US08237989B2
The present invention is directed to a system and method for halftone screening. A system for halftone screening includes means adapted to receive image data having a number of tonal levels representative of a continuous tone image. The system further includes a memory including a LUT having a number of alternative halftone cell arrangements for each tonal level. Each cell of the LUT consists of a number of device dots describing a particular gray value. For each gray value, there are several alternative cells with different arrangements of the same number of device dots. The LUT is configured with the cells of different arrangements in rows. The rows increase in the number of device dots; hence, each column describes halftone cells of increasing tonal values. The system then communicates the image data having a tonal level to the LUT, and randomly selects a halftone cell arrangement to generate a halftone output.
US08237987B2
A print processing device including a printing unit to print an image on a sheet, a reading unit to read a sheet, an operation unit including keys to be operated by a user, a print control unit to cause the printing unit to print either a first sheet for selecting an image from a plurality of images stored in a storage medium or a second sheet for selecting a language to be used in the first sheet, and an analyzing unit configured to analyze an image read by the reading unit. If a language is not registered, when the image corresponding to the second sheet is detected as an analysis result by the analyzing unit, the first sheet is printed using a language associated with the detected image and when the image corresponding to the second sheet is not detected, the second sheet is printed.
US08237980B2
A serial I/F has: a FIFO portion to which m- or n-bit (m
US08237966B2
A printing device comprises a communication unit which executes communication with a mail server on a network, a connection unit to which a portable storage medium can be connected, a printing unit which executes printing, and a control unit which executes a mail acquisition process of acquiring an e-mail including a body and an attached file from the mail server via the communication unit, printing the body with the printing unit, and storing the attached file in a portable storage medium connected to the connection unit.
US08237964B2
A printing system capable of concurrently processing and scheduling a plurality of job streams and including at least one marking engine and multiple print media destination is controlled by a controller that includes a jobs scheduler for determining a schedule for processing queued print jobs using the plurality of concurrent job streams. The job scheduler determines the schedule using a method including: determining a utility function dependent at least upon user preference delay criteria, and the schedule of the queued print jobs; and optimizing the utility function respective to the schedule of queued print jobs.
US08237958B2
A client transmits a request, which requests a print processing path, to a path detecting server, and in response receives path information indicating a print processing path from the path detecting server. The client transmits the path information and PDL data to an apparatus subsequent to the client on the print processing path indicated in the path information. The path detecting server receives the request from the client and finds a print processing path referring to information of printers and print servers stored in an apparatus information database. A path detecting server transmits to the client path information indicating the print processing path.
US08237955B2
This invention makes it possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of causing an information processing apparatus to install a driver desired by a user by selecting an appropriate PDL and presenting device information to the information processing apparatus, and increasing the convenience for the user, a control method for the apparatus, and a program. To accomplish this, image forming unit-specific log information associated with a plurality of image forming units of the image forming apparatus is stored in a storage device. On the basis of the log information, a priority image forming unit is decided from the plurality of image forming units. Identification information containing an identifier of the decided image forming unit is transmitted in response to an information request transmitted from the information processing apparatus.
US08237942B2
A printing setting program is provided that can be executed by an information processing apparatus for setting a printing condition. The printing setting program has: a plurality of setting sections, each of the plurality of setting sections having a setting item for setting a printing process; a displaying section adapted for displaying the setting section; a detecting section adapted for detecting a change of the setting item; and a memorizing section adapted for memorizing setting item information relating to the setting item detected as changed by the detecting section, wherein one of the plurality of setting sections displayed in a front of the plurality of setting sections at a start of the printing setting program is determined according to the setting item information memorized in the memorizing section.
US08237941B2
In an image formation system in which a plurality of image forming apparatuses operates cooperatively as a single virtual device, an instruction is accepted that designates an application to be installed and an apparatus as the destination for installing the application. Based on the functions of the plurality of image forming apparatuses that constitute the virtual device, it is determined whether or not the application to be installed operates on the apparatus that is the installation destination. In accordance with the determined result, an apparatus as an installation destination for installing the application and an installation method are displayed to allow selection of the apparatus as the installation destination and the installation method.
US08237933B2
The present invention relates to a method for image calibration and an apparatus for image acquiring. In the method for image calibration, the image formation position for an image acquiring unit of the apparatus is calibrated according to the relative location of the image acquiring unit to a objective lens of the apparatus, wherein the relative location is determined by calculating the focus index of the image acquired by the image acquiring unit so that a clear and sharp interferogram can be obtained for three dimensional surface profile measuring. In addition, it is possible to obtain a clear and sharp image without any interference fringe outside the coherent range by adjusting the image formation position, which is capable of being utilized for two dimensional defect detection and dimension measurement.
US08237931B2
An optoacoustic convolver includes: a light source; a first acoustic waveguide filled with a light-transmissive first acoustic medium; a second acoustic waveguide filled with a light-transmissive second acoustic medium; an optical system whereby light emitted from the light source is split into a first light beam and a second light beam, the first light beam entering the first acoustic waveguide, and the second light beam entering the second acoustic waveguide, thereby generating interference light between the first light beam having passed through the first acoustic waveguide and the second light beam having passed through the second acoustic waveguide; a light-receiving section for receiving the interference light and outputting an electric signal based on an intensity of the received light; and a correlation determination section for determining whether the received signal is correlated with the reference signal by observing the electric signal output from the light-receiving section.
US08237923B2
A bio-sample image pickup device includes a light source module, a carrier, an image pickup unit, a first filter set, and a second filter set. The carrier carries the light source module and the bio-sample, and moves between a first position and a second position. The first filter set between the light source module and the image pickup unit for filtering the light emitted by the light source module, and the image pickup unit picks up the image of the bio-sample through the first filter set in the first position. The second filter set in the second position filters the light emitted by the light source module for allowing an operator to see the bio-sample in the second position through the second filter.
US08237921B2
At the time of real-time measurement, when a measurement position is specified by a marker, a marker level acquiring section acquires a waveform level from waveform data stored in a waveform memory. A level comparing section determines whether the waveform level acquired by the marker level acquiring section falls within an effective measurement level range preset correspondingly with attenuator (ATT) values. When the level comparing section determines that the waveform level does not fall within the effective measurement level range, an ATT value change section changes the ATT values into new ATT values at which a waveform level falls within the corresponding effective measurement level range. A control section allows a measured optical fiber to be measured based on the new ATT value, so as to enable waveform measurement with a good S/N ratio of not less than a predetermined value based on a measurement waveform displayed on a screen of a display section.
US08237908B2
A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes; forming a mother substrate assembly by disposing a liquid crystal mixture layer having liquid crystals and a light curable alignment supplement between a first mother substrate and a second mother substrate of a liquid crystal display, and disposing a light curable sealant surrounding the liquid crystal mixture layer, pre-tilting liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal mixture layer by applying a voltage to the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate, and simultaneously hardening the alignment supplement and the sealant by radiating light to the mother substrate assembly while applying the voltage to the first mother substrate and the second mother substrate.
US08237902B2
The present invention relates to an array substrate of an LCD with a wide viewing angle and a method for manufacturing the same. The array substrate includes: gate lines and data lines formed on a substrate, and TFTs and pixel electrodes formed in pixel areas defined by the gate lines and the data lines, wherein at least one shaft for inducing liquid crystal to form a multi-domain structure is formed on each of the pixel electrodes. The method includes: forming a pattern containing gate lines, gate electrodes, data lines, source electrodes, drain electrodes and TFT channels on a substrate; depositing a passivation layer, opening a first via hole for connecting each of the drain electrodes to each of pixel electrodes and a second via hole for forming a shaft; and depositing a transparent conductive film, forming a pattern containing the pixel electrodes within pixel areas, and forming a shaft at the second via hole for inducing liquid crystal to form a multi-domain structure. The present invention uses a shaft structure to induce liquid crystal to form a multi-domain structure, which not only realizes a symmetric wide viewing angle, but also simplifies the structure and manufacturing process of an array substrate.
US08237886B2
A method of manufacturing the optical sheet is provided. The method includes: a first step of heating a composition containing a liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and a photopolymerization initiator at a temperature equal to or higher than a melting point of the liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and pressing the composition in a state where the composition is held between a master including a plurality of solid structures disposed continuously in one surface and having shape anisotropy in the one surface and a light transmission film disposed so as to face the solid structures of the master. The method also includes a second step of irradiating the composition with ultraviolet rays at a temperature lower than a phase transmission temperature to an isotropic phase to polymerize the liquid crystal monomer or liquid crystal prepolymer and, after that, separating the light transmission film from the master.
US08237882B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a cover bottom, a reflection sheet over the cover bottom, lamps over the reflection sheet, a diffuser plate over the lamps, a plurality of optical sheets over the diffuser plate, a guide panel of a rectangular shape surrounding edges of the diffuser plate and the plurality of optical sheets, the guide panel including fixing ribs at an inner surface thereof, a liquid crystal panel over the plurality of optical sheets and including first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer therebetween, a top cover covering edge portions of a front surface of the liquid crystal panel and combined with the guide panel and the cover bottom, wherein the fixing ribs contact edges of the diffuser plate such that a force is applied to the diffuser plate.
US08237869B2
A multi-standard single-chip receiver for digital demodulation of TV signals broadcasted over any of multiple digital television means, e.g., satellite, cable and terrestrial, is provided. The receiver can receive and demodulate a variety of different signal types received from one or more up-front tuners. A demodulator architecture in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention can be optimized to re-use common demodulation processing blocks for the different incoming signal types.
US08237864B2
Systems and methods for associating metadata with scene changes are described. At least one embodiment includes a system for associating metadata with a video. The system comprises an input module for reading a first video, wherein the input module is configured to receive special effects specified by a user and an insertion point in which to insert the special effects. The system further comprises a key frame module for identifying at least one key frame preceding the specified insertion point, the key frame comprising at least one of a scene change and a particular scene identified by the user. The system also includes a metadata module for calculating time differences between the insertion point and the one or more key frames, the metadata module further configured to store the special effects input by the user, the insertion point, the time differences, and key frames as metadata.In accordance with some embodiments, the system further comprises an insertion module for reading a second video and inserting the special effects specified for the first video into the second video, where the insertion module is further configured to read the stored metadata and identify a matching key frame within the second video. The insertion module is further configured to add the time difference associated with the key frame stored within the metadata to the matching key frame to determine an insertion point for the second video and add the special effects at the insertion point for the second video.
US08237861B2
A video horizontal synchronizer outputting a line timing signal and an indicating flag of a received video signal for use in a video signal post-processing unit, including a filter outputting a wide bandwidth filtered and a narrow bandwidth filtered signals of the received video signal, a dynamic slicer threshold generator generating a slicer threshold, a timing recovery circuit generating a phase error and the line timing signal, a phase error statistics circuit averaging the phase error to generate a average phase error, a HSYNC checker generating a matching flag indicating whether a periodic pattern appears in the narrow bandwidth filtered signal according to the line timing signal, and a finite state machine controlling the dynamic slicer threshold generator, the timing recovery circuit, the phase error statistics circuit and the HSYNC checker and generating an indicating flag when the average phase error is small enough and the matching flag is confirmed.
US08237856B2
A video recording camera system configured to record video to a non-volatile memory configured as a circular video recording buffer. In an embodiment, the video recording camera system includes a non-volatile storage medium and a processor is configured to manage at least a portion of the non-volatile storage medium as a circular buffer, replacing recorded video data stored in a subset of memory addresses corresponding to an older recorded video frame with the data corresponding to a newer video frame. In further embodiments, clip files may be partitioned from the circular buffer to prevent logical portion of the recorded video from being overwritten upon reaching a capacity of the circular recorded video buffer.
US08237850B2
An electronic camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor has an imaging surface irradiated with an optical image of an object scene through a focus lens and repeatedly generates an object scene image. A CPU executes an AF process for adjusting a distance from the focus lens to the imaging surface to a distance corresponding to a focal point, based on the object scene image generated by the image sensor. However, the CPU has a high-luminance excluding function for excluding from a target to be noticed of the AF process a partial image having a luminance exceeding “TH1” out of the object scene image generated by the image sensor. The CPU determines whether or not a partial image having a luminance exceeding “TH2” larger than “TH1” exists on the object scene image generated by the image sensor, and turns on the high-luminance excluding function when a determination result is affirmative and turns off the high-luminance excluding function when the determination result is negative.
US08237847B2
When the user sets an AF frame such that an object tracked as an AF target is in the AF frame, an auto-tracking process starts to detect a face image from the image captured by a television camera. Then, it is determined whether the face image is detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame. If it is determined that the face image is detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame, the position of the AF frame is changed on the basis of the position of the face image. On the other hand, if it is determined that the face image is not detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame, a pattern matching process is performed. The position of the AF frame is changed to the position of the object, which is a tracking target, detected by the pattern matching process.
US08237836B2
A solid-state image sensor device and a differential interface thereof that are capable of ensuring stable transmission of image data while reducing power consumption. In an aspect of the present invention, a solid-state image sensor device comprises an image sensor section for outputting analog signals of an image being taken; a plurality of AD converter sections, arranged with respect to the column direction of the image sensor section, for converting the analog signals into digital signals; a drive circuit section for controlling the image sensor section and the AD converter sections; and a plurality of differential interface sections for transmitting the digital signals converted by the AD converter sections as differential output signals to an external device. Further, each of the differential interface sections comprises a current value changeover circuit for selecting a constant current to be applied in each differential interface section in accordance with each of a plurality of operation modes, and an offset voltage holding circuit for maintaining a constant offset voltage level for the differential output signals even when an operation mode changeover is made.
US08237832B2
An image sensor includes a photosensitive region formed in a substrate of an integrated circuit. The substrate has a first layer of metal formed over the surface of the substrate so the first layer of metal defines a first aperture that has a first aperture width through with the incident light passes before illuminating the photosensitive region. The first aperture width is equal to or less than the width of the photosensitive region below the first aperture. The substrate also has a second layer of metal formed over the first layer of metal. The second aperture has a second aperture width that is wider than the first aperture width. The first and second apertures focus the incident light onto the photosensitive region.
US08237826B2
An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical element disposed in front of the image sensor, and a foreign substance information generation unit that generates foreign substance information for a still image from a foreign substance image obtained by sensing a foreign substance that adheres to the optical element with the image sensor, and generates foreign substance information for a moving image by performing reduction processing on the foreign substance image in accordance with the driving method of the image sensor when shooting a moving image.
US08237819B2
A method of operating a digital image capture device including storing a plurality of digital image template files, each of the digital image template files include features of a digital image template such as a number, location, and shape of openings in the digital image template. Image attribute requirements are also stored in association with each of the openings for screening images to be disposed in an opening. The templates are displayed to a user for selecting a template. Images are captured and stored and each of the images include image attribute data. Stored images are automatically searched to identify images that may be automatically digitally placed into openings in the digital template. The image attributes of found images are those which satisfy image attribute requirements of the openings. A file containing a digital image template together with the images digitally disposed therein is saved in the capture device for future use such as printing the file or transmitting the file over a network.
US08237816B2
A digital camera captures successive first and second images using an image sensor to produce image data, and processes the image data of the successive first and second images. The processing of the second image overlaps processing of the first image in time. The processing of the two images includes mapping locations in a virtual memory space to locations in the memory pages in a physical memory space of the digital camera, and storing information corresponding to the mapped locations in a page table. The digital camera performs operations on the image data of the first and second images stored at specified locations in the virtual memory space, and while performing those operations allocates and de-allocates memory pages in the physical memory space to virtual memory pages in the virtual memory space and updates the page table accordingly.
US08237809B2
To allow much better user control of how a camera output image captures an original scene, the imaging camera unit (401), arranged to form part of a image-capturing camera system (400), includes a user-interface (420), allowing a user to specify at least one indication (gp) of a geometric position of an object (101) of his preference in a captured image (Io) received from an imaging sensor (406) via an input (403), a user-adaptable object segmentation unit (410), arranged to determine a set of pixels (sg) being part of the object (101), on the basis of the indication (gp), and a color composition monitor unit (412), arranged to determine at least one statistic (ST) on the basis of at least one color property of pixels in the set of pixels (sg).
US08237808B2
There is provided a solid-state imaging device, which includes: a comparator for sequentially comparing a predetermined level of an analog pixel signal obtained from a plurality of pixels with a reference signal which is gradually changed and used for converting the predetermined level into digital data; a counter for performing a count processing in parallel with a comparison processing for the predetermined level in the comparator, and holding a count value at a time of completing the comparison processing to obtain digital data indicative of a value obtained by adding the plurality of pixel signals; and an addition spatial position adjusting unit for controlling a selection operation for selecting spatial positions of the plurality of pixels to be processed in the comparator and a ratio of a weight value during the addition to adjust spatial positions of pixels after addition.
US08237799B2
An imaging apparatus has an imaging section that creates video data from an optical image of a subject field; a feature acquiring section that acquires features of a main subject in the subject field; a feature holding section that holds the acquired features; a tracking processing section that performs a predetermined process for tracking the main subject using the created video data and the held features; and a controlling section that validates or invalidates an operation of the feature acquiring section, and the controlling section invalidates the operation of the feature acquiring section when the imaging apparatus satisfies a predetermined condition.
US08237795B2
The driving assistance device is adapted to have the first guide marker occupy a first position to ensure that the roadside occupies the first position in superimposed relationship with the first guide marker, at the time of making a judgment that an angle of the vehicle to the roadside is equal to a predetermined value, after the vehicle is moved toward the space in reverse gear with one maximum steering angle, and to have the second guide marker occupy a second position to ensure that the roadside occupies the second position in superimposed relationship with the second guide marker, at the time of making a judgment that the second guide marker is superimposed on the roadside, after the automotive vehicle is moved toward the space straight in reverse gear and the vehicle is parked, after the vehicle is moved toward the space in reverse gear with the other maximum steering angle.
US08237793B2
A monitoring system applies to a long distance transmission. A number of data acquisition devices records still images and video as signals and converts the video signals into voltage signals suitable for transmission. A monitoring host connected to the number of data acquisition devices via a network cable for long distance transmission processes the voltage signals to show the video.
US08237777B2
In a light projection system, potentially hierarchical levels of light intensity control ensure proper laser-light output intensity, color channel intensity, white point, left/right image intensity balancing, or combinations thereof. The light projection system can include a light intensity sensor in an image path, in a light-source subsystem light-dump path, in a light-modulation subsystem light-dump path, in a position to measure light leaked from optical components, or combinations thereof.
US08237774B2
A digital photographing apparatus capable of more precisely obtaining a panoramic image than conventional cameras, a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the method. The method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus includes: obtaining a first image according to a user's signal; inverting the pixel values of a portion of the first image; obtaining a second image; and obtaining a third image by combining the first image and the second image.
US08237773B2
Disclosed herein is a communication system, including: a sending apparatus configured to transmit a Digital Visual Interface signal wherein pixel data formed from color data including red data, green data and blue data are disposed successively for the individually same color data through a Digital Visual Interface cable; and a receiving apparatus configured to receive the Digital Visual Interface signal transmitted from said sending apparatus through said Digital Visual Interface cable.
US08237771B2
A method for framing subjects captured on video includes receiving video of a subject and determining a current shot framing of the subject. A magnitude and a direction of movement of the subject is determined, relative to the current framing and a level of motion threshold. The subject movement is analyzed relative to the determined magnitude, direction of subject movement, and the current framing, to determine that the subject is properly framed by the current shot framing or whether modifications of the current shot framing are required to capture the moving subject, or to determine a new shot selection and new shot framing. The camera re-frames the subject if the subject is determined not to be properly framed, in accordance with the determined modifications of the current shot framing, the new shot selection and new shot framing. Video images are provided to a remote viewer.
US08237768B2
The invention provides a system and method for controlling multimedia communication quality in a handheld device. The handheld device receives and transmits multimedia data via a wireless network. First, the predetermined video coding parameters are used to code a video stream and transmit the coded video stream via the wireless network, and receive a multimedia data via the wireless network. Next, the quality of the wireless network is detected. When the quality is poor, the video coding parameters are changed. Finally, the quality of received multimedia data is detected. When the quality of received multimedia data is poor, the video coding parameters are changed.
US08237767B2
Outgoing video communication requests are intercepted and screened by one or more unauthorized recipient lists, authorized recipient lists, caller-specific authorized/unauthorized recipient lists, and/or various combinations of these. The video communication requests may be blocked or forwarded to the recipient depending on whether the recipient is included or not included in one of the various lists.
US08237758B2
An image erasing apparatus includes: a scanner which detects a side of a sheet on which an image is formed using a thermally decolorable coloring agent; a heat roller which provides heat for the sheet having the image formed thereon; and a controller which causes a quantity of heat provided for the sheet from the heat roller when an image forming side detected by the scanner does not face the heat roller to be greater than a quantity of heat provided for the sheet from the heat roller when the image forming side faces the heat roller.
US08237756B2
A novel method for driving a display having an array of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of defining a modulation period for a row of pixels, dividing the modulation period into a number of coequal time intervals equal to n times the number of rows in the array, receiving a multi-bit data word that indicates an intensity value, and updating the signal asserted on the pixel during a plurality of the time intervals such that the intensity value is displayed by the pixel. Note that n is an integer greater than zero. The method can be applied to all rows, which can be driven asynchronously. A display driver for performing the novel methods is also disclosed. The present invention facilitates driving the display at 100% bandwidth efficiency during each time interval in the modulation period.
US08237754B2
A novel method for driving a display having an array of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of defining a modulation period for a row of pixels, dividing the modulation period into a number of coequal time intervals equal to n times the number of rows in the array, receiving a multi-bit data word that indicates an intensity value, and updating the signal asserted on the pixel during a plurality of the time intervals such that the intensity value is displayed by the pixel. Note that n is an integer greater than zero. The method can be applied to all rows, which can be driven asynchronously. A display driver for performing the novel methods is also disclosed. The present invention facilitates driving the display at 100% bandwidth efficiency during each time interval in the modulation period.
US08237753B2
A gradation conversion unit 23 performs, on an input image, gradation conversion in which a predetermined gain is applied to a gradation smaller than a boundary gradation CVth and a characteristic becomes a spline curve for a gradation larger than the boundary gradation. To determine a characteristic of the gradation conversion unit 23, an image analysis unit 22 obtains the boundary gradation CVth and a maximum gradation CVmax based on the input image, and determines a linear gain shift coefficient LGs so that the brightness decreasing rate of the maximum gradation CVmax when brightness control of a backlight 30 is performed becomes a limit value or less. In such a manner, power consumption of the backlight is reduced while suppressing deterioration in picture quality.
US08237748B2
A novel method for driving a display having an array of pixels arranged in a plurality of columns and a plurality of rows includes the steps of defining a modulation period for a row of pixels, dividing the modulation period into a number of coequal time intervals equal to n times the number of rows in the array, receiving a multi-bit data word that indicates an intensity value, and updating the signal asserted on the pixel during a plurality of the time intervals such that the intensity value is displayed by the pixel. Note that n is an integer greater than zero. The method can be applied to all rows, which can be driven asynchronously. A display driver for performing the novel methods is also disclosed. The present invention facilitates driving the display at 100% bandwidth efficiency during each time interval in the modulation period.
US08237745B1
A graphics or image rendering system, such as a map image rendering system, receives image data from an image database in the form of vector data that defines various features of the map, such as roads, boundaries, etc., in addition to text strings or symbols to be displayed with the features to provide, for example, labels for the features. The label positioning technique generally divides the displayed road feature into a number of road segments and then labels each road segment in a sequence based on an ordered set of labels and a position of each road segment.
US08237739B2
A method and device for performing and processing user-defined clipping in object space to reduce the number of computations needed for the clipping operation. The method and device also combine the modelview transformation of the vertex coordinates with projection transform. The user-defined clipping in object space provides a higher performance and less power consumption by avoiding generation of eye coordinates if there is no lighting. The device includes a driver for the user-defined clipping in the object space to perform dual mode user-defined clipping in object space when a lighting function is disabled and in eye space when the lighting function is enabled.
US08237730B1
A method for rendering an image including objects defined by surfaces. A rendering application selects an object in a first image and determines a surface of the object. An initial set of illumination values is calculated and is separated into low and high spatial frequency components associated with the surface of the object. The rendering application independently adjusts the illumination values of the low and high spatial frequency components based lighting information in the first image, and generates a modified set of illumination values by combining the adjusted low and high spatial frequency components. The surface of the object is then rendered using the modified set of illumination values. Advantageously, embodiments of the invention provide techniques for rendering an object without introducing halo effects around the object. Additionally, embodiments of the invention provide for rendering a sequence of frames without introducing fluctuations in the low frequency components from across frame.
US08237729B1
A computer-implemented method for texturing a modeled surface includes receiving an albedo map corresponding to light scattering under uniform incident diffuse light. The method includes determining, using the albedo map, a local scattering parameter for a multipole bidirectional scattering surface reflectance distribution function (BSSRDF). The method includes texturing a modeled surface using the BSSRDF and the local scattering parameter.
US08237705B2
Apparatuses and methods are presented for a hierarchical processor. The processor comprises, at a first level of hierarchy, a plurality of similarly structured first level components, wherein each of the plurality of similarly structured first level components includes at least one combined function module capable of performing multiple classes of graphics operations, each of the multiple classes of graphics operations being associated with a different stage of graphics processing. The processor comprises, at a second level of hierarchy, a plurality of similarly structured second level components positioned within each one of the plurality of similarly structured first level components, wherein each of the plurality of similarly structured second level components is capable of carrying out different operations from the multiple classes of graphics operations, wherein each first level component is adapted to distribute work to the plurality of similarly structured second level components positioned within the first level component.
US08237699B2
An apparatus and method for data interface of a flat panel display device, which is capable of transferring clocks in a state, in which the clocks are embedded in digital data, thereby reducing the number of transfer lines, is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transmitter unit built in a timing controller, to transmit transfer data with an embedding clock embedded between successive pieces of data, and a clock enable signal to indicate the embedding clock, and receiver units respectively built in a plurality of data integrated circuits connected to the timing controller, to separate and detect the embedding clock and the data from the transfer data, in response to the clock enable signal.
US08237691B2
A display driver circuit of a display device includes: a first DA converter for converting a digital data to a gray-scale potential within a first potential range; and a second DA converter for converting a digital data to a gray-scale potential within a second potential range lower than the first potential range. The first DA converter includes a first transistor of a first conductivity type outputting a gray-scale potential not less than the common potential. The second DA converter includes: a second transistor of the first conductivity type outputting a gray-scale potential not less than the common potential; and a third transistor of a second conductivity type outputting a gray-scale potential not more than the common potential. A substrate potential applied to a back gate of the second transistor is lower than a substrate potential applied to a back gate of the first transistor.
US08237690B2
The present invention permits a capacitance value of an electro-optical element such as organic EL element to be arbitrarily set without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel. That is, the present invention permits a capacitance value Coled of an organic EL element (21) to be arbitrarily set by adjusting the light emission area of the organic EL element (21) without changing the light extraction efficiency of a pixel (20) in an organic EL display device. The organic EL display device has the pixels (20) arranged in a matrix form. A light extraction opening (56) is formed on the surface of the pixel with a light-shielding film (black matrix) (57). The light extraction opening (56) has an opening area smaller than the light emission area of the organic EL element (21).
US08237689B2
An image encoding device includes a dynamic range generator for outputting dynamic range data Dd1 of block image data Dc1, an average value generator for outputting average value data De1 of the block image data Dc1, a number-of-pixel reducing unit 20 for decreasing number of pixels of the block image data by reduction-number of pixels to generate reduced-number-of-pixel block image data Dc1′, an encoding parameter generator 18 for generating encoding parameter pa1 specifying a quantization bit rate and the reduction-number of pixels in accordance with the dynamic range data Dd1, a quantization threshold generator 19 for generating a quantization threshold value tb1, and an image data quantizer 21 for generating quantized image data Df1 from the reduced-number-of-pixel block image data Dc1′ with use of the quantization threshold value tb1.
US08237687B2
Write in of lower significant bits of a digital video signal to a memory is eliminated by a memory controller of a signal control circuit in a display device during a second display mode in which the number of gray scales is reduced, as compared to a first display mode. Further, read out of the lower significant bits of the digital video signal from the memory is also eliminated. The amount of information of digital image signals input to a source signal line driver circuit is reduced. Corresponding to this operation, a display controller functions to make start pulses and clock pulses input to each driver circuit have a lower frequency, and write in periods and display periods of sub-frame periods participating in display are set longer.
US08237685B2
A method, device and computer program product for determining the material of an object based on its optical characteristics is disclosed. More specifically, the method operable on a touch screen that includes on its periphery a plurality of light sources (Li, i=1 to N) and sensors (Sj, j=1 to M), comprises the steps of transmitting a light from each of the light sources to an object within the boundary of the touch screen, determining a distance from the object to each of the light sources and each of the sensors, detecting the presences of the transmitted light at each of the sensors, determining, at each of the sensors a reflective index, n2 of the object and determining the object material based on the determined reflective indices.
US08237682B2
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.
US08237679B2
A liquid crystal display screen includes an upper component, a bottom component and a liquid crystal layer. The upper component includes a touch panel. The touch panel includes a first conductive layer. The first conductive layer includes a transparent carbon nanotube structure. The bottom component includes a thin film transistor panel. The thin film transistor panel includes a plurality of thin film transistors. Each of the plurality of thin film transistors includes a semiconducting layer, and the semiconducting layer includes a semiconducting carbon nanotube structure. The liquid crystal layer is located between the upper component and the lower component.
US08237674B2
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate separated from the first electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate and a first conductive layer located on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate and a second conductive layer located on an upper surface of the second substrate. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes at least two stacked carbon nanotube layers, each carbon nanotube layer comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes aligned in a single direction, and the carbon nanotubes in the two adjacent carbon nanotube layers arranged along different directions. A display device adopting the touch panel includes the touch panel and a display element.
US08237673B2
A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate, and a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate. The first conductive layer and the second conductive layer both include a carbon nanotube layer. Each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. The first substrate and the second substrate are flexible. Further, the present invention also relates to a display device. The display device includes a displaying unit and a touch panel.
US08237671B2
A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and at least two electrodes. The transparent conductive layer is formed on a surface of the substrate. The transparent conductive layer includes at least two carbon nanotube layers, and each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes arranged along a same direction. The carbon nanotubes of adjacent carbon nanotube layers are arranged along different directions. The electrodes are electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. Further, a display device using the touch panel is also included.
US08237667B2
Determining a compensated phase matrix for a multi-stimulus demodulation process is provided. A first drive line of a multi-stimulus sensing system is selected, and a stimulation signal is transmitted on the selected drive line. A channel gain resulting from the stimulation signal is measured from a received sense signal resulting from the stimulation signal. The measured channel gain is compared with a known channel gain to obtain an individual phase compensation for the selected drive line. A compensated phase matrix is formed of the individual phase compensation values for multiple drive lines.
US08237658B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides an improved text case feature. 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
US08237654B2
A method of controlling a display apparatus includes: displaying a pointer corresponding motion of a user, in which the user's motion is analyzed on the basis of images generated by sensing the user; and generating an input signal preset corresponding to the analyzed motion of the user. With this configuration, a user can input a command without using an additional physical device or being subject to spatial limitations.
US08237651B2
A method of controlling the temperature of a display device which includes a display panel having a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed in a matrix form, and a plurality of driver ICs is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: generating temperature information of the driver IC by detecting an exothermic temperature caused by the consumption power of each of the driver ICs; and controlling a supply current to the light emitting elements by comparing the temperature information with temperature information added with weighted position information to perform weighting in such a manner that exothermic temperature detection data of the driver IC becomes larger for the driver IC corresponding to an upper area of the display panel by using a look-up table previously formed and stored.
US08237641B2
A display device in which characteristic change of an organic light emitting layer due to deterioration or temperature change can be detected to keep the constant luminance of a light emitting element is provided. A monitor region is provided in addition to a pixel portion for display. A plurality of monitor elements is arranged in the monitor region. A switching circuit is provided so as to prevent a large amount of current from flowing in a shorted monitor element among the plurality of monitor elements. As a result, by monitoring potential change between electrodes of the monitor element, the voltage or the current that is supplied to a light emitting element in the pixel portion for display can be corrected in accordance with time degradation or temperature change.
US08237634B2
A pixel capable of improving response characteristics and displaying an image having a uniform image quality, and an organic light emitting display device using the same. The pixel includes an organic light emitting diode coupled between first power and second power; a pixel circuit coupled between the first power and the organic light emitting diode for supplying a driving current to the organic light emitting diode; and a first transistor for supplying a reset voltage to an anode electrode of the organic light emitting diode during a first period when a previous scan signal is supplied to a previous scan line.
US08237632B2
Disclosed herein is a display apparatus including a pixel array and a driver, the pixel array including rows of scanning lines, rows of feeding lines, columns of signal lines, and a matrix of pixels disposed at the crossings of the scanning lines and the signal lines, the driver including a write scanner for supplying a control signal successively to the scanning lines, a power supply scanner for switching each of the feeding lines between a high potential, a low potential, and an intermediate potential between the high potential and the low potential, and a signal selector for supplying a video signal, which alternately switches between a signal potential and a reference potential, to each of the signal lines.
US08237627B2
A head-mounted device for mounting on the head of a user includes a first pressing member for pressing a first portion of the head from a first direction; a second pressing member for pressing a second portion of the head from a second direction that is different from the first direction; a string member that concatenates the first pressing member and the second pressing member; a structure that guides the string member so that the first and the second pressing members move in the first and the second directions, respectively, according to changes in the length of the string member; and an adjusting unit that adjusts the length of the string member.
US08237626B2
A head-mounted device mounted on a wearer's head has a first pressing unit to press against the wearer's head from a position of his/her medulla, a second pressing unit to press against the wearer's head in an opposite direction to a pressing direction of the first pressing unit, and a mounting unit to mount the head-mounted device on the wearer's head by adjusting at least one of the first pressing unit and the second pressing unit.
US08237622B2
A base sheet 12 has a structure that stably couples a particular chip measuring 1 mm or less on paper with an antenna line by only disposing the chip and antenna line in such a manner that the chip and antenna line are close to each other, without electrically bringing the chip and antenna line into contact with each other. The base sheet 12 includes a chip 11 having a spiral coil 13 with at least one turn disposed on a surface of the chip, or inside the chip and near the surface thereof and an antenna line 14 having a conductor part 14A orbiting around the coil 13A of the chip 11 or directly over or directly below the coil 13A so that the conductor part is magnetically coupled with the coil 13A. This base sheet has a structure that stably couples even a chip measuring 1 mm or less on paper or the like with an antenna line by only disposing the chip and antenna line in such a manner that the chip and antenna line are close to each other, without physically bringing the chip and antenna line into contact with each other.
US08237620B2
A method and device bracket are presented for reconfigurable radiation desensitivity. The method includes: accepting a radiated wave from a source such as a transmitter, antenna, microprocessor, electrical component, integrated circuit, camera, connector, or signal cable; in response to the radiated wave, creating a first current per units square (I/units2) through a groundplane of an electrical circuit such as a printed circuit board (PCB), display, connector, or keypad; accepting a control signal; and, in response to the control signal, creating a second I/units2 through the groundplane. This step couples the groundplane to a bracket having a selectable effective electrical length. Typically, the groundplane is coupled to a bracket with a fixed physical length section to provide a combined effective electrical length responsive to the fixed physical length and the selectable effective electrical length. The coupling mechanism can result from transistor coupling, p/n junction coupling, selectable capacitive coupling, or mechanically bridging.
US08237618B2
A slot-fed Yagi aerial includes: a cable, a reflector, an active dipole and directors, wherein, the reflector, the active dipole, etc. are provided on a support tube; the feeding section of the Yagi aerial is of a shielded slot structure in which the distance between the ends of the slot is approximately one half of the wavelength of the electromagnetic signal desired to be received; the two pieces of thin metal rods composing the half wavelength dipole are located at two external sides of the slot; the outer conductor of the cable is connected to one side of the slot, and the inner conductor of the cable is connected to the other side of the slot or the inner conductor of the cable isolated by a dielectric layer is wound around at the other side of the slot, so as to realize a direct connection feed or a coupling feed. The slot-fed Yagi aerial employs a half wavelength dipole composed of two pieces of thin metal rods, and its feeding section is of a shielded slot structure, and its feeding is realized by the slot. After simulation test and examination, the Yagi aerial according to the present invention can provide a better gain and front-to-rear ratio over a folded dipole in the case that they have same size, so that the production cost is saved and the occupation space of the aerial is reduced while the gain and the front-to-rear ratio is maintained.
US08237610B2
Methods and apparatuses are provided that may be used by one or more devices within in wireless communication network to request and/or provide code phase related information signals associated with various Satellite Positioning Systems (SPSs).
US08237609B2
Methods and apparatus are presented for determining a position of an antenna of a GNSS rover from observations of GNSS signals collected at the antenna over multiple epochs and from correction data for at least one of the epochs. A first-epoch rover position relative to a base location is determined for a first epoch using a single-differencing process based on one of (i) fixed carrier-phase ambiguities and (ii) a weighted average of carrier-phase ambiguity candidates which is converged to a predetermined threshold. A second-epoch rover position relative to a base location is determined for a second epoch using a single-differencing process. A second-epoch update of the first-epoch rover position relative to the base location is determined for the second epoch using a single-differenced delta phase process and the first-epoch rover position is combined with the second-epoch update to obtain a second-epoch delta phase rover position relative to a moving base location of the second epoch. The second-epoch delta phase rover position is selected as reliable if the second-epoch rover position is not based on one of (i) fixed carrier-phase ambiguities and (ii) a weighted average of carrier-phase ambiguity candidates which is converged to a predetermined threshold.
US08237607B2
A method and system for coordinating air-to-air tracking and air-to-ground tracking for an airborne tracked target that is landing or performing an airdrop. Air-to-air tracking data is analyzed to detect if the tracked target is landing, and a predicted landing location is computed. An air-to-ground sensor is activated, via a separate air-to-ground tracking module or via a mode change, and the air-to-ground tracking is initiated at the predicted landing location of a detected target. Both automated and manually-assisted air-to-ground activation are supported.
US08237598B2
Provided is a method for performing analog to digital conversion of a plurality of analog signal channels. The method may comprise successively processing each analog signal channel of a plurality of analog signal channels. The processing of an analog signal channel of the plurality of analog signal channels may comprise: selecting the analog signal channel from the plurality of analog signal channels, generating an analog output signal corresponding to an analog input signal transmitted over the selected analog signal channel, and sampling the analog output signal using a successive approximation register (SAR) converter. Sampling the analog output signal using a SAR converter may comprise sampling the analog output signal a specific number of times to produce a respective plurality of digital samples corresponding to the selected analog input signal.
US08237586B2
A method and a system for recognizing the statuses of electric appliances are provided. In the present method, a loop is taking as a unit for recognition, and a power consumption factor sensor which is capable of measuring a single power consumption factor is used such that the current status of each electric appliance in the loop can be recognized by comparing the probability distribution of the power consumption factor. Since it is not needed to dispose an extra measuring device on each electric appliance, the cost of recognizing the statuses of the electric appliances is significantly reduced.
US08237577B2
A battery-powered supplemental alert generator is disclosed that is adapted to be mounted in close proximity to, such as within 3 or 4 feet of, a conventional smoke, heat and/or fire detector/alert device. The supplemental alert generator operates in a relatively low power mode while listening for the nearby detector/alert device to generate a standard audible alert signal. Upon detecting that a monitored sound level has reached a particular threshold, the supplemental alert generator enters into a higher power analysis mode in which it analyzes the detected signal to assess whether it is an audible alert signal. If an audible alert signal is detected, the supplemental alert generator generates one or more supplemental alert signals, such as a 520 Hz audible square wave signal. The supplemental alert generator may be used to retrofit a house, hotel, or other building to comply with new standards or to otherwise increase the effectiveness of the existing detection/alert system.
US08237563B2
A system and method of using motion or spatial identification technology with a mobile RFID reader to detect whether an RFID tag is part of a forklift load or other ambulatory space includes determining if a tag is within a defined space or if a tag is in motion relative to a mobile RFID reader. The system and method determines whether a particular RFID tag is part of a forklift load/space, has been added to or removed, is an extraneous tag, etc.
US08237532B2
An electronic circuit device 1 arranged with a first substrate 11, a core 33 (magnetic body) mounted on the first substrate 11, a resin sealing body 17 which covers the first substrate 11 and the core 33, and a curable type stress relieving material 35 which reduces stress applied to the core 33 by the resin sealing body 17 is arranged within the resin sealing body 33 from the side surface periphery of the core 33 across to the first substrate 11.
US08237530B2
An M-winding coupled inductor includes a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, M connecting magnetic elements, and M windings. M is an integer greater than one. Each connecting magnetic element is disposed between and connects the first and second end magnetic elements. Each winding is wound at least partially around a respective one of the M connecting magnetic elements. The coupled inductor further includes at least one top magnetic element adjacent to and extending at least partially over at least two of the M connecting magnetic elements to provide a magnetic flux path between the first and second end magnetic elements. The inductor may be included in an M-phase power supply, and the power supply may at least partially power a computer processor.
US08237525B2
Conventional devices have a valve needle and a shape memory element which, by the application of a controllable magnetic field, executes a control stroke travel that operates the actuator, and having a coil that excites the magnetic field which is situated in a magnet housing which, at its end face, is bordered with respect to an actuating axis by a front wall in each case, the front walls having a through opening radially within the coil. It is a disadvantage that the magnetic field excited around the coil is conducted unfavorably, so that at most a slight magnetic field develops in the shape memory element. The shape memory element has a magnetic field flowing through it, in the direction of its longitudinal extension, if at all. Since the shape memory element has a high magnetic resistance and is developed to be very long in the axial direction, only a very weak magnetic field can be induced in the shape memory element. In response to the magnetic field that is weak at most, the shape memory element can generate only a very slight lift of the valve needle. In the device according to the present invention, a strong magnetic field is conducted through the shape memory elements, and in this way, a large control stroke travel is achieved. The shape memory element(s) is/are positioned generally only in the through opening(s).
US08237523B2
The relay has a movable first contact, a second contact, and an actuating element operatively connected with an armature of the relay. The first contact is movable toward the second contact by the actuating element and dependent on a supply of current to the relay. A snap action spring connects the second contact to a housing of the relay. The second contact is positioned between two arrangements by the snap action spring.
US08237519B2
Filter design techniques and filters based on metamaterial structures including an extended composite left and right handed (E-CRLH) metamaterial unit cell.
US08237503B2
An output stage (1) for a digital RF transmitter is provided. The output stage comprises: an input adapted to receive an input signal (RFin, b7-b0) to be transmitted; a plurality N of power amplification sections (S1, S2, S3, S4); and an output (A, B) providing an output voltage signal. Each of the N power amplification sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) is arranged to receive the input signal (RFin, b7-b0) and comprises a transformer (T1, T2, T3, T4) adapted to provide a respective output signal. Each transformer comprises a primary stage and a secondary stage; the secondary stages of the transformers (T1, T2, T3, T4) of the N power amplification sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) are combined such that a combined output voltage signal of the output stage is provided. The N power amplification sections (S1, S2, S3, S4) are adapted such that the input signal (RFin, b7-b0) is latched by clock signals (clock1, clock2, clock3, clock4) comprising different phases.
US08237502B2
An amplifier with bias stabilizer includes first to forth transistors, an amplifier unit and a resistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are connected in series between first and second power supplies and generate a first current. The third transistor is connected in a current mirror configuration to the second transistor and generates a second current corresponding to the first current. The amplifier unit generates an output signal based on an input signal and includes a fourth transistor, the fourth transistor generating a control voltage according to the second current so as to control the first transistor. The resistor is connected in series to at least one of the first to fourth transistors.
US08237498B2
According to an embodiment, a Doherty amplifier system has a first Doherty amplifier and a second Doherty amplifier. The first Doherty amplifier operates in a SISO communication mode and in a MIMO communication mode. The first Doherty amplifier comprises a first carrier amplifier and a first peak amplifier. The second Doherty amplifier operates in the MIMO communication mode but not operates in the SISO communication mode. The second Doherty amplifier comprises a second carrier amplifier and a second peak amplifier. A distance between the first carrier amplifier and the second carrier amplifier is less than any of a distance between any of the first carrier amplifier and the second peak amplifier and any of the first peak amplifier and the second peak amplifier. In the SISO communication mode, heat generated by the first Doherty amplifier is conducted to the second Doherty amplifier to warm up the second Doherty amplifier.
US08237495B2
Disclosed is a high efficiency amplifier operable to substantially reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI). The high efficiency amplifier comprises an output stage to provide a high powered signal to a load. The high efficiency amplifier further comprises an overlap protection circuit to produce a timing non-overlap in a control signal for the output stage, and an edge control circuit to reduce a transient portion of the high powered signal to substantially reduce the EMI. The overlap protection circuit and the edge control circuit may be implemented with resistive source degeneration. Also disclosed is a related method. In one embodiment, the high efficiency amplifier and the related method may be incorporated into a cellular telephone or a mobile audio device.
US08237483B2
A circuit for processing a clock signal including first and second clock edges of different polarities, the circuit including an inverter for inverting a first clock edge to generate an inverted first clock edge and inverting a second clock edge to generate an inverted second clock edge; a first pass gate for receiving the inverted clock edge and outputting a first trigger signal of a first polarity; and a second pass gate for receiving the second clock edge and outputting a second trigger signal of the first polarity, wherein the second pass gate is controlled to open responsive to the inverted second clock edge; whereby the delay between the first clock edge and the first trigger signal is substantially equal to the delay between the second clock edge and second trigger signal.
US08237482B2
A circuit comprises a frequency divider coupled to receive an oscillating signal generated by an oscillator and a division ratio and configured to divide the oscillating signal by the division ratio into a clock signal; a temperature compensation circuit configured to measure a temperature of the oscillator and generate a division ratio to be provided to the frequency divider and a first value on the basis of the measured temperature; and a control system configured to control connection between a calibration element and the oscillator based on the first value and the oscillating signal of the oscillator.
US08237475B1
A circuit includes a locked loop and a phase offset circuit. The locked loop generates first control signals for controlling a first delay in the locked loop. The phase offset circuit delays an input signal by a second delay that is controlled by second control signals to generate a delayed signal. The phase offset circuit generates the second control signals by adjusting the first control signals to increase the accuracy of the delayed signal with respect to a target phase. The second control signals compensate for at least a portion of a change in the second delay that is caused by a variation in at least one of a process, a supply voltage, and a temperature of the circuit.
US08237473B2
A plurality of delay paths are connected in parallel between two synchronous operation circuits operating in synchronism with a clock signal CLK, and enable transmission of a signal. A delay detection unit detects the respective delay times of the plurality of delay paths, and a control unit selects one delay path from among the plurality of delay paths based on the detection results from the delay detection unit, and controls the blocking of signal transmission in the delay paths other than the selected one delay path.
US08237462B2
A method for wafer level testing is provided which includes providing a wafer having an integrated circuit formed thereon, applying a signal to energize the integrated circuit, the signal including increasing steps or decreasing steps that range between a first level and a second level, and determining whether the integrated circuit complies with a test criteria after applying the signal.
US08237461B2
A contactor includes conductive parts for electrical connection with input/output terminals of an IC device; beam parts with the conductive part provided on their main surfaces; and a base part supporting the beam parts in a cantilever manner, the base part has a support region supporting the beam parts and mark formation regions at which first positioning marks are provided, and weakened parts relatively weaker in strength than other parts of the base part are provided between the support region and mark formation regions.
US08237460B1
A pogo pin inserting device for testing a semiconductor device has a pin feeder for storing a plurality of pogo pins. A socket mounting device has a socket mounted thereon, wherein the plurality of pogo pins is loaded into the socket by the pin feeder. A magnetic field applying device applies a magnetic field to the socket to allow the plurality of pogo pins loaded onto the socket to be inserted into the socket in one of a forward or backward direction. An air blowing portion supplies the socket with air to eject backwardly inserted pogo pins from the socket.
US08237456B2
In certain embodiments, a multi-channel capacitive sensor for measuring capacitances of sense electrodes to a system reference potential comprises a sample capacitor having first and second terminals. The sensor comprises a first diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the sample capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a first sense electrode, and comprises a second diode having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the sample capacitor and a second terminal coupled to a second sense electrode. A control circuit is operable to apply a drive signal to the first terminal of the sample capacitor and apply a bias signal to the respective second terminals of at least one of the first and second diodes so as to selectively prevent the at least one of the first and second diodes from conducting the drive signal to respectively connected sense electrodes.
US08237454B2
Measuring device for local measurement of an electrical property of the content of a container, wherein at least three electrodes are disposed adjacently of each other in height direction and electrically insulated from each other, wherein each of the electrodes can be connected to an electrical measuring circuit for measuring, via one of the electrodes and one other electrode connected to an electrical earth, the electrical property of the content of the container in the vicinity of the electrodes, and wherein the electrical measuring circuit is adapted to generate at least one electric measuring signal representing the measured electrical property, and a control unit for connecting the one electrode to the electrical measuring circuit and connecting the other electrode to an electrical earth.
US08237452B2
Non-invasive THz spectroscopic apparatus and methods are provided for detecting and/or identifying constituents such as variations in a structural entity where chemical or biological entities can reside. Position dependent scattering of THz radiation is employed to image voids and defects in the internal structure of samples, enabling the determination of contamination, spoilage or readiness of products such as wine in sealed containers.
US08237440B2
A unilateral NMR sensor comprising a ferromagnetic yoke; a permanent magnet arranged on the yoke; a pole piece on the magnet; the pole piece including an air-pole piece interface surface whose shape corresponds to an equipotential contour of magnetic scalar potential. An approach for designing single-sided magnets suitable for unilateral magnetic resonance (UMR) measurements is presented. The method uses metal pole pieces to shape the field from permanent magnets in a target region. The pole pieces are shaped according to solutions to Laplace's equation, and can be designed using a combination of analytical methods and numerical optimization. The design leads to analytical expressions for the pole piece shape and magnetic field. The method is developed in Cartesian, polar, and spherical coordinates, and the merits of each system are discussed. The effects of finite magnet size on the field quality are explored through simulation, and are found to have a substantial effect in many cases. A magnet is designed using our method to produce a static field with a constant gradient over a region 2 cm in diameter and 2 mm thick. This leads to a compact cylindrical magnet just over 11 cm in diameter, topped with a single metal pole piece. The design is validated through simulation. The simulated field is found to agree closely with that specified analytically through the design procedure.
US08237437B2
A fabrication process and apparatus provide a high-performance magnetic field sensor (200) from two differential sensor configurations (201, 211) which require only two distinct pinning axes (206, 216) which are formed from a single reference layer (60) that is etched into high aspect ratio shapes (62, 63) with their long axes drawn with different orientations so that, upon treating the reference layers with a properly aligned saturating field (90) and then removing the saturating field, the high aspect ratio patterns provide a shape anisotropy that forces the magnetization of each patterned shape (62, 63) to relax along its respective desired axis. Upon heating and cooling, the ferromagnetic film is pinned in the different desired directions.
US08237436B2
Compensation coil functionality and flip coil functionality are combined into a single combination coil that is placed under an angle α with respect to the length direction of a magneto-resistive sensor element. The angle α substantially deviates from 0° and 90°. This configuration enables to reduce the width of the current line of the planar combination coil, to reduce the effective threshold for sensor element switching, and to include features to simplify a 2D sensor design.
US08237435B2
An assembling structure of a current detection apparatus includes: a bus bar; a sensor main body having a magnetism detection element which detects a magnetism generated from the bus bar; a housing having a sensor compartment which accommodates the sensor main body; a magnetism shield member mounted externally on the housing; a cover that holds the bus bar and the magnetism shield member by the at least part of the upper surface of the cover and the lower surface of the housing therebetween; a projecting portion formed on the cover, which projects upwards from the upper surface of the cover; a hole formed in the bus bar, through which the projecting portion of the cover is inserted; and a hole formed in the lower surface of the housing, which is adapted to fit on the projecting portion which passes through the hole in the bus bar.
US08237433B2
Described are methods for monitoring of stresses and other material properties. These methods use measurements of effective electrical properties, such as magnetic permeability and electrical conductivity, to infer the state of the test material, such as the stress, temperature, or overload condition. The sensors, which can be single element sensors or sensor arrays, can be used to periodically inspect selected locations, mounted to the test material, or scanned over the test material to generate two-dimensional images of the material properties. Magnetic field or eddy current based inductive and giant magnetoresistive sensors may be used on magnetizable and/or conducting materials, while capacitive sensors can be used for dielectric materials. Methods are also described for the use of state-sensitive layers to determine the state of materials of interest. These methods allow the weight of articles, such as aircraft, to be determined.
US08237427B2
A bridge module provides connection between first and second conductors of a line under test and a test instrument adapted for use with the bridge module. The bridge module provides monitoring and measurement of DSL communication signals between the telephone company DSL terminal (DSLAM) and the subscriber home DSL equipment across a wide range of frequencies. The bridge module can be used at any point in the communications link and can be used while the link is active. The bridge module provides a clickless connection to the active DSL communications link to avoid interruption in DSL service.
US08237420B2
An inrush current suppressing circuit connected between a power supply and a working circuit of an electronic device includes a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit both connected between the power supply and the working circuit. The first power supply circuit suppresses inrush current and forwards power from the power supply to the working circuit when the electronic device is powered on. The second power supply circuit forwards power from the power supply to the working circuit when the power supply reaches a predetermined voltage.
US08237417B2
The DC-DC converter includes a control unit that controls a current stored in an inductance and an output voltage output from an output terminal electrically couplable to the inductance. The control unit assigns a first period and a second period to a given period when the output voltage is lower than a given value in response to a load electrically couplable to the output terminal. The first period is where a current is stored in the inductance in response to an input voltage and a reference voltage, and the second period is where the current stored in the inductance is supplied to the output terminal in response to the input voltage and the output voltage.
US08237415B2
An output voltage monitoring circuit monitors an output voltage of a capacitor charging circuit. A first sample-and-hold circuit samples and holds a voltage of a connection point of a primary coil of a transformer and a switching transistor. A first monitoring comparator compares output of the first sample-and-hold circuit with a predetermined first reference voltage. When the output of the first sample-and-hold circuit exceeds the first reference voltage, a signal processor executes predetermined signal processing. The first sample-and-hold circuit starts a sampling period after a predetermined first time has elapsed after the switching transistor is turned OFF. When a voltage drop across a detection resistor reaches a third reference voltage, the first sample-and-hold circuit ends the sampling period.
US08237413B2
A method for managing the charge of a battery having at least one rechargeable electrochemical cell. A charging circuit applies a trickle charge current to the battery and, when the temperature of the battery is below a first threshold temperature, an overcharge current for keeping the battery within its nominal temperature range even if the battery is employed in a cold environment. And a related electronic system for a battery implementing the method and a battery employing such system.
US08237412B2
A battery charger is disclosed for use with various batteries, such as automotive and marine-type batteries. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the charging current is alternated between non-zero DC charging current levels. By alternating the charging current between non-zero DC charging levels, the battery can be charged to a higher capacity (i.e., ampere hours) faster, thus reducing the charging time and at the same time allow the rating of the battery charger to be increased. In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the technique for alternating the charging current can be implemented in both linear and switched-mode battery chargers.
US08237409B2
A protective circuit module of a secondary battery and a secondary battery using the same, the protection circuit module including a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) device and a circuit board, wherein terminals of the PTC device are inserted into the circuit board to be coupled with connection terminals of the circuit board so that workability is improved and manufacturing costs are reduced. The secondary battery sensitively reacts to a temperature increase of the secondary battery by installing the PTC device on the upper or lower side of the circuit board, or extending one terminal of the PTC device to a bare cell of the secondary battery.
US08237408B2
A battery charging apparatus and method adapted to reduce battery capacity as a function of increased temperature thereby permitting partial charges at temperatures in excess of manufacturer's recommendations. The method includes steps of reducing charging current and charging voltage as a function of battery temperature thereby averting chemical instability within the battery. The apparatus detects battery temperature and includes a controller that will control charger voltage and current as a function of temperature and determine a suitable charging capacity.
US08237406B2
The present invention provides a battery array voltage equalization device comprising: a sampling unit which samples the battery voltage signals of the battery array according to a sampling control signal; an analog-to-digital converting unit which converts the sampled voltage signals into a digital voltage signal; a control unit which generates the sampling control signal and a driving signal based on the digital voltage signal; an equalization unit which equalizes the voltage signals of the battery array based on the driving signal; a filter unit which is connected to the equalization unit and the battery array. The present invention applies the filter unit to filter out the ripple signal generated during equalization.
US08237404B2
When a battery pack having an output voltage of 14.4 V that is connectable to an electric tool in a sliding manner is used as a power supply source for the electric tool that is connectable to a battery pack in an insertion manner and has a rated voltage of 12 V, the electric tool and the battery pack are connected to each other with an adaptor interposed therebetween. The adaptor has an FET that is switched at a predetermined duty of a predetermined frequency. The battery pack and the electric tool are connected or disconnected to or from each other by the switching operation, thereby dropping the output voltage of the battery pack. The voltage from the battery pack is detected. When the detected voltage is out of a predetermined value range, it is judged that the overcurrent or overdischarge has occurred. Then, the FET is turned off to stop the electric tool.
US08237399B2
A system and method of controlling charging process of an electronic device. The electronic device is installed with a battery and a protection circuit. The method includes setting a time interval to check a charging state of the electronic device, checking whether the battery is in an error state before a power supply charges the electronic device, and checking whether the electronic device is in an charging error state according to the time interval till the electronic device completes the charging process. When there is an abnormity, the method can output a message to a user and end the charging process using the protection circuit.
US08237396B2
A motor driving device includes a first power supply terminal, a second power supply terminal, a drive unit that is coupled to the first power supply terminal, the second power supply terminal, and a motor winding, a control unit that controls the drive unit, and a resistive element that is coupled between the drive unit and the first power supply terminal. The control unit makes the motor winding and the resistive element form a loop circuit when a voltage between the first power supply terminal and the second power supply terminal exceeds a predetermined value.
US08237394B2
According to a method for initializing an indicating instrument for a vehicle, zero-reset processing is performed. In the zero-reset processing, a control device is made to control a drive signal to rotate a pointer in a zero-reset direction in order to force a step motor to lose synchronization. Furthermore, synchronization loss detection processing is performed. In the detection processing, a physical phenomenon generated in a rotary drive system due to forcible synchronization loss of the motor during the zero-reset processing, is detected. Then, an electrical angle of the drive signal at a time of detection of the phenomenon is selected as a synchronization loss electrical angle. Finally, zero point setting processing is performed. In the setting processing, the electrical angle phase-shifted from the synchronization loss electrical angle in an indication value increasing direction by 180 degrees or less, is set as a zero point stored in the control device.
US08237387B2
A fan duty cycle controlling system and method are implemented by a computing device. The fan duty cycle controlling system obtains an optimum duty cycle range of a fan around a central processing unit (CPU), and controls the fan to operate at the optimum duty cycle range. By implementing the system and method, the computing device can obtain an optimum cooling efficiency of the computer system, and reduce system noise generated by the fan when the fan operates at the optimum duty cycle range.
US08237377B2
A light system and method includes a housing having an array of LEDs spaced to transmit light within a field of illumination. An EM sensor disposed within the housing is configured to detect EM radiation within the field of illumination. A processor is configured to generate an output in response to levels of EM radiation, such as visible light, infrared light, and/or radio frequency (RF) radiation detected by the EM sensor relative to a predetermined setpoint.
US08237372B2
The present invention relates to an electronic device for driving a light emitting diode, which includes a switch being adapted to switch a switch-mode power converter, and controlling means being adapted for controlling the switch in response to a sensing value indicative of a current of the switch-mode power converter and for controlling by the switch the output voltage of the switched power converter and a current through the light emitting diode.
US08237368B2
A driving device includes a dimmer, a rectifying-filtering unit, a rectifying-dividing unit, a control unit, and a voltage transforming unit. The dimmer is used for receiving an alternating current (AC) voltage from a power supply, and generating a primary voltage for controlling the brightness of a luminous element. The rectifying-filtering unit is used for rectifying and filtering the primary voltage to generate a secondary voltage. The rectifying-dividing unit is used for rectifying and dividing the primary voltage to generate a detecting voltage. The control unit is used for receiving the secondary voltage, and generating a pulse voltage whose duty cycle is variable with the detecting voltage. The voltage transforming unit is used for transforming the secondary voltage to a driving voltage for driving the luminous element to emit light according to the pulse voltage. A related electronic apparatus is also provided.
US08237355B2
It is an object of the invention to provide a technique to manufacture a display device with high image quality and high reliability at low cost with high yield. The invention has spacers over a pixel electrode layer in a pixel region and over an insulating layer functioning as a partition which covers the periphery of the pixel electrode layer. When forming a light emitting material over a pixel electrode layer, a mask for selective formation is supported by the spacers, thereby preventing the mask from contacting the pixel electrode layer due to a twist and deflection thereof. Accordingly, such damage as a crack by the mask does not occur in the pixel electrode layer. Thus, the pixel electrode layer does not have a defect in shapes, thereby a display device which performs a high resolution display with high reliability can be manufactured.
US08237352B2
A photoluminescent sheet is disclosed. A photoluminescent sheet that includes a matrix resin layer, which is a thermosetting resin; a phosphor, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which converts the wavelength of light emitted from a blue LED; a curing agent, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which cures liquid thermosetting resin; and an additive, which is included in the matrix resin layer and which disperses the phosphor uniformly within the matrix resin layer, can implement white light from light having wavelengths corresponding to blue color.
US08237346B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a PDP and an FED with excellent visibility and a high level of reliability that each have an antireflective function by which reflection of external light can be reduced. A plurality of adjacent pyramidal-shaped projections and an antireflective layer equipped with a covering film that covers the projections are provided. The reflection of light is prevented by the index of refraction of incident light from external being changed by a pyramid, which is a physical shape, projecting out toward an external side (atmosphere side) of a substrate that is to be used as a display screen as well as by the covering film used to cover the projections being formed of a material that has a higher index of refraction than the index of refraction of the pyramidal projection.
US08237344B2
An electron emission apparatus includes an insulating substrate, one or more grids located on the substrate, wherein the one or more grids includes: a first, second, third and fourth electrode that are located on the periphery of the gird, wherein the first and the second electrode are parallel to each other, and the third and fourth electrodes are parallel to each other; and one or more electron emission units located on the substrate. Each the electron unit includes at least one electron emitter, and the electron emitter includes a first end, a second end and a gap. At least one electron emission end is located in the gap.
US08237343B2
Provided is a spark plug that includes a center electrode extending in an axial direction, a cylindrical insulator that holds the center electrode, and a cylindrical main metal fitting, which has a ground electrode at a tip portion thereof. The cylindrical main metal fitting includes a tool engagement portion for mounting the spark plug to an engine and a metal fitting-side fitting portion provided at a rear side of the main metal fitting opposite from the tip portion. The metal fitting-side fitting portion holds the insulator in a tightly fitted state in a radial direction.
US08237342B2
A plasma jet ignition plug that reliably prevents current leakage with restraint on variation in the position of a ground electrode relative to an insulator and on overheat of the ground electrode, for stable generation of plasma. The plug includes an insulator having an axial bore extending in the direction of an axis CL1, a center electrode inserted in the axial bore, a metallic shell disposed externally of the outer circumference of the insulator, and a ground electrode fixed to the metallic shell, and has a cavity defined by the wall surface of the axial bore and the front end surface of the center electrode. Supports intervene between the insulator and the ground electrode. A space formed radially outward of the supports and a space formed radially inward of the support communicate with each other.
US08237341B2
A spark ignition device and method of construction is provided. The device includes a ceramic insulator and a metal shell surrounding at least a portion of the ceramic insulator. The metal shell extends along a central axis between an upper terminal end and a lower fastening end. The fastening end has a pair of projections diametrically opposite one another extending axially to free ends. A center electrode assembly is received at least in part in the ceramic insulator. In addition, the device includes an elongate ground electrode having opposite sides extending along a length of the ground electrode between opposite ends. The ground electrode has opposite faces with a sparking surface attached to one of the faces, wherein the face with the sparking surface attached thereto is sunk axially into the free ends of the projections with at least a portion of the opposite sides being surrounded by the projections.
US08237334B2
A transducer mechanism has a stacked piezo electric actuators driving arms rotating in different directions and having a structure such that the arms remain generally parallel to each other. A flexible member may be attached to the arms to obtain an extended stroke in a direction perpendicular to the axis of movement of the actuators.
US08237330B2
A vibrating element of an ultrasonic motor includes a vibrating member, and a piezoelectric body to produce a traveling wave thus to vibrate the vibrating member when electric power is applied to the piezoelectric body. The piezoelectric body includes a first piezoelectric layer attached to the vibrating member and in which positive poles and negative poles are alternately polarized, a second piezoelectric layer attached to the first piezoelectric layer and in which positive poles and negative poles are alternately polarized, a plurality of electrodes formed on opposite surfaces of the first and second piezoelectric layers, and an electrode connecting part formed on outer circumferential surfaces of the first and second piezoelectric layers to selectively connect the plurality of electrodes to one other.
US08237317B2
A device for moving a movable structural component with respect to a stationary structural component includes a first fastening element which can be fastened to the movable structural component, and a housing tube having a second fastening element which can be fastened to the stationary structural component. A spindle drive for moving the first fastening element axially relative to the housing between an extended position and a retracted position includes a spindle nut arranged on a threaded spindle. An electric motor arranged in the housing tube drives one of the spindle nut and the threaded spindle in rotation. A power supply for supplying power to the electric motor includes a power output stage arranged in the housing tube, wherein the power output stage is shielded from electrical and magnetic fields.
US08237316B2
An electromotor or a generator for conveying gas and/or liquid media. The electromotor or the generator has a rotor with a rotor magnet. The rotor is surrounded by a stator. The stator has at least one stator groove limited by a stator tooth. At least a part of the stator groove serves as a medium passage opening.
US08237308B2
In one embodiment, a method is used to provide dynamic electrical power management which may minimize the potential for overload conditions and may ensure that system performance limits are maintained. The method may dynamically limit the primary load system power draw in response to the net power draw of all other electrical power users on the aircraft which may ensure that the total power levels remain below critical limits. The method may also provide predictive controls to handle rapid load transients. Additionally, if vital functions are not being met, the method may shed other selected aircraft electrical loads which may ensure that adequate power is provided to the primary load system.
US08237306B2
A control system for a pneumatically operated mast has a first control, a second control, and a positioning member. A first serial link communicates the first control with the second control. A second serial link communicates the second control with the positioning member. A relay system communicates with the first and second control and the positioning member. The relay system accommodates a 12 voltage or 24 voltage source.
US08237297B2
The alignment mark and method for making the same are described. In one embodiment, a semiconductor structure includes a substrate having a device region and an alignment region; a first shallow trench isolation (STI) feature in the alignment region and having a first depth D1; a second STI feature in the device region and having a second depth D2; an alignment mark with patterned features overlying the first STI in the alignment region; and a gate stack formed on an active region in the device region.
US08237268B2
A module includes a semiconductor chip having at least a first terminal contact surface and a second terminal contact surface. A first bond element made of a material on the basis of Cu is attached to the first terminal contact surface, and a second bond element is attached to the second terminal contact surface. The second bond element is made of a material different from the material of the first bond element or is made of a type of bond element different from the type of the first bond element.
US08237267B2
A semiconductor device with semiconductor chips stacked thereon is provided. The semiconductor device is reduced in size and thickness. In a first memory chip and a second memory chip, first pads of the first memory chip located at a lower stage and hidden by the second memory chip located at an upper stage are drawn out by re-wiring lines, whereby the first pads projected and exposed from the overlying second memory chip and second pads of the second memory chip can be coupled together through wires. Further, a microcomputer chip and third pads formed on re-wiring lines are coupled together through wires over the second memory chip, whereby wire coupling of the stacked memory chips can be done without intervention of a spacer.
US08237266B2
Component stacking for increasing packing density in integrated circuit packages. In one aspect of the invention, an integrated circuit package includes a substrate, and a plurality of discrete components connected to the substrate and approximately forming a component layer parallel to and aligned with a surface area of the substrate. An integrated circuit die is positioned adjacent to the component layer such that a face of the die is substantially parallel to the surface area of the substrate. The face of the die is aligned with at least a portion of the component layer, and terminals of the die are connected to the substrate.
US08237251B2
In a stacked-type semiconductor device, a first semiconductor device and at least one second semiconductor device are stacked. The first semiconductor device includes a wiring board and a first semiconductor chip mounted on the wiring board. The second semiconductor device includes a wiring board and a second semiconductor chip mounted on the wiring board. The thickness of the second semiconductor chip of each second semiconductor device is thicker than the thickness of the first semiconductor chip.
US08237249B2
A stacked multichip package comprises a first chip having a first active surface and a first rear surface, a first chip carrier having a first opening and being configured to carrier the first active surface, a plurality of first conductive leads passing through the first opening and being configured to electrically connect the first active surface and the first chip carrier, a second chip having a second active surface and a second rear surface, an adhesive layer configured to enclose the first conductive leads and to electrically couple the first chip carrier to the second rear surface, a second chip carrier having a second opening and being electrically connected to the second active surface, and a plurality of conductive leads passing through the second opening and being configured to electrically connect the second active surface and the second chip carrier.
US08237247B2
The present invention relates to complementary devices, such as n-FETs and p-FETs, which have hybrid channel orientations and are connected by conductive connectors that are embedded in a semiconductor substrate. Specifically, the semiconductor substrate has at least first and second device regions of different surface crystal orientations (i.e., hybrid orientations). An n-FET is formed at one of the first and second device regions, and a p-FET is formed at the other of the first and second device regions. The n-FET and the p-FET are electrically connected by a conductive connector that is located between the first and second device regions and embedded in the semiconductor substrate. Preferably, a dielectric spacer is first provided between the first and second device regions and recessed to form a gap therebetween. The conductive connector is then formed in the gap above the recessed dielectric spacer.
US08237242B2
A capacitor includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer, and a second electrode that are sequentially stacked. The dielectric layer has a stacked layer structure including a predetermined number of hafnium oxide sublayers and predetermined number of tantalum oxide sublayers. The number, materials, and thicknesses of the sublayers are determined so that the thickness ratio has a range in which, in voltage-leakage current characteristics showing the relationship between the voltage between the first and second electrodes and the leakage current, a start voltage at which the slope of an increase in the current starts to discontinuously increase satisfies an electric field strength of 3 [MV/cm] or more when the ratio of the total thickness of the predetermined number of tantalum oxide sublayers to the total thickness of the dielectric layer is varied, and the thickness ratio is within the range such that the start voltage is within the range.
US08237241B2
A conventional semiconductor device has a problem that an on-current of a parasitic transistor flows through a surface portion of a semiconductor layer and thus a semiconductor element undergoes thermal breakdown. In a semiconductor device according to the present invention, a protection element is formed with use of an isolation region and N type buried layers. A PN junction region in the protection element is formed on a P type buried layer of the isolation region. The PN junction region has a junction breakdown voltage lower than that of a PN junction region of a semiconductor element to be protected. This structure allows an on-current of a parasitic transistor to flow into the protection element, and thereby the semiconductor element is protected. In addition, the on-current of the parasitic transistor flows through a deep portion of the epitaxial layer, and thereby the protection element is prevented from thermal breakdown.
US08237237B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a light-receiving portion, which serves as a pixel, and a waveguide, which is disposed at a location in accordance with the light-receiving portion and which includes a clad layer and a core layer embedded having a refractive index distribution in the wave-guiding direction.
US08237233B2
In view of the foregoing, disclosed herein are embodiments of an improved field effect transistor (FET) structure and a method of forming the structure. The FET structure embodiments each incorporate a unique gate structure. Specifically, this gate structure has a first section above a center portion of the FET channel region and second sections above the channel width edges (i.e., above the interfaces between the channel region and adjacent isolation regions). The first and second sections differ (i.e., they have different gate dielectric layers and/or different gate conductor layers) such that they have different effective work functions (i.e., a first and second effective work-function, respectively). The different effective work functions are selected to ensure that the threshold voltage at the channel width edges is elevated.
US08237232B2
The electrical characteristics of a semiconductor device are enhanced. In the package of the semiconductor device, there are encapsulated first and second semiconductor chips with a power MOS-FET formed therein and a third semiconductor chip with a control circuit for controlling their operation formed therein. The bonding pads for source electrode of the first semiconductor chip on the high side are electrically connected to a die pad through a metal plate. The bonding pad for source electrode of the second semiconductor chip on the low side is electrically connected to lead wiring through a metal plate. The metal plate includes a first portion in contact with the bonding pad of the second semiconductor chip, a second portion extended from a short side of the first portion to the lead wiring, and a third portion extended from a long side of the first portion to the lead wiring.
US08237230B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a method of fabricating the semiconductor device. The semiconductor device can include first transistors that include a first gate insulating layer having a first thickness and second transistors include a second gate insulating layer having a second thickness less than the first thickness. At least one of the transistors formed on the first or second gate insulating layers is directly over a dummy well.
US08237218B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a first stack unit with a first selection transistor and a second selection transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and a second stack unit with first insulating layers and first conductive layers stacked alternately on the upper surface of the first stack unit. The second stack unit includes a second insulating layer formed in contact with side walls of the first insulating layer and the first conductive layer, a charge storage layer formed in contact with the second insulating layer for storing electrical charges, a third insulating layer formed in contact with the charge storage layer, and a first semiconductor layer formed in contact with the third insulating layer so as to extend in a stacking direction, with one end connected to one diffusion layer of the first selection transistor and the other end connected to a diffusion layer of the second selection transistor.
US08237208B2
Provided is a semiconductor device including a MIM capacitor, and having excellent waterproof property and antioxidant property even when being formed between wiring layers. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a first wiring layer embedded in the first insulating film, a wiring cap film for covering the first wiring layer, the MIM capacitor formed on the wiring cap film, a hydrogen barrier film for covering the MIM capacitor, a second insulating film formed on the hydrogen barrier film, conductive plugs passing through the second insulating film and the hydrogen barrier film, one of which being connected to an upper electrode of the MIM capacitor and the other of which being connected to a lower electrode of the MIM capacitor, and a second wiring layer connected to the conductive plugs, and the upper and lower electrodes of the MIM capacitor.
US08237206B2
A CMOS image sensor, in which an implantation process is performed on substrate under isolation structures each disposed between two adjacent photosensor cell structures. The implantation process is a destructive implantation to form lattice effects/trap centers. No defect repair process is carried out after the implantation process is performed. The implants can reside at the isolation structures or in the substrate under the isolation structures. Dark leakage and crosstalk are thus suppressed.
US08237205B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate insulating film formed on a semiconductor region of a first conductivity type; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; an offset spacer formed on a side surface of the gate electrode; an inner sidewall formed on the side surface of the gate electrode with the offset spacer interposed therebetween, and having an L-shaped cross section; and an insulating film formed to cover the gate electrode, the offset spacer, the inner sidewall, and a part of the semiconductor region located laterally outward from the inner sidewall. The offset spacer includes an inner offset spacer formed on the side surface of the gate electrode and an outer offset spacer formed to cover the side surface of the gate electrode and the inner offset spacer. The outer offset spacer is in contact with a top end and outer side surface of the inner offset spacer.
US08237203B2
A pMIS region is provided between a boundary extending in a first direction and passing through each of a plurality of standard cells and a first peripheral edge. An nMIS region is provided between the boundary and a second peripheral edge. A power supply wiring and a grounding wiring extend along the first and second peripheral edges, respectively. A plurality of pMIS wirings and a plurality of nMIS wirings are arranged on a plurality of first virtual lines and a plurality of second virtual lines, respectively, extending in the first direction and arranged with a single pitch in a second direction. The first virtual line that is the closest to the boundary and the second virtual line that is the closest to the boundary have therebetween a spacing larger than the single pitch.
US08237196B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first semiconductor layer of non-doped AlXGa1-XN (0≦X<1); a second semiconductor layer of non-doped or n-type AlYGa1-YN (0
US08237192B2
A light emitting diode chip includes a device for protection against overvoltages, e.g., an ESD protection device. The ESD protection device is integrated into a carrier, on which the semiconductor layer sequence of the light emitting diode chip is situated, and is based on a specific doping of specific regions of said carrier. By way of example, the ESD protection device is embodied as a Zener diode that is connected to the semiconductor layer sequence by means of an electrical conductor structure.
US08237186B2
An object of the present invention is to realize a numerical aperture higher than that of a pixel having a conventional construction by using a pixel circuit having a novel construction in an electro-optical device. Therefore, it is utilized that the electric potential of a gate signal line in a row except for an i-th row is set to a constant electric potential in a period except for when a gate signal line (106) in the i-th row is selected. A gate signal line 111 in an (i−1)-th row is also used as an electric current supply line for an EL element (103) controlled by the gate signal line (106) in the i-th row. Thus, wiring number is reduced and high numerical aperture is realized.
US08237179B2
A light emitting device is provided which can prevent a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes and at the same time can prevent the aperture ratio from lowering. A capacitor storage is formed from a connection wiring line, an insulating film, and a capacitance wiring line. The connection wiring line is formed over a gate electrode and an active layer of a TFT of a pixel, and is connected to the active layer. The insulating film is formed on the connection wiring line. The capacitance wiring line is formed on the insulating film. This structure enables the capacitor storage to overlap the TFT, thereby increasing the capacity of the capacitor storage while keeping the aperture ratio from lowering. Accordingly, a change in gate voltage due to leakage or other causes can be avoided to prevent a change in luminance of an OLED and flickering of screen in analog driving.
US08237173B2
The present invention aims to provide a semiconductor light emitting device that may be firmly attached to a substrate with maintaining excellent light emitting efficiency, and a manufacturing method of the same, and a lighting apparatus and a display apparatus using the same. In order to achieve the above object, the semiconductor light emitting device according to the present invention includes a luminous layer, a light transmission layer disposed over a main surface of the luminous layer, and having depressions on a surface facing away from the luminous layer, and a transmission membrane disposed on the light transmission layer so as to follow contours of the depressions, and light from the luminous layer is irradiated so as to pass through the light transmission layer and the transmission membrane.
US08237171B2
A hermetically sealed integrated circuit package that includes a cavity housing a semiconductor die, whereby the cavity is pressurized during assembly and when formed. The invention prevents the stress on a package created when the package is subject to high temperatures at atmospheric pressure and then cooled from reducing the performance of the die at high voltages. By packaging a die at a high pressure, such as up to 50 PSIG, in an atmosphere with an inert gas, and providing a large pressure in the completed package, the dies are significantly less likely to arc at higher voltages, allowing the realization of single die packages operable up to at least 1200 volts. Moreover, the present invention is configured to employ brazed elements compatible with Silicon Carbide dies which can be processed at higher temperatures.
US08237170B2
To provide a Schottky electrode in a diamond semiconductor, which has a good adhesion properties to diamonds, has a contacting surface which does not become peeled due to an irregularity in an external mechanical pressure, does not cause a reduction in yield in a diode forming process and does not cause deterioration in current-voltage characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the Schottky electrode.A Schottky electrode which includes: scattered island-form pattern Pt-group alloy thin films which are formed on a diamond surface formed on a substrate, in which the Pt-group alloy includes 50 to 99.9 mass % of Pt and 0.1 to 50 mass % of Ru and/or Ir, or which includes electrodes in a scattered island pattern, including: scattered island-form pattern metal thin films which are formed on a diamond surface formed on a substrate and include one selected from Pt and Pd; and metal thin films which include one selected from Ru, Ir and Rh and are provided on all of the metal thin films which include one selected from Pt and Pd, and a method of manufacturing the Schottky electrode.
US08237160B2
A semiconductor chip includes a corner stress relief (CSR) region. An enhanced structure connects sides of a seal ring structure to surround the CSR region. A device under test (DUT) structure is disposed on the CSR region. A set of probe pad structures is disposed on the CSR region. Two of the set of probe pad structures are electrically connect to the DUT structure.
US08237159B2
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an organic electroluminescent display device includes transistors formed on a substrate, an insulating layer on the transistors, a lower electrode formed on the insulating layer and coupled to a source or a drain of each of the transistors, a bank layer having openings to expose a part of the lower electrode, a bus electrode formed on the bank layer, an organic light-emitting layer formed to cover the lower electrode, the bank layer, and the bus electrode and patterned to expose at least a part of the bus electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the organic light-emitting layer and configured to come into contact with the exposed bus electrode.
US08237146B2
In a first aspect, a method of forming a memory cell is provided that includes (1) forming a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) stack, the MIM stack including (a) a first conductive carbon layer; (b) a low-hydrogen, silicon-containing carbon layer above the first conductive carbon layer; and (c) a second conductive carbon layer above the low-hydrogen, silicon-containing carbon layer; and (2) forming a steering element coupled to the MIM stack. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08237143B2
A memory device has a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of cell arrays stacked above the substrate, each cell array having memory cells, bit lines each commonly connecting one ends of plural cells arranged along a first direction and word lines each commonly connecting the other ends of plural cells arranged along a second direction; a read/write circuit formed on the substrate as underlying the cell arrays; first and second vertical wiring disposed on both sides of each cell array in the first direction to connect the bit lines to the read/write circuit; and third vertical wirings disposed on both sides of each cell array in the second direction to connect the word lines to the read/write circuit.
US08237140B2
An integrated circuit with an embedded memory comprises a substrate and a plurality of conductor layers arranged for interconnecting components of the integrated circuit. An intermediate layer in the plurality of conductor layers includes a first electrode having a top surface, a second electrode having a top surface, an insulating member between the first electrode and the second electrode. A bridge overlies the intermediate layer between the first and second electrodes across the insulating member, wherein the bridge comprises a programmable resistive memory material, such as a phase change material. A conductor in at least one layer in the plurality of conductor layers over said intermediate layer is connected to said bridge.
US08237133B2
Energy sources and methods for curing in an imprint lithography system are described. The energy sources may include one or more energy elements positioned outside of the viewing range of an imaging unit monitoring elements of the imprint lithography system. Each energy source is configured to provide energy along a path to solidify polymerizable material on a substrate.
US08237130B1
An instrument that will directly image the fast fission neutrons from a special nuclear material source wherein the neutron detection efficiency is increased has been described. Instead of the previous technique that uses a time-of-flight (TOF) between 2 widely spaced fixed planes of detectors to measure scatter neutron kinetic energy, we now use the recoil proton energy deposited in the second of the 2 scatter planes which can now be repositioned much closer together. Allowing the 2 planes to be placed closer together has been shown to provide up to about a ˜170% improvement in detection efficiency without adding additional detectors and ancillary electronics. The distance between planes also may be dynamically changed using a suitable common technique such as a gear- or motor-drive to toggle between the various positions. The angular resolution of this new configuration is diminished but this loss of resolution may be acceptable for those applications where only modest directionality is sufficient to identify a threat.
US08237125B2
This invention provides a design to process a large range of detection beam current at low noise with a single detector. With such a design, the detection system can generate up to 1010 gain and maximum signal output at more than mini Ampere (mA) level.
US08237122B2
The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated, including highly integrated configurations. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. The oscillators are configured to operate at slightly different repetition rates, such that a difference δfr in repetition rates is small compared to the values fr1 and fr2 of the repetition rates of the oscillators. The CDSL system also includes a non-linear frequency conversion section optically connected to each oscillator. The section includes a non-linear optical element generating a frequency converted spectral output having a spectral bandwidth and a frequency comb comprising harmonics of the oscillator repetition rates. A CDSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging.
US08237118B2
A partial ovoidal FAIMS apparatus for separating ions is presented with inner and outer electrodes that have geometrically matched convex and concave partial ovoidal surfaces, respectively, that share at least one common defining axis and display a nearly constant displacement between the opposing surfaces. The ovoidal surfaces can be that of an egg shaped ovoid, an ellipse, or a sphere. The apparatus can have at least one ion inlet and an ion outlet where the outlet is on or as near as possible to a point on the defining axis in the outer electrode and the inlet or inlets are on, near, or symmetrically disposed about the defining axis of the ovoidal surfaces. Electrical contacts to the electrodes permit the application of an asymmetric waveform and a compensation voltage to at least one of the electrodes. The electrodes are positioned, stabilized, and insulated from each other by a base plate.
US08237114B2
In one embodiment of the present invention, a sample target that allows ionization of a substance whose molecular weight is so high as to exceed 10000 in mass spectrometry that ionizes a sample without using matrix, a method for producing the same and a mass spectrometer using the sample target. The sample target includes a sample support surface including a large number of fine pores on its face receiving irradiated laser light. Each of the fine pores has a diameter of 30 nm or more and 5 μm or less. The number indicative of pore depth/(pore cycle−pore diameter) of each of the fine pores is 2 or more and 50 or less. The face of the sample support surface is coated with metal or semiconductor.
US08237110B2
Disclosed is an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) detection method using dopants. The ion mobility spectrometer comprises a sample feeding device, a drift tube and a gas passage system communicated therewith. The gas passage system comprises a pump, a filtering device, a gas inlet and a gas outlet provided on the drift tube for providing clean gas used as the drift gas and the sample carrier gas. The detection method comprises: providing a sampling substrate for sample collection; combining the dopants with the sampling substrate; collecting the sample using the sampling substrate combined with the dopants; and introducing the sampling substrate that has collected the sample into the sample feeding port of the ion mobility spectrometer for detection. With this method, it is unnecessary to provide an independent dopant gas passage, thereby simplifying the structure of the instrument and meanwhile, making it easier and more accurate to control the amount of the dopants required for detection.
US08237103B1
A mechanical galvanometer tilt control system includes two beam detection sensors that detect vertical displacement caused by the horizontal rotation of a galvanometer and the vertical rotation of a photoconductive drum. The galvanometer may be in communication with a mirror holder that holds a mirror. The mirror holder may be operable to horizontally rotate the mirror as the mirror reflects a light beam onto a photosensitive image forming surface of the photoconductive drum. The two beam detection sensors receive the reflected light beam as the galvanometer generates one or more forward-going and one or more reverse-going scanlines on the photosensitive image forming surface. The mechanical galvanometer tilt control system may further determine an amount of vertical correction required to correct for the vertical displacement caused by the rotation of the galvanometer and the rotation of the photoconductive drum.
US08237102B1
Radiation detection systems and methods. In one approach, optical radiation can be detected by using the radiation to be detected as input to a high index contrast waveguide modulator that modulates a wavelength of light that falls within the detection band of a detector. In another approach, the optical radiation that is to be detected is combined with a high power CW boost mode signal in a waveguide, and the sum and/or difference frequencies are detected. In either approach, one can use grating couplers to couple the optical radiation of interest into a waveguide.
US08237099B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for optoelectronic detection and location of moving objects. The disclosed methods and systems capture one-dimensional images of a field of view through which objects may be moving, make measurements in those images, select from among those measurements those that are likely to correspond to objects in the field of view, make decisions responsive to various characteristics of the objects, and produce signals that indicate those decisions. The disclosed methods and systems provide excellent object discrimination, electronic setting of a reference point, no latency, high repeatability, and other advantages that will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
US08237098B2
The invention relates to a two-axle solar tracker, consisting of a moving supporting system for solar panels, which maximizes the energy production of said panels and which is formed by a vertical axle and a horizontal axle in relation to which the system rotates in order to track the sun's path. The aforementioned axles are components of a structure supported at the center and supported peripherally on wheels positioned on a running track or surface. The structure rotates about a fixed central point supporting the vertical axle of the tracker. At least one board is positioned on the horizontal axle of the structure in order to receive the solar modules or panels and said board(s) can rotate about the horizontal axle so that the solar panels are maintained perpendicular to the sun's rays.
US08237083B2
The present invention is a method and system for the drilling of holes in a workpiece within a diameter range of 20 μm to 500 μm by means of laser radiation. The invention utilizes the beam quality of a laser beam as well as: the polarization of the laser radiation; the parameters of the impulses of the laser used; and, the type and pressure of the process gas used. The method and system utilize means for focusing laser radiation, in particular the ratio of the beam diameter at the site of the focusing element and its focal distance, and wherein the focusing is done in coordination with the beam quality number and wave length and other factors. A first working gas supports the formation of the hole shape and accelerates the drilling process; and, a second working gas is utilized to improve the surface quality of the drilling walls.
US08237080B2
An improved method and apparatus for drilling tapered holes in workpieces with laser pulses is presented which uses defocused laser pulses to machine the holes with specified taper and surface finish while maintaining specified exit diameters and improved system throughput. A system is described which can also drill holes with the desired taper and surface finish without requiring defocused laser pulses.
US08237076B2
A vacuum switch means a unit switch section comprising a pair of vacuum main circuit switches, an earth switch, operating rods for operating movable conductors of the main circuit vacuum switch and earth switch, and a molding case covering the main circuit switch, earth switch and the operating rods, wherein the operating rods are connectable with an operating mechanism, and the fixed conductors of the main circuit switch and earth switch are connected with bushing conductors. The main circuit vacuum switches are disposed in separate vacuum chambers. The movable conductors of the main circuit switches and electrically connected to each other via a transition conductor, and the movable conductors are operated synchronously by means of a transition rod connected to the transition rod.
US08237075B2
Provided is a vacuum circuit breaker whose insulation cylinder contained in a gas-insulated-switchgear housing contains a vacuum valve and which can be downsized while the cylinder's required mechanical strength is retained, and a gas-insulated switchgear using the same is also provided. The vacuum circuit breaker includes a plurality of insulation cases that are arranged parallel to each other in a container filled with an insulating gas, and each of the plurality of insulation cases includes a first insulation frame in which a section orthogonal to its longitudinal direction is in a substantial square-bracket shape, a second insulation frame in which a section orthogonal to its longitudinal direction is in a substantial square-bracket shape and which is arranged with a gap from the first insulation frame in a manner that open sides of the substantially square-bracket shaped frames oppose to each other, and a vacuum valve that contains attachable and detachable electrodes and is housed in each of the plurality of insulation cases.
US08237074B2
A switching device has an input terminal and an output terminal for connection to electrical conductors, and two switching contacts which, when closed, close a current path between the input terminal and the output terminal. A disconnect device is operatively connected to at least one of the input terminal and the output terminal for disconnecting the two switching contacts. An arc quenching chamber composed of a plurality of metal plates is arranged in the region of the switching. At least two of the metal plates abut one another at least over a region to attain high reliability and operational safety even after repeated disconnects.
US08237072B2
A pushbutton switch includes a pushbutton for changing a switching mode of a tact switch provided on a switch holder fixedly disposed within a casing. The pushbutton includes a push operation portion disposed in a through hole provided in the casing and a collar that protrudes outwardly from the push operation portion and faces an inner face of the casing at the peripheral edge of the through hole. The pushbutton is connected to the switch holder and resiliently urged toward the side on which the collar gets closer to the inner face of the casing. Projections projecting toward the inner face of the casing are projectingly provided integrally at a plurality of positions spaced in the peripheral direction on an opposing face, of the collar of the pushbutton, that is opposed to the inner face of the casing. This prevents a freezing problem in the operation of a pushbutton.
US08237071B2
An ultra-thin, electrically conductive slice for button use, which includes a non-metallic matrix and a metal mesh. The metal mesh is provided in the non-metallic matrix. A plurality of metal touch points are provided on the metal mesh and exposed out of a surface of the non-metallic matrix so as to enable the surface of the non-metallic matrix to form a dense, electrically conductive mesh. The non-metallic matrix is rubber or silica. The metal mesh is electrically conductive.
US08237066B2
A weighing apparatus having a load receiving element and a plurality of load cells directly or indirectly associated with the load receiving element such that when an object to be weighed is placed on the load receiving element, the weight of the object is unevenly applied to the load cells. The weighing apparatus includes load cells of different capacity based on the uneven loading applied thereto.
US08237064B2
A cover plate for wall-mounting at least one electrical apparatus is described. The cover plate comprises: a base to be fixed to a mounting bracket; at least one decorative portion coupled to the base and provided with a window; at least one portion of electrically conductive metal material and/or at least one surface coated with electrically conductive metal material; and at least one electrically conductive grounding element comprising at least one fixing portion adapted to be interposed and clamped between the base and the decorative portion for fixing the grounding element.
US08237061B2
A Z-directed filter component for insertion into a printed circuit board while allowing electrical connection to internal conductive planes contained with the PCB. In one embodiment the Z-directed filter component is mounted within the thickness of the PCB allowing other components to be mounted over it. The filter may be T-filter or a Pi-filter within the body of the Z-directed component. The body may also contain one or more conductors and may include one or more surface channels or wells extending along at least a portion of the length of the body. Methods for mounting Z-directed components are also provided.
US08237057B2
A wiring board is provided that suppresses spreading of liquid droplets when liquid droplets are discharged using an ink-jet method. The wiring board has a plurality of layers and includes an ink-jet wiring pattern that is formed in a soluble porous membrane member of any single layer and that includes electrically conductive nanoparticles as a principal material, and a transferred wiring pattern that does not include electrically conductive nanoparticles as a principal material. One layer among the plurality of layers is an electrically insulative substrate. Another layer among the plurality of layers is a porous membrane treated member layer including a porous membrane member at one part of a region of the other layer. The ink-jet wiring pattern is formed in the porous membrane treated member layer. The transferred wiring pattern is formed in the substrate.
US08237054B2
The present invention relates to an improved isolated core or insulated conductor with a low dielectric constant and reduced materials costs. Apparatuses and methods of manufacturing the improved isolated core or insulated conductor are also disclosed.
US08237052B2
A network cabinet is provided includes a base member, two pairs of vertical frame rail members connected to the base member, and a top cover supported by at least one of the vertical frame rail members. The base member defines an opening and another opening is defined in the top cover. The vertical frame rail members are positioned spaced apart from four sidewalls from four corners of the cabinet formed by the four sidewalls, where each sidewall includes a panel or a door. The two pairs of vertical frame rail members and the four sidewalls define at least one cable management pathway and at least a portion of the cable management pathway is vertically aligned with at least a portion of the opening of the base member and the opening of the top cover.
US08237048B2
Disclosed is a multilayer organic solar cell having a structure wherein an inter-layer (3) is arranged between a first photoactive layer (1) and a second photoactive layer (2). This structure is obtained by forming the inter-layer (3) on the first photoactive layer (1) which is formed from an organic compound solution containing a donor material and an acceptor material, and then applying an organic compound solution containing a donor material and an acceptor material over the inter-layer (3) for forming the second photoactive layer (2). The inter-layer (3) is composed of at least either of a transparent oxide and a transparent nitride. By having such a structure, the inter-layer (3) prevents the solvent in the solution for the second photoactive layer (2) from permeating into the first photoactive layer (1) when the second photoactive layer (2) is formed over the first photoactive layer (1) by applying the solution. Consequently, the first photoactive layer (1) is prevented from destruction or deterioration in functions.
US08237047B2
A method of making an anti-reflection coating using a sol-gel process, for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The method may include the following steps in certain example embodiments: forming a polymeric component of silica by mixing silane(s) with one or more of a first solvent, a catalyst, and water; forming a silica sol gel by mixing the polymeric component with a colloidal silica, and optionally a second solvent; forming a combined sol by mixing siloxane(s) with the silica sol; casting the mixture by spin coating or the like to form a silica and siloxane containing layer on a substrate; and curing and/or heat treating the layer. This layer may make up all or only part of an anti-reflection coating which may be used in a photovoltaic device or the like.
US08237043B2
First and second conductive members having different Seebeck coefficients are formed on an insulating substrate. The first and second conductive members are connected by ohmic contact, and the surfaces connected by ohmic contact are covered with a material sheet having a superior heat conductivity and an electric insulating property in the junction surface, such as an aluminum sheet formed with surfaces provided with electric insulating property by alumite treatment or the like. On the opposite side, bonding wires are connected with the first and second conductive members by ohmic contact. The bonding wires are insulated from one another, and used as output terminals of an integrated parallel Peltier Seebeck element chip. The thus produced integrated parallel Peltier Seebeck element chips are connected by one or more serial or parallel cables, to form energy conversion apparatus from electricity to heat and thermal energy transfer apparatus.
US08237035B1
A novel maize variety designated PHVNV and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHVNV with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHVNV through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHVNV or a trait conversion of PHVNV with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHVNV, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHVNV and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08237031B1
A novel maize variety designated PH17C1 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17C1 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17C1 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17C1 or a locus conversion of PH17C1 with another maize variety.
US08237022B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for providing aphid resistance in plants. More particularly, the invention relates to compositions and methods for using aphid resistant germplasm for breeding soybean aphid resistant soybean plants, including but not limited to cultivars, varieties, lines and methods of breeding the same for commercial use, the breeding methods further involving identifying and using genetic markers for aphid resistant traits.
US08237021B2
The present invention relates to the field of plant pest control, particularly insect control. Provided are nucleotide sequences from Bacillus thuringiensis encoding insecticidal proteins. Further provided are methods and means for using said nucleotide sequence for controlling plant insect pests.
US08237012B2
An absorbent article having a substantially oblong shape, which is superior in liquid-proof performance and fitness, includes a liquid permeable top sheet, a back sheet, an absorbent body having elasticity disposed between the top sheet and the back sheet, and a compressed portion compressing the top sheet and the absorbent body. The compressed portion is disposed continuously to form a protrusion in a longitudinal direction to define a substantially U shape. The absorbent portion has a low elasticity portion, disposed on one part of the absorbent body, and formed so that elasticity weakens when compression to a prescribed thickness is carried out. The low elasticity portion is disposed in the vicinity of an end protruding the most in the longitudinal direction of the substantially U shape.
US08237011B2
A composition of matter includes a flexible substrate and a coating disposed on the substrate. The coating comprises about 10-60 wt-% of a waxy compound and about 90-40 wt-% of a diluent. The coating forms a stable liquid mixture at a temperature between about 35° C. and about 100° C., has a liquefaction temperature of at least about 30° C., and has a contact angle with a flat surface of the substrate of less than about 35° when measured at a temperature of 60° C.
US08237009B2
A custom fabricated (e.g. custom shaped and dimensioned) wound dressing that matches a corresponding, pre-mapped integumentary wound includes one or more liquid flow barriers composed for example of a hydrophobic and high viscosity liquid embedded in a layer of the dressing. One such embedded hydrophobic liquid barrier covers a skin section immediately adjacent to the wound opening so as to protect the skin section from harmful liquids such as exudates or water. In one embodiment, the skin protecting barrier is substantially comprised of a silicone oil having a viscosity in the range of about 100 cSt to 1000 cSt.
US08237005B2
There is provided a method for separating cyclohexene comprising the steps of: (a) separating a mixed solution containing cyclohexene, cyclohexane, and benzene by distillation using N,N-dimethylacetamide as an extractant; and (b) feeding at least a portion of a first bottom liquid obtained by separating cyclohexene, cyclohexane, and benzene from the mixed solution in the step (a) to an extractant purification column, withdrawing an azeotrope of cyclohexyl acetate and N,N-dimethylacetamide from a top of the extractant purification column to an outside of a system, and recycling a second bottom liquid of the extractant purification column to the step (a).
US08236988B2
Methods are provided for preparing branched alkyl-substituted-anilines, such as 2-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)aniline. Such methods comprise combining aniline, an alkyl-substituted-1-alkene, such as 4-methyl-i-pentene, and an aluminum alkyl catalyst.
US08236987B2
The present disclosure concerns a new class of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). The disclosure also includes the identification of a previously unknown membrane associated estrogen receptor. Methods for making and using the disclosed SERMs are disclosed, including pharmaceutical formulations of the disclosed novel compounds in useful compositions.
US08236980B2
The principal object of the invention is to provide a lithium salt having excellent ion conductivity. The invention solves the problem by providing a lithium salt having a structure represented by the general formula (1): in which “M” represents B, Si, Ge, P, As or Sb; “X” represents the valence of “M”; “R1” represents —CmH2m— whereupon “m” is an integer of 1 to 4; “R2” represents —CkH2k+1 whereupon “k” is an integer of 1 to 8; and “n” represents 0 to 12.
US08236968B2
The present invention relates to novel 1,4-bis(2-thienylvinyl)benzene derivatives, to conjugated polymers, dendrimers, blends, mixtures and formulations comprising same, and to the use thereof in electronic devices, in particular in polymeric organic light-emitting diodes.
US08236965B2
A subject of the present application is new benzimidazole derivatives of formula in which A, Y, R1, R2, R3 and R4 represent different variable groups. These products have an antagonist activity of GnRH (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone). The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing said products and their use for the preparation of a medicament.
US08236964B2
The invention relates to novel thiazolidine derivatives of the formula (I) wherein A and R1 are as described in the description and their use as medicaments, especially as orexin receptor antagonists.
US08236957B2
The present invention provides a process whereby morphinan-6-ones can be converted stereospecifically to the corresponding morphinan-6α-ols by catalytic hydrogenation under basic conditions.
US08236956B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating smoothened-dependent pathway activation. The present invention provides analogs of cyclopamine that can be used to counteract the phenotypic effects of unwanted activation of a hedgehog pathway, such as resulting from hedgehog gain-of-function, Ptc loss-of-function or smoothened gain-of-function mutations. The compounds of the present invention are particularly useful in treating cancers.
US08236950B2
Compounds effective in inhibiting replication of Hepatitis C virus (“HCV”) or other viruses are disclosed. This invention is also directed to compositions comprising such compounds, co-formulation or co-administration of such compounds with other anti-viral or therapeutic agents, processes and intermediates for the syntheses of such compounds, and methods of using such compounds for the treatment of HCV or other viral infections.
US08236939B2
Described herein are polynucleotides associated with prostate and lung cancer. The polynucleotides are miRNAs and miRNA precursors. Related methods and compositions that can be used for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of those medical conditions are disclosed. Also described herein are methods that can be used to identify modulators of prostate and lung cancer.
US08236913B2
[Object] An object of the present invention is to provide a surface-treating agent excellent in antithrombogenicity, and accordingly, excellent in biocompatibility, and having high hydrophilicity as compared with conventional medical materials. Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a production method excellent in performance of removing unreacted monomers and further improving a yield as compared with conventional production methods.[Constitution] The present invention relates to a water-insoluble copolymer comprising alkyl(meth)acrylate and methoxypolyethylene glycol(meth)acrylate. The present invention also relates to a method for producing a water-insoluble (meth)acrylate copolymer by copolymerizing alkyl(meth)acrylate and methoxypolyethylene glycol(meth)acrylate in a common polymerization solvent. Further, the present invention relates to a method for purifying (meth)acrylate copolymer by purifying (meth)acrylate copolymer by reprecipitation using a mixed solution of an alcohol having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and water.
US08236906B2
A process for production of a polyamide resin having a reactive double bond, the process including a step of reacting a carboxylic acid and a diisocyanate to produce a polyamide resin, wherein the carboxylic acid component includes a carboxylic acid with a reactive double bond. Also, a polyamideimide resin obtainable by reacting a diisocyanate with a diimidedicarboxylic acid and a reactive double bond-containing carboxylic acid, which has a reactive double bond.
US08236905B2
Hyperbranched polyesters containing ethylenically unsaturated groups and obtainable by reacting (c) at least one compound having at least one ethylenic double bond with at least one hyperbranched polyester obtainable by condensing (a) at least one dicarboxylic acid or derivative thereof with at least one at least trifunctional alcohol or (b) at least one tricarboxylic or higher polycarboxylic acid or derivative thereof with at least one diol.
US08236897B2
A fluoroelastomer composition comprising: at least one fluoroelastomer [fluoroelastomer (A)]; from 0.1 to 25 phr (with respect to fluoroelastomer (A)) of at least one melt-processable per(halo)fluoropolymer having a melting point of at most 250° C. [polymer (F)]; and optionally at least one (per)fluoropolyether [(per)fluoropolyether (E)]. The incorporation of the polymer (F) in the fluoroelastomer composition as described above enables easier processing of the fluoroelastomer composition, both in injection molding and extrusion molding technologies, yielding improved behavior in mold release, mold fouling, and aspect surface of the molded parts.
US08236895B2
Disclosed is a finish paint composition having a hydroxyl group containing resin (A) comprising a hydroxyl group value of 80 to 220 mgKOH/g, a glass transition temperature of −50° or above but below 0° C., and 25 to 55 mass% of units of 4-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate origin, a hydroxyl group containing resin (B) with a hydroxyl group value of 80 to 220 mgKOH/g, and a glass transition temperature of 0 to 50° C., and a crosslinking agent (C) comprising polyisocyanate compound having isocyanate groups, wherein the proportions of hydroxyl group containing resin (A) and hydroxyl group containing resin (B) are, as a ratio of solid fraction masses, from 95/5 to 50/50, and the proportion of isocyanate groups of the crosslinking agent (C) with respect to the hydroxyl groups in total of the hydroxyl group containing resin (A) and the hydroxyl group containing resin (B), as the NCO/OH mol ratio, is 0.5 to 1.5.
US08236890B2
Aqueous emulsions are disclosed of a gel or gel paste containing a silicone elastomer from the reaction an organohydrogensiloxane having at least two SiH containing cyclosiloxane rings in its molecule and a compound having at least two aliphatic unsaturated groups in its molecule.
US08236886B2
Adhesive compositions suitable for use as tie-layer adhesives in multi-layer films and sheets are provided. The adhesive compositions contain an olefin polymer base resin, a modified polyolefin and a paraffinic liquid hydrocarbon.
US08236884B2
The invention relates to absorptive, crosslinked polymeric composition that are based on partly neutralized, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer carrying acid groups wherein the absorptive crosslinked polymer may be coated with a polymeric coating, and have improved properties, in particular in respect of their capacity for transportation of liquids in the swollen state, and which have a high capacity and a high gel bed permeability.
US08236883B2
The present disclosure provides a safety tire having a puncture-resistant, bulletproof, and leakproof capability between about −45° C. to about 120° C. without any damaging process to the inside wall of the tire, but just by spray coating a layer of leakproof and hermetically-repairing macromolecular material with a thickness of about 2 mm to about 8 mm to the inside wall of the tire that does not have an inner tube. The present disclosure also provides the components of the leakproof and hermetically-repairing macromolecular material and the method to prepare the puncture-resistant bulletproof and leakproof safety tires.
US08236877B2
Hybrid composite materials with multiscale morphologies are formed by doping polymer submicrometer spheres with semiconductor or metal (e.g. CdS or Ag, respectively) nanoparticles and using these doped microspheres as functional building blocks in production of hybrid periodically structured materials. The preparation of hybrid polymer particles include the following stages: (i) synthesis of monodisperse polymer microspheres, (ii) in-situ synthesis of the inorganic nanoparticles either on the surface, or in the bulk with polymer beads, and (iii) encapsulation of hybrid microspheres with a hydrophobic shell.
US08236873B2
An eye lens material preventing protein adsorption is manufactured by reacting in a reaction medium of either water, an organic solvent, or a water/organic solvent mixture an eye lens material having OH groups with a phosphorylcholine group-containing compound of formula (1), thereby forming an acetal bond according to formula (2) which covalently bonds the phosphorylcholine group-containing compound to a surface of the eye lens material.
US08236872B2
A photocationically polymerizable adhesive composition and an optical member, the photocationically polymerizable adhesive composition including about 75 to about 99.8 parts by weight of a compound including one of aliphatic epoxy, alicyclic epoxy, oxetane, and vinyl ether compounds, about 0.1 to about 5 parts by weight of a titanate coupling agent, and about 0.1 to about 20 parts by weight of a photopolymerization initiator, wherein a sum of weights of the compound, the titanate coupling agent, and the photopolymerization initiator is 100 parts by weight.
US08236870B2
A curable solid ink composition including a curable component, a non-curable component including an ethoxylated octylphenol derivative, a photoinitiator, and a colorant. The curable solid ink composition has a viscosity in the range of less than 10 cPs at 90° C., a shrinkage value of less than 3%, and a superior curing rate compared to existing curable solid ink compositions. The ethoxylated octylphenol derivatives may be prepared by reacting an ethoxylated octylphenol, a linear alcohol, and diisocyanates or polyisocyanates.
US08236868B2
Polyurethane elastomer foams can be prepared by mixing an isocyanate-terminated prepolymer obtained by reaction of a polyol with 3,3′-dimethylbiphenyl-4,4′-diisocyanate, with a foaming agent comprising a mixture of water, a low-molecular weight glycol having a molecular weight of 48-200, and a high-molecular weight glycol having a number average molecular weight Mn of 1000-3000 under stirring to conduct foaming reaction. The polyurethane elastomer foams so produced can have a high durability, particularly under a high load, even though a low-cost, easy-to-handle diisocyanate compound is used.
US08236865B2
A hydrophilic vinylidene fluoride resin composition, comprising: porous vinylidene fluoride polymer particles and a hydrophilic polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of at least 2×105 contained in the pores of the porous vinylidene fluoride polymer particles. The composition is preferably obtained by subjecting a slurry containing porous vinylidene fluoride polymer particles after suspension polymerization to an appropriate degree of heat treatment for adjusting the amount of residual polymerization initiator, then impregnating the Polymer particles with a hydrophilic monomer and polymerizing the monomer. The thus-obtained vinylidene fluoride resin composition exhibits persistent hydrophilicity and good processability.
US08236856B2
Methods and compositions for reducing the frequency of urination are disclosed. One method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent formulated in a delayed-release formulation. Another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising multiple active ingredients. Yet another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a diuretic followed with another administration of an pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent.
US08236855B2
A method of increasing the insulin sensitivity of insulin resistant cells includes administering to the cells an amount of all-trans-retinoic acid effective to activate transcription factor perosixome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) β/δ of the cells.
US08236852B2
The present invention includes compounds, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics having at least one (substituted phenyl)-propenal moiety. The compounds and compositions of the present invention are useful in the treatment or prevention of medical conditions including androgen associated conditions, androgen associated inflammation, acne, alopecia, hirsutism, a wound, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer and Kennedy's disease.
US08236849B2
The increase in antibacterial resistance has created the demand for new antibiotics. The present invention relates to a more potent antibiotic that targets the enzyme glutamate racemase from known glutamate racemase inhibitors. Glutamate racemase catalyses the interconversion of L-glutamate to D-glutamate, making D-glutamate available, which is required for bacterial peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Knockout mutations have shown glutamate racemase to be necessary for bacterial cell survival and, before the present invention, no antibiotic on the market targeted this enzyme. The present invention relates to new, ligand based glutamate racemase inhibitors, developed using software to extract a pharmacophore model from a group of known glutamate racemase inhibitors. Forty-seven (47) known inhibitors were collected from the literature and several pharmacophore models were extracted therefrom. The functional groups common to all the known inhibitors were included in a pharmacophore model that described the requirements for glutamate racemase inhibition with 82% accuracy. Of these models, one was found to describe the requirements for glutamate racemase inhibition with 82% accuracy. The model was used to search databases of commercially available chemical compounds and 2-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylamino)-4-oxo-4-p-tolylbutanoic acid and 2-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylamino)-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-4-oxobutanoic acid were identified as showing antibacterial activity. These compounds were assayed against S. pneumoniae and were shown to have antibacterial activity against the non-virulent strain R6 and against a multidrug resistant strain.
US08236847B2
Physical crystal structures of a compound of the formula I: are provided including the free base monohydrate thereof (form H-1) and the hydrochloric acid salt thereof, including hydrochloric acid salt containing 0.75 equivalent of H2O (form H0.75-3) and hydrochloric acid salt containing 2 equivalents of H2O (form H2-1), and hydrochloric acid salt Pattern P-5, preferably in substantially pure form, and other forms as described herein, pharmaceutical compositions containing structures of compound I or IA, processes for preparing same, intermediates used in preparing same, and methods of treating diseases such as diabetes using such structures.
US08236846B2
The invention is directed to compounds having the formula: wherein: Ar, r, Y, Z, Q, W, X, and R5-7 are as defined in the specification, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. These compounds have AT1 receptor antagonist activity and neprilysin inhibition activity. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds; methods of using such compounds; and process and intermediates for preparing such compounds.
US08236824B2
Novel heterocyclic compounds of the formula I in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Alk and D have the meanings indicated in claim 1, are activators of glucokinase and can be used for the prevention and/or treatment of Diabetes Typ 1 and 2, obesity, neuropathy and/or nephropathy.
US08236813B2
A pyrazolopyrimidine compound represented by formula (1) that inhibits the function of HSP90 as a chaperone protein and that has antitumor activity, a medicament comprising a compound represented by formula (1), a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound represented by formula (1), and a method for treating cancer using a compound represented by formula (1).
US08236810B2
The invention 8-aminothioxanthines and the derivatives of formula I wherein the various R groups and substituents are comprised of a number of different (C1-C10)-alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkene, alkyne, etc. groups and derivatives thereof which are hereinafter more specifically defined for the treatment of metabolic disorders such as type-2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, arteriosclerotic diseases and the like.
US08236801B2
The invention relates to novel 2-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane derivatives of formula (I), wherein A, B, n and R1 are as described in the description, and to the use of such compounds, or of pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such compounds, as medicaments, especially as orexin receptor antagonists.
US08236800B2
The present invention discloses methods of use of facially amphiphilic polymers and oligomers, including pharmaceutical uses of the polymers and oligomers as antimicrobial agents and antidotes for hemorrhagic complications associated with heparin therapy. The present invention also discloses novel facially amphiphilic polymers and oligomers and their compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention further discloses the design and synthesis of facially amphiphilic polymers and oligomers.
US08236790B2
Compounds of formula (I): wherein: R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen or halogen atom or an alkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, acyl, alkoxycarbonyl, carboxy, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, cyano, nitro, amino, substituted or unsubstituted aminocarbonyl, aminosulphonyl, alkylsulphonylaminoalkyl, N-hydroxy-carboximidamide or benzyloxy group, R3 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl group, R4 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group Medicinal products containing the same which are useful in treating or preventing conditions treatable by an AMPA receptor modulator and/or an NMDA receptor antagonist.
US08236783B2
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I): along with compositions containing the same and methods of use thereof in treating oxidative stress.
US08236782B2
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising prasugrel and a cyclodextrin derivative, and methods of making and using the same.
US08236781B2
The present invention relates to a hydrogel of chitosan carboxyalkylamide, characterised in that it has a pH value close to that of the skin, comprised between 6.5 and 7.2, and in that the chitosan carboxy-alkylamide is constituted by 40 to 90 mole % of D-glucosamine N-carboxyalkylamide units of formula (I) where n represents an integer ranging from 1 to 8, from 60 to 10 mole % of protonated D-glucosamine units, and from 5 to 15 mole % of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine units. The present invention also relates to a dehydration product of such a gel and the cosmetic and/or dermatological utilisation of the gel and the dehydration product.
US08236770B2
The invention relates to amphoteric liposomal formulations which are provided with great serum stability and are suitable for the intracellular delivery of oligonucleotides.
US08236768B2
The disclosure provides novel topical antiviral pharmaceutical compositions comprising one or more antiviral compounds and 2-deoxy-D-glucose in the form of lip-balms, creams and ointments. A specific embodiment discloses a lip-balm composition comprising acyclovir and 2-deoxy-D-glucose.
US08236766B2
The invention relates to synthetic peptide amides that are ligands of the kappa opioid receptor and particularly to agonists of the kappa opioid receptor that exhibit low P450 CYP inhibition and low penetration into the brain. The synthetic peptide amides of the invention conform to the structure: wherein Xaa is a D-amino acid and G is selected from the following three groups: The compounds are useful in the prophylaxis and treatment of pain, pruritus and inflammation associated with a variety of diseases and conditions.
US08236762B2
The invention features targeted cytotoxic compounds and methods relating to their therapeutic use for the treatment of neoplasia and other conditions.
US08236745B2
According to the present invention there is provided a pearlescent liquid treatment composition suitable for use in laundering fabrics comprising a fabric care benefit agent selected from the group consisting of fabric softening agent, color protection, pill reduction, anti-abrasion, anti-wrinkle agents and mixtures thereof and a pearlescent agent, said pearlescent agent having D0.99 volume particle size of less than 50 μm.
US08236740B2
The present invention provides a refrigerating machine oil, a compressor oil composition, a hydraulic oil composition, a metalworking oil composition, a heat treating oil composition, a lubricating oil composition for machine tools and a lubricating oil composition which comprise a lubricating oil base oil having % CA of not more than 2, % CP/% CN of not less than 6 and an iodine value of not more than 2.5.
US08236739B2
A cross-linking composition which comprises (a) an aqueous liquid, (b) a cross-linkable organic polymer, and (c) a solution comprising a zirconium cross-linking agent which comprises a zirconium complex having a molar ratio of 1:2 to 1:4 of zirconium to triethanolamine and a molar ratio of 1:0.1 to 1:1 of zirconium to N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis-(2-hydroxypropyl)-ethylene diamine. The composition can be used in oil field applications for hydraulic fracturing and plugging of permeable zones and leaks in subterranean formations.
US08236737B2
Particles, including proppants, comprising a fluorinated siloxane. The particles are useful as proppants in fractured a subterranean geological formation comprising hydrocarbons.
US08236733B2
A method for forming a precursor solution for metal organic deposition includes dissolving an additive-free first precursor composed of a rare earth element, a second precursor comprising barium, and a third precursor composed of copper into an acid to form a compound solution; dissolving the compound solution into a solvent to form a pre-precursor solution; and evaporating the solvent from the pre-precursor solution to form a precursor solution having an increased viscosity; wherein at least one of the first precursor, the second precursor, and the third precursor is dissolved into a fluorine-free acid. A method for forming a superconducting thick film from the above precursor solution includes forming a thick film by a one-time coating of the precursor solution having an increased viscosity onto a biaxially-textured base followed by heat treating to form the superconducting thick film having a thickness of about 0.2 μm or more and having no cracking.
US08236730B2
The present invention concerns an aqueous phytopathological formulation comprising a hydrosoluble salt of at least one aminophosphate or aminophosphonate type herbicide; at least one principal surfactant selected from alkylbetaines and alkyl(amidoalkyl)betaines, and at least one additive selected from at least one of the following compounds: (i) amines or etheramines comprising at least one hydrocarbon radical containing 2 to 24 carbon atoms, optionally polyalkoxylated; (ii) acid or non acid phosphate mono- or di-esters, optionally polyalkoxylated; (iii) alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal, ammonium, alkylammonium, alkanolammonium, iron, zinc or manganese salts of a mineral acid; and (iv) alkylmonoglycosides or alkylpolyglycosides.
US08236710B2
A method for forming a trench structure is provided for a semiconductor and/or memory device, such as an DRAM device. In one embodiment, the method for forming a trench structure includes forming a trench in a semiconductor substrate, and exposing the sidewalls of the trench to an arsenic-containing gas to adsorb an arsenic containing layer on the sidewalls of the trench. A material layer is then deposited on the sidewalls of the trench to encapsulate the arsenic-containing layer between the material layer and sidewalls of the trench.
US08236699B2
A method for forming a contact hole in a semiconductor device and related computer-readable storage medium are provided, the method and program steps of the medium including measuring a percentage of oxygen in an etching chamber, and controlling the percentage of oxygen in the etching chamber to enlarge a temporary inner diameter near a top of the contact hole.
US08236697B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device which includes fine patterns having various critical dimensions (CDs) by adjusting a thickness of spacer used as an etching mask in Spacer Patterning Technology (SPT). The method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming spacers at a different level over an etching target layer and etching the etching target layer exposed among the spacers.
US08236696B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device to enlarge a channel region is provided. The channel region is enlarged due to having pillar shaped sidewalls of a transistor. The transistor includes a fin active region vertically protruding on a substrate, an isolation layer enclosing a lower portion of the fin active region, and a gate electrode crossing the fin active region and covering a portion of the fin active region. An isolation layer is formed enclosing a lower portion of the fin active region and the isolation layer under the spacers is partially removed to expose a portion of the sidewalls of the fin active region. Subsequently, dry etching is performed to form the sidewalls having a pillar/neck.
US08236692B2
Efficient cleaning is possible although the film qualities and thicknesses of a reaction tube and a gas supply nozzle are different. There is provided a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a film on a substrate, performing a first cleaning process to remove a first deposition substance attached to an inner wall of a gas introducing part, and performing a second cleaning process to remove a second deposition substance attached to an inside of a process chamber and having a chemical composition different from that of the first deposition substance. In the first cleaning process, cleaning conditions are set according to the accumulated supply time of a first source gas supplied to the inside of the process chamber through the gas introducing part, and in the second cleaning process, cleaning conditions are set according to the accumulated thickness of a film formed on the substrate.
US08236690B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor package substrate, including: preparing a copper clad laminate and half etching a copper foil on a wire bonding pad side of the copper clad laminate; depositing a first etching resist on the opposite sides of the copper clad laminate; forming circuit patterns on the first etching resist, constructing circuits including a wire bonding pad and a ball pad after the model of the circuit patterns, and removing the first etching resist; applying a solder resist to the copper clad laminate in such a way to expose the wire bonding pad and the ball pad; and plating the wire bonding pad with gold and subjecting the ball pad to surface treatment.
US08236688B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit system includes: providing a substrate including an active device; forming a through-silicon-via into the substrate; forming an insulation layer over the through-silicon-via to protect the through-silicon-via; forming a contact to the active device after forming the insulation layer; and removing the insulation layer.
US08236687B2
A die-bonding method is suitable for die-bonding a LED chip having a first metal thin-film layer to a substrate. The method includes forming a second metal thin film layer on a surface of the substrate; forming a die-bonding material layer on the second metal thin film layer; placing the LED chip on the die-bonding material layer with the first metal thin film layer contacting the die-bonding material layer; heating the die-bonding material layer at a liquid -solid reaction temperature for a pre-curing time, so as to form a first intermetallic layer and a second intermetallic layer; and heating the die-bonding material layer at a solid-solid reaction temperature for a curing time for performing a solid-solid reaction. The liquid-solid reaction temperature and the solid-solid reaction temperature are both lower than 110° C., and a melting point of the first and second intermetallic layers after the solid-solid reaction is higher than 200° C.
US08236686B2
Methods of forming dual metal gates and the gates so formed are disclosed. A method may include forming a first metal (e.g., NMOS metal) layer on a gate dielectric layer and a second metal (e.g., PMOS metal) layer on the first metal layer, whereby the second metal layer alters a work function of the first metal layer (to form PMOS metal). The method may remove a portion of the second metal layer to expose the first metal layer in a first region; form a silicon layer on the exposed first metal layer in the first region and on the second metal layer in a second region; and form the dual metal gates in the first and second regions. Since the gate dielectric layer is continuously covered with the first metal, it is not exposed to the damage from the metal etch process.
US08236683B2
A microelectronic structure includes a dielectric layer located over a substrate. The dielectric layer is separated from a copper containing conductor layer by an oxidation barrier layer. The microelectronic structure also includes a manganese oxide layer located aligned upon a portion of the copper containing conductor layer not adjoining the oxidation barrier layer. A method for fabricating the microelectronic structure includes sequentially forming and sequentially planarizing within an aperture within a dielectric layer an oxidation barrier layer, a manganese containing layer (or alternatively a mobile and oxidizable material layer) and finally, a planarized copper containing conductor layer (or alternatively a base material layer comprising a material less mobile and oxidizable than the mobile and oxidizable material layer) to completely fill the aperture. The manganese layer and the planarized copper containing conductor layer are then thermally oxidized to form a manganese oxide layer self aligned to a portion of the copper containing conductor layer not adjoining the oxidation barrier layer.
US08236681B2
In a formation process of a semi-global interconnect in a Cu damascene multilayer wiring structure, it is the common practice, upon formation of the damascene wiring structure, to remove an etch stop insulating film from a via bottom by dry etching and then carry out nitrogen plasma treatment to reduce carbon deposits on the surface of the via bottom. Study by the present inventors has revealed that when a sequence of successive discharging for the removal of electrostatic charge by using nitrogen plasma and transportation of the wafer is performed, a Cu hollow is generated on the via bottom at the end of the via chain coupled to a pad lead interconnect having a length not less than a threshold value. According to the invention, in a via hole formation step in a damascene semi-global interconnect or the like, dry etching treatment of a via-bottom etch stop film is performed and then, after nitrogen plasma treatment in the same treatment chamber, electrostatic charge removal treatment by using argon plasma is performed.
US08236678B2
A device that includes a substrate with an active region is disclosed. The device includes a gate disposed in the active region and tunable sidewall spacers on sidewalls of the gate. A profile of the tunable sidewall spacers includes upper and lower portions in which width of the spacers in the upper portion is reduced at a greater rate than the lower portion.
US08236673B2
A method of fabricating a vertical NAND semiconductor device can include changing a phase of a first preliminary semiconductor layer in an opening from solid to liquid to form a first single crystalline semiconductor layer in the opening and then forming a second preliminary semiconductor layer on the first single crystalline semiconductor layer. The phase of the second preliminary semiconductor layer is changed from solid to liquid to form a second single crystalline semiconductor layer that combines with the first single crystalline semiconductor layers to form a single crystalline semiconductor layer in the opening.
US08236672B2
A cavity-containing layer having a plurality of cavities is formed on a growth substrate by carrying out in alternating fashion a plurality of cycles of a first and second growth steps of growing a group III nitride at growth rates different from each other. The semiconductor epitaxial layer is subsequently formed on the cavity-containing layer, after which a support substrate is bonded to the semiconductor epitaxial layer. The growth substrate is separated from the cavity-containing layer.
US08236666B2
Provided is a semiconductor device including: a base plate; a thermally conductive resin layer formed on an upper surface of the base plate; an integrated layer which is formed on an upper surface of the thermally conductive resin layer, and includes an electrode and an insulating resin layer covering all side surfaces of the electrode; and a semiconductor element formed on an upper surface of the electrode, in which the integrated layer is thermocompression bonded to the base plate through the thermally conductive resin layer. This semiconductor device excels in insulating properties and reliability.
US08236655B2
A method of forming a programmable fuse structure includes forming at least one shallow trench isolation (STI) in a substrate, forming an e-fuse over the at least one STI and depositing an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer over the e-fuse. Additionally, the method includes removing at least a portion of the at least one STI under the e-fuse to provide an air gap below a portion of the e-fuse and removing at least a portion of the ILD layer over the e-fuse to provide the air gap above the portion of the e-fuse.
US08236654B2
A threshold adjusting semiconductor material, such as a silicon/germanium alloy, may be provided selectively for one type of transistors on the basis of enhanced deposition uniformity. For this purpose, the semiconductor alloy may be deposited on the active regions of any transistors and may subsequently be patterned on the basis of a highly controllable patterning regime. Consequently, threshold variability may be reduced.
US08236652B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate configured to include a plurality of trenches therein; a plurality of buried bit lines each configured to fill a portion of each trench; a plurality of active pillars each formed in an upper portion of each buried bit line; a plurality of vertical gates each configured to surround each active pillar; and a plurality of word lines configured to couple neighboring vertical gates with each other.
US08236651B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of trenches, including applying a first mask, forming a first polysilicon region in at least some of the plurality of trenches, forming a inter-polysilicon dielectric region and a termination protection region, including applying a second mask, forming a second polysilicon region in the at least some of the plurality of trenches, forming a first electrical contact to the first polysilicon region and forming a second electrical contact to the second polysilicon region, including applying a third mask, disposing a metal layer, and forming a source metal region and a gate metal region, including applying a fourth mask.
US08236647B2
Provided is a method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device capable of improving charge retention characteristics. The method for fabricating a nonvolatile memory device includes forming a charge trapping layer with a memory region and a charge blocking region on a semiconductor substrate, and trapping charges in the charge blocking region of the charge trapping layer.
US08236643B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device with a ferroelectric capacitor, including, forming a lower insulating film on a semiconductor substrate, covering a MOS transistor, forming a lower electrode on the lower insulating film, forming a ferroelectric dielectric oxide film on the lower electrode, forming a first upper electrode on the dielectric oxide film, made of conductive oxide having a composition poor in oxygen, forming a second upper electrode on the first upper electrode, made of conductive oxide having a composition nearer to the stoichiometry, forming a third upper electrode on the second upper electrode, having a composition containing metal of the platinum group, constituting a ferroelectric capacitor, and forming a multilayer wiring structure above the lower interlevel insulating film, covering the ferroelectric capacitor, wherein the third upper electrode has a less oxygen composition than the first and second upper electrodes.
US08236642B2
A semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; an n-type tub extending from a top surface of the semiconductor substrate into the semiconductor substrate, wherein the n-type tub comprises a bottom buried in the semiconductor substrate; a p-type buried layer (PBL) on a bottom of the tub, wherein the p-type buried layer is buried in the semiconductor substrate; and a high-voltage n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor (HVNMOS) device over the PBL and within a region encircled by sides of the n-type tub.
US08236628B2
A method of manufacturing an array substrate comprising: forming a data line and a gate line which are crossed with each other and a gate electrode on a base substrate, and the data line is discontinuously disposed so as to be separated from the gate line or the gate line is discontinuously disposed so as to be separated from the data line; forming an active layer and a gate insulating layer including bridge via holes and a source electrode via hole on the base substrate, and the bridge via holes are located at positions respectively corresponding to adjacent discontinuous sections of the data line or adjacent discontinuous sections of the gate line, and the source electrode via hole is located at a position corresponding to the data line; and forming a pixel electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a bridge line on the base substrate, and the pixel electrode and the drain electrode are formed integrally, and the source electrode is connected to the data line through the source electrode via hole, and the bridge line connects the adjacent discontinuous sections of the data line or the adjacent discontinuous sections of the gate line through the bridge via holes.
US08236624B2
In a method for producing an electronic component, a first doped connection region and a second doped connection region are formed on or above a substrate; a body region is formed between the first doped connection region and the second doped connection region; at least two gate regions separate from one another are formed on or above the body region; at least one partial region of the body region is doped by means of introducing dopant atoms, wherein the dopant atoms are introduced into the at least one partial region of the body region through at least one intermediate region formed between the at least two separate gate regions.
US08236620B2
To solve a problem in that a die processing cost increases when employing a method involving providing a suction hole in the die to fix an island onto a bottom surface, provided is a semiconductor device, which includes: a semiconductor chip, an island having a first surface, on which the semiconductor chip is mounted, and a second surface opposing to the first surface, a hanger pin extended from the island, a branch portion extended from one of the island and the hanger pin, and a resin encapsulating the semiconductor chip, the island, the hanger pin and the brunch portion while exposing the second surface of the island.
US08236618B2
A method of making a semiconductor chip assembly includes providing first and second posts, first and second adhesives and a base, wherein the first post extends from the base in a first vertical direction into a first opening in the first adhesive, the second post extends from the base in a second vertical direction into a second opening in the second adhesive and the base is sandwiched between and extends laterally from the posts, then flowing the first adhesive in the first vertical direction and the second adhesive in the second vertical direction, solidifying the adhesives, then providing a conductive trace that includes a pad and a terminal, wherein the pad extends beyond the base in the first vertical direction and the terminal extends beyond the base in the second vertical direction, providing a heat spreader that includes the posts and the base, then mounting a semiconductor device on the first post, electrically connecting the semiconductor device to the conductive trace and thermally connecting the semiconductor device to the heat spreader.
US08236612B2
A method of making a lead frame and a partially patterned lead frame package with near-chip scale packaging lead-count, wherein the method lends itself to better automation of the manufacturing line and improved quality and reliability of the packages produced therefrom. A major portion of the manufacturing process steps is performed with a partially patterned strip of metal formed into a web-like lead frame on one side so that the web-like lead frame is also rigid mechanically and robust thermally to perform without distortion or deformation during the chip-attach and wire bond processes, both at the chip level and the package level. The bottom side of the metal lead frame is patterned to isolate the chip-pad and the wire bond contacts only after the front side, including the chip and wires, is hermetically sealed with an encapsulant. The resultant package being electrically isolated enables strip testing and reliable singulation.
US08236611B1
A method is disclosed for singulating die from a substrate having a sacrificial layer and one or more device layers, with a retainer being formed in the device layer(s) and anchored to the substrate. Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) etching of a trench through the substrate from the bottom side defines a shape for each die. A handle wafer is then attached to the bottom side of the substrate, and the sacrificial layer is etched to singulate the die and to form a frame from the retainer and the substrate. The frame and handle wafer, which retain the singulated die in place, can be attached together with a clamp or a clip and to form a package for the singulated die. One or more stops can be formed from the device layer(s) to limit a sliding motion of the singulated die.
US08236603B1
A semiconductor structure may include a polycrystalline substrate comprising a metal, the polycrystalline substrate having substantially randomly oriented grains, as well as a buffer layer disposed thereover. The buffer layer may comprise a plurality of islands having an average island spacing therebetween. A polycrystalline semiconductor layer is disposed over the buffer layer.
US08236600B2
A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a first semiconductor substrate and depositing a first sequence of layers of semiconductor material to form a first solar subcell, including a first bond layer disposed on the top of the first sequence of layers. A second semiconductor substrate is provided, and on the top surface of the second substrate a second sequence of layers of semiconductor material is deposited forming at least a second solar subcell. A second bond layer is disposed on the top of said second sequence of layers. The first solar subcell is mounted on top of the second solar subcell by joining the first bond layer to the second bond layer in an ultra high vacuum chamber, and the first semiconductor substrate is removed.
US08236597B1
A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a transparent substrate comprising a surface region. A first electrode layer is formed overlying the surface region. A copper layer is formed overlying the first electrode layer and an indium layer is formed overlying the copper layer to form a multi-layered structure. The method subjects at least the multi-layered structure to a thermal treatment process in an environment containing a sulfur bearing species to form a bulk copper indium disulfide material. The bulk copper indium disulfide material comprises one or more portions of copper indium disulfide material and a surface region characterized by a copper poor surface having a copper-to-indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1. The copper poor surface and one or more portions of the bulk copper indium disulfide material are subjected to metal cation species to convert the copper poor surface from an n-type characteristic to a p-type characteristic and to convert any of the one or more portions of the bulk copper indium disulfide material having the copper-to-indium atomic ratio of less than about 0.95:1 from a p-type characteristic to an n-type characteristic. A window layer is formed overlying the copper indium disulfide material.
US08236588B2
An object is to provide a multi-wavelength integrated semiconductor laser device which can reduce variations in emission point distance, can be formed by simplified manufacturing processes, and can provide improve electric characteristics.A first semiconductor laser element 100 having an active layer AL1 for emitting a laser beam of a first wavelength from its light-emitting point X1 and a second semiconductor laser element 200 having an active layer AL2 for emitting a laser beam of a second wavelength from its light-emitting point X2 are bonded to each other via an adhesive layer MC made of metal. At least either one of the semiconductor laser elements has a ridge waveguide made of an n-type semiconductor. The semiconductor laser elements 100 and 200 are bonded via the metal adhesive layer MC at the sides of their respective p-type semiconductors. A submount SUB is bonded to the first semiconductor laser element 100 via metal at a side where its ridge waveguide is formed.
US08236585B2
A method of forming a light emitting diode includes forming a transparent substrate and a GaN buffer layer on the transparent substrate. An n-GaN layer is formed on the buffer layer. An active layer is formed on the n-GaN layer. A p-GaN layer is formed on the active layer. A p-electrode is formed on the p-GaN layer and an n-electrode is formed on the n-GaN layer. A reflective layer is formed on a second side of the transparent substrate. A scribe line is formed on the substrate for separating the diodes on the substrate. Also, a cladding layer of AlGaN is between the p-GaN layer and the active layer.
US08236573B2
A microflow analytical system includes a laminate pump assembly connectable with one or more sources of fluid, one or more pneumatic control pumps, a mixer, and a sensor. The laminate pump assembly is adapted to deliver predetermined volumes of the fluid(s) through a plurality of flow paths which are formed within layers of the assembly. Each flow path can include an inlet valve, a pump valve, and an outlet valve each of which are controllable by the pneumatic control pumps. A series of manifolds can be formed within the layers of the pump assembly to provide for simultaneous activation of selected flow paths. Delivered fluid volumes can be mixed in the mixer which, in some embodiments, may be integral with the laminate pump assembly. The sensor can measure one or more characteristics of the mixed fluids to determine one or more properties of the fluids.
US08236572B2
Chemical exchange saturation transfer based MRI using reporter genes and MRI methods related thereto
Featured are a new class of reporter genes including reporter compositions as well as methods, MRI systems and MRI imaging kits related thereto. The genes according to the present invention provide MR contrast when the sample/subject is irradiated at a specific off-resonance radio-frequency (RF frequency), where the contrast mechanism utilizes chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) technique for imaging.
US08236570B2
The present invention generally relates to methods for identifying nucleic acid ligands of a target molecule. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for identifying a nucleic acid ligand of a target molecule from a candidate mixture of nucleic acids, including contacting at least one target molecule with a candidate mixture of nucleic acids, in which the nucleic acids have different affinities for the target molecule, and separating in a single step nucleic acids that bind the target molecule with greatest affinity from nucleic acids that bind the target molecule with a lesser affinity and nucleic acids that do not bind the target molecule, thereby identifying the nucleic acid ligand of the target molecule.
US08236562B2
The invention relates to a method for producing ready to use, antigen loaded or unloaded, cryoconserved mature dendritic cells especially for the production of a vaccine containing said dendritic cells, wherein immature dendritic cells are cultivated in the presence of suitable maturation stimuli and the mature dendritic cells thus obtained are frozen. The dendritic cells can be loaded with antigen before freezing. The invention also relates to a vaccine which can be obtained according to the inventive method and to a composition containing frozen, mature dendritic cells which are loaded with antigen.
US08236551B2
The present application provides genetically modified fungal organisms that produce enzyme mixtures exhibiting enhanced hydrolysis of cellulosic material to glucose, enzyme mixtures produced by the genetically modified fungal organisms, and processes for producing glucose from cellulose using such enzyme mixtures.
US08236540B2
The invention relates to the nucleotide and amino acid sequences, and to the activity and use, of the luciferases LuAL, Lu164, Lu16, Lu39, Lu45, Lu52 and Lu22.
US08236539B2
A non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes a microbial organism having a reductive TCA or Wood-Ljungdahl pathway in which at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding these pathway enzymes is expressed in a sufficient amount to enhance carbon flux through acetyl-CoA. A method for enhancing carbon flux through acetyl-CoA includes culturing theses non-naturally occurring microbial organisms under conditions and for a sufficient period of time to produce a product having acetyl-CoA as a building block. Another non-naturally occurring microbial organism includes at least one exogenous nucleic acid encoding an enzyme expressed in a sufficient amount to enhance the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen, thereby increasing the yield of redox-limited products via carbohydrate-based carbon feedstock. A method for enhancing the availability of reducing equivalents in the presence of carbon monoxide or hydrogen includes culturing this organism for a sufficient period of time to produce a product.
US08236536B2
Dissolution, partial dissolution or softening of cellulose in an ionic liquid (IL) and its subsequent contact with anti-solvent produces regenerated cellulose more amorphous in structure than native cellulose, which can be separated from the IL/anti-solvent mixture by mechanical means such as simple filtration or centrifugation. This altered morphology of IL-treated cellulose allows a greater number of sites for enzyme adsorption with a subsequent enhancement of its saccharification. The IL-treated cellulose exhibits significantly improved hydrolysis kinetics with optically transparent solutions formed after about two hours of reaction. This provides an opportunity for separation of products from the catalyst (enzyme) easing enzyme recovery. With an appropriate selection of enzymes, initial hydrolysis rates for IL-treated cellulose were up to two orders of magnitude greater than those of untreated cellulose. Due to the non-volatility of the IL, anti-solvent can be easily stripped from the IL/anti-solvent mixture for recovery and recycle of both the ionic liquid and anti-solvent.
US08236535B2
Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
US08236530B2
A significantly increased amount of a monoclonal antibody is obtained from the culture medium of recombinant hybridoma prepared by introducing genes encoding a protein identical to the immunoglobulin heavy chain polypeptide of the specific monoclonal antibody into an immortalized B cell (hybridoma) producing the monoclonal antibody.
US08236528B2
A method for producing a polypeptide in a methylotrophic yeast host cell is described, where expression of the polypeptide is controlled by a methanol inducible promoter, including: i) expression of a positive regulator from a non-native promoter, the positive regulator activating transcription from the methanol inducible promoter, and ii) no addition of methanol.
US08236523B2
cAMP reporters useful for obtaining measurements of cAMP levels with high spatial and temporal resolution and in high throughput assays.
US08236522B2
The present invention relates to an extract from bacterial strains useful as a treatment for disorders such as digestive or urinary tract disorders, compositions comprising the extract, and processes of making the extract from media that do not pose a risk of prion diseases.
US08236517B2
A BUN (blood urea nitrogen) sensor containing immobilized carbonic anhydrase and immobilized urease for the in vitro detection of urea nitrogen in blood and biological samples with improved performance and precision characteristics.
US08236516B2
A process is provided for analyzing a specimen of biological material in any of a number of biochemical or immunological tests for an analyte which involves subjecting the specimen to treatment which develops a color correlating to the amount of analyte in the specimen. According to the invention at least one defined color characteristic selected from hue angle, chroma, saturation and lightness of the developed color is measured and the results of that measurement analyzed to determine the presence or concentration of the analyte in the specimen. Particular applications are to the detection of cancerous or pre-cancerous abnormalities from the analysis of lung mucus, throat mucus, cervical mucus or seminal fluid.
US08236514B2
In certain embodiments, the present invention relates to methods, compositions, and kits for diagnosing autoimmune chronic urticaria. For example, in certain embodiments, such methods generally comprise detecting the presence of auto-antibodies to cell-surface IgE receptors or cell-bound IgE in a patient. Such auto-antibodies may be detected by (a) obtaining donor basophils and associated leukocytes from one or more donors, (b) challenging the donor basophils and associated leukocytes with control serum and quantifying the amount of histamine released by the donor basophils and associated leukocytes, (c) calculating a normalized baseline of histamine release, wherein the normalized baseline of histamine release represents a mean percentage of histamine released by the basophils and associated leukocytes of an individual donor plus a specified amount above such mean, (d) reacting patient serum with the donor basophils and associated leukocytes, (e) measuring the percentage of histamine released by the donor basophils and associated leukocytes in response to the patient serum, and (f) comparing the percentage of histamine released by the donor basophils and associated leukocytes in response to the patient serum to the normalized baseline of histamine release.
US08236510B2
A novel gene (designated 101P3A11 or PHOR-1) and its encoded protein, and variants thereof, are described wherein 101P3A11 exhibits tissue specific expression in normal adult tissue, and is aberrantly expressed in the cancers listed in Table I. Consequently, 101P3A11 provides a diagnostic, prognostic, prophylactic and/or therapeutic target for cancer. The 101P3A11 gene or fragment thereof, or its encoded protein, or variants thereof, or a fragment thereof, can be used to elicit a humoral or cellular immune response; antibodies or T cells reactive with 101P3A11 can be used in active or passive immunization.
US08236508B2
Extremely minute amounts of live pathogens are rapidly detected using a piezoelectric cantilever sensor. A single pathogen is detectable in about 30 minutes. Pathogen-specific antibodies are immobilized on the sensor surface. The sensor is exposed to a medium that potentially contains the target pathogen. When target pathogens are contained in the medium, both dead and live pathogen cells bind to the immobilized antibody on the sensor surface. The attached target pathogen cells are exposed to a pathogen discriminator capable of discriminating between live cells and dead cells by increasing the mass of live cells. Example pathogens include Escherichia coli, Listeri monocytogene, and Salmonella enteritidis. Example antibodies include those that bind to the pathogenic bacteria designated as ATCC 43251, ATCC 700375, and ATCC 31194. Example pathogen discriminators include intracellular pH indicating molecules.
US08236507B2
A DNA sequence encoding a protein capable of binding to a tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor (TRAF) molecule, TRAF-binding proteins, their isoforms, analogs, fragments and derivatives encoded by the DNA sequence, their methods for the production of the DNA sequences and proteins, and the uses for the DNA sequence and proteins.
US08236504B2
A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.
US08236491B2
A protein fragment complementation assay for thermophiles is provided wherein a thermophilic bacteria having a temperature-sensitive adenylate kinase is transformed with one or more vectors having sequences encoding a first test peptide operatively fused to a first portion of a thermostable adenylate and a second test peptide operatively fused to a second portion of the thermostable adenylate kinase. Association of the first and second test peptides allows association of the first and second portions of the thermostable adenylate kinase and growth of the thermophilic bacteria at a temperature greater than 70° C.
US08236489B2
The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring the progression of an individual patient malignancy. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for identifying cellular and secreted markers, for screening cells to detect phenotypic and genotypic drift and for predicting chemotherapeutic response of patient tumor cells to at least one therapeutic agent. The assays, methods, tools and systems discussed herein also represent an improved and unified system for monitoring and for screening multiple pharmaceutical agents for efficacy and long term effect as to a specific patient.
US08236485B2
Disclosed herein is a composition and method for semiconductor processing. In one embodiment, a wet-cleaning composition for removal of photoresist is provided. The composition comprises a strong base; an oxidant; and a polar solvent. In another embodiment, a method for removing photoresist is provided. The method comprises the steps of applying a wet-cleaning composition comprising about 0.1 to about 30 weight percent strong base; about one to about 30 weight percent oxidant; about 20 to about 95 weight percent polar solvent; and removing the photoresist.
US08236484B2
As the critical dimensions of liftoff patterns grow smaller, it becomes increasingly more difficult to make liftoff resists that have the required resolution. This problem has been overcome by use of a combination of ion beam processing and ozone slimming to form lift-off patterns with undercuts from a single layer of photoresist. The ion beam process serves to harden the top portion of the resist while the ozone is used to oxidize and erode the lower portion resist sidewall to form the undercut.
US08236479B2
A pattern of ink is printed on a substrate, such as corrugated paperboard with a relief printing form made from a photosensitive element. An in-situ mask is formed for the photosensitive element, the element is exposed to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between 190,000 and 100 ppm, and the exposed element is treated to form the relief printing form having a pattern of printing areas. Printing is accomplished by securing the relief printing form to a print press, applying the ink to the printing areas on the printing form, and contacting the ink from the printing areas to the substrate to transfer the pattern of ink onto the substrate.
US08236472B2
Provided is a method for forming an image with a set of electrostatic charge image developing toners using a digital electrophotographic method, provided that the set of electrostatic charge image developing toners comprises a black toner and a light gray toner, the method comprising the steps of: forming an electrostatic latent image on an image support; developing the electrostatic latent image with the black toner to form a black toner image; developing the electrostatic latent image with the light gray toner to form a light gray toner image; and fixing the black toner image and the light gray toner image, wherein the black toner and the light gray toner each independently contains a wax having an endothermic peak in the range of 60 to 105° C.; and the light gray toner has a transmittance in the range of 40 to 90%.
US08236465B2
A method for manufacturing flexible color filter substrate includes the following steps. First, a rigid substrate is provided. The rigid substrate has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to the upper surface. The upper surface includes a first region and a second region located at a periphery of the first region. Next, a release layer is formed on the first region. Next, a flexible substrate layer is formed to cover the second region and the release layer. Next, a color photoresist layer is formed on a portion of the flexible substrate layer above the release layer. Next, the rigid substrate and the flexible substrate layer are cut along a border between the first region and the second region. Next, the flexible substrate layer is separated with the release layer. The method for manufacturing flexible color filter substrate can improve optical performance of the flexible color filter substrate.
US08236462B2
An electrode catalyst for a fuel cell, which has improved performance compared with conventional platinum alloy catalysts, a method for producing the electrode catalyst, and a polymer electrolyte fuel cell using the electrode catalyst are provided. The electrode catalyst for a fuel cell comprises a noble-metal-non-precious metal alloy that has a core-shell structure supported on a conductive carrier. The composition of the catalyst components of the shell is such that the amount of the noble metal is greater than or equal to the amount of the non-precious metal.
US08236452B2
This invention provides a nano-structured anode composition for a lithium metal cell. The composition comprises: (a) an integrated structure of electrically conductive nanometer-scaled filaments that are interconnected to form a porous network of electron-conducting paths comprising interconnected pores, wherein the nano-filaments have a transverse dimension less than 500 nm; and (b) micron- or nanometer-scaled particles of lithium, a lithium alloy, or a lithium-containing compound wherein at least one of the particles is surface-passivated or stabilized and the weight fraction of these particles is between 1% and 99% based on the total weight of these particles and the integrated structure together. Also provided is a lithium metal cell or battery, or lithium-air cell or battery, comprising such an anode. The battery exhibits an exceptionally high specific capacity, an excellent reversible capacity, and a long cycle life.
US08236443B2
The present invention relates to metal foil encapsulation of an electrochemical device. The metal foil encapsulation may also provide contact tabs for the electrochemical device. The present invention may also include a selectively conductive bonding layer between a contact and a cell structure.
US08236439B2
A rechargeable battery according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes an electrode assembly, a case containing the electrode assembly, and a cap assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a separator between the first and second electrodes. The cap assembly is coupled to the case. The cap assembly includes a tab that is electrically connected to the first electrode and a deformable plate that is electrically connected to the second electrode. The deformable plate also includes a notch that is opened due to an increase of pressure. The deformable plate deforms as a result of increased pressure and electrically contacts the first tab, short circuiting the rechargeable battery.
US08236436B2
A fuel cell system includes: a fuel cell which generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen; a hydrogen storage which stores hydrogen supplied to the fuel cell and which has a supply port connectable to a hydrogen supply unit for supplying hydrogen from outside the fuel cell system; a detector which detects a leakage of the hydrogen from the hydrogen storage; and a connection controller which regulates connection of the hydrogen supply unit to the supply port when the leakage of the hydrogen is detected by the detector.
US08236412B2
The present invention relates to a thermoplastic composition including a polyamide graft polymer including a polyolefin backbone containing a residue of at least one unsaturated monomer having reacted with at least one polyamide graft. The invention also relates to structures, particularly multilayer structures, including said composition. One of the preferred structures of the present invention is a photovoltaic module including said composition. The composition according to the invention can advantageously be used as a binder or encapsulant. It is also used in solar panels and laminated glass.
US08236400B2
A protective device for attaching to and protecting at least one article includes a cover having an attachment surface and a display surface opposing the attachment surface. An adhesive coating is applied to the attachment surface of the cover to facilitate adhesion of the cover to an article. A removable backing is releasably attached to the adhesive coating and at least one relief notch is formed in the cover through the attachment surface of the cover and terminates beneath the display surface of the cover.
US08236393B2
An inkjet recording material which comprises a supporting substrate, a first bottom base coat applied to at least one surface of said substrate, and a second topcoat layer applied over said base coat. In said inkjet recording material, the base coat includes a combination of at least three pigments and the topcoat layer comprises pigments selected from the group consisting of fumed silica, silica gel, precipitated silica, colloidal silica, fumed alumina, boehmite, pseudo-boehmite or a mixture thereof.
US08236378B2
A wet processing system detects a globule of a process solution in a drippy or dripping state from the tip of any one of process solution pouring nozzles being moved to a pouring position for pouring the process solution onto a substrate by obtaining image data on the process solution pouring nozzle, and takes proper measures to prevent the process solution from dripping. A wet processing system 1 pours a process solution, such as a resist solution, through one of process solution pouring nozzles 10 onto a surface of a substrate, such as a wafer W, held substantially horizontally by a substrate holding device 41 surrounded by a cup 5 to process the surface by a wet process. A nozzle carrying mechanism 10a carries the process solution pouring nozzles 10 between a home position on a nozzle bath 14 and a pouring position above the substrate held by the substrate holding device 41. An optical image of the tips of the process solution pouring nozzles 10 is obtained by an image pickup means, such as a camera 17. Predetermined measures are taken according to the level of a drippy or dripping state of a globule of the process solution.
US08236377B2
Method and system for moving a frozen adhesive particle towards a target body, comprising launching means (13) which are arranged to launch the particle (2) in its frozen form towards the target body (3, 4) via a movement path (14) through a gap (15) between the launching means and the target body. The medium in the gap may have a temperature above the adhesive particle's melting temperature. The launching means may be arranged to launch the particle at a high speed. The launching means and the target body may have a geometry causing that the movement path is substantially vertical or substantially horizontal.
US08236376B2
A strand is coated with a powdered material by first applying a layer of hot polymer resin to the strand, and spraying the powdered material onto the resin-coated strand from at least three nozzles disposed along the processing path and spaced radially therearound. The spray apparatus is disposed within nested containers so as to limit the escape of overspray powder. The powder-coated strand may be heat-set to increase the adhesion of the powder.
US08236373B2
Method for the controlled ink-jet spreading of polymeric material for insulation and/or protection of printed circuits, characterized in that it has at least the following steps: —carrying out at least a first bedding/bordering/border-line contour run of the circuit design, creating a line of outline/bordering design slightly raised from said printed board surface; —carrying out a subsequent filling/covering run of the outlined bordered design.
US08236371B2
A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display device is provided. The method comprises: preparing a plate-shaped first electrode provided on a first base portion, and the first electrode having a surface; preparing plate-shaped second electrodes provided on a second base portion; forming a first binder layer on the surface of the first electrode; supplying a plurality of microcapsules on the first binder layer, the plurality of microcapsules each having an internal space, the internal space filled with an electrophoretic dispersion liquid, the electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles having different colors, and the plurality of microcapsules including properly-sized microcapsules and improperly-sized microcapsules; fixing the properly-sized microcapsules to the surface of the first electrode through the first binder layer to obtain an electrophoretic display sheet; removing the improperly-sized microcapsules which are not brought into contact with the first binder layer from the electrophoretic display sheet; forming a second binder layer on the first binder layer so as to cover the properly-sized microcapsules; and providing the second electrodes on the second binder layer to obtain the electrophoretic display device. The method is capable of efficiently manufacturing the electrophoretic display device having high display performance by arranging microcapsules on electrodes so that the microcapsules are not overlapped with each other. Further, an electrophoretic display device and an electronic device are also provided.
US08236370B2
The present disclosure provides improved packaged condoms that enable the use of a large quantity of a composition inside the condom. In addition, a sufficient quantity of certain spermicidal and/or microbicidal compositions is provided for efficient inactivation of sperm and pathogens. The present disclosure also provides condoms with reduced tendency to slip or break. Compositions associated with different surfaces of the condom can be effectively segregated to their intended condom surface according to the present disclosure.
US08236362B2
The invention provides a stable concentrated dairy liquid, such as concentrated milk, with improved flavor, color, and mouthfeel, and a method of production thereof. The method utilizes specific thermal treatments to produce the stable concentrated dairy liquid to which a stabilizer and mouthfeel enhancer are added. The resulting products have a sterilization value Fo of at least 5 that is also resistant to gelling and browning during high temperature sterilization and is also resistant to gelling and browning during storage for greater than six months. The method balances such thermal treatments with addition of stabilizer and enhancer to achieve the desired flavor/mouthfeel and sterilization and to achieve reduced level of soluble protein in the concentrated milk prior to concentration to resist gelation and minimize browning. Moreover, such processing may be utilized in a milk that is concentrated to a factor of 2.7 fold or higher and contains at least 8.5 percent protein.
US08236358B1
The present invention provides, among other things, compositions and methods suitable for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia based on phosphate-binding magnesium salts. In some embodiments, the present invention provides compositions and methods suitable for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia based on the combination of phosphate-binding magnesium and an enteric coating.
US08236357B2
The present invention discloses compositions for aqueous skin disinfection comprising hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of at least 0.1% to 10% (w/w), preferably 0.2-6%, and an N-acylated amino acid and/or peptide in the range of 0.1-20% (w/w), preferably 0.1-10%, more preferably 0.2-8%, and most preferably 0.2-5% (w/w). The N-acylated amino acid composition may be N-acylated glutamic acid and/or an N-acylated wheat protein hydrolysate, or a salt thereof.
US08236356B2
The present invention provides improved media for the cultivation of Clostridium histolyticum and culture supernatants for the biotechnological production of collagenase enzymes. The nutrient media according to the invention comprise one or more peptones from a non-mammalian source, preferably plant-derived peptones. The media can additionally comprise fish gelatin. The invention provides media, culture supernatants comprising Clostridium histolyticum collagenase, and methods to produce said collagenase.
US08236355B2
The present invention relates to an agent having COX-2 inhibition activity. In particular the present invention relates to a COX-2 inhibitor separated from a mixture of denatured plasma and at least one metal, metal ion or metal salt thereof.
US08236348B2
Flavored dosage forms, e.g., lozenges and gums, are provided for sustained release of a flavoring agent in the mouth. The dosage forms provide sustained release by virtue of a wet matrix formed by admixture of a biocompatible, hydrophilic, water-insoluble polymer such as ethylcellulose and a flavoring agent, particularly an essential oil or a constituent thereof, e.g., a terpene or sesquiterpene. The dosage forms may also include a second beneficial agent in addition to the flavoring agent. Exemplary such beneficial agents include ionizable zinc compounds and other cold remedies, local anesthetic and anti-infective agents, diet aids, fluoride-releasing compounds, and nicotine. The dosage forms, when formulated as lozenges, may be somewhat adhesive or substantially nontacky, depending primarily on the molecular weight of the hydrophilic polymer. Adhesive lozenges can serve as dosage forms that adhere to the teeth or gums for delivery of a beneficial agent thereto. Methods for using the dosage forms to provide sustained release of a flavoring agent and optionally deliver a second beneficial agent are also provided, as are methods for treating the common cold, treating a sore throat, facilitating weight loss, and assisting in smoking cessation.
US08236347B2
Pharmaceutical compositions for reducing amyloid deposition, amyloid neurotoxicity, and microgliosis
The present invention provides methods for reducing Aβ deposition, Aβ neurotoxicity and microgliosis in an animal or human afflicted with a cerebral amyloidogenic disease, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), by administering therapeutically effective amounts of the (R)-enantiomer of the dihydropyridine compound nilvadipine, also known as (−)-nilvadipine, to the animal or human. Further provided are methods for reducing the risk of Aβ deposition, Aβ neurotoxicity and microgliosis in animals or humans suffering from traumatic brain injury by administering (−)-nilvadipine after the traumatic brain injury and continuing treatment for a prescribed period of time thereafter.
US08236342B2
The invention provides a multi-polymer hydrogel article having a first polymeric, water-swellable material and a second polymeric material, organized such that a first region substantially comprises the first polymeric, water-swellable material, a second region adjacent the first region comprises a mixture of the first polymeric, water-swellable material and the second polymeric material, and a third region adjacent the second region substantially comprises the second polymeric material. The article exhibits an increasing concentration gradient of the second polymeric material moving from the first region, through the second region, to the third region. The invention also provides methods for forming a multi-polymer hydrogel article by (a) forming a hydrogel structure using a first polymeric, water-swellable material, (b) creating an aerogel structure having a plurality of open pores by dehydrating the hydrogel structure, (c) contacting the aerogel structure with a second polymeric material to incorporate the second polymeric material into at least a portion of the plurality of open pores to form the multi-polymer hydrogel article, and (d) rehydrating the multi-polymer hydrogel article.
US08236335B2
The present invention relates to compositions and methods for decreasing the infectivity, morbidity, and rate of mortality associated with a variety of pathogenic organisms and viruses. The present invention also relates to methods and compositions for decontaminating areas colonized or otherwise infected by pathogenic organisms and viruses. Moreover, the present invention relates to methods and compositions for decreasing the infectivity of pathogenic organisms in foodstuffs.
US08236332B2
The present invention relates to emulsifier system comprising food-grade gelled particles and the preparation of particle stabilised emulsions with this emulsifier. The emulsifier system can be used in any fields of applications, such as food products, home and personal care applications and pharmaceutical applications.
US08236328B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprises a dispersion comprising a low-solubility drug and a matrix combined with a concentration-enhancing polymer. At least a major portion of the drug is amorphous in the dispersion. The compositions improve the stability of the drug in the dispersion, and/or the concentration of drug in a use environment.
US08236324B2
An HIV-1 type (or subtype) O retrovirus protein, or a natural or synthetic polypeptide or peptide including at least a part of said protein, which is capable of being recognized by antibodies isolated from a serum resulting from infection by an HIV-1 type O VAU strain or an HIV-1 type (or subtype) O DUR strain.
US08236317B2
The invention relates to factor D inhibitors, which bind to factor D and block the functional activity of factor D in complement activation. The inhibitors include antibody molecules, as well as homologues, analogues and modified or derived forms thereof, including immunoglobulin fragments like Fab, F(ab′)2 and Fv, small molecules, including peptides, oligonucleotides, peptidomimetics and organic compounds. A monoclonal antibody which bound to factor D and blocked its ability to activate complement was generated and designated 166-32. The hybridoma producing this antibody was deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, 10801 University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209, under Accession Number HB-12476.
US08236314B2
This invention provides an agonist antibody to a human thrombopoietin receptor (human c-Mpl), and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same for use in treatment of thrombocytopenia. The disclosed agonist antibody comprises (1) antibody constant regions comprising heavy and light chain constant regions, each of which may optionally contain domain substitutions, or may contain deletions, substitutions, additions, or insertions of amino acid residues, and (2) antibody variable regions capable of binding to and activating a human thrombopoietin receptor. The-agonist antibody further induces colony formation at a concentration of 10,000 ng/ml or lower, and has a maximal activity at least 50% higher than that of PEG-rHuMGDF and an 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 100 nM or less.
US08236313B2
Provided herein are compositions and methods for preventing, ameliorating, and/or reducing tissue ischemia and/or tissue damage due to ischemia, increasing blood vessel diameter, blood flow and tissue perfusion in the presence of vascular disease including peripheral vascular disease, atherosclerotic vascular disease, coronary artery disease, stroke and influencing other conditions, by suppressing CD47 and/or blocking TSP1 and/or CD47 activity or interaction. Influencing the interaction of CD47-TSP1 in blood vessels allows for control of blood vessel diameter and blood flow, and permits modification of blood pressure and cardiac function. Under conditions of decreased blood flow, for instance through injury or atherosclerosis, blocking TSP1-CD47 interaction allows blood vessels to dilate and increases blood flow, tissue perfusion and tissue survival. This in turn reduces or prevents tissue necrosis and death. The therapeutics identified herein allow for precise regulation of blood flow to tissues and organs which need it, while substantially avoiding systemic complications. Methods and compositions described herein can be used to increase tissue survival under conditions of trauma and surgery, as well as conditions of chronic vascular disease. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of elderly subjects using agents that affect TSP1 and CD47 and thereby affect tissue perfusion. Additionally, provided herein are compositions and methods for influencing blood coagulation, allowing for controlled increased or decreased blood clotting. Additionally, provided herein are compositions and methods for decreasing blood flow, as in the case of cancer through mimicking the effects of TSP1 and CD47 on blood vessel diameter and blood flow.
US08236312B2
The present invention relates to a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-specific human antibody, and more particularly to a human antibody including a complementarity determining region (CDR) and a framework region (FR) derived from a human antibody specifically bound to VEGF. The VEGF-specific human antibody of the present invention may be used in diagnosis of diseases caused by the VEGF-overexpression, classification of the diseases, visualization, treatment, and prognostic evaluation.
US08236309B2
The invention relates generally to the field of immunology, in particular, to bispecific antibodies. Methods for designing a bispecific antibody for use in treating diseases relating to the immune system are disclosed. Specific examples relate to bispecific antibodies which recognize an activating receptor and an inhibiting receptor.
US08236308B2
The present invention relates to uses of bispecific antibodies exhibiting cross-species specificity for evaluating the in vivo safety and/or activity and/or pharmacokinetic profile of the same in non-human species and humans. The present invention moreover relates to methods for evaluating the in vivo safety and/or activity and/or pharmacokinetic profile of said bispecific anti-bodies exhibiting cross-species specificity. The present invention also relates to methods of measuring the biological activity and/or efficacy of such bispecific antibodies exhibiting cross-species specificity. In addition, the present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising bispecific single chain antibodies exhibiting cross-species specificity and to methods for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions comprising said bispecific single chain antibodies exhibiting cross-species specificity for the treatment of diseases.
US08236307B2
The present invention concerns antagonists of the FGF19/FGFR4 pathways, and the uses of same.
US08236300B2
A method for treating a renal disease in a subject is disclosed. The method includes administering into a kidney of the subject with an effective amount of a gutless adenoviral vector containing a polynucleotide encoding a therapeutic agent. The gutless adenoviral vector contains the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:13 or SEQ ID NO:15 and expresses the therapeutic agent in a kidney tissue of the subject.
US08236294B2
Methods and compositions are presented for the administration of transposon-based vectors to an animal or human to provide gene therapy to the animal or human.
US08236289B2
Embodiments of inventive subject matter described herein include a lip gloss comprising: a sugar gel matrix that includes stearoyl inulin and an ester or ether of formula R(1) COOR(2) in which R(1) is a residue of a fatty acid including from 6 to 29 carbon atoms and R(2) is a hydrocarbon-comprising chain comprising from 3 to 30 carbon atoms, entrapped in the stearoyl inulin sugar gel matrix; a gel comprising hydrogenated polyisobutene; and a gel comprising fumed silica dimethyl silicate in C(15-19) Hydrocarbon.
US08236280B2
A new class of non-viral transduction vectors that can be used for both in vivo and in vitro applications, including a gene transfer vector that has comparable efficiency to a viral vector without the potential for a life-threatening immune response is provided. Complexes including a cellular delivery molecule or agent that can facilitate the translocation of the complex or portion thereof into cells are also provided. The cellular delivery molecules may include one or more polymers, e.g., polyamides, dendritic macromolecules and carbohydrate-containing degradable polyesters.
US08236273B2
There is disclosed a method of producing a pre-oxidation fiber in the production of the pre-oxidation fiber by subjecting a polyacrylic precursor fiber to pre-oxidation processing in an oxidizing atmosphere, including shrinking the precursor fiber as a pretreatment of pre-oxidation at a load of 0.58 g/tex or less in the temperature range of 220 to 260° C. under conditions in which the degree of cyclization (I1620/I2240) of the precursor fiber measured by a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FT-IR) does not exceed 7%, initially-drawing the precursor fiber at a load of 2.7 to 3.5 g/tex in an oxidizing atmosphere at 230 to 260° C. in the ranges of the degree of cyclization of not exceeding 27% and of the density of not exceeding 1.2 g/cm3, and then subjecting the pre-oxidation fiber to pre-oxidation treatment. A carbon fiber of high strength and high elasticity that is appropriate for composite materials that exhibit high composite performance is obtained by continuously subjecting this pre-oxidation fiber to carbonization treatment.
US08236272B2
Methods and systems of preparing a catalyst to be used in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes through Chemical Vapor Depositions are disclosed. The method may include a mixture comprising at least one of an iron catalyst source and a catalyst support. In another aspect, a method of synthesizing multi-walled carbon nanotubes using the catalyst is disclosed. The method may include driving a reaction in a CVD furnace and generating at least one multi-walled carbon nanotube through the reaction. The method also includes depositing the catalyst on the CVD furnace and driving a carbon source with a carrier gas to the CVD furnace. The method further includes decomposing the carbon source in the presence of the catalyst under a sufficient gas pressure for a sufficient time to grow at least one multi-walled carbon nanotube.
US08236271B2
The present invention relates to a process for the production of hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes from catalytic decomposition of ethanol. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for preparing hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes from catalytic decomposition of bioethanol over Ni/La203 catalyst is obtainable by H2 reduction of a LaNi03 perovskite catalyst precursor. Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of a Ni/La203 catalyst obtainable by H2 reduction of a LaNi03 perovskite catalyst precursor in the manufacture of hydrogen gas and carbon nanotubes from gaseous ethanol.
US08236270B2
We disclose a process to produce carbon nanotubes from microalgae. Microalgae is been utilized for biodiesel production. The algal membrane resulted from oil extraction of microalgae is used here to produce carbon nanotubes. The process utilized for the conversion is composed of two steps, in the first step the algal membrane is converted to carbon black through a pyrolysis process in inert atmosphere, in the second step the resulted carbon black is converted to carbon nanotubes by mixing the carbon black with a fluid with known self ignition condition and subjecting the mix to said self ignition condition.
US08236265B2
The present invention provides a method for forming high quality silicon material, e.g., polysilicon. The method includes transferring a raw silicon material in a crucible having an interior region. The crucible is made of a quartz or other suitable material, which is capable of withstanding a temperature of at least 1400 Degrees Celsius. The method includes subjecting the raw silicon material in the crucible to thermal energy to cause the raw silicon material to be melted into a liquid state to form a melted material at a temperature of less than about 1400 Degrees Celsius. Preferably, the melted material has an exposed region bounded by the interior region of the crucible. The method also includes subjecting an exposed inner region of the melted material to an energy source comprising an arc heater configured above the exposed region and spaced by a gap between the exposed region and a muzzle region of the arc heater to cause formation of determined temperature profile within a vicinity of an inner region of the exposed melted material while maintaining outer regions of the melted material at a temperature below a melting point of the quartz material of the crucible. Preferably, the method removes one or more impurities from the melted material to form a higher purity silicon material in the crucible.
US08236261B2
A method of providing an exhaust treatment device is disclosed. The method includes applying a catalyst including gold and a platinum group metal to a particulate filter. The concentration of the gold and the platinum group metal is sufficient to enable oxidation of carbon monoxide and nitric oxide.
US08236256B2
A device for automatically aspirating and/or dispensing liquids with precision, comprising a housing having an opening at a lower end with a fixed tip protruding out of the lower end; an interchangeable cartridge disposed inside the housing, the cartridge having a holding frame and a spool of tubing provided in the frame such that one end of the tubing is aligned with the tip; and an actuator enabled to automatically extrude part of the tubing so as to accommodate a preselected volume of liquid, aspirate and/or dispense the liquid through the extruded tubing, and disconnect the extruded tubing from the device.
US08236255B2
An apparatus for treating slides has a base with a cavity, and a heater is located on a surface of the cavity. A tank, which supports a slide rack with the slides submerged in a slide treatment solution, is placed in the cavity with a tank surface immediately adjacent the heater. A temperature sensor is mounted in the base and is operable to provide a feedback signal representing a temperature of the liquid in the tank. A cover is removably hinged on the base to cover the tank. A control system is connected to the heater and the temperature sensor and has a user input/output that is operable to select a set temperature of the liquid and a cycle time.
US08236244B2
A digitally-addressable, pixelated, DNA fluid-assay, active-matrix micro-structure formed, utilizing low-temperature TFT and Si technology, on a substrate preferably made of glass or plastic, and including at least one pixel which is defined by (a) an addressable pixel site, (b) a sensor home structure disposed within that site for receiving and hosting a functionalized assay site possessing a DNA oligonucleotide probe, and (c) an addressable, pixel-site-specific, energy-field-producing functionalizer (preferably optical) operable to functionalize such a probe on the assay site. Each pixel may also include a pixel-integrated optical detector. Further disclosed are related methodology facets involving (1) the making of such a micro-structure (a) in a precursor form (without a functionalized probe), and thereafter (b) in a finalized/functionalized form (with such a probe), and (2) the ultimate use of a completed micro-structure in the performance of a DNA assay.
US08236243B2
A nano-structured device for detecting biological analytes, chemical, analytes, cancer and other physiological conditions, includes a carrier substrate, a transducer film disposed over a surface of the carrier substrate, and a dendrimer structure tethered to the transducer film. The transducer film generates a first signal in response to a mechanical stress applied thereto. The first signal indicates the detection of the biological analyte, chemical analyte, cancer or other physiological condition. The dendrimer structure includes a plurality of receptors for binding the biological analyte, the chemical analyte, or one or more biomarkers indicative of cancer or other physiological conditions to the dendrimer structure. The dendrimer structure applies the mechanical stress to the transducer film, which is proportional to the strain induced into the dendrimer by the biological analyte, the chemical analyte, or one or more biomarkers indicative of cancer or other physiological condition binding to the receptors, the mechanical stress causing the transducer film to generate the first signal indicating the detection of the biological analyte, the chemical analyte, or one or more biomarkers indicative of cancer or other physiological condition.
US08236240B2
Method and system for conducting vapor phase decontamination of sealable entities and their contents
The invention provides a method and system for conducting a continuous operation, flowing vapor phase decontamination in either an open loop or a closed loop. Using the method, a multi-component liquid decontaminant is vaporized and delivered into, through and out of a sealable enclosure by means of a carrier gas that is flowing into, through and out of said sealable enclosure. After leaving the enclosure, the vapor is captured in a cold-water bath and decomposed.The invention humidifies the carrier gas by passing it through a temperature controlled water bath to warm, or to cool, the carrier gas as necessary in order to bring the carrier gas to the desired temperature and humidity before it is combined with the vaporized sterilant and allowed to flow into the sealable enclosure. The concentration of the vapor sterilant and the percent saturation of the vapor sterilant are simultaneously controlled by controlling the rate at which the carrier gas flows and the rate at which the liquid sterilant is vaporized. A chilled mirror or other type of dew point sensor can be used to ensure that near saturation conditions are maintained during decontamination.
US08236237B2
A device and method for inactivating infectious biological or chemical agents using microwave-activated diazoluminomelanin (DALM). The agents are typically vacuumed into a load cavity, which is at least partially filled with DALM. The load is irradiated with microwaves via a cylindrical waveguide disposed under the load cavity, thereby inactivating or destroying the agents. The system is preferably temperature controlled and operation is preferably automated.
US08236233B2
A taphole structure of a melting furnace includes: a sleeve made of a fire-resistant brick, which is disposed inside a tapping hole provided in a furnace wall brick; and a ramming material which fills a gap between the sleeve and the tapping hole for fixing the sleeve. In addition, a repair method of the taphole which has expanded due to wear of a first ramming material during tapping, includes: forming a dismantled surface having a straight line shape by dismantling and removing a worn portion of the first ramming material in a straight line from an outer surface side toward an inner surface side of a furnace wall; and then filling a second ramming material into a gap between the dismantled surface having the straight line shape and a first sleeve for sealing.
US08236231B2
Injection molding, parts onto a carrier web (34) located between mold halves (18,20). Flow of polymer melt into the mold is assisted by application of ultrasonic energy to the mold cavity. After the molding operation, mold halves are separated, and the carrier web is advanced, or indexed, to a next position for another molding sequence. Molding apparatus comprises a moving mold face (20), that can move toward and away from a first mold member (18) (which can be stationary) in which the mold cavity is located, a means (24,25,26,30,32) for moving and/or indexing carrier web between the first mold member and the moving mold face, means (16) to inject polymer melt into the mold cavity, and an ultrasonic system (42) providing ultrasonic energy to the mold cavity. The carrier web can transport molded parts to subsequent process steps, such as coating, drying, inspection, curing, assembly or packaging.
US08236230B2
A method of producing a sheet-form material having an exposed solid surface comprises pre-mixing cement with at least one pozzolan to provide a cement/pozzolan mixture with a high pozzolan to cement ratio, adding to the cement/pozzolan mixture an aqueous solution comprised of water and a high range water reducer to produce a cement/pozzolan dough-like substance, adding and mixing a sufficient quantity of glass aggregate to said cement/pozzolan dough-like substance to produce a moldable composition, wherein, after adding and mixing in the glass aggregate, the pozzolan is present in the composition at about 5% to about 20% by weight, the cement is present in the composition at about 3% to about 20% by weight, and the aggregate glass is by weight a relatively high percentage of the composition. The moldable composition is placed into a mold and vibrated, and is allowed to cure.
US08236229B2
A mold 30 for use in producing a development blade 1, which is to be formed by adhering an elastic member to an elongated-shaped hard plate 2 along the longitudinal direction LD thereof, wherein the hard plate has notched portions on both side portions in the longitudinal direction thereof and the elastic member is molded to skip the notched portions, comprises: a cavity portion CA having a shape in accordance with the shape of the elastic member; and a gate portion 35 for injecting a material into the cavity portion CA, wherein the gate portion 35 is positioned, in the longitudinal direction LD, either on a border CL between each notched portion and the center portion side of a main body of the cavity portion or on the outer side of the border or within 10 mm on the inner side of the border. Since the gate portion 35 of the cavity CA is optimally positioned in the mold, the cavity is reliably filled with a material in a case where a small-diameter portion corresponding to the notched portion exists in the cavity, whereby a development blade can be produced with suppressing short shot and generation of flash.
US08236224B2
A fabricating apparatus and a method of a flat plate display are disclosed. A fabricating apparatus of a flat plate display includes a stage on which a substrate is seated, an imprinting mold bonded with the substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate, the imprinting mold comprises projections and grooves, a supporter configured to support the imprinting mold, and a horizontal compensating part configured to compensate downward-bending of the imprinting mold by pressing the imprinting mold.
US08236215B2
A process for continuously producing an elastomeric composition includes metering and feeding at least one elastomer and at least one filler into at least one extruder, mixing and dispersing the at least one filler into the at least one elastomer using the at least one extruder, and passing the composition that results through at least one static mixer. An apparatus for continuously producing the composition includes at least one twin-screw extruder, at least one metering device, and at least one static mixer. The at least one extruder includes a housing and two screws rotatably mounted in the housing. The housing includes at least one feed opening and a discharge opening. The at least one metering device meters and feeds at least one elastomer and at least one filler into the at least one extruder. The composition discharged from the discharge opening passes through the at least one static mixer.
US08236213B2
A process for producing a perfluoropolymer, the process including extruding a polymer obtained by polymerizing a perfluoromonomer to prepare strands, and bringing a gas comprising from 3 to 50 volume % of fluorine gas into contact with the strands; the process being conducted on an apparatus that includes an extruder for melting and extruding the polymer obtained by polymerizing a perfluoromonomer, a die having a plurality of pores for preparing the strands from the molten polymer extruded, and a fluorination tank for bringing the gas comprising from 3 to 50 volume % of fluorine gas into contact with the strands.
US08236206B2
The present invention provides an electrode catalyst layer comprising catalyst particles, an ion exchange resin and a water repellent agent. The water repellent agent contains (A) a fluorine-containing copolymer having a structure unit derived from a polyfluoroalkyl-containing (meth)acrylate and/or (B) a fluorine-containing copolymer having a structural unit represented by derived from a fluorine-containing olefin monomer and a structure unit represented derived from a vinyl ether monomer. The electrode catalyst layer contains 0.1 to 20% by weight of the water repellant agent. The electrode catalyst layer exhibits excellent balance between water retention and drainage in an electrode, good power generation performance under any of low humidity and high humidity conditions, and also excellent durability in power generation.
US08236201B2
The present invention provides a phosphor having high luminance, a property of low luminance degradation during driving of a light-emitting device and manufacturing processes, and chromaticity y in PDP comparable to that of BAM:Eu. The present invention is the phosphor represented by the general formula xSrO.yEuO.MgO.zSiO2 where 2.970≦x≦3.500, 0.001 ≦y≦0.030, and 1.900≦z≦2.100 are satisfied, wherein a main peak is present in the range of diffraction angle 2θ=16.1 to 16.5 degree in the X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by measurement on the blue phosphor using an X-ray with a wavelength of 0.774 Å, and at least one condition of the following conditions (A1) and (A2) is satisfied: (A1) at least two peaks whose tops are located in the range of diffraction angle 2θ=15.3 to 16.1 degree are present; and (A2) at least two peaks whose tops are located in the range of diffraction angle 2θ=22.2 to 23.3 degree are present.
US08236194B1
Provided herein are compositions comprising at least one estolide compound of formula: in which n is an integer equal to or greater than 0; m is an integer equal to or greater than 1; R1, independently for each occurrence, is selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; R2 is selected from hydrogen and optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched; and R3 and R4, independently for each occurrence, are selected from optionally substituted alkyl that is saturated or unsaturated, and branched or unbranched. Also provided are uses of the compositions described herein.
US08236193B2
A working medium for heat cycle has less impact on the environment and is excellent in heat cycle characteristics for a Rankine cycle system, a heat pump cycle system, and a refrigerating cycle system. The working medium has the formula CnF2n+1—CmH2m+1, wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 8, an m is an integer of from 0 to 3.
US08236192B2
An ink including stabilized magnetic single-crystal nanoparticles, wherein the value of the magnetic anisotropy of the magnetic nanoparticles is greater than or equal to 2×104 J/m3. The magnetic nanoparticle may be a ferromagnetic nanoparticle, such as FePt. The ink includes a magnetic material that minimizes the size of the particle, resulting in excellent magnetic pigment dispersion stability, particularly in non-aqueous inkjet inks. The smaller sized magnetic particles of the ink also maintains excellent magnetic properties, thereby reducing the amount of magnetic particle loading required in the ink.
US08236189B2
An etching and recovery method is described, wherein articles made of copper are etched with an acid aqueous solution of etching chemicals containing Cu2+ for oxidizing Cu0 to Cu+, chloride ions, oxidizing agent which oxidizes Cu+ to Cu2+, and pH-adjusting hydrochloric acid. The technical problem to be solved is to make it possible to circulate the etching solution between the etching process and the recovery process during the recovery of used etching solution in such a manner that a closed circuit can be maintained between the processes. This is effected in that a regenerated etching solution containing a lower quantity of Cu2+ than the used etching solution is produced and in that the recovery process has an extraction step in which removed etching solution is mixed with an organic extraction solution of a complexing compound with which Cu2+ forms a copper complex which can be extracted in the organic extraction solution, after which the two mixed liquids are separated once again in order to obtain an organic extraction solution containing said copper complex, and regenerated etching solution. The method is carried out with an etching solution having a pH above 1.5 and a high copper content.
US08236182B2
A settling system may be used to separate and/or remove solid particles, such as sand, from fluids produced by wells. The container of the settling system may be cleaned without need for manned-entry.
US08236180B2
Disclosed is a boron adsorbent having an excellent adsorbing ability against boron contained in a solution, which is inexpensive and has high general versatility. Also disclosed is a boron removal method which can remove boron efficiently in a simple manner. An amide derivative represented by the general formula (1) is added to a boron-containing water under alkaline conditions to cause the adsorption of boron to the amide derivative. Then, a cation source having two or more valencies is added to the water to cause the aggregation of the amide body. The aggregated amide body is removed from the water. In the general formula (1), m represents 1 or 2; X represents —CH2OH, —CHO or —COOH; n represents an integer of 2 to 5; X are independent from each other and n are independent from each other when m represents 2; and Y represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 6 to 16 carbon atoms when m is 1, and represents a divalent hydrocarbon group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms when m is 2.
US08236178B2
A method for cleaning and maintaining reverse osmosis membrane filters by injecting sulfurous acid into water to form sulfurous acid (H2SO3), and then sequentially filtering the acidified water through membrane filters to reduce alkalinity and mineral scaling, add sufficient SO2 as a biocide to attack bacteria and other micro organisms to prevent membrane fouling, reduce iron to prevent iron deposit build-up, scavenge and remove dissolved oxygen prior to filtration to prevent membrane oxidation, and prevent concentrated salts within the retentate from precipitating out of solution during transport for land application.
US08236176B2
A filter assembly wherein a housing seat (220) and a cartridge cap (330) are keyed to insure correct filter replacement procedures. The seat (220) can comprise a family of pedestals (270) and the end cap (330) can comprise a corresponding family of pedestal-insertion pockets (370). The correct filter cartridge can be easily installed (e.g., periodically replaced), by aligning the pockets (370) of the end cap (330) with the pedestals (270) in the housing seat (220), and inserting the pedestals (260) into the pockets (370).
US08236173B2
Aspects of the present invention relate to methods, systems, and compositions for preparing a solid biomass for fast pyrolysis. The method includes contacting the solid biomass with an inorganic material present in an effective amount for increasing fast pyrolysis yield of an organic liquid product (e.g., bio-oil). In various embodiments, the inorganic material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum sulfate, aluminum nitrate, aluminum chloride, aluminum hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, and combinations thereof.
US08236167B2
A lubricating oil composition having a wide variety of uses consists of a dearomatized hydrocarbon distillate (petroleum), a post lubricant petroleum hydrocarbon, and white mineral oil. In one embodiment, the dearomatized hydrocarbon distillate is present in an amount from 15 to 25%, the post lubricant petroleum hydrocarbon is present in an amount from 5 to 15%, and the balance is the white mineral oil.
US08236162B2
An electroerosion machining system comprises an electrode, a power supply, an electrolyte supply, an electroerosion controller connected to and monitoring the power supply, and a working apparatus configured to move the electrode relative to the workpiece. The electroerosion machining system further comprises a CNC controller configured to cooperate with the electroerosion controller to control the working apparatus, and to calculate a wear value of the electrode. Further, the CNC controller is configured to segment the toolpath of every layer into a plurality of segments, and to divide the compensation value for every layer to be machined into a plurality of value segments, and further to use the value segments to compensate for electrode wear along the respective toolpath segments during machining of the workpiece. An electroerosion machining method is also presented.
US08236160B2
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for plating a conductive material on a workpiece surface in a highly desirable manner. Using a workpiece-surface-influencing device, such as a mask or sweeper, that preferentially contacts the top surface of the workpiece, relative movement between the workpiece and the workpiece-surface-influencing device is established so that an additive in the electrolyte solution disposed on the workpiece and which is adsorbed onto the top surface is removed or otherwise its amount or concentration changed with respect to the additive on the cavity surface of the workpiece. Plating of the conductive material can place prior to, during and after usage of the workpiece-surface-influencing device, particularly after the workpiece surface influencing device no longer contacts any portion of the top surface of the workpiece, to achieve desirable semiconductor structures.
US08236159B2
Processes and systems for electrolytically processing a microfeature workpiece with a first processing fluid and an anode are described. Microfeature workpieces are electrolytically processed using a first processing fluid, an anode, a second processing fluid, and a cation permeable barrier layer. The cation permeable barrier layer separates the first processing fluid from the second processing fluid while allowing certain cationic species to transfer between the two fluids. The described processes produce deposits over repeated plating cycles that exhibit deposit properties (e.g., resistivity) within desired ranges.
US08236153B2
An immobilization carrier containing an electron acceptor compound is used in addition to glutaraldehyde and poly-L-lysine to immobilize an enzyme and an electron acceptor compound simultaneously to an electrode. For example, here are used diaphorase as the enzyme and 2-amino-3-carboxy-1, 4-naphthoquinone (ACNQ) as the electron acceptor compound.
US08236146B2
A photoelectrochemical cell (100) includes: a semiconductor electrode (120) including a conductor (121) and an n-type semiconductor layer (122); a counter electrode (130) connected electrically to the conductor (121); an electrolyte (140) in contact with the surfaces of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) and the counter electrode (130); and a container (110) accommodating the semiconductor electrode (120), the counter electrode (130) and the electrolyte (140). The photoelectrochemical cell (100) generates hydrogen by irradiation of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) with light. In the semiconductor electrode (120), relative to the vacuum level, (I) the band edge levels of the conduction band and the valence band in the surface near-field region of the n-type semiconductor layer (122), respectively, are equal to or higher than the band edge levels of the conduction band and the valence band in the junction plane near-field region of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) with the conductor (121), (II) the Fermi level of the junction plane near-field region of the n-type semiconductor layer (122) is higher than the Fermi level of the surface near-field region of the n-type semiconductor layer (122), and (III) the Fermi level of the conductor (121) is higher than the Fermi level of the junction plane near-field region of the n-type semiconductor layer (122).
US08236144B2
A method and apparatus is described comprising of a plurality of electromagnetic resonant structures coupled to a common process or reaction volume, such that resonance of each structure is maintained while the process or reaction volume is a part of each resonant structure. At the same time, each resonant structure is matched to its respective electromagnetic generator. Such a system allows each generator and its delivery system to run at rated power, with summation of all the powers occurring in the common process or reaction volume. In various embodiments of this invention, the various electromagnetic generators can run at the same or different frequencies. The various resonant structures can be single mode or multimode, or a mixture of single mode and multi mode. The various resonant structures can be arranged spatially in order to couple several structures to the process or reaction volume. Various spatial arrangements also allow coupling of either the electric or the magnetic field to the process or reaction volume, as well as allowing the generation of rotating fields in the process or reaction volume with any orientation of the rotating field with respect to the process or reaction volume.
US08236132B2
A substrate processing system (100) includes a first automated substrate transfer line or main transfer line (20) configured to transfer wafers (W) over the entire system and to transfer wafers to and from respective process sections, and a second automated substrate transfer line or auxiliary transfer line (30) configured to transfer wafers (W) inside a photolithography process section (1a). The auxiliary transfer line (30) is disposed as a transfer mechanism independent of the main transfer line (20). An OHT (31) is configured to travel around on the auxiliary transfer line (30) having a loop shape, so as to transfer wafers (W) to and from and among the respective process apparatuses in the photolithography process section (1a).
US08236130B2
The invention concerns a sealing liquid comprising water and a penetration agent for sealing of mail pieces, the use of said sealing liquid as well as sealing devices and franking machines containing such a sealing liquid.
US08236127B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin pellet are provided which can smoothly carry out a continuous drawing-out operation for a reinforcing fiber bundle (continuous fiber-reinforced resin strand).With respect to a terminal end of a reinforcing fiber bundle A of a roving package being exhausted and a front end of a reinforcing fiber bundle B of a new roving package, fiber quantity-halved end portions A1 and B1 each about half of the original fiber quantity are formed respectively, then reinforcing filaments in those fiber quantity-halved end portions are entangled by an air splicer to form an entangled portion C1, and reinforcing filaments in a portion downstream of the fiber quantity-halved end portion in the reinforcing fiber bundle B of the new roving package are entangled by an air splicer to form an entangled portion C2.
US08236124B1
A method for fabricating a grid-stiffened structure from fiber-reinforced composite materials. A skin is applied to a smooth, hard base tool. Ribs comprised of carbon-fiber tows are formed on the skin, and shallow cavities are formed between the ribs and the skin. An expansion block is placed in each of the cavities, and is held in place by an elastomeric contact adhesive having adhesive properties that are substantially diminished when the adhesive is heated to an elevated curing temperature. The assembly is then autoclave cured. After cooling, the formed structure is separated from the base tool and the expansion blocks are removed from the cavities. A grid-stiffened sandwich structure is formed by applying an outer skin over the ribs and expansion blocks, before curing the assembly. After cooling, the outer skin is removed to allow extraction of the blocks, and subsequently bonded to the ribs.
US08236120B2
In a method for manufacturing a wrap-around tube from at lest one strip-shaped material, the wrapping is brought about by at least one rotating wrapping element which is indirectly or directly in engagement with the wrap-around tube, and the strip-shaped material is wrapped onto a stationary wrapping core. An apparatus for manufacturing a wrap-around tube from at least one strip-shaped material is distinguished by the fact that it has a rotating wrapping element, which is indirectly or directly in engagement with the wrap-around tube, and a stationary wrapping core, onto which the at least one strip-shaped material is wrapped.
US08236112B2
A gas generator includes, a tubular housing, an ignition device attached to one end and a diffuser having a gas discharge port, attached to the other end of the housing, a tubular member, having first and second ends, disposed inside the housing such that the first and second ends are oriented towards the ignition device side and the diffuser side, respectively, and forming a tubular gap leading to the gas discharge port, a combustion chamber provided inside the tubular member, first and second gas passage holes formed on the first and second end sides, respectively, and an opening portion formed between the first and second gas passage holes, such that the gas passage holes and the opening portion communicate the combustion chamber with the tubular gap, and a projecting portion projecting from the opening portion into at least one of the combustion chamber and the tubular gap.
US08236109B2
A method for cleaning a component in a substrate processing apparatus including a processing chamber, foreign materials being attached to the component, at least a part of the component being exposed inside the processing chamber, and the substrate processing apparatus being adapted to load and unload a foreign material adsorbing member into and from the processing chamber. The method includes loading the foreign material adsorbing member into the processing chamber; generating a plasma nearer the component than the foreign material adsorbing member; extinguishing the plasma; and unloading the foreign material adsorbing member from the processing chamber, wherein the generation and the extinguishment of the plasma are repeated alternately and the foreign material adsorbing member has a positive potential at least during the extinguishment of the plasma.
US08236108B1
An inertial masking assembly that allows multiple thin film structures to be deposited on a single substrate by rotation of a shadow mask relative to the substrate. The assembly rotates the position of the shadow mask by the conservation of momentum. The substrate is seated on means for rotating the substrate in a confined orbit within the mask. Abruptly changing the angular velocity of the mask causes the mask to rotate under the substrate, which is mediated by a combination of friction and the substrate's inertia.
US08236106B2
A shower head is provided in a processing chamber for processing a substrate therein. Further, the shower head has a facing surface facing a mounting table for mounting thereon the substrate and serves to supply one or more gases through the facing surface toward the substrate. The shower head includes a central gas supply unit for supplying a first gas through a central portion of the facing surface toward the substrate, a peripheral gas supply unit for supplying a second gas through a peripheral portion of the facing surface toward the substrate and a gas exhaust unit, provided with a plurality of gas exhaust holes formed between the central gas supply unit and the peripheral gas supply unit, for exhausting the first and the second gas from the facing surface.
US08236105B2
Apparatus for controlling the flow of a gas between a process region and an exhaust port in a semiconductor substrate processing chamber is provided. The apparatus includes at least one restrictor plate supported within the semiconductor processing chamber and at least partially circumscribing a substrate support pedestal. The restrictor plate is adapted to control the flow of at least one gas flowing between the process region and the exhaust port.
US08236102B1
A method of hydrothermally synthesizing sapphire single crystals doped with trivalent metal ions in a crystal-growth autoclave including a crystal-growth zone and nutrient-dissolution zone in fluid communication with the crystal-growth zone is provided. Implementations of the method including situating within the crystal-growth zone at least one sapphire-based seed crystal and situating within the nutrient-dissolution zone an aluminum-containing material to serve as nutrient. An acidic, trivalent-metal-ion-containing growth solution is introduced into the cavity in a quantity sufficient, at least when heated to a predetermined average temperature, to immerse the at least one seed crystal and the nutrient in the growth solution. The growth solution is selected such that sapphire exhibits retrograde solubility therein and the growth process is carried out while maintaining an interior-cavity pressure within a range between and including each of 3.5 kilopounds per square inch and 25 kilopounds per square inch and while maintaining a temperature differential between the crystal-growth and nutrient-dissolution zones such that the average temperature within the crystal-growth zone is higher than the average temperature within the nutrient-dissolution zone.
US08236096B2
The ink set for inkjet recording of the invention has at least: an aqueous ink composition containing at least a pigment; and a reaction liquid containing at least a reactant that produces an aggregate when contacted with the aqueous ink composition. The static surface tension of the reaction liquid is 40 mN/m or higher. The dynamic surface tension γ0.1 is from 40 mN/m to 50 mN/m and the ratio γ0.1/γ10, that is a ratio of the dynamic surface tension and is sometimes referred to as γ, is from 1.01 to 1.10, in which the dynamic surface tension of the reaction liquid at a surface lifetime of 100 ms and 10000 ms is γ0.1 and γ10, respectively, according to the maximum bubble pressure technique. The aqueous ink composition aggregates by contacting the reaction liquid to form an image.
US08236095B1
A vacuum-pressure swing absorption concentrator includes a motor driven compressor having pressure and vacuum heads that are connected to a pressure reservoir and a vacuum reservoir respectively. The pressure and vacuum reservoirs are selectively and alternately interconnected in sequence through a main valve to a pair of nitrogen filtering sieve beds. A controller operates the valve to alternately and cyclically interconnect the sieve beds to the pressure and vacuum reservoirs respectively. During each cycle, a respective bed is pressurized and enriched oxygen is produced and delivered to a tank for use by a patient. At the same time, the other bed is evacuated through the vacuum reservoir. A crossover valve delivers oxygen from a pressurized bed to an evacuated bed to facilitate purging of impurities previously collected in the evacuated bed.
US08236091B2
A fluid separation apparatus suitable for separating a mixed fluid with different properties and capable of separating a complex fluid mixture efficiently is provided. The fluid separation apparatus includes a sampling entrance, a first separation column, a second separation column, a bypass line, a detector and a guide multi-channel valve. A mixed fluid flows into the first separation column via the sampling entrance. The second separation column is connected to the first separation column in series and connected to the bypass line in parallel. The detector is connected to the second separation column and the bypass line. The guide multi-channel valve has different modes to control a flow-through status and a closed status between the first separation column and the second separation column, between the first separation column and the bypass line, between the second separation column and the detector, and between the bypass line and the detector.
US08236090B2
The invention relates to a process and an associated apparatus for producing metals and/or primary metal products, in particular pig iron and/or primary pig iron products, in which a metal-containing charge material, in particular in fine particle form, is introduced, using pneumatic conveying, by means of a carrier gas stream, in the form of a stream of medium formed from the charge material and the carrier gas stream, into a melting unit, in particular a melter gasifier, for further processing. According to the invention, the charge material is introduced after the carrier gas stream has been separated off and separately at at least two introduction points, so that at least two partial quantities of the charge material can be introduced independently of one another and continuously or in stacked form.
US08236081B2
An embodiment in accordance with the present invention provides a water dissipation device to remove water vapor from a humidified gas traveling through a breathing circuit between a patient and a ventilator, or a ventilator and a patient. The present invention includes a water dissipation device having a housing defining entry and exit ports for coupling to the breathing circuit and a breathable medium permeable to water vapor and impermeable to liquid water bacteria, viruses and other gases enclosed within said housing.
US08236079B2
An air filter system is provided for a vehicle. The air filter system includes, but is not limited to a raw air duct, a filter housing with an air filter element, and a filtered air duct to an internal combustion engine. The raw air duct and the filtered air duct are connected to a corresponding raw air inlet or a filtered air outlet of the filter housing. The air filter system with filter housing and raw air duct is disposed as a structural unit partly in the engine compartment and partly in an air intake region separate from the engine compartment. An adapter of the air filter system supported on the bodywork of the vehicle is disposed in a transition zone from the engine compartment to the air intake region.
US08236076B2
An apparatus for cleaning an air filter includes a body, a closed chamber formed within the body, a fluid dispersing member having a portion thereof mounted for rotation within the body and passing through the chamber, a plurality of orifices formed through the wall of the fluid dispersing member and an arrangement for rotating the fluid dispersing member. The arrangement either includes a combination of nozzles secured to the fluid dispersing member and positioned within the chamber and an irregular inner wall surface of the chamber capable of providing resistance to a fluid flow discharged into the chamber or fins disposed on the fluid dispersing member and a passageway through the body for directing fluid under pressure onto the fins. Fluid supplied under pressure to the fluid dispersing member exits through the plurality of orifices toward an inner surface of a air filter filtering medium causing contaminants to exit therefrom.
US08236068B2
A separator carries lithium particles on its surface. Using the separator, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high initial efficiency and improved cycle retentivity is available.
US08236053B1
Ophthalmic device materials comprising 2-amino benzophenone UV-absorbing compounds are disclosed. The ophthalmic device materials are particularly useful in intraocular lenses.
US08236042B2
A system and method for deploying an occluding device that can be used to remodel an aneurysm within the vessel by, for example, neck reconstruction or balloon remodeling. The system comprises an introducer sheath and an assembly for carrying the occluding device. The assembly includes an elongated flexible member having an occluding device retaining member for receiving a first end of the occluding device, a proximally positioned retaining member for engaging a second end of the occluding device and a support surrounding a portion of the elongated flexible member over which the occluding device can be positioned.
US08236037B2
There is disclosed a new low-level laser therapy apparatus and method of treating tissue. The invention includes a laser system that uses laser diodes and/or alternatively light emitting diodes (LED's), or both, and a digital interface that gives the operator the ability to generate sine waves or scalar waves as opposed to the simple on/off square waves. The invention also enables the operator to modulate not only the frequency, but also other wave characteristics such as the amplitude and phase. In one aspect, the invention involves modulating the phase relationship between multiple waves by taking one channel or wave which is pulsed through the laser system and then running a second channel or wave in relationship to the first channel, thereby creating a phased relationship, which has been discovered to provide a therapeutic and quantum healing effect on tissue. In one exemplary embodiment, the laser system of the invention may have a phase relationship of approximately 180 degrees which provides a beneficial therapeutic and quantum healing effect and, in particular, neutralizes or deletes cellular memory.
US08236036B1
Semiconductor diode lasers are tiny sources of light powered by electricity. These are used extensively in medical and aesthetic applications. This patent application covers the concept of replaceable laser diodes for a wide range of applications. Historically, the high power laser sources have been prohibitively expensive to contemplate such an idea. However, as technology advances the price per Watt continues to fall dramatically. Somewhat analogous to the Gillette safety razor concept, this patent application describes how diodes can be replaced in a manner akin to the ordinary razor blade. Simply put, this invention describes replaceable laser light sources for aesthetic and medical applications.
US08236035B1
A spinal fixation system (1) for use in the fixation of a spine comprising: a coupling element (2) having a pair of opposed longitudinal apertures (17) through a wall (35) thereof; a longitudinal slot (8) in a coupling element (2) interior surface (3); a hole (13) through the bottom end (5) of the coupling element (2); and a securing element (18) dimensioned for insertion into the coupling element (2), the securing element (18) having an outwardly extending wing (26) dimensioned for riding in the coupling element slot (8), for preventing a rotation of the securing element (18) about a longitudinal axis (7) thereof.
US08236031B2
Interspinous/inter-laminar spinal spacers (spinal spacers) are configured to be placed between bony structures (i.e. transverse and spinous processes) of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. In one form, flexible spinal spacers are defined by a unitary body that is configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. The unitary body has a flex portion that provides for motion between the adjacent vertebrae to which it is coupled. The flex portion is configurable to provide for various degrees of angulation, flexion, extension and/or compression of the present flexible spinal spacer. In another form, static spinal spacers are defined by a unitary body that is configured to be placed between bony structures of adjacent vertebrae of a spine. The unitary body has saddle-shaped ends each defining a pocket that is configured to receive a bony structure of a vertebra. The pockets may or may not be textured and/or may or may not include teeth, serrations or ridged surfaces to secure the spinal spacer to the bony structure.
US08236029B2
A device for introduction into a body in a straight configuration and assuming within the body a predefined curved configuration, includes an elongated element formed from a number of segments interconnected so as to form effective hinges therebetween. When the elongated element is confined to a straight state, the effective hinges transfer compressive forces from each segment to the next so that the elongated element can be pushed to advance it through a conduit. When the elongated element is not confined to a straight state, the effective hinges allow deflection of each segment relative to adjacent segments until abutment surfaces of the segments come into abutment, thereby defining a fully flexed state of the elongated element with a predefined curved configuration. The device can be produced with a wide range of two-dimensional and three-dimensional curved forms, and has both medical and non-medical applications.
US08236022B2
An implant for placement within a hollow body organ. The implant has a member with distal and proximal ends. The member has an undeployed shape for delivery to the hollow body and a deployed shape for implantation therein. The implant has at least one tensioning tether with a first end attached to at least one of the distal and proximal end and a second ends attached to the member between the distal and proximal ends. Wherein applying tension to the tether moves the member towards the deployed shape. The member preferably has a first rate at which it initially resists bending, and a second substantially higher rate at which it resists further bending.
US08236004B2
An acetabular inserter (10) aids a surgeon in controlling the installation of an acetabular cup prosthesis (11) having a central, female aperture (13). The inserter includes an inserter head (20), a housing (12) and a locking mechanism. The housing (12) is attached to the inserter head, the housing enclosing a drive train (14) having, at a far end (134), a prosthesis engaging thread (124), and at the opposite end (42′), a handle (20) which facilitates turning of the drive train by the operator. The locking mechanism is associated with the housing which selectively locks the drive train, and thus the prosthesis, in position. The opposite end (42′) of the drive train has a latch device which enables quick removal from the housing for cleaning and sterilization.
US08235999B2
A dilator retractor and the dilators that are used for minimally invasive spinal surgery or other surgery are configured to accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient as by configuring the cross sectional area in an elliptical shape, or by forming a funnel configuration with the wider end at the proximate end. In some embodiments the distal end is contoured to also accommodate the anatomical structure of the patient so that a cylindrically shaped, funnel shaped, ovoid shaped dilator retractor can be sloped or tunneled to accommodate the bone structure of the patient or provide access for implants. The dilator retractor is made with different lengths to accommodate the depth of the cavity formed by the dilators.
US08235991B2
An apparatus for electrosurgery (1) comprising a plurality of adjacent electrodes (2-5) arranged aligned and an electrosurgical current generator (6), connected or connectable to the electrodes (2-5) to induce the flowing of an electrosurgical current through the tissue portions interposed thereamong, wherein said generator (6) powers the electrodes (2-5) so that each electrode lies at a potential (V3-V5) greater than that of the electrode preceding it in the sequence.
US08235983B2
Systems and methods for delivering energy to passageways in a patient, such as airways in the lung of a patient for treating asthma. One embodiment of a method for delivering energy to a passageway comprises positioning an access device in a lung airway of a patient and advancing an elongated body of a treatment device along the access device until an energy delivery unit at a distal portion of the elongated body projects from the access device. The method can further include expanding the energy delivery unit such that energy delivery elements contact a sidewall of the airway and activating an energy supply coupled to the treatment device such that energy is delivered to the sidewall of the airway. A single person physically operates both the access device and the treatment device while expanding the energy delivery unit and activating the energy supply.
US08235978B2
A system and tool for performing a capsulotomy procedure. The system includes an air pressure unit, a capsulotomy and movement control unit providing electrical current and movement control, and a capsulotomy tool, and an extendable-retractable burning element coupled to the tool. A capsulotomy and movement control unit provides electrical current to the burning element and movement control for extending and retracting the burning element. When the burning element is in a flattened, retracted configuration, the tip of the tool can be inserted through a relatively small corneal incision. Then, the burning element is opened to a circular, extended configuration, allowing a capsulotomy by applying an electrical pulse to the burning element. Optionally, predefined points of weakness allow removal of the tool should breakage occur during surgery.
US08235970B2
A medical device including: a cannula, a first tube joined to the cannula; a second tube joined to the cannula; and a unitary fastener secured to the first tube, cannula and second tube, the fastener being subject to opposing forces from the first and second tubes.
US08235964B2
A pant-type absorbent article having a first body panel and a second body panel, the first and second body panels being interconnected by side panels. The respective side panel is formed by a bridge member having a first longitudinal edge portion attached to the first body panel and a second longitudinal edge portion attached to the second body panel, the bridge before use of the article being folded in an accordion-like fashion and can be extended and unfolded when the article is to be used so as to form the side panels of the article. In one embodiment at least one of the bridge members is refastenably attached to one body panel, wherein a first fastening member is arranged on the bridge member at or close to one longitudinal edge portion thereof and a complementary second fastening member is arranged on the respective body panel.
US08235952B2
The present invention relates to a disposable injection device for delivering a dose of medicament, comprising a generally elongated housing (10), a container (14) containing medicament to be injected through a needle (16), force means (34) acting on said container and capable of, upon activation, move said container and said needle for penetration and subsequently expelling medicament through said needle, activating means (26) arranged to activate said force means, characterized in that said activating means comprises a needle shield (12) arranged slidable in relation to said housing, a collapsible holding member (58) connected to the inner end of said needle shield, whereby, upon movement of said needle shield, said collapsible holding member collapses when a certain force is applied by the needle shield, and whereby further movement of said needle shield activates said activation means, which in turn releases said force means initiating an injection of medicament.
US08235947B2
A unique surgical system and method of use includes a seal assembly which is initially mountable about a surgical instrument. The surgical instrument with mounted seal assembly is thereafter positioned within a cannula assembly. The seal assembly forms a fluid tight seal within the interior of the cannula assembly while also forming a fluid tight seal about the surgical instrument. The seal assembly and the cannula assembly cooperate to permit angulation of the surgical instrument. A magnetic coupling assists in retaining the seal assembly within the cannula assembly.
US08235940B2
A safety trocar assembly incorporating an airbag is provided to prevent overpenetration of the safety trocar assembly through an abdominal wall and into a body cavity. The safety trocar assembly includes an airbag cannula having an expandable airbag proximal of the distal end of the cannula. A sensing device is located at a distal end of the cannula for detecting changes in conditions at the distal end of the cannula. A trigger mechanism is provided on the cannula and operates to inflate the airbag in response to a change in condition detected by the sensing device.
US08235935B2
A device and a method for generating therapeutic foam from a sclerosing solution such as polidocanol and a gas which is absorbable or dissolvable in the body comprises a disposable cassette including a liquid container and a flexible chamber containing gas, chamber being formed as a loop. Located in the loop chamber is a foam generating mesh. In use, liquid is introduced into the chamber and then the cassette is inserted into a pumping machine where it is engaged by a peristaltic pump which circulates the contents of the loop chamber through the mesh, thus creating foam. When a steady state is reached, foam may be withdrawn using a syringe via either a port or septum.
US08235931B2
One or more waste balancing systems may be used in a fluid circulating system for medical use. The fluid circulating system may be part of a blood treatment system for a patient suffering renal failure. A waste balancing system may include a pressure element operable to maintain a constant fluid pressure created by the combined weight of waste removed from a patient and replacement fluid for providing to a patient. Multiple evaluation characteristics or control parameters may be evaluated or controlled for safety and accuracy. At least part of the waste balancing system may be incorporated into a disposable cartridge.
US08235913B2
A biopsy device includes a needle extending distally from a body. The needle includes a transverse aperture, a first lumen, and a second lumen. A cutter is movable within the first lumen to sever tissue protruding through the transverse aperture. A valve assembly is operable to change the pneumatic state of the second lumen. The valve assembly includes a valve body and a translating member slidably disposed in a bore of the valve body. The valve body includes a first port and a second port. The first port is in fluid communication with the second lumen of the needle. The second port is in fluid communication with atmospheric air. The translating member selectively couples the first port with the second port based on the longitudinal position of the translating member within the bore. The translating member translates relative to the valve body based on the position of the cutter.
US08235912B2
The invention relates to segmentation of cardiac acoustic signals, such as the heart sound signal, based on statistical algorithms. A duration-dependent Hidden Markov Model is disclosed which models the shifting states of the heart, based on the cardiac acoustic signal and the time spent in the given states relating to physiological events, e.g. the various states of the heart during the heart beat cycle.
US08235910B2
The methods and systems for estimating cardiac ejection fraction, cardiac contractility, and ventricular end-diastolic volume on a beat-by-beat basis include observing arterial blood pressure waveforms to determine ventricular compliances for a pressure-volume loop in the ventricle. Uncalibrated or calibrated cardiac ejection fraction may be calculated from estimates of stroke volume and the ventricular compliances. Cardiac contractility may be calculated from estimates of a ventricular compliance. Uncalibrated or calibrated ventricular end-diastolic volume may also be calculated from estimates of stroke volume and the ventricular compliances. A set of calibration parameters for calibrating cardiac ejection fraction or ventricular end-diastolic volume may be estimated in a least-squares manner.
US08235909B2
A method and system for three dimensional scanning, imaging and/or therapy are provided. In accordance with one aspect, an exemplary method and system are configured to facilitate controlled scanning within one-degree of freedom. For example, an exemplary method and system can enable multiple two-dimensional image planes to be collected in a manner to provide an accurate and computationally efficient three-dimensional image reconstruction while providing the user with a user-friendly mechanism for acquiring three-dimensional images. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary scanning and imaging system comprises an imaging probe, a control system, a positioning system and a display system. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the positioning system comprises a guide assembly and a position sensing system. The guide assembly is configured to provide pure rectilinear or rotational motion of the probe during scanning operation while the position sensing system is configured to detect the direction and position of the probe during scanning.
US08235901B2
A method for treating body tissue using acoustic energy includes identifying a target focal zone of tissue to be treated, delivering a first pulse of acoustic energy from a transducer to generate bubbles in a tissue region located distally, relative to the transducer, of a focal center of the target focal zone, and delivering a second pulse of acoustic energy from the transducer in the presence of the bubbles generated by the first pulse, the second pulse focused at the focal center to generate thermal ablation energy. In a further embodiment, a method of treating body tissue using ultrasound energy includes identifying a target focal zone to be treated and delivering a plurality of pulses of acoustic ablation energy to locations distributed symmetrically in or proximate a focal plane about the focal center of the target focal zone.
US08235888B2
A system for guiding capsule medical device is provided with a capsule medical device, a magnetic guidance device, an operation input unit, a control device, and an image display device. The capsule medical device is includes therein a first and second imaging units that image images in imaging directions different from each other and a permanent magnet. The magnetic guidance device applies a magnetic field to the permanent magnet to magnetically guide the capsule medical device in a subject. The operation input unit receives operation information to operate magnetic guidance of the capsule medical device. The control device controls the magnetic guidance device to magnetically guide the capsule medical device in response to the operation information input through the operation input unit. The image display device displays a first in-vivo image of the subject imaged by the first imaging unit and a second in-vivo image of the subject imaged by the second imaging unit, and clearly shows which of the first and second in-vivo images is an operation target image at the time of the magnetic guidance of the capsule medical device.
US08235882B2
A centrifuge housing has a lid with a hinge with two hinge parts and a horizontal hinge axis. The lid is able to rotate between a closed position, in which the lid's centre of gravity is positioned on one side of a vertical plane through the hinge axis, and a fully opened position, in which the centre of gravity is positioned on the other side of the vertical plane. A longitudinal spring is connected to a connection member for urging it longitudinally. The connection member is connected at a hinge point at a distance from the hinge axis. The spring assists raising the lid initially during opening and closing the lid initially during closing from the fully opened position. The lid has a position of stable equilibrium in an intermediate position between the closed position and a vertical position.
US08235880B2
Embodiments include a golf ball packaging box that can be converted into a putting aid. The golf ball packaging box is configurable to be positioned in a first configuration to package golf balls for sale and is configurable to be positioned in a second configuration to present a putting aid.
US08235878B2
An exercise device includes a central hub, a plurality of rib structures radiating from the central hub, and a band. Each rib structure has a proximal end secured at the central hub and terminating at a distal, radiating end. The band is secured to the distal end of each rib structure such that the central hub, the plurality of rib structures, and the band form an enclosure operable to seat therein a bottom portion of an exercise ball.
US08235864B2
A method for operating a semi-automatic or automatic manual transmission of a heavy truck when driving at idle speed. The method includes supplying fuel to the engine of the heavy truck at a rate that facilitates engine-idle operation. In another step, the method engages the automatic or semi-automatic transmission in a gear higher than the starting gear of the transmission and permits the truck to operate at a first substantially uniform driving velocity under engine-idle power. Depending upon traffic and environmental requirements which require a slower or higher speed, the driver downshifts or upshifts the semi-automatic or automatic transmission by depressing a control pedal of the truck and then drives the truck at a second substantially uniform driving velocity under engine-idle power. For a downshift, the second substantially uniform driving velocity is less than the first substantially uniform driving velocity. For an upshift, the second substantially uniform driving velocity is greater than the first substantially uniform driving velocity.
US08235856B2
A gear device includes: an input gear fixed to an output shaft of a motor; an internal gear; an external gear which rotates while revolving around a central axis of the internal gear while meshing with the internal gear; a carrier supported rotatably within the internal gear and adapted to rotate about the central axis of the internal gear in conjunction with the rotation of the external gear; a plurality of crankshafts which are rotatably supported by the carrier and are adapted to cause the external gear to revolve around the central axis of the internal gear; transmission gears each provided on a central portion of each of the crankshafts; and a cylindrical gear which meshes with the transmission gears of the crankshafts and to which rotation is transmitted from the input gear, wherein the cylindrical gear is located on a radially inner side of an imaginary line passing through a center of rotation of each crankshaft and is rotatably supported by the carrier, and wherein the input gear and the cylindrical gear mesh with each other in an axially central portion of the carrier.
US08235855B2
A hydraulic control apparatus for an automatic transmission includes linear solenoid valves each configured to control a line pressure in accordance with an electromagnetic force of a solenoid. The linear solenoid valves each include a spool and are controlled under a normal hydraulic control mode or a current consumption decrease mode. The spool is actuated in accordance with the electromagnetic force. An output fluid pressure is controlled to be a maximum output fluid pressure from a minimum output fluid pressure with the spool at a balanced position under the normal hydraulic control mode. A current consumption for generating the electromagnetic force is decreased to make the fluid pressure equal to or lower than the minimum output fluid pressure under the normal hydraulic control mode and to hold the fluid pressure within a range corresponding to the balanced position under the current consumption decrease mode.
US08235850B2
A multiple sprocket assembly for a bicycle includes a larger diametrical sprocket and a smaller diametrical sprocket. The larger diametrical sprocket includes at least one auxiliary guiding portion for facilitating a bicycle chain to shift from the smaller diametrical sprocket to the larger diametrical sprocket.
US08235847B1
A racquet frame including a light-weight, semi-permanent protective layer covering portions of the racquet frame is described. The semi-permanent protective layer may be applied to significant portions of the racquet frame without substantially changing performance features of the racquet frame. The semi-permanent protective layer reduces cosmetic damage to the frame of the racquet and may be replaced from time to time as needed. Further, the protective layer can be graphically enhanced providing a level of graphical customization to the racquet frame.
US08235846B2
A lacrosse head pocket includes an elongated single layer runner with multiple cross pieces. The single layer runner can be constructed from a material, such as a polymeric material, molded over the cross pieces. The cross pieces and/or runner can include speed lace loops with which a net lace can be joined. A related method includes providing cross pieces, overmolding a polymeric material over the cross pieces to form a single layer runner, where the overmolded material is the only structure extending between and connecting the cross pieces, and where the cross pieces are transverse to the runners. Another method includes providing a pocket base overmolding the base with a polymeric material to cover portions of it, and forming connection elements between different portions independently of any other components of the pocket base.
US08235843B1
A golf club head having a face component, a crown, and a composite sole or a composite body patch with one or more weight ports for receiving one or more weight inserts is disclosed herein. At least part of each of the weight ports is integrally formed in the composite sole or composite body patch, and each of the weight ports include a weight receiving region for receiving a weight and a screw receiving region for receiving a screw that secures the weight in the weight port.
US08235838B2
A temporary shaft-component connection for assembling a selected golf club shaft with a club head and/or hand grip segment, to facilitate custom club design and fitting to suit the needs and preferences of an individual golfer. The temporary shaft-component connection is particularly designed for use with nonmetallic club shafts formed from a graphite-based composite material or the like having a range of different lengths and stiffness (whip) characteristics. In a shaft-head connection, a metal adapter insert is mounted onto a lower end of the club shaft and includes one or more flat surfaces for reception into a matingly shaped socket in the hosel of a selected club head to prevent relative rotation between the club shaft and head. A compression nut carried on the shaft is threaded onto the hosel to axially engage and retain a thrust flange on the shaft or adapter or adapter insert, to prevent axial separation of the club head and shaft.
US08235833B2
The present invention relates to a set of golf club irons in which some of the club heads have a hollow space, and some of the club heads do not have a hollow space. The hollow space is preferably defined by a lower portion of the front face, a portion of the sole, and a rear wall. The presence of the hollow space moves the club head center of gravity back (away from the face) and down (toward the sole), making it easier to get a golf ball airborne. The volumes of the hollow spaces generally transition or get progressively smaller with an increase in the club loft angle, thus altering the center of gravity location and moments of inertia by different amounts for different clubs. The hollow spaces may be empty or filled, in whole or part.
US08235831B2
A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, the connection assembly includes a removable hosel sleeve that allows a shaft to be supported a desired predetermined orientation relative to the club head. In this manner, the shaft loft and/or lie angle of the club can be adjusted without resorting to traditional bending of the shaft. In another embodiment, the club head has an adjustable sole that can be adjusted upwardly and downwardly relative to the strike face of the club head, which is effective to adjust the face angle of the club head.
US08235830B2
A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.
US08235828B2
A diaphragm coupling having first and second diaphragm plates that are joined together around their outer edges. Each diaphragm plate has a central, axially-extending hub. The hub of the first plate supports within it a pin member having an outwardly projecting shoulder at each end adapted to engage an internal shoulder on the hub of the first plate at one end and an internal shoulder on the hub of the second plate at the other end so as to limit axial separation of the two hubs—from one another.
US08235825B2
Methods and systems for intelligent tracking and/or play and/or management of card gaming use an intelligent card distribution or holding device with detectors for determine the value and unique identity of individual cards and for recording card play. In specific embodiments, the system utilizes various types of sensors and electronic circuits and software to scan, track, monitor, compute, and interface with electronic devices, to enable the automatic operation of Casino table games. The system can scan playing cards, scan gaming chips, indicate a players win/loss/draw, increase and or decrease player betting positions. Compute awards to players based on their playing activity, photograph individual players, and transmit player's images to casino security/surveillance departments and or other authorized casino personnel. The system may activate table displays that indicate each player's win/loss/draw of their bets, and or dealers card count, indicate in the game of blackjack when a dealer has blackjack, or any other significant event that occurs such as indicating when a player has a winning/loss/draw on specific card combinations.
US08235824B2
Composite tabletops for electronic game tables are described. In one implementation, the composite tabletop has a channeled core layer sandwiched between a bottom layer and top layer. The channeled core layer is constructed of foam, so that the foam forms enclosure spaces for player stations, displays, user-interface hardware, central control/server hardware, and cooling equipment. The foam is also shaped to form duct spaces between each player station and a central space in the channeled core layer. The ducts can be used to route wires between each player station and the central space and to direct cooling air to or from each player station. The channeled core layer reduces time and labor during manufacture of an electronic game table and results in an electronic game table that is more lightweight for shipping, absorbs noise generated by enclosed hardware and electronics, absorbs shocks, and optimizes cooling of enclosed components.
US08235818B2
Systems and method for providing a single sign in a gaming console that associates online activity that is out-of-game/cross game, and/or online activity that is in-game, and/or activity that is offline and in-game with that account. While online, a service tracks activity of gamers and provides usage statistics in a profile. While offline, the game console tracks the player's activity via a mechanism to collect detailed information about a specific player's in-game statistics and accomplishments. The offline activity is cached and uploaded when the console connects to the online service. Players can accumulate achievements offline that are credited towards online activities.
US08235815B1
A portable sensor unit for capturing motion and/or other data may be securely mounted on objects such as a user's limb, a vehicle, or other items. The sensor unit may then collect motion and/or other data from the object to which it is affixed, and may provide this data to a data logger which stores the data. The data logger may subsequently communicate the data to a gaming system which may tailor the motion characteristics of a virtual object to resemble those of the real-world object from which the motion data was captured. Thus, a user can (for example) capture motion data from a vehicle, with this data being supplied to a video gaming unit which provides a virtual vehicle having the same acceleration/deceleration, handling, and other characteristics.
US08235798B2
A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a wager input device, a display for displaying a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game, and a controller operatively coupled to the display and the wager input device to operate in a plurality of selectable game modes of which a selected one is a current game mode. The display has an array of reel strips. Each of the selectable game modes is respectively associated with a subset of the reel strips of the array. A first game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of a second game mode of the plurality of selectable game modes. The second game mode has at least one reel strip that differs from at least one reel strip of the first game mode. The controller is operative to cause the display to selectively conceal all of the reel strips other than that subset of the reel strips associated with the current game mode, for example, by causing movement of a reel window or reel strips with respect to the other, or by adjusting the opacity of one or more controllable-opacity segments.
US08235792B2
The claimed embodiments contemplate methods, systems and apparatuses directed to gaming machines that provide a common reel display for multiple players. Various combinations of reel lines, utilized to determine possible wins from symbols across multiple reels, of the reel display, may be available to the players. For example, a first player may be permitted to bet on one set of reel lines and a second player may bet on another set of reel lines. Also, for example, both players may bet on some reel lines and other reel lines may only be available to certain players. A community reel line may also be made available to both players or perhaps just one player upon satisfaction of certain conditions. The ability to have multiple players bet on a common reel display advantageously adds to the excitement and enjoyment of a gaming session.
US08235781B2
A video poker machine configured to allow a player to play a card game is provided. The video poker machine includes at least one display device, at least one input device, and at least one computer configured to display at least a first hand and a second hand of at least five cards all face up, each hand including the same five cards. A player can be provided an option to play a hand by selecting none, one or more than one of the face up cards from the first hand and the second hand and any additional hands as cards to be held. Each of the cards not selected to be held are discarded from each hand and replaced with a face up card. The player can be provided a pre-established amount based on the amount of a wager made on the hand if the resulting cards of the hand comprise a predetermined poker hand ranking.
US08235768B2
A method for making heated plane of a cooler obtain better flatness and roughness includes a grinder with a grinding plate and a fixture. Then, the cooler is arranged onto the fixture. Next, the abrasive is injected into the gap between the grinding plate and the heated plane, making the fixture press and clamp the cooler in a way, such that the heated plane of the cooler contacts the abrasive closely. Finally, the grinding plate is rotated to make at least one grinding process to the heated plane, making the heated plane obtain a surface with better roughness and flatness, further enhancing the contact tightness between the heated plane and a heating element, and therefore promoting the thermally conductive efficiency between the cooler and the heating element.
US08235763B1
A turkey game call includes a housing assembly and a striker assembly to generate fighting purr sounds. The housing assembly may include a base, a wall surrounding the periphery of the base, and a beam extending across the base. The striker assembly may include a control handle, a central hub connected to said handle, and a pair of striker plates connected to said central hub. Two posts are connected to the base proximate said striker plates, with each striker plate engaging one of said corresponding posts to generate the fighting purr sounds.
US08235762B2
A method of making a noise producing toy includes the steps of providing a noise producing assembly; providing or molding a first body portion having a first material and having an aperture, the first material having a material that is conducive mounting of the noise producing assembly into the aperture; mounting the first body portion on a mandrel of a mold core, the mold core for forming at least part of a body of the noise producing toy; molding a second body portion to engage the first body portion on a mold core to form at least part of the body, separating the mandrel and mold core and the at least part toy body; mounting the noise producing assembly into the aperture.
US08235761B2
Apparatus and methods for resizing COTS AMLCDs or other electronic displays, as well as resized displays made using these apparatus and methods, are provided. The electronic display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, and image-generating medium contained in an area between the front and back plates. A target portion of the display may be identified and separated from an excess portion of the display, e.g., by cutting and breaking the plates of the display, thereby creating an exposed edge along the target portion. The plates of the target portion are pressed towards one another, e.g., to stabilize or compress the target portion. An adhesive is applied to the exposed edge, and the pressure is released to draw the adhesive between the plates along the exposed edge.
US08235758B2
A rotatable plug includes a plug portion and a base portion rotatably connected to the plug portion, an angle is formed by a rotational axis of the base portion and a center axis of the plug portion, and when the base portion rotates about rotational axis, the plug portion is folded to the base portion.
US08235750B2
This disclosure provides a coaxial inspection connector that is connectable to and disconnectable from a receptacle, the receptacle including an external conductor, a fixed terminal, and a movable terminal that is in pressed contact with the fixed terminal from below. Housing includes an end portion that contacts the external conductor. A probe extends vertically in the end portion. The probe is insulated from the housing, and includes a plunger. The plunger includes a plunger body and a tip. The plunger body contacts the fixed terminal when the external conductor contacts the end portion. The tip is an insulating portion disposed at a lower end of the plunger. The tip pushes the movable terminal downward and separates the movable terminal from the fixed terminal when the external conductor contacts the end portion.
US08235743B2
A locking piece (51) posturing like a cantilever is disposed on a periphery of a connector (20) by extending the locking piece (51) forward from a rear side thereof along a direction in which the connector (20) is inserted into a mounting hole (12) of a bracket (10). A locking projection (55) which elastically locks a to-be-locked plate (13) formed at an upper side of the locking piece (51) by bending the bracket (10) rearward from an edge of the mounting hole (12) is formed by striking a part of the locking piece (51). When a force acts on the connector (20) in a removal direction, a tensile load acts on the locking piece (51). Therefore the locking piece (51) hardly deforms. Thereby it is possible to prevent the connector (20) from slipping off the bracket (10).
US08235737B2
A lamp system used in a light string system comprises a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass mechanism is in the first position when the light assembly is not seated in the socket assembly. When the bypass mechanism in the first position, current flows across the bypass mechanism. When the light assembly is inserted into the socket assembly, the bypass activating system of the light assembly moves the bypass mechanism into the second position, and current flows through the light source instead of the bypass mechanism.
US08235734B2
An electrical connector that includes: an insulating body, having a plurality of receiving holes disposed thereon, a plurality of solder balls, respectively received in one of the receiving holes, a plurality of terminals, in which each terminal has a base correspondingly received in one of the receiving holes, a first extending portion and a second extending portion extend downwards from the base, a first hook extends laterally from an end of the first extending portion, a second hook extends laterally from an end of the second extending portion, and the first hook and the second hook respectively hook a periphery of the solder ball under a horizontal center line of the solder ball.
US08235722B2
A method of producing a dental prosthetic item 3, wherein the dental prosthetic item 3 is attached, via an interior surface 5, to another dental prosthetic item 2 by means of an adhesive 9, and for adhesive 9 there is provided a gap 8 disposed between an interior surface of the dental prosthetic item 3 and the other dental prosthetic item 2, wherein interior surface 5 of the dental prosthetic item is designed to make allowance for the visual properties of adhesive 9. Furthermore, a dental prosthetic item 3 is produced on the above lines and a blank 41 for the production of such a dental prosthetic item 3 and the other dental prosthetic item 2 is disclosed.
US08235717B2
A method of indirect bonding and a physical model that allows for optimal positional alignment of orthodontic appliances on a patient's teeth is disclosed. The physical model of the patient's teeth has pods and ridges on the facial surface of the teeth. Adhesive is applied to an orthodontic appliance and the appliance is placed on a tooth of the physical model against the ridge and on top of the pods. The adhesive fills the space in between the appliance and the facial surface of the tooth and adheres to the model, resulting in a dimensionally correct custom base that is properly aligned with the tooth to account for all five positional elements of a tooth. Once all the orthodontic appliances are applied to the model, the appliances can then be removed from the model and bonded to the patient's teeth in the optimal position using a transfer template.
US08235714B2
An orthodontic bracket having a base attachable to a tooth surface, with the base extending outward away from the tooth surface and forming an archwire slot sized to receive an archwire therewithin, and a removable archwire slot cover coined onto the base so as to cover the archwire slot and enable the bracket to function as a buccal tube when the cover is attached. The cover may be removed from the bracket base without removal of the bracket from the tooth surface so as to provide an open archwire slot for continued orthodontic treatment subsequent to removal of the removable archwire slot cover.
US08235710B2
The apparatus for the continuous catalytic removal of binder from metallic and/or ceramic shaped bodies produced by powder injection molding, which comprises a binder removal furnace through which the shaped bodies pass in a transport direction and are brought to a suitable process temperature, a feed facility for introduction of a process gas which is required for binder removal and comprises a reactant, at least one facility for the introduction of a protective gas into a reaction space of the binder removal furnace and a flare to burn the gaseous reaction products obtained in binder removal, wherein one or more devices which lead to a flow of the process gas directed transversely to the transport direction in the apparatus are present.
US08235707B2
The present invention relates to a control method of preventing backflow of exhaust gas into combustion chambers of boilers or water heaters that are not in operation for a multiboiler comprising a plurality of boilers or water heaters connected in line, each of which including a wind pressure sensor measuring wind pressure of air flowing into a combustion chamber and a controller controlling a fan supplying air into the combustion chamber on the basis of the wind pressure measured by the wind pressure sensor. The control method includes measuring wind pressures using the wind pressure sensors in the operating boilers and calculating an average wind pressure, using any controller as a master controller to determine a control amount of wind of the fans of non-operational boilers based on the average wind pressure, and operating the fans of the non-operational boilers on the basis of the control amount of wind.
US08235706B2
Representative embodiments provide for corresponding fluid atomizer bodies, each generally defining a fluidicly communicative interior cavity. The interior cavity is typically defined by an entry passageway portion, a chamber portion, a plurality of feeder passageways that are tangentially disposed to and fluidly coupled with the chamber portion, and an exit passageway portion fluidly coupled to the chamber portion. In one embodiment, an upper body portion and a lower body portion are bonded together to define a complete fluid atomizer body. Another embodiment provides for producing one or more fluid atomizer bodies by a way of injection molding.
US08235704B2
A method for forming a container includes receiving a parison, enclosing the parison with a mold that includes a cavity, and inflating the parison in said mold to form a blow molded container with a moveable region at the cavity. The method further includes repositioning the moveable region before filling the blow molded container.
US08235694B2
An injection mold for forming a light guide plate including a first block, a second block configured to face the first block, a forming portion included between the first and second blocks facing each other and having a shape of the light guide plate, an injection portion formed at the first block and configured to receive injected resin for forming the light guide plate, and a gate portion configured to guide the injected resin from the injection portion to the forming portion. Further, a width of a first end portion of the gate portion that is connected to the forming portion is 50%-80% of a width of the forming portion.
US08235691B2
An external gear pump which has a certain flow rate or volumetric capacity at a given speed can be taken apart and the parts rearranged and assembled into a second pump operating at the same speed with a flow rate or volumetric capacity that is different from the original pump. No new parts are required for the second pump configuration and all original parts are used. With this structure, pumps with different flow rates can be built using fewer parts than conventional designs.
US08235682B2
Pump, in particular a servo steering pump for motor vehicles, having a flow control valve and a valve sleeve which has inflow openings to the flow control valve and a pressure connection to a hydraulic load.
US08235673B2
The present invention provides a control method and a control apparatus of an inverter compressor in which when a trip occurs immediately after the inverter is started, retry can be performed in a short period of time with restart being performed in accordance with the detected conditions after the retry waiting times which are different from each other elapse. There are provided two or more kinds of retry waiting times, and the retry waiting time immediately after starting is made shorter than the others.
US08235665B2
A sculpted throat spool of a tension-torsion strap assembly is disclosed. Using the sculpted throat spool minimizes the stress riser typically present at the edge of the spool when a tension-torsion strap is articulated.
US08235664B2
A turbine blade with a blade root, an aerofoil, at least one cooling passage arranged in the turbine blade and extending from the blade root to the aerofoil, and a liner arranged in the at least one cooling passage is provided. The liner protects the cooling passage against corrosion, especially type II hot corrosion.
US08235659B1
A lanced and/or slit seamed housing and method of manufacture having a peripheral rolled and lanced or punched seam between a wrapper and the housing panels. The method of manufacture utilizes similar or dissimilar sheet materials in a variety of material thicknesses and with or without coatings applied prior to formation whereby a housing is formed quickly and safely. The rolling and lancing method manufactures a blower housing with an assured and positive sealed seam between the panels and wrapper of the housing. The lances or slits maintain the integrity of the seam and prevent slippage between the wrapper and panels.
US08235658B2
A fluid flow machine includes at least one rotor blade row designed for high work coefficients, which—in its center section and/or averaged over the blade height—provides for an essentially swirl-free relative outflow. The respective rotor, in its trailing edge area, is essentially orientated in meridional direction, which essentially corresponds to the meridional flow direction.
US08235656B2
In one embodiment, a catenary seal structure may be mechanically supported only by two adjacent rotor wheels to isolate a volume between the two adjacent rotor wheels. The catenary seal structure may be annularly disposed about the rotational axis of the adjacent rotor wheels.
US08235655B1
A variable inlet guide vane assembly for a gas turbine engine, where the guide vanes are pivotably connected to a sync ring that is contained within an annular groove within the casing so that leakage through holes in the casing is minimized. The guide vanes include a slider mechanism on one of the ends that will allow for both an axial and a rotational movement of the guide vane pin when the guide vanes pivot about a fixed pin on an opposite end of the guide vanes. A round rotary vane actuator with a height much less than a diameter is mounted outside of the casing and connects to the sync ring through a driving linkage.
US08235652B2
A turbine nozzle segment includes a band having a flowpath side and a non-flowpath side and an enclosure disposed on the non-flowpath side of the band. A plenum may be defined between the band and the enclosure and a discourager may extend from the enclosure.
US08235648B2
A diffuser for a centrifugal impeller assembly of a gas turbine engine includes a diffuser case having a plurality of vanes extending therein defining a plurality of circumferentially distributed angled passages in communication with an inlet space. Each vane includes a bleed port defined in a suction surface thereof, in proximity of the leading edge. The diffuser case includes a passive fluid communication defined at least partially through each one of the vanes between each bleed port and the inlet space upstream of the leading edge, such that air bled through the bleed ports is recirculated upstream of the leading edges to the inlet space to increase a surge margin of the diffuser.
US08235642B2
Disclosed is a load handling system including: a trailer capable of being hitched to a towing vehicle and/or to other trailers in order to form a conveyor train. Wheels and a shaft support a chassis equipped with a loading and unloading module for a load-bearing dolly. The loading and unloading module includes a conveyor defining a first incline for positioning the dolly, whereby the dolly is no longer in contact with the ground and is held in position on the trailer, and a second incline, the second incline having a symmetric position with respect to the first incline. The conveyor enables loading and unloading of the dolly on the first side of the trailer and on the second side of the trailer.
US08235636B2
A precision kinematic adjustment screw for optical mounts controls the position of the stage plate relative to the base plate so that the position is stable, consistent and reproducible. Use of a spring-loaded spherical member that is free to rotate independent of the screw minimizes friction between the proximal end of the screw and the contact surface of the stage plate and reduces the potential for deformation and/or abrasion of the contact surface.
US08235617B2
The unit (1) includes a packaging (2), an applicator (3), and a product P to be applied. The applicator (3) includes an application element (12) that is housed with the product P in a reservoir (8), an internal handling part (13) that is placed in a holding housing (11) which substantial relative rotation cannot occur. A part in the shape of a rod (14) is housed in a pipe (10) that the rod is rigid enough not to break when the packaging (2) is folded crosswise for the purpose of opening break. The unit (1) also includes two holding zones for the purpose of the break fold in a fragile transverse zone (16) with lower strength.
US08235615B2
Personal care product dispensers include a housing, a platform, a personal care product, a hydraulic mechanism, and a tab. The housing has a main opening and an interior compartment. The platform is disposed within the interior compartment of the housing. The personal care product is disposed on the platform. The hydraulic mechanism is in operable communication with the platform. The tab is operatively coupled to the hydraulic mechanism. The hydraulic mechanism is configured to exert a force against the platform to advance the platform and the personal care product through the interior compartment of the housing in response to user manipulation of the tab.
US08235611B2
A key structure of a keyboard, comprising: a backplane and a plurality of key caps. The backplane is concaved a plurality of grooves. A frame is deposed on the groove, and outside of the frame two fixed bases and two positioning columns are correspondingly deposed on the opposite sides. A clamp is deposed on the fixed base. A link bar, consists of a cross bar and two struts. The cross bar and the struts are mutually perpendicular and shown as an upside-down U shape. A key cap, in which a convex column is extended from the inside of the key cap, and two clips are protruded respectively on the opposite sides of the convex column, as well as a slot is deposed on the clip. The clips are adapted to position the cross bar of the link bar to a clamp of a fixed base on the backplane. And two struts are adapted to be held by the positioning column, so that the two struts only can be moved up and down and will not mismatch. Moreover, combining the key cap with the backplane to make the convex column plugging into the frame, therefore the two slots of the clip are adapted to be combined with the two struts. No matter what position of the key cap surface is pressed, the key cap will be affected by the link bar; such will make the key being pressed down completely.
US08235606B2
A mirror unit that can decrease the wait time before distance measurement. The mirror unit includes a first mirror; a second mirror; a first mirror holder that holds the first mirror, is rotatable on a rotational axis arranged above an optical path of the incident light, is lowered to a first mirror-down position, and is raised to a first mirror-up position; and a second mirror holder that includes an auxiliary component and a mirror holding component holding the second mirror, is lowered to a second mirror-down position, and is raised to a second mirror-up position, wherein the auxiliary component is provided below the first mirror holder in the direction of the lowering, is rotatable on a rotational axis that is the same as or parallel to the rotational axis of the first mirror holder, and can be lowered independently of the first mirror holder, and the mirror holding component is engaged with the auxiliary component to be relatively rotatable around a rotational axis that is parallel to the rotational axis of the auxiliary component.
US08235605B2
Disclosed herein are a self-standing parallel plate beam splitter, a method for manufacturing the same, and a laser diode package structure using the same. The self-standing parallel plate beam splitter according to the present invention is easy to manufacture and is applicable to various laser diode packages, thereby enabling easy implementation of a laser diode package that is capable of performing bidirectional communication, a laser diode package having a triplexer function, a laser diode package having a wavelength locking function, and a laser diode package having a front side monitoring function to monitor the operation state of a laser diode chip using some of laser light emitted from the front side of the laser diode chip.
US08235604B2
An optical connector that permits an optical fiber ribbon to be led out in multiple directions and an optical fiber module that uses the optical connector are provided. The optical connector comprises a connector main body and a guide groove formed on the connector main body in which an optical fiber ribbon is arranged, wherein the guide groove is comprised of an end face holding slot, a vertical guiding face, an arcuate guiding face formed in arc-shape, and a positioning face for widthwise positioning and fixing the optical fiber ribbon and wherein the vertical guiding face and the arcuate guiding face and the positioning face define a space that opens toward a top face of the connector main body; and the optical fiber module comprises the optical fiber ribbon and the optical connector.
US08235602B2
An adapter couples a length of optical fiber to a hollow probe and to an optical coherence tomography instrument. The length of optical fiber may be greater than the length of the adapter itself. The optical fiber is fixed to an optical coupler at a proximal end of the adapter and may be maintained in a curved configuration by features located in an internal cavity of the adapter. An optical fiber advance mechanism be used to advance and/or retract the length of optical fiber to align it within the hollow probe.
US08235600B2
The present invention generally relates to a method for manufacturing a one-piece LC type optical fiber adapter, more particularly to a method that is simpler and easier to assemble the LC type optical fiber adapter.
US08235599B2
Tapered roller bearings and gas turbine engine systems involving such bearings are provided. In this regard, a representative bearing cage for a gas turbine engine includes: an outer cage rim and an inner cage rim; the outer cage rim having a rounded edge at a location of contact between the outer cage rim and a roller.
US08235597B2
A combined radial-axial rolling bearing for rotatably mounting a rotary body in the region of a diameter step. The rolling bearing has a radial bearing unit which is assigned to a circumferential surface of the rotary body and which at least has a radial bearing ring, and an axial bearing unit which is assigned to an axial surface of the rotary body and which at least has an axial bearing ring. To mount the rotary body radially in the region of the larger diameter, the radial bearing unit is assigned to a circumferential surface which has the larger diameter. The radially outer rim of the axial bearing ring is latched to a rim of the radial bearing ring which faces toward the radially outer rim, such that the two bearing rings form a structural unit which can be assembled in one work step, but otherwise remain functionally separate.
US08235593B2
A method judging a temperature of a chip including using a limited set of temperature sensors and using a knowledge of a power dissipation, estimating a temperature on a surface of a chip and predicting a future temperature of the chip knowing the instruction stream characteristics to be processed by the chip.
US08235591B2
An intelligent corkscrew device which determines the temperature of the bottle and informs the consumer as to what type of wine is suitable for that temperature. In a preferred embodiment, the corkscrew provides a temperature readout. Alternative embodiments provide entertainment features such as voice or other audio indications related to the temperature. Still other embodiments include visual indication such as lamps which indicate what type of wine would be proper for the temperature of the bottle being measured. The corkscrew uses thermal measurement of the exterior of the wine bottle to measure the temperature. The measurement is made by a temperature sensing device, such as a thermistor or infrared detector on the end of the lever arm or other suitable location.
US08235580B2
In one embodiment, a method of controlling fluids in a semiconductor processing system includes mixing two or more chemical compounds in a blender to produce a solution and supplying the solution to a reclaim tank, where the solution is dispense to a process station. The solution can be monitored at a location between the tank and the process station to determine whether at least one of the chemical compounds is at a predetermined concentration. Upon determining that the at least one chemical compound in the solution is at the predetermined concentration the solution is flowed to the process station. The method further includes removing at least a portion of the solution from the process station and returning the removed portion of the solution to the reclaim tank. The removed portion of the solution is monitored at a location between the process station and the reclaim tank to determine whether at least one of the chemical compounds in the removed portion of the solution is at a predetermined concentration. Upon determining that the at least one chemical compound in the removed portion of the solution is at the predetermined concentration, the removed portion of solution is flowed to the process station.
US08235579B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for introducing ultrasound into a flowable medium using a sonotrode, wherein the flowable medium is not in direct contact with the sonotrode. Disclosed is a method comprising the following steps: placing a film (8) on the sonotrode (4) in such a way that the contact force by means of which the film (8) is pressed on the sonotrode (4) is always so great that the film (8) follows the lifting motions of the sonotrode (4) in the corresponding frequency and amplitude; applying ultrasound power through the film (8) into the medium (2) and transmitting the wear phenomena onto the film (8).
US08235573B2
A backlight module includes a light guide, a mixing light guide plate, and a plurality of light sources. The first light guide comprises a first side surface. The mixing light guide plate comprises an incident surface with anomalous surface and an emergent surface with fog surface. The mixing light guide plate is set on the first side surface. A plurality of light sources disposed corresponding to the incident surface, with light emitted there from and entering the mixing light guide plate through the incident surface then exits the mixing light guide plate through the emergent surface, finally, entering the light guide through the first side surface.
US08235560B2
A backlight module includes a panel, a base, at least a light-emitting element, a heat-dissipating board and at least a circuit board. The base is connected to the panel to form an accommodating space. The light-emitting element is disposed in the accommodating space. The heat-dissipating board is disposed on the base and connected to the base. The heat-dissipating board includes at least two connecting portions and a top portion. The connecting portions are respectively connected to two ends of the top portion and the base to separate the top portion from the base for forming a heat-dissipating space therebetween. The circuit board is disposed on an outer surface of the top portion far away from the base.
US08235557B2
A lampshade system which utilizes a simplified lampshade design that does not require integrally manufactured frame components. The lampshade can be manufactured in a flattened position to optimize shipping, storage and display space and which may be easily assembled into a three-dimensional lampshade position by an end user at the point of use.
US08235555B2
The invention provides a multi-use light fixture that includes a light engine, a rugged housing, and an external power supply removeably embedded within an optional external enclosure. The light fixture includes several novel heat management features designed to reduce the risk of failure and thereby increase the reliability of the light fixture. The light engine includes groups of light modules, each having a light emitting diode (LED) and a zener diode. The housing includes an internal gap defined between the a circuit board and the housing. The housing also includes an arrangement of external fins and vents that dissipate heat generated by the light engine. The lens cover includes a plurality of inlets to supply ambient air into the fixture. During operation, heat is generated by the light modules, namely the LEDs, and then is transferred along a first flow path through a main body portion of the housing and the fins for dissipation to ambient and a second air flow path whereby ambient air flows through the light engine to increase the performance and efficiency of the light engine.
US08235543B2
A compensation method for alleviating color shading in a digital image is adapted to correct a color shading phenomenon in a digital image that causes luminance differences between regions in the digital image. The compensation method includes capturing a uniform color block image; calculating horizontal compensation coefficients of a plurality of horizontal segments of the color block image; performing a linear interpolation process on the horizontal compensation coefficients to generate corresponding horizontal interpolation coefficients, and calculating determination horizontal correction coefficients corresponding to all the horizontal segments, respectively; calculating vertical compensation coefficients of a plurality of vertical segments; multiplying the determination horizontal correction coefficients by the vertical compensation coefficients, respectively, so as to obtain a color shading compensation coefficient of each segment, respectively; and multiplying an average luminance value of each segment by a corresponding color shading compensation coefficient, respectively, thus compensating for color shading in the color block image.
US08235539B2
The invention provides an elongated lighting fixture with multiple light emitting diodes (LEDs) arrayed in two groups that are angled to each other. The fixture provides an extremely broad light emitting angle and includes an elongated housing having a pair of side walls with at least one fin to dissipate heat. Each side wall has a support member extending upward at angle from the side wall, wherein the side walls terminate at a central wall. A generally transparent cover is connected to the housing and extends between opposed ends of the housing. A first elongated fastener and a second elongated fastener are utilized to mount a first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs to the first support member and the second support member, respectively. First and second interconnection board assemblies are affixed to respective support members beneath the group of LEDs by the first and second fasteners. When the first and second interconnection board assemblies are energized by an internal power source, current travels from each interconnection assembly through the fasteners to each group of LEDs for illumination.
US08235537B2
An article having: a retroreflective optical element and a plasmonic material on the optical element. A method of: performing an optical measurement on a substrate having a plurality of the articles.
