body is provided, upon which the signaling device is arranged on an accommodating body. An upper housing part is provided, arranged on the base housing body, for forming a receiving space. The base body of the light signaling unit is formed of a light-transparent signal cap, that includes a base area which is spanned by a connection frame. The light signaling unit further includes an electrical switching unit, which is disposed in the connection frame. The base housing body includes a side wall, and the signal cap is attached to the outer side of the side wall with the base area and is disposed on the base housing body.
US09019113B2
A circuit, a system and/or a method detect a passive electrical connection and/or an active electrical connection between an electrical device and a power supply. An integrity of the electrical connection between the electrical device and the power supply is monitored to determine if the electrical device may have access to power and/or to determine if the electrical device may be secure while on display. A high frequency AC signal is modulated onto a positive power rail between the electrical device and the power supply. Capacitance circuitry of the electrical device may remove the high frequency signal from the positive power rail. An absence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection exists between the electrical device and the power supply. A presence of the high frequency signal on the positive power rail indicates that the electrical connection does not exist between the electrical device and the power supply.
US09019105B2
An animal emotion display system 100 including: a transmitter 10 which is attached to an animal; and a receiver 20 which is capable of communicating with the transmitter, wherein the transmitter 10 includes: a tail wagging detection sensor 12 to detect a plurality of kinds of tail wagging of the animal as a plurality of kinds of emotion of the animal, respectively; and a transmitting section 15 to transmit emotion data corresponding to the respective kinds of tail wagging detected by the tail wagging detection sensor 12 to the receiver 20, and the receiver 20 includes: a receiving section 22 to receive the emotion data transmitted by the transmitting section 15; a display section 25; and a display control section 24 to display a display content corresponding to the emotion data received by the receiving section 22 on the display section 25.
US09019099B2
A method of receiving data indicative of at least one physiological parameter of a patient, receiving image data of the patient, determining that a value of the at least one physiological parameters signifies an alarm condition in the patient, generating an alarm data set including image or audio data of the patient and the value of at least one physiological parameter, and transmitting a notification of the alarm condition including the alarm data set to a clinician.
US09019093B2
A device and a method are provided for outputting items of information regarding a vehicle, in particular regarding a vehicle function. In order to impart the driver an improved knowledge of the vehicle functions, a first storage device, with which the items of information can be retrievably stored, a first device, with which a workload of the driver can be determined, a second device with which an associated priority can be provided to each item of information, and an output device are provided. If the determined workload undershoots a predeterminable limit workload, the item of information with the highest priority is output via the output device. The second device is embodied and equipped in such a manner, that following outputting of an item of information through the output device, the priority of this item of information is reduced.
US09019082B2
A detacher for unlocking a security tag having a locking mechanism is provided. The detacher includes a detaching element in which the detaching element is configured to unlock the locking mechanism if the detaching element is activated. The detacher includes a reader in which the reader is configured to receive a user identifier associated with at least one user. The detacher includes a memory. The memory is configured to store at least one user rule. The detacher includes a processor in which the processor is configured to determine whether the received user identifier meets the at least one user rule. The processor is further configured activate the detaching element if the received user identifier meets the at least one user rule. The detaching element remains deactivated if the received user identifier does not meet the at least one user rule.
US09019079B2
Biological reagent carrier devices and methods are disclosed, which employ RFID techniques to associate information with biological reagents.
US09019071B1
A method and apparatus to integrate a plurality of sets of authorized credentials from a plurality of building tenants is disclosed, using networking techniques to allow partitioned access to common resources shared by those tenants.
US09019057B2
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of coil transducers and galvanic isolators configured to provide high voltage isolation and high voltage breakdown performance characteristics in small packages. A coil transducer is provided across which data or power signals may be transmitted and received by primary and secondary coils disposed on opposing sides thereof without high voltage breakdowns occurring therebetween. At least portions of the coil transducer are formed of an electrically insulating, non-metallic, non-semiconductor, low dielectric loss material. Circuits are disclosed herein that permit high speed data signals to be transmitted through the coil transducer and faithfully and accurately reconstructed on the opposing side thereof. The coil transducer may be formed in a small package using, by way of example, printed circuit board, CMOS and other fabrication and packaging processes.
US09019056B2
Disclosed are a coil component capable of securing insulation between primary and secondary coils while being miniaturized, a mounting structure thereof, and an electronic device having the same. The coil component includes a bobbin including a winding part around which coils are wound and first terminal fastening parts fastened to a plurality of first connection terminals; and a second terminal fastening part including terminal blocks protruded from the bobbin and a plurality of second connection terminals fastened to the terminal blocks, wherein the second terminal fastening part is mounted on a substrate while being spaced apart from the bobbin after the coils are wound therearound.
US09019046B2
An elastic wave filter includes electrode fingers, a first busbar and a second busbar, and inclined electrode portions each having a narrower distance between the electrode fingers from the first busbar toward the second busbar. The elastic wave filter includes a dummy electrode disposed in at least one of the input-side IDT electrode portion and the output-side IDT electrode portion to suppress reflection of a diffracted elastic wave by the busbar and to suppress spurious response at an end portion in a frequency pass-band. The dummy electrode has a width dimension and a pitch that are determined such that none of a period shorter than a shortest period of the electrode fingers and a period longer than a longest period of the electrode fingers is satisfied.
US09019044B2
An inductive filter for a magnetron power supply lead comprises an electrically insulating tube; a power lead located partially within the electrically insulating tube, and coaxial therewith, for supplying power from a magnetron power supply to a magnetron, a first core of a first magnetic material and a second core of a second magnetic material coaxially located on the electrically insulating tube; an insulating disc of same external diameter as the first core and the second core and coaxially located on the electrically insulating tube between the first core and the second core. The inductive filter is arranged to filter noise of a first frequency band and noise of a second, different, frequency band different from being transmitted along the power lead and to absorb a predetermined transient voltage from being transmitted along the power lead.
US09019035B2
The high-frequency wiring board of the present invention includes: first coplanar lines provided with a first signal line and a first planar ground pattern formed on the same wiring layer as the first signal line; second coplanar lines provided with a second signal line formed on a different wiring layer than the first signal line and a second planar ground pattern formed on the same wiring layer as the second signal line; and a first ground pattern formed on the same wiring layer as the first coplanar lines. The first coplanar lines and the second coplanar lines are connected. At least the first ground pattern and the first planar ground pattern are separated in a region following the second signal line from the connection of the first signal line and the second signal line.
US09019033B2
A contactless connector includes a waveguide structure having a waveguide body extending between a first end and a second end and a septum received in the waveguide body and extend at least partially along an interior of the waveguide body. The septum divides at least a portion of the waveguide body into a first chamber and a second chamber. The waveguide structure conveys RF signals between the first and second ends. The contactless connector includes a communication module having a circuit board positioned at the first end of the waveguide body with transmit and receive communication chips coupled to the circuit board. The waveguide guides the RF signals from and to the transmit and receive communication chips, and the septum isolates the RF signals associated with the communication chips.
US09019021B2
Embodiments provide a multi-phase voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) that produces a plurality of output signals having a common frequency and different phases. In one embodiment, the VCO may include a passive conductive structure having a first ring and a plurality of taps spaced around the first ring. The VCO may further include a capacitive load coupled to the passive conductive structure, one or more feedback structures coupled between a pair of opposing taps of the plurality of taps, and one or more current injection devices coupled between a pair of adjacent taps of the plurality of taps.
US09019016B2
There are provided an accumulator-type fractional N-PLL synthesizer for suppressing the fractional spurious caused by periodically switching a frequency division number of a fractional frequency divider, and a control method thereof. In an accumulator-type fractional N-PLL synthesizer (100), a pulse signal proportional to a fractional phase error occurring between a reference signal and an output signal of a fractional divider (112) for feeding back an output of a VCO (115) of an output stage to a preceding stage is generated using an error signal from an accumulator (120). Through the use of the pulse signal, pulse widths of a UP signal and a DN signal output from a phase detector (140) are controlled so as to reduce a fractional phase error occurring between the UP signal and the DN signal. Thus, the fractional spurious caused by periodically switching the frequency division number of the fractional divider (112) is suppressed.
US09019012B2
Methods and apparatus for Class-D amplifier circuits with D.C. offset control/correction. A Class-D amplifier is described having an output stage, such as a full H-bridge or half bridge, with a plurality of switches operable to provide a plurality of output states comprising at least a positive output state and a negative output state. Control circuitry is configured to receive a first signal based on the input signal and produce a digital control signal, which is used to determine the switch state of the output stage. A digital integrator is configured to receive a feedback signal indicative of the output state of the output stage and to sample the feedback signal at a sample rate and produce an integrated output signal (INT, IVC) indicating the difference in number of instances of the positive output state and the negative output state. Correction circuitry subtracts the integrated output signal from the input signal to produce a D.C. offset corrected signal.
US09019011B2
A method for power amplifier (PA) calibration for an envelope tracking system of a wireless device is disclosed. The method involves measuring an output power of a PA that is a part under test (PUT) at a predetermined input power. Another step includes calculating a gain equal to the output power of the PA divided by the predetermined input power. A next step involves calculating a gain correction by subtracting the calculated gain from a desired gain. Other steps include determining an expected supply voltage for the PA at the desired gain using the gain correction applied to a nominal curve of gain versus PA supply voltage, and then storing the expected supply voltage for the PA versus input power in memory.
US09019005B2
In various embodiments, a circuit is provided including a supply terminal, a logic circuit, an inverter and a control transistor which may include a body region, first and second source/drain regions, a gate insulating region having a layer thickness and a gate region. The first source/drain region may be coupled to the supply terminal. The logic circuit may have an internal supply terminal connected to the second source/drain region of the control transistor and a plurality of transistors each having a gate insulating region having a second layer thickness. The inverter input may be coupled to the internal supply terminal of the logic circuit and the output to the gate region of the control transistor. The inverter may include a transistor with a gate insulating region having a third layer thickness substantially equal to the first and second layer thicknesses.
US09019003B2
A voltage generation circuit includes an oscillator configured to output a first period signal and a second period signal in response to a detection signal; a period signal select unit configured to receive the first and second period signals and output one of the first and second period signals as an additional period signal in response to a control signal; and a charge pump unit configured to charge-pump an input voltage in response to the first period signal and the additional period signal and generate a power supply voltage.
US09019002B2
Various technologies described herein pertain to automatically adjusting the strength of a voltage booster of an image sensor. A self-scaled voltage booster includes a regulator, a controller, and two or more charge pumps that can be selectively enabled and disabled by the controller. The controller generates controller signals for the charge pumps based on a duty cycle of a regulator signal generated by the regulator. Moreover, the controller can maintain the controller signals without modification for at least a predetermined minimum period of time after a prior modification of at least one of the controller signals. Further, the controller can include a duty cycle and delay module (or a plurality of duty cycle and delay modules) that detects the duty cycle of the regulator signal and maintains the controller signals without modification for at least the predetermined minimum period of time.
US09019001B2
A DC-coupled two-stage gate driver circuit for driving a junction field effect transistor (JFET) is provided. The JFET can be a wide bandgap junction field effect transistor (JFET) such as a SiC JFET. The driver includes a first turn-on circuit, a second turn-on circuit and a pull-down circuit. The driver is configured to accept an input pulse-width modulation (PWM) control signal and generate an output driver signal for driving the gate of the JFET.
US09018998B2
A delay time adjusting circuit is described, in which a reference signal circuit generates at least one reference signal to an A/D conversion circuit, an input signal circuit generates an input signal to the A/D conversion circuit, the A/D conversion circuit compares the input signal with the at least one reference signal to output a digital signal to a digital logic chip, and the digital logic chip determines a delay time based on the digital signal. In this way, the delay time can be determined digitally, and an adjusting accuracy of the delay time can be increased; and also, the delay time can be adjusted through changing the level of the input signal, thus reducing circuit losses and costs.
US09018994B2
A duty cycle correction circuit includes a clock adjustment unit configured to adjust a duty ratio of an input clock signal in response to a duty control signal and generate an output clock signal, a tracking type setting unit configured to generate an tracking type selection signal for setting a first or second tracking type based on a duty locking state of the output clock signal, and a control signal generation unit configured to generate the duty control signal, into which the first or second tracking type is incorporated, in response to the tracking type selection signal and the output clock signal.
US09018986B2
An output buffer is provided. The output buffer is coupled to a first voltage source providing a first supply voltage and used for generating an output signal at an output terminal according to an input signal. The output buffer includes first and second transistors and a self-bias circuit. The first and second transistors are cascaded between the output terminal and a reference voltage. The self-bias circuit is coupled to the output terminal and the control electrode of the first transistor. When the output buffer does not receive the first supply voltage, the self-bias circuit provides a first bias voltage to the control electrode of the first transistor according to the output signal to decrease voltage differences between the control electrode and the input and output electrodes of the first transistor to be lower than a predetermined voltage.
US09018981B2
A latch circuit includes a latch unit and a clock propagation suppressing unit. The latch circuit holds and outputs input data of 0 or 1. The clock propagation suppressing unit compares the input data input to the latch unit with output data output from the latch unit. When it is detected that the input data matches the output data at 0, or that the input data matches the output data at 1, an externally input clock signal is prevented from propagating to the latch unit.
US09018976B2
In an embodiment of the invention, a dual-port positive level sensitive reset preset data retention latch contains a clocked inverter and a dual-port latch. Data is clocked through the clocked inverter when clock signal CKT goes high, CLKZ goes low, preset control signal PRE is low, rest control signal REN is high and retention control signal RET is low. The dual-port latch is configured to receive the output of the clocked inverter, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CKT and CLKZ, the retain control signals RET and RETN, the preset control signal PRE and the control signals SS and SSN. The signals CKT, CLKZ, RET, RETN, PRE, REN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the clocked inverter or the second data bit D2 is latched in the dual-port latch. Control signals RET and RETN determine when data is stored in the dual-port latch during retention mode.
US09018975B2
Methods and systems to stress-program a first integrated circuit (IC) block to output a pre-determined value upon activation/reset, such as to support time-zero compensation/trimming. To program, the first block is configured with first-block program parameters to cause the first block to output a pre-determined value. The first block is stressed while configured with the first-block program parameters, to cause the first block to output the pre-determined value without the first-block program parameters. The first block may include a latch designed as a fully balance circuit and may be asymmetrically stressed to alter a characteristic of one path relative to another. The pre-determined value may be selected to compensate for process corner variations and/or other random variations.
US09018969B2
In a semiconductor device in which semiconductor chips having a number of signal TSVs are stacked, a huge amount of man-hours have been required to perform a continuity test for each of the signal TSVs. According to the present invention, no continuity test is performed directly on signal TSVs. Dummy bumps are arranged in addition to signal TSVs. The dummy bumps of the semiconductor chips are connected through a conduction path that can pass the dummy bumps between the semiconductor chips with one stroke when the semiconductor chips are stacked. A continuity test of the conduction path allows a bonding defect on bonded surfaces of two of the stacked semiconductor chips to be measured and detected.
US09018968B2
Proposed is a method for testing the density and location of a gate dielectric layer trap of a semiconductor device. The testing method tests the trap density and two-dimensional trap location in the gate dielectric layer of a semiconductor device with a small area (the effective channel area is less than 0.5 square microns) using the gate leakage current generated by a leakage path. The present invention is especially suitable for testing a device with an ultra-small area (the effective channel area is less than 0.05 square microns). The present method can obtain trap distribution scenarios of the gate dielectric layer in the case of different materials and different processes. In the present method, the device requirements are simple, the testing structure is simple, the testing cost is low, the testing is rapid and the trap distribution of the gate dielectric layer of the device can be obtained within a short time, which is suitable for large batches of automatic testing and is especially suitable for process monitoring and finished product quality detection during the manufacture of ultra-small semiconductor devices.
US09018967B2
An electrical probe comprises a cylindrical body which has a first end including a plurality of claws and a second end opposite to the first end for cooperating with an electrical test machine, wherein a concave contact surface conforming with the curvature of a solder ball of an electronic device under test is formed between the claws, whereby the first end of the cylindrical body can be brought into line contact with the solder ball at a predetermined length to ensure a proper electrical connection, so that the accuracy of an electrical test can be increased.
US09018965B2
To verify robustness with respect to electrical overstresses of an electronic circuit under test, the latter is exposed to electrical overstresses, and the behavior thereof is monitored. In particular, both the testing of the electronic circuit in dynamic conditions is performed by causing it to be traversed by the currents that characterize operation thereof, and by exposing at least one supply line of the electronic circuit under test to electrical overstresses and the testing of the electronic circuit under test in static conditions, without causing it to be traversed by the currents that characterize operation thereof, and by exposing to electrical overstresses both the supply and the input and/or output lines of the electronic circuit under test. The device for generating the overstresses can be mounted on a circuit board, which can be coupled as daughter board to a mother board, on which the electronic circuit under test is mounted.
US09018957B2
Method and system for diagnostic measurement of motor vehicle restraint system squib loop resistance
A method of measuring squib loop resistance including non-linear elements in a restraint control module is disclosed by the present invention. The squib loop resistance is comprised of both linear and non-linear elements. The non-linear elements are linearized into resistive components about the bias points used to make the squib loop resistance measurement. The calculation of the linear squib loop resistance is provided by comparing the complete squib loop resistance and the linearized value of the non-linear elements.
US09018951B2
A method for processing magnetic resonance imaging data includes accessing the magnetic resonance imaging data, the data including a plurality of magnetic resonance data sets each collected at different excitation frequencies and defining reconstructable images representative of sections of a single image of a subject. Each magnetic resonance data set includes sampled data for sampled phase encoding points but is missing data for unsampled phase encoding points. The method further includes determining the missing data of at least one of the magnetic resonance data sets using a correlation between the sampled data for the respective magnetic resonance data set and sampled data from at least one other magnetic resonance data set within a spectral window encompassing at least the respective magnetic resonance data set and the at least one other magnetic resonance data set.
US09018949B2
A sensor comprises a housing which defines a measuring side and a connection side, a coil (6) which is arranged in the housing (1) on the measuring side, and a cover (14) for closing the housing on the measuring side. The housing (1) consists of ferromagnetic material, in particular ferromagnetic steel. The coil (6) is positioned and fixed in the housing close to the cover (14) or directly on the cover (14).
US09018944B2
A sensor arrangement is operative to sense a relative kinematic state of a magnet (110) and a Hall-effect sensor (202) with respect to each other. The Hall-effect sensor has a Hall plate (204) and is accommodated in a surface-mount device. The magnet is configured for generating a magnetic field having an orientation primarily parallel to the Hall plate. The sensor arrangement comprises magnetic-field collecting means (206) for changing the orientation of the magnetic field to be primarily perpendicular to the Hall plate.
US09018938B2
An integrated device suspended at a high voltage potential for the metering and protection of a distribution network comprises a measurement current transformer (CT), a protective CT and a voltage sensor. The voltage signal is output from the voltage sensor to an electric energy metering module and first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The current signal acquired by the measurement CT is output to the electric energy metering module. The current signal acquired by the protective CT is output to the first and second electric signal acquiring modules. The electric energy metering module processes the current and voltage signals and sends the processed data to a comprehensive control module. The first and second electric signal acquiring modules send the voltage and current data to the comprehensive control module. The comprehensive control module comprehensively calculates the received data and sends the result to a low voltage terminal.
US09018937B2
An electromechanical system (MEMS) voltmeter. An exemplary MEMS voltmeter includes a proof mass mounted to a substrate in a teeter-totter manner. The MEMS voltmeter also includes an input voltage plate located on the substrate under a first end of the proof mass. The first input voltage plate receives a voltage from a device under test. A drive voltage plate is located on the substrate under a second end of the proof mass. A first sense input voltage plate is located on the substrate under the first end of the proof mass. A second sense voltage plate is located on the substrate under the second end of the proof mass. A rebalancing circuit receives signals from the proof mass and the first and second sense voltage plates and generates a voltage value that is equal to the root mean square (RMS) voltage of the device under test.
US09018931B2
A power control system includes a first switch configured to receive electrical power from a power source and selectably provide the electrical power to a load. A current limiter is intermediate the first switch and the load. A second switch is also configured to receive electrical power from the power source and selectably provide electrical power to the load. The power control system includes a soft-start operating mode wherein the first switch is activated to provide the electrical power to the load, current provided to the load being limited by the current limiter. The second switch is also activated to provide the electrical power to the load, the second switch being activated a predetermined period of time after activation of the first switch. The first and second switches are also deactivated while the voltage of the power source exceeds a predetermined level.
US09018927B2
A portable electronic apparatus and a power management method are provided. The portable electronic apparatus includes a power manager and a controller. The power manager is used to receive a supply power generated by a power adapter. The power manager determines whether to generate a detecting signal by detecting whether a voltage value variation of the supply power is greater than a preset range. The power manager generates a current detecting value according to an input current provided by the supply power. The controller receives the detecting signal and the current detecting value, and generates an input current limit value according to a receiving status of the detecting signal and the current detecting value. The power manager controls the input current according to the input current limit value.
US09018926B1
A PFC circuit has inductive elements and a capacitor between a source node of a first transistor and the second node of a second transistor. The capacitor is configured to resonate at a frequency approximately half that of the switching frequency of the transistors. Furthermore, the inductive element is configured to charge the drain-source voltage of the transistors.
US09018919B2
Various embodiments of a battery detector are provided. In one aspect, a battery detector of a portable electronic device is applied to a battery module without an identification (ID) terminal. When the portable electronic device receives a direct current (DC) voltage provided by an external transformer to conduct a startup procedure, the battery detector detects whether the battery module is connected to the portable electronic device or not, and prevents the portable electronic device from conducting erroneous operations.
US09018916B2
There is provided a control system for a lithium secondary battery that can quantitatively sense a deterioration state inherent in a lithium secondary battery using silicon oxide as a negative electrode active material, that is, the nonuniform reaction state of a negative electrode. A control system for a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode using silicon oxide as a negative electrode active material, and a lithium reference electrode having a reference potential with respect to the negative electrode includes measurement means for measuring a voltage V of the negative electrode with respect to the lithium reference electrode and a discharge capacity Q of the lithium secondary battery during discharge of the lithium secondary battery; generation means for generating a V-dQ/dV curve representing a relationship between dQ/dV, which is a proportion of an amount of change dQ in the discharge capacity Q to an amount of change dV in the voltage V, and the voltage V; calculation means for calculating an intensity ratio of two peaks appearing on the V-dQ/dV curve for two voltage values in the voltage V; and sensing means for sensing a state of the negative electrode utilizing the intensity ratio.
US09018914B2
An electric circuit comprising means for communicating with an external device coupled to means for measuring the charge condition of an external battery. In some embodiments, the circuit comprises at least one level shifter for changing the reference voltage of communication signals. In some embodiments, the circuit comprises a first driver and a second driver for driving external switching elements for the controlled charge and discharge of the battery.
US09018910B2
A battery protection circuit and a method of controlling the same are disclosed. The battery protection circuit includes a first current path that includes a charge control switch and a discharge control switch, and a second current path in parallel to the first current path and has an electric resistance less than that of the first current path.
US09018898B2
A method performed in a wireless power transfer receiver includes determining whether a power transfer rate of the wireless power transfer receiver is at or above a threshold. The method further includes, in response to the power transfer rate being at or above the threshold, alternating between a power receiving mode and a non-power receiving mode in the wireless power transfer receiver. The wireless power transfer receiver being in the non-power receiving mode increases an amount of transmitted power that is available to be received by one or more other wireless power transfer receivers.
US09018894B2
A vehicular power supply system is provided, which is equipped with a two-battery power supply system including a lithium-ion battery and a lead battery, and can securely supply the lead battery with power without fail even when the lithium-ion battery is disconnected by a relay. The vehicular power supply system comprises: a lead battery; a lithium-ion battery that can be charged and discharges at a voltage higher than the lead battery's voltage; a step-down DC-DC converter that is connected between the lead battery and the lithium-ion battery and whose output voltage is controllable; a generator connected with the step-down DC-DC converter and the lithium-ion battery; a lithium-ion battery SOC detection means for detecting a state of charge of the lithium-ion battery; a relay for the lithium-ion battery by which the battery is connected to or disconnected from the generator and the step-down DC-DC converter; and a control means, based on the state of charge of the lithium-ion battery, for taking control of switching on and off the relay for the lithium-ion battery.
US09018893B2
A portable electronic device, such as a fluid infusion device, obtains its operating power from a primary battery and a secondary battery. The primary battery may be a replaceable battery, and the secondary battery may be a rechargeable battery that can be charged with the primary battery under certain conditions. The device utilizes a power management scheme that transitions between the primary battery and/or the secondary battery to prolong the useful life of the primary battery. The device may also generate an intelligent battery life indicator that displays an accurate representation of the remaining life of the primary battery.
US09018881B2
Systems and methods are provided for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor. An exemplary method for diagnosing stator windings in an electric motor involves determining an input energy imbalance across phases of the stator windings for an electrical period of the electric motor and identifying a fault condition when the input energy imbalance is greater than a first threshold value. In some embodiments, an input energy ratio across phases of the stator windings is also determined for the electrical period, wherein the fault condition is identified as a phase-to-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is greater than a second threshold value and the input energy imbalance is greater than the first threshold value, or alternatively, as an in-phase short circuit fault condition when the input energy ratio is less than the second threshold value.
US09018879B2
An electric compressor capable of following temperature changes of a power element even if a temperature measurement unit is disposed separately from the power element. In the electric compressor, the temperature measurement unit (34) measures the temperature of a substrate (36) on which the power element (31) is disposed. A rotational speed detection unit (35) detects the rotational speed of a motor. A control unit (33) estimates the temperature of the power element (31) on the basis of the rotational speed of the motor detected by the rotational speed detection unit (35) and the temperature measured by the temperature measurement unit (34).
US09018876B2
When a current sensor fails, instead of a normal-time motor control section, an abnormal-time motor control section drives and controls a motor. The abnormal-time motor control section detects a timing at which motor current I becomes zero in a state in which all the switching devices are turned off (S11 to S13). Every time the motor current I becomes zero, the abnormal-time motor control section sets an ON time T0 corresponding to steering torque |tr| (S14 to S15), and turns on the switching devices corresponding to the direction of the steering torque for the ON time T0 (S17 to S20). With this operation, an average current Iavg corresponding to the steering torque |tr| flows through the motor 20, whereby deterioration of the followability of steering assist is suppressed.
US09018859B2
A light emitting diode (LED) backlight driving circuit of the present disclosure includes a constant current driver chip, a power module, an LED lightbar coupled to the power module, a dimming module coupled to the LED lightbar, and a low-pass filter. The constant current driver chip comprises a multiplier, and the constant current driver chip generates a gate signal and a dimming signal that are sent to an input end of the multiplier. An output end of the multiplier is coupled to the power module, and is coupled to the dimming module through the low-pass filter.
US09018851B1
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a switching power converter having an input for coupling to an alternating current (AC) power source, an output, and a switch. The LED lighting system also includes an LED lighting subsystem coupled to receive power from the output of the switching power converter. The LED lighting subsystem includes a current source for one or more LEDs, and the current source has a control node and a sense node. The LED lighting system additionally includes a switch state controller coupled to the switching power converter and coupled to the LED lighting subsystem. The switch state controller controls switching of the switch and varies a control current provided to the control node of the current source based on at least a parameter sensed from the sense node.
US09018850B2
A safety flashing detector that suitably detects unintentional flashing of the LED light engine in a traffic lamp is provided. The LED light engine may flash unintentionally when there are failures (hardware or software) inside a traffic lamp. In certain embodiments, unintentional flashing may be detected using a current sensor. If unintentional flashing is detected, the flashing detector may activate and shut down the LED light engine to remove the hazardous failure and eventually triggers the fuse blowout circuit. Hardware circuitry is suitably employed for both reliability and safety purposes, but software may also be employed.
US09018846B2
Illumination devices (10), systems and methods that convert an alternating current (AC) supply (14) to a direct current (DC) for powering a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disclosed. An illumination device (10) comprises a full wave rectifier (12) for converting the AC supply into a direct current (DC). A current limiting diode (CLD) module (16), comprising at least one CLD is coupled in series to an output of the full wave rectifier and a light emitting diode (LED) module (18) comprising a plurality of LEDs is coupled in series between an output of the CLD module (16) and the full wave rectifier (12).
US09018843B2
The present invention provides a LED device with voltage-limiting unit and voltage-equalizing and current-limiting resistances, in which a LED is connected in parallel with a voltage-limiting unit, and a current-limiting resistance is connected in series between the LED and the voltage-limiting unit, and two ends of each LED are connected in parallel with an voltage-equalizing resistance for forming a light-emitting unit, so that a light-emitting unit set can be structured through connecting two or more than two of the mentioned light-emitting units in series or in series-parallel in the same polarity; with the two ends of each LED being connected in parallel with the voltage-equalizing resistance, the end voltage of each light-emitting unit can be evenly stabilized; and the current-limiting resistance is connected in series between the connection joints of the LED and the voltage-limiting unit for limiting the shunt current passing through the voltage-limiting unit.
US09018838B2
The invention describes a high intensity gas-discharge lamp (1) comprising a discharge vessel (5, 5′) enclosing a fill gas in a discharge chamber (2) and comprising a pair of electrodes (3, 3′, 4, 4′) extending into the discharge chamber (2), and wherein the fill gas includes a halide composition comprising a halide of sodium and, optionally, scandium iodide to a total proportion of at least 30 wt %, and a halide of terbium and/or gadolinium to a proportion of at least 5 wt %.
US09018837B2
A display device display device includes a display panel, a thermal diffusion prevention layer disposed on the display panel, a first expansion layer and a second expansion layer disposed on the first thermal diffusion prevention layer, and a heating wire layer disposed on at least one of the first expansion layer and the second expansion layer.
US09018835B2
An organic EL device (1) includes: a substrate (11); a plurality of lower electrodes (14) formed on the substrate (11) and corresponding to luminescence regions, respectively; a dividing wall (17) formed so as to surround the luminescence regions; light-emitting layers (19) formed on the lower electrodes (14) in the luminescence regions, respectively; and an upper electrode (20) formed on the dividing wall (17) and the light-emitting layers (19). The dividing wall (17) is conductive and electrically connected to the upper electrode (20).
US09018831B2
A triode-type field emission device and method of manufacturing the same, suitable for use in screen print process of curved or planar substrate, comprising the following steps: firstly, form a cathode and a gate on a cathode substrate at the same time by means of screen printing, and a gap is located between gate and cathode, to avoid short circuit or interference; next, form a hedgehog-shape field emission layer on at least said cathode; then, form a transparent conductive layer and a light emitting layer sequentially on an anode substrate; and finally, dispose cathode substrate and anode substrate in parallel and spaced apart, and package them into a triode-type field emission device. Bias of cathode and gate can be controlled to achieve local adjustment of light. Also, gate may serve as an emitter, to increase field emission efficiency and its service life.
US09018826B2
A mesa-type quartz-crystal vibrating piece includes a vibrator in a quadrangular shape with both main surfaces, a pair of excitation electrodes on both the main surfaces, a thin portion outside of the quadrangular shape, and a pair of extraction electrodes. The thin portion has a thickness thinner than a thickness of the vibrator. The pair of extraction electrodes are extracted from the excitation electrodes to a predetermined direction. A center of a first length in the predetermined direction of the excitation electrode is decentered from a center of a second length in the predetermined direction. The second length includes a length of the vibrator and a length of the thin portion. The center of the first length is decentered toward an opposite side of the extraction electrode by 25 μm to 65 μm.
US09018824B2
A power-generating apparatus includes: a deformation member that is provided with a first piezoelectric device and deformed while switching a deformation direction; an amount of deformation detection unit that detects an amount of deformation of the deformation member; a pair of electrodes provided on the first piezoelectric device; a switch provided between the pair of electrodes; and a switch control unit that controls the switch to cause short-circuit between the pair of electrodes for a predetermined period when the amount of deformation is equal to or more than a predetermined amount.
US09018821B2
A stator arrangement for an electromechanical transducer is provided. The stator arrangement includes a base structure, a coil holder, a coil mounted at the coil holder; and a flexible element connecting the base structure to the coil holder flexibly relative to each other. Further, an electromechanical transducer is provided that includes the above-mentioned stator arrangement and a rotor arrangement rotatable relative to the base structure around an axial direction. Still, further, a wind turbine is provided that includes the above-mentioned electromechanical transducer as a generator.
US09018820B2
The present invention relates to an integral or a non-integral stator structure for reducing the manufacturing complexity by eliminating the boot part of the tooth part thereof. The stator structure is made of a core material, and includes: a plurality of stator units, each having a tooth part and an annular part, in which different stator units can be connected with each other integrally or non-integrally, so as to form an annular stator structure. The tooth part of each stator unit is formed in a pillar shape that has a first end and a second end, and the first end is connected to the annular part.
US09018818B2
An insulating cap is provided for an end winding of an electrical machine working at a high voltage, the end winding including a plurality of insulated winding bars protruding from respective winding slots and electrically conductively connected to one another in pairs at their ends so as to form a plurality of electrical connections. The cap includes an opening allowing the insulating cap to be pushed over a region of one of the electrical connections such that the insulating cap insulates an outside of the electrical connection. An interior includes a layer configured to gradually dissipate a high electrical field in the region of the electrical connection to an outside of the insulating cap, the outside of the insulating cap being at earth potential.
US09018801B2
The invention relates to a photovoltaic system for feeding three-phase current to a power grid that includes several monophase or three-phase photovoltaic inverters that can be connected to the power grid at the output end and are each fitted with a disconnecting device at the output end. The system includes several photovoltaic generators that are connected to the input end of the photovoltaic inverters. A central control and monitoring unit is connected between the photovoltaic inverters and the power grid. The control and monitoring unit has a grid monitoring device at the feeding point to the grid to measure one or more grid parameters. At least one communication link is provided between the individual photovoltaic inverters or the individual disconnecting devices and the connected central control and monitoring unit such that the connecting devices can disconnect the individual photovoltaic inverters from the power grid by means of a control instruction signal of the communication link. The central control and monitoring unit includes a load unbalance recognition component and a load unbalance regulation component, wherein the regulation includes limiting the power variation between the individual phases to a predetermined value.
US09018798B2
A power supply circuit includes a comparator, first to third electronic switches, a D-trigger, a power supply unit (PSU), and a complex programmable logic device (CPLD). When a voltage from the PSU is greater than a reference voltage, the first electronic switch is turned on. An electronic device connected to the first electronic does not receive power from the PSU. The second electronic switch is turned on. The third electronic switch is turned off. The D-trigger outputs a low level signal to make the CPLD control the PSU stop supplying power.
US09018797B2
A method for power distribution management includes receiving data specifying a group of Power Distribution Units (PDUs) from which an electronic device powered by at least one of the group of PDUs draws power; and automatically determining whether the electronic device is redundantly powered.
US09018793B2
A routing structure of a high-voltage cable of a vehicle has a high-voltage cable (18) connected to an end surface of a motor (10) and routed along a motor case (13) by being extended from the connecting portion in one direction and then extended in the direction reverse to the one direction, and in which structure a first protector (41) configured to hold the high-voltage cable (18) and extended along the motor case (13) is supported on the motor case (13).
US09018780B2
A control system to improve the production of a variable speed wind turbine comprising control devices for a standard regulation tracking a power vs. generator speed curve that also uses an alternative regulation for optimizing the energy production along determinate time periods Tb for compensating previous energy losses at a higher power Pb than the power determined by the standard regulation, the alternative regulation being based on a continuous calculation of the accumulated lost energy ALE as the energy lost with respect to the maximum allowed energy production according to the standard regulation and the fixation of the higher power Pb and a setting of the duration of the time periods Tb being compatible with wind turbine electrical or mechanical limitations. A wind turbine controlled by the method.
US09018778B2
In one embodiment, a system includes a generator configured to receive a flow of an organic working fluid. The generator includes a stator and a permanent magnet rotor configured to rotate within the stator to generate electricity. The generator further includes one or more components disposed within the generator and configured to be exposed to the flow of the organic working fluid. The one or more components each include an underlying component and a varnish configured to withstand exposure to the organic working fluid to inhibit contact between the underlying component and the organic working fluid.
US09018772B2
A chip structure and a multi-chip stack package are provided. The chip structure includes a chip, at least one interlink plate and a plurality of first connection terminals. The chip has an active surface, a back surface opposite to the active surface and a plurality of side surfaces respectively connected to the active surface and the back surface. The chip includes at least one bond pad disposed on the active surface and at least one joint pad disposed on the back surface. The interlink plate substantially parallel to one of the side surfaces includes a base and a conductive pattern disposed on the base. The conductive pattern is located between the base and the chip. The first connection terminals are disposed between the chip and the interlink plate. The bond pad is electrically connected to the joint pad through the first connection terminals and the conductive pattern.
US09018771B2
A thin film apparatus having a plurality of thin film cells is disclosed. Each thin film cell includes a crystalline layer and a surrounding layer. The crystalline layer has a shape of polygon. The surrounding layer is partially located on the crystalline layer. The crystalline layer is surrounded by the surrounding layer.
US09018769B2
A method of forming a conductive element on a substrate and the resulting assembly are provided. The method includes forming a groove in a sacrificial layer overlying a dielectric region disposed on a substrate. The groove preferably extends along a sloped surface of the substrate. The sacrificial layer is preferably removed by a non-photolithographic method, such as ablating with a laser, mechanical milling, or sandblasting. A conductive element is formed in the groove. The grooves may be formed. The grooves and conductive elements may be formed along any surface of the substrate, including within trenches and vias formed therein, and may connect to conductive pads on the front and/or rear surface of the substrate. The conductive elements are preferably formed by plating and may or may not conform to the surface of the substrate.
US09018765B2
In a general aspect, an integrated circuit package includes a first electrode and a second electrode on a support substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode are configured to be electrically coupled to a voltage differential. A dendritic migration of a migratory species can develop under the voltage differential and a non-hermetic environment. The dendritic migration is interrupted by a floating electrical barrier mounted onto the support substrate between the first electrode and the second electrode. The electrical barrier includes a dam for preventing the metal migration. The dam has a height approximately equal to or greater than the largest dimension of a single atom of the migratory species. The first electrode and the second electrode can be mounted on the same side of the support substrate, or on two opposite sides of the support substrate.
US09018764B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device having an interlayer insulating film, a molybdenum containing layer, a barrier metal layer and a plug material layer is provided. The interlayer insulating film is formed on a substrate or on a conductive layer formed on a substrate. The interlayer insulating film has a hole reaching the substrate or the conductive layer. The molybdenum containing layer is formed in the substrate or in the conductive layer at a bottom portion of the hole. The barrier metal layer is formed on the molybdenum containing layer and on a side surface of the hole. A portion of the barrier metal layer is formed on the side surface contains at least molybdenum. A portion of the barrier metal layer is formed on the molybdenum containing layer includes at least a molybdenum silicate nitride film. The plug material layer is formed via the barrier metal layer.
US09018762B2
An inventive semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor chip; an internal pad provided on a surface of the semiconductor chip for electrical connection; a surface protective film covering the surface of the semiconductor chip and having a pad opening from which the internal pad is exposed; a stress relief layer provided on the surface protective film and having an opening portion through which the internal pad exposed from the pad opening is exposed; a connection pad including an anchor buried in the pad opening and the opening portion and connected to the internal pad, and a projection provided integrally with the anchor as projecting on the stress relief layer, the projection having a width greater than an opening width of the opening portion; and a metal ball provided for external electrical connection as covering the projection of the connection pad.
US09018752B2
Provided is a circuit board, which may include a base layer, an adhesive film, a conductive circuit, and a through via. The adhesive film and the conductive circuit may be provided in plurality to be alternately stacked on the base layer. The through via may be formed through soldering. Since the base layer is not damaged during the soldering, the through via may include various conductive materials. The through via makes it possible to easily connect the conductive circuits having different functions to one another. Accordingly, the circuit board may have multi functions. Thicknesses of the conductive circuits may be adjusted to protect the conductive circuits from folding or bending of the base layer. The circuit board having a multi-layered structure can function not only as a fabric or clothes but also as an electronic circuit.
US09018750B2
Disclosed is a package that includes a wafer substrate and a metal stack seed layer. The metal stack seed layer includes a titanium thin film outer layer. A resist layer is provided in contact with the titanium thin film outer layer of the metal stack seed layer, the resist layer forming circuitry. A method for manufacturing a package is further disclosed. A metal stack seed layer having a titanium thin film outer layer is formed. A resist layer is formed so as to be in contact with the titanium thin film outer layer of the metal stack seed layer, and circuitry is formed from the resist layer.
US09018745B2
A method according to the invention has a bonding process of mounting a semiconductor chip on an upper surface of a die pad that has the upper surface whose area is larger than a reverse side of the semiconductor chip. It also has a sealed body formation process of sealing the semiconductor chip so that an undersurface opposite to the upper surface of the die pad may be exposed after the bonding process. Here, the upper surface of the die pad is arranged around an area over which the semiconductor chip is mounted, and has a hollow part arrangement area in which a groove or multiple holes are formed. Moreover, surface roughness of the upper surface is made coarser than surface roughness of the undersurface.
US09018743B2
Provided is a semiconductor device in which misalignment between a semiconductor die and a substrate (e.g., a circuit board) can be prevented or substantially reduced when the semiconductor die is attached to the circuit board. In a non-limiting example, the semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor die comprising at least one bump; and a circuit board comprising at least one circuit pattern to which the bump is electrically connected. In a non-limiting example, the circuit board comprises: an insulation layer comprising a center region and peripheral regions around the center region; a plurality of center circuit patterns formed in the center region of the insulation layer; and a plurality of peripheral circuit patterns formed in the peripheral regions of the insulation layer. The center circuit patterns may be formed wider than the peripheral circuit patterns, formed in a zigzag pattern, and/or may be formed in a crossed shape.
US09018736B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate having a hexagonal crystalline structure and a (0001) surface, and conductive films on the surface of the substrate. The conductive films include a first conductive film and a second conductive film located above the first conductive film with respect to the surface, wherein the first conductive film has a crystalline structure which does not have a plane that has a symmetry equivalent to the symmetry of atomic arrangement in the surface of the substrate, the second conductive film has a crystalline structure having at least one plane that has a symmetry equivalent to the symmetry of atomic arrangement in the surface of the substrate, and the second conductive film is polycrystalline and has a grain size no larger than 15 μm.
US09018735B2
A silicon wafer and fabrication method thereof are provided. The silicon wafer includes a first denuded zone formed with a predetermined depth from a top surface of the silicon wafer, the first denuded zone being formed with a depth ranging from approximately 20 μm to approximately 80 μm from the top surface, and a bulk area formed between the first denuded zone and a backside of the silicon wafer, the bulk area having a concentration of oxygen uniformly distributed within a variation of 10% over the bulk area.
US09018727B2
The invention relates to an InGaAs photodiode army (101) and to the method for manufacturing same, wherein said array includes: a cathode including at least one indium-phosphide substrate layer (4) and an active gallium-indium arsenide layer (5); and a plurality of anodes (3) at least partially formed in the active gallium-indium arsenide layer by diffusing a P-type dopant, the interaction between an anode (3) and the cathode forming a photodiode. According to said method, an indium-phosphide passivation layer (6) is arranged on the active layer before the diffusion of the P-type dopant forming the anodes (3), and a first selective etching is performed so as to remove, over the entire thickness thereof, an area (10) of the passivation layer (6) surrounding each anode (3).
US09018714B2
A structure has at least one field effect transistor having a gate stack disposed between raised source drain structures that are adjacent to the gate stack. The gate stack and raised source drain structures are disposed on a surface of a semiconductor material. The structure further includes a layer of field dielectric overlying the gate stack and raised source drain structures and first contact metal and second contact metal extending through the layer of field dielectric. The first contact metal terminates in a first trench formed through a top surface of a first raised source drain structure, and the second contact metal terminates in a second trench formed through a top surface of a second raised source drain structure. Each trench has silicide formed on sidewalls and a bottom surface of at least a portion of the trench. Methods to fabricate the structure are also disclosed.
US09018708B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate including a cell region and a peripheral circuit region, buried gates formed in the substrate of the cell region, a bit line formed over the cell region between the buried gates and including a first barrier layer, and a gate formed over the peripheral circuit region and including a second barrier layer and a third barrier layer.
US09018704B2
The organic thin-film transistor according to the present invention includes: a gate electrode line on a substrate in a first region: a first signal line layer in a second region; a gate insulating film covering the gate electrode line and the first signal line layer; bank layers on the gate insulating film; a second signal line layer on the bank layer over the first signal line; a drain electrode and a source electrode line which are located on the bank layers and in at least one opening between the bank layers in the first region; a semiconductor layer located at least in the opening and banked up by the bank layers, the drain electrode, and the source electrode line; and a protection film covering the semiconductor layer.
US09018703B2
The present invention discloses a hybrid high voltage device and a manufacturing method thereof. The hybrid high voltage device is formed in a first conductive type substrate, and includes at least one lateral double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) device region and at least one vent device region, wherein the LDMOS device region and the vent device region are connected in a width direction and arranged in an alternating order. Besides, corresponding high voltage wells, sources, drains, body regions, and gates of the LDMOS device region and the vent device region are connected to each other respectively.
US09018700B2
In a general aspect, an apparatus can include a semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, the semiconductor layer having a top-side surface. The apparatus can also include a well region of a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, the well region being disposed in an upper portion of the semiconductor layer. The apparatus can further include a gate trench disposed in the semiconductor layer, the gate trench extending through the well region, and a drain contact disposed, at least in part, on the top-side surface of the semiconductor layer, the drain contact being adjacent to the well region. The apparatus can still further include an isolation trench disposed between the drain contact and the gate trench in the semiconductor layer, the isolation trench extending through the well region.
US09018699B2
A SiC semiconductor element includes: a SiC substrate which has a principal surface tilted with respect to a (0001) Si plane; a SiC layer arranged on the principal surface of the substrate; a trench arranged in the SiC layer and having a bottom, a sidewall, and an upper corner region located between the sidewall and the upper surface of the SiC layer; a gate insulating film arranged on at least a part of the sidewall and on at least a part of the upper corner region of the trench and on at least a part of the upper surface of the SiC layer; and a gate electrode arranged on the gate insulating film. The upper corner region has a different surface from the upper surface of the SiC layer and from a surface that defines the sidewall. The gate electrode contacts with both of a first portion of the gate insulating film located on the upper corner region and a second portion of the gate insulating film located on the sidewall. The first portion of the gate insulating film is thicker than a third portion of the gate insulating film located on the upper surface of the SiC layer. And an end portion of the gate electrode is located on the upper corner region.
US09018698B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a first type of conductivity. A first layer is formed on the substrate having the first type of conductivity and is more lightly doped than the substrate. At least one trench is formed in the first layer. A dielectric layer lines the bottom surface and the sidewalls of the trench. A conducting material fills the trench. A lightly doped region is formed in the first layer having the second conductivity type. The lightly doped region is disposed below the bottom surface of the trench. A metal layer is disposed over the first layer and the conducting material. A first electrode is formed over the metal layer and a second electrode is formed on a backside of the substrate.
US09018697B2
A fin field effect transistor (fin FET) is formed using a bulk silicon substrate and sufficiently guarantees a top channel length formed under a gate, by forming a recess having a predetermined depth in a fin active region and then by forming the gate in an upper part of the recess. A device isolation film is formed to define a non-active region and a fin active region in a predetermined region of the substrate. In a portion of the device isolation film a first recess is formed, and in a portion of the fin active region a second recess having a depth shallower than the first recess is formed. A gate insulation layer is formed within the second recess, and a gate is formed in an upper part of the second recess. A source/drain region is formed in the fin active region of both sides of a gate electrode.
US09018696B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises a memory string, and a wiring. The memory string comprises a semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer, and a plurality of first conductive layers. The plurality of first conductive layers comprises a stepped portion formed in a stepped shape such that positions of ends of the plurality of first conductive layers differ from one another. The wiring comprises a plurality of second conductive layers extending upwardly from an upper surface of the first conductive layers comprising the stepped portion. The plurality of second conductive layers are formed such that upper ends thereof are aligned with a surface parallel to the substrate, and such that a diameter thereof decreases from the upper end thereof to a lower end thereof. The plurality of second conductive layers are formed such that the greater a length thereof in the perpendicular direction, the larger a diameter of the upper end thereof.
US09018694B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for gate dimension control in multi-gate structures for integrated circuit devices. Processing steps for formation of one or more subsequent gate structures are adjusted based upon dimensions determined for one or more previously formed gate structures. In this way, one or more features of the resulting multi-gate structures can be controlled with greater accuracy, and variations between a plurality of multi-gate structures can be reduced. Example multi-gate features and/or dimensions that can be controlled include overall gate length, overlap of gate structures, and/or any other desired features and/or dimensions of the multi-gate structures. Example multi-gate structures include multi-gate NVM (non-volatile memory) cells for NVM systems, such as for example, split-gate NVM cells having select gates (SGs) and control gates (CGs).
US09018692B2
An integrated circuit device is described that includes a 3D memory comprising a plurality of self-aligned stacks of word lines orthogonal to and interleaved with a plurality of self-aligned stacks of bit lines. Data storage structures such as dielectric charge storage structures, are provided at cross points between word lines and bit lines in the plurality of self-aligned stacks of word lines interleaved with the plurality of self-aligned stacks of bit lines.
US09018684B2
Methods for fabricating silicon nanowire chemical sensing devices, devices thus obtained, and methods for utilizing devices for sensing and measuring chemical concentration of selected species in a fluid are described. Devices may comprise a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) structure.
US09018681B2
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is method of manufacturing a bipolar transistor comprising providing a substrate including an active region; depositing a layer stack; forming a base window over the active region in said layer stack; forming at least one pillar in the base window, wherein a part of the pillar is resistant to polishing; depositing an emitter material over the resultant structure, thereby filling said base window; and planarizing the deposited emitter material by polishing. Consistent with another example embodiment, a bipolar transistor may be manufactured according to the afore-mentioned method.
US09018680B2
Non-planar semiconductor devices having group III-V material active regions with multi-dielectric gate stacks are described. For example, a semiconductor device includes a hetero-structure disposed above a substrate. The hetero-structure includes a three-dimensional group III-V material body with a channel region. A source and drain material region is disposed above the three-dimensional group III-V material body. A trench is disposed in the source and drain material region separating a source region from a drain region, and exposing at least a portion of the channel region. A gate stack is disposed in the trench and on the exposed portion of the channel region. The gate stack includes first and second dielectric layers and a gate electrode.
US09018679B2
A semiconductor device includes: an operation layer that is provided on a substrate and is made of a GaAs-based semiconductor; a first AlGaAs layer provided on the operation layer; a gate electrode provided on the first AlGaAs layer; an second AlGaAs layer having n-type conductivity and provided on the first AlGaAs layer of both sides of the gate electrode, an Al composition ratio of the second AlGaAs layer being larger than that of the first AlGaAs layer and being equal to or more than 0.3 and equal to or less than 0.5; an n-type GaAs layer selectively provided on the second AlGaAs layer; and a source electrode and a drain electrode that contain Au and are provided on the n-type GaAs layer.
US09018677B2
A semiconductor structure includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A carrier channel is located between the first III-V compound layer and the second III-V compound layer. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed on the second III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A carrier channel depleting layer is disposed on the second III-V compound layer. The carrier channel depleting layer is deposited using plasma and a portion of the carrier channel depleting layer is under at least a portion of the gate electrode.
US09018670B1
A solid-state light-emitting module includes a transparent substrate, a light emitting diode chip, a first package sealant, a second package sealant, and a wavelength selection structure layer. The transparent substrate includes a first surface, a second surface which is opposite to the first surface, and a side face surrounding and connecting the first surface and the second surface. The light emitting diode chip is fixed on the first surface to emit light with a first wavelength. The first package sealant is disposed on the first surface to cover the light emitting diode chip. The second package sealant is disposed on the second surface and opposite to the first package sealant. The wavelength selection structure layer is disposed on the side face of the transparent substrate for selectively reflecting or transmitting the light therethrough.
US09018665B2
Certain embodiments provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting device, including: providing a first stack film on a first substrate, the first stack film being formed by stacking a p-type nitride semiconductor layer, an active layer having a multiquantum well structure of a nitride semiconductor, and an n-type nitride semiconductor layer in this order; forming an n-electrode on an upper face of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer; and forming a concave-convex region on the upper face of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer by performing wet etching on the upper face of the n-type nitride semiconductor layer with the use of an alkaline solution, except for a region in which the n-electrode is formed.
US09018662B2
A multichip package structure includes a metal substrate, a circuit substrate and a light-emitting module. The metal substrate has a first mirror plane area and a second mirror plane area. The circuit substrate is disposed on the metal substrate. The circuit substrate includes a plurality of first conductive pads, a plurality of second conductive pads, a first passing opening for exposing the first mirror plane area, and a second passing opening for exposing the second mirror plane area. The light-emitting module includes a plurality of light-emitting units disposed on the first mirror plane area. Each light-emitting unit includes a plurality of LED chips disposed on the first mirror plane area. The LED chips of each light-emitting unit are electrically connected between the first conductive pad and the second conductive pad in series. Thus, the heat-dissipating efficiency and the light-emitting effect of the multichip package structure can be increased.
US09018655B2
The present disclosure provides a method for forming a light-emitting apparatus, comprising providing a first board having a plurality of first metal contacts, providing a substrate, forming a plurality of light-emitting stacks and trenches on the substrate, wherein the light-emitting stacks are apart from each other by the plurality of the trenches, bonding the light-emitting stacks to the first board, forming an encapsulating material commonly on the plurality of the light-emitting stacks, and cutting the first board and the encapsulating material to form a plurality of chip-scale LED units.
US09018652B2
Disclosed are a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes: a substrate; a first conductive semiconductor layer on the substrate; an active layer on the first conductive semiconductor layer; a second conductive semiconductor layer; and a nitride semiconductor layer having a refractive index less than a refractive index of the second conductive semiconductor layer on the second conductive semiconductor layer.
US09018648B2
The present invention relates to a package structure for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The package structure includes a substrate, a heat-dissipating structure disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of LED chips uniformly disposed on the heat-dissipating structure. The heat-dissipating structure has a central portion and at least one peripheral portion surrounding thereof. The central portion is capable of dissipating more heat than the peripheral portion. Thus, the temperature difference between the LED chips disposed on the central portion and the LED chips disposed on the peripheral portion can be reduced.
US09018647B2
A thin film deposition apparatus, a method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display device by using the thin film deposition apparatus, and an organic light-emitting display device manufactured by using the method. A thin film deposition apparatus for forming a thin film on a substrate includes a first chamber in a vacuum state; first and second stages arranged in parallel in the first chamber wherein the substrate is fixable to at least one of the first and second stages; a mask contactable with the substrate; and a first deposition source and a second deposition source that are movable relative to the first and second stages and are configured to discharge a deposition material onto the substrate.
US09018629B2
To provide a miniaturized transistor having high electric characteristics. A conductive film to be a source electrode layer and a drain electrode layer is formed to cover an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protection layer, and then a region of the conductive film, which overlaps with the oxide semiconductor layer and the channel protection layer, is removed by chemical mechanical polishing treatment. Precise processing can be performed accurately because an etching step using a resist mask is not performed in the step of removing part of the conductive film to be the source electrode layer and the drain electrode layer. With the channel protection layer, damage to the oxide semiconductor layer or a reduction in film thickness due to the chemical mechanical polishing treatment on the conductive film can be suppressed.
US09018628B2
A semiconductor device including: a base material portion that includes a semiconductor substrate and an insulating film that is formed on one face of the semiconductor substrate and on which a vertical hole is formed along the thickness direction of the semiconductor substrate; a vertical hole wiring portion that includes a vertical hole electrode formed on a side wall of the base material portion that forms the vertical hole; a metallic film that is formed within the insulating film and that is electrically connected to the vertical hole wiring portion; and a conductive protective film that is formed to be in contact with the metallic film within the insulating film and that is formed in a region that includes a contact region of a probe during a probe test that is performed in the middle of manufacture on a film face of the metallic film.
US09018622B2
A method for manufacturing an organic semiconductor element, capable of obtaining an organic semiconductor element in which an organic semiconductor layer is easily patterned without being lowered in mobility, which includes: a source electrode and drain electrode formation step; an organic semiconductor layer formation step of forming an organic semiconductor layer having the liquid crystal organic semiconductor material on the alignment layer to cover the source electrode and the drain electrode; a dielectric layer formation step of forming a dielectric layer on the organic semiconductor layer to be positioned at least on a channel region between the source electrode and the drain electrode; and an annealing step of annealing the organic semiconductor layer, on which the dielectric layer is formed, at a liquid crystal phase temperature of the liquid crystal organic semiconductor material.
US09018618B1
There is provided a semiconductor light emitting device including: an n-type semiconductor layer; a p-type semiconductor layer; and an active layer disposed between the n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer, and including a plurality of alternately stacked quantum barrier layers and quantum well layers, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of quantum well layers has different thicknesses, wherein a thickness of a first quantum well layer most adjacent to the p-type semiconductor layer is less than a thickness of a second quantum well layer adjacent thereto and greater than a thickness of a third quantum well layer, other than the first and second quantum well layers.
US09018616B2
A rectifying antenna device is disclosed. The device comprises a pair of electrode structures, and at least one nanostructure diode contacting at least a first electrode structure of the pair and being at least in proximity to a second electrode structure of the pair. At least one electrode structure of the pair receives AC radiation, and the nanostructure diode(s) at least partially rectifies a current generated by the AC radiation.
US09018614B2
A memory cell including a via made of a phase-change material arranged between a lower electrode and an upper electrode, wherein the via includes a central region laterally surrounded with a peripheral region, the crystallization and melting temperatures of the central region being respectively lower than those of the peripheral region.
US09018612B2
An access device having a reduced height and capable of suppressing leakage current, a method of fabricating the same, and a semiconductor memory device including the same, are provided. The access device may include a stacked structure including a first-type semiconductor layer having a first dopant, a second-type semiconductor layer having a second dopant, and a third-type semiconductor layer. A first counter-doping layer, having a counter-dopant to the first dopant, is interposed between the first-type semiconductor layer and the third-type semiconductor layer. A second counter-doping layer, having a counter-dopant to the second dopant, is interposed between the third-type semiconductor layer and the second-type semiconductor layer.
US09018593B2
A method actuates a device for irradiating an object that has at least one target volume to be irradiated and at least one volume to be protected. The method includes defining at least one signal dose value for the volume to be protected and irradiating the object at least one of at least at times and at least in part with hadron irradiation. A dose introduced into the volume to be protected during the irradiation of the object is determined and at least one signal is emitted as soon as the introduced dose exceeds at least one signal dose value in at least one point of the volume to be protected.
US09018590B2
A device is provided for addressing the rows of an active detection matrix for imaging by ionizing radiations comprising a plurality N of rows n of pixels, the addressing device being produced on a substrate on which the matrix is also producing and mainly comprising thin film transistors of single N or P type. The row addressing device can comprise a plurality of stages suitable for delivering at their respective outputs switching signals for switching the high and low levels of a signal applied to switching devices at the output on a corresponding row of the matrix and being characterized in that each stage comprises an input stage and an output stage, the input stage delivering an activation signal for the output stage, the output stage delivering, in case of activation, said switching signal for the corresponding row n.
US09018586B2
Apparatuses and a related method relating to radiation detection are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first scintillator and a second scintillator adjacent to the first scintillator, with each of the first scintillator and second scintillator being structured to generate a light pulse responsive to interacting with incident radiation. The first scintillator is further structured to experience full energy deposition of a first low-energy radiation, and permit a second higher-energy radiation to pass therethrough and interact with the second scintillator. The apparatus further includes a plurality of light-to-electrical converters operably coupled to the second scintillator and configured to convert light pulses generated by the first scintillator and the second scintillator into electrical signals. The first scintillator and the second scintillator exhibit at least one mutually different characteristic for an electronic system to determine whether a given light pulse is generated by the first scintillator or the second scintillator.
US09018584B2
The present invention provides methods for quantitating one or more biomolecules in a sample using IR based techniques, sample holder devices for use in such methods as well as methods for manufacturing such sample holder devices.
US09018580B2
A method for detecting at least one target molecule in a sample by mass spectrometry, comprising ionizing the molecules of the sample and then conducting the following steps (i) and (ii) n times, n being equal to 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4: (i) at least one ion obtained in the preceding step is selected, according to the target molecule, in a mass analyzer, and (ii) the ion thus selected is fragmented in a fragmentation cell; trapping at least two different sampled ions, when n is zero, or when n is other than zero, in a mass analyzer, the at least two ions thus trapped having a mass-to-charge ratio m/z characteristic of the target molecule; ejecting the trapped ions from the mass analyzer; and detecting the ejected ions ejected by means of a detection device. The method is characterized in that the characteristic ions are ejected simultaneously and detected simultaneously.
US09018574B2
A driving method of an imaging apparatus comprises: horizontally transferring, by a horizontal scanning circuit, a signal based on a photoelectric conversion portion of a first pixel unit held in a signal holding capacitor to a common line; before ending of the horizontal transfer; applying, by a reset switch of a second pixel unit, a selection reset voltage to a floating diffusion region of the second pixel unit; and after the horizontal transfer, transferring, by a transfer switch of the second pixel unit, a signal of a photoelectric conversion portion of the second pixel unit to the floating diffusion region of the second pixel unit and amplifying, by an amplification transistor of the second pixel unit, a signal of the floating diffusion region of the second pixel unit to output the signal to an output line.
US09018571B2
A microwave oven includes an oven cavity, defined by flat, electrically conductive oven walls. A microwave source generates microwave energy including orthogonal linearly polarized components into the oven cavity from a port formed in a first one of the oven walls. A grid wall of conductive lines parallel to a polarization direction is spaced from a second oven wall by a distance nominally equivalent to a quarter wavelength of the microwave energy.
US09018563B2
In consumable-electrode gas-shield arc welding, carbon dioxide gas is used as shield gas; the molten pool is formed using a pulsed arc as a leading electrode arc transferring one droplet per cycle by alternately outputting, in each cycle, pulses of two different pulse waveforms of which a pulse peak current level and/or a pulse width per period differ; the conductively heated filler wire is inserted into the molten pool as a trailing electrode; the distance between a tip of the filler wire inserted into the molten pool and a conductive point of the filler wire is set within a range of 200×10−3 to 500×10−3 m; and a leading-electrode base current value is set larger than a trailing-electrode filler current value. According to such a method, even when inexpensive carbon dioxide gas is used as shield gas, the amount of spatter can be reduced, and high weldability can be achieved in multipass welding.
US09018562B2
A laser material processing system and method are provided. A further aspect of the present invention employs a laser for micromachining. In another aspect of the present invention, the system uses a hollow waveguide. In another aspect of the present invention, a laser beam pulse is given broad bandwidth for workpiece modification.
US09018552B2
An electrical contact including stainless steel material is disclosed with advantages of good fusing resistance, good abrasion resistance and low contact electrical resistance. The electrical contact includes silver-based material and the stainless steel material. The stainless steel material is dispersed in the silver-based material and weight percentage thereof accounting to the electrical contact is 0.01% to 35%.
US09018547B2
A method for dynamically updating at least one pre-defined value of a parameter used to identify at least one operational mode of an object for user interaction with a digitizer sensor during interaction with the digitizer sensor comprises detecting signal outputs from a plurality of sensing elements of a digitizer sensor during user interaction with the digitizer sensor; characterizing a pattern formed by the signal outputs from the plurality of sensing elements; identifying a pre-defined event associated with an operational mode of the object based on the pattern; determining a value of the parameter from the signal outputs in response to identification of the pre-defined event; and updating the pre-defined value used to identify the operational mode based on the value of the parameter determined from the identified event.
US09018542B2
A shield can of a mobile terminal is provided. The shield can of the mobile terminal includes: at least one shield can installed in a main circuit board of the mobile terminal, and at least one separation wall formed between electronic elements in which electromagnetic interference occurs within the shield can. Hence, shield ability can be improved and simplified manufacturing process of the separation wall can reduce cost.
US09018539B2
The present invention relates to a printed circuit board including: a first circuit pattern formed on a first insulator; a second insulator formed on the first insulator; a second circuit pattern having a pad of which a portion is embedded in the second insulator and a via which penetrates the second insulator to electrically connect the first circuit pattern and the pad; and a third circuit pattern formed on the second insulator, and it is possible to reduce a size of the via without increasing an aspect ratio.
US09018538B2
A method of making a wiring substrate includes forming a first metal layer on a surface of a support member, the first metal layer having at least one columnar through hole that exposes the surface of the support member, forming a columnar metal layer that fills the columnar through hole, forming an insulating layer on the columnar metal layer and on the first metal layer, forming an interconnection layer on a first surface of the insulating layer such that the interconnection layer is electrically connected to the columnar metal layer through the insulating layer, and forming a protruding part including at least part of the columnar metal layer by removing at least the support member and the first metal layer, the protruding part protruding from a second surface of the insulating layer opposite the first surface and serving as at least part of a connection terminal of the wiring substrate.
US09018514B2
A cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules, a method of manufacturing the same, a backsheet for photovoltaic modules, a method of manufacturing the same, and a photovoltaic module are provided. The cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules which includes a resin layer can be prepared by coating or impregnating one surface of a porous substrate with a super-absorbent polymer (SAP) containing a fluid. Here, the resin layer includes the fluid-containing SAP which is formed on one surface of the porous substrate or impregnated with the porous substrate. When the cooling sheet for photovoltaic modules is attached to the outside of the weather-resistant substrate to prepare the backsheet for photovoltaic modules, it is possible to suppress an increase in power generation temperature of a photoelectric cell by evaporation of the fluid, for example water, included in the SAP, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the photovoltaic module.
US09018509B2
The present invention seeks to provide a stringed musical instrument, such as an electric guitar, that has certain tones separately amplified from the amplification provided by a standard electrical musical instrument configuration. Specifically, the present invention is a stringed musical instrument with an auxiliary pickup beneath and longitudinally parallel to at least one of the strings of the musical instrument. This auxiliary pickup has a corresponding auxiliary output jack for coupling to an octave pedal and to an amplifier.
US09018496B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH902675. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH902675, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH902675 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 CH902675.
US09018490B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV684080. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV684080, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV684080 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV684080 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV684080.
US09018482B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH676102. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH676102, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH676102 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 CH676102.
US09018479B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH482678. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH482678, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH482678 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 CH482678.
US09018478B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH247856. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH247856, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH247856 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 CH247856.
US09018476B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH203254. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH203254, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH203254 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 CH203254.
US09018460B2
A soybean cultivar designated YB37H13 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar YB37H13, to the plants of soybean cultivar YB37H13, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar YB37H13, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar YB37H13. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar YB37H13. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar YB37H13, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar YB37H13 with another soybean cultivar.
US09018429B2
The subject of the invention is a process for the preparation of fluoroolefin compounds. It relates more particularly to a process for manufacturing a (hydro)fluoroolefin compound comprising (i) bringing at least one compound comprising from three to six carbon atoms, at least two fluorine atoms and at least one hydrogen atom, provided that at least one hydrogen atom and one fluorine atom are located on adjacent carbon atoms, into contact with potassium hydroxide in a stirred reactor, containing an aqueous reaction medium, equipped with at least one inlet for the reactants and with at least one outlet, in order to give the (hydro)fluoroolefin compound, which is separated from the reaction medium in gaseous form, and potassium fluoride, (ii) bringing the potassium fluoride formed in (i) into contact, in an aqueous medium, with calcium hydroxide in order to give potassium hydroxide and to precipitate calcium fluoride, (iii) separation of the calcium fluoride precipitated in step (ii) from the reaction medium and (iv) optionally, the reaction medium is recycled after optional adjustment of the potassium hydroxide concentration to step (i).
US09018427B2
A reactive distillation method comprises introducing a feed stream to a reactive distillation column, contacting the feed stream with one or more catalysts in the reactive distillation column during a distillation, and removing one or more higher alcohols during the distillation from the reactive distillation column as a bottoms stream. The feed stream comprises one or more alpha hydrogen alcohols, and the feed stream reacts in the presence of the one or more catalysts to produce a reaction product comprising the one or more higher alcohols.
US09018424B2
A method for producing a diol or triol, which has a step of removing impurities contained in a diol- or triol-containing solution, is provided. In the method, a diol- or triol-containing solution is filtered through a nanofiltration membrane having a polyamide-containing functional layer. The diol- or triol-containing solution is then collected from the permeate flow of the nanofiltration membrane.
US09018417B2
A process is provided for recovering aliphatic monocarboxylic acids having from 4 to 11 carbon atoms from the distillation residue obtained in the oxidation of the corresponding aldehyde by means of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixtures in the presence of alkali metal carboxylates or alkaline earth metal carboxylates to form the corresponding monocarboxylic acid and subsequent distillation, characterized in that the distillation residue is reacted with an aqueous acid in a tube reactor and the two-phase mixture flowing out from the tube reactor is introduced into a settling vessel in which the organic phase which separates out has a pH of 4.5 or less.
US09018416B2
A thermal separation process between a gas ascending in a separating column and a liquid descending in the separating column, which comprise (meth)acrylic monomers, wherein the separating column comprises a sequence of crossflow mass transfer trays, the crossflow mass transfer trays of which have passage orifices for the ascending gas in crossflow direction both in front of and beyond a downcomer for the descending liquid, and such crossflow mass transfer trays and one such crossflow mass transfer tray in a sequence of crossflow mass transfer trays present in a separating column.
US09018415B2
In a process for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid crystals from a slurry in a solvent, the slurry is supplied to a filter operating at pressure and at a temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent. A cake of separated crystals is removed from the filter and passed to a thermal dryer. In a system for the separation and drying of crude carboxylic acid from a slurry in a solvent, a pressure filter device has a slurry inlet and an outlet for a cake of carboxylic acid crystals. The system also has a thermal dryer and means for transporting the cake of carboxylic acid crystals from the pressure filter device to the dryer. The pressure filter device is configured to operate at a pressure and temperature above the atmospheric boiling point of the solvent.
US09018411B2
The invention provides certain bis-acylated hydroxylamine derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods of using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions. In particular, the invention provides methods of using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions for treating, preventing, or delaying the onset and/or develop of a disease or condition. In some embodiments, the disease or condition is selected from cardiovascular diseases, ischemia, reperfusion injury, cancerous disease, pulmonary hypertension and conditions responsive to nitroxyl therapy.
US09018409B2
The present invention relates to a process for synthesizing a multifunctional compound, including the reaction of a compound of formula (II) with atmospheric or molecular oxygen, in the presence of at least one aldehyde of formula (III), and optionally in the presence of at least one catalyst or at least one radical initiator; wherein: R10, R20, R30, R40, R50, L2, R60, R7, R8, and R9 are as described in the claims. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as monomers for the preparation of polyurethane. The invention also relates to the use of these compounds as monomers of polymers or of biopolymers.
US09018390B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds, compositions and methods for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds and methods for using these compounds in the treatment of HCV infection.
US09018379B1
Disclosed herein is a method of preparing solifenacin or a salt thereof, including the steps of: (a) reacting (R)-quinuclidinol with bis(pentafluorophenyl)carbonate in an organic solvent to prepare a solifenacin intermediate, (3R)-1-azabicyclo[2,2,2]oct-3-yl pentafluorophenylcarbonate, and (b) reacting the solifenacin intermediate with (1S)-1-phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline in an organic solvent to prepare solifenacin. The method is advantageous in that high-purity solifenacin or a salt thereof can be simply and efficiently prepared with high yield using a novel intermediate.
US09018373B2
A method for preparing temsirolimus, the method including: using a substituted aromatic aldehyde to protect 2,2-dimethylol propionic acid to produce intermediate II; carrying out reaction between the intermediate II and 2,4,6-trichlorobenzoyl chloride; carrying out condensation reaction between a resulting product and rapamycin to produce intermediate III; and finally using sulfuric acid to remove a protecting group from the intermediate III to yield temsirolimus.
US09018366B2
The present invention relates to agents and methods that are capable of augmenting NK-mediated killing of target cells by reducing inhibitory KIR signalling without reducing the binding of KIR to HLA-C. As described herein, transduction of negative signaling via KIR, upon binding of KIR to its HLA class I ligand, can involve a ligand-binding induced, conformational reorientation of the KIR molecules allowing interactions to form between adjacent KIRs in specific domains, leading to accelerated clustering. Methods and agents such as monoclonal antibodies for reducing KIR-mediated inhibition of NK cell cytotoxicity without reducing or blocking HLA-binding by, e.g., reducing or blocking dimerization of KIR, are provided.
US09018355B2
Methods and compositions are described for organizing collagen into fibrillar networks, e.g, short and long-range organization. Collagen produced by the disclosed methods can be used for tissue engineering.
US09018353B2
Process for producing instantaneous cold soluble gelatin in form of agglomerates of gelatin granules carried out in a fluid bed under controlled temperature, which comprises soaking the gelatin granules through atomizing a granulating liquid in the fluid bed, where the granulating liquid is made up of water.
US09018345B2
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of polyetherester polyols prepared with hybrid catalysts, the polyetheresters obtained from the process and the use of such materials in polyurethane applications. The hybrid catalysts used in this invention comprise double metal cyanide complex catalysts (DMC) and at least one co-catalyst.
US09018344B2
The present invention provides new materials that combine the advantages of well-defined polymeric starting materials and the convenience of surface modification by physical methods into one package and, thus, offers a general and powerful platform suitable for use in numerous applications.
US09018338B2
A resin that has high heat resistance, high surface hardness and excellent moldability, and is obtained from a biomass resource, and a molded article thereof. The resin comprises a unit (A) and a unit (B) as the main recurring units, and the molar ratio of the unit (A) to the unit (B) being 5/95 to 95/5.
US09018333B2
Polyisocyanate composition comprising a polyisocyanate, a lithium halide and a urea compound, wherein the number of moles of lithium halide per isocyanate equivalent ranges of from 0.0001-0.04 and the number of urea+biuret equivalents per isocyanate equivalent of from 0.0001-0.4. Process for making such composition. Curable composition comprising this polyisocyanate composition and an epoxy resin. Polyisocyanurate made from this curable composition.
US09018331B2
Polydiorganosiloxane polyamide, block copolymers having organic soft segments and methods of making the copolymers are provided.
US09018328B2
The invention provides a solution polymerization process comprising: A) polymerizing one or more monomers in the presence of a solvent that comprises a heavy hydrocarbon solvent and a light hydrocarbon solvent, to form a polymer solution; B) transferring the polymer solution to a Liquid-Liquid Separator, without adding heat to the solution, and wherein the pressure of the polymer solution is actively reduced in a controlled manner prior to, or within, the Liquid-Liquid Separator, to induce at least two liquid phases, a polymer-rich phase and a solvent-rich phase, and wherein the concentration of polymer in the polymer-rich phase is higher than that in the polymer solution transferred to the Liquid-Liquid Separator; and C) removing the solvent-rich phase.
US09018318B2
A macrocycle based on β-diketimines, a process for preparing the inventive macrocycle, an uncharged macrocyclic dimetallic complex based on the inventive macrocycle, and a process for preparing the uncharged macrocyclic dimetallic complex, the use of the uncharged macrocyclic dimetallic complex as a polymerization catalyst in the polymerization of carbon dioxide with one or more epoxides, a process for preparing polycarbonates by reacting carbon dioxide with one or more epoxides in the presence of the inventive uncharged macrocyclic dimetallic complex, and a polycarbonate prepared by the process according to the invention.
US09018312B2
A thermoplastic resin composition with improved impact resistance can include (A) about 30 to about 99 parts by weight of an epoxy group-containing styrenic polymer comprising (A1) about 5 to about 100% by weight of an epoxy group-containing vinyl copolymer containing about 0.001 to about 5.0 mol % of an epoxy compound; and (A2) about 0 to about 95% by weight of a rubber modified styrenic copolymer resin; (B) about 1 to about 70 parts by weight of a polyester resin; (C) about 0.001 to about 10 parts by weight of a silicone oil, per 100 parts by weight of a base resin comprising (A) and (B); (D) about 3 to about 20 parts by weight of a bromine-containing flame retardant, per 100 parts by weight of a base resin comprising (A) and (B); and (E) about 0.1 to about 6 parts by weight of a flame retardant aid, per 100 parts by weight of a base resin comprising (A) and (B).
US09018310B2
A polymer blend composition, in an exemplary embodiment, includes an impact modified polypropylene copolymer, and a low density polyethylene polymer. The ratio of an amount, by weight, of the impact modified polypropylene copolymer to an amount, by weight, of the low density polyethylene polymer is between about 6:4 to about 9:1.
US09018302B2
A composition comprising particulate solid (typically a pigment or filler), an organic medium (typically the organic medium may be a plastics material or an organic liquid) and a polyacrylic-acid-containing copolymer.
US09018300B2
Molding compositions comprising: a composition (I) present in an amount of 10 to 100% by weight, based on the molding composition, wherein the composition (I) comprises: (A) 40 to 95% by weight, based on the composition (I), of a copolymer comprising: α-methylstyrene in an amount of 55 to 90% by weight, acrylonitrile in an amount of 10 to 50% by weight, and one or more other monomers in an amount of 0 to 5% by weight, wherein the percentages by weight of the α-methylstyrene, the acrylonitrile and the one or more other monomers are based on the weight of component (A); (B) 2.5 to 75% by weight, based on the composition (I), of a polymer comprising: a vinylaromatic monomer in an amount of 60 to 90% by weight, acrylonitrile in an amount of 8.01 to 39.8% by weight, and maleic anhydride in an amount of 0.2 to 1.99% by weight, wherein the percentages by weight of the vinylaromatic monomer, the acrylonitrile and the maleic anhydride are based on the weight of component (B); and (C) 2.5 to 60% by weight, based on the composition (I), of glass fibers.
US09018284B2
The present invention provides a composition comprising: a base polymer; at least one compound having the structure of Formula I or II wherein Ar is an o-, m-, or p-phenylene moiety, a substituted phenylene moiety, or a naphthalene moiety; R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of: hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, and aryl; and X is O or —(CH2)n—; n=0, 1, or 2; and p=0, 1, or 2; and; and at least one transition metal in a positive oxidation state, said metal being present in the composition in an amount of from about 10 to about 400 ppm, wherein said compound is present in an amount of from about 0.10 to about 10 weight percent of the composition.
US09018279B1
Disclosed are methods for producing rubber-containing bituminous mixtures by pressurizing mixtures of bituminous materials, crumb rubber, and one or more suspension agents with a gas, and then reducing the pressure, creating bubbles of the gas in the mixture. Also disclosed are methods of introducing gas into such mixture by rapid mixing. Mixtures produced by the disclosed methods, such as rubber-containing asphalt mixtures and paving compositions thereof, and their use are also disclosed.
US09018274B2
The present invention provides an ink composition comprising at least a polymerizable compound, a photo-polymerization initiator and a polymerization accelerator, wherein the polymerizable compound comprises en N-vinyl compound, the photo-polymerization initiator comprises two or more compounds selected from the group consisting of bisacylphosphine oxides, monoacylphosphine oxides and α-amino ketones, and the polymerization accelerator comprises fine particles having a polymerizable functional group. The ink composition of the invention may be a transparent ink composition containing no coloring material. The ink composition of the invention may further contain a fluorescent whitening agent.
US09018265B2
The present invention is a defoaming agent comprising a fatty acid amide (A), a base oil (B) that is liquid at 25° C., an oil thickening agent (C), and a surfactant (D), wherein the content of the fatty acid amide (A) is 1 to 10% by weight, the content of the base oil (B) that is liquid at 25° C. is 71 to 97.9% by weight, the content of the oil thickening agent (C) is 0.1 to 10% by weight, and the content of the surfactant (D) is 1 to 9% by weight based on the weight of the fatty acid amide (A), the base oil (B) that is liquid at 25° C., the oil thickening agent (C), and the surfactant (D), and the viscosity (25° C.) at a shear rate of 1000 s−1 is 0.1 to 1.0 Pa·s.
US09018264B2
An aqueous delivery system is described including at least one surfactant and at least one water insoluble wetting agent. Further described are low surface energy substrates, such as microporous polytetrafluoroethylene, coated with such an aqueous solution so as to impart a change in at least one surface characteristic compared to the surface characteristics of the uncoated low surface energy substrate.
US09018257B2
The present invention provides drug conjugates comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), an aldehyde and a carboxylic acid that may function as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI). These conjugates may serve as co-drugs which release a plurality of active species in vivo. The novel drug conjugates may be used, for the treatment or prevention of cancer in PDT-dependent and/or PDT-independent (nonPDT) treatments, as well as for cosmetic uses. In addition the present invention provides novel uses for both the novel and known compounds. According to some embodiments, the present invention provides drug conjugates (co-drugs) comprising (i) ALA, (ii) an aldehyde and (iii) a carboxylic acid that may function as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACO for the treatment of anemia and/or for the induction of erythropoiesis.
US09018251B2
Provided is a method for treating brain cancer or reducing temozolomide-resistance of brain cancer cells in a subject, comprising administrating to the subject an effective amount of an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of (Z)-butylidenephthalide of formula (I), a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of (Z)-butylidenephthalide, a pharmaceutically acceptable ester of (Z)-butylidenephthalide, and combinations thereof:
US09018246B2
The present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for delivering an active agent taxane through transmucosal administration, more particularly through the buccal mucosa or sublingual mucosa. The present invention provides a method for treating cancer by buccal or sublingual administration of the pharmaceutical composition to a subject. The pharmaceutical composition comprises a taxane, a non-ionic surfactant, a viscosity enhancing agent, an adhesive agent, and an alcohol solvent at pH 4-6.
US09018240B2
Provided are pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use of the compositions, for the non-surgical treatment of ptosis (eyelid droop). In one embodiment the composition includes oxymetazoline 0.1% formulated for topical administration to an eye. In one embodiment the composition includes a synergistic combination of oxymetazoline and phenylephrine, formulated for topical administration to an eye. Oxymetazoline alone causes no pupillary dilation (mydriasis), and a synergistic combination of oxymetazoline and phenylephrine induces no clinically significant mydriasis. In addition to providing desirable cosmetic effects, the compositions and methods of the invention can improve visual fields otherwise compromised by ptosis.
US09018236B2
Described herein are cyclodextrin-stabilized microemulsion systems useful for increasing the solubility, stability, bioavailability, or safety of an active agent for delivery to the skin. The microemulsions may reduce the occurrence of skin irritation or odor upon application.
US09018234B2
The present invention relates to novel, fluoro-substituted 2-aryl-3,5-dicyano-4-(1H-indazol-5-yl)-6-methyl-1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives having protein tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity, to a process for the manufacture thereof and to the use thereof for the treatment of c-Met-mediated diseases or c-Met-mediated conditions, particularly Cancer and other proliferative disorders.
US09018229B2
The present invention provides a quinolone compound that inhibits the chronic progression of Parkinson's disease or protects dopamine neurons from disease etiology, thereby suppressing the progression of neurological dysfunction, so as to prolong the period of time until L-dopa is administered while also improving neuronal function; the quinolone compound of the invention is represented by Formula (1): wherein: R1 represents hydrogen or the like; R2 represents hydrogen or the like; R3 represents substituted or unsubstituted phenyl or the like; R4 represents halogen or the like; R5 represents hydrogen or the like; R6 represents hydrogen or the like; and R7 represents hydrogen or the like.
US09018227B2
The invention provides novel nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists, for example, phantasmidine and derivatives thereof, for example a compound of formula (I). Also disclosed are methods of treating disorders responsive to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, Myasthenia Gravis, Tourette's syndrome, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, pain, and cognitive dysfunction by treatment with the nicotinic acetylcholine for agonists.
US09018225B1
The present invention is directed to methods for preparation of a composition comprising mixed crystalline polymorphs rifaximin α and rifaximin β. For example, practice of a method of the invention can provide the composition comprising mixed crystalline polymorphs rifaximin α and rifaximin β wherein the rifaximin β is present in about 3-12% (w/w) or is present in about 5-8% (w/w). The composition comprising mixed crystalline polymorphs rifaximin α and rifaximin β is prepared by dissolving raw rifaximin in a water-soluble organic solvent, for example ethanol, at reflux, then adding water to achieve a final mixed solvent of about 7:3 (v/v) solvent to water ratio, then cooling to 35-40° C. until crystallization commences, then further cooling with stirring to 0° C., then recovery of the crystallized material, and drying to a water content of between 2.5% and 5.0%, to provide the composition comprising mixed crystalline polymorphs rifaximin α and rifaximin β. The composition is suitable for medicinal use, such as in treatment of infections of the gastrointestinal tract.
US09018220B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula 1, wherein X is O or S; Y is O or S; and R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the disclosure. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula 1 and methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a compound or a composition of the invention.
US09018218B2
The invention relates to substituted pyrimidine ammonia compounds. The structure of the compounds is represented as the general formula (I): The groups are as defined as specification.The compound represented by formula (I) can be used in the prevention of plants diseases caused by a plurality of pathogenic bacteria such as oomycota, basidiomycota, ascomycota, and fungi imperfecti, and due to these compounds have good bioactivity, which make them have very good effects at very low doses, especially more effective to powdery mildew of wheat. Therefore, the present invention relates to the use of the compounds having general formula I as fungicides, both in agriculture and other fields.
US09018214B2
The invention relates to bicyclic heterocycle compounds of formula (I): or tautomeric or stereochemically isomeric forms, N-oxides, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or the solvates thereof; wherein R1, R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, p and E are as defined herein; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and to the use of said compounds in the treatment of diseases, e.g. cancer.
US09018211B2
This invention relates to compounds having structural Formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which are inhibitors of the Renal Outer Medullary Potassium (ROMK) channel (Kir1.1). The compounds of Formula I are useful as diuretics and natriuretics and therefore are useful for the therapy and prophylaxis of disorders resulting from excessive salt and water retention, including cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and chronic and acute heart failure.
US09018207B2
The present invention is directed to methods and agents that are useful in the prevention and amelioration of signs and symptoms associated with neuropathic conditions. More particularly, the present invention discloses the use of angiotensin II receptor 2 (AT2 receptor) antagonists for the treatment, prophylaxis, reversal and/or symptomatic relief of neuropathic pain, including mechanical hyperalgesia, thermal or mechanical allodynia, diabetic pain and entrapment pain, in vertebrate animals and particularly in human subjects. The AT2 receptor antagonists may be provided alone or in combination with other compounds such as those that are useful in the control of neuropathic conditions.
US09018204B1
The present invention provides 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds that inhibit the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades that lead to the release of chemical mediators, intermediates and methods of synthesizing the compounds and methods of using the compounds in a variety of contexts, including in the treatment and prevention of diseases characterized by, caused by or associated with the release of chemical mediators via degranulation and other processes effected by activation of the IgE and/or IgG receptor signaling cascades.
US09018196B2
This invention provides a method of preventing and/or treating thymus degeneration comprising administering an effective amount of dihydromyricetin to a subject in need thereof, in which the degeneration is induced by dexamethasone. In one embodiment, the thymus degeneration is induced during the course of treatment of inflammation by dexamethasone.
US09018185B2
Improved G-rich oligonucleotide (GRO) aptamers specific to nucleolin, a method of preparing the aptamers, and a use of the aptamers for diagnosing and/or treating a nucleolin-associated disease, are provided.
US09018178B2
The present invention provides an aqueous antifungal composition comprising a polyene antifungal compound and a thickening agent. The composition can be used in the protection against the development of fungi on food, feed and agricultural products.
US09018176B2
The present invention generally relates to compositions containing chemical compounds and compositions and pharmaceutical formulations of the compounds which increase the expression of total hemoglobin or globin protein such as embryonic or fetal globin, or the proliferation of hemoglobin expressing and other blood cells. These compositions can be used to treat or prevent the symptoms associated with anemia, sickle cell diseases, thalassemia, and other blood cell deficiencies and blood disorders. The invention also relates to methods for administering these compositions to subjects and for use as medical aids for the treatment and prevention of blood and other disorders.
US09018172B2
Disclosed are compounds and methods relating to a chemical transformation for the conjugation of unprotected peptide biomolecules via a SNAr process between highly fluorinated aryl moieties and thiols (“fluoroaryl-thiol-click”).
US09018171B2
The invention provides a method for inhibiting EGF receptor activity comprising contacting an EGF receptor with an immunomodulatory protein (GMI) from Ganoderma microsporum, or a recombinant thereof. Also provided is a method for treating invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, comprising administering an effective amount of an immunomodulatory protein (GMI) from Ganoderma microsporum, or a recombinant thereof, to a subject in need of such treatment.
US09018170B2
A method for reducing frequency of relapses in a human patient afflicted with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) comprising administering to the patient 0.5 ml of an aqueous pharmaceutical solution of 20 mg glatiramer acetate and 20 mg mannitol.
US09018162B2
Disclosed is a method for treating or preventing hypoglycemia in a patient comprising administering an effective amount of a composition comprising a glucagon peptide which has been dried in a non-volatile buffer, and wherein the glucagon peptide has a pH memory that is about equal to the pH of the glucagon peptide in the non-volatile buffer, and an aprotic polar solvent, wherein the moisture content of the formulation is less than 5%, and wherein the dried glucagon peptide maintains the pH memory that is about equal to the pH of the glucagon peptide in the non-volatile buffer when the dried glucagon peptide is reconstituted in the aprotic polar solvent, wherein the patient has been diagnosed as having a blood glucose level between 0 mg/dL and less than 50 mg/dL or has an indication of impending hypoglycemia based on a blood glucose monitoring device before administration of the composition, and wherein the patient has a blood glucose level greater than 50 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL within 1 to 20 minutes after administration of the composition.
US09018161B2
The present invention relates to novel insulin analogues exhibiting resistance towards protease, wherein at least two amino acids are substituted and/or deleted relative to the parent insulin molecule. A method for the preparation of such insulin analogues, insulin preparations containing the insulin analogues of the invention and a method of treating diabetes mellitus using these insulin analogues is also provided.
US09018159B2
The present invention provides pladin (plasma anti-diabetic nucb2 peptide) polypeptide and functional equivalent thereof that are useful for treating diabetes. The present invention provides a method of treating diabetes by administering to a subject nesfatin-1, pladin, or a functional equivalent thereof. The present invention also provides a method of treating diabetes by administering to subject plasmin inhibitors.
US09018157B2
Provided are methods for preventing and treating inflammation and organ injury after ischemia/reperfusion, and methods for treating lung injury, comprising administering a milk fat globule epidermal growth factor-factor VIII (MFG-E8) to a subject. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising MFG-E8 in dosage form for preventing and treating inflammation and organ injury after ischemia/reperfusion, and for treating lung injury, and methods of preparing a pharmaceutical composition for preventing and treating inflammation and organ injury after ischemia/reperfusion, and for treating lung injury, comprising formulating MFG-E8 in a pharmaceutical composition.
US09018153B1
The invention relates to compositions including a hypohalite or hypochlorous acid and a soluble salt of 2,4,6 mesitylene sulfonate. The compositions may include a surfactant, a buffer, or combinations thereof. Other adjuvants may also be present. Such compositions do not require the inclusion of high concentrations of sodium hydroxide or other soluble hydroxide salts to drastically increase pH (and thus stability), although such hydroxides may be present if desired.
US09018131B2
The disclosure relates to methods for forming activated carbon comprising providing a feedstock mixture comprising a carbon feedstock and at least one chemical activating agent, heating the feedstock mixture to at least the fluxing temperature of the feedstock mixture to form a feedstock melt, atomizing the feedstock melt and introducing the atomized feedstock mixture into a reactor, rapidly heating the atomized feedstock to at least the solidification temperature by introducing a hot stream into the reactor, introducing the heated feedstock mixture into a reaction vessel, and holding the heated feedstock mixture in the reaction vessel at a temperature and for a time sufficient to react the carbon feedstock with the at least one chemical activating agent to form activated carbon, wherein rapidly heating the atomized feedstock comprises heating the mixture within a time period sufficient to maintain the feedstock mixture in a substantially solid state throughout the rapid heating stage.
US09018126B2
A catalyst for the epoxidation of an olefin comprising a carrier and deposited on the carrier, silver, a promoting amount of one or more promoters selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and rhenium and a promoting amount of nickel, wherein the nickel is added as a nickel compound or nickel complex during the initial impregnation along with the silver and other promoters; including a process for preparing the catalyst; a process for preparing an olefin oxide by reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of the catalyst; and a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, a 1,2-carbonate, or an alkanolamine.
US09018122B2
The present invention includes a nanostructure, a method of making thereof, and a method of photocatalysis. In one embodiment, the nanostructure includes a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase in contact with the crystalline phase. Each of the crystalline and amorphous phases has at least one dimension on a nanometer scale. In another embodiment, the nanostructure includes a nanoparticle comprising a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase. The amorphous phase is in a selected amount. In another embodiment, the nanostructure includes crystalline titanium dioxide and amorphous titanium dioxide in contact with the crystalline titanium dioxide. Each of the crystalline and amorphous titanium dioxide has at least one dimension on a nanometer scale.
US09018120B2
The present invention provides a process for the preparation of metal-doped zeolites comprising the steps of i) provision of a dry mixture of a) a zeolite, b) a compound of a catalytically active metal, ii) intimate grinding of the mixture, iii) heating of the mixture in a reactor, iv) cooling to room temperature and obtaining the metal-doped zeolite, wherein the internal pressure in the reactor during the heating is kept in a pressure range from 0 to −200 millibar. The invention further relates to the use of a metal-doped zeolite prepared by means of the process according to the invention for the conversion of NOx and N2O into harmless products.
US09018119B2
A method for preparing manganese sulfate monohydrate by desulfurizing fume with middle-low grade manganese dioxide ore, which includes: preparing a slurry by using middle-low grade manganese dioxide ore powder, putting sulfur-containing fume in an absorbing device and controlling gas velocity and gas-liquid ratio, and then adding manganese dioxide slurry and controlling the slurry to backwards flow relative to the sulfur-containing fume, discharging the desulfurized fume from the absorbing device, pressure-filtering and separating the slurry discharged from the absorbing device, recycling the mother liquor to the absorbing device, and continuing the recycling operation until the manganese sulfate in the mother liquor is >=200 g/l, the obtained filter cake at 60-70° C., adjusting pH value of the clear solution obtained to 2-4, adding manganese sulfide under agitation at 25-95° C., and removing impurities, continuing agitating, pressure-filtering and separating, vaporizing the obtained clear filtrate, and obtaining manganese sulfate monohydrate after drying in the air stream.
US09018115B2
Provided is a light-emitting glass which is applicable to, e.g., white illuminators including a light-emitting diode as a light source, and which emits light of a warm white color when irradiated with near ultraviolet light and combines long-term weatherability with high heat resistance; a light-emitting device containing same and a process for producing same. The light-emitting glass includes, as the base glass, borosilicate or silicate glass having a separated-phase structure, whereby the base glass is efficiently doped with, for example, transition metal ion clusters which emit light of a warm white color upon irradiation with near ultraviolet light. With this glass, it is possible to attain increases in excitation wavelength and emission wavelength. The glass thus emits, based on a multiple scattering effect, high-intensity light of a warm white color upon irradiation with near ultraviolet light.
US09018111B2
A processing chamber including a reaction chamber having a processing area, a processing gas inlet in communication with the processing area, a first excited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet and a second exited species generation zone in communication with the processing gas inlet. A method of processing a substrate including the steps of loading a substrate within a processing area, activating a first excited species generation zone to provide a first excited species precursor to the processing area during a first pulse and, activating a second excited species generation zone to provide a second excited species precursor different from the first excited species precursor to the processing area during a second pulse.
US09018109B2
A thin film transistor in which deterioration at initial operation is not likely to be caused and a manufacturing method thereof. A transistor which includes a gate insulating layer at least whose uppermost surface is a silicon nitride layer, a semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer, and a buffer layer over the semiconductor layer and in which the concentration of nitrogen in the vicinity of an interface between the semiconductor layer and the gate insulating layer, which is in the semiconductor layer is lower than that of the buffer layer and other parts of the semiconductor layer. Such a thin film transistor can be manufactured by exposing the gate insulating layer to an air atmosphere and performing plasma treatment on the gate insulating layer before the semiconductor layer is formed.
US09018100B2
Damascene processes using physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputter carbon film as a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) stop layer for forming a magnetic recording head are provided. In one embodiment, one such process includes providing an insulator, removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator, depositing a carbon material on first portions of the insulator using a physical vapor deposition process, disposing at least one ferromagnetic material on second portions of the insulator to form a pole including a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench, and performing a chemical mechanical planarization on the at least one ferromagnetic material using at least a portion of the carbon material as a stop for the chemical mechanical planarization.
US09018094B2
A through via (144) contains a conductor (244, 276) passing through a substrate (140) for connection to an integrated circuit element. The through via consists of two segments (144.1, 144.2) formed from respective different sides (140.1, 140.2) of the substrate and meeting inside the substrate. Each segment is shorter than the entire via, so via formation is facilitated. The second segment is etched after deposition of an etch stop layer (214) into the first segment. Due to the etch stop layer, the first segment's depth does not have to be rigidly controlled. The conductor is formed by separate depositions of conductive material into the via from each side of the substrate. From each side, the conductor is deposited to a shallower depth than the via depth, so the deposition is facilitated. Other embodiments are also provided.
US09018092B2
A plurality of metal tracks are formed in an integrated circuit die in three metal layers stacked within the die. A protective dielectric layer is formed around metal tracks of an intermediate metal layer. The protective dielectric layer acts as a hard mask to define contact vias between metal tracks in the metal layers above and below the intermediate metal layer.
US09018086B2
The present invention provides a method of forming a semiconductor device having a metal gate. A substrate is provided and a gate dielectric and a work function metal layer are formed thereon, wherein the work function metal layer is on the gate dielectric layer. Then, a top barrier layer is formed on the work function metal layer. The step of forming the top barrier layer includes increasing a concentration of a boundary protection material in the top barrier layer. Lastly, a metal layer is formed on the top barrier layer. The present invention further provides a semiconductor device having a metal gate.
US09018082B2
A method of fabricating templated semiconductor nanowires on a surface of a semiconductor substrate for use in semiconductor device applications is provided. The method includes controlling the spatial placement of the semiconductor nanowires by using an oxygen reactive seed material. The present invention also provides semiconductor structures including semiconductor nanowires. In yet another embodiment, patterning of a compound semiconductor substrate or other like substrate which is capable of forming a compound semiconductor alloy with an oxygen reactive element during a subsequent annealing step is provided. This embodiment provides a patterned substrate that can be used in various applications including, for example, in semiconductor device manufacturing, optoelectronic device manufacturing and solar cell device manufacturing.
US09018081B2
A method is provided for fabricating a light emitting diode (LED) using three-dimensional gallium nitride (GaN) pillar structures with planar surfaces. The method forms a plurality of GaN pillar structures, each with an n-doped GaN (n-GaN) pillar and planar sidewalls perpendicular to the c-plane, formed in either an m-plane or a-plane family. A multiple quantum well (MQW) layer is formed overlying the n-GaN pillar sidewalls, and a layer of p-doped GaN (p-GaN) is formed overlying the MQW layer. The plurality of GaN pillar structures are deposited on a first substrate, with the n-doped GaN pillar sidewalls aligned parallel to a top surface of the first substrate. A first end of each GaN pillar structure is connected to a first metal layer. The second end of each GaN pillar structure is etched to expose the n-GaN pillar second end and connected to a second metal layer.
US09018079B1
Methods of dicing semiconductor wafers, each wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits, are described. In an example, a method of dicing a semiconductor wafer having a plurality of integrated circuits involves forming a mask above the semiconductor wafer, the mask including a layer covering and protecting the integrated circuits. The mask is patterned with a laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps, exposing regions of the semiconductor wafer between the integrated circuits. Subsequent to patterning the mask, the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer are cleaned with a plasma process reactive to the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer. Subsequent to cleaning the exposed regions of the semiconductor wafer, the semiconductor wafer is plasma etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the integrated circuits.
US09018065B2
A method and apparatus are provided for recessing a channel region of the PFET and epitaxially growing channel SiGe in the recessed region inside of a horizontally oriented processing furnace. Embodiments include forming an n-channel region and a p-channel region in a front side of a wafer and at least one additional wafer, the n-channel and p-channel regions corresponding to locations for forming an NFET and a PFET, respectively; placing the wafers inside a horizontally oriented furnace having a top surface and a bottom surface, with the wafers oriented vertically between the top and bottom surfaces; recessing the p-channel regions of the wafers inside the furnace; and epitaxially growing cSiGe without hole defects in the recessed p-channel regions inside the furnace.
US09018057B1
A method for forming a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) semiconductor device includes providing a stressed silicon-on-insulator (sSOI) wafer comprising a stressed semiconductor layer having first and second laterally adjacent stressed semiconductor portions. The first stressed semiconductor portion defines a first active region. The second stressed semiconductor portion is replaced with an unstressed semiconductor portion. The unstressed semiconductor portion includes a first semiconductor material. The method further includes driving a second semiconductor material into the first semiconductor material of the unstressed semiconductor portion defining a second active region.
US09018055B2
Semiconductor-on-insulator structures facilitate the fabrication of devices, including MOSFETs that are at least partially depleted during operation and FinFETs including bilayer fins and/or crystalline oxide.
US09018049B2
A method for manufacturing an IGBT includes: forming oxide layers on the surfaces of the front and the back of an N-type substrate; forming a buffer layer in the surface of the back of the N-type substrate; forming protection layers on the surfaces of the oxide layers; removing the protection layer and the oxide layer overlying the front of the N-type substrate while reserving the oxide layer and the protection layer on the back of the N-type substrate for protection of the back of the N-type substrate; forming a front IGBT structure and applying a protection film on the surface of the front IGBT structure for protection of the front IGBT structure; removing the protection layer and the oxide layer overlying the back of the N-type substrate; forming a back IGBT structure and a back metal layer; and removing the protection film overlying the surface of the front IGBT structure.
US09018043B2
A method for encapsulating at least one micro-device, comprising at least the following steps: bonding a face of a first substrate comprising at least one material impermeable to noble gases, in contact with a second substrate comprising glass and with a thickness of about 300 μm or more; etching at least one cavity through the second substrate such that side walls of the cavity are at least partly formed by remaining portions of the second substrate and that an upper wall of the cavity is formed by part of said face of the first substrate; anodic bonding of the remaining portions of the second substrate in contact with a third substrate in which the micro-device is formed, such that the micro-device is encapsulated in the cavity.
US09018030B2
A transparent force sensor for use in touch panel displays (touch screens) and method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The transparent force sensor is capable of detecting touch by measuring local pressure applied by a touch input to a display area of the touch screen.
US09018029B1
Embodiments of methods of fabricating a sensor device include attaching first and second die to one another to define first and second cavities in which first and second sensors of the sensor device are disposed, respectively. The second die has an opening in communication with the second cavity. The methods further include obstructing the opening, attaching a third die to the second die. The first cavity is hermetically sealed by attaching the first and second die. The second cavity is hermetically sealed by attaching the third die to the second die.
US09018028B2
A magnetic sensor and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The magnetic sensor includes: a substrate comprising a plurality of Hall elements, a protective layer formed on the substrate, a base layer formed on the protective layer, and an integrated magnetic concentrator (IMC) formed on the base layer and comprising a surface with an elevated portion. The base layer has a larger cross-sectional area than the IMC.
US09018023B2
An efficient method of detecting defects in metal patterns on the surface of wafers. Embodiments include forming a metal pattern on each of a plurality of wafers, polishing each wafer, and analyzing the surface of the metal pattern on each polished wafer for the presence of defects in the metal pattern by analyzing an optical across-wafer endpoint signal, generated at the endpoint of polishing. Embodiments include determining the location of defects in the metal pattern by determining the position of non-uniformities in the optical-across-wafer endpoint signal.
US09018019B2
The conductive polymer films of this disclosure reversibly and selectively mediate ligand-receptor interactions. This electrochemical manipulation of biochemical interactions is accomplished by embedding or adsorbing receptors for ligands of interest in or onto a conductive polymer matrix. The matrix can also be doped, for example, with desired ions, polyions, or surfactants. Depending on the receptor properties and dopants utilized, ligand-receptor interactions at the polymer-electrolyte interface are manipulated by controlling the oxidation and reduction of the conductive polymer. The intrinsic charge transfer characteristics of conductive polymers are used to modulate ligand-receptor interactions.
US09018015B2
A method of securing a chain of custody of a specimen of a donor prevents tampering with or accidental mismanagement of the specimen. The method includes providing a tamper evident seal operable to indicate that an assaying device has been tampered with once the seal is sealed, the seal including a label having at least one portion including a machine-readable indicia area. The assaying device comprises a collection cup and a cap that carries at least one test strip.
US09018014B2
The invention provides vectors and methods for directional cloning.
US09018013B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for the genetic manipulation of Algal cells. The compositions and methods allow enhanced transfer of genetic material into Algal cells and the cloning and selection of genetically modified cells. Expression of proteins encoded by the genetic material will be enhanced by the methods and compositions of the invention.
US09018012B2
Improved DNA vaccine plasmids are disclosed. The improved plasmids eliminate all extraneous sequences, and have superior eukaryotic expression, improved yield and stability during bacterial production, facilitate flexible targeting of antigens to various intracellular destinations, and novel RNA-based functionality. These vectors are utilized in novel immunization methods wherein combinations of immunostimulatory DNA vaccine plasmids that target antigens to various intracellular destinations are used to elicit improved immune response.
US09018003B2
Disclosed are genes that, when overexpressed in cells expressing alpha-synuclein, either suppress or enhance alpha-synuclein mediated cellular toxicity. Compounds that modulate expression of these genes or activity of the encoded proteins can be used to inhibit alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity and used to treat or prevent synucleinopathies such as Parkinson's disease. Also disclosed are methods of identifying inhibitors of alpha-synuclein mediated toxicity.
US09018001B2
The invention relates to a kit to be used for the identification of a secretion cassette, which in eukaryotic cells gives rise to a higher level of synthesis/secretion of a protein of interest, the coding sequence of which being flanked by the first and the second set of genetic elements, respectively, compared to the other secretion cassettes present in the kit containing the coding sequence at the corresponding position, as well as to a method wherein the kit is used and the use of the kit, whereby the best secretion cassette will be obtained.
US09017991B2
Methods, tip assemblies and kits are provided for introducing material into cells. The tip assemblies include an attachment portion, a channel portion, and a constriction that function to reduce fluid pressure as a fluid passes through the constriction portion from the channel portion, whereby the tip assemblies form pores in the membranes of cells and introduce material into the cells. The material includes for example one selected from the group of: an inorganic compound, a drug, a genetic material, a protein, a carbohydrate, a synthetic polymer, and a pharmaceutical composition.
US09017988B1
A hybrid mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus, designated as strain B14528, includes a representative culture of the strain, which has been deposited under NRRL Accession No. 50900. A method of producing a hybrid mushroom culture of Agaricus bisporus comprising: mating a homokaryotic line J12998-s39 with a homokaryotic line BW-s191. Additionally, mushrooms, parts of the culture and products incorporating the culture are provided.
US09017983B2
A non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes a microbial organism having a 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BDO) pathway having at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding a 1,3-BDO pathway enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to produce 1,3-BDO. The pathway includes an enzyme selected from a 2-amino-4-ketopentanoate (AKP) thiolase, an AKP dehydrogenase, a 2-amino-4-hydroxypentanoate aminotransferase, a 2-amino-4-hydroxypentanoate oxidoreductase (deaminating), a 2-oxo-4-hydroxypentanoate decarboxylase, a 3-hydroxybutyraldehyde reductase, an AKP aminotransferase, an AKP oxidoreductase (deaminating), a 2,4-dioxopentanoate decarboxylase, a 3-oxobutyraldehyde reductase (ketone reducing), a 3-oxobutyraldehyde reductase (aldehyde reducing), a 4-hydroxy-2-butanone reductase, an AKP decarboxylase, a 4-aminobutan-2-one aminotransferase, a 4-aminobutan-2-one oxidoreductase (deaminating), a 4-aminobutan-2-one ammonia-lyase, a butenone hydratase, an AKP ammonia-lyase, an acetylacrylate decarboxylase, an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (CoA-dependent, aldehyde forming), an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (CoA-dependent, alcohol forming), an acetoacetyl-CoA reductase (ketone reducing), a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (aldehyde forming), a 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA reductase (alcohol forming), a 4-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydratase, and a crotonase. A method for producing 1,3-BDO, includes culturing such microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce 1,3-BDO.
US09017979B2
Disclosed are DNA polymerases having increased reverse transcriptase efficiency, mismatch tolerance, extension rate and/or tolerance of RT and polymerase inhibitors relative to a corresponding, unmodified polymerase. The polymerases are useful in a variety of disclosed primer extension methods. Also disclosed are related compositions, including recombinant nucleic acids, vectors, and host cells, which are useful, e.g., for production of the DNA polymerases.
US09017978B2
A system and method for bio-electricity production are provided. The system includes a microorganism fuel cell in which the anode compartment comprises a microorganism cell having displayed thereon an enzyme to oxidize the substrate and generate electrons. Microorganism cells, such as bacteria or yeast, may be transformed to display enzymes such as oxidases, alcohol dehydrigenases and glucoamylases.
US09017975B2
The invention relates to acyl-CoA-independent methods of producing fatty alcohols in recombinant host cells engineered to express an alcohol-forming acyl-ACP reductase. The recombinant host cells may be photosynthetic microorganisms, such as cyanobacteria. Isolated nucleic acid molecules, vectors, and recombinant host cells expressing an alcohol-forming acyl-ACP reductase, and systems for producing fatty alcohols via an acyl-CoA-independent pathway, are also provided. Also provided are microorganisms engineered for the secretion of fatty acids and fatty acid derivatives, including fatty alcohols, and methods of producing fatty acid derivatives using such engineering microorganisms.
US09017968B2
The present invention is concerned with an engineered biological system for production of authentic human basic fibroblast growth factor (hbFGF). The system makes use of a bacterial host and has a recombinant DNA construct with an insert. The insert contains a first VegC promoter, lacq operator, a second VegC promoter and DNA coding for human basic fibroblast growth factor.
US09017967B2
The present invention refers to methods for selectively recognizing a base pair in a DNA sequence by a polypeptide, to modified polypeptides which specifically recognize one or more base pairs in a DNA sequence and, to DNA which is modified so that it can be specifically recognized by a polypeptide and to uses of the polypeptide and DNA in specific DNA targeting as well as to methods of modulating expression of target genes in a cell.
US09017954B2
Certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention concern the synthesis, derivatization, conjugation to immunoglobulins and signal amplification based on discrete, relatively short polymers having plural reactive functional groups that react with plural molecules of interest. Reactive functional groups, such as hydrazides, may be derivatized with a variety of detectable labels, particularly haptens. The remaining reactive functional groups may be conjugated directly to a specific binding molecule, such as to the oxidized carbohydrate of the Fc region of the antibody. Disclosed conjugates display large signal amplification as compared to those based on molecules derivatized with single haptens, and are useful for assay methods, particularly multiplexed assays.
US09017948B2
The present invention generally relates to droplets and/or emulsions, such as multiple emulsions. In some cases, the droplets and/or emulsions may be used in assays, and in certain embodiments, the droplet or emulsion may be hardened to form a gel. In some aspects, a heterogeneous assay can be performed using a gel. For example, a droplet may be hardened to form a gel, where the droplet contains a cell, DNA, or other suitable species. The gel may be exposed to a reactant, and the reactant may interact with the gel and/or with the cell, DNA, etc., in some fashion. For example, the reactant may diffuse through the gel, or the hardened particle may liquefy to form a liquid state, allowing the reactant to interact with the cell. As a specific example, DNA contained within a gel particle may be subjected to PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification, e.g., by using PCR primers able to bind to the gel as it forms. As the DNA is amplified using PCR, some of the DNA will be bound to the gel via the PCR primer. After the PCR reaction, unbound DNA may be removed from the gel, e.g., via diffusion or washing. Thus, a gel particle having bound DNA may be formed in one embodiment of the invention.
US09017946B2
A system and method for amplifying and detecting nucleic acids are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes: a microfluidic device comprising a channel for receiving a sample of solution containing real-time PCR reagents; a temperature control system configured to cycle the temperature of the sample; an excitation source for illuminating the sample; a fiber optic probe comprising (i) an optical fiber having a distal end and a proximal end and (ii) a probe head connected to the distal end of the optical fiber and positioned between the distal end of the optical fiber and the channel; and a detector configured to detect emissions exiting the proximal end of the optical fiber.
US09017942B2
The present invention provides systems, apparatuses, and methods to detect the presence of fetal cells when mixed with a population of maternal cells in a sample and to test fetal abnormalities, e.g. aneuploidy. The present invention involves labeling regions of genomic DNA in each cell in said mixed sample with different labels wherein each label is specific to each cell and quantifying the labeled regions of genomic DNA from each cell in the mixed sample. More particularly the invention involves quantifying labeled DNA polymorphisms from each cell in the mixed sample.
US09017930B2
According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method includes forming a pattern on a layer. The layer has a first surface energy and includes a silicon compound. The pattern has a second surface energy different from the first surface energy. The method includes forming a block polymer on the layer and the pattern. The method includes forming a structure selected from a lamellar structure and a cylindrical structure of the block polymer containing polymers arranged by microphase separation. The lamellar structure is oriented perpendicularly to the layer surface. The cylindrical structure is oriented so as to have an axis parallel to a normal line of the layer surface. The second surface energy is not less than a maximum value of surface energies of the polymers or not more than a minimum value of the surface energies of the polymers.
US09017921B2
A photoresist composition includes a binder resin combined with a black dye, a monomer, a photo-polymerization initiator and a remainder of a solvent.
US09017920B2
A film includes base and a photosensitive layer formed on the base. The photosensitive layer substantially includes a first photosensitive agent, a second photosensitive agent, and a thermosol. The first photosensitive agent is water-soluble. The second photosensitive agent is an aromatic ketone compound or a benzoin ether compound. The method for manufacturing the film and the masking method using the film is also provided.
US09017915B2
The present disclosure provides inks, systems, and methods directed towards dispersed pigments. In one embodiment, an electrophotographic ink can comprise an aliphatic solvent and a pigment having a surface comprising carbonyl groups stabilized by an amine dispersant having the structure: R1R2N[(CH2)nNR5]m(CH2)pNR3R4, where R1, R3, R4, and R5 are independently selected from the group of H; COR6; COOR6; CONHR6; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl; and combinations thereof; R2 is an aliphatic polymer chain; R6 is selected from the group of H; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl; linear or branched, substituted or unsubstituted, aryl; and combinations thereof; m is from 0 to 200; n is from 1 to 20; and p is from 1 to 20; where the electrophotographic ink has a low field conductivity of less than 200 pS/cm and a viscosity from about 0.5 to about 40 cps.
US09017898B2
A fuel cell (10) includes an anode (11), a solid electrolyte layer (12), a barrier layer (13), and a cathode (14). The anode (11) includes a transition metal and an oxygen ion conductive material. In the interface region (R) within 3 micrometers from the interface with the solid electrolyte layer (12) of the anode (11) after reduction, the content rate of silicon is less than or equal to 200 ppm, the content rate of phosphorous is less than or equal to 50 ppm, the content rate of chrome is less than or equal to 100 ppm, the content rate of boron is less than or equal to 100 ppm, and the content rate of sulfur is less than or equal to 100 ppm.
US09017893B2
A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell assembly medium and at least one centrifugal blower system for providing a flow of gaseous medium to the fuel cell assembly.
US09017890B2
Systems and methods provide for the thermal management of a high temperature fuel cell. According to embodiments described herein, a non-reactant coolant is routed into a fuel cell from a compressor or a ram air source. The non-reactant coolant absorbs waste heat from the electrochemical reaction within the fuel cell. The heated coolant is discharged from the fuel cell and is vented to the surrounding environment or directed through a turbine. The energy recouped from the heated coolant by the turbine may be used to drive the compressor or a generator to create additional electricity and increase the efficiency of the fuel cell system. A portion of the heated coolant may be recycled into the non-reactant coolant entering the fuel cell to prevent thermal shock of the fuel cell.
US09017887B2
A fuel cell system includes an exhaust pipe through which anode purge gas is discharged into the atmosphere, a heat medium passage through which heat medium is flowed, a circulation pump for circulating the heat medium through the heat medium passage, a heat exchanger provided in the heat medium passage, a heat exchanger fan for generating airflow through the heat exchanger, and a guide by which the airflow is guided so as to diffuse the anode purge gas. The circulation pump and the heat exchanger fan are operated during anode purge in such a way that the heat exchanger fan is operated regardless of the heat medium temperature, and a flow rate of the heat medium flowing through the heat medium passage is zero or lower than a flow rate when output of a fuel cell is maximum.
US09017885B2
The object of this invention is to provide a fuel supply system capable of reducing the quantity of a fuel to be discharged from a plurality of fuel tanks connected in parallel is provided. The fuel supply system includes a plurality of the fuel tanks for storing a fuel, on-off valves provided individually for the fuel tanks, and a control unit which controls the opening and closing of the on-off valves. The control unit changes the number of the on-off valves to be simultaneously opened according to a situation. The control unit may reduce the number of the on-off valves to be simultaneously opened after a failure is detected or at the time of maintenance of the fuel supply system.
US09017883B2
The present invention discloses a rechargeable lithium battery including a positive electrode, a negative electrode including lithium titanate represented by Chemical Formula 1, and an electrolyte impregnating the positive and negative electrodes and including a sultone-based compound and maleic anhydride, wherein the sultone-based compound and the maleic anhydride are respectively included in an amount of about 0.5 wt % to about 5 wt % based on the total weight of the electrolyte. Chemical Formula 1: Li4−xTi5+x−yMyO12. In Chemical Formula 1, M is an element selected from Mg, V, Cr, Nb, Fe, Ni, Co, Mn, W, Al, Ga, Cu, Mo, P, or a combination thereof, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1.
US09017879B2
An electrolyte includes a eutectic mixture comprising (a) an alkoxy alkyl group-containing amide compound having a specific chemistry formula 1 or 2: wherein each of X, R, R1, R2, m and n is defined; and (b) an ionizable lithium salt. The eutectic mixture-containing electrolyte exhibits excellent high temperature stability as well as inherent characteristics of eutectic mixtures, including excellent thermal and chemical stability, thus contributing to improved high temperature stability and decreased lowest limit of electrochemical window. The electrolyte is useful in electrochemical devices comprising various anode materials.
US09017874B2
Disclosed are an electrode active material for lithium secondary batteries, comprising at least one selected from compounds represented by the following formula 1, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same. LixMo4-yMyO6-zAz (1) wherein 0≦x≦2, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5, M is a metal or transition metal cation having an oxidation number of +2 to +4, and A is a negative monovalent or negative bivalent anion.
US09017873B2
A lithium titanate composite material includes a lithium titanate particle and a double layered structure coated on a surface of the lithium titanate particle. The double layered structure includes a carbon layer directly disposed on the surface of the lithium titanate particle, and an AlPO4 layer disposed on an outer surface of the carbon layer. The lithium titanate composite material, as an anode active material, can be applied to a lithium ion battery to increase its electrochemical stability.
US09017870B2
Provided is a negative electrode material for an electricity storage device, comprises, a negative electrode active material comprising a compound containing at least SnO and P2O5, and a binder comprising a thermosetting resin. Also provided is a negative electrode for an electricity storage device, comprising a current collector having a surface coated with the negative electrode material for an electricity storage device. Further provided is a method of producing the negative electrode for an electricity storage device, the method comprising the steps of: coating the surface of the current collector with the negative electrode material for an electricity storage device; and carrying out heat treatment of the current collector at 150 to 400° C. under reduced pressure.
US09017869B2
This invention provides a cell stack for a redox flow battery that can provide battery efficiencies with high reliability over a long term, without any adhesive bonding between a bipolar plate and electrodes. In the cell stack 1 for the redox flow battery of a cell frame 2, electrodes 3, 4 and a membrane 5 being stacked in layers, the cell frame 2 comprises a frame 2A and a bipolar plate 9 arranged inside of the frame 2A, and the electrodes 3, 4 are put into close contact with the bipolar plate 9 by a clamping force, without being adhesively bonded to the bipolar plate 9. It is preferable that when the electrodes 3, 4 are compressed to a thickness corresponding to a level difference between the frame 2A and the bipolar plate 9, repulsive force of the electrodes is in the range of more than 15 kPa to less than 150 kPa (more than 0.153 kgf/cm2 to less than 1.53 kgf/cm2).
US09017857B2
Disclosed herein is an electrode terminal connecting device for electrically interconnecting two or more battery modules, including a conductive connecting member for electrically interconnecting electrode terminals of the battery modules, the conductive connecting member having two through-holes formed at positions corresponding to the distance between the electrode terminals, an insulative sheathing member for surrounding the conductive connecting member, a portion of an open rear of the insulative sheathing member being closed for easy installation of the conductive connecting member, the insulative sheathing member including a side wall protruding from the outer circumference of the conductive connecting member such that the side wall has a predetermined height, and an insulative cap connected to the top of the insulative sheathing member by a hinge structure for opening and closing an open front of the insulative sheathing member, the insulative cap having hollow buffers protruding from the inside thereof for surrounding portions of the electrode terminals protruding through the through-holes.
US09017856B2
The stacked battery includes a negative electrode (46) and a positive electrode (41). The negative electrode has a negative electrode main portion (50) and a negative electrode lead (52). The positive electrode has a positive electrode main portion (45) and a positive electrode lead (51). The negative electrode main portion and the positive electrode main portion are stacked in a thickness direction with the negative electrode lead and the positive electrode lead extending in different directions as viewed from above. The positive electrode lead is fixed to a positive electrode case. In the positive electrode lead, a break place (X) is provided outside the negative electrode main portion as viewed from above when the negative electrode and the positive electrode are placed on top of each other. The break place (X) is broken when a shock is applied to the electrodes.
US09017840B2
A battery includes: an electrode stacked body; a battery case that accommodates the electrode stacked body; positive and negative electrode terminals that are provided so as to communicate inside and outside of the battery case with each other; a lead that electrically connects tabs of the electrode stacked body to the electrode terminals; and an insulated lead insulating cover in which a space is formed so that the lead enters and a terminal through-hole is formed so that one end of the electrode terminal enters the space therethrough. An insulated lead insulating cover includes a first cover component and a second cover component that cooperatively form the space and the terminal through-hole with each other, and the first cover component and the second cover component respectively include engagement portions engaging removable with each other.
US09017827B2
A compound for an organic optoelectronic device, an organic light emitting diode, and a display device, the compound including sequentially combined substituents represented by the following Chemical Formulae 1 to 3:
US09017822B2
There is provided a semiconductor device that suppresses the occurrence of resin burrs and has favorable electrical connectivity and bond strength, and a manufacturing method for such semiconductor device. A resin-coated metal part is manufactured by forming an organic coating by depositing a material including functional organic molecules on a wiring lead composed of a metallic material. Each of the functional organic molecules includes a main chain, a first functional group having a metal bonding property, and a second functional group. The first functional group and the second functional group are provided at different ends of the main chain. Thereafter the functional organic molecules self-assemble by bonding of the first functional groups to metal atoms of the wiring lead. After performing the organic coating formation step, resin is adhered to a predetermined surface area of the wiring lead having the organic coating formed thereon.
US09017821B2
A coated article is provided so as to include a low-E (low emissivity) coating having an infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of or including a material such as silver (Ag), which is provided between a pair of contact layers. The low-E coating includes an overcoat having at least one layer of or including zirconium oxide and/or a substantially metallic layer. The overcoat has been found to improve the durability of the coating without significantly sacrificing desired optical characteristics. Such coated articles may be used in the context of windows.
US09017818B2
The present invention relates to coating compositions comprising (A) at least one hydroxyl-containing polyacrylate and/or at least one hydroxyl-containing polymethacrylate and (B) at least one compound containing isocyanate groups and having at least one structural unit (I) of the formula (I) —NR—(X—SiR″x(OR′)3-x) (I), and having at least one structural unit (II) of the formula (II) —N(X—SiR″x(OR′)3-x)n(X′—SiR″y(OR′)3-y)m (II), where (i) (A) has a glass transition temperature of less than 10° C., (ii) (B) contains more than 10 to more than 90 mol %, of at least one structural unit of the formula (I) and 10 to less than 90 mol % of at least one structural (II), based on the entirety of the structural units (I) and (II), and (iii) 10 to 60 mol % of the isocyanate groups of the diisocyanate and/or polyisocyanate parent structure of (I) and (II). The invention provides multistage coating processes using these coating compositions.
US09017813B2
Transparent conducting electrodes include a doped single walled carbon nanotube film and methods for forming the doped single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) by solution processing. The method generally includes depositing single walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in a solvent and a surfactant onto a substrate to form a single walled carbon nanotube film thereon; removing all of the surfactant from the carbon nanotube film; and exposing the single walled carbon nanotube film to a single electron oxidant in a solution such that one electron is transferred from the single walled carbon nanotubes to each molecule of the single electron oxidant.
US09017810B2
A method is provided for producing an electrical insulation paper having a particle composite. The method involves mixing a dispersion of particles in platelet form, a carrier fluid and a functionalizing agent which is distributed in the carrier fluid and has a proportion by mass in the dispersion corresponding to a predetermined mass ratio based on the proportion by mass of the particles. The dispersion is sedimented, such that the particles in platelet form are arranged in essentially plane-parallel layers in the sediment. The carrier fluid is removed from the sediment. Energy is introduced into the sediment to overcome the activation energy of that chemical reaction of the functionalizing agent with the particles which forms the particle composite from the sediment with coupling of the particles via the functionalizing agent. The mass ratio is predetermined such that the particle composite has a porous structure. The insulation paper is thereby produced.
US09017809B2
In one aspect, cutting tools are described having coatings adhered thereto. A coated cutting tool, in some embodiments, comprises a substrate and a coating adhered to the substrate, the coating comprising at least one composite layer deposited by chemical vapor deposition comprising an aluminum oxynitride phase and a metal oxide phase, the metal oxide phase including at least one oxide of a metallic element selected from Group IVB of the Periodic Table.
US09017807B2
A transparent conductive film includes a first transparent resin layer including a plurality of thin metallic wires, a second transparent resin layer containing a conductive polymer, and a third transparent resin layer provided between the first transparent resin layer and the second transparent resin layer. The second transparent resin layer contains a resin which is soluble in water, and the third transparent resin layer contains a resin which is insoluble in water or has water resistance. The third transparent resin layer can suppress mixing of the second transparent resin layer with the first transparent resin layer and can make the second transparent resin layer less likely to be damaged by the first transparent resin layer. Therefore, a surface of the second transparent resin layer is made smooth and electrical conductivity is made uniform.
US09017802B2
The present disclosure is drawn to a method for improving the durability of an ink printed on a substrate. In an aspect, the method comprises: (a) providing a substrate having an ink printed thereon; (b) applying an organosilane to the ink to form a coating over the ink, wherein the organosilane is of the formula X—SiR1R2R3, wherein R1, R2 and R3 are all hydrolysable groups, and X comprises an a nucleophilic nitrogen-containing group which is covalently bonded to Si in X—SiR1R2R3 via a non-hydrolysable linker group; and (c) curing the organosilane. The present disclosure further describes a substrate having an ink printed thereon, wherein the ink has a coating thereon formed by applying an organosilane to the ink and curing the organosilane.
US09017799B2
The cellular cushioning article comprises a thermoformed film bonded to a second film, with the thermoformed film having thermoformed regions separated by a land area. The thermoformed film has a combination of (i) a layer containing a high melt point polymer and (ii) thermoformed regions exhibit a high average maximum birefringence. The high birefringence corresponds with high stress on the polymer chains. The combination results in cells of substantially increased burst strength. The cellular cushioning article can provide higher burst strength per mil of film thickness, or can be produced using less plastic than prior art cellular cushioning articles, while maintaining the same or comparable burst strength. Also disclosed is a process for making the cellular cushioning article.
US09017789B2
Insulation assemblies and associated methods of use and manufacture are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, for example, an insulation assembly includes a plurality of insulation panels that are configured to releasably attach to an interior surface of an engine housing. The individual insulation panels can include a first surface configured to face the interior surface, and a second surface opposite the first surface and configured to face an engine in the housing. The insulation panels can each further include an attachment portion on the first surface carrying one or more first fasteners that releasably attach to a corresponding portion of the interior surface. The insulation panels can additionally include an attachment strap carried on the second surface. The attachment strap carries a second fastener that releasably attaches to a corresponding portion of the interior surface.
US09017787B2
The ceiling tile, in one embodiment of the invention, is a laminate of a rigid core layer, such as gypsum, having one surface covered by a display layer of plastic sheet material. An opposite surface of the core layer is covered by a layer of light reflective material. The design layer has a design surface that is viewable when the tile is installed in a ceiling, and the light reflective layer has an exposed light reflective surface. Both the design layer and the light reflective layer form leak tight seals on the opposite surfaces of the rigid core layer. The entire peripheral edge of the tile laminate and marginal portions of the design surface and light reflective surface are covered by a plastic leak tight tape that forms a gas tight seal at the peripheral edge of the tile laminate.
US09017780B2
A carbon nanopipe comprising a durable graphitizable carbon wall of tunable thickness of about 10-500 nm formed by exposing a silica fiber network to a carbon precursor vapor and thereby depositing a carbon film onto the silica fiber network at a temperature suitable for complete pyrolysis of the carbon precursor and removing the silica fibers. The atmosphere of the step of depositing is controlled by a two-stage gas manifold wherein stage 1 purges the reaction chamber with pure argon and stage 2 introduces the carbon precursor.
US09017775B2
The invention relates to a process for the treatment of parts for creating a surface with areas with shiny and matte appearances, in which on the surface previously coated with a first layer of copper and a second layer of metal a selective etching of the second layer is performed, wherein the selective etching of the second layer is performed according to the area or areas to be glazed with respect to the rest of the part. The process allows a finish with areas of a different shine (from mirror shine to matte), the differences in thickness of which cannot be observed by the human eye without optical aids.
US09017762B2
The invention relates to sputter targets and methods for depositing a layer from a sputter target. The method preferably includes the steps of: placing a sputter target in a vacuum chamber; placing a substrate having a substrate surface in the vacuum chamber; reducing the pressure in the vacuum chamber to about 100 Torr or less; removing atoms from the surface of the sputter target while the sputter target is in the vacuum chamber (e.g., using a magnetic field and/or an electric field). The deposited layer preferably is a molybdenum containing alloy including about 50 atomic percent or more molybdenum, 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a second metal element selected from the group consisting of niobium and vanadium; and 0.5 to 45 atomic percent of a third metal element selected from the group consisting of tantalum, chromium, vanadium, niobium, and titanium.
US09017760B2
The present invention relates to a method for hydrophobization of a fabric surface comprising providing a stream of a substantially anhydrous gas, passing said gas over or through a substantially anhydrous liquid of an alkylsilane, preferably a fluorinated alkylsilane to provide an alkylsilane, preferably a fluorinated alkylsilane vapor and bringing said vapor in contact with the fabric surface, thereby allowing the optionally fluorinated alkylsilane to bind covalently to the fabric surfaced. The present invention further relates to a fabric comprising a superhydrophobic surface finish prepared by a method of the invention and to a device for carrying out the method of the invention.
US09017756B2
A specific embodiment of the present invention is a process for continuously producing a porous solid film of spacer-modified nano graphene platelets for supercapacitor electrode applications. This process comprises: (a) dissolving a precursor material in a solvent to form a precursor solution and dispersing multiple nano graphene platelets into the solution to form a suspension; (b) continuously delivering and forming the suspension into a layer of solid film composed of precursor material-coated graphene platelets overlapping one another, and removing the solvent from the solid film (e.g., analogous to a paper-making, mat-making, or web-making procedure); (c) continuously converting the precursor material into nodules bonded to surfaces of graphene platelets to form a porous solid film composed of spacer-modified graphene platelets; and (d) continuously collecting the porous solid film on a collector (e.g., a winding roller). The roll of porous solid film (mat, paper, or web) can then be cut into pieces for used as supercapacitor electrodes.
US09017750B2
A method of forming cocoa and sugar base agglomerates is disclosed in which cocoa powder and sugar is mixed with an aqueous ethanol solution to form a dough and the dough is dried to form agglomerates of a porous dried dough having less than 0.5% by weight residual ethanol. The dried dough may be broken into pieces or formed into pieces by cutting prior to drying. The resulting pieces of the agglomerate disintegrate instantly in a cold aqueous liquid, such as water or milk, to form a flavored beverage.
US09017737B2
The present invention relates to the use of one or more cannabinoids in combination with one or more anti-psychotic medicaments for use in the prevention or treatment of psychosis and psychotic disorders. Preferably the one or more cannabinoids are taken from the group: cannabidiol (CBD); cannabidiolic acid (CBDA); tetrahydrocannbidivarin (THCV); tetrahydrocannbidivarinin acid (THCVA); cannabichromene (CBC); cannabichromenic acid (CBCA); cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). Preferably the anti-psychotic medication is an atypical anti-psychotic medication.
US09017736B2
Nontoxic aglycones of a particular species of the family Sapotaceae are obtained for preparing cosmetics and pharmaceutical dermatological compositions. These aglycones are prepared with the use of coarse raw kernel, or by a plurality of kernel products as raw material that contain the biochemical substrates, namely related glycosides to the lucumin. The transformation products consist of benzaldehyde, the main constituent of the genin recovery, and mandelic acid and mandelamide, the main constituents of the sapogenins. The process for transformation into genin and sapogenins includes the use of exogenous β-glycosidases other than from the family Sapotaceae as the biochemical transformation method into the respective enzymatic hydrolysis aglycones products, the genin plus sapogenins as obtained and after separation into the individual aglycones.
US09017734B2
The present invention relates to an pesticidal composition comprising an effective amount of a sulphur; an effective amount of at least one insecticide selected from the group consisting of cartap fipronil, pirimicarb, buprofezine, thiachloprid, acetamiprid, clothianidin, diafenthiuron, novaluron, flubendiamide, spirotetramat, thiamethoxam, imidacloprid or salts thereof, and at least one agrochemically acceptable excipient.
US09017733B2
The present invention relates to bioactive hetero-coagulated mixed materials that have high strength and durability, that are prepared using an aqueous process, and that have a high transparency when placed into a monomer, polymer, or resin of approximately the same refractive index.
US09017726B2
The present invention relates to a poly(organophosphazene)-superparamagnetic nanoparticle complex including a biodegradable and thermosensitive poly(organophosphazene) and a iron oxide (Fe3O4, Magnetite)-series ferrite superparamagnetic nanoparticle, a preparation method, and uses of carrying a physiologically-active material, a bio-material and a biomaterial for cancer hyperthermia. The iron oxide is used as a MRI contrast agent for T−2 and T2* weighted image, and the poly(organophosphazene) shows a sol-to-gel behavior depending upon the temperature change. The complex is a bound-type where the superparamagnetic ferrite nanoparticle is bonded to phosphazene-based polymer via hydrophobic binding, and a mixed-type where the superparamagnetic ferrite nanoparticle is physically mixed with the phosphazene-based polymer.
US09017718B2
Provided is a dual-release, dual-adhesiveness flexible thin film dosage form comprising: a quick-release subfilm comprising an admixture of polymer, which comprises predominantly highly water-soluble polymer(s), and a bioactive agent, the polymers and other components of the quick-release subfilm adapted to provide 20 minutes or less erodibility for the quick-release subfilm; and laminated against the quick-release subfilm, a sustained-release subfilm comprising an admixture of polymer, which comprises predominantly hydrophilic, bioadhesive polymer(s), and a second bioactive agent, which can be the same as the first, the polymers and other components of the sustained-release subfilm adapted to provide erodibility of 1 hour or more and 20 hours or less for the sustained-release subfilm, the dosage form having a thickness of 30 mil or less, and being more adhesive on the sustained-release side.
US09017715B2
Polymer and drug containing compositions and method of preparing such compositions are disclosed. The dispersed phase formulation has a polymer, a pharmaceutically or biologically active agent and a small fraction of low pKa acid additive. Stable, filter sterilizable, non-gelling solutions containing GnRH analogs at least at levels typically used in sustained release formulations and a method of increasing solubility of a high level of a GnRH analog or a freeze-dried antgonist of GnRH in a polymer containing solution are also disclosed. The amount of the acid additive in the polymer solution is such that it is sufficient to increase the solubility of the high level of the GnRH analog in the polymer solution without affecting the release characteristics of the microspheres prepared therefrom.
US09017713B2
The present invention relates to magnetic carriers and medical preparations for controllable delivery and release of active substances. The carrier for active substances comprises material A, which is magnetically or electrically sensible, and material B capable of controlling the retention/release rate of the said active substance from the said carrier, the said retention/release rate being temperature dependent; wherein the material B is in thermal contact with material A, and wherein the material A has magnetocaloric or electrocaloric effect sufficient to substantially vary the said retention/release rate of the active substance from the carrier. The invention further provides methods for controllable delivery and release of active substances in a predetermined place and at a predetermined time, and methods of treatment using these carriers. Methods of production of magnetic carriers are also proposed.
US09017708B2
A mixed antibacterial glass which stably controls the silver ion elution amount from the antibacterial glass into the drain water in an air conditioning system, thereby effectively preventing the occurrence of microorganisms in the drain water. The mixed antibacterial glass achieves antibacterial effect by releasing silver ions, and contains an antibacterial glass which shows alkalinity when dissolved, and another antibacterial glass which shows acidity when dissolved, the silver ion elution amounts from the antibacterial glasses showing alkalinity or acidity being within certain ranges as measured under certain conditions, the compounding amount of the antibacterial glass showing alkalinity being from 10 to 100 parts by weight with reference to 100 parts by weight of the antibacterial glass showing acidity, and the total silver ion elution amount being within a certain range as measured under certain conditions.
US09017706B2
The present invention relates to a material in the form of solid particles consisting of a continuous shell including at least one silicon oxide, said shell confining at least one oil phase, said material being characterized in that said oil phase is solid at the storage temperature of said material and predominately contains a crystallizable oil that has a melting temperature (TM) of less than 100° C. and at least one substance of interest, and in that the diameter of the particles varies from 1 μm to 1 cm. The invention also relates to a method for preparing said material, to the use thereof for the thermostimulated generation of active substances, as well as to compositions containing same.
US09017705B2
The invention relates to a cosmetic method for making-up and/or caring for keratin materials, in particular the skin, whereby a cosmetic composition is applied to the keratin materials, said cosmetic composition taking the form of an emulsion and comprising siloxane resins and a non-volatile hydrocarbon oil. In particular, the invention relates to compositions used to care for or make-up the aforementioned keratin materials.
US09017704B2
The present invention provides a cosmetic composition comprising, in a cosmetically acceptable organic liquid medium, at least one film-forming ethylenic linear block polymer, and another film former.The film former may be soluble or dispersible in the said organic liquid medium.The composition may include an aqueous phase, in which case the film former may be soluble or dispersible in the aqueous phase.The invention further provides for the use of the combination of such a block polymer and a film former for enhancing the staying power of the said composition on the keratin materials.
US09017702B2
A formulation includes one or more active ingredients of poor water solubility for medical or non-medical use in the rearing of animals. The formulation is suitable for administration to the animals via their drinking water. It exhibits superior stability. The formulation comprises an active ingredient, a thickener combination and water, wherein the thickener combination comprises at least one thickener selected from the following groups A, B, C and D: (A) cellulose derivatives, such as methyl cellulose, sodium carboxy methyl cellulose, (B) non-cellulosic polysaccharide thickeners such as xanthan gums, Arabic gum, (C) cross-linked polyacrylic acid polymers, (D) hydrocolloidal hydrated silicates.
US09017698B2
This invention describes novel adjuvant compositions and formulations with excellent stability at refrigerated and room temperatures and up to and about 37° C. that can be produced at remarkably low costs. This invention describes novel vaccine compositions and formulations to treat and prevent urinary tract infections caused by gram-negative bacteria including Escherichia coli and multi-drug resistant E. coli. This invention also describes methods of administration of said novel vaccine compositions and formulations and methods of treatment to prevent and treat urinary tract infections caused by gram-negative bacteria including E. coli and multi-drug resistant E. coli.
US09017697B2
This invention discloses methods and compositions for modulating immune responses, which involve particulate delivery of agents to immune cells, wherein the agents comprise an inhibitor of the NF-κB signaling pathway and an antigen that corresponds to a target antigen. The methods and compositions of the present invention are particularly useful in the treatment or prophylaxis of an undesirable immune response associated with the target antigen, including autoimmune diseases, allergies and transplantation associated diseases.
US09017686B2
The invention provides multispecific antibodies and methods of making and using such antibodies.
US09017668B2
Antibodies to human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) gB protein have been isolated from human B cells. The affinities of these antibodies are higher than the best previously reported antibodies. Since high affinity is critical to prevention of virus transfer across the placenta, the invention antibodies are useful as therapeutic and prophylactic agents to prevent or ameliorate effects on the fetus of CMV infection during pregnancy.
US09017662B2
Treatments for chronic enterocolitis are disclosed. More specifically, methods for administration of pharmaceutical compositions that include anti-TNF-alpha antibody producing lactic acid microorganisms, such as Lactobacillus sp. and Saccharomyces sp., are disclosed for the treatment of chronic enterocolitis.
US09017660B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for treating and vaccinating against an Her2/neu antigen-expressing tumor and inducing an immune response against dominant in a non-human animal.
US09017651B2
Compositions and methods are disclosed for imparting a long-wearing shine to keratin fibers, including hair. The compositions comprise an aminosilicone polymer having a viscosity from about 800 to about 1,600 mm2/s at 25° C., and a functional group equivalent weight from about 8,000 to about 14,000 g/mol. The compositions comprise an aminosilicone polymer and optionally a shine enhancer. The compositions are useful for imparting a long-wearing shine to hair.
US09017646B2
A process of evaluating blood-brain barrier permeability of a stroke rat by using fluorescent substance is disclosed. This process uses an Evans blue dye having spontaneous fluorescence properties, in combination with the use of a new non-invasive in vivo imaging system (IVIS), to obtain fluorescent signals so as to assess the change in the blood-brain barrier permeability of rodents after a cerebral artery stroke model surgery. In operation, an Evans blue dye is injected into a stroke rat of middle cerebral artery occlusion model. A non-invasive in vivo imaging system is used to detect the fluorescence distribution of the whole brain, and obtain images combined by the fluorescence images and optical images for the whole brain tissue. Thereby, the change in the blood-brain barrier permeability of the stroke rat can be completely realized.
US09017640B2
Provided is a production method for obtaining high purity nickel sulfate having low levels of impurities, particularly low levels of magnesium and chloride, by adjusting the concentration of an extractant and the pH concentration at the time of treatment in a process of obtaining a nickel sulfate solution having a high nickel concentration by solvent extraction using an acidic organic extractant.
US09017638B2
Disclosed is a method for producing graphene functionalized at its edge positions of graphite. Organic material having one or more functional groups is reacted with graphite in reaction medium comprising methanesulfonic acid and phosphorus pentoxide, or in reaction medium comprising trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, to produce graphene having organic material fuctionalized at edges. And then, high purity and large scaled graphene and film can be obtained by dispersing, centrifugal separating the functionalized graphene in a solvent and reducing, in particular heat treating the graphene. According to the present invention graphene can be produced inexpensively in a large amount with a minimum loss of graphite. (FIG. 1)
US09017628B2
A method of preparing a nanomaterial comprising boron includes sonicating a boron trihalide and/or boron alkoxide in a hydrocarbon solvent with an alkali metal under an inert atmosphere to form a dark solid, and annealing the dark solid at a temperature sufficient to sublime alkali metal salt therein, thereby obtaining a boron nanomaterial. Reacting with a Group IVB metal produces a metal boride, and combining an alkali metal salt of a hydrocarbon with the boron trihalide prior to sonicating produces a carbonaceous boron material.
US09017627B2
A process for sweetening a gas stream containing hydrogen sulfide wherein said process comprises contacting said gas stream within a contacting zone a contacting composition comprising metal sulfide in a lower sulfided state and yielding from said contacting zone a product gas stream having a reduced hydrogen sulfide concentration and a recovered contacting composition comprising metal sulfide in a higher sulfided state.
US09017626B2
Described are SCR catalyst systems comprising a first SCR catalyst composition and a second SCR catalyst composition arranged in the system, the first SCR catalyst composition promoting higher N2 formation and lower N2O formation than the second SCR catalyst composition, and the second SCR catalyst composition having a different composition than the first SCR catalyst composition, the second SCR catalyst composition promoting lower N2 formation and higher N2O formation than the first SCR catalyst composition. The SCR catalyst systems are useful in methods and systems to catalyze the reduction of nitrogen oxides in the presence of a reductant.
US09017622B2
A calibrator, for calibrating a sensor, has a calibration chamber for containing a calibration liquid. The liquid comprises water or an aqueous solution of an analyte to be sensed. A hydrogen peroxide-quenching material is provided exposed to the interior of the calibration chamber. The hydrogen peroxide-quenching material contacts the calibration liquid. After the calibration chamber containing the calibration liquid is sterilized by irradiation with gamma radiation, the hydrogen peroxide-quenching material decomposes any hydrogen peroxide formed in the calibration liquid to avoid adverse effects on a sensor placed in contact with the calibration liquid.
US09017618B2
Described herein are embodiments of systems and methods for oxidizing gases. In some embodiments, a reaction chamber is configured to receive a fuel gas and maintain the gas at a temperature within the reaction chamber that is above an autoignition temperature of the gas. The reaction chamber may also be configured to maintain a reaction temperature within the reaction chamber below a flameout temperature. In some embodiments, heat and product gases from the oxidation process can be used, for example, to drive a turbine, reciprocating engine, and injected back into the reaction chamber.
US09017612B2
Provided is a gas sensor that needs no temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of a heater for preventing dew condensation. The gas sensor comprises a hydrogen sensor 1 including: an element housing 13 having a detection chamber 13a to which hydrogen is introduced; a detection element 31 arranged in the detection chamber 13a and detecting hydrogen; a heater 21 for heating the detection chamber 13a by heat generation via passing an electric current through the heater 21, a resistance value of the heater 21 being changed corresponding to a temperature of the detection chamber 13a; and a microcomputer 51 and a heater operation circuit 52 for controlling the heater 21. Herein, the microcomputer 51 controls a temperature of the detection chamber 13a by adjusting the electric current passing through the heater 21 based on the resistance value of the heater 21.
US09017611B2
A biochip including a chip body, a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The body has a first accommodating cavity, a second accommodating cavity and a micro-fluid channel. The micro-fluid channel is connected with the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity. The first electrode has a first end and a second end. The first end is used for contacting a first probe of a detection apparatus. The second end is positioned in the first accommodating cavity. The second electrode has a third end and a forth end. The third end is used for contacting a second probe of the detection apparatus. The forth end is positioned in the second accommodating cavity.
US09017605B2
A nickel-base superalloy is characterized by the following chemical composition (details in % by weight): 7.7-8.3 Cr, 5.0-5.25 Co, 2.0-2.1 Mo, 7.8-8.3 W, 5.8-6.1 Ta, 4.9-5.1 Al, 1.0-1.5 Ti, 1.0-2.0 Re, 0.11-0.15 Si, 0.1-0.7 Hf, 0-0.5 Nb, 0.02-0.17 C, 50-400 ppm B, remainder Ni and production-related impurities. The alloy is distinguished by a very high resistance to oxidation, resistance to corrosion and good creep properties at high temperatures.
US09017604B2
Magnesium alloys containing: Y: 2.0-6.0% by weight Nd: 0-4.0% by weight Gd: 0-5.5% by weight Dy: 0-5.5% by weight Er: 0-5.5% by weight Zr: 0.05-1.0% by weight Zn+Mn: <0.11% by weight, optionally other rare earths and heavy rare earths, the balance being magnesium and incidental impurities and the total content of Gd, Dy and Er is in the range of 0.3-12% by weight, wherein either the alloy contains low amounts of Yb and Sm and exhibits a corrosion rate as measured according to ASTM B 117 of less than 30 Mpy, and/or the area percentage of any precipitated particles arising when the alloy is processed having an average particle size greater than 1 [mu]m and less than 15 [mu]m is less than 3%.
US09017598B2
A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles.
US09017592B2
A process for making an embossed web. A precursor web is provided between a forming structure and a static pressure plenum. The forming structure has a plurality of discrete protruded elements. Pressure is provided by the static pressure plenum against the precursor web and the forming structure to conform the precursor web to the discrete protruded elements of the forming structure to form the embossed web. The resulting embossed web has a plurality of discrete extended elements having open proximal ends.
US09017580B2
The present invention relates to polymer composite materials, more particularly relates to composite materials with tailor made surface electrical resistivities in the range of 109 to 10−1 Ω/sq. and process of making the same. The process for preparing Fiber Reinforced Polymeric (FRP) Composite, said process comprising acts of homogeneously mixing 1-30% by weight of different electrically conducting fillers in matrix resin system to obtain resin mix; wetting dry preforms using the resin mix; compacting the wetted preforms to obtain green composite; curing the green composite; and post-curing the cured composite to prepare the FRP Composite.
US09017560B2
A apparatus for treating ballast water with acrolein which is to be connected to a main ballast water line of a ballast water unit, comprises a reactor device to which acrolein derivate and water is to be fed for generating an aqueous acrolein solution, a branch line which is connected to the main ballast water line for branching off a partial ballast water stream, and a mixing device which is connected to the branch line and an acrolein solution supply line from the reactor device and is designed for diluting the aqueous acrolein solution from the reactor device, and a feed device for supplying the aqueous acrolein solution from the mixing unit to the main ballast water line. In the method for treating ballast water with acrolein, an acrolein derivate and hydrolysis water are mixed in a reactor device for generating an aqueous acrolein solution, a partial water stream branched of from the main ballast water stream at an branching location, is mixed with the acrolein solution supplied from the reactor device and mixed thereby, and the partial ballast water stream treated with the acrolein solution is fed back to the main ballast water stream downstream of the branching location.
US09017559B2
A water treatment apparatus including one or more mixed raw water stream jet nozzles, a filtering tank housing a filter layer disposed below the mixed raw water stream jet nozzle or nozzles, the filter layer having an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer containing a filter material with a smaller specific gravity and a larger particle diameter than a filter material of the lower layer, a water collecting and distributing pipe for removing water filtered through the filter layer and supplying reverse stream cleaning water to the filter layer during reverse cleaning, filter material vibrating means for vibrating a filter material of the upper layer including a vibrating element connected to a power source and vibration expanding element buried in the upper layer for transmitting vibration of the vibrating element, and an overflow outlet provided in the filtering tank above the filter layer.
US09017543B2
Analytes in a liquid sample are determined by methods utilizing sample volumes from about 0.3 μl to less than 1 μl and test times from about 3.5 to about 6 seconds after detection of the sample. The methods are preferably performed using small test strips including a sample receiving chamber filled with the sample by capillary action.
US09017540B2
Systems and methods for reducing overhang on electroplated surfaces of printed circuit boards are described. One such method includes applying a first resist layer on a substrate having a first copper layer, applying a first image to the first resist layer, developing the first resist layer in accordance with the first image, applying a second copper layer on the first copper layer, electroplating a first metallic layer on the second copper layer, removing the first resist layer, etching a portion of the first copper layer, removing the first metallic layer, depositing a third copper layer on a surface of the assembly, applying a second resist layer on the third copper layer, applying a second image to the second resist layer, developing the second resist layer in accordance with the second image, electroplating a preselected metal layer on the third copper layer, removing the second resist layer, and etching a portion of the third copper layer.
US09017534B2
Disclosed is a vacuum deposition apparatus which suppresses mutual interference of magnetic fields generated by multiple magnetic-field applying mechanisms for evaporation sources. The vacuum deposition apparatus includes a deposition chamber; a magnetic-field applying mechanism of sputtering evaporation source disposed in the deposition chamber; a magnetic-field applying mechanism of arc evaporation source disposed in the same deposition chamber; and magnetic-field shielding units arranged so as to cover partially or entirely at least one of these magnetic-field applying mechanisms for evaporation sources (preferably the magnetic-field applying mechanism of sputtering evaporation source). Portions (portions to face a target material upon dosing) of openable units of magnetic-field shielding units are preferably made from a non-magnetic material.
US09017533B2
In a physical vapor deposition plasma reactor, a multi-frequency impedance controller is coupled between RF ground and one of (a) the bias electrode, (b) the sputter target, the controller providing adjustable impedances at a first set of frequencies, said first set of frequencies including a first set of frequencies to be blocked and a first set of frequencies to be admitted. The first multi-frequency impedance controller includes a set of band pass filters connected in parallel and tuned to said first set of frequencies to be admitted, and a set of notch filters connected in series and tuned to said first set of frequencies to be blocked.
US09017520B2
Paper coating or binding formulations are provided that comprise aqueous copolymer emulsions including copolymers derived from one or more copolymerizable surfactants of formula I and one or more monomers. The paper coating or binding formulations can include one or more mineral fillers, coating pigments, or mixtures thereof, wherein the total weight concentration of the one or more mineral fillers, coating pigments, or mixtures thereof is 65% or higher, based on the total weight of the composition. Paper products coated with the paper coating or binding formulations, methods of making the paper coating or binding formulations, and methods of making the coated paper products are also disclosed.
US09017511B2
The invention relates to an aircraft protection device for protecting potentially exposed aircraft structures from direct impacts and a method of protecting an exposed edge of an aircraft component. The method includes the steps of winding filament around a foam core to create an impact protection device. A portion of the filament winding and foam core is removed from the impact protection device to create a receiving section whereby the receiving section is configured to correspond to and receive the exposed edge of the aircraft component. The impact protection device is secured to the exposed edge of the aircraft component such that the exposed edge is received in the receiving portion of the impact protection device.
US09017505B2
A waterproof invisible bather seam is formed between two fabric laminates, an outer shell fabric laminate and an inner lining fabric laminate. The seam includes an invisible seam tape that forms a hydrostatic bather within the seam. The design of the seam allows the formation of an effective hydrostatic barrier along the seams of a soft shell garment, while retaining flexibility, stretch, aesthetic appearance, and reversibility.
US09017502B2
A device for producing a sleeve-like label, comprising at least one feeder, designed to feed to at least one forming spindle a portion of heat-shrink film, and elements for wrapping the portion of heat-shrink film around the lateral surface of the forming spindle; elements for detecting the angular position of the free edge of the second longitudinal end of the portion of film wrapped around the forming spindle with respect to an absolute reference system that is jointly connected to the forming spindle; relative movement elements adapted to move the free edge detected by the detection elements to a preset position in order to provide a connecting portion at a preset distance with respect to the free edge, elements being further provided for transferring the sleeve-like label from the forming spindle to a container to be labelled.
US09017492B2
The present invention provides ultralow carbon thin gauge steel sheet and a method for producing the same where coalescence and growth of inclusions in the molten steel are prevented and the inclusions are finely dispersed in the steel sheet, whereby surface defects and cracks at the time of press forming are prevented, growth of recrystallized grains at the time of continuous annealing is promoted, and a high r value (r value≧2.0) and elongation (total elongation≧50%) are exhibited, that is, ultralow carbon thin gauge steel sheet excellent in surface conditions, formability, and workability comprised of, by mass %, 0.00030.003%≦C≦0.003%, Si≦0.01%, Mn≦0.1%, P≦0.02%, S≦0.01%, 0.0005%≦N≦0.0025%, 0.01%≦acid soluble Ti≦0.07%, acid soluble Al≦0.003%, and 0.002%≦La+Ce+Nd≦0.02% and a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities, said steel sheet characterized by containing at least cerium oxysulfite, lanthanum oxysulfite, and neodymium oxysulfite.
US09017490B2
A high strength, corrosion resistant alloy suitable for use in oil and gas environments includes, in weight %: 0-12% Fe, 18-24% Cr, 3-6.2% Mo, 0.05-3.0% Cu, 4.0-6.5% Nb, 1.1-2.2% Ti, 0.05-0.4% 0.05-0.2% Al, 0.005-0.040% C, balance Ni plus incidental impurities and deoxidizers. A ratio of Nb/(Ti+Al) is equal to 2.5-7.5 to provide a desired volume fraction of γ′ and γ″ phases. The alloy has a minimum yield strength of 145 ksi.
US09017476B2
Disclosed is a modified metal oxide sol that has a large hydrophilizing effect and antistatic effect, can be produced at low cost and is capable of being a coating. Specifically disclosed is a modified metal oxide sol characterized by modification by a functional group represented by formula (1) at 0.55-5.5 mmol per 1 g of metal oxide sol. MOS(═O)2—R1—Si(CH3)n(—O—)3-n (1) {In the formula, M is a hydrogen ion, C1-4 alkyl group, metal ion or ammonium (NR24) group; Rl is a C1-10 alkylene group (may have urethane bonds or urea bonds in the main alkylene chain); R2 may be the same or different and is a C1-5 alkyl group or a hydrogen atom; and n represents 0 or 1}.
US09017458B2
A system for concurrently filtering particles and collecting gases. Materials are be added (e.g., via coating the ceramic substrate, use of loose powder(s), or other means) to a HEPA filter (ceramic, metal, or otherwise) to collect gases (e.g., radioactive gases such as iodine). The gases could be radioactive, hazardous, or valuable gases.
US09017454B2
A method for removing SOx (x=2 and/or 3) from gas using a solution having polyethylene glycol as the main ingredient. First, SOx in the gas is absorbed by the solution of polyethylene glycol. Second, the solution of polyethylene glycol which has absorbed SOx is regenerated by one or more of the heating, vacuum, ultrasonic, microwave or radiation methods, thereby releasing the by-products of sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. The regenerated solution of polyethylene glycol is recycled. When the water content of the regenerated solution of polyethylene glycol is high enough to affect the desulfurization, it needs to be removed. Removal methods include heating and rectification, absorption using a water absorbent, or a combination of these methods. The polyethylene glycol solution is recycled after dehydration.
US09017452B2
The present disclosure is directed to a dense-phase additive transportation system for additive injection into a contaminated gas stream.
US09017451B2
A gas separation process that utilizes ejector recycle with a membrane separation step in combination with a second separation step. The second separation step may be a second membrane separation, or may involve a different type of separation process. At least a portion of the non-product (i.e. residue) stream withdrawn from the second separation step is directed back to the ejector to form a processing loop. The ejector drives the gas flow in the loop and recycles the non-product stream to the first separation step.
US09017450B2
Nanomaterial preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed and claimed. Such methods can provide nanomaterials with improved morphologies relative to previous methods. Such materials are useful in electronic applications.
US09017444B2
The present invention is related to the field of environmental protection, more specifically, to a foliage silicon fertilizer and a method for production of the fertilizer, which is a molybdenum-silica compound sol used for reducing heavy metal and nitrates in vegetables. The fertilizer, which is a molybdenum-silica compound sol, comprises 10-25 wt % silica, 0.05-5.5 wt % molybdenum ions. More preferably, the fertilize, which is a rare earth-molybdenum-silica compound sol, comprises 10-25 wt % silica, 0.05-5.5 wt % molybdenum ions and 0.1-7.5 wt % rare earth ions. By the combination of silica with molybdenum in the present invention, it is effective for preventing the absorption/accumulation of nitrates in vegetables. In addition, by the further combination with rare earth element, the prevention ability of the fertilizer from absorbing heavy metal and nitrates into vegetables is even enhanced. With a preparation method with normal pressure and relatively, low temperature, that is, with mild condition, simple process and high operability, large scale production of the present invention may be readily executed.
US09017440B2
A gas separating device includes a body defining a cylindrical inner chamber having a first and second ends; an intake and agitation fan disposed at the first end and drawing external gas into the inner chamber and agitates the external gas to form a first vortex traveling towards the second end; a hot gas stream discharge port located at or adjacent to an edge of the second end to discharge a part of gas of the first vortex; a vortex return device located at the second end to return the remaining gas of the first vortex not discharged from the hot gas stream discharge port, forming a second vortex traveling towards the first end through a cyclone core of the first vortex; and a cold gas stream discharge port located at a radial center of the first end or located adjacent to and around the radial center.
US09017433B2
A pre-processing assembly and method for processing fuel feedstock containing oxygen and hydrocarbons having higher and lower hydrocarbon content for a fuel cell, wherein the pre-processing assembly has a deoxidizing bed for reducing oxygen in the fuel feedstock and a pre-reforming bed for reducing higher hydrocarbon content in the fuel feedstock and wherein the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed are disposed within a common reaction vessel such that the fuel feedstock first passes through the deoxidizing bed and thereafter through the pre-reforming bed. The pre-reforming assembly may further include a propane processor bed for processing propane and propylene in the fuel feedstock, where the propane processor bed is disposed within the common reaction vessel with the deoxidizing bed and the pre-reforming bed.
US09017430B2
The present invention relates to alkanolamide-containing compositions, and more particularly to alkanolamide-containing compositions formed by the reaction of a fatty acid and diethanolamine (DEA) which contain low levels of undesirable by-products. Such compositions are particularly suitable for use as fuel additives.
US09017428B2
A two-stage reactor is disclosed for the conversion of solid particulate biomass material. The reactor is designed to maximize conversion of the solid biomass material, while limiting excess cracking of primary reaction products. The two-stage reactor comprises a first stage reactor, in which solid biomass material is thermally pyrolyzed to primary reaction products. The primary reaction products are catalytically converted in a second stage reactor.
US09017427B1
A method of creating an on-chip capacitor includes: arranging, within a first layer, a first layer first polarity conducting strip adjacent to and spaced apart from a first layer second polarity conducting strip; arranging, within a second layer, a second layer first polarity conducting strip adjacent to and spaced apart from a second layer second polarity conducting strip, wherein the second layer second polarity conducting strip overlies the first layer second polarity conducting strip, and the second layer first polarity conducting strip overlies the first layer first polarity conducting strip; electrically connecting the first layer first-polarity conducting strip with the second layer first polarity conducting strip; and electrically connecting the first-layer second polarity conducting strip with the second layer second-polarity conducting strip.
US09017425B2
A textile comprising a diacetylene compound which is capable of changing color when irradiated with light energy. Methods of imparting color to textiles comprising irradiating the textile with light energy are also provided.
US09017408B2
A medical device (10) includes an implant body (20) with a number of segments (30) hingedly interconnected so as to assume a straightened state for delivery and a flexed or roughly curved deployed state. Implant body may have engagement elements on at least two different segments, for example on a majority of segments. An elongated locking element anchored at the distal segment of the implant body may have projections for at least each engagement element. Tension applied to the locking element biases the implant body from the straightened state to the flexed deployed state. When the locking element is deflected to reach the curved deployed state, flexing segments of the implant body lock by matching engagement elements of the implant body with projections of the locking element. A very secure lock may be formed to prevent opening after deployment.
US09017405B2
An improved skin substitute is presented comprised of a silicone layer backed up with a woven nylon fabric layer, the silicone layer possessing a regular pattern of slits that permit the porosity of the skin substitute to be adjusted by clinicians by means of applying tension to the skin substitute that differentially opens the slits. A variety of therapeutic substances can be applied to the skin substitute to promote healing, including aloe and other medicinal preparations.
US09017397B2
Prosthetic valve devices for implantation in body vessels are provided. The prosthetic valve device includes at least one flexible member that permits fluid flow in a first direction and substantially prevents fluid flow in a second. The valve device also includes an inflatable chamber at least partially attached to the flexible member. The inflatable chamber is adapted to receive inflating media and is adapted to contact the body vessel. A delivery system is also provided that includes a valve device and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus includes a member adapted for filling the chamber of the valve device with inflating media. A related method of making the valve device is also provided.
US09017395B2
An implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for use in a wide range of applications wherein at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation are coupled to one another. The prosthesis is configured to conform to a vessel wall without substantially remodeling the vessel, and permits accurate deployment in a vessel without shifting or foreshortening.
US09017377B2
The invention relates to an occluder for closing a passage in a circulatory system comprising an expandable fixation unit for fixing the occluder on the passage, wherein the occluder can be transferred in the passage from a compact appearance into an expanded appearance. The occluder has a distal and a proximal axial part, in which the fixation unit is pivotally held. According to the invention, the fixation unit comprises distal fixation arms and proximal fixation arms, wherein the distal fixation arms are pivotally held in the distal axial part and the proximal fixation arms are pivotally held in the proximal axial part. The distal and the proximal fixation arms have free ends, which are interconnected by means of connecting members that can be moved relative to the fixation arms, wherein in each case a distal fixation arm is connected to a proximal fixation arm located diagonally opposed thereto. Said occluder is suited in particular for closing a ventricular septal defect (VSD).
US09017375B2
An occluding device for closing a body passage comprises an occluding body (1), a first position control element (2) and a second position control element (3). The occluding body (1) is a balloon made of a flexible and fluid tight material without shape memory property. The occluding body (1) comprises a proximal chamber (10) and a distal chamber (11) and a connecting Channel (12) connecting these two chambers (10, 11). The occluding body (1) is compressible into a first longitudinal shape. A proximal end of the occluding body (1) is attached to the first position control element (2) and the distal end of the balloon is attached to the second position control element (3). The first position control element (2) and the second position control element (3) are two matching parts of a fluid tight closure of the balloon. No additional stiffening means for stiffening the balloon in its third radially extended but longitudinally compressed State are arranged within the occluding body (1).
US09017368B2
A method of calculating a blood pressure, includes: providing a non-invasive blood pressure measurement apparatus which includes a cuff being inflatable and deflatable and adapted to be fitted on a part of a living body and in which a plurality of calculation methods each of which has priority in accordance with a type of noise information are set; detecting, by the cuff, a signal waveform representing a change in an oscillation amplitude and a change in a cuff pressure; determining the type of the noise information contained in the detected signal waveform; deciding the blood pressure from at least one candidate value for the blood pressure, which is calculated by one of the calculation methods that has the priority with respect to the determined type of the noise information; and displaying the decided blood pressure.
US09017367B2
A method of preparing a filter for delivery into a body vessel. The filter includes a hub disposed along a longitudinal axis and a plurality of anchor members extending from the hub. Each anchor member includes either a cranial extension or a caudal extension at a distal end thereof. At least one anchor member distal end may be spaced from the hub at each of a first, second, and third distance along the longitudinal axis. The filter also includes a plurality of locator members extending from the hub, the locator members alternatingly interposed between the anchor members.
US09017360B2
The present disclosure provides a device and method for facilitating air flow in the nasal passage of a domestic animal. The nasal support device (NSD) disclosed herein is useful for facilitating air flow during rest, physical exertion, respiratory ailment, etc. The NSD secures to the nose of a domestic animal to support the unsupported lateral vestibular walls of the nasal passages by lifting or stenting.
US09017354B2
A medical cutting instrument for cutting muscles and tendons, with an instrument body that includes a handle on its proximal end and at least one cutting knife in the area of its distal end. To provide a medical cutting instrument that guarantees ease of handling and simple structure along with secure cutting of the muscle/tendon tissue, the instrument body should be of grooved configuration in the area of its cutting knife in such a way that the instrument body includes a hollow space extending in the longitudinal direction of the instrument body to receive and guide the muscle/tendon tissue that is to be cut, such that the instrument body includes an opening extending in the longitudinal direction of the instrument body and the cutting knife constitutes a side of the instrument body.
US09017334B2
A resection guide locator includes a bone engagement portion with surfaces that are complementary to the surface topographies of a bone to be resected during surgery. A housing includes a socket defined by a resilient annular wall that is sized and arranged so to accept a resection guide by press-fit to thereby position and hold the resection guide within the socket. The resection guide is maintained in a predetermined, preferred position while the surfaces are releasably locked in position on the bone. A method is disclosed for forming and using the resection guide locator.
US09017327B2
A medical instrument having an elongate frame with proximal and distal ends, an operating assembly at a proximal region of the frame, and a working assembly at a distal region of the frame. The working assembly has a cantilevered tip with a free end and is reconfigurable by an operator through the operating assembly by selectively reorienting the tip relative to: a) the frame; and b) a reference plane extending through the frame orthogonally to the central axis at a location on the frame spaced axially from the working assembly toward the operating assembly. The tip in one position projects in a first axial direction toward the reference plane. The working assembly has at least one cautery component that: a) contacts a human body part at the cutting location; and b) is operable to generate a current that dissects a contacted portion of the human body part.
US09017326B2
In one general aspect, various embodiments are directed to a surgical instrument that can supply mechanical energy and electrical energy to an end effector of the surgical instrument. The surgical instrument comprises an ultrasonic generator module coupled to an ultrasonic drive system, which comprises an ultrasonic transducer coupled to a waveguide and an end effector coupled to the waveguide. The ultrasonic drive system is configured to resonate mechanically at a resonant frequency to generate a first ultrasonic drive signal. An electronic circuit is coupled to the ultrasonic generator module to monitor an electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system. A processor is coupled to the electronic circuit to control the ultrasonic drive signal in response to the monitored electrical characteristic of the ultrasonic drive system.
US09017325B2
System and methods for channeling a path into bone include a trocar having a proximal end, distal end and a central channel disposed along a central axis of the trocar. The trocar includes a distal opening at the distal end of the trocar. The system includes a curved cannula sized to be received in the central channel, the curved cannula comprising a curved distal end configured to be extended outward from the distal opening to generate a curved path extending away from the trocar. The curved cannula has a central passageway having a diameter configured to allow a treatment device to be delivered through the central passageway to a location beyond the curved path.
US09017324B2
Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat, ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue in an airway of a patient. The treatment systems are capable of delivering a coolable ablation assembly that ablates targeted tissue while cooling non-targeted tissue to protect the non-targeted tissue from damage. The coolable ablation assembly damages nerve tissue to temporarily or permanently decrease nervous system input.
US09017322B2
A device configured to cut hair using laser light includes a handle portion and a shaving portion. The handle portion includes a battery and a laser light source. The laser light source is coupled to and configured to receive power from the battery. The laser light source is also configured to generate laser light having a wavelength selected to target a predetermined chromophore to effectively cut a hair shaft. The shaving portion includes a support and a single fiber optic supported by the support. The fiber optic has a proximal end, a distal end, an outer wall, and a cutting region positioned towards the distal end and extending along a portion of the side wall. The fiber optic is positioned to receive the laser light from the laser light source at the proximal end, conduct the laser light from the proximal end toward the distal end, and emit the light out of the cutting region and toward hair when the cutting region is brought in contact with the hair.
US09017319B2
An energy-delivery device suitable for delivery of energy to tissue includes an antenna assembly, a chamber defined about the antenna assembly, and a cable having a proximal end suitable for connection to an electrosurgical energy source. The energy-delivery device also includes a flexible, fluid-cooled shaft coupled in fluid communication with the chamber. The flexible, fluid-cooled shaft is configured to contain a length of the cable therein and adapted to remove heat along the length of the cable during delivery of energy to the antenna assembly.
US09017310B2
Devices and methods for transmucosal drug delivery are provided. A device includes a housing configured for intralumenal deployment into a human or animal subject; a drug-dispensing portion which contains at least one drug; and a plurality of microneedles extending, or being extendable from, the housing, the plurality of microneedles being configured to disrupt at least one region of a mucosal barrier adjacent the housing at a selected time after being intralumenally deployed in the human or animal subject. The device is operable to dispense the drug from the housing to a region of the mucosal barrier disrupted by the plurality of microneedles.
US09017308B2
A hub assembly and methods of attaching the same to a catheter shaft. The hub assembly includes a strain relief coupled to a hub. The strain relief may be mechanically coupled to the hub. The hub assembly may be manufactured in a non-clean room environment, and subsequently connected to the catheter shaft in a clean room.
US09017305B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide various properties of slow recovery polymers, films, and laminates that in combination with an hydrogenated block copolymer provide for (1) an order-disorder transition temperature of greater than about 135° C., (2) a hard phase glass transition temperature of greater than about 60° C., (3) a combination of one or more hard block associating ingredients that maintain or increase the glass transition temperature of at least one equivalent hard block polymer of the hydrogenated block copolymer, (4) a force retention factor of greater than about 2, (5) aromatic substitution of either or both the soft block and the hard block, (6) hard blocks with a solubility parameter of greater than about 9.1 (cal/cm3)1/2, and (7) compositions that remain extendable to at least 50% engineering strain after exposure to isopropyl palmitate for 30 hours at room temperature.
US09017299B2
A medical hollow needle structured in accordance with the present invention, wherein the puncture resistance of a blade surface over the entire length in the puncture direction can be made substantially equal, and the patient's pain during needle puncture can be relieved due to a reduction in the peak level of puncture pain with the duration of sensory awareness of the puncture pain shortened by the use of the blade surface in a novel shape employing, in combination with each other, first to fourth inclined surfaces having specific inclination directions. Accordingly, the present invention provides a medical hollow needle with a blade surface in a novel shape whereby the puncture pain can be further reduced compared to needles with a conventional structure, and to provide a preferred method of producing such a medical hollow needle.
US09017287B2
An injection device comprises a syringe extendible against a spring bias from a retracted position in a housing to a projecting injecting position. A spring biased plunger has collapsible elbows which, when the plunger is released, initially engage the end of the syringe to drive it to the projecting position, whereupon arresting of the syringe movement causes the elbows to collapse inside the syringe to allow the plunger to engage and drive the bung.
US09017283B2
A catheter adapted for ablation, mapping, injection, and directional control by an external magnetic system has a catheter body, an intermediate section, and a tip section having a tip electrode configured with an omnidirectional distal end and a concentric needle port. The tip electrode houses a magnetic device and a position sensor arranged in an integrated configuration, wherein the configuration facilitates a path in the tip section for a component, including an injection needle, to extend through the tip section for extension and retraction with reduced stress and friction. The integrated configuration is an efficient use of space in the tip electrode that allows the tip section to carry both the position sensor for determining location and orientation of the tip section and the necessary volume of magnetic or magnetizable material to accomplish magnetic navigation. The catheter also includes a very soft and flexible intermediate section and an even softer and more flexible distal transitional section carrying additional magnetic members to facilitate remote magnetic navigation.
US09017282B2
A high-pressure fluid injection system, which includes a rechargeable injection chamber with a proximal end, a distal end, and an internal opening extending from the proximal end to the distal end, a plunger slideably engaged with the internal opening of the injection chamber, an injection tube extending from the distal end of the injection chamber and in fluidic communication with the internal opening of the injection chamber, and a check valve between the proximal and distal ends of the injection chamber. The internal opening includes a high-pressure zone adjacent to the check valve and having a first diameter, and a low-pressure zone proximal to the high-pressure zone and having a second diameter that is larger than the first diameter.
US09017276B2
The present invention generally relates to intraocular shunts, and in particular, to intraocular shunts configured to form a drainage pathway between the anterior chamber and the intra-Tenon's space.
US09017267B2
A interstitial fluid collection kit for collecting interstitial fluid extracted via micropores formed in a skin is disclosed. The kit includes a marker sheet that has an adhesive face and that defines a region in which micropores are to be formed; a transparent retention sheet having an adhesive face; and a collecting body that is retained by a part of the adhesive face of the retention sheet and that collects interstitial fluid extracted from the skin.
US09017258B2
Apparatus and methods for the diagnostics of biological conditions using impedance measurements.
US09017256B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for monitoring a sensor module mounted in a sensor platform, wherein the sensor platform includes an adhesive side and a pocket, wherein the pocket is designed to receive the sensor module, to facilitate sensing by the sensor module of physiological attributes, and to allow insertion and removal of the sensor device from the pocket.
US09017243B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for treating urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and other pelvic defects or dysfunctions, in both males and females, using one or more lateral implants to reinforce the supportive tissue of the urethra. The implants can be configured as a sling device having at least one extension arm and a tissue support portion having an eyelet, wherein a portion of the at least one extension arm is adapted to slide through and adjustably attach with the eyelet.
US09017235B2
A stretching and exercise device has a first strap member having a pair of end portions, a second strap member having a pair of end portions, and a pair of resistance members connected between respective end portions of the first and second strap members. A third strap member has a pair of end portions attached to respective first and second surface portions of the second strap member. A fourth strap member is attached to a third surface portion of the second strap member different from the first and second surface portions thereof.
US09017231B2
An exercise device comprises a plurality of parallel structures having adequate length or height to insert the active foot of an operator and further comprises foot support means interconnecting the plurality of parallel structures, means to secure weights, and means to add or subtract weights. The device may be constructed of rigid or flexible materials or a combination of rigid and flexible materials. The device may also comprise means to minimize swinging motion. An operator, having an active leg and foot, inserts an active foot within the space between parallel structures, engages the foot support means with an active foot to perform lower body muscle exercises, for example, the quadruped hip extension exercise for the benefit of the gluteus muscle group, leg extensions for the benefit of the vastus medialis muscle or leg contractions for the benefit of the posterior thigh muscle group.
US09017224B1
An exercise ladder having an adjustable inclination angle is provided. The ladder has rungs which are motor driven, driving the rungs downward at a desired speed as well as providing means for retarding and braking. The inclination tilt of the exercise ladder ranges from a negative to a positive tilt thereby providing a wide range of exercise possibilities.
US09017220B2
A method for operating a brake system for a work machine that includes at least one operating brake acting directly or indirectly on at least one ground engagement element of the work machine and at least one operating brake actuator which is movable between a fully engaged position and a fully released position and an accelerator actuator for activating propulsion of the work machine. In an activated state of the brake system the operating brake actuator is moved automatically to its fully engaged position when the accelerator actuator is released.
US09017209B1
Illustrative embodiments of power tools with reversible, self-shifting transmissions are disclosed. In at least one illustrative embodiment, a power tool may comprise a motor having a motor shaft, an output shaft configured to be coupled to a tool element to rotate a fastener, and a transmission coupled between the motor shaft and the output shaft to transmit rotation from the motor shaft to the output shaft in a low-speed, high-torque mode and in a high-speed, low-torque mode. The transmission may be configured to self-shift between the low-speed, high-torque mode and the high-speed, low-torque mode in response to a change in a torque required to rotate the output shaft in both a clockwise direction and a counterclockwise direction.
US09017191B2
A mechanical broadhead with a set of blades that mechanically activate via a fixed style blade that slides at impact. The blades may deploy inside a cavity of an animal or the blades may deploy outside a cavity of an animal. The blades are slideably secured in a body in accepting slots. The deployable blades may include a ratchet mechanism to lock the deployable blades in one or more positions. The mechanical broadhead maintains a low aerodynamic profile for proper flight via the deployable blades.
US09017188B2
A system and method for improving a player's efficiency in shooting by providing a player with various shooting challenge routines at which a player makes either a total number of shots or a total number shots in a row. Statistics regarding the player's performance are stored, printed and/or evaluated and the player can use the information to improve his or her efficiency at one or more of the plurality of different locations where the player shoots the basketball. In another embodiment, a measuring or detection system is used in combination with or separate from a ball launcher. The system is adapted to measure at least one of a distance of a player from the a launcher, height of a shot made by the player after catching a basketball, release angle, release time, or arc of a shot; entry angle of the basketball into a goal; hold or release time; or shot arc.
US09017184B1
A golf ball is provided that includes a pair of congruous, opposing, spherical hemispheres, each having a hemispheric diameter and a hemispheric planer surface; at least one spacer attached to each hemispheric planer surface; and at least one central disk positioned between each hemispheric planer surface and each spacer, said central disk having a circular planer surface with a diameter of approximately 95-99% of said hemispheric diameter, said central disk having opposing planer surfaces equidistantly positioned offset from each hemispheric planer surface by a distance relative to said hemispheric diameter of about 9.1 and 13.5 percent.
US09017169B2
A franchise game mechanic for use in an online social game that promotes interaction between users.
US09017167B2
An improved user input device is disclosed having ergonomically-configurable features to custom fit individual users. The arms of the gamepad may be extended from the body of the gamepad, and may be rotated. This may be at user determined angles, or may be set to a predetermined limit. The rotation may be on one or more axes depending on the specific implementation. Similarly, the thumb grooves may be extensible and/or rotatable. Further customization may be provided by modular user input systems.
US09017152B2
A method for stunning poultry in a slaughterhouse by means of supplying a stunning gas into a closed chamber wherein the poultry is advanced through a plurality of successive ambients between an inlet, wherein the stunning gas concentration is at a minimum, and an outlet, at which the stunning gas concentration is at a maximum. The stunning gas concentration increases progressively from each ambient to the successive ambient, initially with a minimum increase rate and thereafter with a higher increase rate up to the maximum concentration.
US09017150B2
A method of making a coated abrasive article includes the steps of: applying a make coat to a first major surface of a backing; applying shaped abrasive particles to the make coat to form a first abrasive layer consisting essentially of shaped abrasive particles; applying diluent particles to the make coat over the shaped abrasive particles to form a final abrasive layer; applying a size coat over the final abrasive layer; curing the make and size coats; and wherein the shaped abrasive particles comprise a vertex opposite a base and a width of the shaped abrasive particle tapers from the base to the vertex.
US09017147B2
A sampling device for removing a surface portion from a substrate. The device includes a frame structure and a cutter head assembly. The cutter head assembly includes a pivot body having a first end supported at a pivot point on the frame structure, and a cutter supported for rotation about a rotational axis at a second end of the pivot body. The cutter has a semi-ellipsoidal shape and a drive motor is operably connected to the cutter. The pivot point is located in spaced relation to the rotational axis. The cutter is operable to cut a surface portion of a substrate during pivotal movement about the pivot point.
US09017140B2
A CMP polishing pad comprising (a) a polishing layer having a polishing surface and a back surface opposite said polishing surface; said polishing layer having at least one cured opaque thermoset polyurethane region and at least one aperture region; said at least one cured opaque thermoset region has a porosity from about 10% to about 55% by volume; said at least one aperture region having (1) a top opening positioned below the polishing surface, (2) a bottom opening that is co-planar with said back surface and (3) straight line vertical sidewalls extending from said aperture top opening to said aperture bottom opening; said at least one aperture region filled with a cured plug of thermoset polyurethane local area transparency material that has a light transmission of less than 80% at a wavelength from 700 to 710 nanometers and is chemically bonded directly to a thermoset polyurethane opaque area; (b) an aperture-free removable release sheet covering at least a portion of said back surface of the polishing layer; and (c) an adhesive layer interposed between said polishing layer and said release sheet; said adhesive layer capable of adhering the polishing layer to a platen of a CMP apparatus after said release sheet has been removed.
US09017138B2
A load cup apparatus for transferring a substrate in a processing system includes a pedestal assembly having a substrate support, an actuator, and a controller. The actuator is configured to move the pedestal assembly into a loading position in contact with a retaining ring of a carrier head and to generate a retaining ring thickness signal based on a distance travelled by the pedestal assembly. The controller is configured to receive the retaining ring thickness signal from the actuator.
US09017129B2
A pressing device for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The pressing device includes a base plate, a pressing plate, a first cushion and a second cushion. The pressing plate is disposed opposite to the base plate and adapted to move toward or away from the base plate. The first cushion is disposed between the base plate and the pressing plate. The second cushion is disposed between the pressing plate and the first cushion, wherein one of the first cushion and the second cushion has a hollow zone corresponding to a display area of the liquid crystal display panel. A method for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is further provided.
US09017124B1
The presently disclosed subject matter relates to a flotation device suited to teach beginner swimming techniques or provide enjoyment in an aquatic environment while providing flotation to at least a portion of the swimmer's body. The flotation device for aiding a swimmer in a body of water may comprise a body formed from an extruded foam and comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side rail, a second side rail, a leading lateral surface, and a trailing lateral surface, and wherein the extruded foam is a flexible cellular foam. The presently disclosed subject matter also relates to methods of making the flotation device.
US09017120B2
An outboard motor includes an engine, a water intake opening arranged to suck in water, and a water supply path arranged to supply the water sucked in through the water intake opening to the engine. The engine includes a water path arranged to cause the water supplied from the water supply path to flow in a water jacket of a cylinder head, a water jacket of an exhaust pipe, and a water jacket of a cylinder block in this order.
