US09031070B2
Methods for controlling a Designated Forwarder (DF) election in a multicast network are described herein. The multicast network includes a plurality of multicast network devices, including a first network device and a second network device. A Designated Forwarder is determined. It is determined whether to initiate a Designated Forwarder election based on a comparison of a metric measuring a distance to a Rendezvous Point Address from a first network device and a metric measuring the distance to the Rendezvous Point Address from the second network device.
US09031064B2
In one embodiment, a converged protocol stack can be used to unify communications from a first communication protocol to a second communication protocol to provide for data transfer across a physical interconnect. This stack can be incorporated in an apparatus that includes a protocol stack for a first communication protocol including transaction and link layers, and a physical (PHY) unit coupled to the protocol stack to provide communication between the apparatus and a device coupled to the apparatus via a physical link. This PHY unit may include a physical unit circuit according to the second communication protocol. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US09031058B2
Apparatus includes a communication predelivery receiver, configured to communicate with and relay both IP addressed overhead and IP addressed payload data from an originating communication device. The communication predelivery receiver includes a screener configured to, when the communication predelivery receiver is in communication with the originating communication device, receive certain data including first IP addressed data and second IP addressed data of corresponding first and second initiated communications. The communication predelivery receiver is configured and connected within a network so the first IP addressed data and the second IP addressed data are processed differently. For the first initiated communication, the first payload data is converted, after the point in time at which the screener received the first IP addressed data, from IP addressed first payload data to another network signal. For the second initiated communication, the second payload data is delivered without so converting the second payload data.
US09031054B2
In one embodiment, in absence of transmitting from an apparatus a reservation request frame, the apparatus receives a reservation response frame on an assigned channel. The reservation response frame indicates a duration of a frame transmission. In response to receiving the reservation response frame, the apparatus transmits a frame on the assigned channel during the frame transmission. In another embodiment, in response to receiving a reservation request frame on a first channel at an apparatus, the apparatus transmits a reservation response frame on the first channel and on at least one second channel. The reservation request frame indicates a duration of a frame transmission. The reservation response frame indicates the duration of the frame transmission. After transmitting the reservation response frame, this apparatus receives during the frame transmission a first frame on the primary channel and a second frame on the at least one secondary channel.
US09031051B2
According to one embodiment, a method for a wireless local area includes: generating a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (MPDU) to be transmitted to a target station; generating a physical layer convergence procedure (PLCP) protocol data unit (PPDU) by attaching a PLCP preamble to the MPDU; selecting a transmission channel; and transmitting the PPDU to the target station over the transmission channel. Selecting the transmission channel includes: performing clear channel assessment (CCA) on a first channel to determine whether the first channel is idle; and only after it is determined that the first channel is idle, selecting the first channel and at least one idle second channel as the transmission channel. The PLCP preamble includes channel allocation information indicating a bandwidth of the transmission channel.
US09031045B2
A mobile station device set to communicate with a base station device over a plurality of subframes using a plurality of cells is provided. When ACK/NACK for reception of data transmitted from the base station device is to be transmitted to the base station device using a PUCCH and the PUCCH is set to select one resource from a plurality of PUCCH candidate resources to transmit with prescribed transmit power using the selected resource, the mobile station device determines a parameter value related to prescribed transmit power in accordance with the number of cells used for data communication in the plurality of subframes.
US09031033B2
Transmission capacity for a control channel sent to multiple mobile wireless devices in a wireless network is increased by transmitting the control channel using multi user multiple input multiple output transmissions (MU MIMO). Received signal quality measured at mobile wireless devices in a radio sector are communicated to a radio node and used to determine one or more sets of mobile wireless devices to share transmission of control channel elements on the same time and frequency resource element. The radio node indicates the use of MU MIMO and the selection of precoding matrices to each of the mobile wireless devices in the each set of mobile wireless devices.
US09031019B2
A system access method of a narrowband terminal is provided for supporting both wideband and narrowband terminals in a cellular radio communication system. The method includes broadcasting a Shared CHannel (SCH) for a terminal to acquire system synchronization; transmitting a Low-end Master Information Block (L-MIB) including control information on an L-subframe configuration for supporting a second type terminal and a sub-band configuration of the L-subframe; transmitting a Low-end System Information Block (L-SIB) including information on downlink reception and uplink transmission of the second type terminal; and performing a random access procedure, when an attach request is received from one of the first type terminals and the second type terminals.
US09031015B2
A method and apparatus for allocating downlink resources and implementing downlink data reception in a broadband evolution system are disclosed in the present invention, so as to implement the allocation of resources in case of carrier resource expansion and implement the reception of downlink data in case of carrier resource expansion. A method for receiving downlink data includes that: emission bandwidth resources are divided into multiple frequency-domain Resource Blocks (RBs), and every frequency-domain Resource Block (RB) corresponds to an RB serial number, wherein the frequency-domain RBs corresponding to Release-8 (Rel-8) compatible frequency-domain resources are numbered in a numbering mode of a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, and the frequency-domain RBs corresponding to incompatible frequency-domain resources are orderly numbered based on the largest serial number corresponding to the Rel-8 compatible frequency-domain resources; when receiving a downlink control signaling including RB serial numbers transferred from a network side, a broadband evolution terminal obtains frequency-domain RBs corresponding to the RB serial numbers, and can receive downlink data from the obtained frequency-domain RBs.
US09031010B2
Transmission management is provided with separate resource partitioning management for control and data transmissions. An evolved node B (eNB) generates separate resource partition schedules for the transmission stream, in which a first schedule is used for data transmissions while a second schedule is used for control signal transmissions. The two separate schemes may have different periodicities or different subframe type assignments that benefit either data or control transmissions or that allow for coordination of both data and control. The eNBs may broadcast the different schedules in regular system information messages, in which the UEs served by these eNBs will configure data and control signal transmissions according to the appropriate resource partition schedules.
US09030986B2
Methods of combining semi-persistent resource allocation and dynamic resource allocation are provided. Packets, such as VoIP packets, are transmitted on the uplink and downlink using respective semi-persistent resources. For each mobile device, awake periods and sleep periods are defined. The semi-persistent resources are aligned with the awake periods so that most of the time the mobile device can turn off its wireless access radio during the sleep periods. In addition, signalling to request, and to allocate, resources for additional packets are transmitted during the awake periods, and the resources allocated for the additional packets are within the awake periods. Methods of extending the awake periods in various embodiments are also provided. Methods of determining the first on period are also provided.
US09030973B2
Hybrid Automatic Retransmit ReQuest-Acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) index mapping and uplink resource allocation is performed and controlled for channel selection transmission. A method for transmitting HARQ-ACK information to an eNode-B (eNB) by a User Equipment (UE) includes identifying KPCell as a number of downlink subframe(s) of a Pcell associated with an uplink subframe and identifying KSCell as a number of downlink subframe(s) of an Scell associated with the uplink subframe; generating Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) response information for a cell having a smaller number of downlink subframes between the Pcell and the Scell; generating HARQ-ACK information including the generated DTX response information and response information on data received by the UE from the eNB; and transmitting the generated HARQ-ACK information to the eNB through the uplink subframe.
US09030968B2
The invention relates to a system and method for controlling an aspect of a communication session. The method processes the session through a subscriber terminal that also controls a separate a video signal. The method comprises: analyzing call data for the session to determine whether a calling party can initiate the session with a called party; if the calling party is allowed to initiate the session, sending information about the session to the terminal; generating a GUI session from the information for a video monitor connected to the terminal; allowing further processing of the session through the terminal through the GUI session; if a command is received to further process the session, providing a message to the network to process the command; and if a command is received to change an aspect of the video signal, providing an appropriate message to the terminal to process the command.
US09030967B2
The present disclosure describes rapid convergence of an Access Network (AN). A VLAN forwarder is allocated to a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) and traffic for the first VLAN is forwarded to and from the AN via the VLAN forwarder. When detecting that the VLAN forwarder satisfies a VLAN reallocation condition, the VLAN forwarder blocks traffic of the first VLAN to and from the AN via the VLAN forwarder, and calculates a characteristic value of the VLAN forwarder. A packet carrying the characteristic value of the VLAN forwarder is transmitted to each neighbor VLAN forwarder such that VLAN reallocation is performed by a VLAN allocator if the characteristic value of the VLAN forwarder is the same as that of each neighbor VLAN forwarder. After receiving information that the VLAN forwarder is reallocated to a second VLAN, the VLAN forwarder allows the traffic of the second VLAN to and from the AN via the VLAN forwarder.
US09030961B2
A method comprising establishing a wireless link with at least one endpoint. The wireless link comprises at least one connection. The method also includes determining an application profile associated with a first connection of the wireless link. The method further includes dynamically selecting at least one parameter for the wireless link based on the detected application profile.
US09030953B2
Systems, methods and apparatus for securely transmitting a data stream by dividing a data stream into a plurality of sub-streams; associating each substream with a respective spectral fragment; encrypting at least some of the sub-streams; and modulating each sub-stream to provide a respective modulated signal adapted for transmission via a respective spectral fragment.
US09030949B2
A Mobile Station (MS) apparatus and a Base Station (BS) apparatus, and methods for their operation in a wireless communication system, are provided. The method for operating the MS includes receiving Precoding Matrix Index (PMI) subset information from a BS, determining downlink channel quality of the BS, determining a PMI for the BS based on the PMI subset information and the determined downlink channel quality of the BS, and transmitting the determined PMI to the BS.
US09030947B2
A method implemented in a network component for an in-service software upgrade (ISSU), the method comprising selecting a forwarding core (FC) for upgrade from a plurality of FCs that run at a data plane on a printed circuit board of the network component to process and forward a plurality of packets, and resetting the selected FC with a software upgrade, wherein at least one of the other FCs continues processing and forwarding packets when the selected FC is upgraded.
US09030943B2
Methods of detecting and recovering from communication failures within an operating network switching device that is switching packets in a communication network, and associated structures. The communication failures addressed involve communications between the packet processors and a host CPU over a shared communications bus, e.g., PCI bus. The affected packet processor(s)—which may be all or a subset of the packet processors of the network switch—may be recovered without affecting hardware packet forwarding through the affected packet processors. This maximizes the up time of the network switching device. Other packet processor(s), if any, of the network switching device, which are not affected by the communication failure, may continue their normal packet forwarding, i.e., hardware forwarding that does not involve communications with the host CPU as well as forwarding or other operations that do involve communications with the host CPU.
US09030942B2
A method and apparatus is provided for transmitting and receiving data using a Contention-Based (CB) access to prevent successive collisions due to an HARQ operation and improve the probability of successful reception in a mobile communication system. In a method for transmitting data using a CB access, it is determined whether it is possible to transmit data provided from an upper layer to a Node B using a CB access method. If it is possible to transmit the data using the CB access method, a CB grant is acquired from the Node B. Upon acquiring the CB grant, a transmit power is determined by selecting a smaller value among a value obtained by adding a predetermined first margin value to an uplink power Required_uplink_power required to transmit the data, and a maximum transmit power of a UE.
US09030939B2
In one embodiment, an intermediate node in a computer network may receive one or more reactive routing route requests (RREQs) from an originating node and, based on those RREQs, may build a first directed acyclic graph (DAG) in the computer network that may be rooted at the originating node. The intermediate node may then forward the RREQs towards a target node in the computer network. The intermediate node may then receive one or more reactive routing route responses (RREPs) from the target node. Based on those RREPs, the intermediate node may then build a second DAG in the computer network that may be rooted at the target node. The intermediate node may then forward the RREPs towards the originating node. In this manner, the intermediate node may then forward traffic from the originating node toward the target node according to the second DAG (with alternate routes to the target node).
US09030930B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a system for switching a communication path. The method for switching a communication path includes: receiving, by an access network device, a data packet for implementing a communication service between a terminal and a first media source; learning, by the access network device, according to the data packet, that a local exchange path between the terminal and the first media source is unavailable; and transferring, by the access network device, the data packet via a detour path, where the data packet is also used by a channel control device on the detour path to control the terminal to disconnect from the detour path and establish a local exchange path between the terminal and a second media source, and where the second media source is in coverage of an access network device currently providing a service for the terminal.
US09030919B2
The invention provides a broadband ocean bottom seismograph with a single glass sphere. The seismograph comprises an anchor at its bottom having a frame structure with a rigid ring for accommodating a seismometer chamber. The seismometer chamber comprises a bell-shaped protective hood opening downward where a seismometer sealed chamber is suspended to the inner surface of the protective hood by cables. The bottom of the seismometer sealed chamber protrudes through the opening of the protective hood to be seated in direct contact with the seabed. A functional chamber comprises a plastic instrument chamber and a glass global instrument chamber secured in the plastic chamber. The plastic instrument chamber is fixedly mounted on top of the protective hood. A release mechanism is mounted on the top of the functional chamber, and connected to frame of the anchor via fusible tensioning steel wires.
US09030918B2
A method for mobile underwater acoustic communications includes double differentially (DD) encoding a communication signal to produce a DD-encoded communication signal, applying direct sequence spread spectrum (SS) to the DD-encoded signal to produce a DD-SS communication output signal, and transmitting the DD-SS communication output signal. The method i) increases the SNR via processing gain, ii) eliminates the ISI through multipath suppression, and iii) enables bandwidth efficiency improvement via data multiplexing. The method is shown capable of facilitating simple receiver processing and offering performance robustness against unpredictable channel fluctuations.
US09030913B2
The disclosure describes a method and apparatus for effectively communicating data along an acoustic transmission path. The method comprises driving an acoustic transmitter to send a data signal along the acoustic transmission path, where the signal is distorted by ambient noise. The distorted signal is input to a spaced apart plurality of sensors so that consequent time-delayed signals provide reinforcement of the basic signal and attenuation of the ambient noise component when combined.
US09030907B2
A semiconductor device includes a first internal clock generation unit suitable for generating a first internal clock for synchronizing a first signal in response to a first external clock; a second internal clock generation unit suitable for generating a second internal clock for synchronizing a second signal in response to a second external clock; and a delay amount information provision unit suitable for providing delay amount information corresponding to a phase difference between the first internal clock and the second internal clock to an external device.
US09030905B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a refresh control circuit, an address counter and an address converter. The memory cell array includes a plurality of memory cells. The refresh control circuit is configured to receive a refresh command and output m refresh control signals during one refresh cycle for refreshing all the memory cells of the semiconductor memory device. The address counter is configured to generate counting signals for refreshing memory cells in response to the m refresh control signals. The address converter is configured to receive the counting signals and output refresh addresses by converting the counting signals in response to a cycle select signal. The address converter is configured to output refresh addresses such that the number of m refresh control signals during one refresh cycle is variable.
US09030903B2
A memory controller to implement targeted refreshes of potential victim rows of a row hammer event. In an embodiment, the memory controller receives an indication that a specific row of a memory device is experiencing repeated accesses which threaten the integrity of data in one or more victim rows physically adjacent to the specific row. The memory controller accesses default offset information in the absence of address map information which specifies an offset between physically adjacent rows of the memory device. In another embodiment, the memory controller determines addresses for potential victim rows based on the default offset information. In response to the received indication of the row hammer event, the memory controller sends for each of the determined plurality of addresses a respective command to the memory device, where the commands are for the memory device to perform targeted refreshes of potential victim rows.
US09030902B2
Methods for programming memory cells. One such method for programming memory cells includes generating an encoded stream using a data stream and programming the memory cells using the encoded stream to represent the data stream. A particular bit position of the encoded stream has a first voltage level when the particular bit position of the data stream has a particular logical state, and the particular bit position of the encoded stream has either a second voltage level or a third voltage level when the particular bit position of the data stream has a logical state other than the particular logical state.
US09030897B2
A memory may comprise a first bank configured to include first to Nth word lines and first to Mth redundancy word lines to replace M number of word lines among the first to Nth word lines, a second bank configured to include first to Nth word lines and first to Mth redundancy word lines to replace M number of word lines among the first to Nth word lines, and a control circuit configured to activate, in the case where a word line corresponding to an inputted address among the first to Nth word lines in a bank selected between the first bank and the second bank is replaced with a Kth (1≦K≦M) redundancy word line among the first to Mth redundancy word lines during an operation in a first mode, at least one adjacent word line adjacent to the Kth redundancy word line of the selected bank.
US09030895B2
A random access memory includes a data signal line, a data-synchronization signal line for a data synchronization signal which provides a synchronization signal when data is transmitted to the data signal line, and a setting module. The setting module determines whether the data signal line is set to be a data signal line for common input/output use, a data signal line for output-only use, or a data signal line for input-only use, and further determines whether the data-synchronization signal line is set to be a data-synchronization signal line for common input/output use, a data-synchronization signal line for output-only use, or a data-synchronization signal line for input-only use.
US09030894B2
A memory system includes multiple (N) memory banks and multiple (M) ports, wherein N is greater than or equal to M. Each of the memory banks is coupled to each of the ports. Access requests are transmitted simultaneously on each of the ports. However, each of the simultaneous access requests specifies a different memory bank. Each memory bank monitors the access requests on the ports, and determines whether any of the access requests specify the memory bank. Upon determining that an access request specifies the memory bank, the memory bank performs an access to an array of single-port memory cells. Simultaneous accesses are performed in multiple memory banks, providing a bandwidth equal to the bandwidth of one memory bank times the number of ports. An additional level of hierarchy may be provided, which allows further multiplication of the number of simultaneously accessed ports, with minimal area overhead.
US09030886B2
A memory device includes a memory array, an array gap, a voltage provider, and a voltage divider. The voltage provider is disposed in the array gap and coupled to a column of memory cells of the memory array for providing a first voltage to the column of memory cells when a memory cell of the column is selected at a write cycle. The voltage provider is coupled to the voltage provider and the column of memory cells for providing a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the column of memory cells when the memory of the column is half selected at the write cycle.
US09030883B2
Methods and systems are disclosed for adaptive erase recovery of non-volatile memory (NVM) cells within NVM systems. The adaptive erase recovery embodiments adaptively adjust the erase recovery discharge rate and/or discharge time based upon the size of NVM block(s) being erased and operating temperature. In one example embodiment, the erase recovery discharge rate is adjusted by adjusting the number of discharge transistors enabled within the discharge circuitry, thereby adjusting the discharge current for erase recovery. A lookup table is used to store erase recovery discharge rates and/or discharge times associated with NVM block sizes to be recovered and/or operating temperature. By adaptively controlling erase recovery discharge rates and/or times, the disclosed embodiments improve overall erase performance for a wide range of NVM block sizes while avoiding possible damage to high voltage circuitry within the NVM system.
US09030881B2
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device comprises memory cells each which stores data with two or more levels. Each of the memory cells includes a semiconductor layer, a first insulating layer on the semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the second insulating layer, and the second insulating layer includes a ferroelectric layer.
US09030878B2
A semiconductor memory device includes first cell strings connected to first bit lines and second cell strings connected to second bit lines corresponding to the first bit lines, respectively. Data is stored in memory cells of the first cell strings, and the second cell strings are configured as a data non-storage region. At least one memory cell of each of the second cell strings is in a programmed state.
US09030872B2
Method of maintaining the state of semiconductor memory having electrically floating body transistor
Methods of maintaining a state of a memory cell without interrupting access to the memory cell are provided, including applying a back bias to the cell to offset charge leakage out of a floating body of the cell, wherein a charge level of the floating body indicates a state of the memory cell; and accessing the cell.
US09030870B2
Threshold voltages in a charge storage memory are controlled by threshold voltage placement, such as to provide more reliable operation and to reduce the influence of factors such as neighboring charge storage elements and parasitic coupling. Pre-compensation or post-compensation of threshold voltage for neighboring programmed “aggressor” memory cells reduces the threshold voltage uncertainty in a flash memory system. Using a buffer having a data structure such as a lookup table provides for programmable threshold voltage distributions that enables the distribution of data states in a multi-level cell flash memory to be tailored, such as to provide more reliable operation.
US09030868B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes bit and source lines alternately arranged parallel to each other and even strings and odd strings alternately arranged between the bit lines and the source lines and each including drain selection transistors, memory transistors, and a source selection transistor. The drain selection transistors include a first drain selection transistor with the same structure as the memory transistors and a second drain selection transistor with the same structure as the source selection transistor. The nonvolatile memory device further includes an even drain selection line connected to the first drain selection transistors of the even strings and the second drain selection transistors of the odd strings and an odd drain selection line connected to the second drain selection transistors of the even strings and the first drain selection transistors of the odd strings.
US09030865B2
In various embodiments, a circuit arrangement may be provided including a data cell. The circuit arrangement may further include a first transistor and a second transistor. The first controlled electrode of the first transistor and the first controlled electrode of the second transistor may be coupled to the first electrode of the data cell. The second controlled electrode of the first transistor may be configured to electrically connect to a first reference voltage such that the first electrode of the data cell is electrically connected to the first reference voltage when the first transistor is activated. The second controlled electrode of the second transistor may be configured to electrically connect to a second reference voltage, such that the first electrode of the data cell is electrically connected to the second reference voltage when the second transistor is activated.
US09030864B2
Magnetic tunnel junctions having a specular insulative spacer are disclosed. The magnetic tunnel junction includes a free magnetic layer, a reference magnetic layer, an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the reference magnetic layer, and an electrically insulating and electronically reflective layer positioned to reflect at least a portion of electrons back into the free magnetic layer.
US09030857B2
The multi-level DC/AC converter, comprising: an input (5,7) connectable to a direct voltage source (3), with a first connection (5) and a second connection (7) between which can be applied an input voltage (Vi); a half-bridge with a first controlled switch (21) and a second controlled switch (25) between which is positioned an output (U) of the converter; a first connecting branch (15) between the first controlled switch (21) and the first connection (5) and a second connecting branch (17) between the second controlled switch (25) and the second connection (7); a third controlled switch (59) associated to the first controlled switch (21), connectable in series to the first controlled switch to generate an output voltage exceeding a first limit value (Vi/2); a fourth controlled switch (61) associated to the second controlled switch (25), connectable in series to said second controlled switch to generate an output voltage below a second limit value (−Vi/2).
US09030852B2
A power conversion device according to the aspects of the present technique is presented. The device includes a first converter and a second converter operatively coupled to the first converter. Moreover, the device includes a phase leg operatively coupled between the first converter, the second converter, where the phase leg includes a first unidirectional switch, a second unidirectional switch operatively coupled to the first unidirectional switch, and a first bidirectional switch, where a first end of the first bidirectional switch is operatively coupled to at least one of the first unidirectional switch and the second unidirectional switch.
US09030850B2
A switching power supply of certain aspects of the invention includes a minimum dead time generating circuit that generates a minimum dead time from an OFF timing of an ON pulse detected from the voltage across an auxiliary winding of the transformer by a differentiating circuit. An ON width-determining means of a voltage control oscillator is started, after this minimum dead time, into operation to determine the ON width of the semiconductor switch.
US09030849B2
In a switching power supply device which intermittently executes a switching operation, a power loss which occurs in resumption of the switching operation is reduced. A semiconductor device works as a control circuit for the switching power supply device, and includes: an intermittent oscillation control circuit which alternately gives an instruction for execution and suspension of the switching operation of a switching element; a bottom detecting circuit which detects a bottom of a ringing voltage that develops when the switching element is OFF; a bottom-monitoring time period timing circuit which times a bottom-monitoring time period starting as soon as the instruction for the execution of the switching operation is given; and a turn-on control circuit which turns ON, before the timing of the bottom-monitoring time period ends, the switching element only when the bottom of the ringing voltage is detected.
US09030847B2
An inverter and driving method of the inverter are disclosed. The inverter includes an active clamp forward (ACF) converter and a flyback converter. One of a forwarding operation of delivering current from a primary side to a secondary side by using the ACF converter and a backwarding operation of delivering current from the secondary side to the primary side by using the flyback converter is selected to generate a rectified AC.
US09030843B1
A minimalized power converter has a square-wave voltage source operating at 100 percent duty-ratio, a series inductance and a rectifier. A high frequency square-wave power distribution system comprises a plurality of minimalized power converters connected by a common ac power distribution link. Because the ac power distribution link carries current at a high frequency, the square-wave may be degraded by the stray inductance with distance. Re-squaring circuits along the length of the ac power distribution link operating synchronously restore and preserve the integrity of the square-wave. The minimalized power converter is very flexible and has very fast dynamic response, being able to make very fast controlled current transitions from any current to any other current, including zero or current reversal (same voltage, opposite current flow).
US09030842B2
An electronic apparatus partially overmolded with a overmold sealing material that seals the circuit board, protects the electrical components on the circuit board and provides seals between the circuit board and mating devices is disclosed. The electronic apparatus may be an engine controller. The electrical components may be an electrical edge connector, a sensor, and a heat sink. The sensor may be a pressure sensor. The controller may be connected to a throttle body such that the overmold sealing material provides a first seal between the controller and the throttle body allowing the pressure sensor to be in fluid communication with the interior of the throttle body. A wire harness may be connected to the controller such that the overmold sealing material provides a second seal between the wire harness and the controller protecting the electrical connection. The overmold sealing material may also be translucent.
US09030836B2
An apparatus capable of selectively applying different types of connectors to a substrate is disclosed. The memory apparatus includes a substrate having a controller. First and second connector pads may be arranged on edges of top and bottom surfaces of the substrate. A via hole may be arranged between the controller and the first and second connector pads. A first passive device pad may be arranged between the via hole and the first connector pads. A second passive device pad may be arranged between the via hole and the second connector pads. A passive device may be coupled to only one of the first passive device pad or the second passive device pad.
US09030826B2
Chip-on-film packages are provided. A chip-on-film package includes a film substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, a semiconductor chip on the first surface, and a thermal deformation member adjacent to the second surface. The thermal deformation member has a construction that causes its shape to transform according to a temperature. Related devices and device assembles are also provided.
US09030825B2
The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for fastening a power semiconductor using an integral springy (elastic) clip, capable of fixing a power semiconductor, such as a diode and a MOSFET, using elasticity of a U-shaped clip by integrally molding the clip onto a housing of a plastic module. The apparatus includes an elastic (springy) clip integrally molded onto a lower surface of the housing and downwardly curved into a U-like shape in a bridge module in which a bridge of the power semiconductor protrudes through a through hole of the housing to be connected to a printed circuit board, whereby the power semiconductor is fixed by a force that the housing presses the power semiconductor.
US09030824B2
At least one cooling channel is positioned adjacent to an electronic component. The cooling channel communicates with plenums at each of two opposed axial ends. A dielectric fluid is received in the cooling channel. The cooling channel is provided with at least one electrode. A potential is applied to the at least one electrode such that an electric field magnitude at the downstream end of the channel is less than an upstream electric field magnitude, and such that a dielectrophoretic force on a bubble in the cooling channel will force it downstream.
US09030823B2
Disclosed herein is a heat dissipation system for a power module, including: first cooling medium flow parts and second cooling medium flow parts allowing cooling media to flow in first and second directions, respectively.
US09030819B2
A mounting apparatus includes a mounting piece and a drive bracket. A first restricting piece is formed on a top side of the mounting piece. A first sliding member is formed on the first restricting piece. The drive bracket includes a side piece which defines a sliding groove. The sliding groove includes a guiding portion and a restricting portion. The drive bracket includes a handle pivotally mounted thereon. The handle includes a locking portion. The locking portion defines a cutout. The handle is rotated between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the cutout is aligned to the guiding portion to receive the first sliding member in the cutout and the guiding portion. In the second position, the sliding member is restricted in the restricting portion by the locking portion to mount the drive bracket on the top side of the mounting piece.
US09030809B2
A housing for a switchgear assembly module of a switchgear assembly forms a common gas space suitable for accommodating an insulating gas and three gas-insulated busbar nominal conductors of the switchgear assembly module. The housing includes three first busbar openings, which are arranged areally in a first opening plane and along a first straight line, three second busbar openings, which are arranged on a side, which is opposite the three first busbar openings, of the housing, and three outgoing conductor openings which are arranged areally in a second opening plane and along a second straight line.
US09030807B2
A process for preparing a solid electrolytic capacitor comprising application of coverage enhancing catalyst followed by application of a conducting polymer layer wherein the conductive polymeric cathode comprises the coverage enhancement catalyst wherein the conductive polymeric layer has improved coverage of the corners and edges. Coverage enhancing catalyst is removed after coating and curing.
US09030806B2
A improved process for preparing a conductive polymer dispersion is provided as is an improved method for making capacitors using the conductive polymer. The process includes providing a monomer solution and shearing the monomer solution with a rotor-stator mixing system comprising a perforated stator screen having perforations thereby forming droplets of said monomer. The droplets of monomer are then polymerized during shearing to form the conductive polymer dispersion.
US09030799B2
Processes comprising: melting a mixture comprising a valve metal precursor and a diluting agent in at least one first vessel under a first set of temperature and residence time conditions; transferring the mixture to at least one second vessel; and initiating, in the at least one second vessel, a reaction of the valve metal precursor to form a valve metal under a second set of temperature and residence time conditions; valve metal powder prepared thereby and uses therefor.
US09030796B2
A system for supplying direct current and DC voltage is provided. The system comprise a first supply branch having a first DC voltage source and a power field-effect transistor of a current limiter which are connected in series, and a second supply branch having a second DC voltage source. The power transistor has a current/voltage characteristic with a first inverse polarization area without current limitation, and a second conduction area with current limitation based on a current threshold. The power field-effect transistor is connected to the first voltage source with an inverse polarization when the voltage source of the first branch is operating normally.
US09030788B2
When an earth faulting has occurred in a driving device for driving a motor, a high voltage noise enters a high voltage detector through a connection node of the Y capacitor constituted by a pair of capacitors in DC/DC converter. A controller of the DC/DC converter limits the duty of switching elements constituting a full-bridge circuit on a primary side, in the case where a defect due to an earth faulting of the driving device is detected by a detection value of high voltage detector.
US09030784B2
A magnetic head including a magnetoresistive junction and an oxide layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes a pinned layer, a free layer, and a barrier layer residing between the pinned and free layer. The magnetoresistive junction includes at least one side having a smooth profile. The oxide layer is on the at least one side. The oxide layer is less than one nanometer thick at the free layer.
US09030777B2
A spin torque oscillator generates a strong high-frequency magnetic field stably and has high reliability. A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole and a spin torque oscillator. A magnetization control layer is antiferromagnetically coupled via a non-magnetic coupling layer with an interface contacting a high-frequency magnetic field generation layer of the spin torque oscillator.
US09030776B1
A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and first and second nonmagnetic layers. The main pole has a top surface including an inclined surface portion. The inclined surface portion includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to a medium facing surface. The write shield includes an inclined portion facing toward the top surface of the main pole. The first nonmagnetic layer is interposed between the inclined portion and the second portion of the inclined surface portion. The second nonmagnetic layer is interposed between the inclined portion and a combination of the first portion of the inclined surface portion and the first nonmagnetic layer.
US09030759B2
Disclosed herein is an imaging lens, including: a first lens having positive (+) power and being biconvex; a second lens having negative (−) power and being concave toward an image side; a third lens having positive (+) power and being biconvex; a fourth lens having positive (+) power and being convex toward the image side; and a fifth lens having negative (−) power and being concave toward the image side, wherein the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, the fourth lens, and the fifth lens are sequentially disposed from an object side.
US09030752B2
The zoom lens includes at least five lens groups including first, second, third, fourth and fifth lens groups respectively having positive, negative, negative, positive and positive refractive powers. At least four movable lens groups are moved during zooming. At least two movable lens groups placed further on an image side than an aperture. C1 and C2 lens groups are moved so as to draw mutually different loci and such that a distance therebetween becomes maximum at a middle zoom position. The C1 and C2 lens groups are located further on a same side at the telephoto end than at a wide-angle end. At least one of D1 and D2 lens groups is moved during the zooming so as to be located further on an object side at a telephoto end than at the wide-angle end. A distance therebetween at the telephoto end becomes larger than that at wide-angle end.
US09030749B2
A bifocal head-up display system includes a projector, at least one projection surface in an intermediate image plane, and relay optics to direct a display image to a reflector in a vehicle operator's field of view. The display image includes two image portions focused at different distances from the vehicle operator. A first image portion focused at a first distance may include information related to vehicle operation, and a second image portion focused at a second distance may include to information related to extra-vehicular objects.
US09030748B2
A brightness enhancement film includes a substrate; and a microlens structure formed on the substrate, wherein the microlens structure comprises a plurality of microlenses, each of the microlenses comprising a bottom surface contacting with the substrate, the bottom surface of each of the plurality of microlenses being of a polygonal shape such that at the substrate each of the plurality of microlenses is in close contact with adjacent microlenses surrounding it, without gaps leaving between them. The present invention also discloses a backlight module and a display apparatus comprising the above brightness enhancement film. The brightness enhancement film can improve optical gain property, reduce the thickness of the display apparatus and expand the view angle.
US09030742B2
Optical components and systems comprising combined optical filters and diffraction gratings are generally described. In certain embodiments, an optical filter is in contact with a diffraction grating. In certain embodiments, the optical filter and the diffraction grating can be used to diffract and direct a first portion of electromagnetic radiation incident upon the grating and filter toward a receiver while filtering a second portion of the electromagnetic radiation incident upon the grating and filter.
US09030730B2
A method for amplifying optical signals includes determining a source optical signal, generating a first resultant signal including a pump signal and the source optical signal, sending the first resultant signal through a non-linear element to generate a second resultant signal including the first resultant signal and an idler signal, and sending the second resultant signal through a non-linear element to perform phase-sensitive amplification. The phase-sensitive amplification results in a third resultant signal including an amplified source optical signal, the pump signal, and the idler signal. The method also includes filtering the third resultant signal to remove the pump signal and the idler signal and outputting the amplified source optical signal.
US09030727B2
A manufacturing method of an electrowetting display apparatus, in which a pixel electrode is formed on a substrate including pixel areas, a first mixture including a hydrophobic material and a solvent is disposed on the substrate to form a hydrophobic insulating layer, and a first heat process is performed to remove a portion of the solvent. Then, a second mixture including a material for a barrier and the solvent is disposed on the hydrophobic insulating layer, and the second mixture is patterned to form a barrier wall surrounding the pixel electrode in each pixel area. A second heat process is performed to remove the solvent in the hydrophobic insulating layer and the barrier wall, and a polar fluid and a non-polar fluid are disposed on the pixel electrode to form an electrowetting layer.
US09030725B2
Controllers and control methods apply a drive voltage to bus bars of a thin film optically switchable device. The applied drive voltage is provided at a level that drives a transition over the entire surface of the optically switchable device but does not damage or degrade the device. This applied voltage produces an effective voltage at all locations on the face of the device that is within a bracketed range. The upper bound of this range is associated with a voltage safely below the level at which the device may experience damage or degradation impacting its performance in the short term or the long term. At the lower boundary of this range is an effective voltage at which the transition between optical states of the device occurs relatively rapidly. The level of voltage applied between the bus bars is significantly greater than the maximum value of the effective voltage within the bracketed range.
US09030721B2
A mirror driving device can include: a mirror part having a reflection surface configured to reflect light; mirror support parts formed at portions of the mirror part diagonal to each other; and a first actuator and a second actuator placed so as to surround the mirror part, wherein the first actuator and the second actuator each have a structure in which a plurality of first piezoelectric cantilevers with a longitudinal direction oriented to a direction of a first axis and a plurality of second piezoelectric cantilevers with a longitudinal direction oriented to a second axis are coupled together so as to be folded, and each of the first actuator and the second actuator has one end connected to the mirror part via a relevant one of the mirror support parts and another end connected to a fixing part near the mirror support part to which the one end is coupled.
US09030718B1
A book scanner includes a loading mechanism, a pickup mechanism, a page-turning mechanism, a page-pressing mechanism and an image capturing mechanism. The pickup mechanism is disposed at one end of the loading mechanism. The page-turning mechanism is disposed at the end of the loading mechanism. The page-turning mechanism includes a swing arm and a supporting arm. One end of the swing arm swings reciprocally and the other end of the swing arm is connected with the supporting arm. The supporting arm is capable of rotating into a gap between a ruckled uppermost page and the other pages of the book. The swing arm rotatably turns the ruckled uppermost page. The page-pressing mechanism is partially disposed above and facing the loading mechanism. The image capturing mechanism is disposed above and facing the loading mechanism.
US09030716B2
An image forming apparatus to set a wallpaper includes providing a user interface (UI) for wallpaper editing of each program, and changing and displaying a wallpaper of a respective program according to items selected from the UI. Accordingly, a user-desired wallpaper is applied to each widget program used according to a user's purpose.
US09030712B2
Nozzles in a print head are arrayed in a density of 600 dpi. Moreover, a dither matrix has a size of 16 pixels×16 pixels in 600 dpi. The dither matrix is repeatedly used. In the meantime, each of rectangles represents an HS processing unit. WHS=3 pixels. As a consequence, the relationship of a least common multiple below is established in a nozzle array direction: 3×WD=16×WHS. In this case, the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged to the least common multiple between WD and WHS, that is, 48 pixels (3WD). In this manner, the size of the dither matrix is not an integral multiple of the HS processing unit width, so that the cycle of interference unevenness can be prolonged more than the size of the dither matrix. Thus, the interference unevenness can be hardly recognized.
US09030711B2
Controller, image forming apparatus, and computer program product for restricting total toner amount
According to an embodiment, provided is a controller that controls an image forming unit forming an image on a recording medium based on image data in which densities of a plurality of colors are specified for each pixel. The controller includes: a setting unit that sets a common representative value to a density of a specific color indicating one of the colors in each of a plurality of pixels included in a specific area indicating a specific area represented in the image data; and a determining unit that determines a density of each of the colors so that a sum of densities of the respective colors other than the specific color in the pixels included in the specific area becomes equal to or lower than a value acquired by subtracting the representative value from a reference value indicating a total amount restriction target of a total amount of toners.
US09030709B2
An information processing apparatus includes a drawing receiving unit to receive a page start command and a drawing command from an OS, a transparency processing unit to generate a bitmap upon receiving the page start command, to alpha blend a first image with a second image existing on the bitmap to generate a blended image upon receiving the drawing command that includes the first image with an alpha channel, and to duplicate the alpha blended image, and a drawing processing unit to convert the drawing command that includes the first image with the alpha channel, into a print command to draw the duplicated alpha blended image.
US09030707B2
A log image creating system includes a job type determining unit and a log image creating unit. If the job type determining unit determines that the job is a heterogeneous multicasting transmission job for transmitting images created from the same draft by a plurality of communication methods, and is also a different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job, in which the plurality of communication methods include a plurality of communication methods in which at least one of a color and a resolution differs among images to be transmitted, the log image creating unit creates a log image in the different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job based on an image of a type selected under a specific condition from a plurality of types of images that are eligible for being transmitted in the different-image heterogeneous multicasting transmission job and mutually differ with respect to at least their color or resolution.
US09030691B2
In tandem printing, in accordance with a printing process executed in one printing apparatus, the printing process in the other printing apparatus is automatically changed. The first printing apparatus inputs a third print job including a first print job and a second print job. An image is formed on the basis of the first print job, and on the basis of a result of the image formation, a page with a change amount in the characteristic of a recording medium after printing at a predetermined threshold value or more is detected. The second print job in which the information is changed in accordance with the change amount in the characteristic of the detected page is transmitted to the second printing apparatus.
US09030690B2
An image forming apparatus capable of changing the execution order of jobs to thereby suppress occurrence of downtime caused when an operator cannot replenish or replace a consumable. A print queue manages the execution order of jobs. A paper-out prediction section predicts a time at which replenishment or replacement of a consumable to be consumed by the execution of the jobs becomes necessary. An operator absence schedule input section receives an input of a time period during which an operator who is to replenish or replace the consumable cannot replenish or replace the consumable. A job order automatic changing section changes the execution order of the jobs such that the predicted time will not come during the time period, when possible.
US09030688B2
A system for transmission of files, which files are generated by a first user at a first client station, which first client station is connected by a first computer network such as a Local Area Network (LAN) to one or more local servers, which first server performs communication to a number of computer systems connected to the first LAN. Worldwide net scalable files transferring processes without the need for transferring the files over the wide area net, but to retain the user's full access to any file are achieved and storage of large files at a plurality of servers during and after data transmission prevented.
US09030687B2
A printing system high in flexibility and/or user-friendliness which make it possible to use only post processing by a post-processing unit connected to a printing unit without requiring printing by the printing unit. An execution request receiving unit receives a request for execution of one of an inline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit after execution of printing by the printing unit, and an offline job requiring post processing by the sheet processing unit connected to the printing unit, without requiring printing by the printing unit. A controller performs control such that the offline job is executed by the sheet processing unit prior to an inline job associated with an execution request received earlier by the execution request receiving unit than an execution request associated with the offline job.
US09030686B2
A display device has a registration portion which accepts input of a message created by a user, a storage portion which stores the message inputted via the registration portion, a determination portion which extracts information on a display period of the message from the content of the message and which determines, based on the extracted information, an end time of display of the message, a time counting portion which counts time, and a display portion which displays the message stored in the storage portion until the end time determined by the determination portion.
US09030685B2
A POS system 1 includes a POS terminal 10, first printer 60, and second printer 20. The first printer 60 includes a USB interface 64 to which a POS terminal 10 connects, and a first printer print unit 71 that prints, and can output information related to the second printer 20 through the USB interface 64 to the POS terminal 10.
US09030671B2
A measuring assembly for measuring an inside of a lens frame of a spectacle frame, said lens frame at least partially delimiting an inscribed surface area F that corresponds to a lens shape, comprising a holding device for mounting the spectacle frame, at least one light source for generating a light beam to be projected on a region of the lens frame to be evaluated, and at least one sensor that can be coupled to an evaluation unit for detecting the reflected light beam, wherein the holding device can be rotated about a rotational axis r and moved in the direction of a movement axis x, and the movement axis x comprises at least one movement component in a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis r. The holding device is used to fix the spectacle frame by spectacle frame bows, wherein at least one free space is provided in the region of the holding device, said free space being used to receive the spectacle frame bows of a spectacle frame to be held which are not folded in or cannot be folded in.
US09030670B2
A method of tracking the position of an object, comprising using reference interference data from first output beam, reference interference data from a second output beam, measurement interference data from the first output beam, measurement interference data from the second output beam, and knowledge of the difference between the absolute phase offset of the first output beam and the absolute phase offset of the second output beam for both a reference interferometer (15′) and a measurement interferometer (15) to calculate a parameter indicative of the absolute phase offset of the measurement interferometer (15) for the first output beam. The calculated parameter is used to calculate the ratio of the optical path differences of the measurement interferometer (15) and the reference interferometer (15′).
US09030668B2
Fringe patterns at first and second spatial frequencies are projected onto a work piece surface and a reference surface, respectively. An image of the projected fringe patterns is obtained and a measurement signal associated with work piece displacements and a reference signal are obtained based on the first and second spatial frequencies. The image of the projected fringe patterns can exhibit substantial or complete overlap of the fringe patterns at the first and second spatial frequencies, and the overlapping patterns can be separated based on the spatial frequencies. Fringe pattern shifts at one or both of the first and second spatial frequencies can be used to adjust a pattern transfer system to permit accurate pattern transfer.
US09030659B2
A spark-induced breakdown spectroscopy apparatus can have a housing with an inlet and an outlet that define an analyte flow path. A laser can define a laser pathway generally transverse to an intersecting the analyte flow path. A pair of electrodes, which can have insulating shields, can be mounted within the housing and can define a spark path. An optical detection element defines an optical path. The apparatus can be used to identify an aerosolized analyte.
US09030656B2
Disclosed is an inspection device for inspecting deformation of a substrate holding member of a substrate transport apparatus. The substrate holding member is moved in the forward-and-backward direction relative to the transport base to pass across a light path of the detection light formed by an optical detection unit. The position, with respect to a direction transverse to the forward-and-backward direction, of the substrate holding member is detected based on a detection signal of the optical detection unit. Based on a correlation data expressing the relationship between a first parameter indicative of a change of a position of the substrate holding member with respect to the forward-and-backward direction and a second parameter indicative of the change of the position of the substrate holding member with respect to the direction transverse to the forward-and-backward direction, whether or not deformation occurs in the substrate holding member is judged.
US09030653B1
The features of the system are: fiber optic cables (instead of human sensory receptor) and low cost CMOS or CCD image sensor (which can be found in a conventional webcam, camcorder, digital camera etc.) are used by pairing each pixel of the image sensor with corresponding fiber optic cable, which is assured to transfer all light beams to the processor on a single photo frame where the coordinates and the level of displacements are detected precisely by the aid of image processing techniques, in order to provide tactile sensing. The system can work with a computer or it can work individually with an electronically circuit that contains an independent processor.
US09030648B2
A dual wafer stage exchanging system for a lithographic device is disclosed, said system comprises two wafer stages running between an exposure workstation and a pre-processing workstation, and said two stages are set on a base and suspended above the upper surface of the base by air bearings. Each wafer stages is passed through by a Y-direction guide rail respectively, wherein one end of said guide rail is connected with a main driving unit and another end of said guide rail is detachably coupled with one of the two X-direction auxiliary driving units with single degree of freedom, and said two wafer stages are capable of moving in Y-direction along the guide rails and moving in X-direction under the drive of the auxiliary driving units with single degree of freedom. The position exchange of said two wafer stages can be enabled by the detachment and connection of the Y-direction guide rails and the auxiliary units with single degree of freedom.
US09030647B2
An optical imaging arrangement includes an optical projection system and a support structure system. The optical projection system includes a group of optical elements configured to transfer, in an exposure process using exposure light along an exposure light path, an image of a pattern of a mask supported by a mask support structure onto a substrate supported by a substrate support structure. The mask support structure and the substrate support structure form a primary source of vibration. The support structure system includes a base support structure, an optical element support structure and at least one secondary vibration source support structure of a secondary vibration source other than the primary source of vibration. The optical element support structure supports the optical elements.
US09030644B2
The disclosure relates to a projection exposure apparatus for semiconductor lithography which includes an actuator system to mechanically actuate a component of the projection exposure apparatus. The actuator system has at least one mechanism to reduce and/or dampen the heat input into the component that is due to heat arising during the operation of the actuator system.
US09030640B2
In an electro-optical device, an electro-optical material is doubly sealed with a first seal member and a second seal member. In the second seal member, first particles are located in a gap between a first substrate and a second substrate, and second particles are located outside of the gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, so as to cover the opening of the gap.
US09030639B2
Reduction in the reliability of a seal portion is prevented. The reduction is caused by a light shielding portion formed on the seal portion of a TFT substrate to hamper curing an ultraviolet curable sealing material. A sealing material has a two-layer structure of an ultraviolet curable sealing material that is an inner sealing material and a thermosetting and ultraviolet curable sealing material or a thermosetting sealing material that is an outer sealing material. A light shielding portion is formed on a TFT substrate under the outer sealing material, and is not formed on the TFT substrate under the inner sealing material. When ultraviolet rays are applied from the TFT substrate side, the inner sealing material is cured in a short time. The outer sealing material is then cured by heating. Thus, the overall seal portion can be sufficiently cured, and a highly reliable seal portion can be formed.
US09030621B2
Provided is a liquid crystal display (LCD) with improved heat dissipation and reduced thickness. The LCD includes for an embodiment: a lower housing; a heat-dissipating member which is disposed in the lower housing; a plurality of point light sources which are disposed on the heat-dissipating member; a plurality of electric wires which supply power to the point light sources; and a light guide plate (LGP) which is disposed in the lower housing in such a way that side surfaces of the LGP face the point light sources.
US09030617B2
An LCD panel is disclosed which includes: gate and data lines formed to cross each other and define a pixel region; a thin film transistor connected to the gate and data lines; a plurality of pixel electrodes formed to be in partial contact with a drain electrode of the thin film transistor; a common electrode formed in a shape alternating with the pixel electrodes; and a passivation layer formed between the pixel electrodes and the common electrode, wherein the pixel electrodes and the common electrode are formed through a single process.
US09030616B2
A retention capacity in which a first electrode, a lower side capacity insulation film, a second electrode, an upper side capacity insulation film, and a third electrode are laminated is formed between a pixel electrode and a TFT. The lower side capacity insulation film and the upper side capacity insulation film respectively include a plurality of insulation films, and the lamination order thereof is the same.
US09030615B2
A display substrate includes a data line disposed on a base substrate, a first pixel electrode disposed at a first side of the data line, a second pixel electrode disposed at a second side of the data line and a storage electrode overlapping with the data line. The storage electrode overlaps with the first pixel electrode by a first overlapping width, and overlaps with the second pixel electrode by a second overlapping width larger than the first overlapping width.
US09030611B2
A method for controlling a bidirectional remote controller is provided. The method includes receiving, at the bidirectional remote controller, menu information from a display apparatus; generating, at the bidirectional remote controller, a menu screen based on the received menu information for controlling the display apparatus; and displaying the generated menu screen on a display of the bidirectional remote controller.
US09030609B1
A system transmits video content from a single video source or multiple independent video sources by transmitting at least one data information segment (DIS) followed by a plurality of video data information segments (VDIS). Each DIS includes information that corresponds to a video source and to the plurality of VDIS transmitted subsequently. A receiver system receives at least one DIS followed by a plurality of VDIS, and processes the received VDIS in accordance with the information in the received DIS. The receiver system stores processed video content of the processed VDIS into a memory queue, and a separate memory queue is used for each video source. A display interface receives and processes video content of each memory queue to generate video pixels of a respective output image in accordance with preselected preferences, e.g., corresponding video source, video format, resolution, and/or starting location of the respective output image.
US09030600B2
A method and an apparatus for controlling a flash are disclosed. The method includes obtaining a statistical gray value of a preview image. If the statistical gray value of the preview image is less than a preset threshold, a corresponding fill light parameter is searched for in a preset dynamic fill light table according to the statistical gray value of the preview image and the fill light drive current is set according to the fill light parameter. The fill light drive current is configured to drive a flash lamp to fire a pre-flash. A corresponding exposure drive current in the preset exposure parameter table is configured according to the fill light parameter and the exposure drive current is configured to drive the flash lamp to flash.
US09030598B2
A method includes producing a first layer of optical liquid, shaping contactlessly the first layer of the optical liquid according to a desired form, and curing the shaped first layer of the optical liquid with electromagnetic radiation to generate a first optically refracting surface.
US09030587B2
A solid-state image sensor comprising a photoelectric conversion portion, a MOS transistor, a first insulating layer, a second insulating layer whose refractive index is higher than that of the first insulating layer, and a light-guiding portion including a first portion and a second portion formed on the first portion, wherein an angle that the side face of the first portion makes with a plane parallel to a light-receiving face of the photoelectric conversion portion is smaller than an angle that a side face of the second portion makes with the parallel plane, and a boundary between the first portion and the second portion is positioned higher than an upper face of a gate electrode of the MOS transistor, and lower than a boundary between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer.
US09030583B2
An electronic device may have a camera module. The camera module may include a camera sensor capable of capturing foveated images. The camera sensor may be hardwired to capture foveated images with fixed regions of different quality levels or may be dynamically-reconfigurable to capture foveated images with selected regions of different quality levels. As one example, the camera module may be hardwired to capture a center region of an image at full resolution and peripheral regions at reduced resolutions, so that a user can merely center objects of interest in the image to capture a foveated image. As another example, the camera module may analyze previous images to identify objects of interest and may then reconfigure itself to capture the identified objects of interest at a high quality level, while capturing other regions at reduced quality levels.
US09030581B2
A solid-state imaging device includes: a device portion in which unit constituent elements, each of which includes a charge detection unit detecting a charge that is generated on the basis of changes in physical information and a transfer unit transferring a signal charge detected by the charge detection unit, are arranged in a predetermined direction; and a supplied voltage control portion capable of transferring a part of the charge detected by the charge detection unit through supplying of a control voltage for suppressing blooming to the transfer unit and capable of transferring the signal charge detected by the charge detection unit through supplying of a first control voltage that is different from the control voltage for suppressing the blooming to the transfer unit.
US09030578B2
An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of optical systems, each having a different focal length, an image pickup element which picks up an image of an object by the optical system, and a zoom control section which changes an angle of field of an output image by at least one optical system from among the plurality of optical systems, and a part of the angle of field which changes is same as an angle of field of another optical system, and the image pickup apparatus further includes a control section which changes a control position of a display image at the time of zooming to be directed toward an optical-axial center of the another optical system for which the part of the angle of field is same.
US09030568B2
Disclosed herein is a data processing apparatus including: a data sort block configured to sort, into multiple groups by information data of a same type, input data including information data of multiple types formed by multiple bits; a maximum value extraction block configured to extract a maximum value of the information data in each of the groups sorted by the data sort block; and a bit position decision and bit reduction block configured to determine a reduction position of bits common to the information data of the same type in each group on the basis of the maximum value extracted by the maximum value extraction block and reduce the common bits in accordance with the determination.
US09030552B2
A method for calibrating measurement instruments of an optronic system in motion, with positions P1, P2, . . . , Pi, . . . , comprises: a device for acquiring images of a scene comprising a fixed object G0; and means for tracking the fixed object G0 during the acquisition of these images; means for obtaining the positions P1, P2, . . . ; at least one instrument for measuring the distance and/or an instrument for measuring angles of orientation and/or of attitude between this measurement instrument and the fixed object G0, according to a line of sight LoS. It comprises the following steps: acquisition at instants t1, t2, . . . of at least two images, each image being acquired on the basis of different positions P1, P2, . . . of the system, the fixed object G0 being sighted in each image, but its position being unknown; acquisition at the instants t′1, t′2, . . . of measurements of distance and/or of angle; synchronization of the measurements of distance and/or of angle with the positions P1, P2, . . . established at instants t1, t2, . . . ; estimation of the measurement defects which minimize the dispersion of at least two points of intersection Gij between the LoS at the position Pi and the LoS at the position Pj, as a function of said measurements and of the known positions Pi, Pj of the system.
US09030549B2
A method of distinguishing individual plants within a row of plants, including directing radiation at the row of plants at an angle selected to illuminate a portion of the plant and cast a shadow at the plant center, collecting an image from the radiation reflected off of two or more contiguous plants with a detector, identifying a continuous foreground region indicative of a plant within the image, identifying points of interest within the region, classifying the points of interest as plant centers and non-plant centers, and segmenting the region into sub-regions, each sub-region encompassing a single point of interest classified as a plant center.
US09030542B2
An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup device for picking up an image of an object; a reception portion that is provided in a processor including a signal processing portion processes an image signal obtained by picking up the object with the image pickup device, and that receives a first synchronization signal generated in a first synchronization signal generation portion and is transmitted through a cable; a calculation portion that sequentially detects a plurality of periods of the first synchronization signal that the reception portion receives, and carries out processing to perform a calculation that determines an average value of the detected plurality of periods of the first synchronization signal; and a second synchronization signal generation portion that generates a second synchronization signal taking a value based on a calculation result of the calculation portion as a period, and supplies the second synchronization signal to the image pickup device.
US09030540B2
The present disclosure describes systems and methods for reducing ghosting in a three-dimensional (3-D) image system. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a 3-D image generation system may comprise a first pixel disposed on a semiconductor element that emits light in a first color spectrum and a second pixel disposed on a semiconductor element that emits light in a second color spectrum. A controller may be coupled to the first pixel and the second pixel. The controller may cause the 3-D image generation system to display a first stereoscopic image using the first color spectrum and a second stereoscopic image using the second color spectrum. A filter may be coupled to at least one of the first pixel and the second pixel, and alter at least one of the first color spectrum and the second color spectrum.
US09030537B2
An image display apparatus includes a signal control unit for receiving an input of an image signal, and converting to a signal for displaying each of a right eye image and a left eye image at least two times continuously; and a display panel, input with the signal converted by the signal control unit, for alternately displaying the right eye image continuing two or more times, and the left eye image continuing two or more times.
US09030531B2
A method for multiplexing a stream of stereoscopic image source data into a series of left images and a series of right images combinable to form a series of stereoscopic images, both the stereoscopic image source data and series of left images and series of right images conceptually defined to be within frames. The method includes compressing stereoscopic image source data at varying levels across the frame, thereby forming left images and right images, and providing a series of single frames divided into portions, each single frame containing one right image in a first portion and one left image in a second portion. Alternately, single frames may contain two right images in a first two portions of each single frame and two left images in a second two portions of each single frame, wherein each set of right and left images may be processed differently. Multiplexing processes such as staggering, alternating, filtering, variable scaling, and sharpening from original, uncompressed right and left images may be employed.
US09030510B2
A color erasing apparatus according to an embodiment comprises a paper feeding section configured to supply to a conveying path a paper on which images are formed by a heat-erasable coloring material, a sensor configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a thickness of the paper, and a paper thickness detector configured to determine the thickness of the paper based on the sensor signal. The color erasing apparatus further comprises a color erasing section including a heat source configured to heat the paper; and a heat source temperature controller configured to control the heat source in the color erasing section to a predetermined temperature based on the determined thickness of the paper.
US09030471B2
According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus sets, as the three-dimensional image display area, a first area corresponding to a window of a first application program such that a three-dimensional image is displayed in the first area. The apparatus sets as the three-dimensional image display area, if a 3D request is received from a second application program, one of the first area and a second area corresponding to a window of the second application program, and causes the other one of the first application program and the second application program to render a single two-dimensional image such that the single two-dimensional image is displayed in the other one of the first area and the second area.
US09030469B2
Methods for generating depth maps from monocular still image or monocular video and systems using the same are provided. First, an initial depth map is estimated or arbitrary defined. For video inputs, motion information can be used, for still image the initial background can be arbitrary set by default, chosen by the user or can be estimated. Estimation of the initial depth map can be based on a contrast map or a blur map. The initial depth map defines initial depth values for the respective pixels of the monocular image or monocular motion picture frames. The respective pixels of the original image or video frame data are mapped to the initial depth map according to positions of the pixels, in order to obtain corresponding initial depth values. An image data space of the image is subdivided into a plurality of sub-image spaces, and the initial depth value of each of the pixels of the image is filtered according to the initial depth values of the pixels located in the same sub-image space, in order to obtain depth information for the pixels.
US09030464B2
A paint simulation system described herein includes a brush component that outputs a three-dimensional computer-implemented model of an image editing tool. A paint component receives the three-dimensional computer-implemented model and generates a two-dimensional map corresponding to a footprint of the three-dimensional model with respect to a computer-implemented canvas, wherein resolution of the two-dimensional map is substantially similar to resolution of a paint map of the computer-implemented canvas.
US09030457B2
A display with wireless power charging function, an operation method thereof and a corresponding portable electronic apparatus are provided. The display includes a RFID read/write module and is applicable to electrically charge a portable electronic apparatus with a RFID tag. The operation method includes steps of: displaying an image on the display surface of the display panel of the display; transmitting data between the Radio Frequency Identification read/write module of the display and the Radio Frequency Identification tag of the portable electronic apparatus and electrically charging the energy storage unit of the portable electronic apparatus while the portable electronic apparatus is placed in the readable/writable area; and adjusting, while the portable electronic apparatus is placed in the readable/writable area, the image to an updated image having no overlap with the readable/writable area if the image has an overlap with the readable/writable area.
US09030447B2
A surface acoustic wave touch panel includes a flexible substrate, an acoustic wave transmitting layer, an adhering layer, a piezoelectricity layer, and an electrode layer. The acoustic wave transmitting layer is made of nano-diamond and formed on the flexible substrate. The adhering layer is formed on the acoustic wave transmitting layer. The piezoelectricity layer is formed on the acoustic wave transmitting layer in an interdigitated electrode pattern. The electrode layer is formed on the piezoelectricity layer. A method of manufacturing the surface acoustic wave touch panel is also provided.
US09030445B2
Techniques are provided to improve interaction between a user and a projection system. In some embodiments, an image of a user in front of a display screen is captured. An inference can then be made as to whether a user is touching a display screen based on an analysis of shadows and/or variation of brightness (i.e., intensities) across pixels in the image. For example, it may be inferred that the object is: (1) approaching the screen when a region surrounding a top of the object is characterized by a relatively small brightness variation; (2) hovering near the screen when the brightness variation is large and the region includes a dark extremum (caused by a shadow); and (3) touching the screen when the brightness variation is large and the region includes a light extremum.
US09030441B2
Provided is a touch panel system (1) capable of reliably removing a wide variety of noises. The touch panel system (1) includes a main sensor (31) which detects a touch operation, a sub sensor (32) which does not detect a touch operation but detects a noise component, and a subtracting section (41) which subtracts, from an output signal of the main sensor (31), an output signal of the sub sensor (32). The subtracting section (41) performs a subtracting operation to remove a noise component from the output signal of the main sensor (31), thereby extracting a signal derived from the touch operation itself.
US09030420B2
A display device includes: a display section having a plurality of pixel electrodes; and a plurality of drive electrodes extending in a first direction and arranged side-by-side in a second direction. Each of the drive electrodes has a width in the second direction corresponding to a size of the two or more pixel electrodes, and has one or more slits extending in the first direction.
US09030413B2
An image display field, a whole map display field, a cursor are displayed on the music data selection screen. In the image display field is displayed an array of images which belong to one partition that can be displayed at a time and which are included in an array of images which represent whole audio data and is defined fixedly in advance. In the whole map display field is displayed a whole map indicating a display-area guide which shows where a partition being displayed now is located in the whole array and indicating a trajectory line which represents the trajectory of the cursor in the past. A plurality of pieces of music data represented by an image, which the cursor indicates, and images located around the image are reproduced concurrently.
US09030410B2
A controller device is used for more information processes. The controller device is capable of wirelessly communicating with an information processing device. The controller device includes a communication unit, a display unit, and a program executing unit. The communication unit transmits, to the information processing device, operation data obtained based on an operation performed on the controller device, and receives, from the information processing device, image data generated in the information processing device through a process performed based on operation data. A display unit displays an image represented by the image data received from the information processing device. When a predetermined operation on the controller device is performed, the program executing unit executes a predetermined program and displays at least the image resulting from the execution of the program on the display unit. The communication unit transmits, to the information processing device, data indicating that the predetermined program is being executed.
US09030405B2
Described herein is an intelligent remote controlling device. The device can include a six-axis motion sensor to accurately track three dimensional hand motions. For example, the sensors can include a three-axis accelerometer and a three-axis gyroscope. The remote control device can also include a processing unit integrated with the motion sensors in a single module. The processing unit can convert data regarding the hand motion to data regarding a cursor motion for a cursor that will be displayed on a screen of an electronic device. The processing unit can be integrated with the motion sensors in a single module. The processing unit can include at least two modes of functionality corresponding to different types of hand motion: a one to one mode where the cursor directly tracks the hand motion and a non-linear mode that filters data from the motion sensors to eliminate hand jitter.
US09030403B2
A pixel circuit includes a first control electrode and a second control electrode between which a mechanical shutter is put, and a first control voltage application circuit for inputting a first control voltage to the first control electrode according to an image signal. The first control voltage application circuit includes an input transistor, a retaining capacitor and a first transistor. One of current terminals of the input transistor is connected to a signal line. A gate of the input transistor is connected to a scanning line. One terminal of the retaining capacitor is input with a capacitor control signal and the other terminal is connected to the input transistor. The first transistor has a gate connected to the retaining capacitor and two current terminals, one of which is connected to a first control electrode and the other of which is input with a first control signal.
US09030386B2
A sound penetrating display apparatus for outputting sound having an object-based position coordinate effect is disclosed, which apparatus comprises a plurality of pixels, a plurality of holes which are distributed in an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display panel in a certain dense in order for sound from a speaker disposed at a back side of the OLED display panel to penetrate, a driving circuit for driving the OLED display panel, a protecting layer which is attached to a back side of the OLED display panel or is disposed close to the same and is formed of holes matching with the holes of the panel, and a plurality of matrix speakers which are disposed at a back side of the OLED display panel.
US09030384B2
An OLED panel includes a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a first sub-pixel, a second sub-pixel and a third sub-pixel spaced from each other by a plurality of baffle plates. The first sub-pixel of each pixel is located adjacent to that of a neighboring pixel. The first sub-pixel of each pixel is spaced from that of the neighboring pixel by a partition plate. The partition plate has a height less than a height of each baffle plate.
US09030382B2
The invention relates to a method and a presentation device for presenting information about the angle to a target to a wearer (2) by means of a display (1) worn by the wearer tracking movement of the wearer's head, the wearer's head movements being detected and the angle of the wearer's head relative to a target being indicated on the display. According to the invention, movements of the wearer's (2) head are detected independently of the target, the position of the wearer is determined locally, the position of the target is designated and the display is controlled on the basis of local information about the wearer's head movement, the wearer's position and the position designated as the target in order to indicate the angle of the wearer's head relative to the target.
US09030381B2
A parallax barrier panel includes a first and second substrate and a fluidic layer disposed therebetween. The first substrate includes first electrode parts, a water-repellent layer and a partition wall. Each of the first electrode parts includes a main electrode and a first notch electrode and a second notch electrode. The main electrode extends in a first direction on a first base substrate. The first and second notch electrodes are adjacent to respective ends of the main electrode. The first and second notch electrodes extend along the main electrode in the first direction. The second substrate includes a second electrode part and a second base substrate, the second electrode part being disposed on the second base substrate. The second base substrate is disposed opposite to the first base substrate. The fluidic layer controls a light transmittance according to a voltage difference between the first and second electrode parts.
US09030368B2
An antenna for receiving radio signals of at least a first frequency band and a second frequency band includes a grounding unit for providing grounding, a connecting unit electrically connected to a first terminal of the grounding unit, a feeding terminal, formed on the connecting unit, for transmitting the radio signals of the first frequency band and the second frequency band, a first radiating element electrically connected between the connecting unit and a second terminal of the grounding unit, and a second radiating element electrically connected between the connecting unit and a third terminal of the grounding unit. Lengths of signal routes from the feeding terminal through the first radiating element and the second radiating element to the grounding unit are substantially equal to a half wavelength of the radio signals of the first frequency band and a half wavelength of the radio signals of the second frequency band, respectively.
US09030366B2
An antenna device arranged around a printed circuit board is provided. The antenna device has an antenna element connected to a feeder circuit provided on the printed board. The antenna device has an isolating material provided between the antenna element and the substrate material. The isolating material is constituted by an insulating substrate material and a plurality of pieces of magnetic material provided on the substrate material. Adjacent ones of the pieces of the magnetic material are arranged separate from each other.
US09030361B2
A modal adaptive antenna system that dynamically samples proximity sensors or other sensors to determine the use case for the wireless device and then adjust the antenna radiating mode to optimize communication link performance. The modal adaptive antenna system is capable of modifying the antenna radiation pattern to improve communication link quality along with near-field parameters such as SAR and HAC. An algorithm and look-up table containing pre-measured electrical parameters to include TRP, TIS, and SAR are developed and integrated with hardware which includes an antenna and active components to dynamically modify the radiation pattern of the antenna as well as proximity sensors and or other sensing devices.
US09030359B2
A communication sheet structure includes at least three layers of a conductor layer A, a base member layer and a conductor layer B, which are laminated in order, wherein the size of the communication sheet structure in the direction of width thereof at right angles with the direction in which the transmitted electromagnetic waves travel in a plane thereof is nearly equal to a natural number of times of one-half the wavelength of the transmitted electromagnetic waves so as to establish a resonating state in the direction of width.
US09030344B2
A system includes a pipeline analog-to-digital converter as a first stage to process an input signal, and a successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter as a second stage to process the input signal. The SAR analog-to-digital converter includes a power adjustment element to adjust a reference voltage of the SAR analog-to-digital converter to match a full scale voltage of the pipeline-analog-to-digital converter.
US09030343B2
The present invention discloses a communication device and a communication method capable of power calibration. Said communication device comprises: a digital circuit to provide a digital output signal; a detection circuit to perform a predetermined detection and generate a detection result; a control circuit to generate a digital-end and an analog-end gain adjustment signals according to the detection result; a digital-end gain adjustment circuit to adjust the gain of the digital output signal according to the digital-end gain adjustment signal and generate a digital gain-adjusted output signal; a digital-to-analog converter to generate an analog output signal according to the digital gain-adjusted output signal; and an analog circuit to adjust the gain of the analog output signal according to the analog-end gain adjustment signal and generate an analog gain-adjusted output signal, wherein the detection circuit is operable to detect the influence caused by a peripheral factor to the analog circuit.
US09030336B2
In one embodiment taught herein, a plurality of road-going vehicles report weather-related data to a weather-determining system. For example, trucks and/or cars having in-vehicle information systems wirelessly transmit one or more items of weather-related data, such that the weather-determining system directly or indirectly receives the transmitted data. In turn, the weather-determining system jointly processes the weather-related data to determine weather information for one or more geographic areas corresponding to reported positions of the road-going vehicles. In one embodiment, the in-vehicle information systems comprise GPS-based position reporting systems installed in on-highway trucks and other fleet vehicles, and the weather-determining system comprises a modified position-tracking system, e.g., a modified network fleet management system. Weather-related data may be collected and processed for large numbers of vehicles across many geographic areas of interest, and the resulting weather information can be fed back to the road-going vehicles and/or provided to other consumers of weather information.
US09030335B2
A smartphone app that causes a smartphone device to actively control a configuration of footwear structural elements located in a footwear sole or removable inner sole insert of a user of the smartphone device, and one or more sensors located in either one or both of the sole or the removable inner sole insert the user's footwear and a sensor including a gyroscope and/or an accelerometer in the smartphone device; and the footwear structural elements being configured for computer control by the smartphone device when the smartphone app is operating on the smartphone device; and wherein instructions of the smartphone app, when executed, cause the smartphone device to, first, process measurement data received from the footwear and smartphone sensors and, second, use the processed measurement data to alter a configuration of the footwear structural elements based on the output from processing measurement data.
US09030328B2
An integrated circuit, in particular a microcontroller, for operation in an area with ionizing radiation, has at least one part of a temperature control circuit. The temperature control circuit performs a regulated increase in the circuit temperature to a predefined, essentially constant operating temperature, by increasing the electrical power consumption of the circuit by an adjustable additional electrical power. The circuit has an output facility for information about damage to the integrated circuit caused by the ionizing radiation impacting thereon, it being possible to determine the information about damage from a radiation-dose-dependent decrease in the adjustable additional electrical power.
US09030326B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a housing, a display on a surface of the housing, an infrared sensor in a first region of the surface of the housing, the first region facing one side of the display, an indicator in the first region and configured to emit light, a first controller, and a second controller. The first controller turns on and off the display in accordance with a detection output of the infrared sensor. The second controller is configured to blink the indicator in a first blinking pattern in which a ratio of an ON time to a blinking cycle is smaller than that of an OFF time to the blinking cycle, when an event of which a user is notified occurs.
US09030324B2
A system for tracking pipe activity on a rig includes a plurality of pipes, each pipe having an asset ID tag containing a code unique to the pipe. A pipe handling space for assembling and disassembling the pipes contains at least one pipe handling apparatus. A first scanning zone located at a first position in the pipe handling space contains a first reader antenna. A second scanning zone located at a second position in the pipe handling space contains a second reader antenna. At least one reader is provided for scanning the asset ID tags in the pipe handling space through at least one of the first reader antenna and the second reader antenna.
US09030316B2
A method and apparatus where the method includes detecting a plurality of events related to the activities of users within a security system wherein the events are defined by a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one attribute is categorical and wherein a data distance between events is a function of event attributes, evaluating the detected events using a density based anomaly detection method f(r), where r is a size of a neighborhood around a data point, comparing a value of the evaluated expression with a margin threshold value (msg(r)) and setting an alarm upon detecting that the value exceeds the threshold value.
US09030314B2
A method for inspecting notification appliances in an alarm system. The method may include placing the alarm system in an inspection mode, whereby a verification indicium on each notification appliance being inspected is activated. The method may further include performing a physical inspection of a notification appliance, as well as actuating an input device on the notification appliance whereby the verification indicium on the notification appliance is deactivated. A first alternative method may include placing the alarm system in a test mode, whereby a verification indicium on each notification appliance being inspected and tested is activated. The first alternative method may further include performing a physical inspection of a notification appliance, as well as actuating an input device on the notification appliance whereby the verification indicium on the notification appliance is deactivated and a notification feature of the notification appliance is activated for a predefined amount of time.
US09030311B2
A lift indicator assembly for a pallet truck includes a lift sensor assembly, and a lift status display for determining a lift condition of a load wheel of the pallet truck. The lift sensor assembly is to be carried by a fork of the pallet truck and includes a housing section, and a primary sensor assembly. The primary sensor assembly includes a first primary arm coupled to the housing section, and a first primary contact switch carried by the housing section and adjacent the first primary arm. The first primary contact switch has an engaged position and a disengaged position based on position of the first primary arm. The lift status display determines the lift condition of the load wheel based on position of the first primary contact switch.
US09030310B2
A proximity-based catalytic converter protection system for a vehicle that includes a controller, and a catalytic converter, both located in the vehicle. The protection system further includes a pair of electrodes that are electrically coupled to the controller and located in proximity to the converter. The controller monitors capacitance between the electrodes to detect movement external to the vehicle near the converter. The controller may activate an alarm element upon detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes that exceeds a predetermined threshold.
US09030295B2
In a method for controlling pricing of a product, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag having at least one processor is attached to a monitored product. A value indicative of a degree of exposure to an environmental condition is obtained. The obtained value is compared with a predetermined value range. A price of the monitored product is adjusted when the result of the comparison falls outside the predetermined value range.
US09030294B2
Systems and methods are provided to collect biometrically-verified actigraphy data, comprising: obtaining and processing a subject's measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject; verifying the subject's identity by comparing the current biometric signature to one previously obtained from a database and evaluating a proximity metric of the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database; if the subject passes identity verification, obtaining actigraphy data from an actigraphy sensor worn by the subject; at one or more times while obtaining the actigraphy data, repeating the steps of obtaining and processing a subject's measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject, and verifying the identity of the subject to ensure that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification at the one or more times.
US09030290B2
The invention relates to a wireless device, configured for ensuring authentication of a user, to a reference unit configured for ensuring authentication of a user of the wireless device and to a method for ensuring authentication of a user. The wireless device comprises a checking unit configured for scanning a distance to a reference unit and for checking if the distance scanned lies within a predetermined range such that authentication of the user is ensured. In this way, a wireless device is provided which is simple and cost-effective to realize and increases security by making sure that the rightful owner is available without the need of asking for PIN codes, passwords or other measures, such as biometric recognition, i.e. voice recognition, fingerprint recognition, retina recognition and the like.
US09030287B2
A filter body of a common mode noise filter includes: a non-magnetic body; a first magnetic body and a second magnetic body sandwiching the non-magnetic body; and a first coil conductor and a second coil conductor of planar shape which are embedded in the non-magnetic body and positioned on the first magnetic body side and second magnetic body side in the non-magnetic body in a manner facing each other in a non-contact state; and also has a non-magnetic first protective part and second protective part which are made of a non-magnetic material whose strength is higher than the first magnetic body and second magnetic body and which are positioned on the outermost side of the filter body in a manner sandwiching the first magnetic body and second magnetic body.
US09030284B2
A combined structure of hollow bobbin and conductive sheet for a transformer includes a hollow bobbin and at least one conductive sheet. The hollow bobbin includes an outer surface and at least one positioning structure formed on the outer surface. The conductive sheet is fit on the outer surface of the hollow bobbin and includes a main body and at least one engaging structure. The main body has a hollow portion, making the main body to have an inner circumference. The engaging structure is formed on the inner circumference of the main body and is engaged with the positioning structure of the hollow bobbin. The transformer includes at least one winding disposed on the outer surface of the hollow bobbin and abutting against the conductive sheet.
US09030279B2
A dielectric waveguide filter comprising a block of dielectric material including a plurality of resonators defined by a plurality of slots defined in the block of dielectric material. The resonators are arranged on the block of dielectric material in one or more rows and columns. First and second RF signal input/output electrodes are defined on the block of dielectric material. A first direct RF signal transmission path for the transmission of an RF signal is defined by the first and second RF signal input/output electrodes and the plurality of resonators. In one embodiment, internal windows define a first direct RF signal transmission means and additional RF signal transmission means define alternate or cross-coupling paths for the transmission of the RF signal from resonators in one column to resonators in another column. In one embodiment, the filter is comprised of two separate blocks of dielectric material which have been coupled together.
US09030276B2
An RF filter assembly comprising two filters. In one embodiment, the RF filter assembly comprises a core of dielectric material including a plurality of through-holes and a surface-layer pattern of conductive areas on a top surface of the core that define a first RF filter and a second RF low pass filter is defined, and extends between respective conductive input/output electrodes, on a wall that protrudes outwardly and upwardly from a top surface of the RF filter assembly.
US09030274B2
A filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes a printed circuit board (PCB) including a plurality of electronic components, a base disposed under the PCB, and an inductor coupled to the base, the inductor including a core and a coil to which current is applied, wherein the PCB has a through-hole through which at least one portion of the coil pass.
US09030273B2
An electronic component includes a multilayer body including insulating layers that are stacked on each other. First and second LC parallel resonators each include via hole conductors extending in a z-axis direction and loop shaped conductive layers provided on the insulating layers. The first and second LC parallel resonators define a band pass filter. A first loop plane of the first LC parallel resonator and a second loop plane of the second LC parallel resonator are parallel or substantially parallel to the z-axis direction, are parallel or substantially parallel to each other, and are overlapped with each other at at least a portion of the first loop plane and the second loop plane in a plan view from the direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first loop plane. The first loop plane protrudes from the second loop plane at the positive direction in the z-axis direction.
US09030266B2
In a communication network having a first electronic control unit, a second electronic control unit, a transmission path connecting them, and a third electronic control unit connected to a branch path and communicatable with the first and second electronic control units that are each terminated with a termination circuit designed in accordance with a characteristic impedance of the transmission path, it is configured to comprise a connector that is connected to a connection point mounted on a circuit board in which the third electronic control unit is installed so that the third control unit is connected to the branch path via the connector and a conducting wire for removing a waveform distortion connected to the branch path via the connector at one end.
US09030265B2
This invention discloses a crystal oscillator, in which by appropriately designing the gain of an amplifier to achieve high trans-conductance and low power consumption. This crystal oscillator includes a first pad, coupled to a first node of a crystal, for receiving a crystal oscillating signal outputted from the crystal; an amplifier, coupled to the first pad, for amplifying the crystal oscillating signal to generate an amplifying signal; an inverter, coupled to the amplifier, for inverting the amplifying signal; and a second pad, coupled to a second node of the crystal, for outputting an oscillating signal to the crystal.
US09030264B2
A current output control device is provided that includes: a current cell array section including plural current cell circuits that are each connected in parallel between a first terminal (power source) and a second terminal (ground) that connect between the first terminal and the second terminal in by operation ON so as to increase control current flowing between the first terminal and the second terminal; and a code conversion section (decoder) that generates signals (row codes, column codes) to ON/OFF control current cells so as to change the number of current cells that connect the first terminal and the second terminal according to change in an externally input code and that inputs the generated signals to the current cell array section.
US09030263B2
A TIA circuit and method are provided that merge the automatic gain control function with the bandwidth adjustment function to allow the TIA circuit to operate over a wide dynamic range at multiple data rates. The TIA circuit has an effective resistance that is adjustable for adjusting the gain and the bandwidth of the TIA circuit. The mechanism of the TIA circuit that is used to adjust the effective resistance, and hence the gain and bandwidth of the TIA circuit, is temperature independent, and as such, the performance of the TIA circuit is not affected by temperature variations.
US09030255B2
Circuits and techniques to linearize the operation of an RF power amplifier are described. A linearizer circuit may include a non-amplification signal path which includes a delay line and an amplification signal path which includes at least one amplifier stage. In some embodiments, the amplification signal path may include an odd number of amplification stages. The linearizer may be used to precondition an input signal of an RF power amplifier in a manner that improves the overall linearity of operation.
US09030254B2
A radio frequency channel amplification module for communication satellite, comprises an input configured to convey an input radio frequency signal, an output configured to restore a pre-amplified output radio frequency signal intended to power a travelling wave tube amplifier that can be equipped with linearization means with predistortion, at least one first upstream gain control module arranged downstream of the input and one second downstream gain control module arranged downstream of the first upstream gain control module and upstream of any linearization means by predistortion. The channel amplification module also comprises an instantaneous power limiter intended to clip the peaks of the input radio frequency signals with a level exceeding a determined threshold value, the instantaneous power limiter being arranged in series between said first upstream gain control module and said second downstream gain control module.
US09030248B2
A level shifter, or method, producing a final output from a driver supplied by a high-side source driver providing VDD or common, and a low-side source driver providing common or VSS. A delay is introduced to prevent a source driver output at common from beginning to transition toward a supply rail until a delaying source driver at a rail begins transitioning toward common. The level shifter may be single-ended or differential, and the delaying source driver may be coupled to the same final output driver as is the delayed source driver, or may be coupled to a different final output driver. The level shifter may have a second level shifter front end stage, which may have high-side and low-side intermediate source driver outputs coupled by a capacitor, and/or may couple one of the supplies to all intermediate source drivers via a common impedance or current limit Zs.
US09030243B2
A pulse generator comprising: an input for receiving a trigger; an output node for outputting a signal; a delay line comprising one or more delay units and a plurality of taps; one or more pull-up devices each connected to the output node for increasing the output voltage on the output node; and/or one or more pull-down devices each connected to the output node for decreasing the output voltage on the output node; wherein the taps of the delay line are operably connected to the pull-up and/or pull-down devices such that a trigger passing along the delay line activates one or more of the pull-up and/or one or more of the pull-down devices more than once. Re-use of the pull-up and/or pull-down devices enables longer and more complex pulse shapes, such as high-order Gaussian pulse shapes to be produced while keeping the number of components low, thus reducing chip area, power requirements and parasitic capacitance.
US09030234B2
A limited switch dynamic logic (LSDL) circuit includes a dynamic logic circuit and a static logic circuit. The dynamic logic circuit includes a precharge device configured to precharge a dynamic node during a precharge phase of a first evaluation clock signal and a second evaluation clock signal. A first evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a first logic value in response to one or more first input signals during an evaluation phase of the first evaluation clock signal. A second evaluation tree is configured to evaluate the dynamic node to a second logic value in response to one or more second input signals during an evaluation phase of the second evaluation clock signal. A static logic circuit is configured to provide an output of the LSDL circuit in response to the dynamic node according to an output latch clock signal.
US09030231B1
A method of configuring a programmable integrated circuit device with a user logic design includes analyzing the user logic design to identify unidirectional logic paths within the user logic design and cyclic logic paths within the user logic design, assigning the cyclic logic paths to logic in a first portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a first data rate, assigning the unidirectional logic paths to logic in a second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device that operates at a second data rate lower than the first data rate, and pipelining the unidirectional data paths in the second portion of the programmable integrated circuit device to compensate for the lower second data rate. A programmable integrated circuit device adapted to carry out such method may have logic regions operating at different rates, including logic regions with programmably selectable data rates.
US09030224B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a plurality of dies, wherein each of the dies is configured to enable a power circuit provided therein according to a power control signal, in a state in which the die was determined to be a good die or a fail die.
US09030223B2
A test carrier includes a base member and a cover member between which a die is interposed. The base film of the base member has: first interconnect patterns which are formed in advance; and a printing region where second interconnect patterns which electrically connect to the first interconnect patterns are to be formed by printing.
US09030222B2
An apparatus and method providing improved interconnection elements and tip structures for effecting pressure connections between terminals of electronic components is described. The tip structure of the present invention has a sharpened blade oriented on the upper surface of the tip structure such that the length of the blade is substantially parallel to the direction of horizontal movement of the tip structure as the tip structure deflects across the terminal of an electronic component. In this manner, the sharpened substantially parallel oriented blade slices cleanly through any non-conductive layer(s) on the surface of the terminal and provides a reliable electrical connection between the interconnection element and the terminal of the electrical component.
US09030207B2
A method for monitoring an insulation fault in an electric network with at least one electric power system supplying electric power to one or more electric loads, and at least one insulation resistance monitor is provided, wherein the at least one electric power system includes at least one electrical power source, and wherein the at least one insulation resistance monitor monitors an insulation resistance between terminal leads of the at least one electric power source and at least one reference potential. The steps are performed of disconnecting the at least one electric power source from the one or more loads by opening each terminal lead; measuring the insulation resistance between the electric circuit of at least one electrical power source and the reference potential; measuring the insulation resistance for the total electric network; closing the second terminal lead with the first terminal lead open; and measuring the insulation resistance for the total electric network.
US09030206B2
In a process plant, a first series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The first series of measurements are stored. A second series of measurements from a coupling interface are received. The second series of measurements. The first series and second series of measurements are compared. An indication of loss of clamping force is generated if the first series of measurements deviates from the second series of measurements.
US09030199B2
An apparatus of a magnetoresistance sensor consisting of a substrate, a conductive unit on the substrate, and a magnetoresistance structure on the conductive unit is provided. The conductive unit includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to each other, and the first surface faces the substrate. The magnetoresistance structure is formed on the second surface of the conductive unit and is electrically connected to the conductive unit. The magnetoresistance sensor has high performance and reliability. A magnetoresistance sensor fabricating method based on this apparatus is also provided.
US09030197B1
An apparatus, that is particularly advantageous for compensating for the earth's magnetic field at a fluxgate current sensor. The apparatus and method actively compensate for local anomalies and loop mismatch at local segments distributed around closed loops of ferromagnetic material in order to null out sources of error that arise in the presence of an external magnetic field. External flux nulling circuits null the external magnetic flux at each of a plurality of associated pairs of diagonally opposite segments of coaxial closed loop cores. Each flux nulling circuit has a pair of diagonally opposite segment sensing coils and a pair of diagonally opposite segment cancellation coils. A flux detecting circuit detects the net magnetic flux in associated, diagonally opposite segments. A negative feedback control circuit drives the segment cancellation coils with a current to drive the flux detected by the segment detecting circuit to a minimum.
US09030196B2
A method and apparatus for the non-destructive testing of electrically conductive components such as wellbore tubulars, which is suitable for testing the components in situ a wellbore installation. The method comprises the steps of performing a remote field eddy current test phase and at least one of a conventional direct-field eddy current test phase and a partial saturation eddy current test phase. A measurement data set from each of the test phases is obtained and the combined measurement data is processed to evaluate a condition of the test component.
US09030186B2
A bandgap voltage reference and voltage regulator system includes a bandgap voltage reference circuit and a voltage regulator circuit that share a single, common amplifier. The amplifier acts as a gain stage for the reference circuit and as an error amplifier for a driver stage of the regulator circuit. The regulator circuit has an input reference generated by the reference circuit, and the reference circuit acts as a load to the driver stage, obviating the need for a bias resistance network. By sharing the amplifier and obviating the need for a resistance network, the area and overall quiescent current of the system are reduced. The system can be implemented in CMOS/BiCMOS technology and is suited for low power applications.
US09030183B2
A power supply system including switched-mode power supply circuitry configured to generate a DC output voltage from a DC input voltage and soft-start feedback circuitry configured to control the switched-mode power supply circuitry to generate a predefined output voltage during a soft-start period of operation. The soft-start feedback circuitry includes a controllable current source configured to generate a reference current and a reference voltage, wherein the reference current is based on a difference between the reference voltage and a feedback voltage proportional to the output voltage, and amplifier circuitry configured to compare the feedback voltage with the reference voltage and generate a control signal to control the operation of the switched-mode power supply during a soft-start period of operation.
US09030180B2
In order to provide a switching regulator having high efficiency even under light load, the switching regulator is configured so that ON/OFF of a switching element is controlled by an output signal of an oscillation circuit having an oscillation frequency controlled by an output signal from an error amplifier. Thereby, the oscillation frequency can be suppressed under light load, thus reducing a switching loss.
US09030178B2
A power converter used in the current control circuit and control method, consisting of a converter, a voltage divider circuit, a current sampling circuit, a first gain circuit, a differential amplifier, a second gain circuit, a multiplier, a saw tooth wave generator, a modulation comparator, and a driver. The invention samples inductor current through the current sampling circuit and generates the current sense signal, then processes again. With the differential amplifier, it compares the feedback voltage from the voltage divider circuit with the reference voltage, and the results along a modulation comparator output a drive signal to control the duty cycle in order to avoid the generation of inrush current. The present invention avoids inrush current caused by the large drive signal and achieves a good response rate and better system stability.
US09030162B2
A battery charging system and a method for a increasing endurance of a high voltage battery in a hybrid electric vehicle includes a high voltage battery for vehicle propulsion, a generator for charging the high voltage battery, a DC/DC converter for converting a high voltage to a low voltage, a low voltage battery charged with the low voltage, and an alternator, driven by an engine, and connected with the low voltage battery in parallel with the voltage converter. The method includes registering a parameter, where the parameter is at least one of a state of charge of said high voltage battery, and energy inflow/outflow to/from said high voltage battery to said vehicle drive motor or said generator, and controlling the low voltage in dependence of the registered parameter.
US09030158B2
A charger device includes a switch, a rectification circuit, a DC/DC converter, and an automatic disconnecting circuit. The automatic disconnecting circuit is connected to the switch, the battery, the rectification circuit, and the DC/DC converter. The automatic disconnecting circuit automatically disconnects the charger device from the alternating current power source when the battery is fully charged. The automatic disconnecting circuit includes an inductor, a first resistor, a capacitor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a comparator, a switch element and a relay. The relay comprises a coil and a normally-open switch. The normally-open switch turns on or off according to the switch element to control a connection between the charger device and the alternating current power source.
US09030152B2
The present invention discloses a charging system, and the system comprises: a base which charges a mobile terminal or an own base battery and is connected with the mobile terminal and a base charger respectively; a mobile terminal control module which controls the base to charge the base battery after fully charging the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile terminal control module is located in the mobile terminal and connected with the base. A charging method is also disclosed by the present invention, and adopting the system and the method of the present invention can improve the charging efficiency and prevent the over-discharge of the base battery.
US09030137B2
A drive system, for a multi-phase brushless electric motor comprising a plurality of phases, comprises: a drive circuit including switch means arranged to vary the phase voltage applied to each of the phases so as to switch the motor between a plurality of active states; and control means. The control means is arranged to control the switch means so as to provide PWM control of the phase voltages to control the mechanical output of the motor. The control means is arranged to define a sequence for all of the active states and, for each PWM period, to allocate state times for the states required for that period to generate a desired net voltage, and to order the required states in the same order as they occur in the sequence.
US09030136B2
A motor controlling apparatus including an inverter, a voltage detector, a rotational speed detector, a command value calculating component, an inverter controller, a state detector and an offsetting component. The inverter converts direct-current power to alternating-current power supplied to a motor. The voltage detector detects a direct-current voltage, and the rotational speed detector detects a rotational speed of the motor. The calculating component calculates current and torque command values, and motor rotational speed. The controller provides a control signal to control the inverter based on the current command value. The state detector detects a control state of the inverter, and the offsetting component offsets the detected voltage or rotational speed by an offset amount. The calculating component modifies the current command value based on the offset detected voltage or rotational speed to increase on a negative side a d-axis current command value included in the current command value.
US09030135B2
An electric power steering apparatus includes an EPS actuator that applies assist force to a steering system, and an ECU that controls operation of the EPS actuator. The ECU includes an inverter device, a gate driver circuit, a gate driver power source, a microcomputer, and the like. The microcomputer switches assist control to assist stop control, based on an indication of a voltage decrease in the gate driver power source.
US09030126B2
An LED driving device has a first constant current source circuit and a voltage control circuit. The first constant current source outputs a first constant current to a first node and the first constant current flows into a first LED module disposed between a driving node and the first node; wherein, the first constant current source circuit has a first detection node for generating a first detection signal in response to the voltage level of the first node. The voltage control circuit is coupled to the first detection node, for outputting a control signal in response to the first detection signal to a voltage regulator circuit in order to control and modulate the voltage regulator circuit to output a driving voltage to the driving node.
US09030122B2
A driving circuit for controlling power of a light-emitting diode (LED) light source includes a transformer, a switch controller, and a dimming controller. The transformer has a primary winding that receives input power from an AC/DC converter and a secondary winding that provides output power to the LED light source. The switch controller coupled between an optical coupler and the primary winding receives a feedback signal indicative of a target level of a current flowing through the LED light source from the optical coupler, and controls input power to the primary winding according to the feedback signal. The dimming controller coupled to the secondary winding receives a switch monitoring signal indicative of an operation of a power switch coupled between an AC power source and the AC/DC converter, and regulates the output power by adjusting the feedback signal according to the switch monitoring signal.
US09030119B2
A solid state lighting driver arrangement exhibiting a plurality of LED strings receiving power from a single power source, the single power source providing a discontinuous current, wherein a plurality of first windings are provided, each associated with a particular LED string and coupled to provide current balancing between the various LED strings. The discontinuous current resets the windings during the off time or during a reversal period. In one particular embodiment, a second winding is magnetically coupled to each of the first windings, and the second windings are connected in a closed in-phase loop. In another particular embodiment, at least two of the first windings are magnetically coupled to each other, thus ensuring a balance between current in each LED string.
US09030113B2
If a dimming ratio of a light source unit is higher than a first ratio, an ON width of a first switching device is increased with a second switching device kept off when the dimming ratio is increased, and also the ON width of the first switching device is decreased with the second switching device kept off when the dimming ratio is decreased. If a dimming ratio of the light source unit is lower than the first ratio, the ON width of the second switching device is regulated with the ON width of the first switching device held at a lower limit.
US09030110B2
Disclosed is an improved light-emitting device for an AC power operation. A conventional light emitting device employs an AC light-emitting diode having arrays of light emitting cells connected in reverse parallel. The arrays in the prior art alternately repeat on/off in response to a phase change of an AC power source, resulting in short light emission time during a ½ cycle and the occurrence of a flicker effect. An AC light-emitting device according to the present invention employs a variety of means by which light emission time is prolonged during a ½ cycle in response to a phase change of an AC power source and a flicker effect can be reduced. For example, the means may be switching blocks respectively connected to nodes between the light emitting cells, switching blocks connected to a plurality of arrays, or a delay phosphor. Further, there is provided an AC light-emitting device, wherein a plurality of arrays having the different numbers of light emitting cells are employed to increase light emission time and to reduce a flicker effect.
US09030106B2
A driving circuit for a LED backlight module includes a brightness adjusting module, a current detector, a reference voltage adjusting module, and a comparing module. The current detector is capable of detecting the current of the brightness adjusting module and outputting a detecting result. The reference voltage adjusting module is capable of choosing the corresponding reference voltage corresponding to the detecting result of the current detector. Thus, the reference voltage outputted to the comparing module can be adjusted according to the change of the current of the brightness adjusting module. This reduces the power consumption and the amount of heat generated due to the power consumption, and improves the performance of the LED backlight module.
US09030104B2
A method and system for adjusting power supply and display screen brightness of an electronic device with a thin-film solar panel are introduced. The method includes configuring the electronic device with a first threshold level and a second threshold level, wherein the first threshold level and the second threshold level are voltage levels or current levels; attaching the thin-film solar panel to a casing of the electronic device for enabling the electronic device to convert an external light into a transformed voltage or current; and determining whether the transformed voltage or current lies between the first threshold level and the second threshold level to decide whether to allow the display screen to operate at an existing brightness level thereof continuously. The method and system enable the electronic device to receive the external light for supplementing power supple and sense the external light for adjusting power level.
US09030096B2
An LED module includes: an LED chip; and a resin case having a reflective surface surrounding the LED chip. An area contact inhibitor to inhibit area contact with an adjacent LED module is formed on an outer surface of the resin case.
US09030090B2
Disclosed is a light emitting diode (LED) having improved light extraction efficiency. The LED includes a light emitting structure which is positioned on a substrate and has a first conductive type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive type semiconductor layer. A first electrode pad is electrically connected to the first conductive type semiconductor layer. A second electrode pad is positioned on the substrate. An insulating reflective layer covers a portion of the light emitting structure, and is positioned under the second electrode pad, so that the second electrode pad is spaced apart from the light emitting structure. At least one upper extension is connected to the second electrode pad to be electrically connected to the second conductive type semiconductor layer. Further, a pattern of light extraction elements is positioned on the second conductive type semiconductor layer.
US09030087B1
A system for completing an electrical circuit includes first and second base contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion secured thereto, each magnetic portion having an opposite polarity, and each of said base contacts electrically connected to an electrical lead for transmitting an electrical signal through said base contacts. The system also includes first and second mating contacts electrically isolated from each other, each having a magnetic portion of opposite polarity secured thereto.
US09030084B2
A light source device of a backlight module includes a back frame unit and a light-emitting diode (LED) package structure. The back frame unit includes a thermal conductive base plate, and a casing part having a first plate spaced apart from and parallel to the base plate. The LED package structure is disposed between the base and first plates, and includes a package body having a light-emitting surface, and two lateral surfaces respectively facing the base plate and the first plate. A lead frame unit includes a lead frame partially exposed from the lateral surfaces of the package body to form first and second heat-conducting paths with the base and first plates, respectively.
US09030083B2
A piezoelectric vibrating piece includes: a pair of vibrating arm sections which are disposed at a distance away from each other in a width direction of a base section; the base section to which each base end of the pair of vibrating arm sections is connected; and a support arm section that is connected to the base section between the pair of vibrating arm sections and extends from the base section to the same side as the pair of vibrating arm sections, in which convex sections are formed continuous with side surfaces of roots of the vibrating arm sections and side surfaces of the base section.
US09030080B2
Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer.
US09030077B2
A switching apparatus comprising a contact point section including a first contact point; an actuator including a first piezoelectric film that expands and contracts according to a first drive voltage and a second piezoelectric film provided in parallel with the first piezoelectric film and expands and contracts according to a second drive voltage, and a control section that controls the first drive voltage and the second drive voltage is provided. The actuator moves a second contact point to contact or move away from the first contact point according to the contraction and expansion of the first piezoelectric film and the second piezoelectric film. When switching from a contact state to a separated state, the control section stops supplying the first drive voltage and applies the second drive voltage causing the second piezoelectric film to contract to the second piezoelectric film, such that the actuator is biased to return.
US09030076B2
An electrical rotary machine comprises a stator having a plurality of split cores arranged in an annular shape and a holding ring capable of retaining the plurality of split cores on an inner circumferential surface so that a surface pressure is applied to an outer circumferential surface of the split cores. The electrical rotary machine further comprises a rotor provided radially inside of the stator facing the split cores in a radial direction and rotatable relative to the stator. Each of the split cores includes a tooth portion extending in an radial direction and a back yoke portion extending in a circumferential direction. Each of the split cores further includes a slit penetrating an outer circumferential periphery of the back yoke portion except for either circumferential end of the back yoke portion.
US09030059B2
An actuator includes a stator and a movable component movably mounted in the stator. The stator includes a yoke, a printed circuit board disposed at one axial end of the yoke, a bobbin mounted inside the yoke, windings wound about the bobbin; and multiple terminals mounted to the bobbin to electrically connect the windings ends to the printed circuit board. The bobbin includes a plurality of spaced extending portions extending towards the printed circuit board. The terminals are mounted to a respective end of the extending portions of the bobbin that face the printed circuit board. The terminals are spaced from the yoke. A free length of the terminal between the bobbin and the printed circuit board is short enough to avoid bending which may result in a short circuit between the terminals and the yoke.
US09030058B2
A vibration generator includes a coil, a vibrating body, a spring, and a shaft. The coil is arranged to generate magnetic fields. The vibrating body includes a magnet and a weight. The vibrating body is arranged to be vibrated in a thrust direction by an interaction of magnetic fields generated from the magnet and magnetic fields generated from the coil. The spring is arranged to support the vibrating body at one thrust-direction side of the vibrating body. The shaft is extended in the thrust direction through the vibrating body. The shaft is arranged to allow the vibrating body to slide along the shaft in the thrust direction.
US09030056B2
A radio-frequency (RF) voltage supply system for supplying a multipole mass spectrometer, in particular a quadrupole mass spectrometer, with the alternating RF voltage used to generate a multipole field, in a secondary circuit excited by means of a primary circuit. The RF voltage supply system has an RF voltage measuring device, by means of which the alternating RF voltage in the secondary circuit is sampled, and a digital measurement value that is dependent on the alternating RF voltage is determined. The RF voltage supply system also has a computing device, by means of which a digital alternating voltage amplitude setting value is determined, taking the measurement value into account. There is also an RF voltage generator, by means of which the alternating RF voltage can be made available with an alternating RF voltage amplitude that is set depending on the alternating voltage amplitude setting value.
US09030052B2
An apparatus and method of using near field communication (NFC) and wireless power transmission (WPT) are provided. A power receiving apparatus includes a resonator configured to receive a power and to output the power. The power receiving apparatus further includes a near field communication (NFC) receiver configured to perform wireless communication using the power output by the resonator. The power receiving apparatus further includes a wireless power transmission (WPT) receiver configured to supply a voltage using the power output by the resonator. The power receiving apparatus further includes a connecting unit configured to selectively connect the resonator to either the NFC receiver or the WPT receiver. The power receiving apparatus further includes a mode selector configured to control the connecting unit to selectively connect the resonator to either the NFC receiver or the WPT receiver based on the power output by the resonator.
US09030033B2
An energy regeneration device of a suspension system for a vehicle includes: a suspension link that connects a wheel carrier to a vehicle body; a bush unit that outputs hinge motion of the suspension link through an output gear; a one-way power transmission mechanism that receives the hinge motion transmitted from the output gear through an input gear, and outputs only one-way rotational power; a generator that is disposed at a side of the vehicle body and generates electricity while being rotated by the transmitted one-way rotational power; a speed-up mechanism that speeds up one-way rotational power transmitted from the one-way power transmission mechanism, and transmits the one-way rotational power to a rotary shaft of the generator; a rectifier that rectifies the electricity generated by the generator; and a battery that accumulates electric energy.
US09030032B2
Provided is a technology capable of inhibiting a shield film formed over a surface of a sealing body from peeling from the surface of the sealing body, and inhibiting a part of the shield film from bulging from the surface of the sealing body. The present invention is characterized in that a peeling-prevention-mark formation region is provided so as to surround a product-identification-mark formation region, and a plurality of peeling prevention marks are formed in the peeling-prevention-mark formation region. That is, the present invention is characterized in that the region of the surface region of the sealing body which is different from the product-identification-mark formation region is defined as the peeling-prevention-mark formation region, and the peeling prevention marks are formed in the peeling-prevention-mark formation region.
US09030027B2
An assembled circuit is disclosed, wherein the assembled circuit comprises an inductor having a top surface, a bottom surface and side surfaces, wherein each of a plurality of conductors extends from the top surface to the bottom surface via one of the side surfaces of the inductor, wherein a circuit board is disposed over the top surface of the first electronic component and electrically connected to the plurality of conductors and a plurality of pins disposed on the bottom surface of the inductor for connecting to another circuit board.
US09030019B2
A semiconductor device and a method of making a semiconductor device are disclosed. The semiconductor device comprises a redistribution layer arranged over a chip, the redistribution layer comprising a first redistribution line. The semiconductor further comprises an isolation layer disposed over the redistribution layer, the isolation layer having a first opening forming a first pad area and a first interconnect located in the first opening and in contact with the first redistribution line. The redistribution line in the first pad area is arranged orthogonal to a first direction to a neutral point of the semiconductor device.
US09030017B2
An assembly includes a substrate having a substrate conductor and a contact at a first surface and a terminal at a second surface for electrically interconnecting the assembly with a component external to the assembly, at least one of the substrate conductor or the contact being electrically connected with the terminal; a first element having a first surface facing the first surface of the substrate and having a first conductor at the first surface and a second conductor at a second surface, an interconnect structure extending through the first element electrically connecting the first and second conductors; an adhesive layer bonding the first surfaces of the first element and the substrate, at least portions of the first conductor and the substrate conductor being disposed beyond an edge of the adhesive layer; and a continuous electroless plated metal region extending between the first conductor and the substrate conductor.
US09030002B2
A semiconductor device includes an interface layer, a smooth conductive layer disposed over the interface layer, and a first insulating layer disposed over a first surface of the smooth conductive layer. A first conductive layer is disposed over the first insulating layer and the interface layer, and the first conductive layer contacts the first insulating layer. A second insulating layer is disposed over the second insulating layer and the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer is disposed below the first conductive layer and contacts a second surface of the smooth conductive layer. The second surface of the smooth conductive layer is opposite the first surface of the smooth conductive layer. A third insulating layer is disposed over the first insulating layer and the first surface of the smooth conductive layer, and a fourth insulating layer is disposed below the second conductive layer and the interface layer.
US09029999B2
A semiconductor sensor device is packaged using a footed lid instead of a pre-molded lead frame. A semiconductor sensor die is attached to a first side of a lead frame. The die is then electrically connected to leads of the lead frame. A gel material is dispensed onto the sensor die. The footed lid is attached to the substrate such that the footed lid covers the sensor die and the electrical connections between the die and the lead frame. A molding compound is then formed over the substrate and the footed lid such that the molding compound covers the substrate, the sensor die and the footed lid.
US09029997B2
A stacked layer type semiconductor device includes N memories each including at least one main via and (N−1) sub vias, the N memories being sequentially stacked on one-another so that central axes of the N memories face each other crosswise, and a plurality of connection units electrically connecting the N memories. Here, N is a natural number greater than 1.
US09029989B2
A semiconductor package includes a substrate, a ground circuit supported by the substrate, at least one semiconductor chip disposed on the substrate and a carbon-containing heat-dissipating part disposed on the substrate and electrically connected to the ground circuit. The heat-dissipating part may include carbon fibers and/or carbon cloth.
US09029973B2
An image sensor includes first impurity regions formed in a substrate, second impurity regions formed in the first impurity regions, wherein the second impurity regions has a junction with the first impurity regions, recess patterns formed over the first impurity regions in contact with the second impurity regions, and transfer gates filling the recess patterns.
US09029967B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a semiconductor substrate in which photoelectric conversion units are arranged. An insulator is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The insulator has holes associated with the respective photoelectric conversion units. Members are arranged in the respective holes. A light-shielding member is disposed on the opposite side of one of the members from the semiconductor substrate, such that only the associated photoelectric conversion unit is shielded from light. In the solid-state image pickup device, the holes are simultaneously formed and the members are simultaneously formed.
US09029959B2
A composite high dielectric constant (high-k) gate dielectric includes a stack of a doped high-k gate dielectric and an undoped high-k gate dielectric. The doped high-k gate dielectric can be formed by providing a stack of a first high-k dielectric material layer and a dopant metal layer and annealing the stack to induce the diffusion of the dopant metal into the first high-k dielectric material layer. The undoped high-k gate dielectric is formed by subsequently depositing a second high-k dielectric material layer. The composite high-k gate dielectric can provide an increased gate-leakage oxide thickness without increasing inversion oxide thickness.
US09029956B2
A static random access memory cell is provided that includes first and second inverters formed on a substrate each having a pull-up and pull-down transistor configured to form a cell node. Each of the pull-down transistors of the first and second inverters resides over first regions below the buried oxide layer and having a first doping level and applied bias providing a first voltage threshold for the pull-down transistors. A pair of passgate transistors is coupled the cell nodes of the first and second inverters, and each is formed over second regions below the buried oxide layer and having a second doping level and applied bias providing a second voltage threshold for the passgate transistors. The first voltage threshold differs from the second voltage threshold providing electrical voltage threshold control between the pull-down transistors and the passgate transistors.
US09029953B2
A semiconductor device includes a base region of a second conduction type provided over a drain region of a first conduction type, an outer peripheral well region of a second conduction type provided to cover the outer peripheral end of the base region and having an impurity concentration lower than that of the base region, a buried electrode buried in the semiconductor substrate not to overlap the outer peripheral well region, plural gate electrodes connected to the buried electrode and buried in the substrate such that each of them is adjacent to a source region, a gate interconnect provided over the substrate to overlap a portion of the outer peripheral well region in a plan view and connected to the buried electrode, and a grounding electrode provided over the substrate and connected to a portion of the outer peripheral well region not overlapping the gate interconnect in a plan view.
US09029951B2
A semiconductor device with an SRAM memory cell having improved characteristics. Below an active region in which a driver transistor including a SRAM is placed, an n type back gate region surrounded by an element isolation region is provided via an insulating layer. It is coupled to the gate electrode of the driver transistor. A p well region is provided below the n type back gate region and at least partially extends to a position deeper than the element isolation region. It is fixed at a grounding potential. Such a configuration makes it possible to control the threshold potential of the transistor to be high when the transistor is ON and to be low when the transistor is OFF; and control so as not to apply a forward bias to the PN junction between the p well region and the n type back gate region.
US09029949B2
Disclosed are semiconductor-on-insulator (SOI) structures comprising an SOI device (e.g., an SOI metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET)) with local heat dissipater(s). Each heat dissipater comprises an opening, which is adjacent an active region of the SOI device, which extends through the insulator layer on which the SOI device sits to the semiconductor substrate below, and which is at least partially filled with a fill material. This fill material is a thermal conductor so as to dissipate heat generated by the SOI device and is also an electrical isolator so as to minimize current leakage. In the case of MOSFET, the local heat dissipater(s) can be aligned below the source/drain extension(s) or the source/drain(s). Alternatively, the local heat dissipater(s) can be aligned below the channel or parallel and adjacent to opposing sides of the channel. Also disclosed herein are methods of forming these SOI structures.
US09029945B2
A semiconductor device includes a drift layer having a first conductivity type, a well region in the drift layer having a second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type, and a source region in the well region. The source region has the first conductivity type and defines a channel region in the well region. The source region includes a lateral source region adjacent the channel region and a plurality of source contact regions extending away from the lateral source region opposite the channel region. A body contact region having the second conductivity type is between at least two of the plurality of source contact regions and is in contact with the well region. A source ohmic contact overlaps at least one of the source contact regions and the body contact region. A minimum dimension of a source contact area of the semiconductor device is defined by an area of overlap between the source ohmic contact and the at least one source contact region.
US09029933B2
According to an embodiment, a non-volatile memory device includes a memory cell including a semiconductor layer, a charge storage layer provided on the semiconductor layer, and a first insulating film provided between the semiconductor layer and the charge storage layer. The device also includes a first conductive layer provided on the charge storage layer, a second conductive layer provided between the charge storage layer and the first conductive layer, a second insulating film provided between the charge storage layer and the second conductive layer, and a third insulating film provided between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US09029930B2
A FinFET device includes a substrate, a fin, and isolation regions on either side of the fin. The device also includes sidewall spacers above the isolation regions and formed along the fin structure. A recessing trench is formed by the sidewall spacers and the fin, and an epitaxially-grown semiconductor material is formed in and above the recessing trench, forming an epitaxial structure.
US09029928B2
A semiconductor device includes a wafer having a frontside and a backside. The wafer is formed from at least one integrated circuit chip having an electrical connection frontside co-planar with the wafer frontside and a backside co-planar with the wafer backside. A passive component including at least one conductive plate and a dielectric plate is positioned adjacent the integrated circuit chip. An encapsulation block embeds the integrated circuit chip and the passive component, the block having a frontside co-planar with the wafer frontside and a backside co-planar with the wafer backside. An electrical connection is made between the electrical connection frontside and the passive component. That electrical connection includes connection lines placed on the wafer frontside and wafer backside. The electrical connection further includes at least one via passing through the encapsulation block.
US09029921B2
A two terminal device which can be used for the rectification of the current. Internally it has a regenerative coupling between MOS gates of opposite type and probe regions. This regenerative coupling allows to achieve performance better than that of ideal diode.
US09029920B2
Semiconductor structures with reduced gate and/or contact resistances and fabrication methods are provided. The method includes: providing a semiconductor device, which includes forming a transistor of the semiconductor device, where the transistor forming includes: forming a T-shaped gate for the transistor, the T-shaped gate being T-shaped in elevational cross-section; and forming an inverted-T-shaped contact to an active region of the transistor, the inverted-T-shaped contact including a conductive structure with an inverted T-shape in elevational cross-section.
US09029918B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first major electrode, a first semiconductor layer, a first conductivity-type base layer, a second conductivity-type base layer, a second semiconductor layer, a buried layer, a buried electrode, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, and a second major electrode. The buried layer of the second conductivity type selectively is provided in the first conductivity-type base layer. The buried electrode is provided in a bottom portion of a trench which penetrates the second conductivity-type base layer to reach the buried layer. The buried electrode is in contact with the buried layer. The gate electrode is provided inside the gate insulating film in the trench. The second major electrode is provided on the second semiconductor layer and is electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer and the buried electrode.
US09029913B2
A first silicon-germanium alloy layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate including silicon. A stack of a first silicon layer and a second silicon-germanium alloy layer is formed over a first region of the first silicon-germanium alloy layer, and a second silicon layer thicker than the first silicon layer is formed over a second region of the first silicon-germanium alloy layer. At least one first semiconductor fin is formed in the first region, and at least one second semiconductor fin is formed in the second region. Remaining portions of the first silicon layer are removed to provide at least one silicon-germanium alloy fin in the first region, while at least one silicon fin is provided in the second region. Fin field effect transistors can be formed on the at least one silicon-germanium alloy fin and the at least one silicon fin.
US09029901B2
An electronic component has a housing body which comprises a semiconductor chip in a recess. The semiconductor chip in the recess is embedded in a casting compound made of a first plastic material having a first glass transition temperature. A cover element made of a second plastic material having a second glass transition temperature is arranged above the recess. The second glass transition temperature is lower than the first glass transition temperature.
US09029897B2
An organic light emitting element including: a first electrode; a bump partially covering an end of the first electrode and having an island shape, which has a thickness larger than a thickness of the first electrode; an organic emission layer on the first electrode and the bump; and a second electrode on the organic emission layer.
US09029876B2
There is provided a pixel structure of a liquid crystal panel including a transparent substrate, and a gate line, a data line, a switching transistor, a first electrode, a second electrode and a shield layer formed on the transparent substrate. The gate line is substantially perpendicular to the data line. The switching transistor is located adjacent to a crossing point of the gate line and the data line, and is configured to input a display voltage of the data line to the second electrode according to the control of the gate line. The first electrode and the second electrode are arranged in such a way that the display voltage forms a transverse electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. The shield layer overlaps at least a part of the gate and is electrically isolated from the first electrode and the second electrode.
US09029870B2
A semiconductor device of the present invention includes a semiconductor layer composed of SiC, a metal layer directly bonded to one face of the semiconductor layer, and a high carbon concentration layer formed on a surface layer portion at one side of the semiconductor layer and containing more highly concentrated carbon than a surface layer portion of the other side. Further, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device of the present invention includes the steps of forming, on a surface layer portion at one face side of a semiconductor layer composed of SiC, a high carbon concentration layer containing more highly concentrated carbon than a surface layer portion at the other face side by heat treatment and directly bonding metal to the high carbon concentration layer.
US09029861B2
Thin film transistors having a high current drive capability and a suitable threshold voltage are provided. The thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, an insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer formed on the insulating layer, and source/drain electrodes formed on the semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer includes a plurality of regions separated from each other in a longitudinal direction of the source/drain electrodes.
US09029860B2
A structure includes a silicon substrate, a plurality of silicon rods on the silicon substrate, a silicon layer on the plurality of silicon rods, and a GaN substrate on the silicon layer.
US09029854B2
A method for preparing a semiconductor structure for use in the manufacture of three dimensional transistors, the structure comprising a silicon substrate and an epitaxial layer, the epitaxial layer comprising an endpoint detection epitaxial region comprising an endpoint detection impurity selected from the group consisting of carbon, germanium, or a combination.
US09029843B2
An organic light-emitting element comprising: an anode; a cathode; banks; a functional layer between the anode and the cathode; and a hole injection layer between the anode and the functional layer. The functional layer includes one or more sublayers including a light-emitting sublayer defined by the banks and that contains an organic material. The hole injection layer comprises tungsten oxide, includes an occupied energy level that is approximately 1.8 electron volts to approximately 3.6 electron volts lower than a lowest energy level of a valence band of the hole injection layer in terms of a binding energy, has a surface facing the functional layer, and has a recessed structure such that a portion of the surface overlapping with the light-emitting sublayer is located closer to the anode than other portions. The recessed structure has a recessed portion whose inner surface is in contact with the functional layer.
US09029834B2
Techniques for defining a damascene gate in nanowire FET devices are provided. In one aspect, a method of fabricating a FET device is provided including the following steps. A SOI wafer is provided having a SOI layer over a BOX. Nanowires and pads are patterned in the SOI layer in a ladder-like configuration. The BOX is recessed under the nanowires. A patternable dielectric dummy gate(s) is formed over the recessed BOX and surrounding a portion of each of the nanowires. A CMP stop layer is deposited over the dummy gate(s) and the source and drain regions. A dielectric film is deposited over the CMP stop layer. The dielectric film is planarized using CMP to expose the dummy gate(s). The dummy gate(s) is at least partially removed so as to release the nanowires in a channel region. The dummy gate(s) is replaced with a gate conductor material.
US09029827B2
In an example, a single damascene structure is formed by, for example, providing a dielectric layer, forming a void in the dielectric layer, and forming a portion of a first two-terminal resistive memory cell and a portion of a second two-terminal resistive memory cell within the void. The portions of the two-terminal resistive memory cells may be vertically stacked within the void.
US09029823B2
A new class of phase change materials has been discovered based on compounds of: Ga; lanthanide; and chalcogenide. This includes compounds of Ga, La, and S (GLS) as well as related compounds in which there is substitution of S with O, Se and/or Te. Moreover, La can be substituted with other lanthanide series elements. It has been demonstrated that this class of materials exhibit low energy switching. For example, the GLS material can provide an optical recording medium with erasability 3-5 dB greater than the erasability of GeSbTe (GST) material which is the standard material for phase change memories.
US09029818B2
An optoelectronic device is disclosed. The optoelectronic device may be employed as a single or multi-channel opto-coupler that electrically isolates one circuit from another circuit. The opto-coupler may include one or more folded leads that establish an enhanced isolation gap. The enhanced isolation gap increases the creepage distance of the opto-coupler and increases operational voltages that can be accommodated by the opto-coupler.
US09029816B2
A source assembly (48) configured to generate infrared electromagnetic radiation includes an emitter (60) that emits electromagnetic radiation over an emission solid angle. A portion of the emitted electromagnetic radiation is used in a detection. The portion of the user electromagnetic radiation surrounds the optical path in a usable solid angle. Electromagnetic radiation outside of the usable solid angle is focused back by a reflection assembly (64) onto the emitter to enhance the efficiency of the emitter.
US09029812B2
The present invention provides a plasma ion beam system that includes multiple gas sources and that can be used for performing multiple operations using different ion species to create or alter submicron features of a work piece. The system preferably uses an inductively coupled, magnetically enhanced ion beam source, suitable in conjunction with probe-forming optics sources to produce ion beams of a wide variety of ions without substantial kinetic energy oscillations induced by the source, thereby permitting formation of a high resolution beam.
US09029802B2
Substrates, systems and methods for analyzing materials that include waveguide arrays disposed upon or within the substrate such that evanescent fields emanating from the waveguides illuminate materials disposed upon or proximal to the surface of the substrate, permitting analysis of such materials. The substrates, systems and methods are used in a variety of analytical operations, including, inter alia, nucleic acid analysis, including hybridization and sequencing analyses, cellular analyses and other molecular analyses.
US09029801B2
A carrier lifetime measurement method includes material excitation, and detection of light emitted from that material. The method is characterized by: exciting the material such that excitation periods are repeated at periodic intervals; optically separating decaying light emitted after the end of the excitation period from light emitted from the material during the excitation period; and accumulating and detecting a plurality of the separated decaying light emissions within a measurement time which spans a plurality of the excitation periods and obtaining a lifetime based on an intensity of the accumulated light.
US09029794B2
An X-ray matrix imager is configured to operate based on a multiple-gate-line driving scheme and a shared-data-line driving scheme. The X-ray matrix imager includes a matrix with multiple pixels, multiple gate line sets, multiple data lines, multiple gate drivers, multiple row multiplexers, and multiple pull-down units. Each gate line sets includes a first gate line coupled to a first pixel and a second gate line coupled to a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel. Each data line is coupled to the multiple gate line sets for receiving charges accumulated on the pixels. Each row multiplexer is configured to selectively couple a corresponding gate driver to the first gate line or the second gate line in a corresponding gate line set. Each pull-down unit is configured to couple the first gate line to a constant voltage when the first gate line is not coupled to the corresponding gate driver.
US09029791B1
A customizable and upgradable imaging system is provided. Imaging detector columns are installed in a gantry to receive imaging information about a subject. Imaging detector columns can extend and retract radially as well as be rotated orbitally around the gantry. The gantry can be partially populated with detector columns and the detector columns can be partially populated with detector elements. The system can automatically adjust an imaging operation based on installation information related to partial population or other factors such as scan type or subject specific information. This system can be a Nuclear Medicine (NM) imaging system to acquire Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) image information.
US09029788B2
The present invention provides a fast-neutron detector, comprising: a plastic scintillator array which includes at least one plastic scintillator unit, wherein sidewall surfaces of each plastic scintillator unit are covered or coated with a neutron-sensitive coating film. The fast-neutron detector based on such film-coated plastic scintillators according to the present invention advantageously addresses the mutual competition problem between a moderated volume and a measured volume in the prior art and can obtain a higher fast-neutron detecting efficiency.
US09029781B2
An occupancy sensor device has a sensor and a fastener. The sensor has a body and a connector. The body has a detector and a lens. The lens covers the detector. The connector is formed on the body. The fastener is connected securely to the connector of the sensor. When the occupancy sensor device is installed on a light, the connector is mounted through a sensor hole of a light cover first, and the fastener is connected securely to the connector. Then the installation is completed and the sensor device is mounted securely on the light cover. Because the sensor has the connector directly formed on the body and the connector can be connected securely to the fastener, the sensor device is easily mounted on various kinds of lights regardless of the structure of the base.
US09029772B2
Silicon photomultiplier and readout method A silicon photomultiplier device is provided which comprises a first electrode arranged to provide a bias voltage to the device, a second electrode arranged as a ground electrode for the device, and a third electrode arranged to provide an output signal from the device using the second electrode as the output signal ground.
US09029770B2
A charge injection circuit is used to control injection of an electronic charge to be added to a photon-induced charge generated by a detector of a direct integration circuit. The electronic charge can be injected directly to the detector or through a parallel path to the detector. Injection of the electronic charge is controlled through one or more switching transistors
US09029764B2
The invention relates to devices and methods for the storage of ions in mass spectrometers. The invention proposes the generation and superposition of two multipole fields of different order, independent of each other, in an RF multipole rod system. In an embodiment with eight pole rods, for example, it is thus possible to jointly store low-energy electrons in a central RF quadrupole field, which effectively acts only on electrons and holds them together radially, on the one hand, and multiply charged heavy positive ions in an RF octopole field, which effectively acts only on the ions, on the other hand, in order to fragment the positive ions by electron capture dissociation (ECD). In a different embodiment, multiply charged positive analyte ions and suitable negative reactant ions can react with each other in an octopole field by electron transfer dissociation (ETD) with a high fragmentation yield, and the fragment ions can subsequently be bundled by a transition to a quadrupole field to form a fine ion beam, which can leave the multipole rod system axially. A mixture of hexapole and dodecapole systems is also possible.
US09029761B2
The presence of organosulfur compounds in a substance may make analyses of the substance difficult, particularly in the presence of interfering compounds. Methods for analyzing a substance may comprise: providing a substance comprising an organosulfur compound; optically interacting electromagnetic radiation with the substance and an integrated computational element; and analyzing for the organosulfur compound in the substance using the integrated computational element.
US09029758B2
The encoder includes a scale provided with first and second tracks, a sensor relatively movable with the scale and reading periodic patterns to output periodic signals, and a processor calculating a position in a relative movement direction of the scale and sensor by using the periodic signals. The first track includes first and second periodic patterns whose periods are mutually different, and the second track includes a third periodic pattern whose period is different from that of the second pattern and is an integral multiple or an integral fraction of that of the first periodic pattern. The processor calculates, by using a phase difference between the periodic signals corresponding to the first and third periodic patterns, the position in which a sensor reading error due to a relative displacement between the first and second tracks and the sensor is corrected.
US09029756B2
The present invention discloses an optical displacement detection apparatus and an optical displacement detection method. The optical displacement detection apparatus comprises: at least two light sources for projecting light of different spectrums to a surface under detection, respectively; an image capturing device for receiving light reflected from the surface under detection and converting it into electronic signals; and a processing control circuit for calculating displacement according to the electronic signals from the image capturing device, wherein the processing control circuit is capable of switching between the light sources.
US09029755B2
An imaging system includes: an illumination unit configured to emit illumination light for illuminating a subject; a light receiving unit in which pixels are arranged two-dimensionally, each pixel being configured to receive light and generate an electric signal by performing photoelectric conversion of the light; a readout unit configured to sequentially read out the electric signal from the light receiving unit for every horizontal line; and an illumination controller configured to keep intensity of the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit constant in at least a part of a readout period where the readout unit reads out the horizontal line of the light receiving unit in one frame or one field period, and configured to variably control an illumination time of the illumination light emitted from the illumination unit, outside the readout period.
US09029748B2
A method and apparatus for photon counting are disclosed. In an implementation, the present disclosure provides a dynamic-range photon-counting spectrometric sensor for low signal detection embedded in large parasitic background light signal. Rather than using a known forward illuminated imager approach of counting photons directly, embodiments of the present disclosure use a backward illuminated imager approach to generate a burst of electrons based on the photons, and perform photon detection by counting the generated burst of electrons using the plurality of CMOS chip pixels. An electronic circuit, in communication with the CMOS chip pixels, includes a fast clock enabling discrimination between electrons in time. The electronic circuit can be built on the face of a semiconductor wafer on which the CMOS chip pixels are provided.
US09029742B2
An electrically conductive resistive layer is produced by thermally spraying an electrically conductive material onto the surface of a non-conductive substrate. Initially, the material layer arising therefrom has no desired shape. The material layer is then removed in certain areas so that an electrically conductive resistive layer having said desired shape is produced.
US09029737B2
An apparatus for forming a solar cell includes a housing defining a vacuum chamber, a rotatable substrate support, at least one inner heater and at least one outer heater. The substrate support is inside the vacuum chamber configured to hold a substrate. The at least one inner heater is between a center of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a back surface of a substrate on the substrate support. The at least one outer heater is between an outer surface of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a front surface of a substrate on the substrate support.
US09029733B2
A tubular welding wire includes a granular core and a metal sheath encircling the granular core. Furthermore, the metal sheath includes at least approximately 0.3% manganese by weight and at least approximately 0.05% silicon by weight.
US09029730B2
Disclosed is a laser peening apparatus, including: a liquid holding head to shape and hold liquid to trap plasma on a local surface of a workpiece; and a laser irradiation head to irradiate the surface with laser through the liquid held in the liquid holding head.
US09029722B2
A mobile terminal includes a terminal body, and a manipulating portion disposed on one side surface of the terminal body, wherein the manipulating portion includes: a substrate having a first contact point and a second contact point; and a conductive dome configured to conduct the first and second contact points when being pressed, wherein the first and second contact points are spaced from each other on the substrate in a first direction, and wherein the second contact point portion is not disposed in a second direction crossing the first direction. Under these configurations, the mobile terminal can have more various designs.
US09029711B2
A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board including providing an insulating resin substrate having first and second surfaces, irradiating laser upon the first surface such that a first opening portion having an opening on the first surface and tapering inward is formed, irradiating laser upon the second surface such that a second opening portion having an opening on the second surface, tapering inward and communicated to the first opening portion is formed and that a penetrating-hole having the first and second opening portions is formed, forming an electroless plated film on an inner wall surface of the penetrating-hole, and forming an electrolytic plated film on the electroless plated film such that a through hole conductor structure is formed in the penetrating-hole. The opening of the first portion has an axis of the center of gravity offset with respect to that of the opening of the second opening portion.
US09029697B2
An overlapping region is located between an upper casing flange and a lower casing flange such that an outer end of lower casing flange is identical in alignment to an imaginary line passing through an outer end portion of the upper casing flange and being parallel to a side wall of an upper casing, or such that alignment of the outer end of the lower casing flange is at a side of the side wall of the upper casing.
US09029696B2
An electronic device includes a case, a heat source, a radiator, and an air stream generator. The case has an air ventilation hole and an opening. The radiator is disposed in the case and in thermal contact with the heat source. The radiator includes a main body having a first, a second, and a third side surface. A first air inlet, an air outlet, and a second air inlet are disposed on the first side surface, the second side surface, and the third side surface, respectively. The third side surface and the case are separated by a distance from each other. The second air inlet is disposed between a geometric middle plane of fins of the main body and the second side surface. The distance between the second air inlet and the first side surface is greater than that between the air ventilation hole and the first side surface.
US09029685B2
An apparatus and method for making a solar cell assembly. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a substrate, at least a first solar cell, coupled to a first side of the substrate, the first side of the substrate to be exposed to light such that the at least first solar cell generates a current when exposed to the light, and a bypass diode, formed on a second side of the substrate, the second side of the substrate being substantially opposite the first side of the substrate, such that the bypass diode is monolithically integrated with the at least first solar cell.
US09029684B2
The present disclosure relates to a hybrid solar receiver that generates electricity and heat simultaneously. The solar receiver comprises photovoltaic cells for converting concentrated light on the cells into electricity. The receiver also includes a heat pipe having a heat discharge area that serves as an evaporator for discharging heat accumulated on the photovoltaic cells to a dissipation area. A dual-function interface layer is positioned between the photovoltaic cells and the heat pipe. The interface layer electrically insulates the photovoltaic cells from the heat pipe and instantaneously transfer the heat accumulated on photovoltaic cells to liquid coolant in the heat pipe. A surface of the photovoltaic cells is coated with an encapsulation layer. A transparent plate is deposited on the encapsulation layer.
US09029676B2
A reproduction apparatus (2) collects sounds on which spread codes are superimposed with a microphone (20) to calculate correlation values between the collected sound signals and the same spread codes as those of an apparatus which performed the superimposition to identify content reproduced by a reproduction apparatus (1) in accordance with the intensity of the peaks of the calculated correlation values. A control portion (22) identifies content which is correlated with the identified content and is necessary for the reproduction apparatus (2). The control portion (22) reads out the identified content data from a content data storage portion (25) to output the musical score data and the audio data to a display portion (23) and a reproduction portion (26), respectively. The display portion (23) displays the input musical score data on a screen, while the reproduction portion (26) reproduces the input audio data to generate sound signals.
US09029673B2
A magnetic harmonica cradle having a fixed support surface that has been magnetized so as to securely hold a harmonica on the support surface when played without hands. An anterior raised lip is associated with the support surface and is configured to prevent the harmonica from slipping away from the mouth of the musician. A preferred magnetic cradle also permits the musician to grasp the harmonica in place, such as with a cupping motion for modulating the sound, or in a picking up motion for dismounting and/or exchanging the harmonica without the necessity for a mechanical release or latching mechanism which would slow the process or require tools and additional adjustment.
US09029671B1
A tremolo lock as provided preferably to allow the operator to engage the lock or stop from the topside of a guitar and tremolo base plate completing a floating double locking tremolo system preferably for electric guitars. Many embodiments also provide calibration adjustments, mounted within the cavity of guitar body, so the operator can make adjustments while the tremolo is floating, to the preset pitch tuning level position of the tremolo system such as, after a string breaks to return the remaining stings back in tune. Calibration adjustments for tuning can also be made when in the lock or stop position therefore altering and adjusting the preset pitch tuning. Many embodiments of the present invention provide the ability to easily disengage the lock or stop and return the tremolo system back to a floating position.
US09029670B2
A neck construction for a stringed instrument such as a guitar has an asymmetric, preferably trapezoidal, profile of the neck. The asymmetry is opposite at the distal end, depicted in FIG. 9, and proximal end, depicted in FIG. 10. As the musician plays the instrument, the hand will move between the proximal and distal ends of the neck, using the thumb and palm as a support to press the fingers against the front portion of the neck. By changing the angles of the surfaces denoted as (15) and (19), and (16) and (20) from the proximal to the distal end, the musician's wrist is encouraged and guided to move in a comfortable and relaxed angle throughout the playing range of the instrument, while the musician's muscles and tendons are supported, thereby reducing the risk for the musician to develop repetitive strain injuries and allowing the musician to play better.
US09029669B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a new rice cultivar that matures earlier than the original cultivar, and a method for causing a rice individual to mature earlier. The present invention relates to a rice cultivar Koshihikari kazusa no. 6 having the cultivar registration application number 25587, a progeny individual obtained by crossbreeding two individuals selected from the group consisting of an individual of the aforementioned cultivar and a progeny individual thereof, and a method for causing a rice individual to mature earlier that comprises replacing a region corresponding to a region containing base number 31,720,064 to base number 31,724,043 of the third chromosome of rice cultivar Nipponbare with a chromosome fragment composed of the corresponding region of rice cultivar Koshihikari kazusa no. 6 or rice cultivar Habataki in the third chromosome of the rice individual.
US09029666B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1DGK and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DGK with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1DGK through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DGK or a locus conversion of PH1DGK with another maize variety.
US09029659B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV401927. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV401927, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV401927 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 CV401927 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 CV401927.
US09029655B2
The cotton variety FM 9250GL is disclosed. The invention relates to seeds, plants, plant cells, plant tissue, harvested products and cotton lint as well as to hybrid cotton plants and seeds obtained by repeatedly crossing plants of variety FM 9250GL with other plants. The invention also relates to plants and varieties produced by the method of essential derivation from plants of FM 9250GL and to plants of FM 9250GL reproduced by vegetative methods, including but not limited to tissue culture of regenerable cells or tissue from FM 9250GL.
US09029653B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036421. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036421. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036421 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036421 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09029652B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 01046873. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 01046873. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 01046873 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 01046873 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US09029631B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1M17 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M17 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M17 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M17 or a locus conversion of PH1M17 with another maize variety.
US09029630B2
Crossing a winter B. napus line with a rapid-cycle B. rapa line has been discovered to provide an unexpectedly simple and efficient way to create a modified B. napus with a spring flowering habit. In one implementation, such a modified B. napus or its progeny is crossed with a second winter B. napus line to produce a plant having a winter flowering habit. This allows one to significantly shorten the development cycle for winter-flowering B. napus lines by conducting part of the breeding program with spring-flowering time cycles, then migrating the resultant germplasm back into a winter-flowering line.
US09029629B2
The present invention provides methods of marker-assisted selection for high oleic/low linolenic traits in canola and in other oil seed crop species, as well as isolated nucleic acids for use as molecular markers in such methods. In particular, molecular markers and Brassica nucleic acid corresponding to fad2 and fad3 gene mutations are disclosed. The markers of the present invention are highly useful for the direct selection of desirable fad2 and fad3 alleles during marker-assisted trait introgression and breeding. In one aspect of the embodiment, two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers are provided that correspond to the alleles. Thus, the present invention advantageously permits one of skill in the art to breed for the molecular markers described herein, or derivatives thereof, rather than breeding for a high oleic/low linolenic phenotype.
US09029627B2
A lentiviral vector was used to produce non-human animals that express human sFLT1 specifically in the murine placenta, to provide model animals of diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome that are close to the clinical conditions, methods for producing the model animals, methods of screening for candidate compounds as therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome by using the model animals, and therapeutic agents for diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome. As a result, the model animals were found to exhibit symptoms that are very close to the clinical conditions in human, which are presentation of hypertension as well as placental insufficiency, intrauterine growth retardation, glomerulosclerosis, and proteinuria during pregnancy, and improvement of those symptoms postpartum. Furthermore, when pravastatin was administered to this model animal, it was found that diseases such as pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome were improved by the activation of placenta-derived growth factor (PIGF) which antagonizes sFLT1.
US09029626B2
An absorbent article includes a first curved portion and a second curved portion formed on the surface of a topsheet along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The first curved portion is arranged in one pair to be symmetrical to a centerline of the absorbent article in a region in which the contact region is included, the region being an inside region more than each side part in a widthwise direction of the absorbent article, and is formed along a longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The second curved portion is arranged in one pair in a region in which the contact region is included, the region being an inside region in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article more than the first curved portion, and is formed along the longitudinal direction of the absorbent article. The first curved portion and the second curved portion has a convex shape outward in the widthwise direction of the absorbent article, in the region in which the contact region is included.
US09029623B2
A treatment process of persistent organic pollutants contained in particles is provided. Said process includes reacting persistent organic pollutant in particles under hydrothermal conditions in the presence of Fe2+ and Fe3+. Several beneficial effects can be achieved, including 1) no other additive is needed during the reaction process; 2) Fe2+ and Fe3+ are safe, cheap and extensive sources; 3) because Fe2+ and Fe3+ are dissolved, they can fully disperse into particles, and fully contact can be achieved, thus obtaining a decomposition rate no less than 70% of the persistent organic pollutants is under subcritical conditions.
US09029621B2
A process for oligomerizing isobutene comprises contacting a feedstock comprising isobutene with a catalyst comprising a MCM-22 family molecular sieve under conditions effective to oligomerize the isobutene, wherein said conditions including a temperature from about 45° C. to less than 140° C. The isobutene may be a component of a hydrocarbon feedstock containing at least one additional C4 alkene. In certain aspects, isobutene oligomers are separated from a first effluent of the oligomerization to produce a second effluent comprising at least one n-butene. The second effluent can be contacted with an alkylation catalyst to produce sec-butylbenzene.
US09029619B2
The present invention relates to a process to make alpha olefins comprising: dehydrating ethanol to recover an ethylene stream, introducing said ethylene stream into an oligomerization zone containing an oligomerization catalyst and into contact with said oligomerization catalyst, operating said oligomerization zone at conditions effective to produce an effluent consisting essentially of 1-butene, 1-hexene, optionally heavier alpha olefins and unconverted ethylene if any, introducing the above effluent into a fractionation zone to recover a stream consisting essentially of 1-butene, a stream consisting essentially of 1-hexene, optionally a stream consisting essentially of heavier alpha olefins and an optional ethylene stream. In an advantageous embodiment the 1-hexene or at least one heavier alpha olefins, if any, are isomerized to an internal olefin and subsequently transformed by metathesis with the aid of additional ethylene into different alpha-olefins with even or odd number of carbons. By way of example 1-hexene is isomerized into 2-hexene and by methathesis with ethylene converted to 1-pentene and propylene.In another embodiment the oligomerization zone is only a dimerization zone and butene is produced. 1-butene is isomerized to 2-butene and sent to a methathesis zone in the presence of ethylene to be converted to propylene. In said embodiment the dehydration catalyst is selected in the group consisting of a crystalline silicate having a ratio Si/Al of at least about 100, a dealuminated crystalline silicate, and a phosphorus modified zeolite.
US09029618B2
A process for reforming a hydrocarbon stream is presented. The process involves splitting a naphtha feedstream to at least two feedstreams and partially processing each feedstream in separate reactors. The processing includes passing the light stream to a combination hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactor. The process reduces the energy by reducing the endothermic properties of intermediate reformed process streams.
US09029615B2
The present invention relates to the energy efficient and selective extraction of dilute concentrations of C2-C6 alcohols from an aqueous solution using liquid phase dimethyl ether.
US09029606B2
A process for obtaining an industrially useful 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde-containing liquid composition at a high yield is provided. More specifically, a process for producing 2-chloromethylbenzaldehyde comprising step (A) of mixing 1-dichloromethyl-2-chloromethylbenzene and sulfuric acid having a concentration of 84.5% by weight or more; and step (B) of mixing a mixture obtained in step (A) and water is provided.
US09029602B2
Provided are an anti-static and anti-microbial surface treatment agent including a quaternary ammonium salt compound as an active ingredient and a method of preventing a polymer fiber from developing static electricity by using the surface treatment agent. The quaternary ammonium salt compound has excellent anti-static and anti-microbial effects for the prevention or improvement of static electricity in a polymer fiber. Accordingly, the quaternary ammonium salt compound is suitable for use as a fabric softener, or an anti-static agent, and also, provides anti-microbial effects to a polymer fiber.
US09029596B2
A method for producing acrylic acid and/or an ester thereof from a raw material composition containing hydroxypropionic acid and/or an ester thereof, the method including the steps of: (a) evaporating the raw material composition; and (b) dehydrating the evaporated raw material composition by contact with a dehydration catalyst, wherein the total amount of hydroxypropionic acid and/or an ester thereof supplied in the step (b) is controlled to be 70% by mass or more based on 100% by mass of the total amount of hydroxypropionic acid and/or an ester thereof supplied in the step (a).
US09029593B2
Provided is an amide ester that is useful as an intermediate manufacturing product for an aroma compound such as spilanthol or the like. Also provided is a spilanthol manufacturing method using said amide ester. High-purity spilanthol can be manufactured by reacting an amide ester represented by general formula (1) with a basic compound. (In the formula, R1 represents a C1-6 alkyl group or a phenyl group that may be substituted with a C1-4 alkyl group, a C1-4 alkoxy group, or a halogen atom; R2 represents a C1-8 hydrocarbon group; and the wavy lines represent cis configurations, trans configurations, or a mixture of the two configurations.)
US09029588B2
Provided is a method for producing a chlorogenic acids composition having a reduced caffeine content and good taste and favor, capable of efficiently recovering high purity of chlorogenic acids from a chlorogenic acids-containing composition. The method for producing a purified chlorogenic acids composition comprises a step A of bringing a chlorogenic acids-containing composition into contact with a cation exchange resin; a step B of bringing the liquid obtained in the step A into contact with an anion exchange resin; and a step C of bringing an eluent into contact with the anion exchange resin after the step B.
US09029584B2
A method for lowering content of a sterol in a highly unsaturated fatty acid-concentrated oil in a method to concentrate a highly unsaturated fatty acid by using a lipase reaction, may include removing the free form of the sterol from a raw material oil that includes a highly unsaturated fatty acid-containing glyceride prior to performing the lipase reaction; and thereafter concentrating the highly unsaturated fatty acid in the glyceride by using a lipase that is less reactive for the highly unsaturated fatty acid.
US09029581B2
A process for the manufacture of dialkyl furan-2,5-dicarboxylate (DAFD) vapor composition by feeding furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (“FDCA”) to an esterification reactor and in the presence of an alcohol compound such as methanol, conducting an esterification reaction to form an esterification vapor containing DAFD, unreacted alcohol compound, 5-(alkoxycarbonyl)furan-2-carboxylic acid (ACFC), and water, and continuously passing the esterification vapor through an ACFC condensing zone, that can be integral with the esterification reactor, in which at least a portion of the ACFC in the esterification vapor is converted to a liquid phase condensate, and continuously discharging the esterification vapor from the ACFC condensing zone as a DAFD vapor. There is also a DAFD vapor composition containing DAFD, water, unreacted alcohol, and by-products.
US09029580B2
Disclosed is a process to produce a dry purified carboxylic acid product comprising furan-2,5-dicarboxylic acid (FDCA). The process comprises oxidizing at least one oxidizable compound selected from the following group: 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (5-HMF), 5-HMF esters (5-R(CO)OCH2-furfural were R alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl), 5-HMF ethers (5-R′OCH2-furfural, where R′=alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl), 5-alkyl furfurals (5-R″-furfural, where R″=alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl), mixed feed-stocks of 5-HMF and 5-HMF esters and mixed feed-stocks of 5-HMF and 5-HMF ethers and mixed feed-stocks of 5-HMF and 5-alkyl furfurals to generate a crude carboxylic acid slurry comprising FDCA.
US09029578B2
A method is provided for the preparation of anhydrosugar alcohols. The method involves dehydration of a hexitol with a mixed acid of a first acid and second acid, in which the first acid is sulfuric acid and the second acid is at least one sulfur-containing acid or sulfur-containing acid salt selected from the group consisting of p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid and aluminum sulfate. Also provided are methods for purification of the resulting product.
US09029568B2
A branched hetero polyfunctional polyoxyalkylene compound represented by the following formula (1): wherein Z represents a hydroxyl group-removed residue of pentaerythritol or dipentaerythritol, OA1 and OA2 represent an oxyalkylene group having 2 to 4 carbon atoms, L1, L2 and L3 represent an alkylene group or an alkylene group that contains an ester bond, a urethane bond, an amide bond, an ether bond, a carbonate bond, a secondary amino group or a urea bond, X and Y are different from each other and represent a functional group capable of a chemical reaction; m and n are an average number of moles of the oxyalkylene group added, m represents 5 to 1,000, n represents 0 to 1,000, and p, q and r represent 0 or 1; and s1 is an integer of 2 or more and s1+s2=4 or 6.
US09029564B2
A process for preparation of Fipronil (i.e. 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-trifluoro-methylsulphinyl-pyrazole) is provided, which comprises oxidizing 5-amino-1-(2,6-dichloro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl)-3-cyano-4-tri-fluoromethylthio-pyrazole with sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent in the presence of a solvent such as ethylene dichloride, chlorobenzene.
US09029560B2
This disclosure relates to the field of molecules having pesticidal utility against pests in phyla Nematoda, Arthropoda, and/or Mollusca, processes to produce such molecules and intermediates used in such processes, compositions containing such molecules, and processes of using such molecules against such pests. These molecules may be used, for example, as nematicides, acaricides, insecticides, miticides, and/or molluscicides. This document discloses molecules having the following formula (“Formula One”).
US09029548B2
The invention relates to fatty acid lenalidomide derivatives; compositions comprising an effective amount of a fatty acid lenalidomide derivative; and methods for treating or preventing a metabolic disease comprising the administration of an effective amount of a fatty acid lenalidomide derivative.
US09029543B2
The invention relates to a process for the synthesis of quaternized compounds of formula:
US09029537B2
Compounds of the general structure: Z-A-(S-B)n where A represents a linear aromatic molecular core, S represents a flexible spacer unit, B represents a crosslinking group such as a methacrylate group, n equals 1 to 3, and Z represents any entity compatible with the B groups, and in which A is a substantially aromatic nucleus containing fluorene ring structures substituted at the 9-position and in which the 9-positions of the fluorenes are not susceptible to oxidation.
US09029531B2
Compounds and compositions comprising compounds that inhibit glutaminase are described herein. Also described herein are methods of using the compounds that inhibit glutaminase in the treatment of cancer.
US09029516B2
Antibodies and molecules derived therefrom that bind to novel STEAP-1 protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein STEAP-1 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, STEAP-1 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The STEAP-1 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with STEAP-1 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US09029515B2
The present invention relates to antibodies with pH dependent binding to its antigen such that the affinity for antigen binding at physiological pH (i.e., pH 7.4) is greater than at endosomal pH (i.e., pH 6.0 or 5.5). In other words, the KD or koff ratio at pH 5.5/pH 7.4 or at pH 6.0/pH 7.4 is more than, or ranges between, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 16, 20, 30, 40, or 100 or more. Such pH dependent antibodies preferentially dissociate from the antigen in the endosome. This can increase antibody half life, as compared to antibodies with equivalent KDs at pH 7.4 but with no pH dependent binding, when the antigen is one that undergoes antigen-mediated clearance (e.g., PCSK9). Antibodies with pH dependent binding can decrease total antigen half life when the antigen undergoes reduced clearance when bound to antibody (e.g., IL6). Antibodies with pH dependent binding can also prolong the decrease in antigen which is not antibody-bound. This can be important when antagonizing a target antigen typically present at high levels (e.g., IgE, DKK1, C5 and SOST). In addition, such antibodies can increase antigen half life when the antigen is a receptor and the receptor has increased clearance when bound to antibody (e.g., GMCSF receptor).
US09029513B2
A cell growth inhibitor that includes, as an antibody component, an artificially produced anti-EGFR antibody having specific binding capacity to EGFR which is characterized in that an epitope therefor is in a cysteine-rich subdomain 2 (C2 domain) and/or in a ligand-binding domain 1 (L1 domain) among four subdomains contained in the extracellular domain of EGFR.
US09029512B2
The present invention relates to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to phospho-Akt and certain p-Akt substrates. The invention encompasses human and humanized forms of the antibodies and their use in treating cancers and other proliferative disorders. The invention also relates to p-Akt-derived peptides useful for preparing the antibodies. Methods and compositions for detecting, diagnosing, treating or ameliorating a disease or disorder, especially cancer and other proliferative disorders using the present antibodies also are disclosed.
US09029506B2
Provided are compositions comprising newly identified protein fragments of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, polynucleotides that encode them and complements thereof, related agents, and methods of use thereof in diagnostic, drug discovery, research, and therapeutic applications.
US09029501B2
Disclosed embodiments concern a method for making substantial quantities of desired macrocycles. Disclosed ring closing reactions make the macrocycle with desired olefin geometry in excellent yield and E/Z ratio. Particular embodiments of the current method concern intermediates that are obtained from commercially available starting materials in a small number of steps, thereby illustrating the commercial importance and applicability of the disclosed method. The macrocycle produced by the ring closing reaction can be further derivatized to provide analogs of the macrocyclic compounds.
US09029498B2
The present invention provides polycarbonate polyol compositions with improved characteristics. Such polycarbonate polyol compositions are useful in thermosetting applications for the production of coatings for consumer products.
US09029487B2
The present invention generally relates to a process that copolymerizes two or more polymerizable olefins, and to cataclyst comprising a metal-ligand complex (precatalyst). The present invention also generally relates to ligands useful for preparing the metal-ligand complex.
US09029485B2
A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles by polymerizing droplets of a monomer solution in a surrounding gas phase in a reaction chamber, wherein the monomer solution is metered into the reaction chamber via at least one bore, and the diameter is from 210 to 290 μm per bore and the metering rate is from 0.9 to 5 kg/h per bore.
US09029484B2
A production method includes a process (I) of heating a cyclic polyarylene sulfide composition under reduced pressure and a process (II) of heating and polymerizing a cyclic polyarylene sulfide composition. This simple method allows for production of a polyarylene sulfide of the higher molecular weight and can produce a polyarylene sulfide having a narrow molecular weight distribution, low gas generation and high industrial usability. Additionally, pelletization after the process (I) can produce a cyclic polyarylene sulfide pellet having ease of conveyance, excellent molding processability, less gas generation amount and high industrial usability.
US09029482B2
Disclosed herein is a method for preparing a polycondensation resin. The method includes preparing a low degree condensate; and solid phase polymerizing the low degree condensate, wherein a granular molded article is introduced into the solid phase polymerization. The method enables efficient manufacture of high quality resins without problems such as agglomeration or scaling of a low degree condensate in pipes.
US09029469B2
A wood protection paint comprises a copolymer emulsion prepared by an emulsion polymerization process, in which a first monomer composition comprising from 60 weight percent to 95 weight percent of at least one vinyl ester, and from 5 weight percent to 40 weight percent ethylene is polymerized in a first stage under ethylene pressure to produce a first stage product having a Tg of less than 25° C. Then, in a second stage, a second monomer composition selected such that the polymer produced by the second monomer composition has a Tg of at least 95° C.
US09029466B2
A resin composition for an aqueous coating material that includes a propylene-butene resin component and/or propylene-ethylene-butene resin component (A), and a (meth)acrylic resin component (B), wherein the mass ratio between the propylene-butene resin component and/or propylene-ethylene-butene resin component (A) and the (meth)acrylic resin component (B) is within a range from 15:85 to 75:25. Also disclosed are a method for producing such a resin composition and an aqueous coating material. The present invention is able to provide a resin composition for an aqueous coating material that is useful as a binder within an aqueous coating material that uses no organic solvents or chlorine compounds, and yet exhibits excellent adhesion to polyolefin-based resins and is capable of forming a coating film that is resistant to discoloration and exhibits favorable resistance to the oils contained within gasoline, cosmetic products and foodstuffs and the like, and is also able to provide a method for producing the resin composition and an aqueous coating material that uses the resin composition.
US09029459B2
Provided is a curable composition which contains: an organic peroxide encapsulated in microcapsules which further contains a plasticizer; an accelerator which reacts with the organic peroxide to accelerate polymerization; (meth)acrylate compounds which may contain a (meth)acrylate having a carboxylic group and a (meth)acrylate having an alicyclic hydrocarbon; and a multifunctional (meth)acrylate different from the (meth)acrylate having a carboxylic group. The curable composition exhibits a quick curing rate.
US09029437B2
A coating/sealant system that includes a coating and a sealant deposited over at least a portion of the coating, in which the coating includes a reaction product formed from reactants comprising a phosphated epoxy resin and a curing agent, and the sealant includes a sulfur-containing polymer.
US09029419B2
The subject matter of the present invention is Zn N-acetyltaurinate of formula: [CH3—CO—NH—CH2—CH2—SO3]2−Zn2+ for preventing and/or treating diseases with lipofuscin accumulation due in particular to aging or to oxidative stress, and for preparing a medicament that is of use in treating these diseases.Use: treatment of diseases related to aging or to oxidative stress, in particular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.
US09029418B2
A treatment for bioprosthetic tissue used in implants or for assembled bioprosthetic heart valves to reduce in vivo calcification. The method includes applying a calcification mitigant such as a capping agent or an antioxidant to the tissue to specifically inhibit oxidation in tissue. Also, the method can be used to inhibit oxidation in dehydrated tissue. The capping agent suppresses the formation of binding sites in the tissue that are exposed or generated by the oxidation and otherwise would, upon implant, attract calcium, phosphate, immunogenic factors, or other precursors to calcification. In one method, tissue leaflets in assembled bioprosthetic heart valves are pretreated with an aldehyde capping agent prior to dehydration and sterilization.
US09029416B2
Methods and devices for maintaining a desired therapeutic drug effect over a prolonged therapy period are provided. In particular, oral dosage forms that release drug within the gastrointestinal tract at an ascending release rate over an extended time period are provided. The dosage forms may additionally comprise an immediate-release dose of drug.
US09029409B2
The present invention provides compound of Formula (I) biologically active metabolites, pro-drugs, isomers, stereoisomers, solvates, hydrates and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof wherein the variables are defined herein. The compounds of the invention are useful for treating immunological conditions.
US09029396B2
The present invention relates to substituted indole derivatives, to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US09029379B2
Application of 5-HT6 receptor antagonists for the alleviation of cognitive deficits of down syndrome
Methods for treating Down syndrome and improving cognitive function of a patient with an intellectual disability are disclosed. 5-hydroxytryptamine sub-receptor six (5-HT6) receptor antagonists are provided for improving the cognition of a Down syndrome patient.
US09029365B2
This invention provides a composition comprising a first compound selected from Formula 1, an N-oxide or an agriculturally suitable salt thereof; and a second compound selected from neonicotinoids, wherein R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b and R5 are as defined in the disclosure.
US09029363B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation of the crystalline sodium salt of 4′-[2-n-propyl-4-methyl-6-(1-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl)benzimidazol-1-ylmethyl]biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (telmisartan), and to processes for the preparation thereof.
US09029360B2
This invention relates to novel pyrazolopyrimidines and their use as metabotropic glutamate 5 receptor antagonists (mGlu5 receptor antagonists), pharmaceutical compositions containing the same, and methods of using the same as agents for treatment or amelioration of mGlu5 receptor mediated disorders.
US09029359B2
The present invention provides compounds useful as inhibitors of Btk, compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US09029358B2
A composition having BACE 1 inhibitory activity containing a compound represented by the formula (I): wherein ring A is an optionally substituted carbocyclic group or an optionally substituted heterocyclic group; E is lower alkylene; X is S, O, or NR1; R1 is a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl; R2a, R2b, R3a, R3b, R4a, and R4b, is each independently a hydrogen atom, halogen, or hydroxyl etc.; n and m are each independently an integer of 0 to 3; n+m is an integer of 0 to 3; R5 is a hydrogen atom or substituted lower alkyl; its pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.
US09029347B2
A method and a mixture for treating and preventing the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by applying a predetermined therapeutically effective amount of a mixture of hyaluronic acid to individuals is disclosed. The mixture includes at least two different average molecular weight hyaluronic acids (Mw) with different rheology to gain a hyaluronic acid with the proper adhesion property, functions of tissue scaffold and insulation and treatment time, in order to treat and to prevent IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) includes ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or wound healing in stomach and intestine, thus to achieve the prompt treatment and to prolong the effect.
US09029343B2
Disclosed are compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and the uses of the compounds and compositions as modulators of histone methyltransferases, and for treating diseases influenced by modulation of histone methyltransferase activity.
US09029341B2
The present invention relates to compounds, compositions, and methods for the study, diagnosis, and treatment of traits, diseases and conditions that respond to the modulation of HBV gene expression and/or activity, and/or modulate a HBV gene expression pathway. Specifically, the invention relates to double-stranded nucleic acid molecules including small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules that are capable of mediating or that mediate RNA interference (RNAi) against HBV gene expression.
US09029336B2
An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding a transcriptional enhancer of cytochrome P450 (P450) CYP3A4 production or expression, and uses of the nucleic acid molecule for screening compounds for xenobiotic induction of CYP3A4 expression in cells and animals.
US09029327B2
Vaccine comprising a peptide bound to a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, said peptide having the amino acid sequence (Formula I) (SEQ ID NO: 1) (X1)m(X2)n(X3)oX4X5HPX6, for treating and/or preventing a physical disorder associated with the renin-activated angiotensin system, wherein X1 is G or D, X2 is A, P, M, G, or R, X3 is G, A, H, or V, X4 is S, A, D, or Y, X5 is A, D, H, S, N, or I, X6 is A, L or F, wherein m, n and o are independently 0 or 1 under the premise that when o is 0 m and n are 0 and when n is 0 m is 0, and wherein the peptide is not DRVYIHPF (SEQ ID NO:4).
US09029315B2
The subject invention provides novel soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs thereof, for enhancing humoral and cell-mediated immunity of a subject. Also provided are therapeutic compositions comprising the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and fusion constructs of the subject invention. In a preferred embodiment, the therapeutic composition is formulated as a vaccine composition. Advantageously, the sPD-1 proteins, nucleic acids, and therapeutic compositions provide protective immunity against pathogenic infection including HIV infection. In addition, the subject invention can be used in the prevention and/or treatment of tumor or cancer.
US09029314B2
A warewashing detergent composition is provided for use for in cleaning of alkaline sensitive metals such as aluminum or aluminum containing alloys. The compositions include alternatives to sodium tripolyphosphate and/or other phosphorous containing raw materials, while retaining cleaning performance and corrosion prevention. According to the invention, high molecular weight polyacrylates (polyacrylic acid homopolymers) with a molecular weight of at least about 5000 are used as corrosion inhibitors and can be included for aluminum protection in a number of different detergent compositions.
US09029312B2
A non-aqueous liquid cleaning composition for applicators used for applying non-aqueous hair removal compositions to the skin. The composition includes a solubilizing oil effective for solubilizing the non-aqueous hair removal composition, e.g., mineral oil, and an effective antibacterial amount of an antibacterial agent, e.g., triclosan. The composition may also include fragrances and additional bacteriocides, e.g., phenoxyethanol. When the applicator is contacted with the heated cleaning composition any hair removal composition and bacteria on the applicator are removed therefrom and the applicator is ready for reuse. It is preferred to use surgical stainless steel applicators. Also provided are methods of using these compositions and kits containing, among other items, such compositions and applicators.
US09029303B2
A lubricant oil composition according to the present invention comprises: a lubricant base oil whose kinematic viscosity at 100° C. is 1 to 20 mm2/s; and a viscosity index improver in which a ratio M1a/M2a of a total area M1a of peaks in a chemical shift between 29-31 ppm to a total area M2a of peaks in a chemical shift between 64-69 ppm based on a total area of all the peaks is not less than 10 in a spectrum obtained by 13C-NMR.
US09029286B2
A method of making a metal oxide nanoparticle comprising contacting an aqueous solution of a metal salt with an oxidant. The method is safe, environmentally benign, and uses readily available precursors. The size of the nanoparticles, which can be as small as 1 nm or smaller, can be controlled by selecting appropriate conditions. The method is compatible with biologically derived scaffolds, such as virus particles chosen to bind a desired material. The resulting nanoparticles can be porous and provide advantageous properties as a catalyst.
US09029283B2
A catalyst composition which comprises: a) a carrier which comprises at least 30 wt % of a binder selected from silica, zirconia and titania; at least 20 wt % of a pentasil zeolite, having a bulk silica to alumina ratio in the range of from 20 to 150 and being in its H+ form; and less than 10 wt % of other components, all percentages being on the basis of total carrier; b) platinum in an amount in the range of from 0.001 to 0.1 wt %, on the basis of total catalyst; and c) tin in an amount in the range of from 0.01 to 0.5 wt %, on the basis of total catalyst; its preparation and use; are provided.
US09029282B2
In various embodiments, the present disclosure provides a method of fixing nitrogen. An amount of titania catalyst is provided and contacted with a feed stream that includes nitrogen. The titania catalyst is heated. The heated titania catalyst fixes nitrogen in the feed stream to form nitrogen products, such as nitrates. The nitrogen products are then removed from the titania catalyst. In some examples, the titania catalyst is treated with a base. In further examples, the catalytic process is carried out in the absence of light for photochemically activating the titania catalyst.
US09029281B2
A regenerated spent hydroprocessing catalyst treated with a chelating agent and having incorporated therein a polar additive.
US09029277B2
A breathable laminate has a liquid-resistant backing film layer having varied vapor permeability that includes breathable thinned localized regions and thicker non-breathable regions, wherein the film layer is co-extensively directly joined with a liquid- and vapor-permeable nonwoven fabric. The breathable laminate can have unidirectional air permeability. The present invention also relates to disposable apparel and absorbent products which incorporate the breathable laminate, and methods of making the breathable laminate.
US09029275B2
Provided is a nanofiber sheet that sufficiently refined by fibrillation and has high crystallinity of cellulose fiber and can realize a fiber-reinforced composite material exhibiting high transparency, a high elastic modulus, a low coefficient of linear thermal expansion, and high heat resistance and being high in flatness and smoothness. This nanofiber sheet includes crystalline cellulose as the main component and a lignin in an amount of from 10 ppm to 10 wt %. When a fiber/resin composite material obtained by impregnating the nanofiber sheet with tricyclodecane dimethacrylate, subjecting the impregnated product to UV-curing at 20 J/cm2, and heating the cured product in vacuum at 160° C. for two hours includes 60 wt % of the cured tricyclodecane dimethacrylate and 40 wt % of nanofiber, the following physical characteristics (i) to (iii) are satisfied: (i) the parallel light transmittance of light of a wavelength of 600 nm at a sheet thickness of 100 μm is 70% or more; (ii) the Young's modulus is 5.0 GPa or more; and (iii) the coefficient of linear thermal expansion is 20 ppm/K or less.
US09029273B2
A method for forming a silicon oxide film of a semiconductor device is disclosed. The method of forming the silicon oxide film of the semiconductor device includes performing surface processing using an amine-based compound, so that the uniformity and density of the silicon oxide film may be improved.
US09029271B2
A method of patterning a block copolymer layer includes: providing a guide pattern on a surface of a substrate, the guide pattern including sidewalls each elongated in a longitudinal direction and spaced apart from each other, a trench defined by a bottom surface and facing surfaces of the sidewalls, and having a uniform width over an entire length thereof in the longitudinal direction, and a latitudinal wall perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the trench; providing a block copolymer layer on the surface of the substrate; and annealing the block copolymer to cause self-assembly of the block copolymer and to direct the same in the trench. The block copolymer has a microphase-separation into anisotropic discrete domains aligned with a period λo in the trench by the annealing.
US09029267B2
A method for controlling thermal cycling of a faraday shield in a plasma process chamber is provided. The method includes: performing a first plasma processing operation on a first wafer in the plasma process chamber; terminating the first plasma processing operation; performing a first wafer transfer operation to transfer the first wafer out of the chamber; and, during the first wafer transfer operation, applying power to a TCP coil under a plasma limiting condition.
US09029257B2
Some embodiments include a planarization method. A liner is formed across a semiconductor substrate and along posts that extending upwardly from the substrate. Organic fill material is formed over the liner and between the posts. A planarized surface is formed which extends across the posts and across one or both of the liner and the fill material. Some embodiments include a semiconductor construction containing a semiconductor die. Electrically conductive posts extend through the die. The posts have upper surfaces above a backside surface of the die, and have sidewall surfaces extending between the backside surface and the upper surfaces. A liner is across the backside surface of the die and along the sidewall surfaces of the posts. Electrically conductive caps are over the upper surfaces of the posts, and have rims along the liner adjacent the sidewall surfaces of the posts.
US09029255B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided. A first polysilicon layer of a first conductivity type is provided on a substrate having first and second active regions. An ion implantation process is performed in the polysilicon layer corresponding to the second active region by using a dopant of a second conductivity type opposite to the first conductivity type, and silane plasma is introduced during the ion implantation process to form a second polysilicon layer thereon and convert the first conductivity type of the first polysilicon layer corresponding to the second active region to the second conductivity type. The first and second polysilicon layers are patterned to form a first gate layer corresponding to the first active region and a second gate layer corresponding to the second active region. A semiconductor device is also provided.
US09029252B2
A nanostructure, an optical device including the nanostructure, and methods of manufacturing the nanostructure and the optical device. A method of manufacturing a nanostructure may include forming a block copolymer template layer and a precursor pattern of metal coupled to the block copolymer template layer on a graphene layer, and forming a metal nanopattern on the graphene layer by removing the block copolymer template layer and reducing the precursor pattern.
US09029250B2
A method for producing semiconductor regions including impurities includes forming a trench in a first surface of a semiconductor body. Impurity atoms are implanted into a bottom of the trench. The trench is extended deeper into the semiconductor body, thereby forming a deeper trench. Impurity atoms are implanted into a bottom of the deeper trench.
US09029247B2
According to one embodiment, a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device includes forming a crystal film on a semiconductor substrate by irradiating the semiconductor substrate with a first microwave, obtained by providing frequency modulation or phase modulation of a first carrier wave which is a sine wave with a first frequency, using a first signal wave which is a sine wave or a pulse wave with a third frequency lower than a first frequency, and irradiating the semiconductor substrate with a second microwave, obtained by providing frequency modulation or phase modulation of a second carrier wave, which is a sine wave with a second frequency higher than the first frequency, using a second signal wave which is a sine wave or a pulse wave with a fourth frequency lower than the second frequency.
US09029242B2
Methods and apparatuses for dicing substrates by both laser scribing and plasma etching. A method includes laser ablating material layers, the ablating by a laser beam with a centrally peaked spatial power profile to form an ablated trench in the substrate below thin film device layers which is positively sloped. In an embodiment, a femtosecond laser forms a positively sloped ablation profile which facilitates vertically-oriented propagation of microcracks in the substrate at the ablated trench bottom. With minimal lateral runout of microcracks, a subsequent anisotropic plasma etch removes the microcracks for a cleanly singulated chip with good reliability.
US09029240B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an SOI wafer, in which an insulator film is formed at least on all surfaces of a base wafer, and while protecting a first part of the insulator film on a back surface on the opposite side from a bonded surface of the base wafer, a bonded wafer before separating a bond wafer along a layer of the implanted ion is brought into contact with a liquid capable of dissolving the insulator film or exposed to a gas capable of dissolving the insulator film, and a second part of the insulator film interposed between the bond wafer and the base wafer is etched from an outer circumferential edge of the bonded wafer and toward the center of the bonded wafer. The method can control the terrace width and inhibit warping of the SOI wafer in a bonding process with a base wafer.
US09029238B2
A method for processing a semiconductor wafer includes applying a release layer to a transparent handler. An adhesive layer, that is distinct from the release layer, is applied between a semiconductor wafer and the transparent handler having the release layer applied thereon. The semiconductor wafer is bonded to the transparent handler using the adhesive layer. The semiconductor wafer is processed while it is bonded to the transparent handler. The release layer is ablated by irradiating the release layer through the transparent handler with a laser. The semiconductor wafer is removed from the transparent handler.
US09029237B2
To provide a semiconductor device provided with an element isolation structure capable of hindering an adverse effect on electric characteristics of a semiconductor element, and a method of manufacturing the same. The thickness of a first silicon oxide film left in a shallow trench isolation having a relatively narrow width is thinner than the first silicon oxide film left in a shallow trench isolation having a relatively wide width. A second silicon oxide film (an upper layer) having a relatively high compressive stress by an HDP-CVD method is more thickly laminated over the first silicon oxide film in a lower layer by a thinned thickness of the first silicon oxide film. The compressive stress of an element isolation oxide film finally formed in a shallow trench isolation having a relatively narrow width is more enhanced.
US09029232B2
Nonvolatile memory elements that are based on resistive switching memory element layers are provided. A nonvolatile memory element may have a resistive switching metal oxide layer. The resistive switching metal oxide layer may have one or more layers of oxide. A resistive switching metal oxide may be doped with a dopant that increases its melting temperature and enhances its thermal stability. Layers may be formed to enhance the thermal stability of the nonvolatile memory element. An electrode for a nonvolatile memory element may contain a conductive layer and a buffer layer.
US09029217B1
The disclosure is related to a band engineered semiconductor device comprising a substrate and a protruding structure that is formed in a recess in the substrate. The protruding structure extends above the recess and has a buried portion and an extended portion. At least the extended portion comprises a semiconductor material having an inverted ‘V’ band gap profile with a band gap value increasing gradually from a first value at lateral edges of the structure to a second value, higher than the first value, in a center of the structure. The disclosure is also related to the method of manufacturing of such a band engineered semiconductor device.
US09029215B2
In one embodiment, a method for forming a semiconductor device includes forming trench and a dielectric layer along surfaces of the trench. A shield electrode is formed in a lower portion of the trench and the dielectric layer is removed from upper sidewall surfaces of the trench. A gate dielectric layer is formed along the upper surfaces of the trench. Oxidation-resistant spacers are formed along the gate dielectric layer. Thereafter, an interpoly dielectric layer is formed above the shield electrode using localized oxidation. The oxidation step increases the thickness of lower portions of the gate dielectric layer. The oxidation-resistant spacers are removed before forming a gate electrode adjacent the gate dielectric layer.
US09029205B2
A method for manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: mounting an integrated circuit, having a planar interconnect, over a carrier with the planar interconnect at a non-active side of the integrated circuit and an active side of the integrated circuit facing the carrier; connecting the integrated circuit and the carrier; connecting the planar interconnect and the carrier; and forming an encapsulation over the integrated circuit, the carrier, and the planar interconnect.
US09029199B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes: preparing a semiconductor wafer including a plurality of semiconductor chips arranged in the shape of a matrix, the semiconductor wafer having a first bump electrode formed on one face thereof; forming a depressed portion on a first face of the semiconductor wafer, the depressed portion partitioning the semiconductor wafer into respective semiconductor chips; placing the first face of the semiconductor wafer onto a support tape; and cutting the semiconductor wafer along the depressed portion from a second face opposite to the first face of the semiconductor wafer by the use of a dicing blade having a width smaller than the width of the depressed portion to thereby divide the semiconductor wafer into a plurality of semiconductor chips.
US09029196B2
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a die bump pad. A substrate has a conductive trace with an interconnect site. A conductive bump material is deposited on the interconnect site or die bump pad. The semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate so that the bump material is disposed between the die bump pad and interconnect site. The bump material is reflowed without a solder mask around the die bump pad or interconnect site to form an interconnect structure between the die and substrate. The bump material is self-confined within the die bump pad or interconnect site. The volume of bump material is selected so that a surface tension maintains self-confinement of the bump material substantially within a footprint of the die bump pad and interconnect site. The interconnect structure can have a fusible portion and non-fusible portion. An encapsulant is deposited between the die and substrate.
US09029183B2
Methods and apparatus for packaging a backside illuminated (BSI) image sensor or a BSI sensor device with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) are disclosed. A bond pad array may be formed in a bond pad area of a BSI sensor where the bond pad array comprises a plurality of bond pads electrically interconnected, wherein each bond pad of the bond pad array is of a small size which can reduce the dishing effect of a big bond pad. The plurality of bond pads of a bond pad array may be interconnected at the same layer of the pad or at a different metal layer. The BSI sensor may be bonded to an ASIC in a face-to-face fashion where the bond pad arrays are aligned and bonded together.
US09029180B2
A method of producing a temperature sensing device is provided. The method includes forming at least one silicon layer and at least one electrode or contact to define a thermistor structure. At least the silicon layer is formed by printing, and at least one of the silicon layer and the electrode or contact is supported by a substrate during printing thereof. Preferably, the electrodes or contacts are formed by printing, using an ink comprising silicon particles having a size in the range 10 nanometers to 100 micrometers, and a liquid vehicle composed of a binder and a suitable solvent. In some embodiments the substrate is an object the temperature of which is to be measured. Instead, the substrate may be a template, may be sacrificial, or may be a flexible or rigid material. Various device geometries are disclosed.
US09029179B2
A method for producing a MEMS device having improved charge elimination characteristics includes providing a substrate having one or more layers, and applying a first charge elimination layer onto at least one portion of one given layer of the substrate. The method may then (1) apply a sacrificial layer onto the first charge elimination layer, (2) apply a second charge elimination layer onto at least a portion of the sacrificial layer, and (3) deposit a movable layer onto at least a portion of the second charge elimination layer. To form a structure within the movable layer the method may etch the movable layer. The method may then etch the sacrificial layer to release the structure.
US09029178B2
A method for producing a device including plural cavities defined between a substrate in at least one given semiconductor material and a membrane resting on a top of insulating posts projecting from the substrate, the method allowing a height of the cavity or cavities to be adapted independently of a height of the insulating posts and allowing cavities of different heights to be formed.
US09029174B2
A structure includes a substrate, a template layer formed on the surface of the substrate and including an AlN layer, and a device structure portion formed by stacking AlGaN semiconductor layers on the template layer. For the structure, the AlN layer is irradiated from a side close to the substrate with a laser light with a wavelength by which the laser light passes through the substrate and the laser light is absorbed by the AlN layer, in a state in which the AlN layer receives compressive stress from the substrate. This allows the AlN layer to expand more than the surface of the substrate on at least an interface between the AlN layer and the substrate so as to increase the compressive stress, in order to remove the substrate from the AlN layer.
US09029170B2
A magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device is formed by a process that includes forming a trench in a substrate and depositing an MTJ structure within the trench. The MTJ structure includes a bottom electrode, a fixed layer, a tunnel barrier layer, a free layer, and a top electrode. The process includes applying reverse photo etching to remove material that is not directly over the trench. The process also includes plagiarizing the MTJ structure without performing a photo-etch process on the MTJ structure.
US09029161B2
A method and apparatus for dating a body sample, such as blood, includes taking at least one spectroscopic measurement of the sample at at least two predetermined positions in the spectrum having spectral characteristics corresponding to at least two predetermined substances present in the sample that have a time varying relationship with each other. A measured relative concentration of each of the predetermined substances is then determined from the measurement, and the measured relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances is compared with a known variation of the relative concentrations of the two predetermined substances over time. A good fit of the measured relative concentrations to the known variation of the relative concentrations is then determined, so as to provide an indication of the age of the sample. Alternatively, instead of measuring the relative concentrations of each of the predetermined substances, the rate of change of the relative concentrations is determined.
US09029155B2
The present disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods to detect a fluid contamination level of a fluid sample. The method may comprise providing a fluid sample downhole from a subterranean formation, applying a reactant to the fluid sample to create a combined fluid, observing the combined fluid, and determining if contaminants are present within the fluid sample based upon the observing the combined fluid.
US09029151B2
The present invention relates to a method for inducing a single somatic embryo, which comprises physically dividing a plant somatic embryo mass, and to a method for mass-propagation of a plant comprising inducing a large number of single somatic embryos from a somatic embryo mass according to the above method and germinating the somatic embryos.
US09029150B2
The present invention provides a cell culture substrate capable of culturing cells efficiently. The cell culture substrate of the present invention includes a substrate, a plurality of fibrous protrusions formed on the substrate, and water-repellent film formed on a surface of each of the fibrous protrusions. The fibrous protrusions are intertwined with each other to form a matrix structure. According to such a cell culture substrate, when a culture solution containing a specimen is discharged to the water-repellent fibrous protrusions, cells can be cultured easily without contact, thus enabling cells to be cultured efficiently.
US09029146B2
We disclose a method of preparing a conditioned cell culture medium, the method comprising the steps of: (a) culturing a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), a descendent thereof or a cell line derived therefrom in a cell culture medium; and (b) optionally isolating the cell culture medium; in which the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is obtained by propagating a cell obtained by dispersing a embryonic stem (ES) cell colony, or a descendent thereof, in the absence of co-culture in a serum free medium comprising FGF2.
US09029144B2
The present invention relates generally to methods for the isolation and propagation of cells. For example, embodiments of the present invention relate to isolation and propagation methods for the manufacture of a large number of cells for use, for example, in biotherapeutic devices, such as devices for renal replacement therapy for the treatment of acute renal failure (ARF), acute tubular necrosis (ATN), multi-organ failure (MOF), sepsis, cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
US09029143B2
The invention is related to the production and use of CD124+ and CD116+ cell lines for the production of effective dendritic cells (DC) using stimulatory molecules, their use in the production of allogenic or semi-allogenic immunotherapeutic agents and the use thereof in the treatment or prophylaxis of immune diseases. Furthermore, the invention is related to the use of CD124+ and CD116+ tumor cell lines, preferably also being CD34+, as model and test systems for testing the DC biology and for testing substances having an impact on the immune system and on the conditioning thereof.
US09029136B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for engineering E. coli or other host production bacterial strains to produce fucosylated oligosaccharides, and the use thereof in the prevention or treatment of infection.
US09029130B2
A contacting-type conductivity sensor includes an electrically-insulative plastic body and a plurality of electrodes. The plurality of conductive electrodes is disposed in the plastic body. Each electrode is constructed of plastic and fused with the electrically-insulative plastic body. A method of manufacturing the conductivity sensor is provided along with a single-use bioreactor employing the sensor.
US09029127B2
The invention relates to: a method of treating liquid waste (liquid agricultural or industrial effluents or aquatic sites) which is loaded or polluted with tributyl phosphate (TBP), modified bacterial strains which can be used in the aforementioned treatment method, a method for monitoring changes in TBP pollution, and the device which is used to perform said treatment method. According to the invention, the liquid waste-treatment or -purification method essentially comprises: steps (1) consisting in bringing said liquid waste into contact with at least one non-sulphur purple photosynthetic bacterial strain which is resistant to TBP and which is selected from the group containing Rhodopseudomonas palustris (Rp. palustris), Rhodospirillum rubrum (Rs. rubrum), Rhodobacter capsulatus (Rb. capsulatus) or Rhodobacter sphaeroides (Rb. Sphaeroides) as well as the aforementioned modified bacterial strains in order to overexpress cytochrome P450 in conditions that enable the degradation of the TBP present in said waste, regardless of the initial TBP concentration; and (2) the recovery of the purified liquid effluents.
US09029125B2
The method and apparatus according to the present invention concentrate the formation of the biotechnical product to active site in the reactor, where the production is accelerated to extreme speeds by altering the conditions. To achieve this, anabolic, catabolic or overflow metabolic reactions can be utilized. The aim is to implement production so that carbon dioxide emissions in particular are minimized The products are e.g. 2,3-butanediol, butanol, ethanol, acetone, organic acids, methane or hydrogen gas and other fuels or compounds necessary for chemical or material production.
US09029124B2
The present disclosure identifies methods and compositions for modifying photoautotrophic organisms as hosts, such that the organisms efficiently convert inorganic carbon and light into n-alkanes, and in particular the use of such organisms for the commercial production of n-alkanes and related molecules.
US09029117B2
Described are (a) parvovirus variants capable of propagating and spreading through human tumor cells which is obtainable by serially passaging a rodent parvovirus as starting strain in semi-permissive human tumor cells, and (b) parvovirus variants capable of propagating and spreading through human tumor cells characterized by particular amino acid deletions and/or substitutions, e.g. a deletion of several amino acids in the C-terminus of NS1/middle exon of NS2. A pharmaceutical composition containing such parvoviruses as well as their use for the treatment of cancer, preferably a glioblastoma, is also described.
US09029099B2
A fibrous structure comprising an assembly of hair follicle cells within a fibrous matrix.
US09029098B1
A date-rape drug detector includes an elongated shaft having an upper end and a lower end. The upper end of the shaft is bendable and includes a plurality of notches that grip the upper rim of a beverage container. Proximal the lower end is a chamber having a testing strip therein that is deployable to a perpendicular position relative to the shaft. Along the length of the strip are a plurality of reactive spots that change color in the presence of a date-rape drug. Each successive spot is covered with a progressively thicker layer of water-soluble material than a preceding spot so that each spot requires a different submersion time in order to be exposed. Therefore, a user can test a beverage for the presence of a date-rape drug at progressive intervals.
US09029095B2
The invention relates to methods and kits for determining platelet susceptibility to activation in a patient. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for determining platelet susceptibility to activation in a patient, comprising a step consisting of measuring the level of GPVI dimers at the platelet surface in a blood sample obtained from said patient.
US09029091B2
The present invention provides a structural characterization platform that can be used to assess the stability of a polyclonal cell line during production, as well as batch-to-batch consistency of the final polyclonal products. The structural characterization platform is based on genetic analysis as well as protein characterization techniques that alone or in combination provides the necessary information to characterize the polyclonal cell line and final products. The collection of different homologous proteins to be analyzed with the platform techniques is for example a recombinant polyclonal antibody or a mixture of monoclonal antibodies.
US09029089B2
A method for survival prediction in cancer patients is provided. In one embodiment, the survival prediction is determined by the presence or absence of KRAS gene region deletion and/or loss of Chromosome 12 (Ch. 12) in cancer tumor tissue. In another embodiment, the presence or absence of KRAS gene region deletion and/or loss of Ch. 12 in cancer tumor tissue is used to predict survival in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
US09029087B2
Compositions, methods and related uses are provided relating to cleaving modified DNA. For example, a set of DNA fragments obtainable by enzymatic cleavage of a large DNA is described where at least 50% are similarly sized and have a centrally positioned modified nucleotide. In addition, an enzyme preparation is provided that includes one or more enzymes that recognize a modified nucleotide in a DNA and cleave the DNA at a site that is at a non-random distance from the modified nucleotide. The one or more enzymes are further characterized by an N-terminal conserved domain with greater than 90% amino acid sequence homology to WXD(X)10YXGD. The related uses include creating a methylome, methods of purifying DNA fragments containing a modified nucleotide and diagnostic applications.
US09029082B2
A device for the detection of micro particles that can be marked by probes or antibodies capable of being detected by radiation has a filter, a supply system, and a detection system. Fluid to be examined is passed over a filter to filter out the micro particles and to perform the marking steps by supplying corresponding marking substances to the filter.
US09029074B2
Provided is a method of water repellent treatment for a pattern surface, the method including the steps of agitatingly mixing a perfluoropolyether-group-containing silane water repellent, an organic acid, a fluorine-containing solvent capable of dissolving the perfluoropolyether-group-containing silane water repellent and the organic acid, and water to hydrolyze the perfluoropolyether-group-containing silane water repellent, thereby obtaining a partial hydrolysate solution; forming a photosensitive resin layer on a substrate; applying the partial hydrolysate solution onto the photosensitive resin layer to form a water-repellent film; performing patterning exposure to the photosensitive resin layer and the water-repellent film; performing heat treatment to collectively cure an exposed portion of the photosensitive resin layer and the water-repellent film; and removing a non-exposed portion of the photosensitive resin layer and the water-repellent film by development treatment to form a pattern.
US09029063B2
A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an imagable layer comprising a free radically polymerizable component, an initiator composition capable of generating free radicals upon exposure to imaging infrared radiation, an infrared radiation absorbing dye comprising an infrared radiation absorbing cation and a counter anion, and a polymeric binder. The salt formed between the infrared radiation absorbing cation and a tetraphenyl borate has solubility in 2-methoxy propanol at 20° C. that is greater than or equal to 3.5 g/l. The use of these infrared radiation absorbing dyes in the imagable layers provides a reduced tendency of these dyes to crystallize in the presence of tetraaryl borate counter anions.
US09029062B2
A method and photoresist material for the patterning of integrated circuit (IC) components using ultra violet (UV) and extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) that includes providing a substrate, forming a first material layer over the substrate, forming a second material layer over the first material layer, the second material layer having a luminescent agent, and exposing one or more portions of the second material layer.
US09029060B2
A carrier for electrostatic latent image developing is composed of carrier core containing a binder resin and magnetic material particles, and a shell layer that covers the carrier core. The binder has an acid value of at least a predetermined value, and contains a resin having a carboxyl group. The shell layer is composed of a resin selected from melamine resin and urea resin.
US09029059B2
A process for making a latex emulsion suitable for use in a toner composition includes co-emulsifying a bio-based resin with an insoluble component, such as a pigment or wax, whereby the resin encapsulates the insoluble component. The resulting latex, including the insoluble component encapsulated in the resin, may then be utilized to form a toner. The insoluble component may thus be included in toner particles, which might otherwise be difficult to achieve, using emulsion aggregation processes.
US09029057B2
Emulsion aggregation toner comprising: a resin; a wax; a colorant; an encapsulating shell; and a silica external additive comprising: first silica particles comprising fumed silica particles surface treated with octyldimethylsiloxane and having average particle diameter about 6-20 nm, present in amount of about 0.1-1% by weight of the toner; second silica particles comprising colloidal silica particles surface treated with hexamethyldisiloxane and having average particle diameter about 80-200 nm, present in amount of about 1-2% by weight of the toner; third silica particles comprising fumed silica particles surface treated with polydimethylsiloxane and having average particle diameter about 25-65 nm, present in amount of from about 0.5-1.5% by weight of the toner; and fourth silica particles comprising fumed silica particles surface treated with hexamethyldisiloxane and having average particle diameter about 25-65 nm, present in amount of about 1-2.5% by weight of the toner.
US09029053B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor, an electrophotographic photoreceptor cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, which are excellent in electrical characteristics such as a responsivity and at the same time, excellent in the crack resistance, are provided. Two kinds of charge transport substances each having a specific structure and a polyester resin having a specific structure are combined, whereby the crack resistance can be improved.
US09029051B2
A photosensitive resin composition is provided, which comprises an alkali-soluble resin (A), a polysiloxane polymer (B), a compound containing vinyl unsaturated group(s) (C), a photoinitiator (D), a solvent (E), a black pigment (F) and a light stabilizer (G). The alkali-soluble resin (A) includes a resin having unsaturated group(s) (A-1), which is obtained by reacting an epoxy compound having at least two epoxy groups (a-1) with a compound having at least one vinyl unsaturated group and carboxyl group (a-2). The light stabilizer (G) includes a UV absorber (G-1) and/or a hindered amine (G-2). Therefore, the photosensitive resin composition has an excellent temporal stability, and a black matrix formed by such composition has a better heat resistance.
US09029050B2
The present disclosure provides a method of repairing a mask. The method includes inspecting the mask using a mask inspection tool to identify a defect on a circuit pattern of the mask; repairing the defect using a mask repair tool to form a repaired pattern; forming a first group of diffraction images of the repaired pattern and a second group of diffraction images of a reference feature; and validating the mask by comparing the first group of diffraction images with the second group of diffraction images.
US09029045B2
[Object] To provide a gas diffusion electrode capable of a high current density operation of a fuel cell.[Solving means] A gas diffusion electrode including a hydrophilic porous layer having an electrically conductive material and an ion conductive material; and a catalyst layer adjacent to the hydrophilic porous layer, wherein a water transport resistance of the hydrophilic porous layer is smaller than a water transport resistance of the catalyst layer.
US09029043B2
A composite including a metal having oxygen-reducing activity, nitrogen and carbon, the composite comprising polyhedral particles, an electrode catalyst including the composite, a method of preparing the composite, and a fuel cell using the composite.
US09029042B2
This invention provides a redox fuel cell comprising an anode and a cathode separated by an ion selective polymer electrolyte membrane; means for supplying a fuel to the anode region of the cell; means for supplying an oxidant to the cathode region of the cell; means for providing an electrical circuit between the anode and the cathode; a non-volatile catholyte solution flowing fluid communication with the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising a polyoxometallate redox couple being at least partially reduced at the cathode in operation of the cell, and at least partially re-generated by reaction with the oxidant after such reduction at the cathode, the catholyte solution comprising at least one counterion for the polyoxometallate redox couple wherein the at least one counterion comprises one or more divalent ions.
US09029037B2
A fuel cell system (10) includes at least one fuel cell (12) provided with an anode area (14) and a cathode area (18) which is separated from the anode area (14) by an electrolyte (16) and a first liquid separator (42). A liquid out (60) of the first liquid separator (42) is connected to a second liquid separator (44) or cathode gas discharge line (24) via a first bypass line (78).
US09029011B2
A secondary battery and a battery pack including the second battery, which includes a battery case having a polarity (e.g., positive or negative polarity) in a normal operation, thereby reducing corrosion of the battery case and facilitating a design of an external circuit. The battery case is neutralized in an abnormal operation (e.g., penetration of a nail, over discharge, and over charge), thereby improving safety and reliability of the secondary battery and the battery pack. The secondary battery includes an electrode assembly, a battery case accommodating the electrode assembly, electrode terminals electrically connected to the electrode assembly and extending out of the battery case, and a fuse part disposed between the battery case and the electrode terminal to electrically connect the battery case to the electrode terminal. The fuse part is configured to selectively electrically disconnect the battery case from the electrode terminal.
US09029003B2
Disclosed is an electrode assembly of a lithium secondary battery, including an anode plate, a cathode plate, a separator for separating the anode plate and the cathode plate and conducting lithium ions of an electrolyte, and a composite film disposed between the anode plate and the separator and/or between the cathode plate and the separator. The composite film includes 5 to 95 parts by weight of an inorganic clay and 95 to 5 parts by weight of an organic polymer binder.
US09028999B2
Provided is a secondary battery including a case having an opening and an internal cavity, an electrode assembly disposed in the internal cavity, a collector plate electrically connected to the electrode assembly and disposed in the internal cavity, an electrode terminal electrically connected to the electrode assembly, a cap plate sealing the opening of the case, and a safety device between the collector plate and the electrode terminal. A portion of the electrode terminal extends beyond the cap plate such that the electrode terminal is exposed.
US09028997B2
The present application provides for ceramic collars and metal rings for active brazing in sodium-based thermal batteries. The ceramic collar may be an alpha-alumina collar configured for active brazing, and thereby sealing, to outer and inner Ni rings for use in NaMx cells. The portions of the alpha-alumina collar active brazed to the outer and inner Ni rings may be outwardly facing and include inwardly extending recesses. The portions of the outer and inner Ni rings active brazed to the outwardly facing portions of the collar may be inwardly facing. The alpha-alumina collar may include a greater coefficient of thermal expansion than each of the outer and inner Ni rings, and the alpha-alumina collar and outer and inner Ni rings may be configured such that a portion of the outer and inner Ni rings is deformed into the inwardly extending recesses of the alpha-alumina collar after active brazing thereof.
US09028996B2
A battery pack includes a stack case, spacers, and inner cover members as insulating members. The stack case accommodates a plurality of single cells arranged in line. Each of the spacers is disposed between adjacent single cells. The inner cover member is provided for each of the single cells, and is disposed on a surface of the single cell where terminals are provided. The inner cover member includes a base portion opposed to a surface of the single cell between terminals and terminal insulating portions provided on both ends of the base portion and covering the terminals. The inner cover member is attached to the spacer.
US09028992B2
Disclosed is a fuel cell system including a fuel cell, a fuel supply passage through which a fuel gas supplied from a fuel supply source flows to the fuel cell, an on/off valve which regulates the state of the gas on the upstream side of the fuel supply passage to supply the gas to the downstream side thereof, a sensor which detects the state of the gas in the fuel supply passage, and control means for controlling the on/off valve based on a value detected by the sensor. The control means stops the opening/closing operation of the on/off valve when the sensor falls into an abnormal state.
US09028991B2
A Coanda flow amplifier has a suction intake, an outlet, a fluid channel extending between the suction intake and the outlet, and a drive-flow inlet, which is fluidly connected to the fluid channel via a drive-flow discharge slit, whereby the flow cross section of the drive-flow discharge slit is variably adjustable. In a method to operate the Coanda flow amplifier, the variably adjustable flow cross section of the drive-flow discharge slit is chosen such that a pressure ratio between an output pressure of the drive flow when it leaves the drive-flow discharge slit, and an intake pressure of the drive flow when it enters the drive-flow discharge slit, does not exceed a critical pressure ratio. A fuel cell system comprises at least one fuel cell, a fluid source, a fluid line, and a Coanda flow amplifier arranged in the fluid line, whereby the Coanda flow amplifier is equipped with a drive-flow discharge slit with a variably adjustable flow cross section.
US09028983B2
A coated article includes a coating, such as a low emissivity (low-E) coating, supported by a substrate (e.g., glass substrate). The coating includes at least one dielectric layer including tin oxide that is doped with another metal(s). The coating may also include one or more infrared (IR) reflecting layer(s) of or including material such as silver or the like, for reflecting at least some IR radiation. In certain example embodiments, the coated article may be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered, heat bent and/or heat strengthened). Coated articles according to certain example embodiments of this invention may be used in the context of windows, including monolithic windows for buildings, IG windows for buildings, etc.
US09028973B2
A high strength galvanized steel sheet is provided comprising steel containing C: 0.06% or more and 0.20% or less, Si: less than 0.50%, Mn: 0.5% or more and less than 2.0%, P: 0.05% or less, S: 0.02% or less, Al: 0.60% or more and 2.00% or less, N: less than 0.004%, Cr: 0.10% or more and 0.40% or less and B: 0.003% or less, satisfying the relationships 0.8≦Mneq≦2.0 and Mneq+1.3[% Al]≧2.8, and a microstructure containing a ferrite phase and a second phase whose volume fraction is 15% or less, the second phase having a martensite phase whose volume fraction is 3% or more, a retained austenite phase whose volume fraction is 3% or more and a sum of the volume fractions of a pearlite phase and a bainite phase being equal to or less than the volume fraction of the martensite phase and the volume fraction of the retained austenite phase.
US09028970B2
Provided are an adhesive composition with good storage stability, heat resistance, moisture resistance reliability, and adhesion properties; and a curl- and heat-resistant adhesive film and a wiring film using the adhesive composition. The adhesive composition contains 100 parts by weight of a phenoxy resin (A) having plural alcoholic hydroxyl groups in a side chain of the molecule thereof; 2 to 60 parts by weight of a polyfunctional isocyanate compound (B) having an isocyanate group and at least one functional group selected from vinyl, acrylate, and methacrylate groups in the molecule thereof; and 5 to 30 parts by weight of a maleimide compound (C) having plural maleimide groups in the molecule thereof or/and reaction product thereof, in which a total amount of the components (B) and (C) is from 7 to 60 parts by weight.
US09028953B2
CVD coated cutting tools are provided. A coated cutting tool described herein, in some embodiments, comprises a PcBN substrate and a polished coating adhered to the substrate including one or more layers of Al2O3 deposited by chemical vapor deposition, wherein the coating has a surface roughness (Ra) less than about 600 nm in an area of the cutting tool for contacting a workpiece.
US09028945B2
The present disclosure relates to a transparent composite material capable of exhibiting relatively high light transmittance, reduced haze, fabrication in the form of a thin film, and improved mechanical strengths (impact strength, flexural strength, etc.), by way of unidirectionally aligning glass fiber filaments without intersecting or overlapping with each other, and embedding the aligned glass fiber filaments into a transparent resin formed on a film, and a manufacturing method thereof. The transparent composite material is composed of glass fiber plates including a transparent resin, and a plurality of glass fiber filaments embedded in the transparent resin in a unidirectionally aligned state.
US09028942B2
The present invention is to provide a fluoroelastomer composition which can suppress generation of unvulcanized portions even when a quaternary phosphonium salt is used as a vulcanization accelerator. Specifically, the present invention is a fluoroelastomer composition containing a polyol-crosslinkable fluoroelastomer, a polyhydroxy aromatic compound, a quaternary phosphonium salt, a divalent metal oxide and/or divalent metal hydroxide and an antioxidant.
US09028941B2
A sheet for producing a multilayer optical recording medium comprises optical recording layers and adhesive layers laminated on one another, wherein the adhesive layer comprises an adhesive comprising a polymer as a main component, the polymer includes fluorine-containing monomer and/or silicon-containing monomer as a constituent monomer component, the adhesive layer has no domain structure or has a domain structure of 110 nm or less, a total content of the fluorine-containing monomer and the silicon-containing monomer is 10 to 100 mass % when a monomer total amount as the constituent monomer component in the polymer is 100 mass %. According to the sheet for producing a multilayer optical recording medium, a multilayer optical recording medium can be produced which can detect reflected light having sufficient intensity from the interface between the optical recording layer and the adhesive layer and which generates less scattered light in the adhesive layer and causes less noise.
US09028939B2
The present invention discloses a laminated sheet for packaging electronic components comprising a front surface layer, a center core layer and a rear surface layer, wherein the front surface layer and the rear surface layer each contains a rubber-modified styrenic copolymer (A) having a graft ratio of grafted rubber of 30 to 50%, a grafted rubber particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.5 μm and a butadiene content of 5 to 25% by weight, and polyetheresteramide (B), and the center core layer contains a rubber-modified styrenic copolymer (C) having a graft ratio of grafted rubber of 70 to 90%, a grafted rubber particle diameter of 0.4 to 1.0 μm, and a butadiene content of 5 to 15% by weight, and 5 to 50% by weight of a recycled material of this laminated sheet.
US09028935B2
This invention relates to a liquid-filled tetrahedral package having a longitudinal fin seal and having a first transverse seal on one end of the package and a second transverse seal on the opposite end of the package, wherein the first and second transverse seals are substantially perpendicular to one another.
US09028931B2
There is provided a double window/door system for blocking infrared rays which includes a first glass member, a second glass member, and a spacer positioned between the first glass member and the second glass member for maintaining the space between the first glass member and the second glass member, characterized in that one of the surfaces of the first glass member is coated with a nano substance film for blocking near infrared rays and one of the surfaces of the second glass member is coated with a thermochromic substance film.
US09028930B2
A multiple glazing comprising at least two substrates, one substrate being coated on an inner face in contact with a gas-filled cavity with a thin-film multilayer coating having reflection properties in the infrared and/or in solar radiation, said coating comprising a single metallic functional layer and two dielectric films, said films each comprising at least one dielectric layer, said functional layer being placed between the two dielectric films, characterized in that at least one dielectric film, or both dielectric films, includes an absorbent layer which is placed in the dielectric film between two dielectric layers, the absorbent material of the absorbent layer(s) being predominantly in the dielectric film subjacent to the metallic functional layer or predominantly in the dielectric film superjacent to the metallic functional layer.
US09028926B2
An IPS type liquid crystal display device superior in mass productivity and improved in image quality with a higher contrast ratio by decreasing the occurrence of defective display due to the disorder of the initial liquid crystal alignment by the liquid orientation control film and realizing stable alignment of liquid crystals comprises: a pair of substrates, at least one which is transparent; a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates; a group of electrodes formed on at least one of the pair of substrates to apply an electric field to the liquid crystal layer; plural active elements connected to the group of electrodes; and an orientation control film disposed on at least one of the pair of substrates, wherein said orientation control film is made of a photosensitive polyimide and a polyamide acid ester and is given orientation control ability by being irradiated with substantially linearly polarized light.
US09028925B2
A product having a functional layer and a method for fabricating the same. A method for fabricating a product having a functional layer includes the step of conducting a plasma reaction with titanium and silicon precursor compounds to form a coating on a substrate, such as a heat exchanger surface.
US09028921B2
The invention relates to a composition which, when mixed with a polymer composition, allows for the formation of a continuous and cohesive film. The film is characterized in that it provides water, grease and oil resistance, provides a water vapor barrier and can used as wax replacement treatment and a top coat for flexible packaging, but also on other substrates. This film is formed at a very fast set speed without the need of thermal energy. The composition contains i) a salt of one or more of myristic, palmitic and stearic acid; and preferably also ii) a C9-C18 fatty acid complex of a metal ion, the metal ion having an oxidation state of at least 3. The invention also provides processes and coated substrates.
US09028914B2
Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing a high-density fiber reinforced ceramic composite material, including the steps of: 1) impregnating a fiber preform material multi-coated with pyrolytic carbon and silicon carbide to form impregnated fiber reinforced plastic composite material; 2)carbonizing the impregnated fiber reinforced plastic composite material to form carbonized fiber composite material; 3) a primary reaction-sintering of the fiber composite material; 4) cooling the primarily reaction-sintered fiber composite material down to room temperature and then impregnating the primarily reaction-sintered fiber composite material with a solution in which a polymer precursor for producing silicon carbide (SiC) is dissolved in a hexane (n-hexane) solvent; and 5) a secondary reaction-sintering of the fiber composite material; and a high-density fiber reinforced ceramic composite material manufactured using the method.
US09028901B2
Methods of preparation and improved oat based puffed R-T-E or breakfast cereal products resulting there from with reduced sodium levels that provide good cooked grain flavor relative to other low or no sodium cooked cereal products and that approach the quality of higher sodium level products are provided. The methods include formulating cooked cereal doughs with minimal levels of sodium chloride and including a blend of potassium chloride and choline chloride. The cooked cereal dough is formed into pellets and gun puffed to form puff products having a total pyrazine content of at least 200 ppm. The puffed products are topically coated with saline solution and dried to provide the present improved low sodium high flavor finished breakfast cereal products.
US09028896B2
A method for producing cottage cheese by using Streptococcus thermophilus bacteria.
US09028895B2
A method for production of an alcoholic beverage with reduced content of alcohol involving treating unfermented beverage starting solution with glucose oxidase and glucose isomerase.
US09028893B2
Active fractions exhibiting anti-tuberculous activity from the plant Byttneria herbecea (family—Sterculiaceae) are described. Methanol extracts of the aerial part of Byttneria herbecea exhibited activity against MtbGS in primary screening of biosynthetic assay. Subsequent fractionation was carried out in organic solvents. Out of all these, two fractions (fraction D and K) are exhibiting inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis glutamine synthetase activity. These fractions D and K are inhibiting 74% and 44% respectively at 7.5 mg/ml concentrations. The determined IC50 value of the fraction K is found to be 4.5 mg/ml from the dose response curve against the purified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Glutamine Synthetase. The IC50 value for M. bovis BCG is 1.56 μg/ml. It was observed that there was no significant effect on proliferation of HL-60 cell line at 10×MIC levels of the hits. This data indicated that these compounds could be initially considered to be safe.
US09028887B2
Disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition for treating oxidative stress comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially pure compound of pterostilbene and a physiologically acceptable carrier. Pterostilbene is administered in an amount between about 2.5 mg to about 10 mg per kilogram of subject body weight. Also disclosed is a method for increasing a working memory of a subject, the method comprising administrating an effective amount of a substantially pure compound of pterostilbene, wherein the working memory for a subject increase and the therapeutic effectiveness is about 10 mg of pterostilbene per kilogram of subject body weight.
US09028886B2
The invention provides a deterioration inhibitor containing an amount of a product obtained by treatment of a tea extract with an oxidizing enzyme and then inactivating the enzyme. Addition of a deterioration inhibiting material according to the invention to a food or beverage or a cosmetic can inhibit deterioration of flavor and fragrance, with use in smaller amounts than conventional deterioration inhibitors. A particularly notable effect is exhibited against production of p-cresol and p-methylacetophenone which are citral-derived deterioration odor components, and therefore it is suitable for foods and beverages or cosmetics with citral-containing citrus-like flavors and fragrances.
US09028884B2
Some embodiments of a system or method for applying a barrier composition to a targeted skin surface can be used to as a preventative measure to reduce the likelihood of transmission of microbial entities from an external source (e.g., a floor surface or another surface) to the targeted skin surface.
US09028880B2
The invention provide a silica nanoparticle comprising a non-porous matrix of silicon-oxygen bonds, wherein the matrix comprises organic agents conjugated to silicon or oxygen atoms in the matrix, the organic agents are conjugated to the matrix through linker L groups, wherein the linker L comprises, for example, an ester, urea, thiourea, or thio ether group, and wherein the diameter of the nanoparticle is about 15 nm to about 200 nm. The invention also provides novel methods of making and using the silica nanoparticles described herein.
US09028879B2
The embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions for enhancing brain glucose transporters, such as GLUT1 and GLUT3, and methods of treating and/or preventing diseases or disorders associated with the regulation GLUT1 and GLUT3. Also provided are compositions that include chromium and an agent that targets the brain or the central nervous system. Further provided are improved methods of delivering therapeutic agents that target the brain and/or central nervous system.
US09028876B2
Rate-controlled particles, comprising compounds of the formula as a solid dispersion.
US09028874B2
The present invention is directed to multiple a-lipoic acid-containing hydrophobic compounds (mALAs) capable of acting as scavengers of free radicals, metals and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Methods of synthesizing novel antioxidant mALAs, spontaneous emulsification or nanoprecipitaion thereof to produce antioxidant nanospheres and their use in preventing or treating diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions are also described. Another aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant nanospheres for the preparation of antioxidant particulate delivery system of therapeutic agents.
US09028866B2
It now has been found that oral administration of pharmaceutical agents, including N-methylol transfer agents such as Taurolidine may be used to provide efficacious blood plasma concentration of the agents for treatment of diseases by providing release of the active agent into the duodenum or jejunum of a patient and/or at a pH of about 5.4 to about 6.5. Embodiments of the invention therefore provide oral dosage forms, compositions and methods for administration of pharmaceutical agents to the duodenum or jejunum of a patient, and/or which release at a pH of about 5.4 to about 6.5.
US09028863B2
A system and method for optimizing the systemic delivery of growth-arresting lipid-derived bioactive drugs or gene therapy agents to an animal or human in need of such agents utilizing nanoscale assembly systems, such as liposomes, resorbable and non-aggregating nanoparticle dispersions, metal or semiconductor nanoparticles, or polymeric materials such as dendrimers or hydrogels, each of which exhibit improved lipid solubility, cell permeability, an increased circulation half life and pharmacokinetic profile with improved tumor or vascular targeting.
US09028857B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprise the steps consisting of a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide and one cross-linking agent b) freezing the aqueous solution of step a) c) sublimating the frozen solution of step b). characterized in that step b) is performed before the cross-linking of the polysaccharide occurs in the solution of step a).
US09028855B2
The present invention pertains to plant additives containing a molecule selected in a family of compounds, wherein said molecule can modulate some molecular markers and physiological modifications observed in cases of phosphate deficiency.The family of compounds comprises the molecule MC2 of formula as well as analogs thereof.
US09028853B2
A moisture-permeable glove or other garment protects against user contamination and cross-contamination by providing both rapid and persistent sterilization. Exposure to halogen of inherent NH groups and/or attached hydantoin can form a persistent outer halamine sterilization layer. A second inner halamine layer intercepts any pathogens that penetrate the outer surface. The garment can be single layer, or can include a detachable inner liner. Embodiments are compatible with rapid decontamination using an alcohol-based agent. Some embodiments provide a 180 second 3-log kill rate for at least S. aureus ATCC and E. coli. Embodiments include a moistening agent to activate the halamine. An anti-cut/puncture layer and/or a pathogen barrier layer can also be included. The protective layer can include contiguous layers of soft and hard metal flexed to improve flexibility and Moisture Vapor Transport Rate (MVTR). The pathogen barrier can include urethane and/or CNT fibers. The garment MVTR can be greater than 0.2 g/cm2/min.
US09028843B2
The present invention provides a vaccine for preventing and/or treating Plasmodium falciparum infections, which comprises a polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 or represented by formula (1), and an adjuvant. X1-A-B-X2-Y-X3-(Y)n-X4-(Y)n-X5 (1) (In the formula, X1 represents the 1st to 7th amino acid residues in a polypeptide set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1; X2 represents the 73th to 177th amino acid residues; X3 represents the 178th to 258th amino acid residues; X4 represents the 259th to 289th amino acid residues; X5 represents the 290th to 334th amino acid residues; A represents an 8-mer repeat sequence contained in a 47-kd region of SERA polypeptide of Plasmodium falciparum; B represents a sequence of a serine-rich region contained in a 47-kd region of SERA polypeptide of Plasmodium falciparum; Y represents any one selected from A-A, A-B, and B; and n is an integer of 0 or 1).
US09028841B2
Provided are therapeutic compositions containing Ecobiotic™ populations for prevention, treatment and reduction of symptoms associated with a dysbiosis of a mammalian subject such as a human.
US09028821B2
The present inventors obtained, from a phage library of human antibodies, an anti-mouse NR 10 neutralizing antibody-expressing BM095 clone that shows a strong proliferation-suppressing activity in an IL-31-dependent Ba/F3 cell proliferation assay system. When this anti-mouse NR 10 neutralizing antibody was administered to NC/Nga mice, a model of atopic dermatitis which is a mouse model of chronic dermatitis that arises as a result of repeated applications of picryl chloride, a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis, and a mouse model of osteoarthritis, a significant effect of symptom suppression was observed. This revealed that the anti-NR 10 neutralizing antibody is indeed effective as a therapeutic agent for inflammatory diseases. In addition, the present inventors successfully obtained an anti-human NR 10 neutralizing antibody, providing extremely useful therapeutic agents with practical clinical applications.
US09028819B2
Methods of alleviating itch by administering human antibodies to human protease-activated receptor 2
The present invention provides antibodies that bind to protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) and methods of using same. According to certain embodiments of the invention, the antibodies are fully human antibodies that bind to human PAR-2. The antibodies of the invention are useful, inter alia, for the treatment of diseases and disorders associated with one or more PAR-2 biological activities, including the treatment of pain conditions, inflammatory conditions and gastrointestinal conditions.
US09028802B2
The present invention relates to a method of differentially diagnosing different types of dementia. In particular, the method relates to the use of specific SPECT tracers for differentially diagnosing Alzheimer's disease, Lewy-Body Dementia, and Frontotemporal Dementia.
US09028797B2
The invention provides an antigen or drug delivery complex containing a complex of an antigen or drug and a cationic molecule, and an anionic molecule encapsulating the same. The antigen or drug delivery complex can be used as a main component of a drug delivery system that delivers various antigens and drugs to a particular cell or organ.
US09028788B2
A porous silica material in which silica particles are connected to one another three-dimensionally, wherein: the porous silica material includes a through hole including first pores smaller than a mean free path of an air, and second pores larger than the first pores; the porous silica material has a density of 100 kg/m3 or more and 300 kg/m3 or less; and an isobutyl group is bound to silicon of silica of the silica particles.
US09028779B2
The device for the transfer of a medium comprises a magazine (2) and at least one transfer element (3) for transfer of said medium, said transfer element (3) comprising a duct (45) for transfer of said medium provided at one end with a needle (31), a septum (32), and a maneuvering unit (33) of said needle (31), said transfer element (3) also comprising means for locking (61, 65) adapted to cooperate with complementary locking means (15) of said magazine (2) to lock said needle (31) in a waiting position, said locking means (61, 62, 65) belonging to said maneuvering unit (33) and cooperating with said complementary locking means (15) at a location of said magazine (2) distinct from the location through which said duct (45) issues from the cavity (20), at the opposite end from the needle (31).
US09028775B2
This technology is a method and apparatus for the semi-continuous measurement of the concentration of constituents of airborne particles which couples a laminar flow, water condensation particle collector to a microfluidic device for assay of particle chemical composition by electrophoresis. The technology has been used for the assay of sulfates, nitrates, chlorides, and organic acids contained in fine and submicrometer atmospheric particles. For these compounds the apparatus and method described is capable of one-minute time resolution at concentrations at the level of micrograms of analyte species per cubic meter of air. Extension to other analytes is possible.
US09028773B2
A system and method for reducing the number of input/output connections required to connect a microfluidic substrate to an external controller for controlling the substrate. In one example, a microfluidic processing device is fabricated on a substrate having a plurality of N independently controllable components, (e.g., a resistive heating elements) each having at least two terminals. The substrate includes a plurality of input/output contacts for connecting the substrate to an external controller, and a plurality of leads for connecting the contacts to the terminals of the components. The leads are arranged to allow the external controller to supply control signals to the terminals of the components via the contacts using substantially fewer contacts than the total number of component terminals. For example, in one embodiment, each lead connects a corresponding contact to a plurality of terminals to allow the controller to supply to signals to the terminals without requiring a separate contact for each terminal. However, to assure that the components can each be controlled independently of the others, the leads are also arranged so that each component's terminals are connected to a unique combination of contacts. Thus, the external controller can activate a selected component by supplying control signals to the combination of contacts uniquely associated with that component.
US09028762B2
A wet type exhaust gas desulfurization apparatus includes an absorption tower desulfurizing exhaust gas by causing the exhaust gas to come into gas-liquid contact with an absorbent, a spray mechanism spraying the absorbent into the tower, an oxidization mechanism provided in a bottom portion of the tower and supplying oxygen to the absorbent that accumulates inside the tower, a circulation mechanism feeding the absorbent from a discharge port formed in the bottom portion of the tower, to the spray mechanism, and a liquid ejection mechanism including a hydraulic nozzle ejecting liquid into the tower. In this apparatus, the oxidization mechanisms are provided with an interval in a horizontal direction relative to the discharge port. Furthermore, in the apparatus, the hydraulic nozzle is installed in the bottom portion of the tower and is provided at a location between the oxidization mechanism and the discharge port.
US09028761B2
In an internal combustion engine, inside of an engine exhaust passage, a hydrocarbon feed valve (15) and an exhaust purification catalyst (13) are arranged. The exhaust purification catalyst (13) is comprised of an upstream-side catalyst (14a) and a downstream-side catalyst (14b) arranged in series at an interval from each other. The upstream-side catalyst (14b) has a smaller cross-sectional area than the downstream-side catalyst (14b). The concentration of hydrocarbons which flow into the upstream-side catalyst (14a) is made to vibrate by within a predetermined range of amplitude of a 200 ppm or more and within a predetermined range of period of 5 seconds or less, whereby the NOx which is contained in exhaust gas is reduced at the exhaust purification catalyst (13).
US09028755B2
A specimen transport apparatus according to an aspect is provided with a holder which holds a cup-like specimen container accommodating a specimen in an upright position, a chain member disposed along a predetermined transport path, and a supporting portion provided in a predetermined position on the chain member and configured to support the holder.
US09028753B2
A motorized multi-cuvette rotatable carousel positions cuvettes around a stationary axis. A rotatable cuvette holder plate positions cuvettes in the carousel. The cuvette holder plate has spring tensioning elements that hold cuvettes in a precise position within the cuvette holder plate. A cuvette positioning arm is attached to the rotatable carousel assembly. The positioning arm geometrically positions the cuvette for depth-resolved laser-induced fluorescence testing.
US09028752B2
Device for storing and handling Petri dishes, storage device and storage slot for laboratory objects
A device for storing and handling Petri dishes having a base with a base wall arranged on a circumference of the base, and a lid. The device includes a storage device structured and arranged for storing the Petri dishes in an upside-down orientation so that respective lids are oriented below their respective bases, an inspection device structured and arranged for automatic inspection of the Petri dishes without their respective lids, and a transfer device structured and arranged for transferring the Petri dishes between the storage device and the inspection device. The transfer device includes a gripper, with which a respective Petri dish without the lid can be grasped laterally on the base wall.
US09028744B2
A turbine shroud segment is metal injection molded (MIM) about a low melting point material insert. The low melting point material is dissolved using heat during the heat treatment cycle required for the MIM material, thereby leaving internal cooling passages in the MIM shroud segment without extra manufacturing operation.
US09028741B1
A method for manufacturing a ceramic honeycomb structure includes kneading titania particles, alumina particles and a binder ingredient such that raw material paste including the titania particles, alumina particles and binder ingredient is prepared, forming a body made of the raw material paste and having a honeycomb structure such that the body has the honeycomb structure having multiple through-holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the body and multiple partition portions formed between the through-holes, applying sealant composition including aluminum hydroxide particles, talc particles, kaolin particles, water and organic binder to either end of each through-hole of the body in the longitudinal direction such that the honeycomb structure of the body has each through-hole sealed at one end, and sintering the body made of the raw material paste and having the honeycomb structure sealed by the sealant composition such that a ceramic body having the honeycomb structure is formed.
US09028738B2
In a tire vulcanizer having two sets of portions, each of which includes a lower mold, an upper mold, and a center mechanism provided with a bladder, a nitrogen gas heated in a first heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the upstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas discharged from the interior of the bladder of the center mechanism is used for vulcanization and patterning and a temperature thereof is lowered. However, this nitrogen gas is heated again in a second heating device, so that the temperature is increased. Therefore, the nitrogen gas heated in the second heating device is supplied to an interior of the bladder of the center mechanism which is placed on the downstream side in the circulating direction of the nitrogen gas.
US09028736B2
An apparatus for fabricating a semiconductor package may include a mold and a molding plate. The mold may define a mold cavity with the mold being configured to receive a circuit board in the mold cavity, and the circuit board may include a semiconductor chip mounted thereon. A molding plate may be moveable in the mold cavity with the molding plate being configured to adjust a volume of the mold cavity. Related methods are also discussed.
US09028730B2
Speriodal polymer beads having a uniform size are prepared by polymerizing uniformly sized monomer droplets formed by dispersing a polymerizable monomer phase over double-walled cylindrical cross-flow membrane into an aqueous phase. A shear force is provided at a point of egression of the polymerizable monomer phase into the aqueous phase, the direction of shear substantially perpendicular to the direction of egression of the monomer phase. The polymer beads can be employed in applications where beads having uniform diameters of 10 to 200 μm are useful.
US09028728B2
The present invention relates to photochromic materials that include one or more indeno-fused naphthopyrans that have particular groups at the 7, 11, and 13 positions thereof, and at the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring thereof. With some embodiments, hydrogen or an alkoxy group is bonded to the 7 position, an optionally substituted phenyl is bonded to the 11 position, two alkyl groups are bonded to the 13 position, and two optionally substituted phenyl groups are bonded to the position alpha to the oxygen of the pyran ring of the indeno-fused naphthopyran compound. The 13 position of the indeno-fused naphthopyrans is free of ether groups in which an ether oxygen is bonded to the 13 position, and hydroxyl. The present invention also relates to photochromic articles and compositions that include such indeno-fused naphthopyrans.
US09028727B2
Dielectric fluids are provided, the dielectric fluids comprising a mixture of polyol esters derived from a reaction of a) a polyol comprising pentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, neopentyl glycol, or combinations thereof, and b) a mixture of fatty acid esters derived from a high oleic soybean oil comprising fatty acid moieties, wherein the high oleic soybean oil has a C18:1 content of greater than 65% of the fatty acid moieties in the oil, and a combined C18:2 and C18:3 content of less than 20% of the fatty acid moieties in the oil. Also provided are electrical apparatuses comprising the dielectric fluids, and processes for preparing the mixtures of polyol esters.
US09028726B2
The present invention provides a sputtering target suitable for producing an amorphous transparent conductive film which can be formed without heating a substrate and without feeding water during the sputtering; which is easily crystallized by low-temperature annealing; and which has low resistivity after the crystallization. An oxide sintered compact containing an indium oxide as a main component, while containing tin as a first additive element, and one or more elements selected from germanium, nickel, manganese, and aluminum as a second additive element, with the content of tin which is the first additive element being 2-15 atom % relative to the total content of indium and tin, and the total content of the second additive element being 0.1-2 atom % relative to the total content of indium, tin and the second additive element.
US09028718B2
To achieve a light-emitting device emitting light with high brightness, closer to natural light, and less color shift due to a small change in intensity of emitted light, in a light-emitting device including a light source emitting light by driving current and at least one wavelength-converting material absorbing at least part of the light from the light source and emitting light having a different wavelength, the color coordinate x1(17.5) and the color coordinate y1(17.5) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 17.5 A/cm2 and the color coordinate x1(70) and the color coordinate y1(70) of the light emitted at a driving current density of 70 A/cm2 satisfy the following Expressions (D) and (E): −0.006≦x1(17.5)−x1(70)≦0.006 (D), −0.006≦y1(17.5)−y1(70)≦0.006 (E).
US09028714B2
The invention relates to liquid-crystalline compounds of the formula (I) having a —CF2O— bridge. The invention also relates to liquid-crystalline media prepared therewith and to liquid-crystal display devices (LC displays) containing these media. This kind of compounds has the excellent characteristics including a large dielectric anisotropy, fast response time and high clearing point, and good miscibility at low temperature in the same time which has important significance in new TFT LC mixture.
US09028709B2
A surface treatment composition of the present invention contains a first surfactant, a second surfactant, a basic compound, and water. The surface treatment composition has a pH of 8 or more. The second surfactant has a weight-average molecular weight one-half or less that of the first surfactant. The sum of the content of the first surfactant and the content of the second surfactant is 0.00001 to 0.1% by mass.
US09028704B2
A manufacturing method of a magnetic recording medium includes follows: forming a magnetic recording layer on a substrate; forming an under layer and a metal release layer that forms an alloy with the under layer on the magnetic recording layer in this order and forming an alloyed release layer by alloying the under layer and the metal release layer; forming a mask layer on the alloyed release layer; forming a resist layer on the mask layer; providing a protrusion-recess pattern by patterning the resist layer; transferring the protrusion-recess pattern to the mask layer; transferring the protrusion-recess pattern to the alloyed release layer; transferring the protrusion-recess pattern to the magnetic recording layer; dissolving the alloyed release layer by using a stripping solution and removing a layer formed on the alloyed release layer from an upper side of the magnetic recording layer.
US09028702B2
A filter element is provided with a snorkel that facilitates bleeding of air along the outside periphery of a tubular filter media pack to a bleed chamber contained within the filter element. This may be employed in fuel filtration applications during installation and removal of filter elements whereby air can be temporarily trapped in a housing containing the filter element. The snorkel thus vents the air along the outside of the filter element and then into a bleed chamber where it can be communicated to a standpipe having an isolated bleed passage.
US09028701B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for filtering liquid products. The apparatus includes a filtration bell provided with filtering device and connected to an inflow circuit and a first outlet circuit of the retentate, and to a second outlet circuit of the filtered liquid. The apparatus can include a monitoring and control unit, a first and second sensing device suitable for detecting the value of a first pressure PT1 in the first outlet circuit and of a second pressure PT2 in the second outlet circuit, a flow rate detection device that detects the value of a first flow rate FIT in the second outlet circuit, and value device arranged in the second circuit downstream of the second sensing device. The monitoring and control unit includes a device to control the closure of the valve device and to start a process of backwashing the filtering device.
US09028700B2
A system and method of operating the same includes an absorption tank having a compressor communicating gas thereto, a suspended solid filtration tank having a primary inlet, a secondary inlet, a primary outlet and a secondary outlet and a pump comprising a pump inlet coupled to the secondary outlet and a pump outlet communicating fluid to the absorption tank. The absorption tank forms a solution from the fluid and gas. A turbine mechanically couples the pump with a common shaft extending to the pump. The turbine has a turbine inlet coupled to the absorption tank and a turbine outlet coupled to the secondary inlet. The turbine depressurizes the solution. The system may also use a centrifugal pump in place of a turbine and absorption tank.
US09028695B2
The process includes operation as follows: putting ozone generated by an ozone generator into raw water, in a normal mode, to subject the raw water to ozone treatment; injecting a flocculant into the raw water before or after the ozone treatment; filtering the raw water by a separation membrane after the ozone treatment and the injection of the flocculant; and intermittently setting cleaning mode to put a larger quantity of cleaning ozone than that in the normal mode into the raw water so as to intermittently increase the concentration of dissolved ozone, thereby cleaning the filtration membrane.
US09028691B2
A blood circuit assembly for a dialysis unit may include an organizing tray, a pair of pneumatic pumps mounted to the organizing tray for circulating blood received from a patient through a circuit including a dialyzer unit and returned to the patient, an air trap mounted to the organizing tray arranged to remove air from blood circulating in the circuit, a pair of dialyzer connections arranged to connect to the inlet and outlet of a dialyzer unit, and a pair of blood line connectors, one inlet blood line connector for receiving blood from the patient and providing blood to the pneumatic pumps and the other outlet blood line connector for returning blood to the patient.
US09028685B2
A water purification system for continuously disinfecting water in a holding tank that provides uniform mixing and increased residence time. The system comprises a double disinfectant tank for potable water, comprising an inner tank and an outer tank. The inner tank being located wholly within and in the lower portion of the outer tank. The water and disinfectant inlet feeds water directly into the inner tank through a tube extending into the inner tank. The inner tank is sealed off from the outer tank except for limited openings located primarily in the lower half of the inner tank wall. The inlet tube preferably extends at least about 50% of the height of the inner tank, to a point above the location of the limited openings in the lower half of the inner tank. This results in better mixing, especially when the flow through the limited openings is high enough to create turbulent flow, and greater residence time compared to baffled tanks.
US09028680B2
A method and system for handling viscous liquid crude hydrocarbons is disclosed. The method involves (a) solvent deasphalting at least a portion of an asphaltene-containing liquid crude hydrocarbon feedstock to form an asphaltene fraction and a deasphalted oil (DAO) fraction essentially free of asphaltenes; (b) adjusting the density of the asphaltene fraction to substantially the same density of a carrier for the asphaltene fraction; (c) forming coated asphaltene particles from the asphaltene fraction of step (b); (d) slurrying the coated asphaltene particles with the carrier; and (e) transporting the slurry to a treatment facility or a transportation carrier.
US09028673B2
Systems and methods are provided for producing at least one low sulfur distillate fuel product with improved low temperature properties. A potential distillate fuel feed is initially hydrotreated to reduce sulfur and nitrogen levels in the feed to desired amounts. The hydrotreated effluent is then fractionated to form several fractions, including a light diesel/distillate fraction and a heavy diesel fraction. The heavy diesel fraction is then dewaxed to improve the cold flow properties of the heavy diesel fraction. The dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be combined with the light diesel fraction, or the dewaxed heavy diesel fraction can be fractionated as well. Optionally, the heavy diesel fraction is dewaxed under conditions effective for producing a dewaxed fraction with a cloud point that is less than or equal to the cloud point of the light diesel/distillate fraction.
US09028671B2
An apparatus and methods are provided for the accurate determination of hydrogen content in fluid media at elevated temperatures. The apparatus consists of a proton conducting solid electrolyte in contact with an internal metal/hydrogen reference standard, in which the electrolyte and the reference material are in a chemically stable contact. The electrical signal generated is a function of the hydrogen concentration on the measuring side.
US09028668B2
For use for a circuit board where a through hole and a blind via hole co-exist, an electrolytic copper plating bath in which the covering power for the through hole and the plugging performance for the blind via hole are sufficient, and an electroplating method that uses the electrolytic copper plating bath, are disclosed. The electrolytic copper plating bath is mainly composed of a water-soluble copper salt, sulfuric acid and chloride ions. A polyamide polyamine, obtained on processing by heating of an epichlorohydrin modified product of a polycondensation product of diethylene triamine, adipic acid and ε-caprolactam, is contained in the bath as a leveler.
US09028665B2
Provided is an electro-osmosis dehydrator, which includes a sludge supplying part disposed in a central upper portion thereof, and including a rotating part and two rollers disposed under the rotating part, a drum disposed under the sludge supplying part to receive sludge, and having a cylindrical shape rotating about an axis thereof, wherein an inner circumference of the drum is charged negatively or positively by direct current power, a caterpillar part spaced a certain distance from the drum, and moving along an endless track, wherein the caterpillar part includes a power applying part charged with polarity opposite to that of the drum by direct current power, a filtering fabric disposed under the power applying part, a caterpillar disposed under the filtering fabric, and including a plurality of holes, a vinyl part disposed between the filtering fabric and the caterpillar to prevent the sludge from passing through the caterpillar, and a chain disposed under the caterpillar, and a plurality of idle sprocket parts disposed on the inside of the caterpillar part, and engaging with the chain to drive the caterpillar part. A filtering fabric is removed from the space between positive and negative electrodes so as to decrease the gap therebetween, thereby reducing electricity consumption.
US09028655B2
A contaminant control system for an evaporative water purification process as deployed in a steam assisted gravity drainage process facility for in situ heavy oil recovery, The contaminant control system is specifically designed to simultaneously control silica, hardness and oil contaminant present in the evaporator feed water to prevent fouling of heat exchange surfaces and improve system reliability and can be applied to many evaporator designs available on the market.
US09028653B2
An evaporative desalination device includes a multi stage vapor generator that generates vapor by passing a hot water supply pipe successively through a plurality of vapor generators to evaporate sea water inside thereof, a multi effect vapor generator that uses vapor in the respective vapor generators as heat source and forms a plurality of evaporator groups which can adjust a number of evaporators disposed inside the respective evaporator groups and produce fresh water according to amounts of supplied vapor to evaporate sea water in the evaporator groups on an outer circumference surface of an evaporation tube by heat of vapor flowing in the evaporation tube, and a discharge unit that condenses vapor in the multi effect generator by sea water to discharge fresh water in liquid state, and returns and supplies portions of discharged sea water to the multi stage vapor generator and the multi effect evaporator.
US09028646B2
A bonded assembly to reduce particle contamination in a semiconductor vacuum chamber such as a plasma processing apparatus is provided, including an elastomeric sheet adhesive bond between mating surfaces of a component and a support member to accommodate thermal stresses. The elastomeric sheet comprises a silicone adhesive to withstand a high shear strain of ≧800% at a temperature range between room temperature and 300° C. such as heat curable high molecular weight dimethyl silicone with optional fillers. The sheet form has bond thickness control for parallelism of bonded surfaces. The sheet adhesive may be cut into pre-form shapes to conform to regularly or irregularly shaped features, maximize surface contact area with mating parts, and can be installed into cavities. Installation can be manually, manually with installation tooling, or with automated machinery. Composite layers of sheet adhesive having different physical properties can be laminated or coplanar.
US09028637B2
A method of prefabricating and installing a synthetic turf field includes providing a controlled manufacturing facility with an open area that allows a plurality of turf strips to be laid out on a floor thereof. Visual markings are placed on the floor to allow the Individual strips to be properly aligned on the floor. Once aligned, inlays can be placed into the proper strip and then secured. After the inlays have been secured, the strips can be rolled up and appropriately labeled for subsequent installation. After all the strips that will make up the field have been processed and rolled up, the rolls can be taken to the job site so the field can be installed.
US09028636B2
An apparatus for producing adhesive tape for sheathing of extended products, having two tape plies, having a carrier material with an adhesive coating. The carrier material being unwound from a feeding roll, the one tape ply with its adhesive coating being laminated against the other tape ply with a lateral projection (Ü1, Ü2) on at least one side. The carrier material is unwound from a feeding roll, which is configured as a wide roll, on which the carrier material has a greater width than its width required for laminating, and the carrier material is cut into two strips extending in along the tape which have the width required for laminating, the strips being separated and laminated such that each strip forms a tape ply in at least one adhesive tap.
US09028634B2
The embodiments are directed to a method and apparatus for preferably producing a two layer off-axis composite prepreg material in tape form that has fiber direction at angles such as plus or minus five degrees to the longitudinal direction of the backing paper. The use of such off-axis prepreg composite material tape is primarily for fabricating high length-to-width ration parts such as composite wing stringers or spars for aircraft.
US09028631B1
Provided is an adhesive fabric paper that is used in color printers for personal computers, printing machines for indoor and outdoor advertisement, wide format printers, plotters, and so on to print colored images. In the invention, the rear side of the fabric is not subjected to gray coating and white coating, and the front side of the fabric is coated with a coating solution containing at least one fixation-strengthening agent selected from among titanium dioxide, silicon oil, silicon dioxide, polyoxyethylene sorbitan trioleate, and polyvinyl alcohol. The adhesive fabric paper shows the same functions as those of the rear side coating layer and can be manufactured by a simpler process at reduced costs.
US09028625B2
The present invention provides a high Al-content steel sheet having an excellent workability and a method of production of the same at a low cost by mass production, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil, that is, a high Al-content steel sheet having an Al content of 6.5 mass % to 10 mass %, the high Al-content steel sheet characterized by having one or both of a {222} plane integration of an α-Fe crystal with respect to the surface of the steel sheet of 60% to 95% or a {200} plane integration of 0.01% to 15% and a method of production of the same, a high Al-content metal foil and a method of production of the same, and a metal substrate using a high Al-content metal foil.
US09028616B2
Provided is a method for cleaning the inside of a pressure tight container for a blasting treatment, wherein the inside of a pressure tight container can be cleaned for a short period of time after a blasting treatment. The method is comprised of a setting process wherein a cleaning blast (1) capable of cracking a part of a residual substance remaining on the inside of a pressure tight container (10), and a solid separating material (2) which collides with a substance bonded to an inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), to separate the bonded substance from the inner wall surface (32a) of the pressure tight container (10), are set on the inside of the pressure tight container (10); and a separation process wherein the cleaning blast (1) blasts on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), to crack a part of the residual substance remaining on the inside of the pressure tight container (10), and the separating material (2) is divided into a plurality of granular elements by the blast, so that the granular elements are spread, and collide with the bonded substance to remove the bonded substance.
US09028611B2
A method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor includes reacting a molten mixture containing at least a Group III element and an alkali metal with a gas containing at least nitrogen, to thereby grow a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal on the seed crystal. The method includes forming a template substrate including a sapphire substrate and a first Group III nitride semiconductor layer as the seed crystal which is formed by vapor phase growth and which includes a c-plane as a main plane is employed, and the template substrate is placed and maintained in the molten mixture under conditions where crystal growth of the Group III nitride semiconductor is inhibited, to thereby partially melt back a plurality of separated parts of the first Group III nitride semiconductor layer to such a depth that the sapphire substrate is partially exposed.
US09028609B2
An additive composition including a grinding aid selected from glycols, monocarboxylic acids with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and comb polymers; as well as at least one retardant, which can be used during the process of grinding cement clinker and which leads to low brown discoloration of the ground cement in the processed state.
US09028607B2
A process for sequestering carbon dioxide from the exhaust gas emitted from a combustion chamber is disclosed. In the process, a foam including a foaming agent and the exhaust gas is formed, and the foam is added to a mixture including a cementitious material (e.g., cement-kiln dust, lime kiln dust, or slag cement) and water to form a foamed mixture. Thereafter, the foamed mixture is allowed to set, preferably to a controlled low-strength material having a compressive strength of 1200 psi or less. The carbon dioxide in the exhaust gas reacts with hydration products in the controlled low-strength material and in turn sequesters the carbon dioxide.
US09028604B2
Method of reducing the odor of sulphur-bound products, in particular modified sulphur or sulphur concrete, comprising contacting the sulphur-bound products with a bleaching agent, like e.g. sodium hydrochloride or hydrogen peroxide. The resulting sulphur-bound products emit reduced levels of sulphur-containing gases such as H2S and SO2 and have a reduced odor.
US09028603B2
A xerogel film exhibiting antifouling properties. The films are made using long-chain alkyltrialkoxysilanes, short-chain alkyltrialkoxysilanes, aminoalkyltrialkoxysilanes, alkylaminoalkyltrialkoxysilanes, dialkylaminoalkyltrialkoxysilanes, and perfluororalkyltrialkoxysilanes as sol-gel precursors. The films can be used as coatings on surfaces to reduce or eliminate fouling resulting from attachment and/or growth of biofoulants such as algae, diatoms, bacteria, barnacles, and biofilms.
US09028586B2
The present invention relates to a novel process for producing metal composites by internal oxidation.
US09028580B1
Methods are provided for processing municipal human waste such that the processed material is is greater than 99% free of pathogenic organisms. The processed material can be used as an organic fertilizer or a “Class A” organic fertilizer. The methods include reducing the moisture content of human sludge free of polymeric flocculant to less than about 30% moisture and processing the sludge through an extruder under conditions having a minimum temperature of about 140° C., a residence time of about 30 seconds, and an atmospheric pressure differential of about 40 atmospheres. The methods are economical and have numerous advantages including reduced use of fossil fuel, fast processing time, and production of an odor free organic fertilizer free of many land use restrictions.
US09028578B2
A filter arrangement for a system within which fluid is filtered and an associated method of providing the arrangement. A frame of the arrangement includes an outer periphery shape that is complementary to a shape for location of the filter arrangement therein and a plurality of filter cartridge seat slots arranged in V-shaped pairs. Each filter cartridge seat slot provides a sub-aperture for removably receiving a respective filter cartridge in a direction transverse to the flow proceeding through the sub-aperture. The filter arrangement includes a plurality of filter cartridges that are removably located within respective filter cartridge seat slots. The filter arrangement includes a non-permanent sealing arrangement between the filter cartridges and the frame so that flow does not by-pass filter media. The non-permanent arrangement permits removal of the filter cartridges from the frame and replacement with new filter cartridges upon the frame.
US09028569B2
A gasification quench chamber is disclosed. The gasification quench chamber includes a reservoir that contains liquid coolant in its lower portion and an exit for the cooled syngas in its upper portion; a dip tube that is configured to introduce a syngas mixture to contact the liquid coolant which produces the cooled syngas; a cooling device configured to further cool the cooled syngas in its upper portion; and a stability device in the lower portion that is configured to mitigate coolant level fluctuation and sloshing. In an embodiment of the quench chamber, the cooling device includes a heat exchanger pipe. A quench chamber and scrubber assembly is also disclosed.
US09028564B2
Methods of making high-energy cathode active materials for primary alkaline batteries are described. The primary batteries include a cathode having an alkali-deficient nickel(IV)-containing oxide including one or more metals such as Co, Mg, Al, Ca, Y, Mn, and/or non-metals such as B, Si, Ge or a combination of metal and/or non-metal atoms as dopants partially substituted for Ni and/or Li in the crystal lattice; an anode; a separator between the cathode and the anode; and an alkaline electrolyte solution.
US09028555B2
An artificial knee joint comprising a femoral component and a tibial plate is provided. The femoral component includes a medial condyle, a lateral condyle, a first sliding surface for coupling the medial and lateral condyles, while leaving an opening therebetween, and a second sliding surface above the first sliding surface. The tibial plate includes a medial fossa, a lateral fossa, a post insertable into the opening, a third sliding surface which the first sliding surface contacts at a posterior surface of the post, and a fourth sliding surface which the second sliding surface contacts behind the post. The artificial knee joint is configured to move in a first sliding state in which the first sliding surface is in contact with the third sliding surface, or a second sliding state in which the second sliding surface is in contact with the fourth sliding surface, according to a flexion angle.
US09028552B2
A method for replacing at least a portion of an intervertebral disc in a spinal column includes: removing the portion of the intervertebral disc from the spinal column; and inserting an apparatus for replacing the portion of the intervertebral disc into an intervertebral disc space defined substantially between adjacent vertebral bones of the spinal column, and positioning the apparatus between the vertebral bones, wherein the apparatus is operable to permit the adjacent vertebral bones to articulate relative to one another about at least one of: (i) a first center of rotation for at least one of flexion and extension that is located outside the intervertebral disc space, and (ii) a second center of rotation for lateral bending that is located outside the intervertebral disc space.
US09028545B2
A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native aortic valve is disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve comprises a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent and a flexible valvular structure. A delivery system comprises a selectively steerable section and a pusher member extending through a central lumen of the steerable section. The prosthetic heart valve is compressed and inserted into a distal end portion of the delivery system. The delivery system and prosthetic heart valve are advanced through a femoral artery and around an aortic arch. A pull wire is actuated for selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable section during advancement around the aortic arch. The pusher member is advanced for ejecting the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery system into the native aortic valve, wherein the prosthetic valve self-expands after ejection.
US09028532B2
Flexible, sliding, dynamic implant system, for selective stabilization and correction of the vertebral column deformities and instabilities is constituted of a set is constituted by a set of flexible vertebral implants, which are articulated, sliding and dynamic (1) that belongs to the prosthetic and implants medicine field, constituted of two linear parallel sequences of U-shaped supports or platforms (3) where each pair of the sequence is connected with selective mobility to pedicular screws (4) fixed, also in parity, in the due posterior bony portion (5) of each vertebra (6) two thin, continue and flexible metallic blades (8) are coupled between the edges (lateral portion of the platforms with tracks (7) which belong to each U-shaped support. The inferior thin blade (8) is a fixed to the first U-shaped support (3) which corresponds to the first inferior vertebra (6) of the vertebral portion to be implanted. The flexible thin blade (8) is, on its turn, fixed on the upper vertebra platform in a way that it is blocked in only one extremity, thus with the free internal extremity causing the blades to slide in postural flex condition or any other movement requested to the extension of the implanted vertebral column (2).
US09028530B2
A tissue engageable suture having antimicrobial properties is provided. The suture includes a plurality of thread members. The thread members include a plurality of structural thread members having a structural portion and an antimicrobial portion. The thread members also include a plurality of adhesive thread members. The plurality of structural thread members and the plurality of adhesive thread members are woven together to form a multiple thread-containing cabled suture wherein the adhesive thread members bond the structural thread members within the cabled structure.
US09028529B2
The present invention is directed to tissue closure devices for closing a tissue opening, including one or more closure components, each closure component having a first member and a second member, each of the first and second members having a first surface that adheres to a tissue surface proximate to the tissue opening, each of the first and second members having a second surface substantially orthogonal to the first surface, and each of the first and second members having a transitional region between the first surface and the second surface which is contoured to evert an edge of the tissue opening upon the drawing together of the first and second members. The present invention is also directed to systems and kits, dressing systems, and methods for tissue repair and closure.
US09028522B1
Disclosed is an apparatus and a method for surgical dilation and retraction of tissues during a medical procedure, for example a spinal surgery. The apparatus includes a dilator assembly that includes a plurality of slidingly engaging dilators, wherein at least one dilator includes an outer wall shape different from its inner wall shape. At least one of the dilators may include an eccentrically positioned circular channel, a generally oblong outer wall shape, and a longitudinal gap in a wall. The dilator system may be used in a method that provides off center differential dilation of tissues in one or more preferred directions. A retractor system that may be used with the dilator system is also disclosed.
