US08238670B2
In an image classification method, dividing an input image into blocks; obtaining block features of each block of the image; performing an evaluation of each block based on the block features thereof; obtaining image features based on the evaluations of the blocks of the image; and classifying the image based on the image features into pre-defined categories.
US08238663B2
A similar image search apparatus includes a storage unit, a search unit, a text feature selection unit, an image feature transformation unit and a similar image search unit. The storage unit stores images and pieces of text information associated with the respective images. The search unit retrieves candidate images. Each candidate image has a similar image feature to a image feature of a key image. The text feature selection unit select a text feature of the respective candidate images which satisfies a given selecting condition. The image feature transformation unit, base on the selected text feature, transforms the image features. The similar image search unit retrieves similar images from the candidate images based on the transformed image features. The image features of the similar images are similar to the image feature of the key image.
US08238642B2
A method for determining 3D distances on a 2D pixelized image of a part or object includes acquiring a real 2D pixelized image of the object, creating a simulated image of the object using the 3D CAD model and the 2D pixelized image, determining a specified cost function comparing the simulated image with the real 2D pixilated image and repositioning the simulated image in accordance with iterated adjustments of a relative position between the CAD model and the 2D pixilated image to change the simulated image until the specified cost function is below a specified value. Then, the workstation is used to generate a 3D distance scale matrix using the repositioned simulated image, and to measure and display distances between selected pixels on a surface of the real image using 2D distances on the 2D pixelized image of the object and the 3D distance scale matrix.
US08238638B2
Efficiently assessing the quality of an electronic check image by determining whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis prior to performing the image quality analysis. A check processing module of a check processor can determine whether the check image is suitable for image quality analysis by validating certain tags in the image. For example, such validation can include determining whether the check image includes certain mandatory tags and whether any optional tags present in the image are valid. The check processing module can determine that the check image is not suitable for image quality analysis if it does not include the mandatory tags or if it includes any invalid optional tags. The check processing module can assign a failure value to any check image that is not suitable for image quality analysis. The failure value can indicate a reason for the unsuitability of the check image.
US08238637B2
A method for diagnosing malignancy of suspect regions in a 2D imaging projection of a body organ of a subject comprising the steps of: normalizing the image projection to map regions thereof onto a standard shape; extracting location of regions mapped on the standard shape and using normalized position of a suspect region to assess likelihood that it is malignant.
US08238628B2
In a server apparatus, an information classification is determined by a user and a utilization situation, and provision information is determined on the basis of the determined information classification. A common object is processed to include only the determined provision information, and then provided to a client apparatus. To the client apparatus, a common object including requisite minimum information is provided.
US08238623B2
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for characterizing the imperfections of the skin.The apparatus comprises: a) a digital camera allowing the taking of at least one digital image of at least one determined skin zone, the said image being defined by a multiplicity of pixels, that is transmitted to a digital image processing device; b) means of splitting the digital image into three color planes: red, green, blue, termed R, G, B, with the aid of the said image processing device; c) means of extracting a single of these planes; d) means of calculating at least one of the following parameters on the basis of this plane: the mean grey level of the image; the surface area of the imperfections of the skin of the said image, some of which are related to aging, such as wrinkles, lines, spots, dark circles, pigmentary imperfections, slackening or loosening zones; the variance of the grey levels over the set of pixels of the image as parameter representative of the homogeneity of the skin. The invention finds an industrial application in a method of assessing the anti-aging effect of a cosmetic product.
US08238617B2
A similarity degree calculating unit calculates a similarity degree of a feature quantity of a face image of an imaged checking target, and a feature quantity of a face image of a registrant or a non-registrant registered in a registrant information DB or a non-registrant information DB. A check determination unit notifies a service determination unit when the similarity degree is higher than a threshold value. A related information acquiring unit acquires related information including inter-registrant information, and provides to a time-series information DB generation unit and the service determination unit. The time-series information DB generation unit updates the time-series information DB. A statistical information DB generation unit generates the statistical information DB from the time-series information DB. The service determination unit provides services based on the related information, the time-series information DB, and the statistical information DB.
US08238615B2
A method for comparing a plurality of photographers by assessing the aesthetic quality of a set of digital images captured by each photographer comprising: providing a set of digital images captured by each of a plurality of photographers; using a processor to determine an aesthetic quality parameter for each digital image in each of the sets of digital images, wherein the aesthetic quality parameter is an estimate for the aesthetic quality of the digital image; determining an aesthetic quality distribution for each photographer responsive to the aesthetic quality parameters computed for each of the digital images in the photographer's set of digital images; and providing a comparison between the aesthetic quality distributions of the photographers.
US08238612B2
A method for determining motion is provided. The method determines a rotation of an object from a first time to a second time by analyzing a first 2D image obtained at the first time and a second 2D image obtained at the second time. Then, the method determines a translation of the object from the first time to the second time based on the determined rotation, 3D information relating to the first image, and 3D information relating to the second image.
US08238610B2
An apparatus for passively measuring vehicle speed includes at least one video camera for acquiring images of a roadway upon which at least one moving vehicle travels upon, each of the images comprising a plurality of pixels. A computer processes pixel data associated with the plurality of pixels, including using an adaptive background subtraction model to perform background subtraction on the pixel data to identify a plurality of foreground pixels, extracting a plurality of blobs from the foreground pixels, and rectifying the blobs to form a plurality of rectified blobs using a homography matrix. The homography matrix is obtained by comparing at least one known distance in the roadway with distances between the pixels. Using a planar homography transform, the moving vehicle is identified from the plurality of rectified blobs, wherein the respective ones of the plurality of rectified blobs include vehicle data associated with the moving vehicle. The speed of the moving vehicle is computed from the vehicle data.
US08238605B2
A digital video target moving object segmentation method and system is designed for processing a digital video stream for segmentation of every target moving object that appears in the video content. The proposed method and system is characterized by the operations of a multiple background imagery extraction process and a background imagery updating process for extracting characteristic background imagery whose content includes the motional background objects in addition to the static background scenes; and wherein the multiple background imagery extraction process is based on a background difference threshold comparison method, while the background imagery updating process is based on a background-matching and weight-counting method. This feature allows an object mask to be defined based on the characteristic background imagery, which can mask both the motional background objects as well as the static background scenes.
US08238601B2
A system and method for removing digital watermarks from a watermarked image of an electronic device are provided. The method decomposes the watermarked image to a plurality of Eigen-images, assigns an identifier to each of the Eigen-images in sequence, and identifies an identifier range of the Eigen-images to be removed from the watermarked image. The method further selects Eigen-images having watermarked information from the identifier range, deletes the Eigen-images having watermarked information from the Eigen-images within the identifier range, and integrates the remainder Eigen-images of the identifier range to form a composite image. Additionally, the method determines whether the composite image is distorted, and stores the composite image into a storage device of the electronic device if the composite image is not distorted.
US08238594B2
The invention specifies a sealing apparatus for a microphone opening in a front plate. It comprises a sound-permeable covering medium made of a first material and a sound-permeable membrane, with a sealant arranged on the exterior of the covering medium made of a second material being designed so as to produce a tight form fit between the covering medium and the front plate when said covering medium is inserted into the microphone opening. A front plate that is compatible with the sealing apparatus according to the invention is also specified. The advantage here is that the microphone opening can be sealed in a water-tight fashion and as a result protects a microphone positioned beneath it against external influences.
US08238593B2
A hearing instrument includes a signal processor, and at least two microphones for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into corresponding electrical sound signals that are input to the signal processor, wherein the signal processor is configured to process the electrical sound signals into a combined signal with a directivity pattern with at least one adaptive null direction θ, and wherein the signal processor is further configured to prevent the at least one null direction θ from entering a prohibited range of directions, wherein the prohibited range is a function of a parameter of the electrical sound signals.
US08238588B2
A loudspeaker system has a plurality of relatively small transducer elements configured in a closely spaced transducer array such that their acoustic outputs combine to produce a focused beam of sound in front of the array that is substantially uniform about the beams radiation axis. The transducer array lies in a plane and has a perimeter that approximates a circle, and will have fill-factor with respect to a circle circumscribing the array of at least approximately 70%. In one variation of the loudspeaker system, the transducer array is constructed in smaller transducer array modules that are operatively fitted together to produce a larger array.
US08238583B2
The invention provides a method for analog-to-digital conversion in a microphone circuit. First, a first gain is determined. A first analog signal is then amplified according to the first gain to obtain a second analog signal. The second analog signal is then converted from analog to digital to obtain a first digital signal. A second gain is then determined according to the first gain so that a product of the first gain and the second gain is kept constant. The first digital signal is then amplified according to the second gain to obtain a second digital signal.
US08238577B2
A computer audio system includes an audio codec and a lone controller. The audio codec is operably coupled to receive audio information, which includes tone control settings, PCM digital audio inputs and PCM digital audio outputs. In addition, the audio codec may receive audio information as analog input signals via a line-in, a CD input, or an auxiliary input. Based on the audio information, the audio codec provides a first stereo output, a second stereo output and a monotone audio output. The tone controller is operably coupled to the audio codec and includes a low pass filter, a high pass filter, a band pass filter, and a summing module. The low pass filter is operably coupled to filter the monotone audio output and isolates bass components of the audio signal being processed. By further coupling a volume control module to the low pass filter, the bass component of the audio signal being processed may be varied. The high pass filler is operably coupled to filter the first stereo audio signal to pass treble components of the audio signal being processed. Similarly, a volume control module may be coupled to the high pass filter to provide tone control for the treble components of the audio signal being processed. The band pass filter is operably coupled to filter the second stereo audio output, which passes midband components of the audio signal being processed. Similarly, a volume control module may be coupled to the band pass filter such that midband components of the audio signal being processed may be adjusted. The summing module sums the bass component, treble component and midband component of the audio signal being processed to produce a tone controlled audio output.
US08238568B2
According to one embodiment, an acoustic signal compensator includes an acoustic signal receiving module, a compensator, and an output module. The acoustic signal receiving module receives an acoustic signal. The compensator performs compensation on the acoustic signal, as compensation of acoustic characteristics of an ear including an ear canal having a first-order resonance characteristic and a second-order resonance characteristic, to suppress a first-order frequency of ear resonance and a second-order frequency lower than double of the first-order frequency. The output module outputs the acoustic signal compensated by the compensator.
US08238562B2
In one embodiment, C input audio channels are encoded to generate E transmitted audio channel(s), where one or more cue codes are generated for two or more of the C input channels, and the C input channels are downmixed to generate the E transmitted channel(s), where C>E≧1. One or more of the C input channels and the E transmitted channel(s) are analyzed to generate a flag indicating whether or not a decoder of the E transmitted channel(s) should perform envelope shaping during decoding of the E transmitted channel(s). In one implementation, envelope shaping adjusts a temporal envelope of a decoded channel generated by the decoder to substantially match a temporal envelope of a corresponding transmitted channel.
US08238555B2
Both a management server and a validation server are installed. Both a terminal and a terminal register setting information which is usable in an encrypted communication in the management server. When carrying out the encrypted communication, the management server searches the registered setting information for coincident setting information. The management server generates keys for the encrypted communications which can be used by the terminals, and delivers these generated keys in combination with the coincident setting information. The management server authenticates both the terminals in conjunction with the validation server. Since the terminals trust such results that the management server has authenticated the terminals respectively, these terminals need not authenticate the respective communication counter terminals.
US08238545B2
A method and transmitter unit in a multi-tone multi-line based transmission system such as a digital subscriber line system for determining a Power Spectral Density (PSD) of a plurality of users over a physical channel for at least one tone. Each of the users has a minimum required data rate and a maximum allowed power. A Power Minimization Problem (PMP) is formulated mathematically introducing Lagrangian multipliers and by utilizing a dual decomposition approach for the objective function of the PMP in order to solve the PMP on a per-tone basis.
US08238538B2
This application describes a system and associated method for routing messages, such as phone calls. The destination of incoming calls may be determined based on a variety of factors, such as the state of the callee's security system, the date and time, the identity of the caller, and the number of recent call attempts by the caller. Potential destinations include all or a subset of the phones associated with a subscriber and outside phones, such as cellular phones operated by third parties. The rules used to route calls may be defined or modified via a web interface.
US08238537B2
A system and method for reestablishing a voice communications session moderated by a group call server between two or more telephony devices. The method is performed by a processor monitoring the communications session. The method comprises: storing one or more data records representing group call information; detecting disconnection of at least one participating telephony device from the group communications session, and determining that the disconnection was not intentionally initiated; accessing the stored call group information data and causing signals to enable reestablishment of participation by the disconnected device to be sent to the disconnected device; and upon receipt by the group call server from the disconnected device of signals representing a request to reconnect the disconnected device, outputting command signals for reestablishing a communications session between the disconnected device and at least one other device participating in the group communications session.
US08238535B2
Systems and methods are provided in which remote installed devices may be assigned various call-in times to contact a host controller. The host may schedule remote devices sequentially across multiple modems. Additional modems may be added to the system as more bandwidth is desired or required. The system may include additional, unscheduled bandwidth to account for calls made by devices outside of the assigned call times.
US08238524B2
An apparatus includes: an image pickup unit capturing a color image observed by the microscope; a camera characteristic information storage unit storing camera characteristic information about a characteristic of the microscope color image pickup apparatus; a color correction parameter calculation unit calculating a color correction parameter for a color correcting process on the color image captured by the image pickup unit according to the color image captured by the image pickup unit and the camera characteristic information stored in the camera characteristic information storage unit; and a color correcting unit performing a color correcting process on the color image captured by the image pickup unit according to the color correction parameter calculated by the color correction parameter calculation unit.
US08238504B2
A clock generation circuit includes: a first determination circuit that detects an input signal at a first phase position based on first frequency signal; a second determination circuit that detects the input signal at a second phase position based on second frequency signal; a phase detector that compares output of the first determination circuit and output of the second determination circuit; a first summing circuit which sums comparison result and first control signal; a second summing circuit which sums comparison result and second control signal; a first voltage controlled oscillation circuit which receives output of the first summing circuit and outputs the first frequency signal; a second voltage controlled oscillation circuit which received output of the second summing circuit and outputs the second frequency signal; and a phase adjustment circuit which generates first control signal and second control signal based on first frequency signal and second frequency signal.
US08238502B2
A communication system includes first and second independently clocked devices, comprising, for each device, a transmitter and a receiver connected to each other in a crossed way in correspondence of an inter-chip communication channel. The communication system further comprises a synchronizer in turn including at least a first and a second synchronization block, having respective input terminals connected to the receivers and respective output terminals connected to the transmitters and comprising at least: a test pattern generator that generates a programmable test pattern signal; a pattern detector to check a matching between stored and received test pattern signals and thus lock corresponding clock phases of the synchronization blocks in case of positive result of this check; and a delay block able to change the clock phases until a synchronized condition of the synchronization blocks is verified, this synchronized condition corresponding to a matching between stored and received test pattern signals.
US08238497B2
A device (1) for reducing the interference in a received communication signal. The device includes: an adaptive filter (2) which uses a self-reference signal to remove a coherent and stable interfering signal from the received communication signal; a detection module (3) for detecting the existence of the target signal among the received communication signals; and a demodulation module (7) for demodulating the received communication signal when the target signal is detected. Further, this device includes: a noise-classifying device (5) which detects various interfering signals of the received communication signal and determines the classification of the detected interfering signals; and a switching module (6) for selecting the input signal for the demodulation module on the basis of the determination made by the noise-classifying device and the value when the existence of the target signal is detected.
US08238487B2
In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive a transmission from a wireless communication device, the transmission associated with resource units, a detector configured to generate log-likelihood ratio data from the received transmission, and a controller configured to calculate noise and interference for each of the resource units and modify the generated log-likelihood ratio data based on the calculated noise and interference.
US08238486B2
A digital broadcasting transmission/reception system having improved receiving performance and signal processing method thereof. A digital broadcasting transmitter according to the present invention includes a data pre-processor which processed robust data and generates robust data packet of predetermined format, a TS stream generator which combines robust data packet with a normal data packet to generate a TS stream of a predetermined format, a randomizer which randomizes the TS stream output from the TS stream generator, a convolution encoder which performs convolution encoding with respect to the robust data of the data output from the randomizer, and a RS encoder which performs RS encoding with respect to the data output from the convolution g encoder. Accordingly, digital broadcasting receiving performance can be improved in a poor multipath channel, while maintaining compatibility with existing transmission/reception system.
US08238480B2
Various embodiments to provide cancellation techniques that can be used to address the self-quieter problem are described. For example, a receiver that includes a tone selector and a self-quieter suppressor is provided. The tone selector (202) determines and selects a self-quieter corrupted tone from a frequency domain signal that exhibits a self-quieter. The self-quieter suppressor (203) determines an initial phase, an angular speed and an amplitude estimate for the frequency domain self-quieter. The suppressor then generates a reconstructed frequency domain self-quieter using the initial phase, the angular speed and the amplitude estimate and subtracts the reconstructed frequency domain self-quieter from the corrupted tone to produce a self-quieter suppressed tone to replace the corrupted tone. Such an approach can realize a significant reduction in processing and complexity, as compared to known alternatives, making it an attractive and cost-effective solution for dealing with the self-quieter problem.
US08238477B2
In an embodiment, set forth by way of example and not limitation, a data slicer includes a signal input node, a comparator having a first input of a first polarity, a second input of a second polarity which is the opposite of the first polarity, and an output coupled to a data out node, the first input of the comparator being coupled to the signal input node, and a multi-mode threshold generator including a first threshold generator and second threshold generator, whereby the first threshold generator is selected firstly and the second threshold generator is selected secondly.
US08238471B2
An apparatus and a method for interference cancellation in a transmitting end of a multi-antenna system are provided. A precode is generated which maximizes a diversity gain of one or more receive antennas using channel information of the receive antennas to be serviced. Transmit powers of the receive antennas are updated by taking into account a power loss and a shaping loss according to a dirty paper coding. Transmit signals are precoded by updating the precode according to the updated transmit powers. The dirty paper coding is performed on the precoded transmit signals to be transmitted to the receive antennas.
US08238467B2
An equalizer provided in a digital transmitter compensates for attenuation in a signal channel to a digital receiver. The equalizer generates signal levels as a logical function of bit history to emphasize transition signal levels relative to repeated signal levels. The preferred equalizer includes an FIR transition filter using a look-up table. Parallel circuits including FIR filters and digital-to-analog converters provide a high speed equalizer with lower speed circuitry. The equalizer is particularly suited to in-cabinet and local area network transmissions where feedback circuitry facilitates adaptive training of the equalizer.
US08238448B2
In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a decoder configured to obtain quantization information of a first block, obtain a block type of the first block, and compare the quantization information and a threshold value. Loop-filtering is performed by the decoder on a first set of four successive pixels by using at least three successive pixels in a horizontal direction firstly if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block is intra-coded block type, and loop-filtering is performed by the decoder on a second set of four successive pixels by using at least three successive pixels in a vertical direction secondly if the quantization information is greater than the threshold value and the type of the first block is intra-coded block type.
US08238445B2
A video and audio data synchronization method for a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) having a plurality of channels for outputting video and audio data includes determining a boundary between a control period and a data/video period in each of the plurality of channels, adjusting timing sequences of the plurality of channels respectively according to the boundaries, and simultaneously outputting video and audio data of the plurality of channels according to the timing sequences of the plurality of channels. This method can prevent loss of synchronization between channels due to layout and process variation.
US08238442B2
Methods and apparatus for concealing corrupted blocks of streaming data are disclosed. It is determined whether a subdivision of the streaming data is a corrupt subdivision. The corrupt subdivision is concealed using a previously reconstructed or concealed subdivision in a manner that does not require information from pairs of direct neighbor subdivisions that have not been previously reconstructed or concealed.
US08238429B2
A method for conserving memory accesses in motion compensation of compressed video gathers a plurality of motion compensation data accesses into a single bounding box for direct memory access data transfer. The method places the motion compensation data of a current macroblock into a current bounding box until placing the motion compensation data into the current bounding box causes the ratio of motion compensation data to bounding box data to fall below a predetermined memory utilization threshold.
US08238424B2
Multiple-pass video encoding systems and techniques are described which utilize statistics taken during a first-pass encoding to create complexity measurements for video data which is to be encoded. By analyzing these complexity measurements, preprocessing decisions, such as, for example, the determination of strength of denoise filters, can be made with greater accuracy. In one implementation, these complexity measurements take the form of calculation of temporal and spatial complexity parameters, which are then used to compute a unified complexity parameter for each group of pictures being encoded.
US08238415B2
Method and system for programmable breakpoints in an integrated embedded image and video accelerator
A method and system for programmable breakpoints in an integrated embedded image and video accelerator are described. Aspects of the system may include circuitry that enables generation of control signals for pipeline processing of video data within a single chip by at least selecting a target location of the video data and generating an interrupt at a time instant corresponding to the pipeline processing of the target location. The system may enable programmable breakpoints to be set and/or triggered based on policies determined in executable software. The ability to set programmable breakpoints may enable flexible utilization of system memory resources.
US08238408B2
A method for processing, in an ultra-wide band receiver, a sampled rectified ultra-wide band received signal, including: at least one sliding correlation between a selection of samples of the sampled ultra-wide band received signal and a correlation sequence, the sliding correlation carrying out a succession of n elementary correlation steps, n being an integer larger than or equal to 2, at a frequency f, between the selection of samples and the correlation sequence, an elementary correlation producing a series of intermediate correlation samples, and summation of the intermediate correlation samples delivered by each of the n elementary correlation steps to form n correlation samples which form a correlation vector.
US08238407B1
Automatic establishment of a connection between a human interface device and a host transceiver unit. A marriage ID is exchanged in a synchronization step. The marriage ID being used by both the host transceiver and the human interface device to calculate a spread spectrum modulation pattern. In one embodiment the spread spectrum modulation is a frequency hopping spread spectrum modulation.
US08238401B2
An apparatus that includes a first diode laser and a silicon-based support structure is provided. The first diode laser is configured to emit a first laser beam when powered. The support structure includes a silicon-based support plate, a silicon-based first fin structure, and a silicon-based second fin structure. The support plate has a first primary surface and a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface. The first fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The first fin structure is physically coupled to the support plate with the first edge of the first fin structure attached to the first primary surface of the support plate. The second fin structure has a first primary surface, a second primary surface opposite the first primary surface, and a plurality of edges between the first and the second primary surfaces including a first edge and a second edge opposite the first edge. The second fin structure is physically coupled to the support plate with the first edge of the second fin structure attached to the first primary surface of the support plate. The first diode laser is physically coupled between the first and the second fin structures to emit the first laser beam in a direction away from the support plate.
US08238398B2
Invention relates to three types of laser light sources: diode laser, integral diode laser (in form of integrally connected diode lasers) and integral semiconductor optical amplifier (in form of integrally connected driving laser diode and semiconductor amplifier element), which amplifier consists of original optical resonator of diode laser and original laser radiation coupling. Two reflectors in optical resonator of diode laser, which falls into three types of above-mentioned laser radiation sources, have greatest possible reflection factor on both sides thereof and radiation coupling from active layer is carried out, by-passing active layer, through broadband semiconductor layers of the modified heterostructure of diode laser with practically fully antireflective (less than 0.01%) optical face. Invention makes it possible to design superpower, high-performance, high-speed and reliable three types of sources of single-frequency, single-mode and multi-mode high quality laser radiation in broad wavelength band, to simplify the production and cut in production costs thereof.
US08238386B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a compact and low-cost system for generating ultra short high energy laser light pulses that does not use the known CPA scheme. The proposed approach is based on spectral filtering of laser light pulses of a mode locked laser source. The used mode locked laser source can be of any kind as long as its filtered residual pulse bandwidth supports pulse durations longer than 20 ps and up to 1 ns. After filtering the laser light pulses are directly amplified in an amplification element consisting of one or more amplification stages. At the same time or just after amplification the light pulses are spectrally broadened through a spectral broadening element, for example a fiber of suitably chosen core diameter and length to achieve a spectral bandwidth that is wide enough to support sub 10 ps pulses. Finally, the spectrally broadened laser light pulses are compressed by a compact dispersive element consisting of one or more Bragg gratings or a grating pair.
US08238381B2
Normally ordered robust VSB data are reordered in accordance with a first interleave to produce reordered robust VSB data. The reordered robust VSB data and ATSC data are reordered in accordance with a second interleave to produce normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data. The normally ordered robust VSB data and reordered ATSC data are time multiplexed for transmission to a receiver. The receiver discards the reordered ATSC data or the normally ordered robust VSB data depending upon receiver type or user selection. A robust VSB receiver is able to process the normally ordered robust VSB data upstream of an outer decoder without an interleave thereby avoiding the delay associated with an interleave.
US08238379B2
The invention relates to an automation device, with which a multiplicity of physically distributed functional units communicate with each other by means of a common transmission protocol. The device has a microcontroller (110), which is assigned at least one clock generator (120) and one memory unit (150), and which is connected at least to one data source (140), which is designed to output a data bit-stream to be transmitted. A sequential sequence of equidistant samples of a trapezoidal time profile is stored in the memory unit (150), such that it can be called up, in such a manner that the samples can be output either using the clock of the first clock generator or using the clock of the second clock generator, depending on the data bit-stream.
US08238374B2
Methods and apparatus for balancing multi-symbol modulation schemes in cellular communications are provided. The modulation schemes include a plurality of modulation symbols, each of which codes a predefined bit group, which includes one or more bits. The bit groups define different bit positions for bits within the bit groups. The bit positions of the modulation symbols are associated with different error probability levels. Each error probability level defines a probability level of an erroneous bit value at a defined bit position in the bit group, which is obtained by a mapping operation from the modulation symbol transmitted over a radio frequency channel with noise. Binary content to be modulated is provided in form of code blocks I (where i=1 to n). Each of the code blocks is carried on a corresponding code channel i. The code blocks on the code channels are supplied to the modulation schemes in that each code channel is associated with one predefined bit position of the bit groups to enable a mapping to modulation symbols. The bit groups are formed from the binary content of the code blocks in accordance with the code channel-to-bit position association defined above. The binary content of at least two code blocks is shuffled, distributed, or scattered in accordance with predetermined shuffling, distributing, or scattering rules. The shuffling, distributing, or scattering aims to achieve substantially balanced or same error probability levels for said code channels. The shuffling operation should be performed to achieve a substantially evenly distribution of the binary content upon the involved code blocks.
US08238363B2
The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for a dual-stack Mobile Node (MN) to roam in an IPv4 network. The apparatus mainly includes a Foreign Home Agent (FHA). The method mainly includes: acquiring, by the MN, a temporary IPv4 address THOA that the FHA assigns to the MN, and registering its IPv4 Care-of Address (COA) in the FHA; and delivering, by the FHA, a packet between the MN and a Corresponding Node (CN) or Home Agent (HA), according to information about the IPv4 COA, which is assigned for the MN and has been registered by the MN in the FHA. With the method of the invention, a routing solution may be implemented for a dual-stack MN to roam from an IPv6 network to an IPv4 network.
US08238362B2
A burst processing modem and related methods. Implementations of a first method of demodulating bursts from a plurality of channels may include receiving a plurality of channels from a received beam and separating the plurality of channels and storing a plurality of frames in a random access memory (RAM) array with a channelizer where each frame of the plurality of frames includes one or more bursts. The method may include serially reading, using a demodulator in response to receiving a timing signal, a desired burst from a frame stored in the RAM array wherein a burst time plan identifying the desired burst is used by a receive frame state machine to generate the timing signal. The method may include demodulating and decoding the desired burst using a demodulator and a decoder to produce a quantity of packet data, and sending the quantity of packet data to a specified destination.
US08238357B2
It is possible to identify a communication range even for a communication across a plurality of VLAN in a network having a plurality of communication paths because of a redundant switch configuration when managing switch VLAN setting information. A device having a predetermined VLAN-ID is made to be a KEY and a device having a predetermined VLAN-ID which can perform communication from the device is made to be a VALUE. A VLAN communication enabled/disabled hash table is created for expressing each of KEYs and VALUEs as a set of a device name and a VLAN-ID. By referencing a redundant configuration table indicating a redundant configuration and a routing table indicating whether routing is enabled, form a KEY specified as a start point for a network administrator, a VALUE which can be communicated from the KEY is identified and the VALUE is used as a KEY to follow a path.
US08238350B2
Systems and methods are provided for passing control of message dependencies and ordering to one or more network nodes participating in a transaction. Thus, messages can be sent to the participating nodes and the participating nodes can handle the messages according to their respective dependencies without first sending a response or waiting for the next message to arrive. In one embodiment, at least one message is flagged with a checkpoint to indicate that messages sent before the checkpoint are to be handled by the participating nodes before messages after the checkpoint. Messages may also be flagged with error-handling information. For example, a message may be marked to indicate that if the message fails, no further messages are to be sent to the node had the failure. Responses to a group of messages can be collected in a single operation.
US08238346B2
A node in a mobile ad-hoc network or other network classifies packets (a) in accordance with a first set of priority levels based on urgency and (b) within each priority level of the first set, in accordance with a second set of priority levels based on importance. The node: (a) queues packets classified at highest priority levels of the first and/or second sets in high-priority output queues; (b) queues packets classified at medium priority levels of the first set in medium-priority output queue(s); and (3) queues packets classified at low priority levels of the first and/or second set in low-priority output queue(s). Using an output priority scheduler, the node serves the packets in order of the priorities of the output queues. In such manner, orthogonal aspects of DiffServ and MLPP can be resolved in a MANET or other network.
US08238343B2
An apparatus and method for performing tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path are provided. The method includes transmitting an end-to-end signaling flow through an end-to-end path connected to the IP tunneling path, generating a tunnel signaling flow corresponding to the end-to-end signaling flow, and transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow through the IP tunneling path, wherein the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnel signaling flow respectively include a binding data object storing binding information for an end-to-end session associated with the end-to-end signaling flow or a tunnel session associated with the tunnel signaling flow.
US08238340B2
A network comprising a switch configured to switch traffic between a plurality of external interfaces via a plurality of virtual interfaces associated with the external interfaces, wherein the traffic comprises a plurality of external virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (VIDs) associated with the external interfaces to select the virtual interfaces, and wherein the virtual interfaces are configured to forward traffic based on an internal VID that is assigned to the traffic independent of the external VID. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a frame from a physical port, obtaining an external VID from a VLAN tag in the frame, removing the VLAN tag from the frame, selecting a virtual interface based on the external VID, and delivering the frame to the selected virtual interface.
US08238339B1
A method and apparatus for selective packet discard have been disclosed where two bits are added to a packet to indicate various discard options.
US08238336B2
A method for forwarding data packet, a communication system, a Carrier Grade Network Address Translation (CGN) device, and an access gateway are provided. The CGN device communicates with the access gateway through an Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) network and is used for receiving a first data packet forwarded by the access gateway and determining whether the first data packet is an IPv4 packet or an IPv6-over-IPv4 tunnel packet; forwarding the first data packet to the IPv4 network if the first data packet is the IPv4 packet; and decapsulating the first data packet if the first data packet is the IPv6-over-IPv4 tunnel packet to a first IPv6 packet, and sending the first IPv6 packet to an IPv6 network or the IPv4 network. Therefore, technical problems of fully utilizing the IPv4 network and, gradually increasing deployment of the IPv6 network, and realizing communication are solved.
US08238332B2
A signal transmitting device includes: a synchronous-data detecting unit that detects, from parallel data specified by a predetermined format and including video data and audio data, synchronous data for controlling synchronization of the parallel data; an audio extracting unit that stores the audio data in an audio memory; a clock extracting unit that extracts a reference clock from the parallel data; a multiplexing unit that multiplexes the audio data and the synchronous data in a horizontal auxiliary data space of the video data; a control unit that controls, on the basis of the synchronous data and the reference clock, timing of the multiplexing unit for multiplexing the audio data with the video data; and a parallel serial converting unit that converts the video data multiplexed with the audio data by the multiplexing unit into a transmission stream specified by a Level A of a 3G-SDI format.
US08238328B2
In conjunction with a data communication network carrying multiple telephony signals and allowing for connection of telephone sets, a system and method in which two external feeders connect to the data network at two distinct points via two distinct devices. The data network can be based on dedicated wiring or can use existing in-premises medium such as telephone, powerlines or CATV wiring. In the latter case, the wiring can still carry the original service for which it was installed. The external telephone connections can be based on the traditional PSTN, CATV network, cellular telephone network or any other telephone service provider network, using specific adapter for any medium used. In the case of connection to a POTS telephone signal, VoIP gateway (or any other converter) is required.
US08238322B2
The Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access OFDMA and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing OFDM techniques involve transmitting so called map messages in order to inform user terminals which slots are allocated to them. The large size of the map messages may constitute a problem in the system, and thus the present solution intends to alleviate this problem. The idea is to use semi-static allocation maps, wherein a location, size, and modulation and coding method of allocated slots are predefined for a connection. Then, the present solution allows defining validity information indicating which of the predefined allocations are to be used for a current frame.
US08238317B2
Disclosed is a packet routing method in an ad-hoc network. The method includes periodically calculating a link stability with respect to each neighbor node by means of the number of beacon frames lost within an update period for each neighbor node, updating the calculated link stability in the neighbor node table; identifying a neighbor node which is closer to a destination node of a received packet than the node when the node itself does not correspond to the destination node; and transmitting the received packet to the identified neighbor node when the identified link stability of the neighbor node is greater than or equal to a threshold value.
US08238314B2
The invention includes a method and apparatus for providing a distributed forwarding plane for a mobility home agent. The invention provides a method for controlling routing of packets for a mobile node in a network comprising a network domain including a plurality of forwarding elements being controlled by a control element. A method includes computing a route from one of the forwarding elements toward the mobile node and propagating the computed route toward that one of the forwarding elements. The route is computed using location information associated with the mobile node and routing information associated with the network domain.
US08238303B2
The present invention provides a method of generating mutually orthogonal reference signals for different user terminals in and OFDM system that span different but overlapping subcarriers. The subcarriers allocated to the user terminals are divided into a plurality of non-overlapping subcarrier blocks. Each user terminal is then allocated one or more subcarrier blocks. For each subcarrier block, a user terminal is assigned a reference signal comprising a base reference sequence and a linear phase rotation. To ensure mutual orthogonality among all user terminals, user terminals allocated the same subcarrier block use the same base reference sequence with different linear phase rotations.
US08238296B2
An idle channel scanning method and apparatus are provided. The method of scanning for an idle channel via a device communicating with a plurality of peripheral devices in the same frequency environment includes: allocating at least one of all frequency channels of the frequency environment to each peripheral device of the plurality of peripheral devices; requesting the plurality of peripheral devices a state of the frequency channels allocated to each peripheral device; and receiving information on the frequency channel state scanned by the plurality of peripheral devices in response to the request for the state of the frequency channels allocated.
US08238293B2
An inputting unit 10 of a channel bandwidth utilization ratio evaluating server 1 inputs various traffic parameters and transmission parameters. A packet sending-out time computing section 21 obtains a packet sending-out channel time based upon a packet size and the transmission rate. Further, a probability computing section 22 obtains a channel bandwidth utilization ratio based upon the packet sending-out channel time, a cycle time of a packet, and a communication error ratio. Further, the channel bandwidth utilization ratio evaluating server 1 evaluates the obtained channel bandwidth utilization ratio. For example, the channel bandwidth utilization ratio evaluating server 1 determines whether or not receipt of a new call is permitted based upon the obtained channel bandwidth utilization ratio. Further, the channel bandwidth utilization ratio evaluating server 1 determines an optimum control based upon the obtained channel bandwidth utilization ratio.
US08238291B2
A communications terminal is provided, which includes a reading device which reads in access information recorded on a prescribed recording medium, the access information being necessary for acquiring content which can be played back by a playback device from a prescribed server via a network; and a playback control device which controls the playback device and the reading device. The playback control device controls receiving the content and metadata from the server, and playing back the content according to the metadata, if the content corresponding to the read access information is not stored in the storage device when the reading device reads in the access information; and the playback control device controls playing back the content stored in the storage device according to the metadata stored in the storage device in association with the content, if the content corresponding to the read access information is stored in the storage device.
US08238286B2
The base station transmits a synchronization signal that contains a pattern of repeated SYNC's generated by dividing FFT size by N wherein the pattern of repeated SYNC's is inverted in polarity for each of the SYNC's according to a code outputted from a code generating circuit. CP length is M/N of FFT size, and the number of divisions (M+N) of a symbol of the synchronization signal is brought into agreement with the code length L of Barker code. The mobile station detects the synchronization signal by using a first matched filter that has as many taps as (FFT size/N) stages, and uses a pattern of SYNC's generated by dividing FFT size by N as a tap coefficient, and a second matched filter that has as many taps as (M+N) stages and uses Barker code as a tap coefficient.
US08238284B2
Techniques for enabling broadband data rates at mobile terminals in a beyond-line-of-sight communication system are disclosed. Forward link time-diversity transmission methods and a time-diversity transmitter based upon blockage characteristics are provided. The transmitter optionally supports selective time-diversity and can operate at Ku-band or higher frequencies. A forward link time-diversity receiver and methods for receiving a forward link time-diversity signal are also disclosed. The forward link time-diversity receiver optionally provides low-jitter or low-delay characteristics. A return link transmitter and return link transmit methods which avoid blockages are also disclosed. The return link transmitter can include a signal presence detector and blockage prediction filter.
US08238282B2
A network system including M terminals each connected to the network, and a certain of the M terminals includes memory for storing information about the M terminals including the certain terminal in a manner that each of the M terminals is associated with one of N groups (N
US08238278B2
Hardware-based beacon processing. A hardware-centric medium access control (MAC) device includes a packet receiver and a beacon processor. The packet receiver receives a plurality of packets comprising at least one beacon packet. The beacon processor receives packets of the plurality of packets and filters out unwanted packets of the plurality of packets without requiring the use of other components of the hardware-centric MAC device and without requiring the use of a microprocessor.
US08238266B2
A communication device includes a recognition unit configured to recognize a service provided by a network, a generation unit configured to generate a packet to be transmitted to an external device that provides the service recognized by the recognition unit based on a priority set to the packet according to the recognized service when the service is recognized by the recognition unit, and a connection unit configured to establish a connection with the external device using the packet generated by the generation unit.
US08238264B2
A packet-based, hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. The network accommodates real time voice transmission both through dedicated, scheduled bandwidth and through a packet-based routing within the confines and constraints of a data network. Conversion and call processing circuitry is also disclosed which enables access devices and personal computers to adapt voice information between analog voice stream and digital voice packet formats as proves necessary. Routing pathways include wireless spanning tree networks, wide area networks, telephone switching networks, internet, etc., in a manner virtually transparent to the user. A voice session and associate call setup simulates that of conventional telephone switching network, providing well-understood functionality common to any mobile, remote or stationary terminal, phone, computer, etc.
US08238262B2
The invention relates to a method for selecting a radio access point of a network, and a method for transmitting information on at least two radio access points of a network to a mobile terminal. Further the invention relates to an adapted mobile terminal and control entity for performing the methods, respectively. To minimize the transmission delays of acknowledgement messages sent from a mobile terminal to a control entity, the invention provides an access point selection mechanism that determines for a respective one of the at least two radio access points, a selection criterion associated to the respective radio access point. This selection criterion may be based on a transmission delay for sending acknowledgement messages via a respective access point to a control entity. Based on the determined selection criterion the mobile terminal selects one of the at least two radio access points, and sends an acknowledgement message to the control entity through the selected radio access point.
US08238254B2
The system and method send test packets into a network between a plurality of source and destination nodes. Each source node is also a destination node. The test packet contains an additional field (e.g., a field of particular interest to an application or user) that is subject to being modified as the test packet traverses the network (e.g., a DSCP marking). A determination is made if the additional field has changed; if so, the network node that changed the additional field is identified and displayed to a user in a matrix display of the source nodes and destination nodes. This allows a user to identify situations where changes in the additional field may indicate that the test packet is being routed in the network at a priority that is outside of a Service Level Agreement.
US08238248B2
A method for predicting node blockage in a telecommunications network includes determining an aggregated load on a network node and determining a current level of blockage on the node. A demand on the node is projected based on the determined aggregated load. A level of blockage of the node is then projected based on the projected demand and the determined current level of blockage.
US08238247B2
A system and method for proactive repeat transmission of data units sent using an unreliable transmission medium for the delivery of time sensitive data content predicts a future condition of a downlink data distribution channel using current channel estimation information. The predicted channel condition is used to determine which data units in a next data frame are likely to decode incorrectly, and a repeat transmission of those data units is explicitly requested by the receiving equipment, or automatically scheduled by the sending equipment using time domain channel state information provided to the sending equipment by the receiving equipment.
US08238232B2
A method is described of constructing a transition route in a data communication network having as components nodes and links. Upon receipt of a transition notification identifying a first component a non-neighboring node constructs a transition route around the first component. In an embodiment, a node performs detecting the first component transition; issuing a transition notification identifying the first component and recognizable by nodes configured to construct a transition route around the first component; and upon expiry of a notification transition period, issuing a transition advertisement recognizable by all nodes on the network.
US08238231B2
A system and method to perform data quality driven optimization of data are described. In one embodiment, a method is presented to iteratively test configurations of a data processing path until a configuration that processes data to predefined quality requirements is identified. In one embodiment, a system is presented. The system includes a data quality initialization module, a primary data stream processing module and an optimization module that is incorporated in a memory chip on a computer processor.
US08238226B2
An OFDM communication apparatus includes a determining section determine a number of known signals for transmission path estimation to be inserted in a transmit signal based on channel quality with respect to a communicating party, and a generating section performs inverse Fourier transform processing on an information signal and the number of known signals for transmission path estimation determined by the determining section and generates a transmit signal for the communicating party. The apparatus achieves both an improvement in demodulated signal error rate characteristics and an improvement in information signal transmission efficiency.
US08238223B2
For a recording and playback optical head used for a dual layer disc, it is difficult to reduce the size and the cost due to the need to correct spherical aberration caused by a difference in thickness of a light-transmitting layer.A reflection mirror having a reflection surface on which light is reflected and provided with a member having ferromagnetism at the center, and a switching device that switches between a deformed state and a non-deformed state of the reflection mirror using a magnetic force are provided. The switching device includes a hard magnetic member, and a magnetizing member that magnetizes and demagnetizes the hard magnetic member. When light is concentrated on a first recording layer farther from the light-incident surface, the reflection mirror is used as a plane mirror, and when light is concentrated on a second recording layer closer to the light-incident surface, the reflection mirror is deformed in the shape of a concave surface by means of the switching device.
US08238222B2
Proposed is an optical disk device capable of appropriately performing focus control. In an optical disk device, an objective lens is moved in the thickness direction of an optical disk by controlling an actuator and a time interval in which each of the recording layers was detected is measured while moving the objective lens, a first time interval from the first detection of the recording layer to the second detection of the recording layer is compared with a second time interval from the second detection of the recording layer to the third detection of the recording layer, and a focal position of the objective lens is determined based on the comparative result.
US08238219B2
An optical unit is provided with a light source; a light dividing means for dividing light emerging from the light source into a first light and a second light; a light converging means for converging the first and second lights at the same position in the recording layer in the manner that they face each other; a polarization state switching means for switching the polarization states of the first and second lights at the convergence point in the recording layer; and a light irradiation state switching means for switching between the state in which the optical cording medium is irradiated with both the first light and the second light and the state in which the optical recording medium is irradiated with only one of the first and second lights.
US08238214B2
An optical recording medium which includes three or more information layers and has a higher stack density of information layers than before in the direction of thickness while reducing crosstalk during reproduction, and a method for reading the optical recording medium are provided. The optical recording medium has a three-layer structure which includes a substrate, a first information layer, a first spacer layer, a second information layer, a second spacer layer, a third information layer, and a cover layer thinner than the substrate, with these layers being stacked in that order over the substrate, wherein the following Equation (I) is satisfied: (R2×R3×R2)/R1≦0.0032 Equation (I) where R1 is the reflectivity of the first information layer, R2 is the reflectivity of the second information layer, and R3 is the reflectivity of the third information layer, and the first spacer layer and the second spacer layer are equal to each other in thickness.
US08238203B2
One embodiment of invention is useful when updating data of a database which is configured to take in data through a network, has a part to be updated, and takes in information of media stored in a local storage, and characterized by that a result of retrieval is outputted with additional information of an updated date/time of information updated by connecting to a network, and the output result is informed.
US08238190B2
Asynchronous behavior of a circuit is modeled by modifying latches in a netlist to add an extra port to the latches, e.g., a single-port latch is transformed into a dual-port latch. Each input port has an enable line and a data input. The data input in the added port is a feedback line from the latch output, and the enable line in the added port is the logical NOR of all of the original enable lines. By adding this extra latch port in the higher-level model, it becomes possible to introduce assertion logic to ensure that one and only one latch port for a given latch is ever active during the same simulation cycle. The model can then be tested earlier in the design methodology prior to the availability of the post-synthesis netlist. The model can also be used in both simulation and formal or semi-formal verification.
US08238188B2
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory core circuit having memory cells for storing data, a circuit configured to refresh the memory core circuit at a refresh interval, a temperature detecting unit configured to detect temperature, and a control circuit configured to shorten the refresh interval immediately in response to detection of a predetermined temperature rise by the temperature detecting unit and to elongate the refresh interval after refreshing every one of the memory cells at least once in response to detection of a temperature drop by the temperature detecting unit.
US08238185B2
Provided is a semiconductor memory device. The semiconductor memory device includes: a voltage generator adjusting a DC voltage supplied into the semiconductor memory device according to a current temperature; and a control logic activating a temperature detection operation of the voltage generator and an adjustment operation of the DC voltage according to an operation mode, wherein the voltage generator adjusts the DC voltage according to offset information about the semiconductor memory device.
US08238177B2
Provided is an integrated circuit including: multiple memory cells; a redundant memory having a function of repairing a defective cell included in the multiple memory cells by placing a corresponding fuse among multiple fuses into a first state; a fuse data conversion circuit that generates first information of a first defective cell based on position information of the fuse placed into the first state corresponding to the first defective cell having been repaired; a repair data generation circuit that generates, upon detection of a second defective cell as a result of a test for the multiple memory cells, repair information for repairing the second defective cell according to the first information and second information of the second defective cell; and a fuse state change circuit that places a predetermined fuse among the multiple fuses into the first state according to the repair information generated by the repair data generation circuit.
US08238164B2
A method of programming a nonvolatile memory device comprises applying a gradually increasing program voltage to a memory cell, determining the number of verify voltages to be applied to the memory cell during a program loop based on the change of a threshold voltage from an initial state of the memory cell to a target state, and applying at least one of the determined verify voltages to the memory cell to verify whether the memory cell is programmed to the target state.
US08238161B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes; a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells arranged in word lines and bit lines, a high-voltage generator generating a program voltage pulse applied to a selected word line among the word lines, and a pass voltage applied to a non-selected word line, and control logic iteratively increasing the program voltage pulse and adjusting the pass voltage according to a defined increment during a program operation.
US08238150B2
An information storage element includes a strip-shaped ferromagnetic material layer; a first electrode disposed at a first end of the ferromagnetic material layer; and a second electrode disposed at a second end of the ferromagnetic material layer, wherein a current-induced domain wall motion is caused by applying a current between the first electrode and the second electrode, in the ferromagnetic material layer, a magnetization state is written into a magnetization region as information or a magnetization state is read from a magnetization region as information, a magnetization direction in each magnetization region is parallel to a direction of the thickness of the ferromagnetic material layer, and at the time of writing information or reading information, a temperature distribution that monotonically decreases from the second end of the ferromagnetic material layer to the first end thereof is generated in the ferromagnetic material layer.
US08238143B2
A magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) device and fabrication method is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed that includes an MTJ device. The MTJ device includes a barrier layer, a free layer, and a magnesium (Mg) capping layer. The free layer is positioned between the barrier layer and the magnesium (Mg) capping layer.
US08238141B2
Some embodiments regard a circuit comprising a memory cell, a first data line, a second data line, a sensing circuit coupled to the first data line and the second data line, a node selectively coupled to at least three voltage sources via at least three respective switches, a fourth switch, and a fifth switch. A first voltage source is configured to supply a retention voltage to the node via a first switch. A second voltage source is configured to supply a ground reference voltage to the node via a second switch, and a third voltage source is configured to supply a reference voltage to the node via a third switch. The fourth switch and fifth switch are configured to receive a respective first control signal and second control signal and to pass a voltage at the node to the respective first data line and second data line.
US08238134B2
In a memory module including a plurality of DRAM chips which transmit/receive a system data signal with a predetermined data width and at a transfer rate and which transmit/receive an internal data signal having a larger data width and a lower transfer rate as compared with the system data signal, the transfer rate of the system data signal is restricted. Current consumption in DRAMs constituting the memory module is large, hindering speed increases. For this memory module, a plurality of DRAM chips are stacked on an IO chip. Each DRAM chip is connected to the IO chip by a through electrode, and includes a constitution for mutually converting the system data signal and the internal data signal in each DRAM chip by the IO chip. Therefore, wiring between the DRAM chips can be shortened, and DLL having a large current consumption may be disposed only on the IO chip.
US08238132B2
A semiconductor device includes: a memory cell array having a plurality of memory cells arranged in arrays; a plurality of bit lines formed correspondingly to a column arrangement of the memory cells; a plurality of word lines formed correspondingly to a row arrangement of the memory cells; a plate line having one of a configuration in which the first electrodes of the respective memory cells are included in the plate line and a configuration in which the first electrodes are connected to the plate line; a column switch used to connect a selected bit line and a data access line; and a pre-charge portion that performs a pre-charge operation to pre-charge a non-selected bit line not selected by the column switch to potential of the plate line.
US08238113B2
The present invention generally relates to a new structure to be used with electronic modules such as printed circuit boards and semiconductor package substrates. Furthermore there are presented herein methods for manufacturing the same. According to an aspect of the invention, the aspect ratio of through holes is significantly improved. Aspect ratio measures a relationship of a through hole or a micro via conductor in the direction of height divided width. According to the aspect of the invention, the aspect ratio can be increased over that of the prior art solution by a factor of ten or more.
US08238098B1
Microprocessor, miniprocessor and heat sink surfaces having increased surface areas and increased heat dissipation are femtosecond pulsed laser machined. Nano structures formed and created on surfaces by the femtosecond pulsed laser machining provide increased surface areas which radiate heat by intensified IR radiation.
US08238097B2
A computer system includes a chassis, a motherboard secured in the chassis, and a mounting bracket. A first socket and a second socket is disposed on the motherboard. The mounting bracket is secured to the chassis and located above the motherboard. A first riser card is coupled to the first socket, and a second riser card is coupled to the second socket. The computer system further includes a positioning member attached to the second riser card. The positioning member has two opposite side plates. One of the side plates is secured to the second riser card, and the other side plate is secured to the mounting bracket and aligned with the first riser card in a same plane.
US08238095B2
A secure circuit board assembly is provided. The secure circuit board assembly comprises: a control board including a cryptographic processor; a spacer portion mounted on the control board; and a lid mounted on the spacer portion. The control board, the spacer portion, and the lid collectively provide a secure enclosed chamber in which the cryptographic processor is mounted. The spacer portion provides protection against side-on attacks against the cryptographic processor.
US08238092B2
A connecting module includes: a main section in which an electronic circuit is housed; a plate section that is rotatably supported by the main section, and that is adapted to lie in front of the main section, and that is rotatable between a flat position in which an electronic device is laid on a first face representing a top face and a standing position in which the electronic device is leaned against a second face representing a back face opposite to the first face; and a first connector that couples with the electronic device laid on the plate section when the plate section is in the flat position so as to connect the electronic device to the electronic circuit in the main section.
US08238091B2
A locking mechanism includes a tray to receive a hard disk drive and a locking apparatus. The locking apparatus includes a base attached to a front wall of the tray, a handle pivotally connected to the base, and a locking member attached to the base. The base defines a receiving chamber and a mounting hole in communication with the receiving chamber. The locking member includes a sliding portion slidably received in the receiving chamber of the base to impel the handle to pivot relative to the base, and a locking tongue attached to the sliding portion. Movement of the locking tongue relative to the mounting hole causes the locking mechanism to toggle between a locked and unlocked position.
US08238089B2
A display module for a portable terminal comprises: a display panel; an outer frame configured to wrap a bottom surface and a plurality of side surfaces of the display panel; an inner frame sandwiched between the display panel and the outer frame, and having a bottom surface supporting portion and a plurality of side surface supporting portions for supporting the bottom surface and the plurality of side surfaces of the display panel, respectively, wherein at least one of the plurality of side surface supporting portions is excluded; and a filling member filled into a gap between the display panel and the outer frame in which at least one of the plurality of side surface supporting portions is excluded.
US08238084B2
A notebook computer includes an main body defining a receiving groove therein, an auxiliary keyboard slidably accommodated in the receiving groove and electrically connected to the input part, and a cover pivotally connected to one side of the opening and configured for covering the opening when the auxiliary is received in the receiving groove. The auxiliary keyboard includes a number of auxiliary numeric keys arranged in rows and columns for inputting the numbers.
US08238082B2
A system for providing computing capacity includes a base module and two or more fin modules coupled to the base module. At least one of the fin modules includes one or more fins and two or more computer systems coupled to the fins. The fins form an enclosure for the computer systems to protect the at least one computer system from environmental conditions. The system can operate in an outdoor environment.
US08238081B2
A power supply including a housing, a sliding member, a plurality of terminals and a fan module is provided. The housing has an opening and an inner sidewall. The sliding member is disposed on the inner sidewall of the housing. The sliding member has at least one fixing slot parallel to the inner sidewall. The terminals are disposed on the sliding member and can slidably move parallel to the inner sidewall. The fan module is mounted in the housing from the opening. A terminal connector is disposed on an outer sidewall of the fan module and located on a moving direction of the terminals, so that the terminal connector can be electrically connected to the terminals.
US08238078B2
The present invention relates to valve metal particles uniformly containing nitrogen and a method for preparing the same, and a valve metal green pellet and a sintered pellet made from the particles, and an electrolytic capacitor anode. The present invention provides valve metal particles uniformly containing nitrogen, wherein the difference ratio of nitrogen contents of particles is 20% or less. The present invention provides a process for preparing said valve metal particles uniformly containing nitrogen, wherein the raw material particles of the valve metal were heated in a nitrogen-containing gas at a temperature of 200° C. or less for 2 hours or more. The present invention also provides a valve metal green pellet made from said valve metal particles. The present invention also provides a valve metal sintered pellet.
US08238077B2
A dielectric ceramic exhibiting a high dielectric constant is provided. The relative dielectric constant of the dielectric ceramic is stable with respect to temperature dependence and exhibits insulation resistance having a reduced voltage dependence. The dielectric ceramic of the invention can be used to form a multilayer ceramic capacitor that has a long life.
US08238069B2
An ESD protection device has a structure that allows ESD characteristics to be easily adjusted and stabilized. The ESD protection device includes a ceramic multilayer substrate, at least a pair of discharge electrodes located in the ceramic multilayer substrate and facing each other with a space disposed therebetween, and external electrodes located on a surface of the ceramic multilayer substrate and connected to the discharge electrodes. The ESD protection device includes a supporting electrode disposed in a region that connects the pair of discharge electrodes. The supporting electrode is made of a conductive material coated with an inorganic material having no conductivity.
US08238066B2
A current sensor assembly used for detecting ground faults, which includes an enclosure surrounding the current sensor for focusing the magnetic flux produced by conductors passing through the current sensor assembly away from the conductors, thereby reducing load-shift error and producing more accurate current readings for ground-fault sensing. The enclosure has two half members that are secured together to form a toroid-shaped shell that surrounds a toroidal core of the current sensor. A secondary winding and an optional test winding is wound around the toroidal core, and the ends of these windings exit one or more apertures formed in the enclosure. The half members have rounded profiles where the flat surfaces transition into different planes so that the magnetic flux does not encounter any sharp edges or transitions inside the enclosure as the flux flows away from the conductors.
US08238065B2
The present invention provides a power cutoff device automatically operated upon the occurrence of a spark on an electric wire. The power cutoff device of the present invention automatically cuts off power supply to an earth leakage breaker or an electronic switch according to a control signal transmitted by detecting an electromagnetic wave due to an electric spark generated on an electric wire by an abnormal state such as a connection failure of an electrical device, thus preventing a disaster such as an electrical fire caused by the electric spark (flame). According to the present invention, since the power cutoff device provides an intrinsic function of the earth leakage breaker that operates in a state of an overload or electric leakage and the earth leakage breaker is operated by detecting the electric spark generated on the electric wire, it is possible to effectively prevent a disaster such as an electrical fire caused by the electric spark.
US08238036B2
A zoom lens includes, sequentially from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group. During zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position, the interval between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, the interval between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and an interval between the third lens group and the fourth lens group varies. The fourth lens group includes, sequentially from the object side, a first sub-lens group having a positive refractive power, a second sub-lens group having a negative refractive power, and a third sub-lens group. The second sub-lens group of the fourth lens group is moved along an optical axis to perform focusing.
US08238030B2
An apparatus for providing multiple collimated light beams from optical fibers and the method for producing such beams. The apparatus includes first and second optical fibers that carry light of first and second wavelengths, respectively, a fixture that maintains the fibers in a fixed relationship to one another, and a collimating lens. Light from each of the first and second optical fibers diverges from a face of the fixture. The collimating lens produces first and second collimated light beams that are displaced relative to one another from the light leaving the face. The face of the fixture is positioned to correct for chromatic aberration in the lens.
US08238025B2
A polarizing mirror device including an optical substrate (1) of real refractive index ns; a dielectric multilayer mirror (2), composed of dielectric layers of low and high refractive index; and a corrugated grating layer (6) of local period Λ at the side of a cover medium of refractive index nc. The local period Λ is selected such that upon substantially normal incidence of an incident wave at wavelength λ from the cover medium there is no diffraction order other than the 0th reflected order in the cover medium, such that the field of the +1st and −1st orders diffracted into the layers of the multilayer and into the optical substrate have a non-evanescent propagating character, and such that the respective angles under which the +1st and −1st orders propagate in each layer of said multilayer have an absolute value larger than or equal to the angle corresponding to the angular band edge of the central TM reflection band and, if a central TE reflection band of finite angular width exits, smaller than the angle corresponding to the angular band edge of this central TE reflection band in the angular spectrum of the multilayer at the wavelength λ with a fictive incident medium having the index of the considered layer of this multilayer.
US08238024B2
An arrangement for the display of images with selectable three-dimensionally visible or two-dimensional modes, including an illuminating device a filter array to impart a structure to the light a diffusing layer, and a transmissive image display device, with a variable distance a between the filter array and the diffusing layer, so that in a first position, the structure imparted by the filter array is essentially cancelled due to the light diffusion effect of the diffusing layer, and a two-dimensional image is shown, and the structure imparted by the filter array is essentially not cancelled, so that the image display device shows a three-dimensional image.
US08238022B2
A display method and device using photonic crystal characteristics are disclosed. In the display method using photonic crystal characteristics in accordance with the present invention, when a plurality of particles having electric charges are dispersed in a solvent, an electric field is applied to control inter-particle distance.
US08238019B2
The present invention discloses a projection apparatus comprising: a light source for emitting illumination light; a mirror device comprising a plurality of mirrors for generating an image by reflecting the illumination light toward a projecting direction by means of a deflecting operation; and a projection optical system which is placed in the optical axis of reflection light in the projecting direction of the illumination light incident to the mirror device and which projects the reflection light, wherein the optical axis of the illumination light incident to the mirror device and the optical axis of the reflection light in the projecting direction forms an angle that is larger than the expansion angle α of the flux of the illumination light that satisfies NA=n*sin α, where NA is the numerical aperture of the flux of the illumination light, and n is the reflectance.
US08238018B2
A micro-electro-mechanical-system (MEMS) micromirror array has an array of micromirrors on a support structure. Each micromirror is pivotally attached to the support structure by a resilient structure. The resilient structure defines a pivot axis. There is an array of electrostatic actuators for pivotally driving the array of micromirrors about the pivot axis. Each electrostatic actuator comprises a first part carried by the support structure, and a second part carried by the corresponding micromirror. An electrostatic sink is mounted to the support structure that shields at least one micromirror from spurious electrostatic actuation.
US08238016B2
A photovoltachromic device includes a photoelectrode, a counter electrode electrically connected to the photoelectrode, and an electrolyte layer disposed between the photoelectrode and the counter electrode. The photoelectrode includes a first transparent electrode, an electron-transport layer disposed on the first transparent electrode, and a sensitizing layer disposed on the electron-transport layer. The counter electrode includes a second transparent electrode and an electrochromic layer disposed on the second transparent electrode. The second transparent electrode contacts both of the electrolyte layer and the electrochromic layer thereby accelerating the response times for coloring and bleaching the photovoltachromic device.
US08238009B2
A drive signal generator includes: a first storage part which stores data related to a primary processing signal acquired by subjecting a linearly changing saw-tooth signal to the low-pass filter processing; a parameter decision part which decides a parameter for the notch filter processing; a filter part which generates a secondary processing signal by subjecting the primary processing signal read from the first storage unit to the notch filter processing using the decided parameter decided by the parameter decision part; a second storage part which stores data related to the secondary processing signal generated by the filter unit; and a drive signal generation part which reads the data related to the secondary processing signal with a clock having a predetermined frequency and generates the drive signal by subjecting the data related to the secondary processing signal to analog conversion.
US08237994B2
An information processing apparatus is provided. The information processing apparatus has a facsimile function of transmitting data to an external apparatus and is capable of communicating with a terminal through a network. The information processing apparatus includes a storage unit which stores data; a detection unit which detects whether the data stored in the storage unit has a specific format; a transmission data generation unit which is configured to generate transmission data to be transmitted to an external apparatus based on the data; and a transmission unit which is configured to transmit the transmission data to the external apparatus using the facsimile function.
US08237991B2
In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.
US08237988B2
An image-forming device includes an image-forming unit, a sensor, a calculating unit, and an extracting unit. The image-forming unit forms a plurality of marks on an object. The sensor detects a light reflected on the object, the reflected light including a plurality of waveforms. The calculating unit calculates a first value of each waveform in a predetermined evaluation index, a second value of a basic waveform corresponding to an ideal mark in the predetermined evaluation index, and a matching rate of each waveform with the basic waveform based on both each first value and the second value. The extracting unit extracts, from the plurality of waveforms, waveforms whose matching rates satisfy a predetermined condition.
US08237985B2
A softproofing system and method render an input document for display on a monitor to faithfully represent projected output from a target print engine, where the displayed document representation rendering is modeled to include internal print engine specific enhancements or characteristics of the target print engine. The system and method identify the target print engine and print engine specific rendering characteristics from the specified content, such as an input file, which may be a raster image or an electronic file in a PDL format. Specific print engine characteristics may include halftone screen identification, error diffusion identification, halftone dot shape, write white, write black, anti-aliasing, line width compensation and specific tone reproduction curves.
US08237983B2
A quadrangular or rectangular area on a medium surface of a printed material and the like is defined as a block. A straight line in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction nuclear along an edge of the block is defined as a reference grid line. A virtual grid point is placed at a predetermined interval on the reference grid line. A reference grid point dot is placed each on a virtual grid point on the horizontal reference grid lines. A straight line connecting the reference grid point dots and virtual grid points on a vertical line is defined as a grid line. An intersection point of grid lines is defined as a virtual grid point. A dot pattern is generated by arranging one or more information dots having a distance and a direction on the base of the virtual grid point. An optical reading means is used to scan the dot pattern into image information. Then, the dot pattern is converted into a numerical value, and the information corresponding to the numerical information is read from a storage means and output.
US08237975B2
A document administration system includes document storing apparatuses and a server connected via a network. Each of the document storing apparatuses includes plural boxes for storing information. The server includes an output request receiving portion for receiving an output request on a document stored in one of the document storing apparatuses; and an output destination selecting portion for selecting one of the document storing apparatuses for outputting the document corresponding to the output request. A discriminating portion of the server discriminates whether the selected document storing apparatuses coincides with the document storing apparatuses in which the document is stored. If so, a controller of the server makes the selected document storing apparatus output the document. If not, the controller obtains the document from the document storing apparatus in which the document is stored and transmits the obtained document to the selected document storing apparatuses to output the document.
US08237974B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an input section which inputs image data; a non-volatile memory section which memorizes various data including image data inputted by the input section; a cache memory; a control section which carries out an asynchronous operation which writes data to the cache memory in stead of writing to the memory section as well as carries out a sync processing which transfers and stores the data of the cache memory to the memory section based on a predetermined condition; and a detecting section which detects a preparation for carrying out a shut down operation of a power of the image processing apparatus. The control section carries out the sync processing in a case when the preparation operation is detected by the detecting section.
US08237971B2
A printer, image registration method, and printer system improve image data processing efficiency by tracking and storing the identical image data that is registered and stored in a printer. The image registration device has a graphics register for registering images in a printer. The graphics register sends the image data to be registered to the printer, receives an identification number from the printer, and records and stores a registered image data information file linking the image data sent to the printer with the printer identification number.
US08237961B2
A management apparatus (102) for managing a plurality of actual devices (104-106) and virtual devices (603, 703), each virtual device providing an operation constructed by combining the functions of the plurality of actual devices detects (503, S1104) a change of an optional function of the actual devices. The apparatus changes (502, S1108), in correspondence with the detected change of the optional function, the attribute of the first virtual device including an actual device of which the optional function has been changed. When the second virtual device which has the same attribute as the changed attribute of the first virtual device is determined, the apparatus changes (508, S1115) the configuration of the second virtual device so as to use the actual device. The apparatus inquires (507, S1114) of a user whether or not to reconstruct the second virtual device so as to use the actual device.
US08237956B2
A cost recovery system for a multi-functional photocopier device. The cost recovery system comprises a plurality of workstations interconnected by a communications network, as well as a controller adapted to control the operation of the photocopier device, the controller being connected to the network. The cost recovery system further comprises at least one broker unit operative to communicate with the controller via the network, the at least one broker unit being responsive to requests to reserve the photocopier device received from users at the workstations to authenticate the users and to establish temporary cost recovery relationships between the controller and the workstations. Accordingly, a user can reserve the photocopier device from any one of is the plurality of workstations and then walk up to the photocopier device and perform a job on the photocopier device on a basis of a specific cost recovery relationship established by the at least one broker unit between the controller and the respective workstation.
US08237951B2
A firmware controller is configured to enhance or modify the processing capabilities of an imaging device by creating custom firmware for a particular imaging job. The firmware controller does so by dynamically linking firmware processing stages resident on the imaging device with additional firmware processing stages stored at a host device to form a sequence of firmware processing stages. The firmware controller then controls execution of the custom firmware by passing the output of each stage to the input of the next stage in the sequence. The firmware processing stages resident at the imaging device and the additional firmware processing stages stored at the host share a commonly defined interface for inputting data and/or control signals to and outputting data and/or control signals from each stage, which allows the firmware stages to be combined in a variety of different sequences.
US08237946B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to systems, methods and devices for maintaining imaging device (IDev) accounting data in the event that an imaging device's primary accounting server becomes unavailable. Some aspects relate to the use of a lightweight accounting backup server (LABS) that may reside on an imaging device, a networked computer or another computing device for the purpose of storing and communication accounting data when a primary accounting server fails.
US08237944B2
In a data input/output system having a plurality of input devices and a plurality of output devices, a display can be performed with a consistency maintained between an input parameter used to establish the operational condition of an input device to be used for data input and an output parameter used to establish the operational condition of an output device to be used for data output, and thereby the data input/output system, a data input/output method and a data input/output system control apparatus can be provided, wherein an optimum establishment of setting items which are related to a combination between input and output devices required in a case where a multiple of input and output devices are connected to one another can be easily done with reliability by use of a minimum number of operations and thereby eliminating erroneous operations.
US08237943B2
An image processing apparatus prints a mark-sensing sheet containing a plurality of entry fields. The image processing apparatus reads the mark-sensing sheet, determines a marked entry field entered by a user among the plurality of entry fields of the mark-sensing sheet, and stores information indicating the determined result. When the image processing apparatus rereads the mark-sensing sheet, the image processing apparatus compares the marked entry field entered by the user and information stored in a memory, thereby detecting the marked entry field that the user additionally enters for revision before rereading.
US08237938B2
Disclosed are an image forming apparatus and an image forming method thereof. The image forming method includes: selecting at least one among plural scanning profiles needed for color management at a scanning operation of a document and plural printing profiles needed for the color management at a printing operation of the document according to a user's input; and generating a printing image based on the selected scanning and printing profiles and a preset scanning or printing profile.
US08237932B2
A fiber optic gyroscope includes first and second gyroscopes. The first gyroscope includes: a first light source for emitting two lights; a first optical fiber loop which includes a sensor coil structured such that an optical fiber is wound in a multilayer manner, through which the two lights travel in opposite directions, and which constitutes a laser resonant circuit with the first light source; and a first optical detector for detecting an angular velocity based on a beat frequency which is produced by the two lights. The second gyroscope includes: a second light source for emitting light; an optical distributor for dividing the light into two lights; a second optical fiber loop through which the two lights travel in opposite directions and enter both respective ends of the sensor coil; and a second optical detector for detecting an angular velocity based on a phase difference between the two lights.
US08237927B1
A multi-color cavity ringdown based spectrometer system is housed in a light tight enclosure to detect the presence of trace quantities of gas phase molecules emanating from a subject, explosives, drugs, or hazardous materials. A method is also disclosed for simultaneous real time detection of gas phase molecules emanating from explosives, drugs, hazardous materials, a subject's breath skin or bodily fluid.
US08237920B2
A multivariate optical element (MOE) calculation device is used in an apparatus for determining a property of petroleum in real time flowing in a pipe in petroleum field stream pipes or pipe line. Multiple apparatuses are provided for determining the amount of each of a plurality of properties. An internal reflectance element (IRE) can be used to determine the property of the petroleum from a surface of the petroleum flowing in a pipe. A cleaning apparatus can be provided to clean the surface of the IRE in the pipe and a turbulence generator can be provided in the pipe to insure homogeneity of the petroleum being analyzed prior to analysis. A bellows may be provided in the apparatus housing to compensate for pressure differentials between the housing and the flowing petroleum in the pipe. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08237917B2
An exposure apparatus projects a pattern of an original illuminated by an illumination system onto a substrate, by a projection optical system, to expose the substrate. A light-shielding member defines a position at which light falls on an image plane of the projection optical system. An illuminance sensor measures an illuminance on the image plane, and a controller detects a position, on the image plane, of the illuminance sensor. The controller detects the position of the illuminance sensor based on a peak of the output from the illuminance sensor and a position of the light shielding member obtained while moving the light-shielding member, so that a position at which light falls on the image plane moves along the image plane.
US08237915B2
A method is disclosed for improving an optical imaging property, for example spherical aberration or the focal length, of a projection objective of a microlithographic projection exposure apparatus. First, an immersion liquid is introduced into an interspace between a photosensitive surface and an end face of the projection objective. Then an imaging property of the projection objective is determined, for example using an interferometer or a CCD sensor arranged in an image plane of the projection objective. This imaging property is compared with a target imaging property. Finally, the temperature of the immersion liquid is changed until the determined imaging property is as close as possible to the target imaging property.
US08237904B2
A driving circuit and a common electrode are located within a sealant region of the first substrate, wherein the driving circuit includes switch devices and turn-line structures. The common electrode is located within the sealant region of the first substrate. The planar layer is located on the first substrate, wherein the thickness of the planar layer at the turn-line structure of the driving circuit is less than the thicknesses of other portions. The conductive layer is located on the planar layer. A second substrate having an electrode thereon is disposed opposite to the first substrate. A liquid crystal layer is located within the display region between the first substrate and the second substrate. A sealant is located within the sealant region between the first substrate and the second substrate, and conductive balls are distributed in the sealant.
US08237899B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device having a high contrast ratio and no coloring during black display, over a wide viewing angle range. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a reverse wavelength dispersion-type biaxial retardation film having R0(B)/R0(G) and Rth(B)/Rth(G) not greater than 0.965 and R0(R)/R0(G) and Rth(R)/Rth(G) not smaller than 1.015; and a vertical alignment liquid crystal cell that has a blue, a green, and a red color filter layer and that satisfies Rth_LC(B)/Rth_LC(G)≦1.000 and Rth_LC(R)/Rth_LC(G)≧1.000. R0(B), R0(G) and R0(R) denote the in-plane retardations of the retardation film at wavelengths 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm. Rth(B), Rth(G) and Rth(R), and Rth_LC(B), Rth_LC(G) and Rth_LC(R) respectively denote the thickness-direction retardations of the retardation film and the liquid crystal cell at wavelengths 450 nm, 550 nm and 650 nm.
US08237897B2
A transflective liquid crystal display (LCD) includes a plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a transparent electrode receiving a gray voltage and a plurality of electrically floating reflectors. The transparent electrode includes a plurality of openings corresponding to the reflectors. The reflectors are disposed on the corresponding openings.
US08237892B1
The present invention is directed to display devices with a brightness enhancement structure comprising display cells comprising partition walls, and brightness enhancement micro-structures. The present invention is also directed to processes for the manufacture of display devices. The processes enable fabricating a display device with the micro-structures aligned with the display cells of the display device.
US08237890B2
A 3D grid controllable liquid crystal lens is provided. In the 3D grid controllable liquid crystal lens, at least two layers of a plurality of active device arrays are stacked on a first substrate, and a plurality of liquid crystal layer are respectively disposed on the active device arrays. Then, a driving voltage applied on each active device array is suitably controlled to control the orientation of the liquid crystal molecules, so as to generate a refractive index distribution similar to gradient-index lens in the 3D grid controllable liquid crystal lens. Therefore, the 3D grid controllable liquid crystal lens has a focusing function for focusing/diverging the light, similar to a convex lens or a concave lens. A method for manufacturing the 3D grid controllable liquid crystal lens is also provided.
US08237884B1
The present invention relates to an organic light-emitting diode device with efficiency roll-up property, comprising: a first conductive layer, a hole injection layer, a host light-emitting layer, a guest light-emitting layer, an electron transportation layer, a second conductive layer, and an electron injection layer, wherein when the guest light-emitting layer is doped in the host light-emitting layer after being appropriately selected and the value of ∥ΔEHOMO|−|ΔELUMO∥ approaches to zero, such that the color light emitted by the host light-emitting layer performs the property of current efficiency roll-up.
US08237876B2
A C-plate compensator is disclosed for compensating the residual A-plate and C-plate retardance of a reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) display or a transmissive liquid crystal (LC) display in a projection display system. The C-plate incorporates a form-birefringent coating, whose retardance magnitude can be adjusted by tilting with respect to the display panel (X-Y) plane. The tilted plate is rotated about the Z-axis by a prescribed amount from the slow axis of the display panel. Criteria are described for choosing the tilt and rotation angles such that the contrast of the display system produced by the compensated panel is optimized.
US08237870B2
Disclosed is a receiver system, capable of receiving RF signals on television channels of multiple bandwidths. The receiver system includes a tuner, an analog IF filter, an ADC, a mixer module, one or more digital filters, an AGC module and a controller. The tuner converts an RF signal into an IF signal using a mixer frequency. The analog IF filter filters out a fixed band signal from the IF signal. The ADC module converts the fixed band signal into a digital signal, which is filtered by digital filters. The output of the digital filters is converted to a base band signal and the power level of the base band signal is controlled by the AGC module. The controller selects a mixer frequency from a group of mixer frequencies based on a function of power of the output of the AGC module by applying each mixer frequency to the tuner.
US08237868B2
A method for adaptive spatio-temporal filtering is disclosed. Local motion vectors between a current video frame and other nearby video frames are determined. Local motion-aligned temporal confidence parameters are determined. Local spatial orientation parameters are determined. The local motion vectors, the local motion-aligned temporal confidence parameters, and the local spatial orientation parameters are used to adaptively determine spatio-temporal kernel weights. The spatio-temporal kernel weights are used to perform spatio-temporal filtering on input video data.
US08237867B2
A dynamic gain adjustment method and apparatus based on brightness are provided. The dynamic gain adjustment method and apparatus amplify or attenuate high frequency components of an input video signal by dynamically varying a gain that is applied to a peaking algorithm block for picture quality improvement in a video processing device, such as a digital television, based on an average picture level (APL) of the input video signal. The gain can be dynamically adjusted when the APL of the input video signal is high or low, and thus saturation of the video signal during the operation of the peaking block can be prevented.
US08237862B2
An electronic device is electrically connected to an external electronic device. The electronic device includes an assignment component, a memory component and a control component. The assignment component is configured to assign control codes that control operations of the external electronic device to a plurality of control keys of a remote control to generate assignment information indicating corresponding relationship between the control codes and the control keys of the remote control. The memory component is configured to store the assignment information generated by the assignment component. The control component is configured to control the external electronic device based on the assignment information stored in the memory component when the control component receives an operation signal indicating that one of the control keys of the remote control is operated.
US08237860B2
A system for detecting poor video editing detects a television (TV) image signal. When a TV image originates from a film signal rather than a video signal, a de-interlacing device performs a de-interlacing at a film signal mode to thereby increase a vertical resolution of a TV image signal. A sawtooth detector can detect a poor video editing, which causes a sawtooth occurrence to TV image signals, on an unbroadcasted TV image signal. Accordingly, the poor video editing is found in advance. Also, the invention uses a scene change in combination with the sawtooth detector to thereby avoid a poor edited image and obtain a preferred image quality.
US08237858B2
An interpolation processing section determines a pixel value of an interpolation-target pixel by a diagonal interpolation process. An interpolation value limiting section compensates the pixel value determined by the interpolation processing section such that it becomes a value between pixel values of two adjacent pixels above and below the interpolation-target pixel. An intersection area detecting section judges whether or not the interpolation-target pixel is located in, when the horizontal axis represents a horizontal position and the vertical axis represents a pixel value, an area in proximity of a horizontal position where a curve line, representing pixel values of pixels on the scanning line above the interpolation-target pixel, and a curve line, representing pixel values of pixels on the scanning line below the interpolation-target pixel, intersects. Depending on a judgment result by the intersection area detecting section, a selecting section selectively outputs a pixel value determined by the interpolation processing section, or a pixel value compensated by the interpolation value limiting section, as an interpolated video signal. By this, the advantageous effect of the diagonal interpolation process is fully exerted while suppressing image quality degradation due to a false operation of the diagonal interpolation process.
US08237855B2
A camera device includes a case having a first camera and a second camera arranged therein. The case is assembled from a first and a second half-case. The first camera is used to shoot images of the driver inside a car and the second camera is used to shoot images of the road in front of the car. The camera device also includes a mounting mechanism that allows adjustment of the case of the camera device to different orientations. Therefore, when the camera device is installed in a car, the first and second cameras can be adjusted to a desired shooting angle and images inside and outside the car can be synchronously shot and be used in an accident to determine which party should be responsible for the accident.
US08237854B2
According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, when a non-flash image that is taken without a flash emitted before main photographing and a flash image that is taken with the flash pre-emitted before the main photographing are obtained so that an amount of flash emission light for the main photographing (amount of main emission) based on the obtained non-flash image and flash image, a moving body in the angle of view is detected. If the detected moving body is a main object, the amount of main emission is calculated based on the image of the moving body. If the detected moving body is not the main object, the amount of main emission is calculated based on the image other than the moving body.
US08237853B2
An image sensing apparatus that carries out image sensing continuously and inputs a plurality of images, having a digital signal processing circuit that detects, at each input image, from image data thereof, an object that satisfies a preset condition, a first exposure value determination unit that calculates a first exposure value from the image data, a second exposure value determination unit that calculates a second exposure value based on the detected object, and a selection unit that selects either the first exposure value, the second exposure value, a currently set exposure value, or an exposure value calculated based on a luminance of an area referenced when calculating a currently set exposure value as an exposure value to be used for a next image sensing based on object detection results obtained by the digital signal processing circuit.
US08237825B2
An image processing system is provided for replacing a value of a defective pixel located along a center row of a region in an image. The region includes a center row, a previous row located above the center row and a subsequent row located below the center row. The image processing system includes a buffer for storing values of pixels located in the previous row and the center row. The image processing system also includes a selector for selecting a plurality of pixel values located in the previous row and the center row that are adjacent to the location of the defective pixel, without selecting a pixel value on the subsequent row. The image processing system further includes a calculator for determining a replacement value for the defective pixel from values of the selected pixels located in the previous row and the center row.
US08237812B2
Imaging signal obtained through exposure for divided exposure times is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored in a first memory. Next, exposure for divided exposure times is performed with the imaging device shielded from light. The obtained imaging signal is A/D converted to digital imaging signal. Dark current component is subtracted from the digital imaging signal. The result of subtraction is accumulated and stored sequentially in a second memory. The digital imaging signal stored in the second memory is subtracted from the digital imaging signal stored in the first memory. Then the result of subtraction is output. The word length allocated to one pixel in the first and second memories is longer than the word length of one A/D converted pixel.
US08237807B2
Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
US08237800B2
An image capturing apparatus chooses a main face from among faces detected in successively captured images based on a degree of priority calculated for each detected face. Moreover, the image capturing apparatus compares the degree of priority assigned to the face corresponding to a last chosen main face and the degrees of priority assigned to the faces corresponding to faces other than the main face, and then counts the number of times the degrees of priority assigned to the faces corresponding to faces other than the main face exceed the degree of priority assigned to the face corresponding to the main face. When one of the number of times counted for the faces other than the main face exceeds a preset threshold value, the image capturing apparatus performs a main face changeover to the one of the faces.
US08237796B2
A monitor used in an automobile includes an image sensing module, a visual field adjustor, and a display. The image sensing module includes a lens module and an image sensor secured on an emitting light path of the lens module. The visual field adjustor includes a prism made from transparent materials and movably installed in an incident light path of the lens module. When the automobile reverses, the image sensing module cooperates with the visual field adjustor to capture optical image signals, and the display uses the optical image signals to create an image and displays the image.
US08237794B2
A method for detecting an optical structure from image sequences of an image recording system. An optical flow field is derived from the image sequences of the image recording system. The vectors of the optical flow field are broken down into components by projection onto a coordinate system of the image recorded by the image recording system. At least one component of the flow vectors is analyzed for a change of direction. The image elements containing a change of direction of a vector component are connected to form a curve.
US08237788B2
Systems and methods for calibrating a solid-imaging system (10) are disclosed. A calibration plate (110) having a non-scattering surface (140) with a plurality (150) of light-scattering fiducial marks (156) in a periodic array is disposed in the solid-imaging system. The actinic laser beam (26) is scanned over the fiducial marks, and the scattered light (26S) is detected by a detector (130) residing above the calibration plate. A computer control system (30) is configured to control the steering of the light beam and to process the detector signals (SD) so as to measure actual center positions (xA, yA) of the fiducial marks and perform an interpolation that establishes a calibrated relationship between the angular positions of the mirrors and (x,y) locations at the build plane (23). The calibrated relationship is then used to steer the laser beam in forming a three-dimensional object (50).
US08237785B2
In acquisition of an image of cells, a focal position is accurately set at highly active cells rather than focusing on dead cells. Provided is an automatic focusing apparatus (8) used in a microscope (1) that image captures fluorescence emitted from cells to acquire a cell image, the automatic focusing apparatus (8) including a setting unit (5) that sets a luminance range indicating a region where viable cells exist on the basis of a luminance distribution of the acquired cell image; and a focus-detecting unit that detects a focal position on the basis of a luminance of an image of nuclei of the cells within the luminance range set by the setting unit (5).
US08237784B2
A method of forming a virtual endoscope image of a uterus is disclosed. The virtual image showing an inner wall of a uterus is formed from a three-dimensional ultrasound uterus image obtained by hysterosalpingography with a solution. An inner wall of the uterus in the 3D virtual image is inspected and a virtual endoscope image of the uterus is formed by reflecting the inspection result on the 3D virtual uterus image. Also, the virtual endoscope images in every aspect are provided according to the positions of a view point or virtual light source. Thus, the inner wall of the uterus can be inspected more easily.
US08237775B2
An apparatus for 3D representation of image data, comprises: a structure identifier for identifying structures in motion within image data, and a skeleton insertion unit, which associates three-dimensional skeleton elements with the identified structures. The skeleton elements are able to move with the structures to provide a three-dimensional motion and structure understanding of said image data which can be projected back onto the input data. As well as individual elements, complex bodies can be modeled by complex skeletons having multiple elements. The skeleton elements themselves can be used to identify the complex objects.
US08237760B2
A light-source driving device includes a high-frequency clock generating circuit that generates high-frequency clock signals of which phases are different from each other; an image-data generating circuit that generates a plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to light emitting units in accordance with image information; a write control circuit that generates a plurality of pieces of modulation data corresponding to the light emitting units based on the image data and adjusts output timing of the modulation data individually in units of time corresponding to a phase difference of the high-frequency clock signals; and a light-source driving circuit that drives the light emitting units based on a plurality of pieces of PWM data output from the write control circuit.
US08237759B2
A light scanning unit that includes: a light source unit for emitting first and second light beams; a beam deflector for deflecting the first and second light beams emitted from the light source unit; synchronization detection sensors for detecting scanning synchronization of the first and second light beams; and synchronization optical path converting members to deflect the first and second light beams toward the synchronization detection sensors. The optical paths of the portions of the first and second light are directed to come into close proximity with one another. The light scanning unit may be incorporated in an image forming apparatus.
US08237744B2
A method for operating a navigation device provides a driver with the option of being presented with an overview of the route lying ahead in addition to a detailed illustration of the current position along the route section, namely without any complicated interactions with the navigation device. This navigation device independently changes the scale of the display of the route on the display means in dependence on a manually selected operating mode. The advantage of this method can be seen in a semi-automated solution that always enables the driver to decide exactly which information should be displayed by his navigation device at which time.
US08237738B1
A method and system for smooth rasterization of graphics primitives. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a processor, rasterizing the graphics primitive by generating a plurality of fragments related to the graphics primitive, and determining a coverage value for each of the plurality of fragments. If one edge of the graphics primitive lies within a predetermined inter-pixel distance from a pixel center, the one edge is used to calculate the coverage value by using a distance to the pixel center. If two edges of the graphics primitive lie within the predetermined inter-pixel distance from the pixel center, a distance to the pixel center of each edge is used individually to calculate the coverage value. The resulting coverage values for the plurality of fragments are output to a subsequent stage of the processor for rendering.
US08237735B2
What is provided herein is a novel system and method which improves efficiency of a color management system performing a gamut mapping function. In one embodiment, a plurality of source colors are examined to determine whether any have changed. If not, then the source profile, the source device model, and the color appearance model have not changed. Next, the primary colors of the destination device are examined to determine whether any of these have changes. If these have not changed, then the destination device profile and the destination device model have not changed. When the source profile, device profile, color appearance model and the device models have not changed, gamut mapping does not have to be performed. The cached gamut mapping data are used instead. The gamut mapping data are used in subsequent mappings between these same two devices. The cached gamut mapping data are used to customize a color response of the destination device.
US08237731B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a system and method for displaying an image are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a data stream representing a frame of an image. The data stream may indicate a first color pixel cluster corresponding to a first color and a second color pixel cluster corresponding to a second color. The first color pixel cluster and the second color pixel cluster may be displayed. The first color pixel cluster may be different from the second color pixel cluster.
US08237728B2
Methods, systems and data structures produce a rasterizer. A graphical state is detected on a machine architecture. The graphical state is used for assembling a shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selecting replacement logic that replaces portions of shell logic in the shell rasterizer. The machine architecture is used for selectively inserting memory management logic into portions of the shell logic to produce.
US08237724B1
A method for storing a first frame into a system, wherein the system includes i) a first chip, ii) a display controller, and iii) a copy device, and wherein the first chip includes a first memory. The method includes: reading, using the display controller, a first frame from a second memory, wherein the second memory is external to the first chip; and while the first frame is being read from the second memory by the display controller, using the copy device to copy the first frame from the second memory to the first memory. Subsequent to the copy device copying the first frame from the second memory to the first memory, the first frame is stored in both the first memory and the second memory.
US08237722B2
Methods and systems for simulating and visualizing a flowing fluid when interacting with an intersecting object are provided. The simulating of falling fluid as a two-dimensional plan and rendering first and second depth buffers corresponding to current depth information for, respectively, a top surface and a bottom surface of an object is rendered. The values of first and second current simulation textures are rendered for the top and bottom surfaces of the object, where for a given frame each of the first and second current simulation texture values is set to either a corresponding value of the first and second current simulation texture values is set to either a corresponding value of each or second depth buffer or a corresponding, velocity-offset value of the previous frame's first or second simulation texture respectively. A visible fluid mesh is rendered in the two-dimensional plane based on the current simulation textures.
US08237721B2
A method of providing information for display includes receiving primary, secondary, and tertiary information for display at an information handling system. The tertiary information is communicated to a display interface after the primary and secondary information during a time period otherwise assigned to the communication of dummy information. This allows more information to be communicated via a communication channel.
US08237715B2
A system is disclosed wherein a graphical representation of a profile may be adjusted to adjust one or more values of the profile. The profile may includes data values corresponding to respective time periods. The data values being represented by data representations in the graphical representation. A non-contiguous grouping of the data representations may be selected by an operator to adjust the data values of the profile corresponding to the non-contiguous grouping of data representations. A contiguous grouping of the data representations may be selected by an operator to adjust the data values of the profile corresponding to the non-contiguous grouping of data representations.
US08237711B2
For ray tracing scenes composed of primitives, systems and methods accelerate ray/primitive intersection identification by testing rays against elements of geometry acceleration data (GAD) in a parallelized intersection testing resource. Groups of rays can be described as shared attribute information and individual ray data for efficient ray data transfer between a host processor and the testing resource. The host processor also hosts shading and/or management processes controlling the testing resource and adapting the ray tracing, as necessary or desirable, to meet criteria, while reducing degradation of rendering quality. The GAD elements can be arranged in a graph, and rays can be collected into collections based on whether a ray intersects a given element. When a collection is deemed ready for further testing, it is tested for intersection with GAD elements connected, in the graph, to the given element. The graph can be hierarchical such that rays of a given collection are tested against children of the GAD element associated with the given collection.
US08237708B2
A novel layered orthographic representation of the light field, comprising a set of 3-D orientations, each orientation having an associated depth direction and two sampling directions, each such orientation being associated with a set of planar grids normal to the depth direction and containing grid points evenly sampled along the sampling directions, each grid containing orthographic samples of the light field intercepting that grid point in the direction of the associated depth direction. Information of the geometric structure is similarly stored in depth field format at these sample points.
US08237707B2
The present application generates an image in which a contour line is drawn about a tuned object A in a virtual three-dimensional space when a part of the tuned object A is overlapped by another tuned object B that is located at a position closer to a virtual screen. When a line width of the tuned object A is greater than a line width of the tuned object B, the line width of a part of the tuned object A that is overlapped with the tuned object B is set as the line width of the tuned object B. On the other hand, when the line width of the tuned object A is less than the line width of the tuned object B, the line width of the part of the tuned object A that is overlapped is set as the original line width of the tuned object A.
US08237700B2
A pulse width modulation (PWM) signal generator generates multiple output PWM signals from an input PWM signal. The output PWM signals are synchronized to synchronization events. Each output PWM signal has a duty ratio substantially equal to the duty ratio of the input PWM signal, and each output PWM signal has a fixed phase-shift in relation to the other output PWM signals. The PWM signal generator samples an input PWM cycle to determine sample parameters representative of its duty ratio. The sample parameters are then used to generate a corresponding output PWM cycle for each of the output PWM signals. In response to a synchronization event, the PWM signal generator prematurely terminates the current PWM cycle and initiates the next PWM cycle while ensuring that the portion of the current output PWM cycle completed by the leading output PWM signal up to the point of the premature termination is replicated for the corresponding output PWM cycles of the other non-leading output PWM signals.
US08237693B2
The present invention enables rising and falling slew rates to be symmetrized and secures a drive current at the time of 2H inversion driving. An operational amplifier in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes: a first output transistor and a second output transistor connected in series between a first power supply and a second power supply; an output terminal connected to a node between the first output transistor and the second output transistor; a phase-compensating element provided either between the gate of the first output transistor and the output terminal or between the gate of the second output transistor and the output terminal; and a floating current source connected between the gate of the first output transistor and the gate of the second output transistor.
US08237681B2
A selective input system and associated method is provided which tracks the motion of a pointing device over a region or area. The pointing device can be a touchpad, a mouse, a pen, or any device capable of providing two or three-dimensional location. The region or area is preferably augmented with a printed or actual keyboard/pad. Alternatively, a representation of the location of the pointing device over a virtual keyboard/pad can be dynamically shown on an associated display. The system identifies selections of items or characters by detecting parameters of motion of the pointing device, such as length of motion, a change in direction, a change in velocity, and or a lack of motion at locations that correspond to features on the keyboard/pad. The input system is preferably coupled to a text disambiguation system such as a T9® or Sloppytype™ system, to improve the accuracy and usability of the input system.
US08237669B2
A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, two first electrodes, and two second electrodes. The substrate includes a first surface. The transparent conductive layer is on the first surface of the substrate. The transparent conductive layer includes a first plurality of carbon nanotube strip-shaped film structures arranged in parallel along a first direction and a second plurality of carbon nanotube strip-shaped film structures arranged along a second direction. The two first electrodes is connected to the first plurality of carbon nanotube strip-shaped film structures. The two second electrodes is connected to the second plurality of carbon nanotube strip-shaped film structures. Further, a display device using the above-described touch panel is also included.
US08237663B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. Additionally, the device can facilitate the selection of variants by displaying a graphic of a special
US08237659B2
A method for enabling generation of text on a handheld electronic device which has a plurality of input members, at least some of which have a number of linguistic elements assigned thereto, and a memory having language objects stored therein. The method comprises enabling detection of a number of input member actuations corresponding with an ambiguous input, making at least one of a determination that the number of actuations exceeds a first threshold and a determination that a quantity of predicted language objects corresponding with the ambiguous input is less than a second threshold, generating prefix objects corresponding with the ambiguous input and predicted language objects corresponding with the ambiguous input, each predicted language object comprising a prefix object portion and a completion portion, and providing at a text input location an output comprising a prefix object and a completion portion of a first predicted language object.
US08237650B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first gate line, a second gate line, a data line, a first pixel unit, a second pixel unit, a gate driver, and a source driver. The first and second gate lines respectively transmit a first and a second gate driving signals provided by the gate driver, while the data line transmits a first and a second data. The first pixel unit displays images according to the first gate driving signal and the first data, while the second pixel unit displays images according to the second gate driving signal and the second data. The source driver includes a logic circuit and a multiplexer circuit. The logic circuit generates an odd/even select signal according to a scan sequence signal and an enable signal. The multiplexer circuit outputs one of the first and second data according to the odd/even select signal.
US08237645B2
An apparatus for driving a panel in a display system includes a reset device, a gate driver and a pull-high circuit. The reset device asserts a control signal when the display system is powered off. The gate driver has an input terminal receiving the control signal and turns on all rows of pixels on the panel when the control signal is asserted. The pull-high circuit includes a resistor and a switch, in which the resistor has a first end coupled to the input terminal, and the switch decouples a second end of the resistor from a first reference voltage when the display system is powered off.
US08237643B2
A driving method and a transreflective display apparatus are provided herein. In the driving method, a plurality of voltage-to-transparency curves are provided. An ambient light intensity of the display apparatus is detected for determining a display mode, wherein the display mode is either a transmissive mode or a reflective mode. Next, one of the voltage-to-transparency curves is selected according to the display mode and the ambient light intensity for driving the display apparatus. Therefore, by referring a proper voltage-to-transparency curve to drive the display apparatus, the display quality of the display apparatus can be enhanced.
US08237636B2
A method of adjusting color balance includes writing first to third adjustment video signals on first to third pixels, respectively to obtain first to third monochromatic data, updating the first to third adjustment video signals based on the first to third monochromatic data, writing the updated first to third adjustment video signals on the first to third pixels to obtain a mixed color data, updating the first to third adjustment video signals in the case where the mixed color data is within a tolerance and the power consumption exceeds a predetermined upper limit, and setting the first to third adjustment video signals updated finally as the maximum values of the video signals to be written on the first to third pixels, respectively.
US08237635B2
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for driving emissive, in particular organic light emitting diodes (OLED), displays using multi-line addressing (MLA) techniques. Embodiments of the invention are particularly suitable for use with so-called passive matrix OLED displays. A method of driving an emissive display, the display comprising a plurality of pixels each addressable by a row electrode and a column electrode, the method comprising: driving a plurality of column electrodes with a first set of column drive signals; and driving two or more row electrodes with a first set of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the column drive signals; then driving the plurality of column electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of column drive signals; and driving the two or more row electrodes with a second and subsequent sets of forward bias row drive signals at the same time as the column electrode driving with the second column drive signals.
US08237631B2
The present invention provides a display device including a pixel array section, the pixel array section having pixels arranged in a matrix form, each of the pixels including: an electro-optical element; a write transistor; a holding capacitance; a drive transistor; and a switching transistor; a write scan line disposed for each of pixel rows of the pixel array section and adapted to convey a write signal to be applied to the gate electrode of the write transistor; and a correction scan line, wherein the wiring structure of the write scan line does not intersect with the wiring pattern connected to the gate electrode of the drive transistor.
US08237624B2
A serial display interface such as the VESA-Display Port interface is expanded to support daisy chained coupling of one display monitor to the next. Each daisy chain wise connectable display monitor has a local daisy chain transceiver device associated with it where the local transceiver device selectively picks off passing through video data streams in response to embedded MDID identification signals and forwards the selectively picked off data to the local monitor. The local transceiver device also relays the passing through video data streams on to more downstream devices of the daisy chain. In one embodiment, the daisy chain wise connectable display monitors are hot-pluggable and unpluggable.
US08237619B2
A low loss beam forming method and antenna structure are disclosed. The method and structure may preferably be used in forming two narrow beams within a cellular sector. This method allows an increase in the overall network capacity by using a three-column non-planar array and a compact, low-cost, low-loss 3-to-2 Beam-Forming Network (BFN). This structure produces two symmetrical beams with respect to the azimuth boresight. Radiation patterns of the two beams are designed to cover the entire azimuth coverage angle of a cellular sector with minimum beam-split loss and cross-over losses.
US08237616B2
A “wireless cable” (also referred to as a “free-space waveguide”), which does not require a continuous body of conducting wire, is provided. Rather, a series of conducting rings, each loaded with a suitable capacitance element, is properly arranged in an empty medium. The distance between the conducting ring elements is of the order of half the wavelength of the signal to be carried, or less. Normally, the series of ring elements would operate as an antenna array, radiating the signal power away from the structure. However, under suitable design conditions, ideally all the signal power can be directed along an axis of the series of conducting ring elements. A signal source can be connected to the ring element at one end of the series, and a suitable electrical load be connected to the element at the opposite end to collect the guided signal power. Additional matching circuits may be provided to properly couple the source and load to the wireless cable.
US08237608B2
This disclosure is related to a magnetron including a cylindrical cathode having a center axis, an anode coaxially arranged with the cathode so as to be separated from the cathode via a predetermined space, and a pair of pole pieces provided to both ends of the cathode in the axial direction so as to oppose to each other and having opposing faces perpendicular to the axial direction. The pole piece has a first ridge of a ring shape that is formed on the opposing face and is coaxial with the cathode.
US08237604B2
Systems and methods include up-converting a UWB frequency pulse from a UWB radar unit to a V band frequency pulse; transmitting the V band frequency pulse via an active array antenna; receiving a V band echo pulse via the active array antenna; down-converting the V band echo pulse from the active array antenna to a UWB pulse; and feeding the UWB pulse to the UWB radar unit for processing by the UWB radar unit. A V band antenna system includes: an antenna board that defines an antenna plane being the plane of the board and comprising a plurality of antenna elements; a mother board providing a corporate combining feed to the antenna board; and a power management board to which the antenna board and mother board are mounted perpendicularly to the antenna plane, wherein the antenna elements provide a beam forming antenna for ultra wide band pulses at V band frequencies.
US08237599B2
System and method for digitizing analog voltage signals. A first voltage signal may be received at a comparator. A ramp signal may be received at the comparator. The ramp signal may be generated by a ramp generator. An output signal may be generated by the comparator. The output signal may indicate whether the analog voltage signal or the ramp signal is greater. The output signal may be conveyed to logic circuitry by the comparator. Control information may be conveyed by the logic circuitry to the ramp generator. The ramp generator may generate the ramp signal based on the control information. The logic circuitry may determine a digital representation of the first voltage signal based on the output signal from the comparator and the control information.
US08237582B2
An LED fixture includes multiple LED drivers and a multi-chip LED package so that the lifetime of the fixture is a multiple of the lifetime of a conventional fixture that uses only a single LED driver. A distributed controller activates and deactivates the LED drivers so that different subsets of LEDs within the LED package are driven sequentially. An optional multi-chip LED driver concurrently drives multiple subsets of LEDs that were previously driven by the LED drivers.
US08237580B2
An in-vehicle image display apparatus, for use in a vehicle, which comprises a state detecting device that detects a state of surroundings of the vehicle; a display device that is provided at least in a window section of the vehicle and capable of displaying information over the window section; an image generating device that generates image data representing an image of the surroundings of the vehicle based on detection results from the state detecting device; and a display control device that makes the display device display the image represented by the image data generated by the image generating device. The image generating device includes a predicting and generating device that predicts and generates, with respect to an object to be detected about the vehicle, image data representing the object to be detected after a predetermined time period, based on the detection results from the state detecting device.
US08237569B2
When a product attached with an ID tag is placed inside a package body, there is a risk that communication with an ID tag using a reader/writer is blocked. Then, it is difficult to manage products in a distribution process of products, which leads to lose convenience of ID tags. One feature of the present invention is a product management system that includes a package body for packing a product attached with an ID tag, and a reader/writer. The ID tag includes a thin film integrated circuit portion and an antenna, the package body includes a resonance circuit portion having an antenna coil and a capacitor, and the resonance circuit portion can communicate with the reader/writer and the ID tag. Accordingly, the stability of communication between an ID tag attached to a product and an R/W can be secured, and management of products can be conducted simply and efficiently, even if a product is packed by a package body.
US08237568B2
The present invention provides a method and system for verifying and tracking identification information. In an embodiment of the invention, a system for delivering security solutions is provided that includes at least one of the following: a radio frequency (RF) identification device, an identification mechanism (e.g., a card, sticker), and an RF reader.
US08237567B2
The information managing system includes a first antenna for identifying a first tag included by transportation means, a second antenna for identifying a second tag included by goods, a reader for generating tag information which is identification results generated by respectively identifying the corresponding tags through the first antenna and the second antenna, and a control device for mapping information of the first tag and information of the second tag based on the tag information.
US08237565B2
When multiple readers for RF transponders have to be placed in close proximity, such as in adjacent lanes of a highway toll barrier, they can be set to operate at different frequencies. When signals from two adjacent ones of the readers interfere, the resulting signal includes interference terms whose frequencies equal the sum of the reader frequencies and the difference between the reader frequencies. To remove such interference terms while passing the desired terms, a tag includes a low-pass or other frequency-selective filter.
US08237564B2
Methods and apparatus to visualize locations of radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged items are described. One example method includes receiving a request from a portable electronic device to access product information associated with an individual radio frequency identification (RFID) tagged item, determining a location of the product information in a database, transmitting the located product information to the portable electronic device for display thereon, receiving modified product information associated with the individual RFID tagged item from the portable electronic device, and storing the modified product information to the location of the product information in the database.
US08237560B2
A highly flexible real-time metal detector platform which has a detection capability for different targets and applications, where the operator is able to alter synchronous demodulation multiplication functions to select different types or mixtures of different types to be applied to different synchronous demodulators, and also different waveforms of the said synchronous demodulation multiplication functions; examples of the different types being time-domain, square-wave, sine-wave or receive signal weighted synchronous demodulation multiplication functions. The operator can alter the fundamental frequency of the repeating switched rectangular-wave voltage sequence, and an operator may alter the waveform of the repeating switched rectangular-wave voltage sequence and corresponding synchronous demodulation multiplication functions.
US08237559B2
The invention relates to a method for sending environmental data by means of a mobile terminal device, comprising the steps of detecting said environmental data, evaluating said environmental data, determining if said evaluated environmental data is to be sent, and sending said environmental data in case of an affirmative determination.
US08237556B2
A system releases seat belts on school buses electronically via driver command or automatically by an inertia switch and electronic timer that then activate solenoids at each seat. This system operates on 12V direct current furnished by the load side of the bus's ignition switch. The system also has a level sensor that prohibits the system from energizing the solenoids when a bus equipped with the system does not have an upright position. The system provides a switch under each seat that notifies the driver when a child occupies it or a light at the dashboard. A second light flashes to notify the driver when the clip engages a buckle of each seat on a bus. The system allows for normal daily usage of seat belts and simultaneously releases the seat belts in an emergency.
US08237546B2
Methods and apparatuses for secure communications of confidential information are provided. In an embodiment, a method of communicating with a population of radio frequency identification tags includes transmitting a first interrogation signal, receiving a response to the first interrogation signal from at least one RFID tag at a first received signal strength including at least a portion of a first identification code, and transmitting a second interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information, a command to transmit a response to the second interrogation signal at a secure power level, and the first identification code. In another embodiment, a method for communicating with an RFID tag includes receiving an interrogation signal that includes a request for confidential information and transmitting a response to the interrogation signal at a secure power level. The response includes the confidential information.
US08237545B2
The present invention provides a wireless transponder comprising: a receiver unit that receives an electromagnetic input signal; an input converter unit that converts into an acoustic wave the electromagnetic input signal received by the receiver unit; a delay unit provided in a direction in which an acoustic wave generated by the input converter unit propagates; an output converter unit that converts into an electromagnetic output signal the acoustic wave which has propagated inside the delay unit; and a transmitter unit that transmits wirelessly the electromagnetic output signal generated by the output converter unit.
US08237531B2
An inductor circuit with high quality (Q) factor includes a primary inductor and a compensation sub-circuit. The compensation sub-circuit is electrically isolated from the primary inductor. The compensation sub-circuit is magnetically coupled with the primary inductor to compensate the loss in the primary inductor.
US08237528B2
An electronic component capable of adjusting the number of turns of a coil without preparing multiple kinds of inner conductors to be positioned at an end of the layer direction is composed of a multilayer body having multiple laminated magnetic layers. A spiral coil includes inner conductors and via-hole conductors connected to each other. Each of the inner conductors has a length of one turn. Both ends of each of the inner conductors are over points A and B. The inner conductor provided at the most negative side in the z-axis direction branches at one end so as to be over the points A and B.
US08237527B2
A permanent magnetic actuator includes a flux inducing unit having a hollow space therein and formed by laminating a plurality of plates, a movable element disposed in the hollow space of the flux inducing unit to be reciprocated, permanent magnets installed at inner walls of the hollow space, and guide members located between the permanent magnets and the movable element and configured to guide reciprocating motion of the movable element.
US08237522B2
A magnetically actuated system includes a conductor and a magnetic field apparatus to generate a magnetic field. The magnetic field apparatus includes magnets and magnetically permeable materials to focus the magnetic field in areas of the conductor that produce a drive torque when the conductor carries a current.
US08237517B2
Apparatus and methods are provided for a power matching apparatus for use with a processing chamber. In one aspect of the invention, a power matching apparatus is provided including a first RF power input coupled to a first adjustable capacitor, a second RF power input coupled to a second adjustable capacitor, a power junction coupled to the first adjustable capacitor and the second adjustable capacitor, a receiver circuit coupled to the power junction, a high voltage filter coupled to the power junction and the high voltage filter has a high voltage output, a voltage/current detector coupled to the power junction and a RF power output connected to the voltage/current detector.
US08237515B2
Crystal oscillator control and calibration is disclosed. Temperature and frequency control circuits included on a printed circuit board (PCB) comprising a crystal oscillator are used to determine, for each of a plurality of set points in a range of sensed internal temperatures sensed by an internal temperature sensing circuit or device located adjacent to the oscillator in a thermally insulated region of the PCB, a corresponding compensation required to be applied to maintain a desired oscillator output frequency. The PCB is configured to use at least the determined compensation values and a sensed internal temperature to determine during operation of the PCB a compensation, if any, to be applied to maintain the desired oscillator output frequency.
US08237488B2
A capacitance compensation circuit includes a plurality of switches having a first node coupled to an input terminal, a plurality of capacitors each coupled to a respective second node of the plurality of switches, and an adjustment circuit for providing a plurality of adjustable bias levels to a plurality of switch control nodes to precisely compensate for linear and parabolic voltage dependent components of an input or other capacitor. Two such circuits can be used with a single input terminal to compensate for both increasing and decreasing voltage dependent characteristics of a target capacitor.
US08237484B2
A circuit includes a clock generator to provide a clock signal, and a clock distribution circuit coupled to the clock generator and a plurality of pairs of outputs. The clock distribution circuit includes a plurality of adjustment circuits to generate a plurality of pairs of clock signals in accordance with the clock signal. A respective adjustment circuit in the plurality of adjustment circuits is to provide a respective pair of clock signals in the plurality of pairs of clock signals to a respective pair of outputs in the plurality of pairs of outputs. The respective pair of clock signals includes a first clock signal and a second clock signal. The first clock signal is a complement of the second clock signal and duty-cycle and skew errors in the first clock signal and the second clock signal are less than corresponding pre-determined values.
US08237478B2
A delay locked loop (DLL) circuit includes a delay line configured to generate a delay clock signal by delaying a reference clock signal in response to a delay control signal, the delay line having two or more initial activation points, wherein the initial activation points are selected according to an initial value of the delay control signal; a delay compensating unit configured to generate a feedback clock signal by delaying the delay clock signal for a predetermined time; a phase detecting unit configured to generate a phase detection signal by comparing a phase of the reference clock signal to a phase of the feedback clock signal; and a delay control unit configured to generate the delay control signal in response to the phase detection signal.
US08237474B2
A method and apparatus is provided for controlling a delay line for achieving power reduction. The device comprises a delay lock loop to provide an output signal based upon a phase difference between a reference signal and a feedback signal, said delay lock loop comprising at least one delay circuit comprising a plurality of logic gates configured to provide for substantially uniform degradation of a plurality of NAND gates in a static state.
US08237469B2
A pull-up circuit prevents generation of a leak current if a difference of potentials occurs between a power source voltage of a pull-up circuit (a bus-hold circuit) and an input terminal. A control terminal is provided in the bus-hold circuit. Inputs of the input terminal and the control terminal are input to a NOR gate, and an output of the NOR gate is input to a gate terminal of a first MOSFET that controls coupling between an input terminal and the power source voltage of the bus-hold circuit. A second MOSFET (“control” MOSFET) is provided as a switch that operates by an inverted output of the control terminal. By coupling the first MOSFET and the control MOSFET in series, the coupling between the input terminal and the power source voltage is controlled with a higher precision, thereby preventing generation of a leak current.
US08237467B2
A resistor-programmable device generates pulses counted by a counter. The counter's output controls a drive signal generator, such as an adjustable current source. The drive signal generator generates a drive signal (such as a current), which leads to the creation of a sense signal (such as a voltage) using a resistance. The resistance can have one of a set of specified values or fall within one of a set of specified windows. The resistor-programmable device can convert the resistance value into a digital value, which can be used to set a sensor trip point threshold or some other parameter. The digital or parameter value is independent of changes in the resistance that are within a specified tolerance. For instance, the same parameter value could be selected even when the resistance varies within some tolerance (such as 1%) as the resistor-programmable device can determine the window in which the resistance falls.
US08237465B1
Disclosed is a logic element (LE) that can provide a number of advantageous features. For example, the LE can be configured to implement register packing and/or a fracturable look up table.
US08237464B2
An integrated circuit for controlling data output impedance includes an address decoder, a selection signal decoder, and a transfer control unit. The address decoder is configured to decode an address signal and generate a selection mode signal and a first adjustment mode signal. The selection signal decoder is configured to decode a selection signal and generate an enable signal and a disable signal. The transfer control unit is configured to transfer a pull-up signal and a pull-down signal as a selection pull-up signal and a selection pull-down signal.
US08237463B1
Managing reliability of a circuit that includes a plurality of duplicate components, with less than all of the components being active at any time during circuit operation, where reliability is managed by operating, by the circuit, with a first set of components that includes a predefined number of components; selecting, without altering circuit performance and in accordance with a circuit reliability protocol, a second set of components with which to operate, including activating an inactive component and deactivating an active component of the first set of components; and operating, by the circuit, with the second set of components.
US08237459B2
A fall of potential method of determining earth ground resistance which utilizes an earth ground tester and eliminates the need for utilizing removable ground stakes. Rather than utilizing a “far stake” the method provides connection of the earth ground tester to the telephone wires. Rather than utilizing a “near stake” the method provides for connection of the earth ground tester to the cable shield.
US08237457B2
After planarization of a gate level dielectric layer, a dummy structure is removed to form a recess. A first conductive material layer and an amorphous metal oxide are deposited into the recess area. A second conduct material layer fills the recess. After planarization, an electrical antifuse is formed within the filled recess area, which includes a first conductive material portion, an amorphous metal oxide portion, and a second conductive material portion. To program the electrical antifuse, current is passed between the two terminals in the pair of the conductive contacts to transform the amorphous metal oxide portion into a crystallized metal oxide portion, which has a lower resistance. A sensing circuit determines whether the metal oxide portion is in an amorphous state (high resistance state) or in a crystalline state (low resistance state).
US08237453B2
A sensor electrode pattern configured to enable the detection of multiple input objects concurrently disposed in a sensing region of a mutual capacitance sensor including a plurality of first sensor electrodes oriented along a first axis, and a plurality of second sensor electrodes oriented along a second axis and configured to be capacitively coupled with the plurality of first sensor electrodes. At least one sensor electrode of the plurality of first sensor electrodes is disposed in a configuration forming multiple crossings with a line that is parallel to the second axis. At least two of the plurality of first sensor electrodes or at least two of the plurality of second sensor electrodes are interleaved with each other proximate to the sensing region of the mutual capacitance sensor. The pluralities of first sensor electrodes and second sensor electrodes include transmitter sensor electrodes or receiver sensor electrodes.
US08237442B2
A magnetic resonance antenna has capacitive and inductive oscillating circuit antenna elements at least one radio-frequency switching element with which at least one of the oscillating circuit antenna elements that determine the resonant frequency of the magnetic resonance antenna, can be switched at radio frequency between a permeable state and an impermeable state to change the resonant frequency of the magnetic resonance antenna, so the antenna can be detuned simply, cost-effectively and efficiently.
US08237425B1
To improve noise rejection, a native (or undoped) NMOS transistor is used as a source follower in place of a conventional common source PMOS transistor in a voltage regulator circuit. The native transistor has a threshold voltage of approximately 0 volts which allows the maximum voltage output of the regulator to be higher by one threshold voltage of a conventional NMOS transistor than might be obtained from a voltage regulator that used a conventional NMOS transistor. Alternatively, a depletion transistor can be used to provide even higher output. In another illustrative embodiment, a conventional bandgap reference circuit is modified by replacing a common source transistor connected to the output of an op amp with a native MOS transistor connected as a source follower.
US08237421B1
In one embodiment, a method is provided for delivering optimal charge bursts in a voltage regulator under light load conditions. The method includes: in an initial period, determining an optimal turn-on time for a high-side switch of the voltage regulator to produce a desired voltage ripple; and in steady-state operation, turning on the high-side switch for approximately the optimal turn-on time, thereby delivering optimal charge bursts for the desired voltage ripple in the voltage regulator.
US08237414B1
Multi-mode charger device for charging portable devices and methods of charging portable devices are described. In an embodiment, a multi-mode charger device has mode blocks respectively associated with modes of operation which are coupled to a switch module. The switch module is for coupling a selected one of the mode blocks to a peripheral bus and to decouple the mode blocks remaining from the peripheral bus. A first mode of the modes of operation is a pass through mode. A second mode of the modes of operation is a first charging mode. A third mode of the modes of operation is a second charging mode. The first charging mode and the second charging mode are different from one another.
US08237400B2
Disclosed herein is a modular battery system having at least one subsystem comprising a plurality of battery modules connected in series or parallel, wherein each subsystem preferably having a first endplate and a second endplate. The battery modules may be bound between the first and second endplates. A plurality of band members couple the first and second endplates to each other and bind the battery module between the endplates. Further, a data collection panel is in electrical communication with each of the battery modules and the data collection panel transmits status information of the modules to a master control module, which converts the electrical into a data transmission through a controller area network (CAN) bus. Status information may include module temperature, module pressure and module voltage, essentially any measurable parameter that may be conducted via an electrical signal. Depending on the needs of a given application, the battery modules may be connected in series or parallel.
US08237398B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of causing a battery pack to discharge when an external power supply is connected to a charger, stopping discharge of the battery pack when a state of charge of the battery pack is reduced to a reset value, and charging the battery pack after the state of charge is reduced to the reset value.
US08237397B2
A solar energy includes a charging control unit to output a number of charge voltages, a switch control unit, and a comparing unit. The switch control unit receives a break control signal and a charging control signal from the charging control unit to switch the charging control unit to charge the rechargeable battery, and receives a voltage detecting signal from the charging control unit to output a detect voltage corresponding to a charge voltage of the rechargeable battery. The comparing unit receives the detect voltage and correspondingly outputs a selecting signal to the charging control unit. The charging control unit determines the charge voltage of the rechargeable battery according to the selecting signal, and outputs a corresponding charge voltage to charge the rechargeable battery.
US08237392B2
An angle calculation portion of a motor control apparatus determines an angle θ of a rotor, and an angular velocity calculation portion determines an angular velocity ωe of the rotor. A command current calculation portion determines command currents id* and iq* on dq axes, based on a steering torque T and a vehicle speed S. An open-loop control portion determines command voltages vd and vq on the dq axes based on the command currents id* and iq* and the angular velocity ωe, according to circuit equations of a motor. A dq-axis/three-phase conversion portion converts the command voltages vd and vq to command voltages of three phases. A three-phase voltage correction portion corrects the command voltage so that an actual time average value of a voltage applied to each phase is equal to a time average value of a voltage that is to be applied to the phase if the voltage is not decreased, in order to compensate for a decrease in the applied voltage. By performing the correction, it is possible to eliminate or suppress a decrease in control accuracy due to a wiring resistance and the like.
US08237390B2
A drive unit comprising of a driving motor and of at least two flexible linking members, which twist on each other when a rotational shaft of the driving motor rotates and thus produce a pulling force on a motion element that is attached to or is a part of link of a legged robot's leg mechanism is disclosed. A control method to control the invented drive unit so that a passive, a passive-dynamic or an active walking modes and transition between the modes of a legged robot is achieved without any additional mechanical means is disclosed.
US08237374B2
An LED lighting device including a DC power source circuit, a high frequency generation circuit which includes an inverter circuit having switching elements and a resonance circuit having a series-connected inductor and condenser, in which the switching elements are on-off controlled by a no-load resonance frequency of the resonance circuit, and DC voltage input from the DC power source circuit is converted into a high frequency AC voltage, a rectification smoothing circuit having an input side which is connected between both edges of the condenser or both edges of the inductor; and a light emitting diode series connected to an output side of the rectification smoothing circuit.
US08237370B2
A lighting device for a display device includes a plurality of light sources, a power source arranged to provide drive power for the light sources, a common electrode arranged to supply the drive power to the plurality of light sources, a plurality of holder electrodes arranged to hold the respective light sources and supply the drive power from the common electrode individually to the respective light sources, and a dielectric portion provided between the common electrode and each of the holder electrodes.
US08237369B2
A light source apparatus and a light source driving circuit are provided. The light source driving circuit includes an operation amplifier (OP-AMP), a transistor, and a switch unit. A first input terminal and an output terminal of the OP-AMP couple to a predetermined voltage and a control terminal of the transistor, respectively. A first terminal of the transistor couples to a light source. The switch unit includes a first signal terminal receiving a first voltage greater than a predetermined voltage, a second signal terminal coupled to a second input terminal of the OP-AMP, a third signal terminal coupled to a second terminal of the transistor, and an enabling terminal receiving a driving voltage. A voltage of the third signal terminal or a voltage of the first signal terminal is determined to transmit to the second signal terminal in accordance with the driving voltage.
US08237366B2
An output window for a vacuum electron device comprises an output waveguide, an intermediate layer of dielectric material joined to the interior of the output waveguide with a vacuum-tight seal, and upper and lower layers of dielectric material spaced apart from the intermediate layer and arranged above and below, respectively, the intermediate layer in a vertical orientation of the output waveguide. The upper and lower layers including openings. Supports extend inwardly into the output waveguide and support the upper and lower layers. Pillars extend through the openings in the lower layer and support the intermediate layer. The openings in the upper and lower layers permit a venting of a region between the upper layer and the intermediate layer and a region between the lower layer and the intermediate layer during the sealing of the intermediate layer while the intermediate layer is supported by the pillars.
US08237359B2
There is provided a display apparatus configured by stacking a drive circuit substrate and a light-emitting substrate. Electrodes of the substrates are accurately aligned to be electrically connected to each other. A display apparatus is configured by stacking a drive circuit substrate having a drive circuit and a light-emitting substrate having a light-emitting unit including a pixel electrode to cause the drive circuit substrate and the light-emitting substrate to face each other, wherein on a stacked plane between the drive circuit substrate and the light-emitting substrate, an intermediate electrode connected to the light-emitting unit of the light-emitting substrate and a connection electrode connected to the drive circuit and the drive circuit substrate are electrically connected to each other, and the intermediate electrode is elongated in a direction parallel to or perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode on the stacked plane.
US08237351B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a thin film transistor on a substrate, a protective layer and a planarization layer covering the thin film transistor, a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor, and a wall positioned on at least a portion of the pixel electrode. The planarization layer includes an aperture which exposes a portion of the pixel electrode. An organic layer is formed on the pixel electrode, and a common electrode is formed on the organic layer. An auxiliary electrode layer is formed to overlap the wall on the common electrode.
US08237345B2
The display apparatus includes an airtight container having an insulating first substrate, an insulating second substrate which faces the first substrate, a conductive frame arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, a conductive layer which is provided between the conductive frame and the first substrate and which is airtightly bonded to the conductive frame, and an insulating layer which is provided between the conductive layer and the first substrate and which airtightly bonds between the conductive layer and the first substrate; a display unit provided inside the airtight container; wires connected to the display unit; and electrodes. The insulating layer insulates the wires from the conductive frame and the electrodes and has through-holes penetrating from the electrodes toward the conductive frame, and the conductive layer is connected to the electrodes through the through-holes.
US08237338B2
A ceramic having a plurality of crystal grains that contain lithium and boron, the crystal grains are arranged in a planar direction, and the crystal grains have a mutually same crystal orientation with respect to the thickness direction, the ceramic having a portion defined by parallel sectional surfaces in a thickness direction, the portion being equally divided into a plurality of segments by parallel sectional surfaces in a planar direction, and when the amount of boron in each segment is compared, the thickness of a low boron concentration region, the low boron concentration region being a collection of segments displaying a boron amount of less than or equal to an average value for the maximum value and minimum value of the boron amount, is greater than or equal to 20% to less than or equal to 90% of the overall thickness of the portion.
US08237336B2
A technology is disclosed which provides an array scanning type ultrasound probe capable of preventing a diminution of ultrasound of a piezoelectric device at the time of transmission and at the time of reception due to its damage and thereby reducing a sensitivity deterioration of a diagnostic image. According to the technology, included are an electroacoustic conversion unit formed by arranging multiple piezoelectric devices and multiple acoustic matching layers in a predetermined direction, each of the multiple piezoelectric devices being an electroacoustic conversion device, the multiple acoustic matching layers being respectively stacked on the multiple piezoelectric devices; and a signal flexible board transferring electric signals to be transmitted to and received from the multiple piezoelectric devices. An incision passing through the multiple piezoelectric devices in respective thickness directions of the piezoelectric devices and extending into the corresponding acoustic matching layers stacked thereon is provided in parallel to the arrangement direction.
US08237335B2
A system and method for removing unwanted heat generated by a piezoelectric element of an ultrasound transducer. Some implementations have high thermal conductivity (HTC) material placed adjacent to the piezoelectric element. The HTC material can be thermally coupled to one or more heat sinks. Use of HTC material in conjunction with these piezoelectric element surfaces is managed to avoid degradation of propagating acoustic energy. Use of the HTC material in conjunction with heat sinks allows for creation of thermal paths away from the piezoelectric element. Active cooling of the heat sinks with water or air can further draw heat from the piezoelectric element. Further implementations form a composite matrix of thermally conductive material or interleave thermally conductive layers with piezoelectric material.
US08237331B2
The drive efficiency of a vibratory actuator is improved without increasing a weight of a driver element.An ultrasonic actuator (2) includes an actuator body (4) for generating longitudinal vibration and bending vibration, and driver elements (8), provided on a mounting surface (40a) which is one of side surfaces of the actuator body (4), for making an orbit motion according to the vibrations of the actuator body (4) to output driving force. In the driver element (8), a through hole (80) is provided.
US08237328B2
A foreign substance removing apparatus that removes a foreign substance adhering on an optical member, comprising a piezoelectric element arranged at one end of the optical member, a transformer which generates a voltage to drive the piezoelectric element, the transformer including a primary-side wound wire and a secondary-side wound wire, the secondary-side wound wire being connected to the piezoelectric element, a first driving signal generation circuit which is connected to one end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a first frequency, and a second driving signal generation circuit which is connected to the other end of the primary-side wound wire in the transformer, and generates a signal with a second frequency.
US08237327B2
Abnormal noise generated while driving a piezoelectric actuator is prevented. A pulse-generation circuit is capable of selectively generating a displacement pulse and a stationary pulse as a drive pulse for application to a piezoelectric element, the displacement pulse having a duty ratio for causing a lens to be displaced by a predetermined step width, and the stationary pulse having a duty ratio for causing the lens to remain stationary in a current position. The pulse-generation circuit controls the production of the drive pulse continuously for a plurality of times within the servo control cycle, causes the displacement pulse to be produced when the remainder of a required amount of displacement is equal to or greater than a threshold value, and causes the stationary pulse to be continuously produced until the initiation of the next servo control cycle when the remainder is less than the threshold value.
US08237321B2
The invention relates to an electrical machine (1, 2, 210) or its use as a wind power generator and a wind power installation having this electrical machine. The electrical machine has a primary part (3, 4, 222, 212, 213) and a secondary part (5, 6, 224), wherein a disc-like primary part (3, 4, 222, 212, 213) and a disc-like secondary part (5, 6, 224) are provided for forming a disc-shaped air gap, or wherein the electrical machine (1, 2, 210) has a cylindrical primary part (3, 4, 212, 213) and a cylindrical secondary part (5, 6, 224) for forming a cylindrical air gap, wherein a primary part, which can be used for a linear motor, is also used for forming the cylindrical primary part (3, 4, 222, 212, 213).
US08237315B2
Disclosed herein is a PM type step motor used to move a camera or an optical pickup lens of media related equipment. The step motor has a stator unit including first and second stators which butt against and are coupled to each other and each have a bobbin and a yoke attached thereto. Terminal blocks of the first and second stators are spaced apart from each other when the first and second stators are coupled to each other, thus allowing an automatic winding operation using winding equipment to be easily performed. The step motor includes a bushing which has in a central portion thereof a through hole through which a rotating shaft passes and is a two-stage structure having a small outer diameter part and a large outer diameter part, thus allowing the stator unit, the rotating shaft and a casing unit to easily be arranged coaxially.
US08237305B2
Method and apparatus for improving the fuel economy of a vehicle of the type having a vehicle electrical system that includes a generator senses a vehicle voltage of the vehicle electrical system during determined intervals, and supplies an offset current from an external source of electrical energy to the vehicle electrical system in response to the sensing of a vehicle voltage of the vehicle electrical system. In this manner, the electrical power output of the generator, and its effect on fuel consumption, are reduced in response to supplying of the offset current. A source of electrical energy external to the electrical system of the motor vehicle is controlled by an electronic control unit coupled to the source of electrical energy. A power converter receives on and off commands from the electronic control unit in response to vehicle voltage measurements by the electronic control unit.
US08237303B2
An organic rankine cycle (ORC) turbo generator for prevention of penetration of a working fluid is provided, which can block penetration of the working fluid from a turbine into a generator, thereby improving the efficiency of power generation. The turbo generator comprises: a turbine including a turbine housing, a turbine blade and a fluid injection nozzle; a generator including a generator housing connected to the turbine housing, a rotor rotatably mounted inside the generator housing and a rotary shaft mounted to the turbine blade, and a first bearing and a second bearing mounted at the front and rear ends of the rotor; and working fluid penetration-preventing means adapted to block the pressure generated from the turbine so as to prevent the working fluid injected from the fluid injection nozzle from being penetrated into the generator.
US08237299B2
Power generation systems are provided that include a circular loop of conduit, a dehumidifier coupled to the conduit, a power turbine coupled to the turbine and a pump coupled to the conduit. Processes for generating energy at an industrial mine site are also provided. Water heating systems are provided that can include a dehumidifier associated with a conduit containing water, a holding tank coupled to the conduit and water heaters coupled to the holding tank. Processes of heating water are also provided.
US08237296B2
Organic anti-stiction coatings such as, for example, hydrocarbon and fluorocarbon based self-assembled organosilanes and siloxanes applied either in solvent or via chemical vapor deposition, are selectively etched using a UV-Ozone (UVO) dry etching technique in which the portions of the organic anti-stiction coating to be etched are exposed simultaneously to multiple wavelengths of ultraviolet light that excite and dissociate organic molecules from the anti-stiction coating and generate atomic oxygen from molecular oxygen and ozone so that the organic molecules react with atomic oxygen to form volatile products that are dissipated, resulting in removal of the exposed portions of the anti-stiction coating. A hybrid etching process using heat followed by UVO exposure may be used. A shadow mask (e.g., of glass or quartz), a protective material layer, or other mechanism may be used to selective expose the portions of the anti-stiction coating to be UVO etched. Such selective UVO etching may be used, for example, to expose wafer bond lines prior to wafer-to-wafer bonding in order to increase bond shear and adhesion strength, to expose bond pads in preparation for electrical or other connections, or for general removal of anti-stiction coating materials from metal or other material surfaces. One specific embodiment uses two wavelengths of ultraviolet light, one at around 184.9 nm and the other at around 253.7 nm.
US08237295B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first semiconductor element, a first electrode, a ball part, a second electrode, and a wire. The first electrode is electrically connected to the first semiconductor element. The ball part is provided on the first electrode. The wire connects the ball part and the second electrode. A thickness of a turned-back portion at an end of the wire on a side opposite to the second electrode is smaller than a diameter of the wire.
US08237287B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate over which a circuit is formed, a multi-layer wiring layer having a plurality of wiring layers formed over the substrate and a pad formed in a predetermined location of an uppermost layer of the wiring layers, a new pad provided in an appropriate location over the multi-layer wiring layer, and a redistribution layer provided with a redistribution line coupling the new pad and the pad. In the semiconductor device: the multi-layer wiring layer includes a signal line for transmitting an electric signal to the circuit and a ground line provided in a wiring layer between the redistribution line or the new pad and the circuit; the ground line is formed to correspond to a location where the new pad is assumed to be located and a route along which the redistribution line is assumed to be formed; and the redistribution line is formed along at least a portion of the ground line.
US08237284B2
The present invention relates to a contact plug of a semiconductor device and a method of forming the same. The method includes forming an insulating layer over a semiconductor substrate, forming contact holes in the insulating layer, forming a first conductive layer over the insulating layer including the contact holes, etching the first conductive layer so that the first conductive layer remains at lower portions of the contact holes, wherein the insulating layer is also etched in order to widen upper widths of the contact holes, and forming a second conductive layer over the first conductive layer of the contact holes, thus forming the contact plugs.
US08237283B2
A structure for reducing electromigration cracking and extrusion effects in semiconductor devices includes a first metal line formed in a first dielectric layer; a cap layer formed over the first metal line and first dielectric layer; a second dielectric layer formed over the cap layer; and a void formed in the second dielectric layer, stopping on the cap layer, wherein the void is located in a manner so as to isolate structural damage due to electromigration effects of the first metal line, the effects including one or more of extrusions of metal material from the first metal line and cracks from delamination of the cap layer with respect to the first dielectric layer.
US08237281B2
A semiconductor device includes at least three or more wiring layers stacked in an interlayer insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, a seal ring provided at the outer periphery of a chip region of the semiconductor substrate and a chip strength reinforcement provided in part of the chip region near the seal ring. The chip strength reinforcement is made of a plurality of dummy wiring structures and each of the plurality of dummy wiring structures is formed to extend across and within two or more of the wiring layers including one or none of the bottommost wiring layer and the topmost wiring layer using a via portion.
US08237279B2
In one embodiment, a collar structure includes a non-conductive layer that relieves stress around the perimeter of each of the solder balls that connect the semiconductor die to the semiconductor chip package substrate, and another non-conductive layer placed underneath to passivate the entire surface of the die.
US08237275B2
A flexible semiconductor package is formed by interposing a flexible substrate between a tungsten stiffener and a die. A tungsten stiffener is bonded to a first surface of the flexible substrate prior to flip chip bonding or die attach of a die to a second surface of the flexible substrate. The tungsten stiffener is dimensioned so as to substantially overlap the die and provide a rigid and flat surface on which the die/flexible substrate bonding occurs. The flat and rigid characteristic of a tungsten stiffener optimizes the electrical and mechanical bond between the die and the flexible substrate as well as minimizing CTE mismatch.
US08237274B1
A semiconductor device is provided that includes a substrate having opposing first and second surfaces and an interconnect structure extending between the first and second surfaces. A plurality of bond pads are located on the first surface of the substrate and the bond pads are electrically connected to the interconnect structure. The bond pads each have two or more micro-bumps, with the two or more micro-bumps on each bond pad being arranged to electrically connect the bond pad to one die pad of a semiconductor die. A plurality of external contacts are located on the second surface of the substrate and the external contacts are electrically connected to the interconnect structure.
US08237264B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a ferroelectric film over a substrate, placing the substrate having the ferroelectric film in a chamber substantially held in vacuum, introducing oxygen and an inert gas into the chamber, annealing the ferroelectric film in the chamber, and containing oxygen and the inert gas while the chamber is maintained sealed.
US08237262B2
Provided is a method and system for designing an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, the substrate being formed to include at least one die. The method includes providing at least portions of IC power and a grounding function on a metal 2 substrate layer and utilizing all of a metal 3 substrate layer for the grounding function. Portions of the metal 2 layer and a metal 4 layer are utilized for the IC power, wherein all of the IC power is centralized underneath the die.
US08237258B2
A semiconductor module includes a device mounting board and a semiconductor device mounted on the device mounting board. The device mounting board includes an insulating resin layer, a wiring layer provided on one main surface of the insulating resin layer, and bump electrodes, electrically connected to the wiring layer, which are protruded from the wiring layer toward the insulating resin layer. The semiconductor device has device electrodes which are disposed counter to a semiconductor substrate and the bump electrodes, respectively. The surface of a metallic layer provided on the device electrode lies on the same plane as the surface of a protective layer.
US08237255B2
A Printed Circuit Board (PCB) is provided in which at least one built-in Integrated Circuit (IC) package has a plurality of conductive bumps on an IC. The plurality of conductive bumps are for external electrical connection. The IC package is accommodated within a core layer of a multi-layer PCB by a connection member on the IC. The connection member is formed between the conductive bumps and the core layer with contact holes in contact with the conductive bumps. The conductive bumps are electrically connected through conductor layers formed in the contact holes.
US08237253B2
A package structure includes a substrate, a first die and at least one second die. The substrate includes a first pair of parallel edges and a second pair of parallel edges. The first die is mounted over the substrate. The first die includes a third pair of parallel edges and a fourth pair of parallel edges, wherein the third pair of parallel edges and the fourth pair of parallel edges are not parallel to the first pair of parallel edges and the second pair of parallel edges, respectively. The at least one second die is mounted over the first die.
US08237252B2
A semiconductor device is made by forming a first thermally conductive layer over a first surface of a semiconductor die. A second surface of the semiconductor die is mounted to a sacrificial carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the first thermally conductive layer and sacrificial carrier. The encapsulant is planarized to expose the first thermally conductive layer. A first insulating layer is formed over the second surface of the semiconductor die and a first surface of the encapsulant. A portion of the first insulating layer over the second surface of the semiconductor die is removed. A second thermally conductive layer is formed over the second surface of the semiconductor die within the removed portion of the first insulating layer. An electrically conductive layer is formed within the insulating layer around the second thermally conductive layer. A heat sink can be mounted over the first thermally conductive layer.
US08237235B2
A metal-ceramic multilayer structure is provided. The underlying layers of the metal/ceramic multilayer structure have sloped sidewalls such that cracking of the metal-ceramic multilayer structure may be reduced or eliminated. In an embodiment, a layer immediately underlying the metal-ceramic multilayer has sidewalls sloped less than 75 degrees. Subsequent layers underlying the layer immediately underlying the metal/ceramic layer have sidewalls sloped greater than 75 degrees. In this manner, less stress is applied to the overlying metal/ceramic layer, particularly in the corners, thereby reducing the cracking of the metal-ceramic multilayer. The metal/ceramic multilayer structure includes one or more alternating layers of a metal seed layer and a ceramic layer.
US08237234B2
Various embodiments of the invention relate to a PMOS device having a transistor channel of silicon germanium material on a substrate, a gate dielectric having a dielectric constant greater than that of silicon dioxide on the channel, a gate electrode conductor material having a work function in a range between a valence energy band edge and a conductor energy band edge for silicon on the gate dielectric, and a gate electrode semiconductor material on the gate electrode conductor material.
US08237227B2
A semiconductor device is provided which includes a semiconductor substrate having a first portion and a second portion, transistors formed in the first portion of the substrate, each transistor having a gate structure with a high-k dielectric and a metal gate, a device element formed in the second portion of the substrate, the device element being isolated by an isolation region, and a polishing stopper formed adjacent the isolation region and having a surface that is substantially planar with a surface of the gate structures of the transistors in the first region.
US08237222B2
In a method of manufacturing a high withstanding voltage MOSFET, a region to be doped with impurities and a region to be doped with no impurity are provided when ion implantation of the impurities is performed in the channel forming region, for controlling a threshold voltage. The region to be doped with no impurity is suitably patterned so that impurity concentration of the channel forming region near boundaries between a well region and a source region and between the well region and a drain region having the same conductivity type as the well region may be increased, to thereby induce a reverse short channel effect. By canceling a short channel effect with the reverse short channel effect induced by the above-mentioned method, the short channel effect of the high withstanding voltage MOSFET may be suppressed.
US08237220B2
In a high speed vertical channel transistor, a pillar structure is formed over a substrate, a gate electrode surrounds an outer wall of a lower portion of the pillar structure; and a word line extends in a direction to partially contact an outer wall of the gate electrode. The word line shifts toward a side of the pillar structure resulting in increased transistor speed.
US08237216B2
Lanthanum-metal oxide dielectrics and methods of fabricating such dielectrics provide an insulating layer in a variety of structures for use in a wide range of electronic devices and systems. In an embodiment, a lanthanum-metal oxide dielectric is formed using a trisethylcyclopentadionatolanthanum precursor and/or a trisdipyvaloylmethanatolanthanum precursor. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08237215B2
An SOI device includes an SOI substrate having a structure in which a first buried oxide layer and a silicon layer are stacked in turn over a semiconductor substrate. A gate is formed over the silicon layer of the SOI substrate. A second buried oxide layer is formed at both sides of the gate in a lower portion of the silicon layer so that a lower end portion of the second buried oxide layer is in contact with the first buried oxide layer. A junction region is then formed in the portion of the silicon layer above the second buried oxide layer so that the lower end portion of the junction region is in contact with the second buried oxide layer.
US08237210B1
A semiconductor apparatus is presented that includes an array of memory cells. The memory cells are arranged in rows and columns. Non-intersecting shallow trench isolation regions isolate the columns of memory cells. Also included is at least one source region that is isolated between an adjoining pair of the non-intersecting shallow trench isolation regions and isolated from a drain region. The source region is coupled to source lines in the array of memory cells. A contact couples a select plurality of the columns of memory cells, the select plurality functioning as a single content addressable memory cell.
US08237201B2
A semiconductor structure includes an array of unit metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) devices arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns is provided. Each of the unit MOS devices includes an active region laid out in a row direction and a gate electrode laid out in a column direction. The semiconductor structure further includes a first unit MOS device in the array and a second unit MOS device in the array, wherein active regions of the first and the second unit MOS devices have different conductivity types.
US08237200B2
Semiconductor devices are provided including a plurality of L-shaped cell blocks each including a cell array and a plurality of decoders disposed in horizontal and vertical directions of the cell array. The plurality of L-shaped cell blocks is oriented in a diagonal direction intersecting the horizontal and vertical directions. Related methods are also provided herein.
US08237197B2
A field effect transistor includes a partial SiGe channel, i.e., a channel including a SiGe channel portion, located underneath a gate electrode and a Si channel portion located underneath an edge of the gate electrode near the drain region. The SiGe channel portion can be located directly underneath a gate dielectric, or can be located underneath a Si channel layer located directly underneath a gate dielectric. The Si channel portion is located at the same depth as the SiGe channel portion, and contacts the drain region of the transistor. By providing a Si channel portion near the drain region, the GIDL current of the transistor is maintained at a level on par with the GIDL current of a transistor having a silicon channel only during an off state.
US08237189B2
A heat-curable silicone resin-epoxy resin composition that is ideal as a premolded package for a high-brightness LED or solar cell. The composition contains (A) a heat-curable silicone resin, (B) a combination of a triazine derivative epoxy resin and an acid anhydride, or a prepolymer obtained by reaction of them, (C) an inorganic filler, and (D) a curing accelerator. The composition exhibits excellent curability, and yields a uniform cured product that displays excellent retention of heat resistance and light resistance over long periods of time, and suffers minimal yellowing.
US08237188B2
Light sources are disclosed herein. One embodiment comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface located opposite the first surface. At least one first electrically conductive layer is affixed to the first surface of the substrate and partially covering the first surface of the substrate. At least one second electrically conductive layer is affixed to the first surface of the substrate and partially covering the first surface of the substrate. A light emitter is affixed to the first surface of the substrate in an area not covered by either of the at least one first electrically conductive layer or the at least one second electrically conductive layer. The substrate may be thinner in the area where the light emitter is affixed than in the areas where the first and second electrically conductive layers are affixed. A heat sink may be attached to the second surface of the substrate.
US08237166B2
An active matrix display comprising a light control device and a field effect transistor for driving the light control device. The active layer of the field effect transistor comprises an amorphous.
US08237163B2
An array substrate for a display device and its fabrication method are disclosed. The array substrate for a display device includes: a gate wiring and a gate electrode connected to the wiring formed on a substrate; a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode; an active layer and a barrier metal layer stacked with the gate insulating layer interposed therebetween on the gate electrode; a data wiring formed on the barrier metal layer and source and electrodes connected to the data wiring; a passivation film formed on the source and drain electrodes and the data wiring and having a contact hole exposing a portion of the drain electrode, the barrier metal layer and the active layer; and a pixel electrode formed on the passivation film and being in contact with the drain electrode and the barrier metal layer including the active layer.
US08237138B2
Computer-implemented systems and methods for processing image data of a process-free plate are provided according to the present disclosure. The systems and methods may, generally, include a data acquisition step/means for receiving image data using one or more channels of a imaging system, each channel functioning to image the same target region of a process-free plate using a different wavelength of light, and a data processing step/means for filtering the image data using at least one of: (i) self-filtering, (ii) Fourier shrinkage and (iii) Wavelet shrinkage. When the image data is received using a plurality of channels, the received image data may advantageously be combined so as to optimize contrast-to-noise performance. The disclosed systems and methods may advantageously perform the operations of image de-noising, contrast enhancement, and thresholding, and may further involve compensation techniques, e.g., for minimizing distortion and blurring effects.
US08237129B2
A microchannel plate for detecting neutrons includes a hydrogen-rich polymer substrate that defines a plurality of channels extending from a top surface of the substrate to a bottom surface of the substrate, where neutrons interact with the plurality of channels to generate at least one secondary electron. A top electrode is positioned on the top surface of the substrate and a bottom electrode is positioned on the bottom surface of the substrate. A resistive layer is formed over an outer surface of the plurality of channels that provides ohmic conduction with a resistivity that is substantially constant. An emissive layer is formed over the resistive layer. Neutron interaction products interact with the plurality of channels defined by the substrate and the emissive films to generate secondary electrons that cascade within the plurality of channels to provide an amplified signal related to the detection of neutrons.
US08237128B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for counting X-ray photons (12, 14). The apparatus (10) comprises a sensor (16) adapted to convert a photon (12, 14) into a charge pulse, a processing element (18) adapted to convert the charge pulse (51) into an electrical pulse (53) and a first discriminator (20) adapted to compare the electrical pulse (53) against a first threshold (TH1) and to output an event (55) if the first threshold (TH1) is exceeded. A first counter (22) counts these events (55), unless counting is inhibited by a first gating element (24). The first gating element (24) is activated when the first discriminator (20) outputs the event (55), and it is deactivated, when the processing of a photon (12, 14) is found to be complete or about to be completed by a measurement or by the knowledge about the time that it takes to process a photon (12, 14) in the processing element (18). By activating and deactivating the first counter (22) pile-up events, i.e. pile-up of multiple electrical pulses (53), can be addressed. The invention also relates to a corresponding imaging device and a corresponding method.
US08237123B2
A rotating imaging system has a rotating portion that is configured to rotate about a central axis. A tilt gauge has a housing mounted to the rotating portion and a gravity influenced flag with a free end configured to move separately with respect to the housing. The tilt gauge is configured to provide a visual indication of a rotational position of the rotating portion.
US08237121B2
An image sensor includes near-infrared cut filters formed over an array of photosensitive elements in a predetermined pattern. The near-infrared cut filters may be formed over one half of a photosensitive element in a split pixel arrangement, over one half the photosensitive elements in the array, over every other photosensitive element in the array, and/or in a checkerboard pattern.
US08237120B1
A defect may be characterized using primary radiation directed from a primary electron source to a measurement location on the sample. An electron energy analyzer may capture secondary electrons emitted from the measurement location in a focusing direction by an electron energy analyzer. A transverse focusing device may focus electrons emitted from the measurement location in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the focusing direction.
US08237117B2
The present invention relates a use of the electrocapture-based separation technology combined with mass spectrometrical fragmentation methods, e.g. sequence of polypeptides by collision-induce dissociation mass spectrometry, for the identification and/or characterization molecules of interest. It also relates the combination of the electrocapture-base separation technology with other liquid separation methods, as e.g. liquid chromatography, in order to achieve multi-dimensional separations prior mass spectrometrical analysis. In addition, it relates physical interfaces between electrocapture-based separations and different types mass spectrometers for on-line or off-line analysis, as well as the coupling of electrocapture-based separations, liquid chromatography and different types of mass spectrometrometers.
US08237107B2
A dual-stage method is provided for identifying a microbe by, for example, its species or its subspecies. The method includes measuring a mass spectrum of the microbe using a mass spectrometer, calculating indicators for similarities between reference mass spectra in a library and the measured mass spectrum, selecting a group of reference mass spectra similar to the measured mass spectrum, determining a distinguishing weight for each mass signal of the reference mass spectra in the group, where the distinguishing weights emphasize differences between the reference mass spectra in the group, and calculating indicators for similarities between the reference mass spectra in the group and the measured mass spectrum as a function of the distinguishing weights.
US08237094B2
A pulse modulating heating system provides connection to a step heating system having a main heating controller configured for connection to a heat sensor and step heating relays connected to respective step heating element and for activating, during a heating cycle, a required quantity of mechanical relays and step heating elements to generate a required amount of heat. The pulse modulating heating system has inputs, one for each step heating relay, connectable to the main heating controller for detecting the relays activated during the cycle, i.e. the required quantity of relays. The pulse modulating system, based on the required quantity of step relays detected, activates a pulse heating element for a quantity of pulses relative to a maximum quantity of pulses for the cycle that is proportional to the required quantity of step relays relative the total number of step heating relays to generate the required amount of heat.
US08237093B2
A power supply device having function of heating includes a body, a circuit board, and a heating plate. An accommodation space is defined in the body. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodation space. An input connector and an output connector are disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board receives an external power via the input connector, selectively transforms the external power into a first output power or a second output power, and outputs the first output power via the output connector. The heating plate is disposed on a bottom side of the body and electrically connected to the circuit board to receive the second output power to generate heat for increasing the temperature thereof. The thermal insulator is disposed between the circuit board and the heating plate for isolating heat transferred from the heating plate to the circuit board.
US08237092B2
A substrate heating apparatus includes a top plate arranged above a hot plate so that a vertical space is formed between the hot plate and the top plate. The top plate has an evacuated internal chamber serving as a vacuum insulating layer that suppresses heat transfer from a first surface of the top plate facing the hot plate to a second surface of the top plate opposite to the first surface. When heating the substrate, a gas flow flowing through the space between the hot plate and the top plate is generated.
US08237091B2
A soldering iron (and a desoldering iron) with a replaceable tip, which is releasably securable on the forward heat-conducting end of a soldering (or desoldering) iron heat assembly. The tip has a tapered heat conducting core in a tip cap. The face of the core can have a depression for mating engagement with a protrusion of the heat-conducting end. Also, the face can lie in the rear plane of the tip cap. An assembly which allows for the easy removal and application of a replacement tip can include a sleeve with tightening bolt, a coil spring sleeve, or a slotted compressible sleeve. The tip can thus be replaced after it has worn out, and the heat assembly unit need not be replaced until it has burnt out. Methods of manufacturing and using the tip are also disclosed.
US08237069B2
A control device, such as a wireless remote control for a load control system, comprises a return spring that operates to return multiple buttons to respective idle positions resulting in lower cost and complexity of the remote control. Specifically, the remote control comprises a first button having an edge, and a second button having a flange positioned adjacent the edge of the first button, such that the edge of the first button rests on the flange of the second button. The return spring has a first end fixed in location with respect to the housing and a second end contacting the second button for returning to the second button to an idle position after an actuation of the second button. After an actuation of the first button, the return spring causes the flange of the second button to force the first button back to an idle position.
US08237058B2
A printed circuit board (PCB) is configured to minimize skew between two parallel signal trace portions. The PCB comprises a laminate layer, which includes a fiberglass weave and includes a plastic resin deposited on each face of the fiberglass weave to form a first face and second face of the laminate layer. The fiberglass weave comprises a first set of fiberglass bundles in a first orientation interwoven with a second set of fiberglass bundles in a second orientation. Moreover, the PCB comprises trace a layer that is coupled to the first face of the laminate layer, and includes two or more signal traces. Two parallel trace portions of the two or more signal traces are configured to have a matching orientation and separation distance to a neighboring fiberglass bundle of the fiberglass weave, thereby ensuring that the two parallel trace portions encounter matching dielectric constants from the laminate layer.
US08237045B2
A laminated solar battery (200) wherein four solar cell modules are incorporated and integrally laminated is provided with four types of solar cell modules (90, 100, 70 and 60) which have different sensitivity wavelength bands and are so laminated that the shorter the center wavelength in the sensitivity wavelength band is, the more near the module is located to the incidental side of sunlight, wherein each of the three types solar cell modules (90, 100 and 70) is constituted with cell group modules having plural nearly spherical solar cells (30, 40 and 10) aligned in plural columns and plural rows and the lowest solar cell module (60) is constituted with a planar light receiving module.
US08237037B1
An electric spoon for being played as a musical instrument. The spoon has a head and an elongate handle. A sensor is mounted to the spoon for sensing vibrations transmitted through the handle when the spoon is struck. The sensor emits an electrical signal in response to the vibrations. The signals are used by an amplifier that may be connected to the spoon. Spoons can be joined together. Rivets or other mechanical fasteners may be used to keep the spoons together as a spoon set. When this is done one spoon has a sensor and the other does not, but serves to make contact with the other spoon when either is struck. The joined spoons can be used by a novice spoon player because less dexterity is required to keep the spoons in proper position when being played.
US08237034B1
A novel maize variety designated X90A804 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X90A804 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X90A804 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X90A804, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X90A804. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X90A804.
US08237010B2
A therapeutic device for promoting the healing of a wound in a mammal is disclosed. An exemplary device comprises a permeable structure having a plurality of depressions formed in a surface thereof. In use, the surface having the depressions is disposed adjacent a surface of the wound. A method of manufacturing a therapeutic device for promoting the healing of a wound in a mammal comprising the steps of providing a permeable substrate, and forming a plurality of depressions into a surface of the permeable substrate to provide the therapeutic device. A method of treating a wound comprises: providing a permeable structure comprising a plurality of randomly disposed fibers and having i) a plurality of wound surface contact elements disposed between end portions of the structure, and ii) a plurality of voids defined by the contact elements; and applying the permeable structure to at least one surface of the wound.
US08237006B2
A manufacturing apparatus for producing products results in solid waste and organic waste disposed in an air stream. The organic waste is subject to oxidation by a thermal oxidizer receiving the air stream from the manufacturing apparatus for oxidizing the organic waste. The thermal oxidizer includes a clean air outlet for venting the oxidized air stream to the atmosphere. A gasifier receives solid waste from the manufacturing apparatus for gasifying the solid waste and producing synthetic gas. The synthetic gas is introduced to the thermal oxidizer for providing additional thermal energy to the thermal oxidizer reducing the amount of fossil fuel required to provide thermal energy to the thermal oxidizer that is necessary for oxidizing the organic waste disposed in said air stream.
US08236999B2
Presented are one or more aspects and/or one or more embodiments of catalysts, methods of preparation of catalyst, methods of deoxygenation, and methods of fuel production.
US08236996B2
The invention provides 1,6-hexanediol having a proportion by weight of nitrogen of less than 5 ppm, and polymers obtained by reacting the 1,6-hexanediol with at least one reactive compound. The 1,6-hexanediol is obtained by distilling a mixture including 1,6-hexanediol and more than 500 ppm of at least one carboxylic acid, ester, or both, having a boiling point higher than that of the 1,6-hexanediol and being in contact with the 1,6-hexanediol at a temperature range greater than or equal to 100° C. for at least 5 minutes before, during, or before and during, the distillation, followed by collection of the 1,6-hexanediol. In certain embodiments of this invention, the 1,6-hexanediol has a proportion by weight of nitrogen of less than 3 ppm and less than 2 ppm.
US08236995B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol with a high selectivity and high efficiency using a specific catalyst, as well as to a catalyst for hydrogenolysis of a polyhydric alcohol used in the process.The process for producing a hydrogenolysis product of a polyhydric alcohol includes bringing the polyhydric alcohol into contact with hydrogen in the presence of (A) a catalyst containing at least one metal component selected from among platinum, palladium, and ruthenium, and (B) a catalyst containing a rhenium component. The catalyst for hydrogenolysis of a polyhydric alcohol is used in the process.
US08236985B2
There is provided a compound of formula (I) wherein R1a, R2a, R3, X1 to X6, a, b and c have meanings given in the description, which compounds are useful as, or are useful as prodrugs of, inhibitors of HDAC enzyme activity, and thus, in particular, in the treatment of conditions where inhibition of HDAC enzyme activity is required.
US08236982B2
A method for producing terephthalic acid comprising: subjecting a p-phenylene compound to a liquid-phase oxidation reaction by the use of a molecular-oxygen-containing gas in the presence of a catalyst at least containing a heavy metal compound and a bromine compound, and hydrous acetic acid having a water content of 1 to 15 mass %, to thereby yield a slurry; regulating the temperature of the slurry to 35 to 140° C., to thereby cause terephthalic acid to precipitate; removing the terephthalic acid through solid-liquid separation, to thereby recover a mother liquor; and recovering the catalyst from the mother liquor through a series of operations (1) to (4), as described, for reusing at least a portion of the catalyst in the liquid-phase oxidation reaction.
US08236973B2
Presently disclosed are methods and apparatus for separation of reaction products from reaction mixtures in an ionic liquid catalysis process, particularly in conversion of biomass, cellulose, and sugars into chemical intermediates such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). In one embodiment an ion exclusion adsorption mechanism is used for the separation process. The process comprises (i) mixing the ionic liquid-containing reaction mixture with de-ionized water, (ii) flowing the water solution mixture into an adsorption column, (iii) eluting the column with a water- and/or alcohol-based fluid, and (iv) collecting separated fractions at different elution times.
US08236970B2
The invention relates to a sensory stimulant composition containing one or more of vanillin acetals represented by the general formula (1), and a flavor and fragrance composition, a beverage or food product, a fragrance or cosmetic product, a daily utensil product, an oral composition, or a pharmaceutical product containing the sensory stimulant composition with a warming sensation agent or cooling sensation substance, if necessary. Vanillin acetals represented by the general formula (1) show an excellent pungent and/or warming sensation effect and a cooling sensation-emphasizing effect.
US08236959B2
A process for preparing a compound of formula (III) comprising condensing an oxiranyl compound of formula (I) with an amine of formula (II) or a salt thereof wherein: R1 is a group selected from alkyl, aryl, allyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, heterocyclic, alkenyl, benzocycloalkyl, aralkyl, haloarylalkyl, heteroaralkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxyaralkyl, substituted silyl and benzyl; and R2 is hydrogen, optionally substituted silyl or optionally substituted benzyl. There is also described a process for preparing (R,R)-carmoterol from compound (III).
US08236958B2
Two new crystalline monohydrates and two new crystalline anhydrates of gaboxadol are disclosed together with methods for preparing them.
US08236948B2
The invention is directed to 5,6-dihydro-1H-pyridin-2-one compounds of Formula I wherein X is N, and A is and compounds used to synthesize the compounds of Formula I.
US08236942B2
Efficient sequence specific gene silencing is possible through the use of siRNA technology. By selecting particular siRNAs by rational design, one can maximize the generation of an effective gene silencing reagent, as well as methods for silencing genes. Methods, compositions, and kits generated through rational design of siRNAs are disclosed including those directed to nucleotide sequences for GCGR.
US08236937B2
A method for the detection and isolation of ligands, preferably nuclear receptor ligands, bound to their cognate receptors in live animals, is described. A novel composition comprising 1) a chimeric transcription factor containing a DNA-binding domain, preferably from a non-vertebrate transcription factor, fused to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of a nuclear receptor, 2) a reporter system, driven by a promoter that contains binding sites for the chosen DNA-binding domain, 3) multiple affinity tags fused to the LBD fusion proteins to facilitate efficient purification, along with specifically associated molecules and 4) sequences required for simultaneous genomic integration of all three components above are described. To make use of the system, expression of the chimeric LBD protein is broadly induced.
US08236919B2
A process for preparing a polyether ether ketone. Sodium carbonate is used alone as the condensation agent, and 4,4′-difluorodibenzophenone, p-benzenediol and biphenyldiol are subjected to polymerizing. After the corresponding prepolymer is obtained, the reaction temperature is elevated and p-benzenediol is further added as a chain extender to react for a period of time to produce high-viscosity polyether ether ketone.
US08236914B2
A mechanochromic material includes a polymer having a backbone containing a mechanophore.
US08236901B2
Provided is a novel fluorinated compound, a fluoropolymer, and a method for producing the compound. A monomer of the compound has a formula F2═CFCF2C(X)(C(O)OZ)(CH2)nCR═CHR, wherein X is a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, or a group of formula —C(O)OZ; Z is a hydrogen atom or a C1-20 monovalent organic group, n is 0, 1, or 2; and R is a hydrogen atom or a C1-20 monovalent organic group.
US08236891B2
In one embodiment, the invention is a composition comprising: a) one or more isocyanate functional polyether based prepolymers having a polydispersity of less than about 2.5 determined by Gel Permeation Chromatography at a Mp of >1000; b) one or more plasticizers in sufficient amount that the composition can be pumped and applied to a substrate at a temperature of −10° C., preferably in an amount of about 15 percent by weight or less; c) one or more fillers in sufficient amount such that the composition exhibits a press flow viscosity of about 8 grams per minute or more; d) one or more catalysts for the reaction of isocyanate moieties with isocyanate reactive groups; wherein the composition demonstrates 30 minutes after application a high speed impact of about 1.6 MPa or greater according to DIN EN 1465 high speed impact test.
US08236867B2
An embodiment of the present invention includes a method for chemically modifying inner surfaces of channels capable of further regulating characteristics of the internal environment of channels, by forming a polymer complex having a specific channel group B, the channel environmental characteristics of which are regulated by substituents A, followed by utilizing the channels of the channel group B as a reaction field to convert the substituent A to a different substituent. The method may comprise including a guest molecule in the channel of the channel group B in which the substituents A are arranged; and reacting the guest molecule with the substituent A in the channel to convert the substituent A to a substituent A′, and to arrange the substituent A′ regularly directing to the inside of the channel of the channel group B or any channel of other channel groups.
US08236866B2
A high resilience (HR) polyurethane foam comprising the reaction product of (1) at least one polyisocyanate comprising at least about 5 weight percent of at least one methylene diphenyl diisocyanate isomer, derivative or a combination thereof and (2) an admixture of at least one natural oil based polyol and at least one additional polyol which is not a natural oil based polyol, wherein the admixture comprises at least about 10 weight percent natural oil based polyol and at least about 40 weight percent additional polyol having an equivalent weight of at least about 1700 Daltons; and the foam has a resiliency indicated by a ball rebound of at least 40 percent as measured according to the procedures of ASTM D 3574, Test H.
US08236860B2
The present invention relates to a novel application of a compound. The compound 4--2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-5-(3,7,11-trimethyl-dodeca-2,6,10-trienyl)-cyclohex-2-enone of the invention is isolated and purified from the extracts of Antrodia camphorata, which can be applied for inhibiting the survival of pancreatic cancer cells and be used as a pharmaceutical composition to inhibit the pancreatic tumor growth.
US08236851B2
The provision of animal feed pellets is described, which pellets comprise, as antibiotic, a pleuromutilin derivative is stabilized form, namely in the form of microspherules. The pleuromutilin derivatives in question have the general formula (I) wherein R1 is ethyl or vinyl, there is either a double bond or a single bond between carbon atoms 1 and 2, Ra and Rb are each independently of the other hydrogen or halogen, and T is a short or long-chain organic radical.
US08236845B2
The present invention relates to heterocyclyl-substituted-tetrahydro-naphthalen-amine compounds of general formula (I) and compositions thereof, methods for their preparation, and the use of said compounds for the treatment or prophylaxis of various disorders of humans or animals.
US08236842B2
A salt represented by the formula (I0): wherein Q1 and Q2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or a C1-C6 perfluoroalkyl group, L1 represents a divalent C1-C17 hydrocarbon group in which one or more —CH2— can be replaced by —O— or —CO—, m represents 1 or 2, and Zm+ represents m-valent organic or inorganic cation.
US08236836B2
The invention concerns a composition containing at least an oxazolin, optionally combined with at least a compound such as a metalloprotease inhibitor, a PKC inhibitor, an anti-inflammatory agent, a soothing agent, an immunosuppressor, an ion chelating agent, an alkanolamide, an oxazolidinone and a carbamic acid derivative. The invention also concerns the use of such a composition as medicine, in particular for preventing or treating skin pathologies of allergic and/or inflammatory and/or irritative origin or resulting from a danger signal. The invention further concerns a method for cosmetic treatment of sensitive, irritated, intolerant, allergy-prone, ageing skin and/or mucosa exhibiting skin barrier disorder, or exhibiting non-pathological immunologic imbalance, which consists in applying such composition on the skin and/or mucosa.
US08236834B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide the crystalline form of a thiazolidinedione compound, which is effective as a pharmaceutical ingredient for manufacturing a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) activator and an anticancer pharmaceutical composition. The present invention relates to a crystalline form of a hydrate of 5-(4-{[6-(4-amino-3,5-dimethylphenoxy)-1-methyl-1-H-benzimidazol-2-yl]methoxy}benzyl)-1,3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione dihydrochloride represented by the following formula (I). [Formula 1]
US08236833B2
Biphenyl derivatives useful as ion channel antagonists are disclosed herein. The compositions thereof are useful for treating or relieving pain-related conditions.
US08236832B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds, to methods of using the compounds and to the compositions in the treatment of various disease, conditions, or disorders. The invention also relates to processes for preparing compounds of the inventions.
US08236822B2
Cannabinoid receptor ligands of formula (I) wherein Ring A and R1 are as defined in the specification. Compositions including such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also described.
US08236815B2
The invention relates to ion channel modulators of formula Ia, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and to methods of treating diseases using such compounds where activation or hyperactivity of calcium and/or sodium ion channels is implicated in the disease state.
US08236811B2
The disclosure relates to methods of treating leukaemia, in particular myeloid leukaemia, comprising administering the compound N-[2-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazol-5-ylamino)-6-(2,6-dichlorophenyl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-yl]-N′-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-urea or a hydrate, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or a solvate thereof.
US08236804B2
The invention relates to new crystalline modifications of the hydrochloride of 1-[4-(5-cyanoindol-3-yl)butyl]-4-(2-carbamoyl-benzofuran-5-yl)-piperazine, crystalline modification of the dihydrochloride of 1-[4-(5-cyanoindol-3-yl)butyl]-4-(2-carbamoyl-benzofuran-5-yl)-piperazine and amorphous 1-[4-(5-cyanoindol-3-yl)butyl]-4-(2-carbamoyl-benzofuran-5-yl)-piperazine hydrochloride which are suitable in particular for the preparation of solid medicaments for the treatment or prevention of depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorders, mania, dementia, substance-related disorders, sexual dysfunctions, eating disorders, obesity, fibromyalgia, sleeping disorders, psychiatric disorders, cerebral infarct, tension, for the therapy of side-effects in the treatment of hypogonadism, secondary amenorrhea, premenstrual syndrome and undesired puerperal lactation.
US08236803B2
The present invention relates to 1-aza-bicycloalkyl derivatives of formula I, wherein X is CH2 or a single bond; Y is a group of formula and wherein R has the meanings as defined in the specification, which compounds are alpha 7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists; to processes for their production, their use as pharmaceuticals and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08236799B2
The invention relates to compounds and methods for modulating one or more components of a kinase cascade. The invention relates to compounds of the formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. The compounds of the invention are useful for methods of protecting against or treating hearing loss, osteoporosis, cell proliferative disorders, obesity, diabetes, eye disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, neuropathic pain or hepatitis B.
US08236793B2
This invention relates to novel diazabicyclic aryl derivatives which are found to be cholinergic ligands at the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and modulators of the monoamine receptors and transporters. Due to their pharmacological profile the compounds of the invention may be useful for the treatment of diseases or disorders as diverse as those related to the cholinergic system of the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system (PNS), diseases or disorders related to smooth muscle contraction, endocrine diseases or disorders, diseases or disorders related to neuro-degeneration, diseases or disorders related to inflammation, pain, and withdrawal symptoms caused by the termination of abuse of chemical substances.
US08236785B2
The present invention relates to a method of treating infertility in a female mammal that involves controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. The method includes administering to the female a combination of (i) an FSH substance in an amount effective to stimulate follicular development and (ii) a steroid in an effective amount to inhibit or suppress the secretion of luteinising hormone. The steroid can be substances represented by the following formula in which formula R1, R2, R3, R4 independently are a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group or an alkoxy group with 15 carbon atoms; each of R5, R6, R7 is a hydroxyl group; no more than 3 of R1, R2, R3, R4 are hydrogen atoms; derivatives of the aforementioned steroid substances; or mixtures of one or more of the aforementioned substances or derivatives.
US08236769B2
To inhibit production of adipocytokines, in particular, adipocytokines that elicit insulin resistance and to prevent onset of pathosis caused by the insulin resistance, or improve the pathosis, the present invention provides an agent or a food or drink which contains 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-4-methylergost-7-en-3-ol, or an organic solvent extract, a hot water extract or a squeezed liquid of a plant of the family Liliaceae or a fraction thereof which contains the compound as an active ingredient.
US08236765B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for treating Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in a subject that involves neutralizing specific pathogenic anti-glycolipid antibodies in the circulation of the subject. This can involve administering to the subject a molecular mimic of a ganglioside that serves as a specific competitive inhibitor for anti-ganglioside antibodies in the circulation. Also disclosed is an animal model of GBS having anti-ganglioside antibodies in the circulation.
US08236760B2
The present invention describes the methods of using incretin mimetics such as GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly exenatide, to treat short bowel syndrome and spastic or hyperactive esophageal motor disorders.
US08236756B2
The present invention provides a new prodrug technology and new prodrugs in order to increase the solubility, to modulate plasma protein binding or to enhance the biovailability of a drug. In the present invention the prodrugs are conjugates of a therapeutic compound and a peptide (eg tetrapeptide or hexapeptide) wherein the conjugate is cleavable by dipeptidyl-peptidases, more preferably by CD26, also known as DPPIV (dipeptidyl aminodipeptidase IV). The present invention furthermore provides a method of producing the prodrugs, to enhance brain and lymphatic delivery of drugs and/or to extend drug half-lives in plasma.
US08236738B2
An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries that includes: a particulate, an aqueous carrier fluid, a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic, and a small amount of an oil. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or before the making of the slurry. The addition of the oil greatly enhances the aggregation potential of the hydrophobically modified particulates once placed in the well bore.
US08236734B1
The present invention relates to a method of using threshold scale inhibitors of the formula: wherein n is 2 or 3 and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal cation, for preventing calcium carbonate, iron carbonate, and calcium sulfate scale formation in oilwell brines containing dissolved iron.
US08236732B2
A herbicidal composition comprising i) clethodim, ii) a sulfonate surfactant such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, iii) a polyoxyalkylene polyaryl ether such as polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene tristyryl phenyl ether and polyoxyalkylene distyryl phenyl ether, iv) an aromatic hydrocarbon, and optionally, v) an ester of fatty acid such as methyl oleate methyl palmitate, methyl laurate, isopropyl myristate, isopropyl palmitate, octyl laurate, octyl palmitate and butyl stearate gives good stability of the emulsion after it is diluted with water.
US08236729B2
Herbicide combinations comprising an effective amount of components (A) and (B), where component (A) is one or more herbicides of the formula (I) or salts thereof, in which R1 is H or a group of the formula CZ1Z2Z3, where Z1, Z2 and Z3 are as defined in claim 1, R2 and R3 are each H, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkenyl, haloalkenyl, alkynyl, haloalkynyl having in each case up to 4 carbon atoms or acyl, R4 is H, (C1-C6)-alkyl or (C1-C6)-alkoxy; R5, R6, R7 and R8 are each H, (C1-C4)-alkyl, (C1-C3)-haloalkyl, halogen, (C1-C3)-alkoxy, (C1-C3)-haloalkoxy or cyano; A is CH2 or O or a direct bond, and component (B) is one or more herbicides from the group of compounds consisting of (B1) soil-acting herbicides particularly suitable for pre-emergence application against monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous harmful plants, (B2) foliar-acting herbicides particularly suitable for post-emergence application against monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous harmful plants, and (B3) soil-acting and foliar-acting herbicides suitable for pre- or post-emergence application against monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous harmful plants, are suitable for controlling harmful plants.
US08236720B2
The invention relates to an unshaped refractory material comprising a refractory base component and a binder component, the binder component comprising, related to the refractory material, an acidic component of the group comprising an acid, salt of an acid, ester of an acid, salt and ester of an acid as phosphate, sulfate or carbonate, in an amount of ≧1.5 wt.-% and ≦6 wt.-%, and a basic component of the group comprising: base, urotropin, calcium oxide, calcium hydroxide, magnesium oxide, caustic MgO, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, in an amount of ≧1 wt.-% and ≦4 wt.-%, wherein said material receives an earth-moist, crumbly consistency by addition of 1 to 5 wt.-% of water and which solidifies after an exothermic reaction of the binder component.
US08236716B2
The present invention relates to photochromic benzopyranobenzopyrans with additional fusion and to the use thereof in plastics of all types, in particular for ophthalmic purposes. The compounds according to the invention are photochromic benzopyran compounds which can also be regarded as derived from 9-oxa-9,10-dihydrophenanthrene.
US08236709B2
Method of fabricating a device using low temperature anneal processes, a device and design structure
A method of fabricating a device using a sequence of annealing processes is provided. More particularly, a logic NFET device fabricated using a low temperature anneal to eliminate dislocation defects, method of fabricating the NFET device and design structure is shown and described. The method includes forming a stress liner over a gate structure and subjecting the gate structure and stress liner to a low temperature anneal process to form a stacking force in single crystalline silicon near the gate structure as a way to memorized the stress effort. The method further includes stripping the stress liner from the gate structure and performing an activation anneal at high temperature on device.
US08236708B2
Aspects of the disclosure pertain to methods of depositing dielectric layers on patterned substrates. In embodiments, dielectric layers are deposited by flowing BIS(DIETHYLAMINO)SILANE (BDEAS), ozone and molecular oxygen into a processing chamber such that a relatively uniform dielectric growth rate is achieved across the patterned substrate surface. The deposition of dielectric layers grown according to embodiments may have a reduced dependence on pattern density while still being suitable for non-sacrificial applications.
US08236704B2
An etchant includes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and a mixed solution including at least one of an organic acid, an inorganic acid, and a neutral salt.
US08236691B2
A method of plug fill for high aspect ratio plugs wherein a nucleation layer is formed at a bottom of a via and not on the sidewalls. The plug fill is in the direction from bottom to top of the via and not inwards from the sidewalls. The resulting plug is voidless and seamless.
US08236685B2
A phase change memory device having multiple metal silicide layers which enhances the current driving capability of switching elements and a method of manufacturing the same are presented. The device also includes switching elements, heaters, stack patterns, top electrodes, bit lines, word line contacts and word lines. The bottom of the switching elements are in electrical contact with the lower metal silicide layer and with an active area of silicon substrate. An upper metal silicide layer is interfaced between the top of the switching elements and the heaters. The stack patterns include phase change layers and top electrodes and are between the heaters and the top electrodes are in electrical contact with the top electrodes. The bit lines contact with the top electrode contacts. The word line contacts to the lower metal silicide film.
US08236684B2
A method and apparatus for treating a substrate is provided. A porous dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. In some embodiments, the dielectric may be capped by a dense dielectric layer. The dielectric layers are patterned, and a dense dielectric layer deposited conformally over the substrate. The dense conformal dielectric layer seals the pores of the porous dielectric layer against contact with species that may infiltrate the pores. The portion of the dense conformal pore-sealing dielectric layer covering the field region and bottom portions of the pattern openings is removed by directional selective etch.
US08236674B2
A substrate micro-processing method and a semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a stained part does not remain in a finished product even if a residual ion-injected part stays in the finished product. The substrate micro-processing method is one that carries out processing of a substrate by dividing the substrate depthwise, and comprises a proton injection step S11 in which protons are injected from one principal surface side of the substrate and an irradiation step S12 in which the substrate is irradiated with light having the wavelength nearly equal to the absorption wavelength of the defect level formed within the substrate due to the proton injection in order to divide the substrate.
US08236670B2
A method of applying a pattern of metal, metal oxide, and/or semiconductor material on a substrate, a pattern created by that method, and uses of that pattern.
US08236662B2
High performance bipolar transistors with raised extrinsic self-aligned base are integrated into a BiCMOS structure containing CMOS devices. By forming pad layers and raising the height of an intrinsic base layer relative to the source and drain of preexisting CMOS devices and by forming an extrinsic base through selective epitaxy, the effect of topographical variations is minimized during a lithographic patterning of the extrinsic base. Also, by not employing any chemical mechanical planarization process during the fabrication of the bipolar structures, complexity of process integration is reduced. Internal spacers or external spacers may be formed to isolate the base from the emitter. The pad layers, the intrinsic base layer, and the extrinsic base layer form a mesa structure with coincident outer sidewall surfaces.
US08236649B2
A semiconductor memory device is provided including: a spacer shaped floating gate formed on a semiconductor substrate; a dielectric layer spacer formed at one side wall of the floating gate; a third oxide layer formed over the floating gate and the dielectric layer; and a control gate formed over the third oxide layer. According to an embodiment, the structure of the floating gate in a plate shape whose center is concave is improved to the spacer structure, making it possible to minimize the size of the semiconductor memory device and to improve density. Moreover, a LOCOS process can be excluded while forming the floating gate, making it possible to more efficiently fabricate the device.
US08236648B2
Provided is a semiconductor device formed with a trench portion for providing a concave portion having a continually varying depth in a gate width direction and with a gate electrode provided within the trench portion and on a top surface thereof via a gate insulating film. Before the formation of the gate electrode, an impurity is added to at least a part of the source region and the drain region by ion implantation from an inner wall of the trench portion, and then heat treatment is performed for diffusion and activation to form a diffusion region from the surface of the trench portion down to a bottom portion thereof. Current flowing through a top surface of the concave portion of the gate electrode at high concentration can flow uniformly through the entire trench portion.
US08236640B2
Embodiments of the present invention describe a semiconductor device implementing the reduced-surface-field (RESURF) effect. The semiconductor device comprises a source/drain region having a plurality of isolation regions interleaved with source/drain extension regions. A gate electrode is formed on the semiconductor device, where the gate electrode includes gate finger elements formed over the isolation regions to induce capacitive coupling. The gate finger elements enhance the depletion of the source/drain extension regions, thus inducing a higher breakdown voltage.
US08236636B2
The present invention provides an improved amorphization/templated recrystallization (ATR) method for forming hybrid orientation substrates and semiconductor device structures. A direct-silicon-bonded (DSB) silicon layer having a (011) surface crystal orientation is bonded to a base silicon substrate having a (001) surface crystal orientation to form a DSB wafer in which the in-plane <110> direction of the (011) DSB layer is aligned with an in-plane <110> direction of the (001) base substrate. Selected regions of the DSB layer are amorphized down to the base substrate to form amorphized regions aligned with the mutually orthogonal in-plane <100> directions of the (001) base substrate, followed by recrystallization using the base substrate as a template. This optimal arrangement of DSB layer, base substrate, and amorphized region orientation provides a near-vertical, essentially defect-free boundary between original-orientation and changed-orientation silicon regions, thus enabling complete boundary region removal with smaller footprint shallow trench isolation than possible with ATR methods not so optimized.
US08236633B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, by which a transistor including an active layer, a gate insulating film in contact with the active layer, and a gate electrode overlapping the active layer with the gate insulating film therebetween is provided; an impurity is added to a part of a first region overlapped with the gate electrode with the gate insulating film therebetween in the active layer and a second region but the first region in the active layer by adding the impurity to the active layer from one oblique direction; and the second region is situated in the one direction relative to the first region.
US08236632B2
An FET structure on a semiconductor substrate which includes forming recesses for a source and a drain of the gate structure on a semiconductor substrate, halo implanting regions through the bottom of the source and drain recesses, the halo implanted regions being underneath the gate stack, implanting junction butting at the bottom of the source and drain recesses, and filling the source and drain recesses with a doped epitaxial material. In exemplary embodiments, the semiconductor substrate is a semiconductor on insulator substrate including a semiconductor layer on a buried oxide layer. In exemplary embodiments, the junction butting and halo implanted regions are in contact with the buried oxide layer. In other exemplary embodiments, there is no junction butting. In exemplary embodiments, halo implants implanted to a lower part of the FET body underneath the gate structure provide higher doping level in lower part of the FET body to reduce body resistance, without interfering with FET threshold voltage.
US08236621B2
A mold resin sealing device for sealing a surface of a semiconductor wafer with a mold resin, includes: a first mold die; and a second mold die disposed opposite to the first mold die, the second mold die having a second surface; wherein the first mold die includes a first part having a first surface facing the second surface of the second mold die and having an opening in a central region of the first surface; and a first step-like movable part capable of moving in the opening in both directions so that the first step-like movable part moves toward and away from the second mold die.
US08236606B2
A semiconductor assembly is provided that includes a substrate that has a first surface. A chip is coupled to the substrate. The chip has a second surface that faces the first surface of the substrate. The chip is spaced apart from the substrate forming a gap. At least a portion of the substrate is coupled to the chip by solder bumps. The solder bumps include a deformable material, such that as a height of the gap between the chip and the substrate increases, the solder bumps deform into a stretched state. An underfill material is applied between the substrate and the chip. The underfill material substantially fills the gap between the chip and the substrate and surrounds the solder bumps in the stretched state. Barricades comprising non-conductive protrusions are disposed between the first surface of the substrate and the second surface of the chip. The barricades confine the solder bumps in a compressed state.
US08236605B2
A method for separating a semiconductor wafer into chips includes the steps of sandwiching a soluble spacer between a wafer and a substrate to form a laminate, etching the wafer into a plurality of chips attached on the spacer, positioning the laminate in a chamber of an apparatus in a way that the etched wafer faces a stage of the apparatus, and introducing a solvent into the chamber to dissolve the soluble spacer so as to facilitate the chips to be supported on the stage.
US08236595B2
A method of fabricating a sensor comprising a nanowire on a support substrate with a first semiconductor layer arranged on the support substrate is disclosed. The method comprises forming a fin structure from the first semiconductor layer, the fin structure comprising at least two supporting portions and a fin portion arranged there between; oxidizing at least the fin portion of the fin structure thereby forming the nanowire being surrounded by a first layer of oxide; and forming an insulating layer above the supporting portions; wherein the supporting portions and the first insulating layer form a microfluidic channel. A nanowire sensor is also disclosed. The nanowire sensor comprises a support substrate, a semiconducting fin structure arranged on the support substrate, the fin structure comprising at least two semiconducting supporting portions and a nanowire arranged there between; and a first insulating layer on a contact surface of the supporting portions; wherein the supporting portions and the first insulating layer form a microfluidic channel.
US08236591B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor light emitting element from a wafer in which a gallium nitride compound semiconductor has been laminated on a sapphire substrate having an orientation flat, comprises of: laminating a semiconductor layer on a first main face of the sapphire substrate having an off angle θ in a direction Xo parallel to the orientation flat; forming a first break groove that extends in a direction Y substantially perpendicular to the direction Xo, on the semiconductor layer side; forming a second break line that is shifted by a predetermined distance in the ±Xo direction from a predicted split line within the first break groove and parallel to the first break groove in the interior of the sapphire substrate and corresponding to the inclination of the off angle θ; and splitting the wafer along the first and/or second break line.
US08236582B2
Light emitting diode (LED) structures are fabricated in wafer scale by mounting singulated LED dies on a carrier wafer or a stretch film, separating the LED dies to create spaces between the LED dies, applying a reflective coating over the LED dies and in the spaces between the LED dies, and separating or breaking the reflective coating in the spaces between the LED dies such that some reflective coating remains on the lateral sides of the LED die. Portions of the reflective coating on the lateral sides of the LED dies may help to control edge emission.
US08236577B1
A method for fabricating an integrated electronic compass and circuit system. The fabrication method begins with providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a surface region. One or more CMOS integrated circuits are then formed on one or more portions of the semiconductor substrate. Once the CMOS circuits are formed, a thickness of dielectric material is formed overlying the one or more CMOS integrated circuits. A substrate is then joined overlying the thickness of the dielectric material. Once joined, the substrate is thinned to a predetermined thickness. Following the thinning process, an electric compass device is formed within one or more regions of the predetermined thickness of the substrate. Other mechanical devices or MEMS devices can also be formed within one or more regions of the thinned substrate.
US08236571B2
A method of producing a precursor, active-matrix, fluid-assay micro-structure including the steps of (1) utilizing low-temperature TFT and Si technology, establishing preferably on a glass or plastic substrate a matrix array of non-functionalized pixels, and (2) preparing at least one of these pixels for individual, digitally-addressed (a) functionalization, and (b) reading out, ultimately, of completed assay results.
US08236569B2
The present invention is a multidimensional integrated detection and analysis system (MIDAS) for any gas or fluid that transfers or accepts electronic charge (including but not limited to CH4, CO2, CO, NOx, SOx, H2O, NH3, NHx). MIDAS allows for the development of a highly sensitive, selective, and expedient sensor platform capable of uniquely identifying adsorbed molecules based on simultaneous measurement of truly orthogonal responses based on work function (φ), capacitance (C), and/or conductance (σ) changes.
US08236566B2
A process for controlling the composition of an xBOB so that the xBOB will yield an oxygenate-containing gasoline which precisely meets desired specifications when mixed with the desired amount of oxygenate. The process involves blending a plurality of blendstocks to produce an xBOB, withdrawing a sample of the xBOB, obtaining spectroscopic measurements for the sample, applying mathematical models that were based on correlation of xBOB spectra to associated oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, to predict laboratory analysis results for oxygenate-containing gasoline properties, and using the analysis results to control and optimize the blending process.
US08236565B2
In various aspects, the present teachings provide labeling reagents and sets of labeling reagents for the relative quantitation, absolute quantitation, or both, of hydroxylated compounds including, but not limited to, hydroxylated ring containing compounds, steroids and sterols. In various aspects, the present teachings also provide methods for the analysis hydroxylated compounds including, but not limited to, hydroxylated ring containing compounds, steroids and sterols my MS/MS methods.
US08236561B2
The invention provides an immortalized human retina cell expressing E1A and E1B proteins of an adenovirus, wherein the cell has recombinant nucleic acid encoding an IgA molecule in expressible format. Also provided is a method for recombinant production of an IgA molecule, the method involving culturing a cell of the invention and expressing the recombinant nucleic acid encoding an IgA.
US08236560B2
The present invention provides an attenuated virus, which is derived from Modified Vaccinia Ankara virus and characterized by the loss of its capability to reproductively replicate in human cell lines. It further describes recombinant viruses derived from this virus and the use of the virus, or its recombinants, as a medicament or vaccine. A method is provided for inducing an immune response in individuals who may be immune-compromised, receiving antiviral therapy, or have a pre-existing immunity to the vaccine virus. In addition, a method is provided for the administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the virus, or its recombinants, in a vaccinia virus prime/vaccinia virus boost inoculation regimen. The present invention relates to a method of virus amplification in primary cells which are cultivated in a serum free medium. Viruses produced by this method are advantageously free of any infectious agents comprised in animal sera.
US08236557B2
Hybrid adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector systems able to efficiently express therapeutic target genes larger than may be carried in a single AAV vector are provided, wherein a highly recombinogenic foreign DNA sequence is incorporated into two or more ITR-mediated AAV vectors. In one aspect of one embodiment, the novel hybrid AAV vector system is a hybrid dual AAV (hdAAV) vector system. In another aspect of one embodiment, the novel hybrid AAV vector system is a hybrid tri AAV (htAAV) vector system. A method of treating a clinical disease caused at least in part by a defective gene is provided, and comprises (1) providing a hybrid AAV vector system capable of expressing a therapeutic target gene, wherein the therapeutic target gene is capable of replacing, restoring or counteracting the effects of the defective gene; and (2) administering a therapeutic amount of said vector system to a subject wherein said therapeutic target gene is expressed at levels having a therapeutic effect.
US08236556B2
This invention relates to the field of biotechnology or genetic engineering. Specifically, this invention relates to the field of gene expression. More specifically, this invention relates to a novel ecdysone receptor/chimeric retinoid X receptor-based inducible gene expression system and methods of modulating gene expression in a host cell for applications such as gene therapy, large-scale production of proteins and antibodies, cell-based high throughput screening assays, functional genomics and regulation of traits in transgenic organisms.
US08236554B2
A biogas plant for methanizing biomass having a high solids fraction includes a digestion tank system having a plurality of digestion tanks adapted to be closed in a gas- and liquid-tight manner, each of which includes a charging and withdrawing opening for charging with biomass and withdrawing the biomass, a biogas discharge means, a percolate reservoir, a percolate drainage means for discharging percolate from the plurality of digestion tanks and supplying the percolate to the percolate reservoir, a percolate distributing means for distributing the percolate from the percolate reservoir over the biomass in the plurality of digestion tanks, and a percolate regulating means for regulating the percolate level in the plurality of digestion tanks. The percolate reservoir includes a first and a second percolate container, and supplying and discharging of percolate to/from the first and/or the second percolate container takes place with the aid of the percolate regulating means.
US08236549B2
The present disclosure relates to a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens bacteria that hyperproduces amylase enzyme and protease enzyme. The strain is also suitable for producing lipase for the degradation of oleaginous materials such as fats, greases and cooking oils. The strain also has excellent fungicidal and/or fungistatic qualities. The strain of the present disclosure and the enzymes produced thereby have a number of applications, including agricultural uses, laundry and dish detergents, drain cleaners and spot removers, and among other things, baking applications.
US08236545B2
Described are variants (mutants) of a parent alpha-amylase having alpha-amylase activity and exhibiting altered properties relative to the parent alpha-amylase, and methods of use, thereof.
US08236544B2
The present invention relates to methods of improving the introduction of DNA into bacterial host cells.
US08236533B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a compound comprising an α,γ amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as γ-glutamylcysteine or a γ-glutamylcysteine derivative, the process comprising providing a cysteine derivative, a γ-glutamyl donor and an enzyme capable of transferring the γ-glutamyl group to said cysteine derivative in a reaction environment promoting transfer of the γ-glutamyl group to said cysteine derivative. The invention also relates to compounds comprising an α,γ amide linkage between a cysteine moiety and a glutamic acid moiety, such as γ-glutamylcysteine or a γ-glutamylcysteine derivative, when obtained by processes of the invention, and uses thereof.
US08236531B2
A purine-derived substance is produced by culturing a bacterium belonging to the genus Bacillus which has an ability to produce a purine-derived substance and has been modified so that enzymatic activity of transaldolase is decreased in a medium to cause accumulation of a purine-derived substance in the medium or cells, and collecting the purine-derived substance from the medium or cells.
US08236526B2
A protein according to the invention can be used to detect or measure calcium ions is provided. Further the protein is useful as a reporter protein or a luminescence marker. A polynucleotide according to the invention is also useful as a reporter gene.
US08236513B2
The present invention provides BoNT/A peptide compositions, tolerogizing compositions, BoNT/A immune response inducing compositions and antibody compositions, as well as methods of determining immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual, methods of preventing or reducing immunoresistance to botulinum toxin therapy in an individual, methods of vaccinating an individual against botulinum toxin, methods of preparing anti-BoNT/A antibodies, methods of treating botulinum toxicity in an individual and methods of reducing anti-botulinum toxin antibodies in an individual.
US08236511B2
Methods and kits for the quantitation of cellular DNA and cell numbers are provided. Passive element uptake, element-labeled DNA intercalators, and element labeled affinity reagents are used to quantify DNA and cells. The DNA and the cells are analyzed by elemental analysis, including ICP-MS. The methods and kits provide a fast and accurate analysis of cellular DNA and cell numbers.
US08236503B2
There is a need for improved methods for determining the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with conditions, including autoimmune disease and cancer. Provided herein are methods for using DNA sequencing to identify personalized biomarkers in patients with autoimmune disease and other conditions. Identified biomarkers can be used to determine the disease state for a subject with an autoimmune disease or other condition.
US08236501B2
Methods and devices for isolating nucleic acids from a mixture containing such nucleic acids and extraneous matter are provided. In one embodiment, the method of the invention comprises passing the mixture through a glass frit under conditions effective to separate the nucleic acids from the extraneous matter. In a more specific embodiment, the glass frit is a sintered glass fit.
US08236497B2
Methods are disclosed for diagnosing increased risk of cardiovascular disease in a subject.
US08236496B2
The present invention relates to the use of gene activity markers for classification of patients suffering from infectious and non-infectious multiple organ failure, respectively.The present invention in particular relates to gene activity markers for classification of patients as “not infected without multiple organ failure” or as “not suffering from infectious multiple organ failure” or as “suffering from infectious multiple organ failure”, the gene activity markers being polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of: SEQ ID I.1, SEQ ID I.2, SEQ ID I.3, SEQ ID I.4, SEQ ID I.5, SEQ ID I.6, SEQ ID I.7, SEQ ID I.8 and SEQ ID I.9 or partial sequences thereof.
US08236495B2
A scalable alkaline lysis process, including procedures and devices for the isolation of large quantities (grams and kilograms) of plasmid DNA from recombinant E. coli cells. Effective, controllable, and economical operation, and consistent low level of host chromosomal DNA in the final plasmid product. Involves a series of new unit operations and devices for cell resuspension, cell lysis, and neutralization.
US08236492B2
A method of decontaminating a surface or liquid which is contaminated with prions includes treating the surface with a composition which includes one or more phenol. Phenols which are particularly effective include p-chloro-m-xylanol, thymol, triclosan, 4-chloro, 3-methylphenol, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorophene, 2,2-methyl-bis(4-chlorophenol), and p-phenylphenol.
US08236481B2
A method of fabricating a turning mirror for an optical device includes the steps of depositing on a substrate, which defines a plane in which an optical signal propagates in a propagating direction, a photoresist layer sensitive to electrons and to UV radiation. The material in which the photoresist layer is formed, has a contrast not larger than 3. A first portion of the photoresist layer is exposed to an electron beam, wherein the electron dose of the electron beam exposure is varied within the first portion according to a selected pattern, and wherein the electron does to which a given region in the photoresist is exposed, depends on the resulting photoresist height in the given region after development. A second portion of the photoresist layer is exposed to UV radiation; the first and the second portions are overlapped at least in a third portion. The photoresist layer is developed so as to form in the third portion of the photoresist layer exposed to both electron beam and to UV radiation a first surface having an angle relative to the propagating direction. The substrate and the photoresist are etched so that a second angled surface is formed in the substrate in correspondence to the third portion. The second surface forms an angle with the propagating direction.
US08236477B2
A positive resist composition including a base component (A) which exhibits increased solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the base component (A) including a polymeric compound (A1) containing a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0-1), a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester containing an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group, and a structural unit (a3) derived from an acrylate ester containing a hydroxy group-containing aliphatic hydrocarbon group represented by general formula (a3-1), and the amount of the structural unit (a3) based on the combined total of all structural units constituting the polymeric compound (A1) being in the range of 1 to 30 mol %.
US08236474B2
A method for manufacturing a toner is provided. The method for manufacturing a toner uses a rotary stirring apparatus. The rotary stirring apparatus includes at least a circulation section, a temperature regulation section and a spraying section composed of a two-fluid nozzle. The two-fluid nozzle includes a liquid pipe and an air pipe, the liquid pipe is inserted in the air pipe such that an axis of the liquid pipe coincides with an axis of the air pipe, and at least a part of the liquid pipe and the air pipe is fixed such that the centers of those pipes do not move. A substance in liquid form is sprayed in constant rate from the two-fluid nozzle while regulating temperature and circulating the toner base particles and the fine resin particles in a powder passage, thereby forming a film on the surface of the toner base particle.
US08236473B2
A method for manufacturing a resin-layer coated toner is provided. The method for manufacturing the resin-layer coated toner uses a rotary stirring apparatus including a circulating section, a temperature regulation section, a spraying section and an exhausting section, sprays a liquid substance to particles of toner materials and particles of coating materials in a fluidized state to plasticize such particles from a spraying section by carrier gas and gasifies the liquid, circulates the carrier gas in the powder passage and continuously exhausts the carrier gas including the gasified substance through the exhausting section to the outside of the powder passage, and pressure P1 in the powder passage and pressure P0 outside the powder passage satisfy the following formula (1): 0 atm<(Pressure P1 in the powder passage−Pressure P0 outside the powder passage)≦0.3 atm (1).
US08236453B2
The invention provides a new route for the synthesis of carbon-coated powders having the olivine or NASICON structure, which form promising classes of active products for the manufacture of rechargeable lithium batteries. Carbon-coating of the powder particles is necessary to achieve good performances because of the rather poor electronic conductivity of said structures. For the preparation of coated LiFePO4, sources of Li, Fe and phosphate are dissolved in an aqueous solution together with a polycarboxylic acid and a polyhydric alcohol. Upon water evaporation, polyesterification occurs while a mixed precipitate is formed containing Li, Fe and phosphate. The resin-encapsulated mixture is then heat treated at 700° C. in a reducing atmosphere. This results in the production of a fine powder consisting of an olivine LiFePO4, phase, coated with conductive carbon. When this powder is used as active material in a lithium insertion-type electrode, fast charge and discharge rates are obtained at room temperature and an excellent capacity retention is observed.
US08236451B2
A lithium primary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, a positive electrode case, a negative electrode case, a gasket, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: lithium or a lithium alloy; a lithium carboxylate layer formed on a surface of the lithium or lithium alloy; and a carbon layer formed on a surface of the lithium carboxylate layer. This configuration allows the lithium primary battery to have suppressed negative electrode polarization during discharge and improved large-current discharge characteristics in a low temperature environment and after high temperature storage.
US08236449B2
A lithium ion secondary battery is provided including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode includes active material particles. The active material particles include secondary particles of a lithium composite oxide, and some of the secondary particles have a crack. At least a surface layer portion of the active material particles includes element Me of at least one selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, Ca, Zr, B, W, Nb, Ta, In, Mo, and Sn. Element Me is distributed more in the surface layer portion compared with an inner portion of the active material particles.
US08236448B2
An electrode substrate for a battery has nickel applied as a coat on the surface of a base constituted of crossing of a plurality of fibers including a core formed of synthetic resin and a coating of synthetic resin having a softening temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic resin forming the core. The electrode substrate has the fibers of the base fusion-bonded at a cross point by heat treatment. The ratio of the coating occupying a II-II cross section of the fiber cross point is larger than the ratio of the coating occupying a fiber cross section (III-III cross section) at a site other than at the cross point.
US08236442B2
An electrode for an electrochemical cell in an implantable medical device is presented. The electrode comprises a current collector with electrode material disposed thereon. The current collector includes an asymmetric aperture pattern that uniformly dissipates heat during current flow through the current collector.
US08236437B2
Provided is a battery case cover which can be produced through a single process, by integrally forming the structural components of a battery case cover such as a recovering part, a cell partition part and a gas inlet part on the bottom surface, while forming the recovering part in the shape of a pipe and applying a vent cap mode to the gas inlet part.
US08236434B2
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording medium comprising a magnetic layer comprising a hexagonal ferrite powder and a binder on one surface of a nonmagnetic support and a backcoat layer on the other surface of the nonmagnetic support. A power spectrum density at a pitch of 10 micrometers ranges from 800 to 10,000 nm3 on the magnetic layer surface, a power spectrum density at a pitch of 10 micrometers ranges from 20,000 to 80,000 nm3 on the backcoat layer surface, the magnetic layer has a center surface average surface roughness Ra, as measured by an atomic force microscope, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 nm, and the hexagonal ferrite powder has an average plate diameter ranging from 10 to 40 nm.
US08236430B2
Composites are described, comprising polyacetal and at least one thermoplastic polyamide elastomer formed by a polyacetal molding which has been partially or completely coated with the thermoplastic polyamide elastomer or onto which one or more moldings composed of the thermoplastic polyamide elastomer have been directly molded. The composites are characterized in that the polyacetal and the thermoplastic polyamide elastomer have been bonded adhesively or cohesively to one another via injection of the polyamide elastomer onto the polyacetal molding, and in that the tensile bond strength between the polyacetal and the thermoplastic polyamide elastomer is at least 0.5 N/mm2. The composites may be used as connectors, as functional components with integrated sealing properties and/or with integrated damping properties, or else as non-slip and easy-grip elements.
US08236428B2
Provided is a hybrid silicon wafer comprising a structure in which a single-crystal wafer is embedded in a sintered polysilicon wafer. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a hybrid silicon wafer having a structure in which a single-crystal wafer is embedded in a sintered polysilicon wafer, wherein a part of the sintered polysilicon is hollowed, a single crystal ingot is inserted into the hollowed portion, these are mutually bonded through thermal diffusion bonding based on HIP to prepare a complex of the sintered polysilicon and the single-crystal silicon ingot, and the complex is sliced. Thereby provided are a hybrid silicon wafer comprising functions of both the polysilicon wafer and the single-crystal wafer, and a method for manufacturing such a hybrid silicon wafer.
US08236423B2
The invention relates to a method for the modification of the surface of shaped parts made of plastic by treatment with a gas mixture which comprises fluorine and oxygen. The surface tension of the modified surface of the shaped part is more than 25 mN/m greater than that of a surface comprising non-modified plastic material. The ratio of the partial pressure of fluorine to the partial pressure of oxygen is 1:10 or lower and the shaped part has a fluorine occupancy of less than 0.5 μg/cm2 as a result of the treatment.
US08236420B2
A ferromagnetic powder composition is described comprising soft magnetic iron-based core particles, wherein the surface of the core particles is provided with a first inorganic insulating layer and at least one metal-organic layer, located outside the first layer, of a metal-organic compound having the following general formula: (R1[(R1)x(R2)y(MOn-1)]nR1, wherein M is a central atom selected from Si, Ti, Al, or Zr; O is oxygen; R1 is a hydrolysable group; R2 is an organic moiety and wherein at least one R2 contains at least one amino group; wherein n is the number of repeatable units being an integer between 1 and 20; wherein the x is an integer between 0 and 1; wherein y is an integer between 1 and 2; wherein a metallic or semi-metallic particulate compound having a Mohs hardness of less than 3.5 is adhered to at least one metal-organic layer; and wherein the powder composition further comprises a particulate lubricant. A process is additionally provided for producing the composition and a method for the manufacturing of soft magnetic composite components prepared from the composition, as well as the obtained component.
US08236415B2
A strong, high density foam glass tile having a small pore size which can be used as a facade on both exterior and interior building walls. The foam glass tile of the present invention is strong enough that it can also be used as a structural member for a building. The foam glass tiles are very strong, and have a compression strength of 6000 psi (lb./sq. in.) or greater, and more particularly of 8000 lb./sq. in. or greater, and even more particularly of 10,000 lb./sq. in. or greater, and even more particularly of 12,000 lb./sq. in. or greater, and even more particularly of 14,000 lb./sq. in. or greater. These foam glass tiles will absorb more energy from an explosion, withstand higher heat and wind loading and other mechanical forces. The tiles of the present invention may have an average pore size of 1.0 mm or less, and preferably 0.7 mm or less, and more preferably 0.6 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.5 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.4 mm or less, and even more preferably 0.3 mm or less. The tile of the present invention may also have a closed pore structure.
US08236414B2
A refractory ceramic material possessing a solidus temperature between 2500° C. and 2800° C., having a compactness greater than 85%, and a microstructure such that the material is composite of: (a) hafnium dioxide HfO2 grains having a monoclinic structure (1); (b) hafnium dioxide HfO2 grains having a cubic structure (2) which is stabilized by yttrium oxide Y2O3, the yttrium oxide Y2O3 representing 0.5 mol % to 8 mol % relative to the total number of moles of hafnium dioxide HfO2; (c) closed pores (3); (d) non-interconnected open pores. The process of manufacturing the material and a structural part incorporating the material are also set forth.
US08236410B2
The invention provides (1) a reinforcing fiber base material having a weave constituted of both reinforcing fiber filaments arranged in one direction in parallel with each other and auxiliary yarns arranged in another direction, which satisfies the relationship: L=H/cos θ (wherein L is the length of auxiliary yarn covering one reinforcing fiber filament and H is the width of the filament as determined in such a state where the reinforcing fiber filaments are unified only with the auxiliary yarns; and 3°≦θ (in-plane shear strain)≦30°) and wherein 2 g/m2 to 40 g/m2 of an adhesive resin having a glass transition temperature between 0° C. and 95° C. is adhesed to at least one side thereof in spots, lines, or discontinuous lines; (2) a laminate obtained by laminating layers of the above reinforcing fiber base material, wherein the adhesive resin adhesed to each layer of base material partially bonds to a facing layer of base material over the whole surface thereof, with the maximum length of each bonding joint being not less than 1 mm and not more than the width H of a reinforcing fiber filament; and (3) a preform, obtained by shaping the laminate, having a reinforcing fiber volume fraction (Vpf) of 45% to 62%.
US08236408B2
To provide an optical laminate that can sufficiently exhibit the function of a functional material such as an antistatic agent or fine particles in the obtained laminate without using a binder material for fixing the functional material to the substrate, as well as a method for manufacturing the same, there is obtained the optical laminate by step (A1) in which the substrate is coated with a composition (a) containing a solvent capable of swelling or dissolving the substrate and the functional material, step (A2) of drying, and step (A3) of forming a resin layer on the coated substrate.
US08236406B2
A fingerprint easily erasable film formed by providing a resin layer on a substrate, in which surface of the resin layer is matted and which is formed so that the surface of the resin layer should show a wet tension (JIS-K 6768:1999) of 25 mN/m or higher. Preferably, the resin layer has a surface roughness of 0.2 to 2.0 μm in terms of the ten point mean roughness Rz (JIS-B 0601:1994). The resin layer preferably contains an ionizing radiation curable resin and a matting agent, more preferably, two kinds of matting agents having different average particle diameters. On the fingerprint easily erasable film having such a configuration, ingredients of fingerprint are unlikely to adhere, and even if ingredients of fingerprint adhere, the ingredients of fingerprint can be removed substantially completely or to such a degree that they cannot be visually observed by wiping with cloth or the like.
US08236399B2
A long life balloon formed from a lamination. The lamination includes a polyester film with a total thickness of 4 μm to 12 μm. The polyester film includes a biaxially oriented polyester core layer and at least one amorphous copolyester skin layer. The lamination also includes a sealant layer and a gas barrier layer on an opposite side of the polyester film from the sealant layer. The oxygen transmission rate of the balloon is less than 0.1 cc/100 sqin/day, a bonding strength of the gas barrier layer to the surface of the polyester film is more than 300 g/in at dry conditions, a sealing strength of the balloon is more than 3.5 kg/in, and a floating time of the balloon is more than 20 days.
US08236394B2
A recording medium comprising a substrate and at least two porous ink receiving layers provided thereon of which a lower layer, second distant from the substrate, is arranged on the substrate side of an upper layer, most distant from the substrate. Pore distribution curves of the upper and lower layers respectively have one peak and two peaks. When pore radii giving the one peak and the two peaks are respectively regarded as R1 and R2, R3 where R2 is smaller than R3, R1 is 8 to 11 nm, R2 is 5 nm or more, R2 is smaller than R1, a difference between R1 and R2 is 2 nm or more, R3 is not less than R1, a difference between R3 and R1 is 3 nm or less. When pore volumes at the pore radii of R2 and R3 are respectively VR2 and VR3, a proportion VR2/VR3 is 0.8 to 2.4.
US08236390B2
The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium based on a mixture of polar compounds, characterized in that it comprises one or more compounds of the formula I in which R1, X1, L1-5 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, in particular TN monitor applications.
US08236388B2
A method of producing a gas barrier film comprises the steps of: supplying a material gas including silane gas, ammonia gas and at least one of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas to a process chamber; keeping the process chamber at an internal pressure of 20 to 200 Pa; holding a substrate in the process chamber at a substrate temperature of not more than 70° C.; forming a bias potential of −100 V or less at the substrate; and supplying power P (W) to the material gas so as to have a ratio P/Q of the power P to a silane gas flow rate Q (sccm) of 15 to 30 W/sccm to generate plasma, thereby depositing a silicon nitride layer on a surface of the substrate.
US08236385B2
A polymeric substrate primed with a treatment composition to allow better receptivity of an ink composition, and method for making the same, is generally disclosed. More specifically, the polymeric substrate can be a hydrophobic polymeric substrate such as comprising polyolefins, which exhibits better ink adhesion and rub resistance when pretreated with a treatment composition of the present invention.
US08236384B2
A method of enhancing visual aspect stability in wooden substrates comprised of the steps of preparing a sealing composition by mixing thermosetting resins and hardener, applying said sealing composition onto the surface of a wooden substrate; and curing said polymer. The method may additionally comprise further steps of: scuffing or sanding the cured sealing layer, applying one or more topcoat composition, and curing said topcoat composition. Interior that comprises sealed wooden substrates with enhanced visual aspect stability produced by methods of the invention are also provided.
US08236383B2
This invention relates to plastic glazing assemblies for vehicle tops, windows, headlamps, and taillights, as well as residential and commercial glazing, aircraft glazing, and sunglasses. More specifically, a method of manufacturing a plastic glazing assembly exhibiting a high level of weatherability and abrasion resistance is disclosed which integrates the in-mold application of a coating and the subsequent deposition of an abrasion resistant layer to a molded plastic part.
US08236381B2
Methods and compositions for depositing a film on one or more substrates include providing a reactor and at least one substrate disposed in the reactor. At least one lanthanide precursor is provided in vapor form and a lanthanide metal thin film layer is deposited onto the substrate.
US08236374B2
A method of manufacturing an optical waveguide device is provided which provides the excellent smoothness of a light receiving end surface and a light emitting end surface formed by cutting and which provides excellent productivity. A laminate of a film element (2) and a board (1) is prepared. The film element (2) includes at least one future optical waveguide portion. The board (1) is stacked on the film element (2). The laminate is die-cut from the side of the board (1). This provides an optical waveguide device including the die-cut board (1) and an optical waveguide formed thereon. A cutting die used for the die-cutting includes at least blades (3) for forming the light receiving end surface (20a) and the light emitting end surface (20b) of the optical waveguide. The blades (3) are flat blades including blade surfaces having an arithmetic means roughness (Ra) of less than 0.02 μm.
US08236368B2
The present invention relates to a method for preparing a hollow microneedle comprising preparing a solid microneedle by drawing lithography; plating the surface with a metal; removing the solid microneedle; and fabricating the hollow microneedle. The present invention ensures efficient preparation of a hollow microneedle with desired hardness, length, and diameter, and which may be effectively used for extracting internal analytical materials from the body and for drug injection.
US08236365B2
An edible mix includes granulated lemon juice solids, granulated citric acid or granulated malic acid, and encapsulated natural lemon oil. In one embodiment, the edible mix also includes granulated maltodextrin, granulated ascorbic acid, and granulated lactose. In one embodiment, the components of the edible mix are mechanically mixed together to form a substantially homogeneous composition. In one embodiment, several of the components are blended by an agglomeration method.
US08236364B2
Methods and formulations for forming a rolled cookie dough configuration for shipment, display and storage. The rolled configuration can be frozen and/or refrigerated and be subsequently unrolled prior to use. The cookie dough can be formulated so as to unroll into a flat sheet configuration without cracking, breaking and/or sticking together. When unrolled, the flat sheet configuration can be sliced/cut with cookie cutters to create specially shaped cookie units for baking. Excess dough can be trimmed and rerolled for further cutting with a cookie cutter.
US08236361B2
Disclosed is a method for producing fermented milk by promoting fermentation without adding any fermentation-promoting substance and novel fermented milk with a thick and smooth mouth feel and a mild flavor. The method enhances fermentation efficiency by reducing the dissolved oxygen in a mix of raw materials for fermented milk at the start of fermentation through substitution with inert gases.
US08236330B2
The present invention generally relates to polymers and macromolecules, in particular, to polymers useful in particles such as nanoparticles. One aspect of the invention is directed to a method of developing nanoparticles with desired properties. In one set of embodiments, the method includes producing libraries of nanoparticles having highly controlled properties, which can be formed by mixing together two or more macromolecules in different ratios. One or more of the macromolecules may be a polymeric conjugate of a moiety to a biocompatible polymer. In some cases, the nanoparticle may contain a drug. Other aspects of the invention are directed to methods using nanoparticle libraries.
US08236329B2
The invention provides active agents, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, or 17-AAG, encapsulated by safe poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(lactic acid) (“PEG-b-PLA”) micelles. The compositions provide effective solubilization of drug combinations, such as paclitaxel, rapamycin, and 17-AAG, as well as others described herein. A significant advantage of PEG-b-PLA as a carrier is that it is less toxic than Cremophor® EL or DMSO, which are used in currently known compositions. Additionally, PEG-b-PLA micelles are easier to handle than DMSO and they do not possess a foul odor, which is a problem with formulations currently in clinical trials. Accordingly, the invention provides stable and biocompatible drug formulations that improve bioavailabilty without causing toxicity. It was also found that larger doses of individual drugs in micelle formulations can be administered compared to non-micelle formulations.
US08236327B2
Disclosed herein are flagellin mutants having an enhanced activity of stimulating the toll-like receptor-5 (hereinafter referred to as “TLR5”). More specifically, disclosed are flagellin mutants, prepared by point-mutating some of the amino acids of a TRL5 agonist flagellin so as to enhance the TRL-stimulating activity of the flagellin.
US08236321B2
The present invention is related to methods and compositions that are capable of immediately immunizing a human or animal against any molecule or compound. The present invention comprises an immunity linker molecule with at least two sites; (1) a first binding site that binds to an immune system molecule in a human or animal that has been preimmunized against the first binding site, and (2) one or more second binding sites that bind specifically to a desired compound or molecule. The first binding site and the second binding site(s) are linked by a linker portion of the molecule.
US08236319B2
Charged or pro-charged cross-linking moieties and conjugates of cell binding agents and drugs comprising the charged or pro-charged cross-linking moieties and method of making the same.
US08236318B2
Isolated monoclonal antibodies which bind to human DEC-205 and related antibody-based compositions and molecules are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the antibodies, as well as therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the antibodies.
US08236305B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods relating to or derived from anti-PAR-2 antibodies. In particular embodiments, the invention provides human antibodies that bind PAR-2, PAR-2-binding fragments and derivatives of such antibodies, and PAR-2-binding polypeptides comprising such fragments. Other embodiments provide nucleic acids encoding such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, cells comprising such polynucleotides, methods of making such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, and methods of using such antibodies, antibody fragments and derivatives and polypeptides, including methods of treating or diagnosing subjects having PAR-2-related disorders or conditions.
US08236298B2
The present invention relates to oncolytic Picornaviruses and methods and compositions for treating subjects having hematologic cancers. These include methods and compositions for treatment of myeloma, using disclosed Picornavirus such as Coxsackievirus, in methods of direct or indirect administration to subjects and ex vivo purging of malignant cells within auto grafts prior to transplantation.
US08236288B2
A method for the modification of melanin distribution, and the composition thereof to modify melanin distribution are disclosed. A method for the reduction of melanin distribution, and the composition thereof to reduce melanin distribution are disclosed. A representative composition comprises 4-ethoxybenzaldehyde and one or more additional active agents as well as a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient. Carriers and excipients may be formulated for topical administration. Compositions may also be formulated for transdermal administration. The compositions may be used for the prevention and treatment of pigmentation disorders, by way of non-limited example, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and others. The compositions may be used for lightening skin.
US08236287B2
Sunscreen compositions containing a discontinuous oil phase dispersed in a continuous water phase, at least 10% by weight of an organic UV-filter, a water-insoluble, C2-C8, liquid silicone, a branched fatty acid ester of a polyprotic carboxylic acid; and at least 2% by weight of a mineral particulate having a starch coating applied to the surface thereof.
US08236286B2
The present invention relates to a liquid composition for the oral cavity, which contains the following components (A), (B), (C) and (D): (A) an oil-soluble flavor, (B) a cationic bactericide, (C) a sugar fatty acid ester, and (D) one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of polyglycerol fatty acid esters, polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oils, and sorbitan fatty acid esters. The present invention also pertains to a liquid composition for the oral cavity, which contains the following components (A), (B), (E) and (F): (A) an oil-soluble flavor, (B) a cationic bactericide, (E) a polyphosphoric acid or salt thereof, and (F) a polyglycerol fatty acid ester. The liquid composition for the oral cavity according to the present invention is excellent in the adsorption of the bactericide to teeth and the like, barely causes unpleasant odor, and is excellent in stability.
US08236285B2
Buccal aerosol sprays or capsules using polar and non-polar solvents have now been developed which provide zolpidem for rapid absorption through the oral mucosa, resulting in fast onset of effect. The buccal polar compositions of the invention comprise formulation I: aqueous polar solvent, zolpidem, and optional flavoring agent; formulation II: aqueous polar solvent, zolpidem, optionally flavoring agent, and propellant; formulation III: non-polar solvent, zolpidem, and optional flavoring agent; formulation IV: non-polar solvent, zolpidem, optional flavoring agent, and propellant; formulation V: a mixture of a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent, zolpidem, and optional flavoring agent; formulation VI: a mixture of a polar solvent and a non-polar solvent, zolpidem, optional flavoring agent, and propellant.
US08236282B2
This invention provides benzothiazole derivative compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, methods of preparing such compounds, and methods of using such compounds for detecting amyloid deposit(s) and for diagnosing a disease, disorder or condition characterized by amyloid deposit(s).
US08236281B1
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition of nanoparticles, wherein the nanoparticles comprise positively charged chitosan, a negatively charged substrate, optionally a zero-charge compound, and at least one bioactive agent for treating diabetes of an animal subject.
US08236278B2
An indium oxide-based particle is provided. The indium oxide-based particle has a mono-dispersive and spherical non-crystalline structure (spherical morphology with amorphous phase). The diameter of particle is ranged between 0.10 μm and 0.70 μm, and the content of an indium oxide is ranged between 10.0 percent by mass and 99.9 percent by mass. The indium oxide-based particle is generated by the precursor with indium ion reacting with alpha hydroxyl acid in an aqueous solution with alkali-modifier additive at a constant temperature. The indium-oxide based particle can be further calcinated as a crystalline indium oxide particle.
US08236276B2
A sulfur recovery system for recovering sulfur from a sulfur plant feed stream including a first sulfur removal system and a second sulfur removal system. The system includes a sulfur plant feed inlet to the first sulfur removal system, the sulfur plant feed inlet being capable of providing a sulfur plant feed stream at a first pressure. One or more oxidizing gas inlets are arranged and disposed to combine at least one oxidizing gas stream with the sulfur plant feed stream to form a combustion gas for combustion in the first sulfur removal system at a second pressure. A flow restriction device is operably configured to control an operating pressure in one or both of the first sulfur removal system and the second sulfur removal system. A gas processing plant and method for recovering sulfur from a sulfur plant feed stream are also disclosed.
US08236274B2
The invention relates to a carbon black having an aggregate size distribution which has a (d90-d10)/d50 ratio of less than or equal to 1.1. The carbon blacks are produced by admixing hot air if desired to a gas mixture comprising a carrier gas and a carbon black feedstock, passing the gas mixture into a burner pipe, burning the gas mixture at the burner pipe openings, and drawing the flames under suction, together with the ambient air drawn in freely under suction from the outside, through a cooled, narrowing gap, and carrying out cooling, the cooled, narrowing gap having a height (h) to width (b) ratio of 1-100, the width (b) being 0.5 to 10 mm, and the flow rate at the narrowest point of the gap being 10-200 m/s. The carbon blacks of the invention can be used as non-reinforcing filler, reinforcing filler, UV stabilizer, conductive black, pigment or reducing agent.
US08236259B2
The present invention relates to a nanoscale or microscale container for encapsulation and delivery of materials or substances, including, but not limited to, cells, drugs, tissue, gels and polymers contained within the container, with subsequent release of the therapeutic materials in situ, methods of fabricating the container by folding a 2D precursor into the 3D container, and the use of the container in in-vivo or in-vitro applications. The container can be in any polyhedral shape and its surfaces can have either no perforations or nano/microscale perforations. The container is coated with a biocompatible metal, e.g. gold, or polymer, e.g. parylene, layer and the surfaces and hinges of the container are made of any metal or polymer combinations.
US08236252B2
Collecting line for removing hot process gases conducted in process gas tubes from tubular reformers, wherein the collecting line has on the inside at least one insulation layer made of fire-resistant concrete or fire-resistant brick, and on the outside a wall made of a metallic outer tube, comprises a plurality of stubs via which the process gas tubes of the tubular furnace can be connected to the collecting line, wherein in the region of the stubs, the process gas tubes are at least in part conducted in guide tubes, and each gas outlet connected to the respective process gas tube projects into the collecting line, by means of which the process gas is introduced into the collecting line in correct functioning, and at least one gas outlet is constructed as a pipe bend.
US08236247B2
Material withdrawal apparatus, methods, and systems of regulating material inventory in one or more units are provided. A material withdrawal apparatus includes a heat exchanger and transport medium junction configured to provide transport medium to transport the withdrawn material from the unit to the heat exchanger. Another material withdrawal apparatus includes a heat exchanger and shock coolant junction configured to provide shock coolant to the material withdrawn from the unit. Another material withdrawal apparatus includes a heat exchanger, shock coolant junction, and transport medium junction. Another embodiment of a material withdrawal apparatus includes a vessel and shock coolant junction. Another material withdrawal apparatus includes a vessel and transport medium junction. The vessel includes a wall, liner with heat insulating refractory material, fill port, and a discharge port. Other embodiments provide methods of withdrawing or regulating material in a unit and systems coupled to a material withdrawal apparatus.
US08236234B2
A container for molten metal includes an outlet for outflow of the molten metal from the container and a temperature measuring device fixed in a wall of the container. The temperature measuring device includes a plug, an outer protective sheath having a closed end, and an inner protective tube having a closed end. The inner protective tube is arranged within the outer protective sheath. A thermocouple is arranged within the inner protective tube. The plug includes a substantially refractory material and the outer protective sheath consists essentially of substantially refractory metal oxide and graphite. The outer protective sheath extends away from the first end of the plug and projects into a recessed portion of the wall of the container. The closed end of the outer protective sheath is arranged in the recessed portion. A junction of the thermocouple is proximate to the closed end of the inner protective tube.
US08236225B2
Disclosed are a device and method for fabricating a flat display device which can minimize an error of alignment of an imprinting mold and a substrate. The device for fabricating a flat display device includes a stage for seating a substrate; an imprinting mold bonded with the substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate, the imprinting mold comprises projections and grooves; and a mold holder for holding sides of the imprinting mold when the substrate and the imprinting mold are bonded with each other.
US08236222B2
A machine and a method for forming composite materials are provided. The machine includes a frame and at least one forming beam attached to the frame, the at least one beam being arranged to align with a mandrel. The forming beam is pivotally segmented into at least two segments to conform to the shape of the mandrel, or alternately is bendable to conform to the shape of the mandrel. The mandrel is receivable within the frame in alignment with the forming beam. An apparatus is also provided to position a composite charge over the mandrel, and to position the mandrel within the frame. A further apparatus is provided to transport the mandrel, and to urge the mandrel toward the forming beam, forming a composite charge.
US08236217B2
A method of manufacturing an automotive instrument panel for eliminating distortion in an area of vibration welded air bags comprises: providing a weld fixture including at least one pre-stressor protrusion; placing the at least one pre-stressor protrusion against an instrument panel; generating a force to press the weld fixture against the instrument panel to create compression in a first surface of the instrument panel where the weld fixture contacts the instrument panel and to create tension in a second surface of the instrument panel, the second surface opposite to the first surface; and vibration welding an air bag chute to the instrument panel such that a weld bar of the air bag chute is welded to the second surface of the instrument panel.
US08236214B2
A wet shaving system is disclosed including a blade member and a skin-engaging portion in proximity to said blade member, the skin-engaging portion comprising a solid polymeric shaving aid composite including an exposed portion containing a water-soluble shaving aid dispersed in a water-insoluble polymeric matrix, the water soluble shaving aid being coated with mineral oil.
US08236212B2
A method of forming a hardened skin on one or more surfaces of a molded article. In an exemplary method, a formable material is mixed with a blowing agent to form a foam material. The foam material is placed in a flow molding apparatus such that a first surface of the foam material is in contact with a first mold section and a second surface of the foam material is in contact with a second mold section. In operation, an alternating dielectric field is applied across the foam material to form the molded article. At the end of the molding cycle, the first and/or second surfaces of the foam material remain under the decomposition temperature of the blowing agent and are not blown so as to form one or more thicknesses of hardened skin on the molded article.
US08236209B1
An engraved scannable marking code produced by providing a substrate of transparent material having a first side and a second side and an index of refraction greater than one; and forming a plurality of lenses on the first side of the substrate in pre-selected portions thereof, wherein the plurality of lenses and selected reminder portions form a desired marking code pattern operable for being read by a code reading apparatus.
US08236207B2
Compositions, and methods of making thereof, comprising from about 1% to about 5% of a perfluorinated sulfonic acid ionomer or a hydrocarbon-based ionomer; and from about 95% to about 99% of a solvent, said solvent consisting essentially of a polyol; wherein said composition is substantially free of water and wherein said ionomer is uniformly dispersed in said solvent.
US08236188B2
A method for etching features in a low-k dielectric layer disposed below an organic mask is provided by an embodiment of the invention. Features are etched into the low-k dielectric layer through the organic mask. A fluorocarbon layer is deposited on the low-k dielectric layer. The fluorocarbon layer is cured. The organic mask is stripped.
US08236183B2
Methods and systems for filtration are disclosed. A feed mixture including at least one liquid component and at least one solid component and a flow of gas may be directed to a filter element and filtrate and gas may be passed through a filter medium from a feed fluid side to a filtrate side. The gas loosens and removes foulants accumulating within and on the upstream surface of the filter medium. The gas and filtrate may be separated from one another after passing through the filter medium.
US08236172B2
A process for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream, including: feeding hydrogen and a hydrocarbon stream including sulfur compounds to a catalytic distillation reactor having one or more hydrodesulfurization reaction zones; concurrently in the catalytic distillation reactor: fractionating the hydrocarbon stream into a heavy fraction and a light fraction; contacting hydrogen and the light fraction to form H2S and a light fraction of reduced sulfur content; recovering the light fraction, H2S, and hydrogen as an overheads; recovering the heavy fraction; heating the overheads to a temperature from 500 to 700° F.; feeding the heated overheads and hydrogen to a high temperature low pressure reactor to form H2S and a reactor effluent of reduced mercaptan content; separating the reactor effluent, H2S, and unreacted hydrogen to form a light hydrocarbon fraction and a fraction including H2S and hydrogen; recycling a portion of the light hydrocarbon fraction to the catalytic distillation reactor.
US08236171B2
A process is described for improving the quality as a fuel of hydrotreated hydrocarbon blends by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a bifunctional catalytic system comprising one or more metals selected from Pt, Pd, Ir, Ru, Rh and Re, and a silico-aluminate of an acidic nature, selected from a micro-mesoporous silico-alumina and a zeolite belonging to the MTW family. The process of the invention produces an increase in the cetane index and a decrease in the density and T95.
US08236170B2
The instant invention relates to an upflow for upgrading heavy oil feed stock and a method for upgrading heavy oil feed stock employing an upflow reactor and with a slurry catalyst. In one embodiment, the upflow reactor is a liquid recirculating reactor, which is operated in manner corresponding to a dispersed bubble flow regime, which requires a high liquid to gas ratio. A dispersed bubble flow regime results in more even flow patterns, increasing the amount of liquid, i.e., heavy oil feed stock that can be upgraded in a single reactor.
US08236168B2
An apparatus and method for determining at least one of the temperatures at which a petroleum product will manifest delayed haze and the temperature at which haze will not exist in the product is provided. The apparatus comprises a container for holding a sample of the product, a light source, light detector, heaters and coolers combined with microprocessor means for storing and analyzing at least one of light transmitted or scattered by the sample. Measurements are useful in determining the haze properties of the product and also for controlling a dehazing process to meet target haze properties.
US08236145B2
An electrolysis prevention device, for preventing corrosion caused by electrolysis, includes a sacrificial anode made of an active metal and an anode holder supporting the sacrificial anode. The holder is adapted to fit around the inlet connection of an engine heat exchange component, such as a radiator or heater core, in such a way as to allow for a hose to be attached overtop the device. The device may be included in an originally-manufactured engine heat exchange component or may be installed later.
US08236104B2
A single-crystal manufacturing apparatus comprising at least: a main chamber configured to accommodate a crucible; a pulling chamber continuously provided above the main chamber, the pulling chamber into which a grown single crystal is pulled and accommodated; a gas inlet provided in the pulling chamber; a gas flow-guide cylinder downwardly extending from a ceiling of the main chamber; and a heat-insulating ring upwardly extending from a lower end portion of the gas flow-guide cylinder with a diameter of the heat-insulating ring increased so as to surround an outside of the gas flow-guide cylinder, wherein at least one window is provided in a region between 50 and 200 mm from a lower end of the gas flow-guide cylinder, and an opening area of the window accounts for 50% or more of a surface area of the region between 50 and 200 mm from the lower end of the gas flow-guide cylinder.
US08236103B2
A method for producing a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal includes a first step of supplying a Group III raw material and a Group V raw material at a V/III ratio of 0 to 1,000 to form and grow a Group III nitride semiconductor on a heated substrate and a second step of vapor-phase-growing a Group III nitride semiconductor crystal on the substrate using a Group III raw material and a nitrogen raw material.
US08236093B2
A method of reducing the concentration of pollutants in a combustion flue gas having a first temperature is provided. The method includes the step of providing an organic Rankine cycle apparatus utilizing a working fluid and including at least one heat exchanger is arranged in thermal communication with the flue gas. The method further includes the step of reducing the temperature of the flue gas to a second temperature less than the first temperature by vaporizing the working fluid within the heat exchanger utilizing thermal energy derived from the flue gas. The method further includes the step of filtering the flue gas through at least one filter disposed downstream of the heat exchanger to remove pollutants from the flue gas. An associated system configured to reduce the concentration of pollutants in the combustion flue gas is also provided.
US08236089B2
A preparation method of a copper particle composition includes dissolving a copper carboxyl compound, or a carboxyl group-containing compound and a copper salt, in a solvent to prepare a copper(II) precursor solution; putting a weak reducing agent with a standard reduction potential of −0.2 to −0.05V to the prepared copper(II) precursor solution to assemble a plurality of Cu2O fine particles having an average diameter of 1 to 100 nm with a standard deviation of 0 to 10%, thereby forming spherical Cu2O assembly particles having an average diameter of 0.1 to 10 μm with a standard deviation of 0 to 40%; reducing the spherical Cu2O assembly particles into copper particles by using a reducing agent; and separating the copper particles from the result product. Thus, copper particles can be produced fast, economically, and the obtained copper particles have good crystallinity and good resistance against oxidation.
US08236086B2
Coated fertilizer wherein the fertilizer comprises fertilizer particles coated with a biomass composition comprising 1-60 wt. % solid biomass particles with a D50 between 0 and 150 μm and 99-40 wt. % oil, a biomass composition wherein the biomass composition comprises solid biomass particles with a D50 between 0 and 150 μm and a process for the production of a biomass composition wherein a biomass composition comprising solid particles having a D50 between 30 and 500 μm is filtrated and the residue is grinded until the solid particles have a D50 between 0 and 150 μm.
US08236075B2
An abrasive material is fabricated. The material is made of bamboo charcoal. The charcoal has vascular bundles and abrasive particles are uniformly distributed and fixed on inner surfaces of the vascular bundles. Thus, the abrasive material can be used with self-sharpening for grinding, polishing, lubricating, etc.
US08236074B1
Methods of manufacturing a superabrasive element are disclosed. In one embodiment, a substrate and a preformed superabrasive volume may be at least partially surrounded by an enclosure and the enclosure may be sealed in an inert environment. Further, the enclosure may be exposed to an elevated pressure and preformed superabrasive volume may be affixed to the substrate. Polycrystalline diamond elements are disclosed. In one embodiment, a polycrystalline diamond element may comprise a preformed polycrystalline diamond volume bonded to a substrate by a braze material. Optionally, such a polycrystalline diamond element may exhibit a compressive stress. Rotary drill bit for drilling a subterranean formation and including at least one superabrasive element are also disclosed.
US08236071B2
A quench ring for use with a gasifier system. The quench ring including an annular manifold having a radius, an annular channel coupled in flow communication with said manifold, and at least one inlet coupled in flow communication with said manifold, said at least one inlet having a center line aligned substantially tangentially to said annular manifold.
US08236061B2
An orthopaedic knee prosthesis includes a femoral component having a condyle surface. The condyle surface is defined by one or more radii of curvatures, which are controlled to reduce or delay the onset of anterior translation of the femoral component relative to a tibial bearing.
US08236056B2
The invention provides an intervertebral implant for the lumbo-sacral joint, the implant consisting in a spacer suitable for being placed between the fifth lumbar vertebra and the sacral vertebra articulated thereto, the body of said spacer presenting in its top face a groove extending in the midplane of the spacer and suitable for receiving the spinous process of said lumbar vertebra. A longitudinal housing oriented orthogonally to said groove is formed in the bottom face and is suitable for receiving the top portion of the sacral vertebra. The longitudinal housing is defined by an extension and by a tab of width narrower than the width of the body of the spacer. The section of the housing in the midplane of the space is generally U-shaped, being inclined relative to the bottom of the groove.
US08236054B2
An implantable soft tissue prosthesis comprising a hollow shell formed of a flexible elastomeric envelope, the shell having an inner volume and an exterior surface, when the inner volume is filled with an elastomeric silicone tubing that is preshaped conforming to the inner volume of the shell, the prosthesis being adapted to be surgically implanted in a human breast.
US08236050B2
Methods of implanting an annuloplasty ring to correct maladies of the mitral annulus that not only reshapes the annulus but also reconfigures the adjacent left ventricular muscle wall. The ring may be continuous and is made of a relatively rigid material, such as Stellite. The ring has a generally oval shape that is three-dimensional at least on the posterior side. A posterior portion of the ring rises or bows upward from adjacent sides to pull the posterior aspect of the native annulus farther up than its original, healthy shape. In doing so, the ring also pulls the ventricular wall upward which helps mitigate some of the effects of congestive heart failure. Further, one or both of the posterior and anterior portions of the ring may also bow inward.
US08236041B2
A device and method for treating pathological narrowing of fluid-carrying conduits of the human body (such as blood vessels) in an area of a bifurcation is disclosed. In particular, a stent system carries a self expandable noncylindrical stent, which is particularly suited for treating a widened portion of a blood vessel immediately proximal to a bifurcation. A stent delivery system is also disclosed, for delivering the stent such that a larger expanded diameter end of the stent faces the bifurcation, and a smaller expanded diameter end of the stent faces proximally in the main vessel.
US08236033B2
Spinal plate assembly, and methods of use, wherein a retaining element such as a retaining band, optionally a resiliently flexible band, mounted to a spinal plate, activates a blocking feature of the spinal plate assembly to thereby prevent the bone fastener from withdrawing out of the spinal plate assembly and past the blocking member. The apertures are typically, but not necessarily, elongate slots, elongate axes of all such slots being commonly oriented. The band can be fabricated from a variety of bio-stable, bio-compatible medical grade materials, including metals or implantable plastics. The retaining element or elements can be disposed in intermittently-located channel elements in the plate.
US08236032B2
A spinal implant with at least one flexible elongated extension element is provided. The spinal implant has a profile that is lower than standard spinal implants. The spinal implant includes a bone anchor with a head portion and a shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the bone anchor. A head plate is coupled to the bone anchor. The head plate includes a first elongated extension element and a second elongated extension element. The first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element may be formed as a single monolithic element that is attached to the head plate by passing through a pair of openings provided on the head plate. At least one of the first elongated extension element and the second elongated extension element is flexible.
US08236028B2
A rod connector for joining a first rod and a second rod includes bore holes that are offset and/or non-parallel to each other. The rod connector provides an offset or non-parallel connection between the rods that allows for the rods to match the contour of a patient's body without requiring bending of the rods. The rod connector may include a first bore hole for receiving the first spinal rod and a second bore hole for receiving the second spinal rod that is adjustable relative to the first bore hole to adjust the position and/or orientation of the second spinal rod relative to the first spinal rod. The rod connector may comprise a first housing component defining the first bore hole and a second housing component that is movable relative to the first housing component and defining the second bore hole.
US08236027B2
A surgical thread for plastic surgery operations includes a clear section and multiple sharp projections on either side of the clear section. The clear section is devoid of projections while the projections on both sides of the clear section are inclined toward the clear section. There is also a method of performing plastic surgery operations using this surgical thread which includes threading the thread subcutaneously through tissue and/or muscle and in a manner such that the thread is folded back on itself as a loop or sling. The thread tension is then adjusted from both ends of the thread which extend out of two separate exit points to achieve a desired lift. The projections resist thread pull in the direction of the entry point and the clear section is located at the fold.
US08236015B2
A seal element for sealing between tissue lumens includes a first material for allowing tissue ingrowth and a second sealant material.
US08236011B2
A method for deploying fasteners including the steps of providing a device having a handle and at least one actuator. The handle is connected to an elongated hollow housing having distal and proximal ends. The device has a first cartridge containing at least one fastener releasably connectable to the handle and an elongated pusher movable through the hollow housing from the distal to the proximal end for deploying the fastener from the distal end. The method includes increasing the stiffness of the pusher at a distal end thereof and advancing the pusher through the elongated housing to deploy the fasteners.
US08236001B2
The invention relates to an instrument for preparing and/or machining a femoral head (11) embodied on a femoral neck (19). Said instrument comprises tactile forceps (91) that are provided with two forked levers (13, 15) and two tactile jaws (23, 25), each of which is assigned to one of the forked levers (13, 15). The forked levers are interconnected at a fulcrum (93). The inventive instrument features a manipulating end and a working end. The tactile jaws are located at the working end of the instrument. A guiding element (28) is provided which encompasses a centering pin (21) and is mounted and/or guided at least at two points (105, 107) spaced apart from each other in the direction of the centering pin (21) in such a way that the centering pin (21) always lies on a central plane (12) of the tactile forceps (91) regardless of an opening angle of the tactile forceps (91), said central plane (12) containing the fulcrum (93). The bearing and/or guiding points (105, 107) are directly and/or indirectly hinged to the tactile forceps (91).
US08235990B2
Methods for using a surgical device integrating a suction mechanism with a coagulation mechanism for improving lesion creation capabilities. The device comprises an elongate member having an insulative covering attached about means for coagulating soft tissue. Openings through the covering expose regions of the coagulation-causing elements and are coupled to lumens in the elongate member which are routed to a vacuum source and a fluid source to passively transport fluid along the contacted soft tissue surface in order to push the maximum temperature deeper into tissue.
US08235986B2
Systems and methods for transeptal cardiac procedures are disclosed. A method for treating a patient in accordance with a particular embodiment includes positioning a tissue penetrating guidewire adjacent to a cardiac septum, directing pulses of energy to the guidewire, and advancing the guidewire into and through the septum by moving the guidewire in a distal direction in a series of discrete steps. Individual steps can be of a predetermined distance measured outside the patient's body. The method can further include passing a catheter over the guidewire after the guidewire has passed through the septum.
US08235980B2
A return pad includes a backing, at least one return electrode, and at least one ring sensor. The backing has a top side, a bottom side, and a periphery. The return electrode is disposed on the bottom side of the backing layer and is adapted to connect to a current generator. The ring sensor(s) is disposed in substantial concentric registration with the periphery of the backing and is configured to connect to a measuring component. The measuring component is operable to approximate contact quality of the return electrode during electrosurgical application and is configured to communicate with the generator.
US08235976B2
Devices and methods for cold-treating lesions within the body. A temperature monitoring device for use with a cryo therapy apparatus may include a cryo therapy apparatus, one or more tubular members coupled to the cryo therapy apparatus, and a temperature monitoring member coupled to the tubular member. The temperature monitoring member may comprise a retractable needle, an infrared sensor, an ultrasound transmitter, or a stent having a plurality of spikes.
US08235963B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure include disposable wearable absorbent articles with anchoring systems. In an embodiment, a disposable wearable absorbent article includes an absorbent core and an anchoring system configured to anchor the absorbent core to a wearer.
US08235962B2
An absorbent pant garment having a leg opening shape and fastener placement that, together, minimize the likelihood of fastener pop-opens during use. The garment includes a pair of front and back side panels on opposite transverse sides of the garment, with a refastenable seam formed between the front and back side panels including a fastening component on the front side panel and a mating fastening component on the back side panel, with elasticity in the front and/or back side panel. Each of the front and back side panels includes a waist end edge and a leg end edge, with a portion of the waist end edge and a portion of the leg end edge substantially parallel to one another adjacent a distal edge for a distance greater than a transverse width of the fastening component or mating fastening component bonded thereto. These parallel portions of the side panel edges space the fastening components and mating fastening components away from major stress points of the garment, thereby reducing the likelihood of fastener pop-opens.
US08235958B2
The invention provides an absorbent article that is small and that can be easily worn by a user and a method for producing the absorbent article.The absorbent article that is used in abutment against a user's body includes: an absorbent body for absorbing fluid; and an absorbent-article main body whose face on a side close to the user's body in use is joined to the absorbent body. The absorbent body has a longitudinal direction, a width direction, and a thickness direction. One end section of the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction is undetachably joined to the absorbent-article main body, and another end section of the absorbent body in the longitudinal direction is detachably joined to a portion inside an outer edge of the absorbent-article main body. The absorbent body has a non-joined section that is not joined to the absorbent-article main body, between the joined section on a side close to the other end section and the outer edge of the absorbent-article main body.
US08235957B2
An absorbent article includes a backsheet and a sublayer. The sublayer including at least a first acquisition layer and a second acquisition layer. The sublayer includes one or more areas with a plurality of combined holes. The combined holes are formed by holes extending through the first acquisition layer and holes in or extending through the second acquisition layer, or by holes in or extending through the second acquisition layer and indentations in the first acquisition layer. The combined holes have an average smallest dimension of at least 2 mm, and the surface areas of the holes through the first layer, or of the indentations in the first layer, are less than the corresponding surface areas of the holes in or through the second layer.
US08235949B2
An application or an attachment device for attaching a medical device includes a base layer and an adhesive layer on a rearward side of the base layer. The adhesive layer is adapted to removably attach the base layer. The adhesive layer can be adapted to removably attach the base layer to a patient (either a human patient or a lower animal patient). The device also includes a medical device attachment mechanism on a forward side of the base layer, The attachment mechanism is adapted to attach the medical device to the base layer. The medical device can, for example, be a sensor. The medical device attachment mechanism can, for example, include a mechanical attachment mechanism. The medical device attachment mechanism can additionally or alternatively include at least one adhesive layer on the base layer. The adhesive layer can, for example, be positioned on the base layer so that it does not extend beyond a footprint of the medical device when the medical device is attached to the base layer.
US08235946B2
There is disclosed a tri-leaflet valve (100) in which the leaflets (102) extend for substantially the entire length of the valve (100). The valve (100) is provide with a waist (106). An element (16) inserted in the tri-leaflet valve (100) can be sealed by closure of the valve (100), for example by pressurization or twisting. The seat is more effective then prior art seals.
US08235945B2
A safety device for the needle of intravenous catheter apparatus comprising of a tip blocker which blocks the needle tip, a spring assembled in compressed state held by a disc inside the groove of the tip blocker which pushes the tip blocker downwards and a bush fitted in the needle passageway which does not allow the needle to come out of the safety device. The safety device is capable of locking inside it and covering the needle tip so that the needle of intravenous catheter apparatus can be disposed of safely.
US08235941B2
A catheter used for treatment of complex vasculature, such as a bifurcated aneurysm, is provided with an inflatable balloon at a distal portion thereof. The shape, location and material of the inflatable balloon are selected such that when inflated, the balloon conforms to the shape of the complex vasculature, or at least a portion thereof, without appreciably deforming the vessel walls. In this manner, the balloon can be used to control flow in the vasculature, for example occluding a selected branch of the vasculature during introduction of material in order concentrate the material and minimize its disbursement by blood flow.
US08235936B2
A micro-dialysis probe extending longitudinally between a proximal probe opening and a distal probe tip and having a supply line and a drainage line for a drip-feed solution. A tube may be provided for supporting the drainage line. A dialysis section, wherein the flow channel for the drip-feed solution experiences an inversion, is formed generally between the supply line and the drainage line, in the vicinity of the distal probe tip. The supply line and the drainage line are respectively arranged substantially side by side and together form the probe shaft of the micro-dialysis probe.
US08235924B2
An orthotic brace (30) for a joint includes a bracing device (40) having first and second portions (42, 44) movable relative to one another and a mechanism (100) for placing the bracing device (40) in a first condition in which the first portion (42) has a first resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) and a second condition in which the first portion (42) has a second, different resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44). The mechanism (100) is capable of placing the bracing device (40) in a third condition in which the first portion (42) has a third resistance to movement relative to the second portion (44) that is between the first and second resistance.
US08235921B2
A portable limb-mounted device for enhancing blood and/or lymph flow in a limb and/or for preventing stasis related disorders, the device comprising an energy generating device, an actuator, one or more compressing elements for generating squeezing forces on the limb of a user, a sensor located adjacent to the body of the user and coupled to a transceiver device, and a transceiver device coupled to the sensor to receive signals generated by the sensor, to transfer the signals received from the sensor device to a computing device. The device further comprises a computerized control system including a microcontroller and a memory device to store activity related information for subsequent downloads to an external computer-based monitoring device.
US08235920B2
A vibration and modulation system is provided for an array of air cells. The vibration and modulation system includes an air source, a high-pressure reservoir in fluid communication with the air source, and at least one valve coupled between the high-pressure air source and the array of air cells. A control assembly is coupled with the at least one valve and selectively controls a position of the valve to effect a vibratory action in the array of air cells.
US08235911B2
According to embodiments, systems and methods are provided for filtering a signal. A first reference signal may be generated according to a signal model and a second reference signal may be generated by analyzing a continuous wavelet transform of a signal. The first and second reference signals may then both be applied to an input signal to filter the input signal according to the components of both of the reference signals.
US08235904B2
A BC-mode image with an improved frame rate in an ultrasound system is formed. A transmit/receive unit forms first and second receive signals responsive to first and second control signals. An image processing unit is configured to form a B-mode image and a C-mode image based the first and second receive signals and to combine them to form a BC-mode image. A control unit is configured to divide scan lines into a plurality of scan line groups and to generate a third control signal for alternately selecting one of the scan line groups for a B-mode scan for forming scan line group receive signals. The control unit repeatedly generates the second and third control signals. The image processing unit is configured to update the first receive signals with the scan line group receive signals and form a B-mode image based on the updated first receive signals.
US08235903B2
An implantable, remotely controlled medical device that incorporates an imaging/therapy ultrasound system may be minimally invasive and equipped with an anchoring portion for securing the device within a human body. Transducers for imaging/therapy may be manipulated remotely using motors and/or selectively actuated to obtain different fields of view and stereoscopic imaging. The implantable medical device can be in the shape of a disc, double disc, sphere or pellet, for example, and may be implanted during open surgery using a manipulatable tool or using a minimally invasive image-guided sheath or catheter. The imaging system comprises one or more ultrasound transducers and can be used to provide therapy to or obtain ultrasound images of a target and surrounding volumes or focal points. The device may be controlled and report data by wired or wireless means and, if wireless, permanently worn inside the body as the patient follows their normal daily routine.
