US08477773B2

The present invention pertains to a method for performing specific data forwarding actions depending on the nature of data traffic comprising data packets, which method comprises the steps of: —receiving incoming data traffic of a specific nature, belonging to at least a specific class among a number of pre-defined classes, step 101—classifying the data traffic by determining the nature of the data traffic, step 102, provided by a process of inspecting values of one or more selected header field(s) of an address space of a data packet and selecting a first matching class from an ordered list of classes providing multi-dimensional classification, step 103.
US08477763B2

A method of operating a Call Session Control Function node within an IP Multimedia Subsystem network. The method comprises establishing a first session corresponding to a first IP Multimedia Subsystem communication service using a first Application Server, receiving a request for a further session corresponding to a further IP Multimedia Subsystem communication service, and forwarding said request to a further Application Server. Said further Application Server is additionally notified that said first communication service is ongoing and of the nature of said first session.
US08477759B2

Packet filtering is performed to detect for and discard malformed data packets that would be discarded by a wireless network if received from a wireless device. A cdma2000 network may restart a PPP session upon receiving (1) malformed data packets with source IPv4 addresses different from IPv4 addresses (if any) assigned to the wireless device or (2) malformed data packets with source IPv6 addresses having prefixes different from prefixes (if any) associated with the PPP session. The wireless device may receive data packets from a terminal equipment coupled to the wireless device and/or applications running at the wireless device. The wireless device may filter these data packets with packet filters to detect for malformed data packets with invalid IPv4 addresses, invalid IPv6 address prefixes, and so on. The wireless device discards malformed data packets and sends the remaining data packets to the wireless network.
US08477756B2

The invention relates to a method for transmission of data in a wireless network comprising a plurality of base stations broadcasting data at a same frequency and a plurality of mobile terminals. In order to overcome inter-cell transfer at the level of mobile terminals, the method comprises: assignments of first and second sub-sets of base stations at respectively at least a first and at least a second mobile terminal, the assignments varying in time according to first and second parameters, the two sub-sets having at least one base station in common and each at least having a specific base station, synchronized transmissions of respectively the base stations of the first and second sub-set of first and second specific data modulated with first and second modulations to respectively the at least first and second mobile terminals. The invention also relates to the corresponding method for reception of data.
US08477753B2

The present invention provides a LAN device 20 having an internal function of controlling communication. A management representative of the LAN device 20 sets a protocol applicable for communication with regard to each of MAC addresses or IP addresses allocated to transmitter terminals and each of IP addresses allocated to receiver terminals. The LAN device transmits data in the case of the protocol applicable for communication, while not transmitting data in the case of any protocol inapplicable for communication.
US08477749B2

A wireless terminal that can connect to a plurality of networks makes a request for a connection to a management server. The management server holds network information about unchanging service characteristics of a plurality of networks constituting a wireless communication area. The management server selects networks satisfying a request condition of a wireless terminal that has requested a connection based on the network information and notifies the selected networks, as candidates for connection, to the wireless terminal. The wireless terminal measures changing service characteristics of the candidates for connection notified from the management server, selects a network from the candidates for connection based on a measurement result, and connects to the selected network.
US08477747B1

Wireless endpoints to be secured in a wireless network context are automatically identified. More specifically, wireless endpoints connecting to a wireless access point are detected. It is determined whether detected endpoints are connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network. Wireless access points determined to be connecting to the wireless access point to join a wireless network are automatically identified as endpoints to be managed. Identifying information concerning endpoints to be managed (e.g., MAC addresses) is gleaned, and automatically provided to an endpoint management system.
US08477743B2

A method for operating a mobile station in communication with an associated network is presented. The method includes receiving an assignment of a number of timeslots from the network, monitoring a first set of timeslots in accordance with the assignment, and reducing a number of timeslots monitored to less than the first set of timeslots and monitoring less than the first set of timeslots. The method includes, while monitoring less than the first set of timeslots, receiving a data block within a radio block, and, when the mobile station does not successfully decode the data block and when the mobile station does not successfully decode from the radio block an indication to continue to monitor less than the first set of timeslots, continuing to monitor less than the first set of timeslots.
US08477737B2

A method of uplink carrier handoff in a multiple carrier communication system may include receiving a measurement report from a mobile providing information regarding path loss as measured at the mobile for one of the multiple carriers on the downlink. A serving carrier may be the carrier over which the mobile communicates on the uplink. An instruction may be selectively sent to the mobile to handoff to a non-serving one of the multiple carriers depending on whether a threshold requirement has been met. The meeting of the threshold requirement may be based on the received measurement report and the serving carrier of the mobile. Each of the multiple carriers may have an associated threshold requirement.
US08477736B2

A multimedia server includes a first transceiver that modulates a data signal to produce a first radio frequency (RF) signal and that transmits the first RF signal to a client over a first transceiver channel when the first transceiver is in a transceive mode. The first transceiver includes a first channel control that performs a first channel scan when the first transceiver is in a scan mode, that determines at least one performance parameter of the first transceiver channel and asserts a low performance signal when the at least one performance parameter compares unfavorably to a performance threshold, and that switches the first transceiver to a selected alternative transceiver channel when the low performance signal is asserted.
US08477731B2

The disclosure is directed to a mobile communication device that measures characteristics or attributes of a first communications network that vary according to physical location within that first communications network to create a fingerprint, or signature, of a location within the first communications network. When the fingerprint of the current location of the mobile device is created it can be compared to a known fingerprint associated with a second communication network to determine the mobile device's proximity to the second communications network. For example, the first communications network may be a CDMA wide area wireless communication network and the second communications network may be a 802.11 wireless LAN.
US08477728B2

Techniques for supporting handoff of a terminal between base stations of different protocol revisions (P_REVs) in a CDMA system. The terminal is handed off from a first base station (with a first P_REV) to a second base station (with a second P_REV) while it is in an active (data or voice) call with the first base station. The second P_REV is later than the first P_REV. The active call may be maintained between the terminal and second base station using a first service configuration previously established via the first base station for the active call. A second service configuration may be established via the second base station for the active call. This may be achieved by (1) querying the terminal, (2) assignment by the second base station, or (3) initiation by the terminal. The active call may then be maintained using the second service configuration if available.
US08477724B2

Local IP Access (LIPA) allows an IP-capable user equipment (UE) connected via a femto cell direct access to other IP-capable devices in the local IP network. Selected IP Traffic Offload (SIPTO) is used to offload selected types of IP traffic towards a defined IP network close to the UE's point of attachment to the access network. LIPA PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context or a PDN Connection that gives access to services located in the local IP network of the femto cell subsystem. SIPTO PDN Connectivity indicates a PDP Context or PDN Connection that allows offload of selected types of IP traffic towards a defined IP network close to the UE's point of attachment to the access network. Systems, devices and methods are described herein that enable the identification of the type of connectivity available to a UE and enable session continuity for local cellular coverage.
US08477715B2

Techniques for performing IP configuration after handoff in a WLAN are described. A station associates with a first access point in the WLAN and performs IP configuration to obtain a first set of IP configuration parameters. The station thereafter exchanges data via the first access point using the first set of IP configuration parameters. The station performs handoff from the first access point to a second access point and performs IP configuration after the handoff. While the IP configuration is in progress, the station continues to exchange data via the second access point using the first set of IP configuration parameters. This avoids interruption in IP connectivity. After completing the IP configuration, the station either (i) continues to exchange data using the first set of IP configuration parameters if new parameters are not obtained or (ii) exchanges data using a second set of IP configuration parameters if obtained.
US08477709B2

A method for providing fast and flexible call setup, the method comprising establishing a plurality of phantom channels over a bearer channel, wherein at least one of the plurality of phantom channels is pre-assigned to a first session negotiation method, at least one of remaining phantom channels of the plurality of phantom channels is pre-assigned to a second session negotiation method, the second session negotiation method has at least one property different from the first session negotiation method, and at least one of the remaining phantom channels is assigned to at least one fixed media operation point, whereby the first session negotiation method is utilized for flexible session setup.
US08477707B2

A method for establishing a connection between user equipment (UE) and an associated network includes receiving at the UE a service announcement providing a description of an available broadcast service and at least one identifier which identifies the broadcast service, and receiving at the UE a setup message which establishes a point-to-point radio bearer between the UE and the network, such that the setup message includes the identifier which is used to identify that the radio bearer carriers the broadcast service.
US08477705B2

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure propose two efficient designs for a control channel in a Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) system. The proposed designs enable a user equipment (UE) to transmit acknowledgement (ACK) and negative acknowledgement (NACK) signals to one or more access points (APs) upon receiving transmissions from them.
US08477704B2

A radio resource assignment method, wherein it is determined at a predetermined timing whether a cell is congested or not; the determination result is notified to adjacent base stations; results of determination of congestion or non-congestion received from adjacent base stations are stored; when it is determined that the base station is not congested, a check is made whether or not the adjacent base stations are congested; when the adjacent base stations are congested, the use of the resource blocks is restricted to decide an empty resource block; and information on the decided resource block is notified to the adjacent base stations. When it is determined that the base station is congested, the information on the empty resource blocks received from the adjacent base stations is checked, and the empty resource blocks are assigned to mobile terminal devices within the cell.
US08477703B2

A wireless device comprises a first wireless transceiver configured for communication via a first wireless network, a second wireless transceiver configured for communication via a second wireless network; and a scheduler that controls which of the first and second transceivers is granted access to a wireless medium at a given time. When the first wireless transceiver has been granted access to the wireless medium by the scheduler and the first wireless transceiver receives a packet via the first wireless network, the scheduler temporarily grants the second wireless transceiver access to the wireless medium based on the packet indicating that first wireless transceiver is not to use the wireless medium for a period of time.
US08477695B2

In a wireless communication system including a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a Node-B, an uplink (UL) scheduling request is transmitted by the WTRU to the Node-B when the WTRU has buffered (user) data to transmit to the Node-B, but needs to have a scheduling grant for UL data transmission. The WTRU determines whether to transmit to the Node-B a short-version UL scheduling request or a full-version UL scheduling request, whereby the short-version UL scheduling request uses less channel resources than the full-version UL scheduling request by omitting information pertaining to WTRU status parameters. The short-version UL scheduling request is a one-bit indicator or a multi-bit indicator that indicates an amount of scheduling grants or resources requested. The full-version UL scheduling request includes at least one of a WTRU buffer status and a WTRU link budget.
US08477686B1

Disclosed herein is a method and system to help manage transmission power for wireless communications. A radio access network (RAN) will artificially increase target frame error rate (FER) for certain mobile stations in a coverage area for just a portion of a defined call drop timer period, and the RAN will automatically revert to apply a baseline target FER for a duration sufficient to allow recovery of the mobile station's communications before expiration of the call drop timer period. By increasing the target FER for the mobile stations, noise on the air interface can be reduced. And by reverting the target FER to its baseline level for a sufficient duration, call drops resulting from the increased target FER can be avoided.
US08477684B2

Techniques for sending control messages are described. In an aspect, assignment messages may be acknowledged based on either linked or dedicated acknowledgement (ACK) resources. A terminal may receive an assignment message from a base station, determine whether to acknowledge the assignment message, and determine ACK resources to use to acknowledge the assignment message. The ACK resources may be linked to a control block on which the assignment message was received, linked to resources given by the assignment message, or assigned to the terminal. The terminal may send the acknowledgement on the ACK resources. In another aspect, a control message may be acknowledged based on ACK resources determined based on the control message or the control block. The ACK resources may be linked to resources assigned by the control message or linked to the control message. The terminal may send an acknowledgement for the control message on the ACK resources.
US08477682B2

Conventionally, different HARQ processes 801 and 802 (subframes T1 and T2) transmit data packets B and D, respectively. One data packet corresponds to one process and is retransmitted as necessary one by one on a process basis, degrading the usage efficiency of frequency and time resources. To solve this problem, downlink data packets B and D, when needed to be retransmitted, are spatially multiplexed in the different HARQ processes 801 and 802. The data packets are simultaneously retransmitted to the same terminal as process 805 (subframe T3).
US08477679B2

The present invention provides a resource allocation method and device for an amplify-and-forward relay network. The method includes: obtaining channel information, where the channel information includes channel information between a base station BS and a relay station RS and channel information between the RS and each user equipment UE; calculating, according to the channel information, resource use information of each UE on each sub-channel pairing; and obtaining, according to the resource use information, the number of REs allocated to each UE on each sub-channel pairing, where the obtained number of the REs enables a preset first function to obtain a maximum value. In the embodiments of the present invention, the use efficiency of the resources may be improved.
US08477675B2

A relay node comprising a processor configured such that the relay node transmits a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe including a control portion without a data portion, wherein the control portion comprises additional information assigned to any available resource elements (REs). Also included is a user agent (UA) comprising a processor configured such that the UA receives a MBSFN subframe including a control portion without a data portion, wherein the control portion comprises additional information assigned to any available REs. Also included is a method of wireless communication comprising transmitting a MBSFN subframe including a control portion without a data portion, wherein the control portion comprises additional information assigned to any available REs. Also included is a method of wireless communication comprising receiving a MBSFN subframe including a control portion without a data portion, wherein the control portion comprises additional information assigned to any available REs.
US08477673B2

Providing for retransmission of SFN data, including SFN operated MBMS data, in a manner that preserves synchronization of scheduled SFN transmissions is disclosed herein. As an example, SFN data can be transmitted in a first allocation period, and an un-received or indecipherable SFN data packet associated with the SFN data can be scheduled in a second allocation period. More particularly, the un-received or indecipherable SFN data packet can be allocated to a block of the second allocation period that is scheduled for non-SFN transmission, for instance. Accordingly, SFN retransmission can take place on a cell by cell basis without substantially affecting SFN transmissions synchronized among the cells.
US08477672B2

Techniques for signaling acknowledgment status (e.g., ACK, NACK, or DTX) for up to four detected carriers according to 4C-HSDPA. In an exemplary embodiment, an ACK slot of an HS-DPCCH channel utilizes spreading factor 128 to accommodate two 10-symbol codewords per slot. The codewords may be dual-carrier codewords, enabling the acknowledgment status of up to four carriers to be signaled in each slot. A DTX-DTX codeword may be further provided to signal no detection of two carriers assigned to the same codeword. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a codeword signaling acknowledgment status for two carriers may be repeated twice over a single slot.
US08477655B2

A method, device, and system for establishing a label switching path (LSP) in fast rerouting (FRR) switching are provided, which can ensure that an ingress point and a merge point (MP) refresh path information in time. The method includes that first messages are respectively sent to an ingress point and an MP on an LSP, where the first messages carry information of holding a path refreshing state, so that the ingress point and MP determine the time of holding the path refreshing state according to the information of holding the path refreshing state; and second messages are respectively sent to the ingress point and the MP in the time of holding the path refreshing state, where the second messages carry information of refreshing a path state, so that the ingress point and MP establish the LSP according to the information of refreshing the path state.
US08477651B2

In a method of providing a performance improvement recommendation for a connection between a first network node in communication with a second network node, information is transmitted from the first node to the second node to provide communication between the nodes, via a number of transmission components. An elapsed time of transmission of the information between a subset of the transmission components is measured, the aggregation of the measurements representing time elapsed for end-to-end transmission of the information that includes preparing, by the first node, the information for transmission and processing, by the second node, the information upon receipt. A determination is made that one of the measured transmission components has a performance that crosses a predetermined threshold. A recommendation is identified to improve the performance of the identified component.
US08477644B2

In an MBMS service desired to be received, if a condition for performing an MBMS request (an MBMS request trigger criterion) is satisfied (S3: YES), a mobile station 20a in an idle mode (RRC_IDLE) enters an MBMS request transmission process, transmits a preamble to a base station 10b, receives a random access response including scheduling information for transmitting a Message 3 and the like from the base station 10b, and transmits the Message 3 including an RRC Connection Request (including an NAS ID of the mobile station itself), the MBMS request and channel quality information to the base station 10b (S4), and if an Message 4, which includes RRC Connection Setup that is destined for the mobile station itself and includes the NAS ID, and which includes feedback resource assignment information, is received from the base station 10b (S5: YES), the mobile station 20a transits to a connected mode (RRC_CONNECTED), and also uses the designated resource to provide feedback to the base station (S6). Thereby, the MBMS service can be efficiently provided via SCPTM transmission.
US08477641B2

An uplink timing control device and method which make no excessive resource request for timing update when performing an uplink timing control even to a mobile station which performs no uplink signal transmission are provided. A system is characterized by comprising a mobile station ranking section for performing the prioritization of each mobile station from high necessity for the timing update in consideration of the occurrence of an extra-CP timing shift and the DRX remaining activation time of a mobile station which DRX-operates besides the mobile station received signal information at the time of the TA transmission in the past and the elapsed time form the TA transmission in the past. The system performs the timing update by allowing a mobile station with high priority determined by the mobile station ranking section to transmit an uplink timing detection signal and to notify the TA.
US08477636B2

Updates on access network capability are provided to an IP Multimedia System (IMS) network. A User Equipment (UE) that is connected to the access network initiates a communication session with the IMS network by sending a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) registration request to the IMS network. The SIP registration request from the UE includes a P-Access-Network-Info (PANI) header or an Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) header, having a tag that includes current information regarding one or more capabilities of the access network to which the UE is currently connected. A triggering event, e.g., a change in Quality of Service, signals the IMS network to modulate service provisions in the IMS network according to the information concerning the access network capabilities that were provided in the PANI header.
US08477615B2

A method and system to manage network congestion are provided. In one example embodiment, the method comprises receiving an indication of a rate increase request at a reaction point computer system, determining information indicative of a frequency of rate decrease requests during a period of time, and initiating a rate increase signal utilizing the information indicative of the frequency of rate decrease requests during the period of time.
US08477614B2

A system and method for routing a call over a packet network. A call request may be received from a calling party to call a called party at a network address. At least one potential call path over a packet network may be determined to connect the calling party to the called party at the network address. Network performance information associated with each potential call path may be accessed and a determination may be made that each of the call paths are impaired or congested. In response to determining that each of the call paths are impaired or congested, the call may be routed over a call path other than one of the at least one potential call paths to enable the calling party to communicate with the called party.
US08477589B2

A optical pickup includes: a laser diode; a driver including a first output end of a laser diode drive current; a first line electrically connected to the first output end of the driver and a first port of the laser diode; a second line provided adjacent to the signal line at at least one location or more and electrically connected to a second port of the laser diode; a printed circuit board including the first and second lines; and a metal heat dissipation cover for the driver. The first and second lines form a two layer structure in which the first and second lines are vertically disposed. The line width of the line provided close to the heat dissipation cover is wider than the line width of the other line between the first and second lines in the two layer structure.
US08477588B2

High power optical disc drives are disclosed. The drives are configured to deliver laser energy having a power of at least about 25 mW as measured at DVD 1× write speed upon first contact with the surface of an optical disc.
US08477584B2

When performing a read or write operation on an optical disc with information storage layers, this compatible optical head with a two-focus lens can reduce interference caused by an unnecessary diffracted light reflected from a non-target layer and not contributing to reading or writing. The head reads and/or writes information from/on storage media, including first and second media with different protective substrate thicknesses, by irradiating a given one with a laser beam and includes: a diffraction element that diffracts the beam to produce diffracted light of multiple orders; an objective lens for converging nth and mth order ones of the light on the respective storage layers of the first and second media; a photodetector that receives the beam reflected from the medium and condensed; and a light shielding portion for preventing a portion of the beam reflected from the storage layer of the second medium and including its optical axis from reaching the photodetector. The light shielding portion is arranged so as to reduce loss to be caused by cutting off the portion of the beam to a predetermined value or less.
US08477579B2

A writing method for an optical disk drive includes receiving a command to write a disc; implementing an optimum power control (OPC) test for a predetermined data transfer rate to obtain a relation of a beta parameter to writing power; acquiring a writing power for the predetermined data transfer rate with a target beta parameter; calculating the energy area ratio of writing strategies for every data transfer rate; multiplying the energy area ratio by the writing power for the predetermined data transfer rate to produce the writing power for every data transfer rate; and compensating the writing power with automatic writing control.
US08477574B2

An optical disk device is configured such that when an optical disk including three or more recording layers on one side is inserted into the optical disk device, a movable lens position adjustment device performs adjustment using as an index a tracking error signal provided with a limit to an amount of movement of a movable lens for spherical aberration correction at start-up of the optical disk device and sets an upper limit to the number of retries of the adjustment at the recording layer farthest away from the side on which the laser beam is incident to 1 or more.
US08477573B2

An optical pickup head is provided, which includes a silicon substrate, in which an aperture and an objective lens are disposed on the silicon substrate; and a laser diode (LD), a 135-degree tilted reflector, and a 135-degree tilted holographic reflector are disposed on the silicon substrate. The two 135-degree tilted reflectors and a holographic optical element (HOE) are fabricated on a slant face structure of an optical platform using a semiconductor process, so all the elements are disposed at a straight zone, and then in combination with bonding of the LD and an optical sensor element, an miniaturization objective is achieved and an optical path is shortened.
US08477572B1

A magnetic device that includes a write pole having a write pole tip; a read pole having a read pole tip; an optical near field transducer; and a contact pad. The contact pad includes Ni100-aXa, wherein X is chosen from Ru, Re, Zr, Cr, and Cu; and a is the atomic percent of the element X, and can range from about 20 to about 90. The optical near field transducer is positioned between the read pole and the write pole and the contact pad is positioned adjacent the write pole opposite the optical near field transducer.
US08477570B2

A slider including a magnetic head part, an optical waveguide, and a near field element is fixed by first and second adhesives to a submount on which a semiconductor laser and a mirror are mounted, the mirror being placed at one end of the semiconductor laser in a resonance direction thereof and reflecting a laser in a direction intersecting with the resonance direction. At this time, at least parts of the first and second adhesives are applied to a position opposed to the semiconductor laser with an intermediation of the submount. The first adhesive having a higher Young's modulus than that of the second adhesive is applied onto an inflow end side of the slider including a solder connection portion, the second adhesive being applied onto an outflow end side of the slider.
US08477568B2

An alarm clock includes a power supply unit; a key input setting unit (110); the lamp (140); a microcomputer (120) configured to be provided with a timer having a clock function; the time display unit (170); the alarm module (160) configured to be selectively turned on and off in response to the alarm control signal output by the microcomputer (120); a lamp power supply control unit (130) configured to be selectively switched on and off in response to the lamp drive control signal output by the microcomputer (120); and a lamp current adjustment unit (160) configured to perform control so that an amount of current flowing through the lamp (140) gradually increases based on the pulse width signal output by the microcomputer (120). The lamp gradually fades in and an alarm is issued after the lamp has been completely lit up.
US08477555B2

Asymmetric select and deselect drivers are provided for select lines driven to a resistive cross-point memory array. An address may be fully decoded to determine the active select driver, but a partial decode may be performed for the deselect drivers. Some embodiments may manage the odd and even deselect drivers as two sets of drivers and some embodiments may use sub-optimal transistors as the deselect drivers to save die area. Some embodiments may implement the deselect drivers as modified memory elements to reduce die area further.
US08477550B2

A sensing circuit for use in a semiconductor memory device includes first and second conducting lines for conducting a bit signal to and from a memory cell. The circuit further includes a sense amplifier coupled to the first and second conducting lines for sensing a bit signal, a charge storing element for generating a predefined potential, and first and second switching element respectively coupled to the first and second conducting lines. The first and second switching elements are selectively controllable to connect the first and second conducting line to the charge storing element so as to induce the generated predefined voltage on the first or second conducting lines.
US08477542B2

A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory layers arranged in multilayer, each memory layer including a cell array, the cell array containing a plurality of first parallel lines, a plurality of second parallel lines arranged crossing the first lines, and a plurality of memory cells connected at intersections of the first lines and the second lines; a pulse generator operative to generate pulses required for data access to the memory cell; and a control means operative to control the pulse generator such that the pulse output from the pulse generator has energy in accordance with the memory layer to which the access target memory cell belongs.
US08477537B2

A technique for writing data is disclosed. The technique includes estimating an amount of additional voltage on a victim cell of a solid-state storage device caused by writing to one or more other cells in the solid-state storage device, determining a modified write value for the victim cell based at least in part on a desired value for the victim cell and the estimated amount of additional voltage, and writing the modified write value to the victim cell.
US08477534B2

A memory includes first and second select gate transistors, memory cells, a source line, a bit line, a selected word line which is connected to a selected memory cell as a target of a verify reading, a non-selected word line which is connected to a non-selected memory cell except the selected memory cell, a potential generating circuit for generating a selected read potential which is supplied to the selected word line, and generating a non-selected read potential larger than the selected read potential, which is supplied to the non-selected word line, and a control circuit which classifies a threshold voltage of the selected memory cell to one of three groups by verifying which area among three area which are isolated by two values does a cell current of the selected memory cell belong, when the selected read potential is a first value.
US08477530B2

A non-uniform switching based non-volatile magnetic memory element includes a fixed layer, a barrier layer formed on top of the fixed layer, a first free layer formed on top of the barrier layer, a non-uniform switching layer (NSL) formed on top of the first free layer, and a second free layer formed on top of the non-uniform switching layer. Switching current is applied, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the fixed layer, barrier layer, first free layer, non-uniform switching layer and the second free layer causing switching between states of the first free layer, second free layer and non-uniform switching layer with substantially reduced switching current.
US08477528B2

A magnetic memory cell 1 is provided with a magnetic recording layer 10 which is a ferromagnetic layer and a pinned layer 30 connected with the magnetic recording layer 10 through a non-magnetic layer 20. The magnetic recording layer 10 has a magnetization inversion region 13, a first magnetization fixed region 11 and a second magnetization fixed region 12. The magnetization inversion region 13 has a magnetization whose orientation is invertible and overlaps the pinned layer 30. The first magnetization fixed region 11 is connected with a first boundary B1 in the magnetization inversion region 13 and a magnetization orientation is fixed on a first direction. The second magnetization fixed region 12 is connected with a second boundary B2 in magnetization inversion region 13 and a magnetization orientation is fixed on a second direction. The first direction and the second direction are opposite to each other.
US08477526B2

A memory array compatible with dynamic random access memories (DRAM) and static random access memories (SRAM) is disclosed. The memory array includes a first sense amplifier (700) having a first bit line (754) extending in a first direction and a second bit line (752) extending in a second direction parallel to the first bit line. A second sense amplifier (704) has a third bit line (756) adjacent and parallel to the first bit line. The third bit line remains inactive while the first bit line is active.
US08477525B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory includes word lines, bit lines, memory cells, a dummy word line, a dummy bit line and dummy cells. The word lines and the bit lines cross. The memory cells are provided for each intersection of the word lines and bit lines. Each memory cell includes a first diode and a resistance change memory element. The dummy word line crosses the bit lines. The dummy bit line crosses the word lines. The dummy cells are provided at each intersection of the dummy word line and the bit lines, and at each intersection of the dummy bit line and the word lines. Each dummy cell includes a second diode.
US08477520B2

A semiconductor device includes a first amplifier circuit, a second amplifier circuit, first and second bit lines coupled to the first amplifier circuit, third and fourth bit lines coupled to the second amplifier circuit, a first equalizer circuit being coupled to the first and second bit lines, and a second equalizer circuit being coupled between the second and third bit lines. The second equalizer circuit being closer to the second amplifier circuit than the first equalizer circuit, the first equalizer circuit being closer to the first amplifier circuit than the second equalizer circuit.
US08477517B2

A contact-input circuit for a power system device is described for processing a higher voltage signal from power system equipment or another power system device for use by a lower voltage circuit. The contact-input circuit generally includes a voltage threshold detection device adapted to allow current to flow therefrom when it detects that the higher voltage signal reaches a select threshold. An opto-isolator device, which is coupled to the voltage threshold detection device, provides a voltage signal suitable for use by the lower voltage circuit when the threshold detection device allows the current-flow through the opto-isolator.
US08477513B2

A connector includes an electromagnetic shield formed of conductive material with at least two depending, conductive, reinforcement sidewalls that each have a plurality of conductive depending sidewall legs distributed about a periphery of the shield and extending upwardly. The shield includes at least one conductive ground tab extending from an edge such that the shield provides a ground path directly from a circuit board to a connector housing. The shield defines at least one opening for receiving an alignment post and at least one additional rectangular opening to permit access to an electrical terminal positioned below the sheet. The rectangular opening may be aligned with terminals positioned within connector housing.
US08477510B2

The present invention relates to a fixing structure of a raulti-layer printed circuit board, and more particularly, to a fixing structure of a multi-layer printed circuit board, which has a simple structure and a high fixing force using a printed circuit board fixing portion having slots.
US08477504B2

In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, systems and methods for aligning blind-mate connectors are provided. In one embodiment, a system comprises an avionics processing canister that is coupled to a mounting block. The avionics processing canister comprises a first portion of a first blind-mate connector, and a face plate with a surface that defines a pin-hole and a slot. The slot has a short dimension substantially equal to the diameter of the pin-hole and a long dimension perpendicular to the short dimension. The long dimension is longer than the short dimension. The system also comprises a first fastener that is received through the pin-hole and then into a first hole defined by a surface of the mounting block. The pin-hole has a diameter that is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the first fastener. The system also comprises a second fastener that is received through the slot and then into a second hole defined by a surface of the mounting block. The slot is oriented such that the second fastener constrains rotation of the face plate about a center of the pin-hole to align the first portion of the first blind-mate connector to a second portion of the first blind-mate connector.
US08477498B2

A circuit card enclosure comprises a backplane including a plurality of connectors. First and second conduction rails are thermally coupled to a heat exchanger, the first and second conduction rails each comprising an inner body at least partially encapsulated by an outer body. The inner body comprises a thermally conductive material. The outer body comprises a structural material. Card slots of the circuit card enclosure are defined between opposed card channels of the first and second conduction rails. Each card slot is constructed and arranged to register an inserted circuit card with at least one of the connectors, the card channels including a thermally conductive region constructed and arranged to thermally interface with a thermal frame of an inserted circuit card, the thermally conductive region of the card channels being thermally coupled to the inner body of the conduction rail.
US08477475B2

A capacitor structure includes a plurality of conductive line levels located over the substrate. Each of the conductive line levels includes a first conductive line and a second conductive line. The first conductive lines in the conductive line levels form a first conductive line co-plane and the second conductive lines in the conductive line levels form a second conductive line co-plane. A first conductive end is electrically connected to the first conductive lines on the conductive line levels. A second conductive end is electrically connected to the second conductive lines on the conductive line levels. A plurality of vias are located between the neighboring conductive line levels and placed on only one of the first and second conductive line co-planes on a same level.
US08477471B2

A tapping armature having an armature housing is made from plastic for liquid transport and storage containers, which are equipped with a plastic inner container having a filling port and a drain port for connection of the tapping armature, an outer casing made from metal mesh or sheet metal, and a pallet-like base made from metal. The tapping armature with the filling port of the armature housing is screwed to a connecting flange designed as a threaded flange and made from an electrically non-conductive plastic material, which is welded to the drain port of the inner container. The connecting flange of the armature housing is connected to the base of the outer casing of the transport and storage container via an grounding lead made from an electrically conductive plastic material. The connecting flange and the grounding lead are produced in two production steps with an injection molding machine according to 2K technology. In a further embodiment of the tapping armature, the connecting flange and the grounding cable are injection molded as a single part from an electrically conductive plastic, and the grounding cable is connected to the flange ring of the connecting flange by a tear-off film.
US08477468B2

A voltage suppression device for suppressing voltage surges in an electrical circuit having a voltage sensitive element within a tubular casing.
US08477466B1

The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device including a fault detection circuit configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to a fault condition or a simulated fault condition. A second circuit is coupled to at least one user-accessible button and is configured to conduct a second signal in response to a user actuation of the at least one user-accessible button if the plurality of line terminals are coupled to a source of AC power, the second signal not simulating the fault condition. An automatic test circuit is configured to periodically determine whether the fault detection circuit is operative and provide an electronics test failure signal if the fault detection circuit fails to provide the fault detection signal in response to the periodically effected simulated fault condition.
US08477465B2

It is judged whether the abnormal current is due to the electric leakage or not by a detection step detecting the abnormal current by the leakage current detection board and comparing a threshold value of predetermined items stored in a storing unit and actual values corresponding to the items at the time of when a compressor is stopped by detecting the abnormal current in the detection step. Specifically, the abnormal current is recognized as the electric leakage to be displayed on a display unit when at least one of the operating time at the time of detecting the abnormal current, the inner pressure of a motor, and a discharge pipe temperature is lower than the corresponding threshold value.
US08477461B2

A thin film magnetic head including an MR laminated body composed of a first and second MR magnetic layers, first and second shield layers, and a bias magnetic field application layer provided on an opposite side of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the MR laminated body in order to apply a bias magnetic field orthogonal relative to the ABS. The first shield layer includes a first exchange coupling magnetic field application layer and a first antiferromagnetic layer; and the second shield layer includes a second exchange coupling magnetic field application layer and a second antiferromagnetic layer.
US08477454B2

An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer.
US08477450B2

There is provided a base for a motor, the base including: a base body having a disk disposed thereon; an outer wall part defining an outer part of the base body; and at least one rib depressed from one surface of the base body and protruded toward the other surface thereof to thereby improve rigidity of the base body, wherein pressure in an inner edge of the rib is equal to or greater than pressure in an outer edge thereof at the time of rotation of the disk.
US08477441B2

One embodiment of the invention includes a system for writing data onto a magnetic disk. An output driver provides a first write current through a first output transistor in a first state and provides a second write current through a second output transistor in a second state. The first and second write currents can be provided to a disk write head to store opposing binary values, respectively. A bias current generator switches a first bias current between an intermediate voltage node in the second state and a first control node in the first state, and switches a second bias current between the intermediate voltage node in the first state and a second control node in the second state. The first and second bias currents can be provided to set a bias voltage at the first and second control nodes to bias the first and second output transistors, respectively.
US08477439B2

An image display device capable of maintaining continuity of images of adjacent image display elements on a display screen that is composed of a plurality of image display element includes image display elements (1, 2) and a prism (3). The prism (3) is an L-shaped prism having two planar surfaces, and image display elements (1, 2,) are arranged on the portion of the prism that corresponds to the rear side as seen from the viewing direction (9). Image display elements (1, 2) are arranged such that the virtual images (5, 6) of the image display portions of each are optically continuously connected in the prism (3).
US08477423B2

A method of producing a patterned birefringent product, containing at least steps (I) to (III) in this order: (I) providing a birefringent pattern builder having an optically anisotropic layer containing a polymer; (II) subjecting two or more regions of the birefringent pattern builder to exposure to light under exposure conditions different from each other; and (III) heating a laminated structure obtained after the step (II) at 50° C. or higher and 400° C. or lower.
US08477421B2

A screen allows an image according to light incident in an oblique direction from a predetermined light exiting position to be displayed. The screen includes a screen body having a reflection surface with a plurality of lens elements formed thereon, each of the lens elements reflecting the light incident thereon, a first layer (substrate) disposed on the side of the reflection surface on which the light is incident, and a second layer (air layer) interposed between the screen body and the first layer. The first layer has a refractive index greater than the refractive index of the second layer. The first layer has an angle changing portion formed in at least part of a region through which the light incident thereon passes, the angle changing portion so formed that the thickness thereof continuously increases with distance from the light exiting position.
US08477399B2

An optical device includes: a base that transmits incident light; and a first conductive film formed on one surface of the base, and that includes an indentation pattern of a predetermined period formed on a base-side surface, wherein a side portion defining an edge portion irradiated with the incident light has a form of a protrusion or a straight line as viewed from the incident side of the incident light.
US08477396B2

A data structure comprising a user-maintained list of colors is scanned to determine if a particular color within the user-maintained list of colors has been re-defined. If the particular has been redefined within the user-maintained list of colors, the particular color is searched for and identified in an alternative data structure comprising a user-specified extensible set of alternative colors. The particular color identified in the alternative data structure can then be automatically parsed in order to extract color space and value information associated with the particular color and define image-processing operations involving the particular color. The color space associated with the particular color in the alternative data structure can then be translated to a known color space in order to provide the correct color in the printed output.
US08477393B2

The image data processing apparatus includes a storage unit to store image data having a process setting. The image data processing apparatus includes a selection screen display unit to display the one or more image data stored in the storage unit and to display a selection screen to select whether to use a process content associated with image data selected from the displayed image data if the one segment of image data is used. The image data processing apparatus includes a display control unit to display, on the display device, a preview image reflecting the process content based on the associated process content.
US08477390B2

An image processor includes a control unit, wherein the control unit includes an image obtaining unit that obtains an image including a document area corresponding to a document read by an image reader, an edge coordinate detecting unit that detects coordinate values of edge candidate pixels, a tilt calculating unit that calculates a tilt of the document area, or a tilt obtaining unit that obtains the tilt of the document area detected by a predetermined sensor, an edge end coordinate extracting unit that extracts a coordinate value of an edge end candidate pixel, a straight line calculating unit that calculates a straight line corresponding to the edge, and either one or both of a tilt correcting unit that corrects the tilt of the document area by rotating the document area, and an area clipping unit that clips the document area from the image.
US08477389B2

A method is described for reading information from and/or writing information to at least one sheet of flexible sheet material. The sheet having a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces and opposing lengthwise and widthwise edges. The sheet material is supported in a curved configuration across the width such that the first surface is inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration to define a cylindrical shape having the lengthwise edges positioned in a confronting relationship. The sheet is then moved in a direction along a lengthwise path generally parallel to the length and transverse to the direction of curvature, but without rotation about the lengthwise path. At least one of reading information and writing information is performed transversely across the width of the first surface of the sheet material as the sheet material is moved along the path.
US08477387B2

An image reading apparatus that improves reading productivity during simultaneous double-sided reading without leading to increases in the size and cost of the apparatus and a method for controlling the image reading apparatus are provided. To accomplish this, the image reading apparatus, in the case of a single-sided reading mode, controls the scanning speed of a first image reading unit to a first scanning speed and controls the distance between original document sheets to a first distance between original document sheets. On the other hand, in the case of a double-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus controls the scanning speed of the first image reading unit to a second scanning speed that is the scanning speed of a second image reading unit and that is slower than the first scanning speed, and controls the distance to a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.
US08477385B2

An image reading apparatus includes a casing, a light emitting section, a substrate, a support member, and a light guide. The light emitting section includes plural point light sources disposed in a row. The light emitting section is installed to a first face of the substrate. The support member is installed to the casing and supports a second face of the substrate at a projection portion where a position of the light emitting section is projected at the second face of the substrate. The light guide is installed to the casing adjacent to the light emitting section, and guides light from the light emitting section to a read-face.
US08477383B2

An image processing apparatus that applies image processing to image data read from a memory, the image processing apparatus including: an image processing input circuit that acquires a command list from the memory by direct memory access and that outputs a command based on the command list; and an image processing circuit that is connected to the image processing input circuit and that sets a register or executes processing of the image data in accordance with the command outputted from the image processing input circuit. The image processing input circuit uses an address instructed by a register control command to acquire image data from a memory by direct memory access if a data acquisition command for instructing data acquisition is acquired from the command list, generates a data processing command including the acquired image data, and outputs the command to the image processing circuit.
US08477370B2

What is disclosed is a novel system and method for determining color profiles based upon optimizing image output color stability. For each of a number of selected output colors, color stability values for a set of device-dependent color specifications that produce the selected output color are iteratively determined. The set of device-dependent color specifications is generated by varying a subset of colorants in the device-dependent color specifications while changing the remaining colorants to maintain the selected output color. The iterative process improves the color stability value, as determined by a color stability model, of the device-dependent color specifications that correspond to the selected output color. When an optimum color stability value is found, the device-dependent color specification having that color stability value is selected as the mapping for the selected device-independent color specification. Various embodiments are disclosed.
US08477364B2

A method includes: receiving, by a user device (UD), a print job associated with an electronic document (ED) for printing on a printer; identifying, by the UD and within ED, a first element having a first processing requirement and a second element having a second processing requirement; comparing, by the UD, the first processing requirement with multiple processing requirements supported by the printer; generating, by the UD, a skeleton ED by replacing the first element in the ED with a coded marker; sending, by the UD, the skeleton ED to a rasterization service; sending, by the UD, the first image to the printer, where the printer receives a rasterized version of the skeleton ED from the rasterization service, generates a processed element by executing the first processing requirement against the first element, and generates the HD by replacing a marker in the rasterized version with the processed element.
US08477355B2

An image forming apparatus stores a settings keyword, receives a Probe message including a search keyword from a client apparatus via a network, retrieves the search keyword from the Probe message, determines whether or not the search keyword from the Probe message matches the stored settings keyword, and transmits a ProbeMatch message to the client apparatus if the search keyword from the Probe message matches the stored settings keyword. Further, the image forming apparatus stores setting data, searches for another image forming apparatus having a function of transmitting the setting data based on a keyword search using WS-Discovery, requests the setting data from the specified another image forming apparatus, generates new setting data based on the setting data received from the another image forming apparatus, and stores the new setting data.
US08477350B2

A print server may include an application manager configured to receive a print request over a network from an application executing on a device, and configured to provide, over the network, a print dialog to a user of the application, the print dialog configured to provide for a selection of at least one printer associated with a user account of the user and thereafter receive a selected printer from the selection. A format converter may be configured to receive a print job designating the selected printer, the print job including print data and print characteristics expressed in a first format, and configured to convert the print job from the first format into a printer-specific format associated with the selected printer. A print job router may be configured to route the print job over the network from the print server to a print client associated with the selected printer, for printing by the selected printer, using the printer-specific format.
US08477345B2

There is provided a method and system for producing a label that can be applied onto a mailpiece. An exemplary method comprises providing a data service via a network node, the data service being performed in a provider server of a service provider. The exemplary method also comprises performing a one-time printing of the label via a control program, such that an intelligent document is transmitted from the provider server via a network to a user client, the one-time printing being done if a network connection exists between the user client and the provider server, and if, on the basis of a query to the provider server, it has been ascertained that that label had not been printed before. The exemplary method additionally comprises transmitting a message from the user client to the provider server when the label is printed for the first time. The exemplary method further comprises logging the printing in the provider server in response to the message.
US08477343B2

A method and system suitable for use with a plurality of multifunction devices (MFDs) for managing one or more print queues associated with the plurality of MFDs, the system including a user interface application for permitting users to electronically communicate with a queue managing service (QMS); wherein the QMS automatically detects, identifies, and analyzes the one or more print queues associated with the plurality of MFDs in order to provide a status of the plurality of MFDs and continuously notify the users of the updates relating to the one or more print queues.
US08477327B2

Embodiments herein process a plurality of jobs through a document handler (the jobs comprise one or more media sheets), scan the media sheets as the media sheets pass through the document handler and pass by a scanner, and maintain statistics of registration of the media sheets with respect to the scanner over time (hours or days). The method compares the statistics with a predetermined registration range and provides a notification of a scanner re-registration requirement when the statistics are outside the predetermined range.
US08477324B2

An image processor includes an automatic color determining unit that determines whether an input image signal including a plurality of color signals indicates a color image or a monochrome image, an operation panel for accepting selection of a color processing mode for applying color image processing and a monochrome processing mode for applying monochrome image processing, a filtering processor that applies image processing of at least one of the color processing and the monochrome processing, and an output controller. Even when the monochrome processing mode is accepted, the image processor applies monochrome image processing based on a determination result of the automatic color determining unit.
US08477320B2

Method for measuring the shape of a section of a semi-transparent object such as one section of a tooth, using a light source for generating light with a broadband spectrum in a device for generating a multifocal illumination pattern, a lens with a large chromatic aberration for imaging foci of the illumination pattern onto the object, and a detection device for determining the wavelength spectra of the foci confocally imaged onto the object via the lens, wherein a spectral peak position of each focus is determined from the respective wavelength spectrum, from which position the extent of the object in the direction of the imaging beam (Z coordinate) is calculated.
US08477318B2

Described are an imaging device and method for determining three-dimensional position information of a surface of an object. The device includes a pair of optical fibers, a phase shifter, a detector array and a processor. The phase shifter is coupled to one of the optical fibers and is used to change a phase of optical radiation emitted from the optical fiber relative to a phase of optical radiation emitted from the other optical fiber. The detector array receives optical radiation scattered by the surface of the object. The processor communicates with the detector array and the phase shifter. Signals generated by the detector array are received by the processor and three-dimensional position information for the surface is calculated in response to the received optical radiation scattered by the surface of the object and the change in the relative phase of optical radiation emitted by the optical fibers.
US08477314B2

There is provided a method for referencing and correcting the beating spectrum generated by the interference of the components of a frequency comb source. The proposed method allows monitoring of variations of a mapping between the source and the beating replica. This can then be used to compensate small variations of the source in Fourier transform spectroscopy or in any other interferometry application in order to overcome the accuracy and measurement time limitations of the prior art. Constraints on source stability are consequently reduced.
US08477309B2

An inspection system and a method. The method may include: illuminating the object with impinging light of a first polarization; performing a polarization based filtering of (a) multiple-reflected light signals, each multiple-reflected light signal being reflected from at least two different bevel side surfaces of the object, and (b) additional light signals, each additional light signal being reflected from a single element of the object, such as to suppress the multiple-reflected light signals, and to provide polarization based filtered light signals; and detecting the polarization based filtered light signals.
US08477308B1

An apparatus and method for use on precision refractive index experiments that are performed on individual faces of single crystals or liquid surfaces of material using specific wavelengths of light. The process is used to measure the major and minor axes of the optical indicatrix of a single crystal of material at a very specific wavelength. This process is repeated for each crystal face in order to form a complete picture of the refractive index for the sample.
US08477306B2

The spectrometer 1 is provided with a package 2 in which a light guiding portion 7 is provided, a spectroscopic module 3 accommodated inside the package 2, and a support member 29 arranged on an inner wall plane of the package 2 to support the spectroscopic module 3. The spectroscopic module 3 is provided with a body portion 11 for transmitting light made incident from the light guiding portion 7 and a spectroscopic portion 13 for dispersing light passed through the body portion 11 on a predetermined plane of the body portion 11, and the spectroscopic portion 13 is supported by the support member 29 on the predetermined plane in a state of being spaced away from the inner wall plane.
US08477304B2

A system and process are disclosed that provide high accuracy and high precision destructive analysis measurements for isotope ratio determination of relative isotope abundance distributions in liquids, solids, and particulate samples. The invention utilizes a collinear probe beam to interrogate a laser ablated plume. This invention provides enhanced single-shot detection sensitivity approaching the femtogram range, and isotope ratios that can be determined at approximately 1% or better precision and accuracy (relative standard deviation).
US08477298B2

Optical fibers comprising a plurality of cleaved facets disposed at one end are disclosed. First and second facets of the plurality of cleaved facets are disposed at different angles. The optical fiber with the plurality of cleaved facets splits light from an optical component between an optical fiber core and a detector such that a portion of the light may be tapped off for monitoring. The first cleaved facet is disposed at a first angle such that a first portion of the light from an optical component is totally internally reflected into the fiber core. A second cleaved facet can be disposed at a second angle that is less than the first angle so that a second portion of light from the optical component refracts through the second facet to a detector. Methods of forming and using angle-cleaved optical fibers having a plurality of cleaved facets are also disclosed.
US08477289B2

A detection method for detecting a property of an extended pattern formed by at least one line generally extending in a first direction. The extended pattern is formed on a substrate or on a substrate table and may extend, for example, over a length of at least 50× the width of the line. The extended pattern is focus sensitive. The detection method includes moving the substrate table in a first direction and measuring along that first direction a property of the extended pattern. The property can be a result of a physical property of the extended pattern in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In a next step a calibration of the substrate table position can be derived from the measured position of the extended pattern.
US08477286B2

A projection optical system is configured to project an image of an object plane onto an image plane, and includes a first optical element having an aspheric shape that is rotationally asymmetric with respect to an optical axis, a moving unit configured to move the first optical element in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and a second optical element fixed on the optical axis, and configured to reduce an optical path length difference caused by an aspheric surface of the first optical element, the second optical element having no aspheric shape complement to the aspheric shape of the first optical element.
US08477285B2

An optical assembly is mounted in a projection exposure apparatus (101) for EUV microlithography and includes at least one vacuum chamber (70, 71, 68a), at least one optical element (6, 7; 65, 66; 63) arranged in the vacuum chamber (70, 71, 68a), the optical element (6, 7; 65, 66; 63) having an optical surface (18) arranged to be impinged upon by a useful beam bundle (3) of the projection exposure apparatus (101), and a cleaning device (72) configured to clean the optical surface (18). The cleaning device (72) is configured to perform particle cleaning of the optical surface (18) at a gas pressure within the vacuum chamber (70,71, 68a) which is higher than a vacuum pressure (po) for performing an exposure operation with the projection exposure apparatus (101). As a result, optical elements having respective optical surfaces arranged to be impinged upon by a useful beam bundle can be cleaned reliably of foreign particles.
US08477277B2

A display substrate includes a first shield pattern, a second shield pattern and a transparent electrode. The first shield pattern is disposed adjacent to a first data line. The second shield pattern is disposed adjacent to a second data line to face the first data line. The transparent electrode includes a first pixel electrode coupled to the first data line and the first shield pattern, and a second pixel electrode coupled to a first power line and the second shield pattern. The first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode are disposed in an alternating arrangement. The transparent electrode is partially overlapped with at least one of the first data line or the second data line. In this approach, when a black image is displayed, light leakage can be prevented.
US08477276B2

A thin film transistor array substrate comprises a transparent substrate, and scanning lines, data lines and pixel regions that are formed on the transparent substrate. Each pixel region comprises a pixel electrode, a thin film transistor for controlling the pixel electrode, a first push alignment electrode and a second push alignment electrode. Projections of the first and second push alignment electrodes on the transparent substrate are located on two opposite sides of the pixel electrode. The pixel electrode is covered with an insulation layer and the insulation layer is provided with a pull alignment opening. When the thin film transistor array substrate is in operation, an oblique pull electric field is formed at the pull alignment opening, and transverse push electric fields are formed between the first push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode as well as between the second push alignment electrode and the pixel electrode, respectively.
US08477273B2

The present invention relates to a VA-mode liquid-crystal display device comprising a front-side polarizing element (14), a rear-side polarizing element (12), and a VA-mode liquid-crystal cell (LC) disposed between the front-side polarizing element and the rear-side polarizing element, wherein the VA-mode liquid-crystal cell comprises a front-side substrate (24), a rear-side substrate (22), and a liquid-crystal layer (10) disposed between them, wherein the ratio of the member-contrast ratio (CRf) of the front-side substrate (22) to the member-contrast ratio (CRr) of the rear-side substrate, CRf/CRr satisfies 3≦CRf/CRr, and wherein the rear-side polarizing element (12) is directly stuck to the VA-mode liquid-crystal cell (LC).
US08477265B2

A display apparatus and a backlight unit are provided. The display apparatus includes: an image receiving unit which receives an image signal; an image processing unit which processes the received image signal; a display panel which displays the processed image signal; a cover unit which accommodates the display panel; a light source unit which is accommodated in an edge region of the cover unit; a reflective member which is accommodated in the cover unit in such a manner that the reflective member is disposed in the rear side of the display panel and which reflects the light emitted from the light source unit toward the display panel; and an integrally formed support member including a support member body which is disposed in the edge region, a light source unit support unit which is formed in the support member body and supports the light source unit, and a panel support unit which is formed in the support member body and supports the display panel.
US08477254B2

A backlight module with a detachable light source unit includes a light guide plate and a light source unit housed in a module case. The light source unit can slide along a lengthwise direction of one end face of the light guide plate. The light source unit is equipped with a U-shaped cover member for holding a plurality of point light sources such as LEDs along a lengthwise direction. The backlight module further includes a coupling member to change a positional relationship between the light guide plate and the light source unit such that a distance between an emitting surface of the LED and an incident plane of the light guide plate during a process of exchanging the light source unit is larger than that between the emitting surface and the incident plane at a time of home position of the light source unit in the module case.
US08477251B2

A display device includes a first substrate including pixels and sensing electrodes corresponding with the pixels, and a second substrate facing the first substrate. The second substrate includes an organic layer with a black matrix dividing the pixels and a sensing spacer opposite to the sensing electrode. The organic layer including the black matrix and the sensing spacer may be formed in a single process using organic photoresist material. A mask includes a light-intercepting pattern including slits to block a portion of ultraviolet light emitted towards a photoresist layer to form the black matrix. The mask also includes a pattern to block ultraviolet light in a region corresponding to the sensing spacer if a negative type photoresist material is used, or the mask does not block ultraviolet light in the region corresponding to the sensing spacer if a positive type photoresist material is used.
US08477239B2

A integrated camera module (10, 10a) for capturing video images in very small digital cameras, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like. A lens assembly (24, 24a) is rigidly affixed in relation to a sensor array area (14) of a camera chip (12) by a molding (26). The molding (26) is formed on the camera chip (12), and optionally on a printed circuit board (16, 16a) on which the camera chip (12) is mounted. The lens assembly (24, 24a) is held in place in a recess (29) of the molding (26) by an adhesive (28). The molding (26) is formed such that a precise gap (30) exists between the lens assembly (24) and a sensor array area (14) of the camera chip (12).
US08477235B2

An image processing device for detecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imaging said subject, the image processing device includes: a first irradiating section; a second irradiating section; an image pickup section; an adjusting section; and a skin detecting section.
US08477234B2

A brightness sensing system includes an image pickup unit for taking an image of a target space and a calculation unit for calculating the brightness of an image pickup area based on the image taken by the image pickup unit. In the brightness sensing system, if the difference or the ratio between an image as a whole and a pixel block formed of one or more pixels is equal to or greater than a threshold in terms of brightness change between a previously-taken reference image and a currently-taken target image, the calculation unit excludes the pixel block from comparison candidates and compares the brightness of the target image with the brightness of the reference image based on the remaining pixels other than the pixel block.
US08477228B2

In certain embodiments, a graphical user interface (“GUI”) including a live camera sensor view is displayed and, in response to the capture of a camera image, an image manager pane is displayed together with the live camera sensor view in the graphical user interface. The image manager pane includes a visual indicator representative of the captured camera image. In certain embodiments, a camera image is captured and automatically assigned to a session based on a predefined session grouping heuristic. In certain embodiments, data representative of a captured camera image is provided to a content distribution subsystem over a network, and the content distribution subsystem is configured to distribute data representative of the camera image to a plurality of predefined destinations.
US08477225B2

A pixel array uses two sets of pixels to provide accurate exposure control. One set of pixels provide continuous output signals for automatic light control (ALC) as the other set integrates and captures an image. ALC pixels allow monitoring of multiple pixels of an array to obtain sample data indicating the amount of light reaching the array, while allowing the other pixels to provide proper image data. A small percentage of the pixels in an array is replaced with ALC pixels and the array has two reset lines for each row; one line controls the reset for the image capture pixels while the other line controls the reset for the ALC pixels. In the columns, at least one extra control signal is used for the sampling of the reset level for the ALC pixels, which happens later than the sampling of the reset level for the image capture pixels.
US08477198B2

A method for controlling a host apparatus, includes steps of the followings. First, a pattern is projected to a detection region. Second, images of the detection region are captured and image information stream is generated based on the images. Third, an image information associated with the pattern is identified to be a background image information. Fourth, a currently captured image information is subtracted to the background image information to identify if an object appears in the detection region. Fifth, a motion of the identified object is determined based on a variation of the pattern reflected from the identified object to generate a control instruction to the host apparatus. A host apparatus, an interaction control system and a method for detecting a motion of an object are also provided.
US08477197B2

An Internet direct device comprises an imaging system and a microprocessor. The imaging system captures still or video images. The microprocessor transmits the captured still or video images to an account associated with a website or another Internet direct device upon image capture, and receives still or video images from other Internet direct devices over a communications network. The Internet direct device automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection. The Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.
US08477193B1

A method for verification of a video signal employs measurements of luminosity of video display monitors. A current consumption of the video display monitors is measured at a sampling rate. The measured current display consumption is used as a measure of the total luminosity of the display screen at the time of measurement. A special software module within a digital recording unit is used to calculate an aggregate luminosity of every recorded video frame. A central verification system generates subtle yet measurable changes in illumination of the surveyed scenes. The central verification system detects and analyses the correlated changes in display monitor's current consumption to verify that the assigned monitor is actually displaying its assigned scene. The software module produces an event notification along with a timestamp of the event whenever the frame luminosity changes between adjacent frames.
US08477192B2

An optical detection system per motor-vehicles, suitable to detect the condition of the road surface on which the vehicle is travelling, comprising a photodetector unit composed of a camera having a matrix of pixels composed of photodetectors based on a photosensitive material suitable to detect both radiations in the visible and near infrared, i.e. having a wavelength comprised between 380 and 900 nanometres, and radiations in the short wavelength infrared, i.e. having a wavelength comprised between 900 and 1700 nanometres.
US08477179B2

A source device transmits an output format notify message for video data to a sink device before transmitting the video data to the sink device, the output format notify message including a 3D field storing data for identifying whether the video data to be transmitted is two-dimensional video data or three-dimensional video data transmitted using frame packing. In response to this, the sink device identifies a type and a format structure of the video data, and decodes the received video data based on the identified type and format structure of the video data.
US08477176B1

The present disclosure includes a system and method for automatically suggesting or inviting a party to join a multimedia communications session. In some embodiments, a first party, which is not currently participating in an existing multimedia communications session, attempts to contact a second party, which is currently participating in the multimedia communications session. In these embodiments, the first party automatically receives a suggestion or invitation to join the multimedia communications session when the first party has permission to join. In some instances, the multimedia communications session is a video conference including audio and video communications.
US08477171B2

An image forming apparatus includes: a light source; a light-source driving unit; a photosensitive member including an image forming region; a determining unit determining a level of a rotation speed of the photosensitive member; a scanner unit exposing the photosensitive member by deflecting the light beam from the light source by a deflecting unit; a sensor receiving the light beam and outputs a detection signal; and a control unit controlling the image forming apparatus based on the detection signal output from the sensor. When the determining unit determines that the rotation speed is low, the light-source driving unit is configured to drive the light source to emit the light beam when a deflecting direction of the light beam is oriented toward the sensor and not to drive the light source to emit the light beam when the deflecting direction of the light beam is oriented toward the image forming region.
US08477169B2

An optical writing device includes two or more light sources. The two or more light sources can be driven independently, are placed away from each other in a sub-scanning direction of a photoreceptor, and each distance of beams emitted from the light sources to the photoreceptor is different. A phase control unit causes a difference in phase among timing control data of two or more beams emitted from the two or more light sources by a phase change amount, which is determined on the basis of beam position of the each beam on the photoreceptor in a main scanning direction and varies depending on the beam position. The modulating unit modulates the timing control data of the respective phase-controlled beams by a same clock.
US08477168B2

A recording apparatus is provided. A recording head performs recording on a recording medium. A conveyance roller conveys the recording medium in a conveyance direction. A conveyance path includes a curved portion which guides the recording medium and curves the recording medium in a downstream of a nip portion between the recording head and the conveyance roller in the conveyance direction. A discharge portion discharges the recording medium. A detecting unit is located apart from the conveyance path. The detecting unit detects the recording medium which deviates from the conveyance path as the recording medium is drawn into and along the conveyance roller near the curved portion of the conveyance path. A controller rotates the conveyance roller backwards by a predetermined amount to convey the recording medium backwards when the recording medium is detected by the detecting unit, and then rotates the conveyance roller forwards by at least the predetermined amount.
US08477167B2

A thermal printer is disclosed. The thermal printer includes a thermal head on which plural heat-generating elements are arrayed; and a platen mounted opposite to the thermal head. The thermal printer uses an ink ribbon and paper held between the thermal head and the platen, and the thermal printer performs printing by causing the heat-generating elements to generate heat such that inks of the ink ribbon are transferred to the paper. The ink ribbon has a base film on which color inks and a transparent laminate ink are successively and repetitively arranged, and a pressure force acting between the thermal head and the platen is made different between when the color inks are transferred and when the laminate ink is transferred.
US08477164B2

Embodiments described herein are related to a printer including a thermal head, a platen roller, a plurality of biasing members, and an urging force adjustment mechanism. The urging force adjustment mechanism includes a base member, an action member movable in the widthwise direction with respect to the base member and configured to expand or compress the plurality of biasing members, and a plurality of contact members configured to contact the action member and supported by the base member such that contact positions of the contact members on the action member can be varied in the expansion or compression direction of the biasing members, wherein the amount of expansion or compression of the biasing members varies according to the variation of the contact positions.
US08477161B2

An apparatus for drawing an image on a thermal medium includes an overlapped part removing unit configured to detect an overlapped part between strokes or stroke groups forming a character to be drawn to remove the detected overlapped part, a dissipation liability information attaching unit configured to attach dissipation liability information to one or more of the strokes or one or more of the stroke groups grouping continuous strokes, and a stroke excluding unit configured to exclude the strokes or the stroke groups to which the dissipation liability information is attached such that the overlapped part is not removed from the excluded strokes or the excluded stroke groups when the overlapped part removing unit removes the overlapped part between the strokes or the stroke groups.
US08477159B2

An offset cancel output circuit of source drivers for driving liquid crystal displays which is capable of appropriately cancelling out an offset voltage from an output amplifier to thereby prevent degradation in display quality. The offset cancel output circuit includes an operational amplifier with a non-inverted input port to which a reference voltage is applied, and an input capacitor and an output capacitor with each one end thereof connected to an inverted input port of the operational amplifier. The offset cancel output circuit further includes a switching element circuit which has a first field effect transistor connected between the inverted input port and an output port of the operational amplifier and controlled to turn on during a reset operation. During the reset operation and the normal output operation, a first potential equal to the reference voltage is applied to the substrate of the first field effect transistor.
US08477152B2

Disclosed herein is a system and method for drawing a stream and road centerline for GIS-based linear map production, which performs a series of processes of automatically detecting accurate positions of points of a centerline using contour line data of a stream map or a road map having a digital map form, which is extracted from a digital map produced through remote sensing or construction of national geographic information systems, and connecting the detected points of the centerline so as to update stream and road centerline data generated by an inaccurate method and algorithm and to enable an accurate centerline to be used in various application fields.
US08477151B2

Methods and systems for boundary delineation are described. In one embodiment, a living unit identifier may be translated into a translated geographic location point. The living unit identifier may be within a distribution area. A closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds the translated geographic location point may be delineated. An additional closed plane living unit-based figure that bounds a geographic location point may be delineated. The geographic location point may be associated with an additional living unit identifier within the distribution area. The closed plane living unit-based figure and the additional closed plane living unit-based figure may be merged to create a distribution area figure of the distribution area. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.
US08477138B2

A projector includes a storage section that stores character string data that indicates a character string in at least one language and arrangement designation data that indicates whether the character string in the at least one language is displayed in a left-to-right direction or a right-to-left direction, a determination section that determines arrangement of the character string based on the arrangement designation data, and an image generation section that generates an (OSD) image that shows the character string in the left-to-right direction or the right-to-left direction based on the character string data and the arrangement of the character string determined by the determination section, when the image generation section generates a special image that shows a special character string including at least one of alphanumeric characters and symbols as part of the OSD image, the image generation section generates the special image that displays the special character string in the left-to-right direction.
US08477134B1

In a raster stage of a graphics processor, a method for using low precision evaluation and high precision evaluation for conservative triage of polygon status. The method includes receiving a graphics primitive for rasterization in a raster stage of a graphics processor and rasterizing the graphics primitive to generate a plurality of tiles of pixels related to the graphics primitive. The tiles are rasterized at a first level precision to generate a plurality of sub-tiles related to the graphics primitive, wherein the sub-tiles are evaluated against the graphics primitive at each of their respective corners. Each of the sub-tiles not related to the graphics primitive are discarded. The sub-tiles related to the graphics primitive are rasterized at a second level precision.
US08477118B2

An input apparatus including an optical mouse module and a mouse pad module is provided. The optical mouse module includes a light source and an optical sensor. The light source is adapted to emit a light beam. The optical sensor has a sensible distance. The mouse pad module is disposed on the optical mouse module. The mouse pad module includes a sliding sheet elastically coupled to the optical mouse module. The sliding sheet is adapted to move in a three-dimensional space. The optical sensor and the sliding sheet are arranged in an arrangement direction. An operation method of the input apparatus is also provided.
US08477108B2

In a method for displaying information in a motor vehicle, a plurality of objects are represented graphically with the aid of a display mounted in a motor vehicle. A user-interface device generates graphics data which control the display such that the graphical objects are shown disposed on a virtual, perspectively displayed ring, and that in response to an input with the aid of an input device, an arithmetic logic unit of the user-interface device alters the graphics data such that the graphical objects on the virtual ring rotate like a carousel. A corresponding display device is provided.
US08477104B2

An information output device includes a touch panel chassis having a touch panel with a medium on which a coordinate value based on a predetermined rule and a dot pattern signifying a code value are printed. The medium is placed on the touch panel with a surface on which the dot pattern is printed facing the touch panel. The device includes a coordinate recognition unit for recognizing a position on the medium of the touch panel. The device also includes an imaging unit for imaging via an imaging portion disposed on a predetermined location in the touch panel chassis. The device further includes a control unit for computing the coordinate value, the code value, and an orientation signified by the dot pattern and for inputting coordinate information from the coordinate recognition unit of the touch panel. An output unit outputs multimedia information according to an instruction from the control unit.
US08477084B2

An organic electroluminescence display has data, gate, and signal lines arranged on a substrate. Pixel regions are defined by the gate and signal lines. Switching elements provided in the pixel regions are electrically connected to the signal lines and the gate lines. Switching blocks open and close an electrical connection between the signal lines and the pixels. A driving unit drives the switching elements by supplying scanning signals to the gate lines. The driving unit also supplies a first control signal before the scanning signals are supplied and a second control signal when the scanning signals are supplied. The second control signal makes the switching blocks sequentially conductive, during which time image signals are supplied to the data lines. The first control signal permits the signal lines to be set at a predetermined voltage.
US08477082B2

The present disclosure relates to a system and method for operating the display hardware of a wireless device from a media device. In one embodiment, the system may comprise a wireless device that includes a processor, a memory, display hardware, and a slave node adapted to communicate with the display hardware; and a removable media device that includes a memory, a processor, and a master node adapted to communicate with the slave node of the wireless device. In another embodiment, the method may comprise emulating a hardware interface on a removable media device; mapping display hardware of a wireless device to the interface; mapping a processor of the media device to the display hardware; wrapping and sending display hardware commands from a master node of the media device to a slave node of the wireless device; and executing the commands on the display device.
US08477081B2

A display has a louver shade having at least two louver segments, a display segment mounted on each louver segment, each display segment being a part of a larger display, drive electronics electrically coupled to each display segment to provide image data to display elements in the display segment, and a control circuit to provide the image data to the drive electronics, the control circuit arranged to provide display data when the louver segments are in a closed position.
US08477080B2

A device for outputting different images on at least two display units includes a control unit for reading image data of the different images from an image memory, for producing a horizontal synchronization signal and for outputting the image data and the horizontal synchronization signal. The device also includes a processing unit for receiving the image data and the horizontal synchronization signal, for producing additional synchronization signals respectively for one of the at least two display units as a function of the synchronization signal provided by the control unit and a clock signal, and for dividing the image data transmitted by the control unit in such a way that the image data of the different images are output to one of the display units.
US08477079B2

An antenna for a Radio-Frequency IDentification (RFID) system is disclosed that comprises a resonant structure, an RFID load element, and a floating coupling element. One of the two terminals of the RFID load element is connected directly to the resonant structure, and the other terminal is connected to the floating coupling element. The floating coupling element is electrically isolated from the resonant structure; its presence provides an improved impedance match to the RFID load element.
US08477058B2

A method for a successive approximation register ADC which includes at least one capacitor array and a plurality of switches is provided, in which the capacitors of the capacitor array are one-to-one corresponding to the switches. The method includes the following steps: firstly, at least one multiplexer is configured. Then, a first comparison voltage is outputted based on the terminal voltages on the terminals of the capacitor array, and a comparison result is outputted according to the first comparison voltage and a second comparison voltage. Afterwards, a sequence of comparisons is controlled based on the comparison result to enter into a sequence of comparison phases. Finally, the switches are orderly selected, by the multiplexer based on the comparison phases, to switch directly according to the comparison result.
US08477053B2

A resolution detector may be used in conjunction with an ADC to identify unresolved bits in a raw digital output of the ADC. Bits that have been properly resolved by the ADC may be distinguished from those that have not been successfully resolved, because of time limitations or other reasons. Each bit that has not been successfully resolved may be classified and referred to as an unresolved bit. If there are any unresolved bits detected in a sampling cycle, dither may then be incorporated in the raw digital output to compensate for the unresolved bits in that cycle. The dither may be added to the raw digital output of the ADC to eliminate any missing codes in the processed digital output codes or the dither may be substituted for the unresolved bits in raw digital output to generate the processed digital output.
US08477051B2

A variable-length code decoding apparatus has a first-table storing part to store a first table, a second-table storing part to store a second table, a priority determining part to read out by priority a combination of zero information that is stored in the second table and corresponds a combination of variable-length codes having the largest number of codes, whereas if variable-length codes included in the input bitstream is not stored in the second table but stored in the first table, to read out zero information, and a decoding part to generate the decoded data based on the zero information or the combination of zero information read out by the priority determining part.
US08477048B2

According to the invention, the device (1) comprises means (3) for detecting, during an altitude capture maneuver, the emission of a first type alarm by the anti-collision system (2) and means (4) for controlling the vertical speed of said airplane (AC), after the emission of such an alarm, until the triggering of the capture phase.
US08477047B1

The present invention is a communication system for implementation on-board an aircraft. The communication system includes an Audio Control Panel (ACP) including a first input device associated with an installed component and a second input device associated with an uninstalled component. The communication system further includes a Radio Interface Unit (RIU) which is communicatively coupled to the ACP. The communication system further includes an Engine Indicating and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) which includes a Display Management Computer (DMC), the EICAS being communicatively coupled to the RIU and an Aircraft Personality Module (APM) of the communication system. The DMC may be configured for evaluating an input device status (generated based upon an input received via the second input device) against an APM configuration file, and based upon said evaluation, providing an aural and/or visual alert to a user that an input device associated with an uninstalled component has been activated.
US08477041B2

A wireless communication device and method adapted for temperature monitoring and warning is disclosed. In its simplest form, it can include: providing (510) a multi-mode communication device including an unrestricted mode having an unrestricted operation temperature range, a restricted mode having a restricted operation temperature range and a warning mode having a warning operation temperature range; determining (520) if a temperature in proximity to the energy storage device is in at least one of the restricted operation temperature range, the unrestricted operation temperature range and a warning operation temperature range; and entering (540) the warning mode when in the warning operation temperature range. The warning mode can include a notification, banner or the like, to a user, to suggest that at least one active application be shut down.
US08477039B2

A system for producing information about the posture of a user applying pressure to a seat component is provided. A sensor structure with array of sensors is connected with the seat component, with the sensors in a predetermined pattern configured to provide output signals related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component. The output of the sensors in circuit communication with a processor to provide signals to the processor related to predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component, and the processor provides output related to the predetermined posture modes of the user applying pressure to the seat component.
US08477036B2

An interface pressure monitoring system includes an underlayment interposed between a patient support surface and a patient supported thereon and a processor. The underlayment includes pressure sensors such as, for example, an array of piezoelectric pressure sensors. The processor acquires pressure data from the underlayment, analyzes the data and stores the analyzed data for further processing, alerting and/or reporting.
US08477031B2

A communication port identification system enables an intelligent interconnect patch panel to reliably track connections to network switches. Network switch ports are provided with port ID modules that are inserted into the ports. Intelligent interconnect patch cords each utilize a patch cord microcontroller and out-of-band conductors to enable communication between an intelligent interconnect patch panel and the port ID modules of the switch port. Each port ID module is provided with a unique identification number, and the intelligent interconnect patch panel is thereby able to track all of its connections to the port ID modules in real time, and to update a network management system accordingly.
US08477027B2

A wireless sensor system for detecting electrical power lines in proximity to equipment includes a base station mounted in proximity to an operator of the equipment and a wireless sensor. The wireless sensor detects the presence of power lines by sensing an electrical field generated by the power lines and includes an accelerometer which senses motion of the equipment. The wireless sensor communicates data to the base station. The base station presents at least one alarm to the operator when the wireless sensor detects an electrical field with a magnitude which exceeds a selectable threshold and silences the least one alarm if no motion above a predetermined threshold is sensed for a predetermined period of time.
US08477016B2

The RFID system includes an RFID reader for sending information selected from among collision type information, idle type information, and readable type information, to all of the RFID tags depending on the number of signals in the corresponding time slot, and RFID tags for performing functions, in which, when information, indicating that a current time slot is a collision type, is fed back from the RFID reader, each of RFID tags selects one arbitrary value of either 0 or 1 and is assigned a time slot, in which a corresponding RFID tag will send a signal to the RFID reader, based on the selected value, a single tag group that caused a collision is divided into two sub-groups depending on the assigned time slots, and tags of the sub-groups send signals, including IDs thereof, to the RFID reader in different time slots for the respective sub-groups.
US08477004B2

A magnet pole for magnetic levitation vehicles includes an iron core (1) having an upper pole surface (2), a lower contact surface (3) for a magnet rear side (4) and a circumferential surface (5) disposed between the pole surface (2) and the contact surface (3). A coil (6) is applied onto the circumferential surface (5) of the iron core (1). An intermediate layer is made of an electrically insulating material, which is disposed between the circumferential surface (5) and the coil (6). A protective layer (9) encapsulates the coil (6). At least the pole surface (2) of the iron core (1) is made of a hard material and abuts the circumferential surface (5) in a lower region of the iron core (1). The protective layer (9) contains a section (15) made of an elastic material in a region adjacent to the circumferential surface (5).
US08476997B2

Soft-start systems and methods for vehicle starters are provided. Embodiments provide a solenoid including: a first coil that receives power when an ignition switch is closed; a first plunger actuated when the first coil receives power; a first terminal configured to be abutted by a contact bar of the first plunger; a second coil that receives power when the contact bar of the first plunger abuts the first terminal; a second plunger actuated when the second coil receives power; and a second terminal configured to be abutted by a contact bar of the second plunger. Such a solenoid is configured to provide power at a first level to an attached motor when the contact bar of the first plunger abuts the first terminal and at a second level that is higher than the first level when the contact bar of the second plunger abuts the second terminal.
US08476996B2

A bistable switching method and a latching relay using the same are provided. The latching relay includes a rotor shaft, a cylindrical permanent magnet, a first permeability material, a second permeability material, a coil, a hitting device and a contact unit. The method includes the following steps. While the coil is applied first direction currents, the rotor shaft rotates and to make the contact unit from the open state to the closed state or the contact unit keeps the closed state. After the first direction currents are turned off, the contact unit still remains in the closed state. Otherwise, while the coil is applied second direction currents, the rotor shaft rotates and to make the contact unit from the closed state to the open state or the contact unit keeps the open state. After the second direction currents are turned off, the contact unit still remains in the open state.
US08476994B2

Provided is an electromechanical switch and a method of manufacturing the same. The electromechanical switch includes an elastic conductive layer that moves by the application of an electric field, wherein the elastic conductive layer includes at least one layer of graphene.
US08476991B2

An acoustic wave resonance device includes: piezoelectric substrate (1), first acoustic wave resonator (100) provided on an upper surface of piezoelectric substrate (1) and including first interdigital transducer electrode (110), and second acoustic wave resonator (200) provided on piezoelectric substrate (1) and including second interdigital transducer electrode (210). First acoustic wave resonator (100) and second acoustic wave resonator (200) are connected to each other. An overlap width of a plurality of first comb-shaped electrodes (112) forming first acoustic wave resonator (100) is larger than an overlap width of a plurality of second comb-shaped electrodes (212) forming second acoustic wave resonator (200). With such a configuration, frequencies in which a transverse mode spurious response is generated can be distributed and loss can be reduced.
US08476989B2

A filter for an automotive electrical system includes a substrate having first and second conductive members. First and second input terminals are mounted to the substrate. The first input terminal is electrically connected to the first conductive member, and the second input terminal is electrically connected to the second conductive member. A plurality of capacitors are mounted to the substrate. Each of the capacitors is electrically connected to at least one of the first and second conductive members. First and second power connectors are mounted to the substrate. The first power connector is electrically connected to the first conductive member, and the second power connector is electrically connected to the second conductive member. A common mode choke is coupled to the substrate and arranged such that the common mode choke extends around at least a portion of the substrate and the first and second conductive members.
US08476987B2

A distributed-line directional coupler including: a first conductive line between first and second ports intended to convey a signal to be transmitted; and a second conductive line, coupled to the first one, between third and fourth ports, the second line being interrupted approximately at its middle, the two intermediary ends being connected to attenuators.
US08476984B2

A vibration device includes: a first vibrator having a 3rd-order function temperature characteristic in which a 3rd-order temperature coefficient is −γ1, where γ1>0; and a second vibrator which is connected to the first vibrator, and has a 3rd-order function temperature characteristic in which a 3rd-order temperature coefficient is γ2, where γ2>0, wherein a difference between inflection points of the first and second vibrators is equal to or lower than 19° C., and a relationship of 0<|γ1|≦|2.4γ2| is satisfied.
US08476981B2

A differential amplifier including an input of a balanced type relative to a reference potential; a balanced output; first and second bipolar transistors mounted in common emitter configuration, emitters of the first and second transistors linked by two feedback impedances in series; and a perfect current generator, wherein an impedance Zg at the terminals of the current generator is connected between a common point of the two feedback impedances and the reference potential, the input is connected to a base of the first transistor, a base of the second transistor is linked to the reference potential to form, with a base of the first transistor, the unbalanced input, the balanced output is produced by collectors of the first and second transistors through an impedance matching stage of the output, a correction feedback impedance Zcorr, wherein Zcorr=2·Zg, connects the collector of the second transistor and the base of the first transistor.
US08476978B2

A headphone driver amplifier operative without an external negative voltage power supply, coupled directly to the headphone speakers without the need for DC coupling capacitors used for preventing DC reaching the headphones. An onboard power supply generates a negative voltage rail which powers the output amplifiers, allowing driver amplifier operation from both positive and negative rails. Since the amplifiers can be biased at ground potential (O volts), no significant DC voltage exists across the speaker load and the need for DC coupling capacitors is eliminated.
US08476977B2

In an operational amplifier, a control unit switches an operation mode between first and second operation modes. A first output drive stage circuit section is configured to amplify a first input signal differentially-amplified by a first or a second input differential stage circuit section to output as a first drive voltage, similar to a second output drive stage circuit section. First and second power supplies: supply voltages in a first voltage range to the first differential stage circuit section and the first output drive stage circuit section in the first operation mode, supply voltages in the first voltage range to the second differential stage circuit section and the first output drive stage circuit section in the second operation mode, similar to third and fourth power supplies. The drive voltage on each of the first and second output nodes is fed back.
US08476974B2

A differential amplifier comprises a first amplifier (A1) with a signal input (Inp) and a signal output (Out1) that is fed back to a first feedback input (In1) of the first amplifier (A1) and is also connected to a first output (outp) of the differential amplifier. Furthermore, a buffer circuit (Buff) is connected to the first output (outp). A nonlinear resistor circuit (Rnl1, Rnl2) is coupled via a first output node (Vmid1) with the first output (outp) and via a second output node (Vmid2) with the buffer circuit (Buff).
US08476972B2

A time amplifier circuit has first and second inverters and first and second pull-down paths. Each inverter includes a first NMOS transistor and a first PMOS transistor. A source of the first NMOS transistor is coupled to a ground node directly or through a first additional NMOS transistor having a gate coupled to a respective input node. The first and second inverters are coupled to first and second input nodes and to first and second output nodes, respectively. The first pull-down path is from the first output node to the ground node and is enabled in response to the first input signal and the second output signal being high. The second pull-down path is from the second output node to ground and is enabled in response to the second input signal and the first output signal being high.
US08476969B1

A transistor-based filter for inhibiting load noise from entering a power supply is disclosed. The filter includes a first transistor having an emitter coupled to a power supply, a collector coupled to a load, and a base. The filter also includes a first capacitor coupled between the base of the first transistor and a ground terminal. The filter further includes an impedance coupled between the base and a node between the collector and the load, or a second transistor and second capacitor. The impedance can be a resistor or an inductor.
US08476964B1

According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of a thermostat that includes a charge pump configured to provide a charge pump supply voltage relative to a signal ground of the charge pump. One or more diodes are connected between the charge pump and the signal ground. The one or more diodes are configured to provide a forward voltage drop to increase the charge pump supply voltage.
US08476955B2

A signal processing circuit is provided that includes a CMOS bridge rectifier circuit having a first input terminal and a second input terminal for receiving a rectangular wave form that includes a data sequence. A first output terminal and a second output terminal provides a rectified dc output voltage. A first data output terminal is connected to one of the first and the second input terminals, and a second data output terminal is connected to one of the first and the second output terminals, wherein the data output terminals provide an output signal representative of the data sequence. A substantially resistive load may be operatively coupled between the first and second voltage output terminals, the resistive load without a discrete parallel capacitor.
US08476953B2

There is provided a synchronization circuit for a 3D chip stack having multiple circuits and multiple strata interconnected using a first and a second stack-wide broadcast connection chain. The synchronization circuit includes the following, on each stratum. A synchronizer connected to the first connection chain receives an asynchronous signal therefrom and performs a synchronization to provide a synchronous signal. A driver is connected to the second chain for driving the synchronous signal. A latch connected to the second chain receives the synchronous signal driven by the driver on a same or different stratum within a next clock cycle from the synchronization to provide the stack-wide synchronous signal to a circuit on a same stratum. An output of a single driver on one stratum is selected at any given time for use by the latch on all strata.
US08476949B2

An edge triggered flip-flop circuit is disclosed with a clock signal, an input signal, a switch module using the clock signal for defining a data passing window, and a latch module for receiving the input signal during the data passing window.
US08476947B2

Integrated circuits with clock generation and distribution circuitry are provided. Integrated circuits may include phase-locked loops configured to generate multiple clock signals that are delayed versions of one another. The clocks signal may be distributed to various regions on an integrated circuit using serially connected clock buffer blocks. Each buffer block may include bidirectional pairs of buffer circuits coupled in parallel. Each buffer circuit may have a first input configured to receive an input clock signal, an output at which a corrected version of the input clock signal is provided (e.g., an output at which an output clock signal with desired duty cycle is provided), a second input that receives a first delayed clock signal for setting the desired duty cycle for the output clock signal, and a third input that receives a second delayed clock signal that is high at least when the first delayed clock signal rises high.
US08476945B2

Phase profile generator systems and methods are disclosed. A system includes a signal generator, a target phase trajectory module, an error detector and a control loop filter. The signal generator is configured to generate an output signal. In addition, the target phase trajectory module is configured to track a target phase trajectory and determine a next adjustment of the output signal to conform the output signal to a portion of the target phase trajectory. Further, the error detector is configured to determine an error between the output signal and a current target phase trajectory value that precedes the portion of the target phase trajectory, where the determination of the error is independent of the next adjustment of the output signal. Moreover, the control loop filter is configured to control the signal generator in accordance with both the next adjustment and the error to generate a phase profile.
US08476944B2

A reset circuit includes two voltage dividing circuits, a switching circuit, a selection button, two voltage converters, and a processor. The voltage converters convert a first or second power supply for supplying power to the processor. When the first power supply supplies power to the processor the processor operates normally. When the second power supply supplies power to the processor, one of the voltage dividing circuits outputs a signal to the processor to restore an electronic device to factory settings according to the signal.
US08476942B2

An integrated circuit includes a saw-tooth generator including a saw tooth node configured to have a saw-tooth voltage generated thereon; and a first switch having a first end connected to the saw tooth node. The integrated circuit further includes a second switch coupled between an output node and an electrical ground, wherein the first switch and the second switch are configured to operate synchronously. A first current source is connected to the saw tooth node. A second current source is connected to the output node.
US08476936B2

A circuit for converting the state of a sensor into a signal interpretable by an electronic circuit, including: a comparator of the voltage level of an input terminal with respect to a reference level, the sensor being intended to be connected between a terminal of application of a first power supply voltage and the input terminal; a current-limiting element between said input terminal and the ground; and a switching element in series with the current source and intended to be controlled by a pulse train.
US08476935B2

A method and circuit for attenuating positive feedback in a comparator in one embodiment includes an amplifier configured to compare a first input signal with a second input signal and to provide an output based upon the comparison, a non-linear function with a first input operably connected to an output of the amplifier, and a feedback loop operably connected to the output of the non-linear function and to a second input of the non-linear function, the feedback loop including a feedback limiting circuit configured to attenuate a feedback signal to the second input of the non-linear function.
US08476932B2

A multiplex gate driving circuit includes plural driving modules. In comparison with the prior art, each driving stage of the driving module has less number of transistors. From the first to the seventh example, each driving stage is implemented by only four transistors. In the eighth example and the ninth example, each driving stage is implemented by only two transistors. In other words, the driving stage of the multiplex gate driving circuit has less number of transistors, thereby reducing the layout area of the invisible zone of the LCD panel.
US08476927B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a programmable logic device which has short start-up time after supply of power is stopped, is highly integrated, and operates with low power. In a programmable logic device including an input/output block, a plurality of logic blocks each including a logic element, and a wiring connecting the plurality of logic blocks, the logic element has a configuration memory for holding configuration data and a look-up table including a selection circuit. The configuration memory includes a plurality of memory elements each of which includes a transistor whose channel region is in an oxide semiconductor film and an arithmetic circuit provided between the transistor and the selection circuit. Configuration data is selectively changed and output by the selection circuit in accordance with an input signal.
US08476926B1

A programmable circuit includes a physical interface at an input output (IO) periphery of the programmable circuit. The programmable circuit also includes a partial reconfigurable (PR) module, at the IO periphery of the programmable circuit, to implement a sequencer unit operable to configure the physical interface during a first instance of the PR module, and a controller unit operable to translate commands to the physical interface during a second instance of the PR module.
US08476924B2

A majority decision circuit includes: a majority decision unit configured to compare first data with second data to decide whether one of the first data and the second data has more bits with a first logical value; and an offset application unit configured to control the majority decision unit so that the majority decision unit decides, in a case when the number of bits with the first logical value among the first data is equal to the number of bits with the first logical value among the second data, that the first data have more bits with the first logical value if offset is a first setting value in a first phase and decides that the second data have more bits with the first logical value if the offset is a second setting value in a second phase.
US08476923B2

A circuit, including a first impedance unit having an impedance value based on a first impedance code and configured to drive a first node coupled with a resistor with a first voltage, a first code generation unit configured to generate the first impedance code so that an impedance value of the first impedance unit and an impedance value of the resistor are at a ratio of X:Y, dummy impedance units that receive the first impedance code and drive a second node with the first voltage, a second impedance unit having an impedance value based on a second impedance code and configured to drive the second node with a second voltage, and a second code generation unit configured to generate the second impedance code so that an overall impedance value of the dummy impedance units and an impedance value of the second impedance unit are at a ratio of X:Y.
US08476922B2

A system and method for implementing a differential signaling driver with a common-mode voltage not equal to one half the power supply voltage using voltage-mode techniques. Embodiments of the present invention maintain balanced impedance at the signal output. In an embodiment, a driver may have multiple operating modes for each potential supply voltage or common-mode voltage. In an embodiment, each potential mode may involve configuring the driver by activating or deactivating switches or resistors in the driver and each potential mode may have different resistor values.
US08476916B2

The invention relates to a plunger that is used to feed and withdraw an electronic component, in particular integrated circuits, to and/or from a contact device that is connected to a test device. The plunger head can be secured to a base body by a quick locking system. The quick locking system can be placed in a rear-engagement position when the plunger head is rotated in relation to the base body, a position in which the plunger head is axially coupled to the base body.
US08476912B2

An obscured feature detector operates from a stationary position on a surface being examined. The detector includes a plurality of sensor plates positioned in an array on the underside of the device, which sense the examined surface. The sensor plates are connected to a capacitance sensing circuit, which connects to indicators positioned on the back side of the detector through additional circuitry. A handle positioned on the back of the detector allows the user to grasp the device and place it in a stationary position on the surface being examined while also observing the indicators on the back side of the detector. Increases in capacitance caused by the presence of features behind or within the surface being examined are detected by the sensor plates and the capacitance sensing circuit. The indicators identify locations of larger capacitances, associated with the presence of a feature, such as a stud, beam, or electrical wiring.
US08476909B2

A current calibration method and the associated control circuit are provided. The method includes: providing a predetermined voltage to the differential output for obtaining an accurate current passing through the panel resistor during a calibration procedure and, providing a driving current to the differential output according to the accurate current during a normal operation procedure.
US08476903B2

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus according to an embodiment can execute a plurality of kinds of protocols varying in image contrast, and includes a storage unit and an output unit. The storage unit stores imaging conditions about the plurality of kinds of protocols. The output unit outputs onto a display unit an edit screen for receiving edit of a parameter that is an element of the imaging conditions. The edit screen is output by being separated into a common part that receives edit of parameter common to a plurality of kinds of protocols varying in image contrast, and an individual part that individually receives edit of parameter with respect to each protocol.
US08476901B2

Disclosed are directed-energy systems and methods for disrupting electronic circuits, especially those containing semiconductors. A directed-energy system can include a charged particle generator configured to generate plural energized particles and a charge transformer configured to receive the plural energized particles that include charged particles and to output energized particles that include particles having substantially zero charge. The charged particle generator can be configured to direct the plural energized particles through the charge transformer in a predefined direction. A method for disrupting electronic circuits can include generating plural energized particles, directing the plural energized particles to an incident surface of a charge transformer and transforming the plural energized particles within the charge transformer. The transformed particles can be at substantially zero charge. The method can further include generating a wavefront at an exit surface of the charge transformer including the transformed particles and impinging an electronic circuit with the wavefront.
US08476898B2

In order to examine abnormality in shape of an outer circumference of a wire rope, the rope tester device includes a comb-shaped detection plate having a curved test edge portion extending along at least one portion of an outer circumference of a substantially circular sectional configuration of the wire rope and a testing recessed portion for receiving the wire rope in the vicinity of or in contact with the test edge portion, and a support device for rotatably supporting the detection plate in the vicinity of or in contact with the wire rope for permitting the rotation of the detection plate when the detection plate receives a force from an abnormal portion of the wire rope to relieve the force. A test string is disposed in an opening of the testing recessed portion for testing a surface that is not in the vicinity of or in contact with the test edge portion.
US08476897B2

A method for localizing a person in surroundings equipped with fixed electrical appliances includes measuring an electromagnetic field radiated by one or more of these fixed electrical appliances with a magnetometer carried by the person, identifying a fixed appliance operating near the magnetometer by comparing the measured field with pre-recorded magnetic signatures. Each pre-recorded magnetic signature is associated with an electrical appliance present in the surroundings. The person is then localized at least in part based on pre-recorded items of information that correspond to localization, in the surroundings, of the fixed electrical appliance as identified by its magnetic signature.
US08476892B2

An object of the invention is to prevent a human error, greatly reducing man-hours and to securely identify a core. To achieve the object, a request for a serial number is first made via a conductor of a core from a recognition unit that functions as a master to a recognition unit that functions as a slave. Next, the recognition unit as the slave reads a serial number for an IC tag and transmits the serial number via the conductor of the core. The recognition unit as the master receives the serial number transmitted from the recognition unit as the slave and collates the serial number and a serial number stored in an IC tag. It is ascertained by the collation that the conduction of the core is correctly made and it is displayed on a display of the recognition unit as the master and others that no disconnection on the way and no error in selecting an end of wiring are caused.
US08476886B1

A hysteretic DC-DC converter includes a reference circuit, a hysteretic comparator, and a control circuit. The hysteretic comparator may be configured to compare a monitored output of the converter to a reference signal generated by the reference circuit and to compare a load ground of the output of the converter to a reference signal ground of the reference signal. The hysteretic comparator may perform the aforementioned comparisons simultaneously. The hysteretic comparator may generate a comparator output based on the comparison of the output of the converter to the reference signal and the comparison of the load ground to the reference signal ground. The control circuit may vary a control output to increase or decrease the output of the converter based on the comparator output.
US08476884B2

A method is provided for controlling a converter of the multiphase interleaving type. According to the method, there is detected when a change of the load applied to an output terminal of the converter occurs. All the phases of the converter are simultaneously turned off, and a driving interleaving phase shift is recovered so as to restart a normal operation of the converter. A controller for carrying out such a method is also provided.
US08476874B2

Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems and methods for controlling a voltage profile delivered to a load in an electric power system. According to various embodiments, an electric power system may include an electric power line, a variable tap transformer, and a capacitor bank. The variable tap transformer may include a plurality of tap positions. A tap change controller may be coupled with the variable tap transformer and may control the tap positions of the variable tap transformer. A capacitor bank controller may be coupled with the capacitor bank and may selectively couple the capacitor bank to the electric power line. The tap change controller and the capacitor bank controller may share system information related to the voltage profile along the electric power line and to change the voltage profile along the line using the variable tap transformer and the capacitor bank depending on the system information.
US08476873B2

A power factor correction (PFC) system includes a comparison module, an adjustment module, a compensation module, and a duty cycle control module. The comparison module measures N currents having different phases, and generates (N−1) comparisons based on the N measured currents, wherein N is an integer greater than one. The adjustment module determines (N−1) time advance adjustments based on the (N−1) comparisons, respectively. The compensation module generates N compensated versions of an input alternating current (AC) line signal based on the input AC line signal, a sinusoidal reference signal, and the (N−1) time advance adjustments, wherein the sinusoidal reference signal is synchronized to the input AC line signal in phase and frequency. The duty cycle control module controls PFC switching based on the N compensated versions of the input AC line signal.
US08476870B2

The diagnostic method applies to a standalone system including a generator, a power regulator and a power storage element. The method includes comparison of the effective charging power or current of the power storage element respectively with a predefined power or current threshold. If the effective charging power or current is lower than said threshold, the power storage element is disconnected. An abnormal behavior is then detected either by comparing the effective charging power with the smaller of the values representative of the theoretical charging power of the power storage element and of the maximum power able to be delivered by the generator and comparing the effective and theoretical charging voltages, or by comparing the effective and theoretical charging currents.
US08476868B2

Included are embodiments of an ambulatory infusion device. Some embodiments include an energy storage for storing electrical energy utilized for powering the ambulatory infusion device. The energy storage may serve as a primary power source of the ambulatory infusion device. Also included is a dosing unit with an electrically powered actuator and an electronic controller, where the electronic controller controls operation of the electrically powered actuator. Some embodiments also include a testing unit for testing the energy storage. The testing unit may be configured to repeatedly carry out a test during operation of the ambulatory infusion device. Additionally, the test may include determining a control variable, the control variable being indicative of a capability of the energy storage for further powering the ambulatory infusion device.
US08476862B2

In a system comprising a fuel and a rotating electrical machine, damage of a switching element is prevented when the rotating electrical machine becomes a locked state. In a power controller, it is monitored whether the rotating electrical machine is in the locked state or not. When the rotating electrical machines is judged to be in the locked state, a command for dropping output voltage is given to the fuel cell. Thus, inverter input voltage can be dropped, loss power of the switching element in the rotating electrical machine is dropped and damage can be suppressed. The rotating electrical machine is monitored to cancel the locked state or not while dropping of inverter input voltage is controlled. When the locked state is judged to be canceled, control of the fuel cell is returned to a state of regular operation control.
US08476859B2

Motor drives and switch driver power systems are presented in which high frequency AC current (IHF) is provided through one or more cables (202) magnetically coupled with local driver current transformers (240), and the transformer secondary currents are converted to provide DC power to switch drivers of an active power converter stage (110a, 110b) in the motor drive.
US08476858B2

A refrigerator and a method for controlling the same are provided. In this refrigerator and control method, a receiving box may be automatically drawn in and out together with a door based on a movement command received at an input unit, thus enhancing user convenience and satisfaction.
US08476852B2

A controller for a brushless motor that includes a processor, a first timer, a second timer, a compare register, a comparator, an input, and one or more outputs. The processor starts the first timer in response to a signal at the input. The first timer then generates an interrupt after a first period. In response to the interrupt, the processor generates a first control signal at the outputs. The processor also loads the compare register and starts the second timer in response to either the input signal or the interrupt. The comparator then generates a second control signal at the outputs when the second timer and the compare register correspond. Additionally, a motor system that includes the controller.
US08476842B2

A driving device for a LED module is provided. The driving device for the LED module includes a voltage converting unit, a LED module voltage detecting unit, and a switching signal generation unit. The voltage converting unit produces a driving voltage to drive the LED module according to a switching signal. The LED module voltage detecting unit divides the driving voltage to produce a comparison voltage. The switching signal generation unit receives the comparison voltage by a fault detection pin and compares a reference voltage and the comparison voltage to enable or disable the switching signal. After the switching signal is disabled, the switching signal generation unit further pulls up a voltage level of the fault detection pin to a logic high level voltage, so as to produce a fault notification signal to let the fault detection pin also have a function for fault notification.
US08476841B2

An apparatus for driving a voltage source such as a discharge or LED lamp using a power booster receiving an AC voltage source configured through an inductor to turn on and off periodically in response to a duty cycle of a dimming control signal or a transformer starting a new cycle, for regulating a low voltage AC signal. The booster control circuitry adjusting the current feed to a determined target boost voltage according to sensed input from primarily a single comparator which compares any one of (but not limited to) a) the output boosted voltage, b) the globe current, or c) the inductor input current.
US08476837B2

Ladder network circuits for controlling operation of a string of light emitting diodes (LEDS). The circuits include a number of sections connected in series. Each section includes one or more LED junctions, a variable resistive element coupled to the LED section, and a switch coupled to the variable resistive element and the LED section for controlling activation of the LED. The sections can include a transistor coupled between the switch and variable resistive element. The series of sections are connected to an AC power source, rectifier, and dimmer circuit. When receiving power from the power source, the sections activate the LEDs in sequence throughout the series of the sections. The dimmer circuit controls activation of a selection of one or more of the sections in order to activate in sequence the LEDs in only the selected sections, providing for both dimming and color control of the LEDs.
US08476835B1

A Christmas tree decorative enhancing system provides a lighting display that is choreographed to an audio file and respective output. Each of a series of light strands are in signal communication with a respective output port on a controller. The controller integrates a storage device reader, a digital audio decoding integrated circuit, an operational controller data file decoding circuit, an output controller circuit, and a power regulation circuit. An audio data file is merged with an operational controller data file and stored in a portable digital data storage device. The controller decodes the merged file, generates an audio output signal, and drives the output controller circuit to illuminate one or more light strands in a choreographed manner in concert with the audio output. Two or more systems can be in wireless, signal communication to operate in tandem. The system can be provided using the light strands to form a tree-shape, or the lights can be placed into an existing tree.
US08476832B2

An interior lighting system for an automotive vehicle include a first light in a first zone a second light in a second zone, and a controller illuminating the lights in a sequence including a first welcome stage, a second welcome stage, and ambient stage, and a farewell stage. The stages are defined by an operating cycle of the vehicle as determined by conditions such as vehicle entry system status, door open/closed status, and ignition status. The colors and intensities of the lights varies throughout the stages to provide both adequate task illumination and attractive lighting to provide sophisticated vehicle interior illumination that is well harmonized with the various Stages of occupant ingress and egress.
US08476831B2

A dielectric-loaded field applicator and an EHID lamp assembly are provided wherein the applicator comprises a helical resonator having a cylindrical dielectric core and a helical conductor, the dielectric core having a helical groove extending along its surface substantially from end to end; the helical conductor being contained in the helical groove and connectable at one end to a power source, the dielectric core being comprised of a dielectric material having a relative permittivity greater than about 3, preferably polycrystalline alumina. The EHID lamp assembly includes two opposed dielectric-loaded applicators with a discharge vessel supported between them.
US08476821B2

A display device in which pixels each including an emission area are arranged in a form of a matrix, the display device including: a first electrode formed from the emission area of the pixels to a non-emission area on a periphery of the emission area; a second electrode formed so as to be common to the pixels; and a light emitting material layer formed between the first electrode and the second electrode; wherein film thickness in the non-emission area of at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode is larger than film thickness in the emission area.
US08476820B2

The present invention relates to lighting technologies and, in particular, to solid state lighting technologies. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a lighting apparatus comprising a first electrode, a radiation transmissive second electrode, and a composite layer disposed between the first and second electrode, the composite layer comprising at least one electric field concentrator and at least one phosphor disposed in a radiation transmissive dielectric material.
US08476806B2

Disclosed herein is a piezoelectric actuator module. The piezoelectric actuator module includes a flat plate, two or more elastic members, and a piezoelectric element. The elastic members are provided on each of opposite ends of the plate in a longitudinal direction thereof and protrude perpendicularly from the plate in such a way that a first end of each of the elastic members is coupled to an electronic device. The piezoelectric element is provided on a first surface of the plate and transmits vibrating force to the electronic device. The piezoelectric actuator module includes a plate having on opposite ends thereof two or more elastic members, thus being capable of controlling vibrating force by changing the length of the plate and the number of the elastic members, in addition to reliably supporting piezoelectric elements provided on the plate.
US08476801B2

An apparatus for manufacturing a stator. On a split core of the stator, there are wound main conductors and two auxiliary conductors, which are thinner than but correspond to the main conductors. These main conductors are arrayed and wound in a plurality of layers, such that the main conductors of an upper layer are arranged in the valleys between the adjoining main conductors of a layer. For the main conductors of a first layer, the auxiliary conductors are arranged in a first space and a second space. For the main conductors of the second and subsequent layers, the auxiliary conductors are arranged in a third space, and the auxiliary conductors are arranged in a fourth space.
US08476796B2

A brushless DC motor including a casing, a stator assembly, a rotor assembly, a magnetic ring, and a circuit board with a Hall element. The stator assembly mounted in the casing and includes a stator core, a coil winding, and an end insulation plate. The rotor assembly includes a rotor core and a permanent magnet, and the end surface of the rotor core is coupled to a magnetic ring support. A convex support ring spaced apart from the permanent magnet is mounted on the edge of the magnetic ring support. The top of the convex support ring is sheathed with the magnetic ring and the Hall element extending out of the circuit board is located on the side of the magnetic ring. The motor minimizes the interference of the magnetic tile and improves measuring accuracy of the Hall element, all while having a simple structure, convenient mounting, and low costs.
US08476786B2

Systems and methods for controlling power distribution among various electrical loads disposed in a bore are described. Control modules that are associated with loads such that each load is associated with at least one control module. Each control module includes circuitry that can respond to a voltage at a level that is above a threshold by allowing current to flow to its associated load, and that can prevent current from flowing to its associated load when a voltage level at another load, instead of the associated load, is above a threshold. The loads and control modules can be located in various zones in the wellbore.
US08476785B2

When a change in an output voltage of a main power supply is a decrease, and a degree of the decrease is larger than a reference value, a power supply control portion decreases a boosted voltage of a voltage-boosting circuit according to the degree of the decrease. When the change in the output voltage of the main power supply is an increase, and a degree of the increase is larger than the reference value, the power supply control portion increases the boosted voltage of the voltage-boosting circuit according to the degree of the increase.
US08476775B2

A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing an integrated circuit with an adhesive attached thereto; connecting the integrated circuit and a plated interconnect pad; attaching an embedded interconnect to the plated interconnect pad; and forming an encapsulation, having an encapsulation first side and an encapsulation second side, around the integrated circuit, the embedded interconnect, and the plated interconnect pad with the embedded interconnect exposed from the encapsulation second side and the plated interconnect pad and the adhesive exposed from the encapsulation second side.
US08476771B2

There is provided a connection configuration for a multiple layer chip stack having two or more strata. Each of the two or more strata has multiple circuit components, a front-side and a back-side. The connection configuration includes a connection pair having as members a front-side connection and a backside connection unconnected to the front-side connection. The front-side connection and the backside connection are co-located with respect to each other on a given stratum from among the two or more strata, and are respectively connected to different ones of the multiple circuit components on the given stratum. At least one of the front-side connection and the backside connection is also connected to a particular one of the multiple circuit components on an adjacent stratum to the given stratum from among the two or more strata.
US08476769B2

An integrated circuit structure and methods for forming the same are provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a substrate; a through-silicon via (TSV) extending into the substrate; a TSV pad spaced apart from the TSV; and a metal line over, and electrically connecting, the TSV and the TSV pad.
US08476761B2

A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with die bump pads and substrate with trace lines having integrated bump pads. A solder mask patch is formed interstitially between the die bump pads or integrated bump pads. The solder mask patch contains non-wettable material. Conductive bump material is deposited over the integrated bump pads or die bump pads. The semiconductor die is mounted over the substrate so that the conductive bump material is disposed between the die bump pads and integrated bump pads. The bump material is reflowed without a solder mask around the integrated bump pads to form an interconnect between the semiconductor die and substrate. The solder mask patch confines the conductive bump material within a footprint of the die bump pads or integrated bump pads during reflow. The interconnect can have a non-fusible base and fusible cap.
US08476749B2

A chip package is described. This chip package includes a stack of semiconductor dies or chips that are offset from each other, thereby defining a terrace with exposed pads. A high-bandwidth ramp component, which is positioned approximately parallel to the terrace, electrically couples to the exposed pads. For example, the ramp component may be electrically coupled to the semiconductor dies using: microsprings, an anisotropic film, and/or solder. Consequently, the electrical contacts may have a conductive, a capacitive or, in general, a complex impedance. Furthermore, the chips and/or the ramp component may be positioned relative to each other using a ball-and-pit alignment technique. By removing the need for costly and area-consuming through-silicon vias (TSVs) in the semiconductor dies, the chip package facilitates chips to be stacked in a manner that provides high bandwidth and low cost.
US08476743B2

A carbon-rich carbon boron nitride dielectric film having a dielectric constant of equal to, or less than 3.6 is provided that can be used as a component in various electronic devices. The carbon-rich carbon boron nitride dielectric film has a formula of CxByNz wherein x is 35 atomic percent or greater, y is from 6 atomic percent to 32 atomic percent and z is from 8 atomic percent to 33 atomic percent.
US08476739B2

A graphene-on-oxide substrate according to the present invention includes: a substrate having a metal oxide layer formed on its surface; and, formed on the metal oxide layer, a graphene layer including at least one atomic layer of the graphene. The graphene layer is grown generally parallel to the surface of the metal oxide layer, and the inter-atomic-layer distance between the graphene atomic layer adjacent to the surface of the metal oxide layer and the surface atomic layer of the metal oxide layer is 0.34 nm or less. Preferably, the arithmetic mean surface roughness Ra of the metal oxide layer is 1 nm or less.
US08476732B2

This specification discloses a semiconductor device having higher electric strength.The semiconductor device disclosed in this specification has a semiconductor element region, a peripheral termination region, a peripheral electrode, an insulating film, and an intermediate electrode. A semiconductor element is formed within the semiconductor element region. The peripheral termination region is formed around the semiconductor element region and formed of a single conductive type semiconductor. The semiconductor element region and the peripheral termination region are exposed at one surface of a semiconductor substrate. The peripheral electrode is formed on a surface of the peripheral termination region and along a circumference of the semiconductor substrate. The insulating film is formed on the surface of the peripheral termination region and between the semiconductor element region and the peripheral electrode. The intermediate electrode is formed on the insulating film. A thickness of the insulating film under the intermediate electrode is larger at a side of the peripheral electrode than at a side of the semiconductor element region.
US08476724B2

A spin wave device comprises a metal layer, a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a free layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first electrode, a first insulator layer, and a second electrode. The pinned layer has a magnetization whose direction is fixed. The free layer has a magnetization whose direction is variable.
US08476721B2

A transistor device includes a magnetic field source adapted to deflect a flow of free electron carriers within a channel of the device, between a source region and a drain region thereof. According to preferred configurations, the magnetic field source includes a magnetic material layer extending over a side of the channel that is opposite a gate electrode of the transistor device.
US08476720B2

A sensing unit package with reduced size and improved thermal sensing capabilities. An exemplary package includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of electrical traces, an application-specific integrated circuit (Analog ASIC) chip, and a micromachined sensor formed on a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) die. The Analog ASIC chip is electrically and mechanically attached to the printed circuit board. The MEMS die is in direct electrical communication with only a portion of the electrical traces of the printed circuit board and is mechanically and thermally attached directly to the Analog ASIC chip. A thermally conducting compound is located between the MEMS die and the Analog ASIC chip. One or more solder balls electrically attach the Analog ASIC chip to the printed circuit board and one or more solder traces electrically attach the MEMS die to the printed circuit board.
US08476695B2

A method of forming a sub-lithographic charge storage element on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method can involve providing first and second layers on a semiconductor substrate, a thickness of the first layer being larger than a thickness of the second layer; forming a spacer adjacent a side surface of the first layer and on a portion of an upper surface of the second layer; and removing an exposed portion of the second layer that is not covered by the spacer. By removing the exposed portion of the second layer while leaving a portion of the second layer that is protected by the spacer, the method can make a sub-lithographic charge storage element from the remaining portion of the second layer on the semiconductor substrate.
US08476688B2

A semiconductor device that prevents the leaning of storage node when forming a capacitor having high capacitance includes a plurality of cylinder-shaped storage nodes formed over a semiconductor substrate; and support patterns formed to fix the storage nodes in the form of an ‘L’ or a ‘+’ when viewed from the top. This semiconductor device having support patterns in the form of an ‘L’ or a ‘+’ reduces stress on the storage nodes when subsequently forming a dielectric layer and plate nodes that prevents the capacitors from leaking.
US08476681B2

Backside illuminated photosensitive devices and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, a backside-illuminated photosensitive imager device can include a semiconductor substrate having multiple doped regions forming a least one junction, a textured region coupled to the semiconductor substrate and positioned to interact with electromagnetic radiation, and a passivation region positioned between the textured region and the at least one junction. The passivation region is positioned to isolate the at least one junction from the textured region, and the semiconductor substrate and the textured region are positioned such that incoming electromagnetic radiation passes through the semiconductor substrate before contacting the textured region. Additionally, the device includes an electrical transfer element coupled to the semiconductor substrate to transfer an electrical signal from the at least one junction.
US08476670B2

Light emitting devices and methods of manufacturing the light emitting devices. The light emitting devices include a silicon substrate; a metal buffer layer on the silicon substrate, a patterned dispersion Bragg reflection (DBR) layer on the metal buffer layer; and a nitride-based thin film layer on the patterned DBR layer and regions between patterns of the DBR layer.
US08476669B2

An LED module includes a first dielectric layer, and a first patterned conductive layer having first, second, and third die-bonding pads. Each die-bonding pad includes a pad body having a die-bonding area, and an extension extended from the pad body. The extension of the first die-bonding pad extends in proximity to the die-bonding area of the second die-bonding pad. The extension of the second die-bonding pad extends in proximity to the die-bonding area of the third die-bonding cad. A second dielectric layer disposed on the first patterned conductive layer includes three dielectric members corresponding respectively to the die-bonding pads of the first patterned conductive layer. Each dielectric member includes a chip-receiving hole exposing the die-bonding area of a respective die-bonding pad for attachment of an LED chip thereto, and a wire-passage hole spaced apart from the chip-receiving hole to expose partially the first patterned conductive layer for bonding a wire.
US08476664B2

A light emitting diode package comprises a light emitting diode chip, a first luminescent conversion layer and a separate second luminescent conversion layer on the first luminescent conversion layer. The first luminescent conversion layer has a first luminescent conversion element surrounding the light emitting diode chip. The second luminescent conversion layer has a second luminescent conversion element located above the light emitting diode chip. An excitation efficiency of the first luminescent conversion element is higher than that of the second luminescent conversion element.
US08476662B2

Disclosed are a light emitting device, a method of manufacturing the same, and a backlight unit. The light emitting device includes a body including a cavity to open an upper portion, in which the cavity has a sidewall inclined at a first angle with respect to a bottom surface of the cavity, first and second electrodes formed in the body, in which at least portions of the first and second electrodes are formed along the sidewall of the cavity, a light emitting chip over the first electrode, the second electrode, and the bottom surface of the cavity, at least one wire having one end bonded to a top surface of the light emitting chip and an opposite end bonded to a portion of the first and second electrodes over the sidewall of the cavity, and a molding member formed in the cavity to seal the light emitting chip.
US08476649B2

Various embodiments of light emitting dies and solid state lighting (“SSL”) devices with light emitting dies, assemblies, and methods of manufacturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting die includes an SSL structure configured to emit light in response to an applied electrical voltage, a first electrode carried by the SSL structure, and a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode of the SSL structure. The first and second electrode are configured to receive the applied electrical voltage. Both the first and second electrodes are accessible from the same side of the SSL structure via wirebonding.
US08476628B2

Disclosed herein is a device using an oxide semiconductor, the device including a circuit part configured to include a thin film transistor using the oxide semiconductor as a channel material, wherein the circuit part has a lower interconnect, an upper interconnect, and an interlayer insulating film, the interlayer insulating film includes an oxide semiconductor layer and a channel protective layer, and the channel protective layer is interposed between an outer circumferential surface of a rising part of the oxide semiconductor layer corresponding to thickness of the lower interconnect and the upper interconnect.
US08476625B2

A semiconductor device includes an oxide semiconductor layer provided over a substrate having an insulating surface; a gate insulating film covering the oxide semiconductor layer; a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer laminated in this order over the gate insulating film; an insulating film covering the oxide semiconductor layer and a gate wiring including a gate electrode (the first and second conductive layers); and a third conductive layer and a fourth conductive layer laminated in this order over the insulating film and electrically connected to the oxide semiconductor layer. The gate electrode is formed using the first conductive layer. The gate wiring is formed using the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. A source electrode is formed using the third conductive layer. A source wiring is formed using the third conductive layer and the fourth conductive layer.
US08476621B2

The subject of the present invention is to provide an organic thin film transistor with a small hysteresis. The means for solving the subject is a resin composition for an organic thin film transistor gate insulating layer comprising (A) a macromolecule that comprises at least one repeating unit selected from the group consisting of repeating units represented by Formula (1), repeating units represented by Formula (1′), and repeating units represented by Formula (2) and contains two or more first functional groups in its molecule, wherein the first functional group is a functional group that generates, by the action of electromagnetic waves or heat, a second functional group that reacts with active hydrogen, and (B) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of low-molecular compounds containing two or more active hydrogens in each molecule and macromolecules containing two or more active hydrogens in each molecule.
US08476617B2

A semiconductor structure having a high Hall mobility is provided that includes a SiC substrate having a miscut angle of 0.1° or less and a graphene layer located on an upper surface of the SiC substrate. Also, provided are semiconductor devices that include a SiC substrate having a miscut angle of 0.1° or less and at least one graphene-containing semiconductor device located atop the SiC substrate. The at least one graphene-containing semiconductor device includes a graphene layer overlying and in contact with an upper surface of the SiC substrate.
US08476616B2

A composite material is described. The composite material comprises semiconductor nanocrystals, and organic molecules that passivate the surfaces of the semiconductor nanocrystals. One or more properties of the organic molecules facilitate the transfer of charge between the semiconductor nanocrystals. A semiconductor material is described that comprises p-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of electrons in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of holes. A semiconductor material is described that comprises n-type semiconductor material including semiconductor nanocrystals. At least one property of the semiconductor material results in a mobility of holes in the semiconductor material being greater than or equal to a mobility of electrons.
US08476613B2

The present invention relates to the use of a shaped bottom electrode in a resistance variable memory device. The shaped bottom electrode ensures that the thickness of the insulating material at the tip of the bottom electrode is thinnest, creating the largest electric field at the tip of the bottom electrode. The arrangement of electrodes and the structure of the memory element makes it possible to create conduction paths with stable, consistent and reproducible switching and memory properties in the memory device.
US08476606B2

A drawing apparatus for drawing a pattern on a substrate with a plurality of charged-particle beams, includes a blanking aperture array including a plurality of apertures, a blanking unit including a plurality of blankers and configured to respectively deflect the plurality of charged-particle beams by the plurality of blankers to cause the blanking aperture array to block the respectively deflected plurality of charged-particle beams, a generating circuit configured to generate a blanking instruction in a serial format, and a serial transmission cable configured to transmit the blanking instruction generated by the generating circuit to the blanking unit, wherein the blanking unit is configured to convert the blanking instruction in the serial format, that has been received via the serial transmission cable, into a blanking instruction in a parallel format, and to drive the plurality of blankers based on the blanking instruction in the parallel format.
US08476602B2

A magnet used in an ion beam irradiation apparatus includes a pair of magnetic poles arranged facing each other on an inner side of the magnet across an ion beam; a plurality of magnetic field concentrating members that are arranged on each of the opposing surfaces of the magnetic poles and that perform a function of trapping electrons between the magnetic poles; and a protective member that covers opposing surfaces of the magnetic field concentrating members.
US08476599B2

Partially and completely curved and spherical scintillation arrays are described. These arrays can provide improved imaging of a variety of subjects and objects.
US08476598B1

Electromagnetic radiation detection systems and associated methods are provided. In one aspect, for example, an electromagnetic radiation detection system includes a semiconductor material operable to detect electromagnetic radiation, the semiconductor material having a responsivity of greater than or equal to 0.3 A/W at an operating voltage of less than or equal to about 50 volts and at a wavelength of from about 0.01 nm to about 100 nm. The system can further include an electromagnetic radiation source positioned to deliver electromagnetic radiation to the semiconductor material.
US08476593B2

A nuclear medical imaging system employing radiation detection modules with pixelated scintillator crystals includes a scatter detector (46) configured to detect and label scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events stored in a list mode memory (44). Coincident pairs of both scattered and non-scattered radiation events are detected and the corresponding lines of response (LOR) are determined. A first image representation of the examination region can be reconstructed using the LORs corresponding to both scattered and non-scattered detected radiation events to generate a lower resolution image (60) with good noise statistics. A second higher resolution image (62) of all or a subvolume of the examination region can be generated using LORs that correspond to non-scattered detected radiation events. A quantification processor is configured to extract at least one metric, e.g. volume, count rate, standard uptake value (SUV), or the like, from at least one of the lower resolution image, the higher resolution image, or a combined image (64).
US08476585B2

A microtome for in situ residence within a chamber of a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a SEM including the microtome is disclosed. The microtome includes a specimen holder for holding a specimen thereon at high voltage to produce a retardation field thereat and a movable knife. The SEM includes a backscatter electron detector disposed adjacent to specimen holder. The knife arranged is to be carried into engagement with the specimen on the specimen holder to slice a portion of the specimen away to expose a new face of the specimen without interfering with the high voltage on the specimen, and is mounted so that after having engaged the specimen to expose a new face of the specimen it is withdrawn to a retracted position whereupon it does not interfere with the retardation field.
US08476580B2

An angle-measuring device having a scanning device with which scanning of a closed serial first code and scanning of a closed serial second code is enabled, wherein a length of the closed serial second code is less than a length of the closed serial first code, and the closed serial first code and the closed serial second code have at least one common code section. The angle-measuring device includes a detector array for generating first and second sequences of code words of a predetermined scanning length upon scanning of the closed serial first code and second codes, respectively. The first sequence includes a first partial sequence and one common partial sequence, and wherein the common partial sequence is created upon scanning of the common code section. The second sequence includes a second partial sequence and the common partial sequence. The angle-measuring device further includes a decoding device designed for decoding the first and second sequences of code words, wherein the closed serial first and second codes as well as the predetermined scanning length are selected such that code words of the first and second sequences have a Hamming distance greater than 1.
US08476575B2

A method, apparatus, and system that provides a holographic layer as a micro-lens array and/or a color filter array in an imager. The method of writing the holographic layer results in overlapping areas in the hologram for corresponding adjacent pixels in the imager which increases collection of light at the pixels, thereby increasing quantum efficiency.
US08476572B2

An optical receiver circuit is configured as follows: a preamplifier and a reference voltage generating circuit are connected with a first ground potential wiring and a first power supply wiring, which are used in common, and are formed in a first region where elements are formed on a substrate to which the potential of the first ground potential wiring is supplied; a main amplifier is connected with a second ground potential wiring and a second power supply wiring, which are separated from the first ground potential wiring and the first power supply wiring, and is formed in a second region where elements are formed on the substrate to which the potential of the second ground potential wiring is supplied; and a substrate supply interval where a first substrate supply position at which the potential of the first ground potential wiring is supplied and a second substrate supply position at which the potential of the second ground potential wiring is supplied are closest to each other is large to an extent where a substrate permeability characteristic, in which noise is fully attenuated in an alternating current (AC) manner, is obtained.
US08476564B2

An apparatus has a first structure, a second structure, and an activated seal. The second structure has a first position adjacent to the first structure such that the first structure is not in contact with the second structure. The activated seal is attached to at least one of the first structure and the second structure. The activated seal has a variable stiffness that may be changed in response to a stimuli such that the activated seal is capable of being deformed when at least one of the first structure and the second structure are moved relative to each other.
US08476561B2

A device for heating a substrate with light from a flash lamp having a semiconductor switch connected in series to the flash lamp. After triggering of a trigger electrode of the flash lamp, a first drive signal and a second drive signal are output from a gate circuit. The time period when the semiconductor switch is on due to the second drive signal is longer than the time period that the semiconductor switch is on by the first drive signal. Then, the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the first drive signal and the substrate temperature is increased to a temperature, which is lower than the desired temperature to be achieved, and is maintained a that temperature for a short time, after which the surface temperature of the substrate is increased to the desired target temperature.
US08476556B2

An aspect of the invention provides a gemstone heating system for expanding capillary vessel. The system comprises a gemstone heating pad, a magnet, a heat conductor, a heating element, and an insulating cover. The gemstone heating pad comprises a front surface, a rear surface, a recess portion provided on a central portion of the rear surface, a enclosing wall portion configured for enclosing the recess portion. The magnet is embedded in the recess portion of the gemstone heating pad. The heat conductor encloses the recess portion of the gemstone heating system. The heating element is disposed in the heating conductor. The insulating cover is configured for insulating the heat conductor and the heating element.
US08476550B2

A manufacturing method of a hermetic container includes steps of bonding a frame member to a first substrate, by pressing the first substrate and the second substrate to each other by an electrostatic force generated between a first electrode and a second electrode by applying a potential difference between the first electrode and the second electrode, and softening and melting the bonding material. Additional steps include cooling and solidifying the bonding material by simultaneously heating the bonding material with a local heating unit and moving the local heating unit, and increasing the potential difference between the first electrode and a segment of the second electrode, which is in a position at which the segment is heated by the local heating unit.
US08476548B2

A method of cutting out a part from a workpiece with making partially welded spots in wire electrical discharge machining to keep the part against falling apart away from the workpiece. There is no need to cut anew the welded spot left as in the conventional process. The cut-out parts are cut off at a time after breakage of the welded spots caused by an external impact. The electric processing condition applied across an inter-electrode space between the wire electrode and the workpiece is changed from a cutting phase to a welding phase in which the wire electrode is fused partially at some spots along a cutting path of a predetermined contour on the workpiece to weld together the cut-out part and the workpiece at the fused spot on the wire electrode.
US08476543B2

An electromechanical switch includes a contact assembly and a linkage assembly.
US08476532B2

A multilayer flexible printed circuit board disclosed in the present application is a multilayer flexible printed circuit board in which a ground layer, an insulating layer and a signal wiring layer in which signal wiring is formed are laminated in sequence, with the multilayer flexible printed circuit board including a protruding portion protruding laterally, and a ground that is electrically connected to the ground layer being formed on at least one surface of the protruding portion, in order to have shielding properties that can cope with high speed signal transmission performed via the signal wiring layer.
US08476524B2

A junction box used for making electrical connections to a photovoltaic panel. The junction box has two chambers including a first chamber and a second chamber and a wall common to and separating both chambers. The wall may be adapted to have an electrical connection therethrough. The two lids are adapted to seal respectively the two chambers. The two lids are on opposite sides of the junction box relative to the photovoltaic panel. The two lids may be attachable using different sealing processes to a different level of hermeticity. The first chamber may be adapted to receive a circuit board. The junction box may include supports for mounting a printed circuit board in the first chamber. The second chamber is configured for electrical connection to the photovoltaic panel. A metal heat sink may be bonded inside the first chamber. The first chamber is adapted to receive a circuit board for electrical power conversion, and the metal heat sink is adapted to dissipate heat generated by the circuit board.
US08476521B2

A solar generator apparatus includes a generator module having first to fourth corner portions; a middle column; first and second winding devices attached to the middle column; first and second cables and first to fourth elastic anchors. The middle column has first and second ends, mounted on a fixed structure and pivotally connected to the generator module, respectively. The first cable, having two ends respectively connected to the first and third corner portions, is wound around the first winding device. The second cable, having two ends respectively connected to two ends of the second and fourth corner portions, is wound around the second winding device. The first to fourth elastic anchors are elastically mounted on the fixed structure. The first cable passes through the first and third elastic anchors to form a W-shaped structure. The second cable passes through the second and fourth elastic anchors to form another W-shaped structure.
US08476518B2

A method includes receiving an audio signal and identifying one or more steady-state segments of the audio signal. The method also includes identifying at least one portion of the one or more segments that contains a specified frequency. Further, the method includes generating a wavetable using the at least one identified portion of the one or more segments. In addition, the method could include synthesizing an output audio signal using the wavetable. The output audio signal could represent a ringtone in a mobile telephone.
US08476508B1

The invention provides seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated 980006. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety 980006, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety 980006 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety 980006.
US08476507B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH638220. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH638220, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH638220 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH638220.
US08476500B2

A tetraploid watermelon inbred 4XASSS4 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds and plants of tetraploid watermelon inbred 4XASSS4, the methods of propagating the tetraploid inbred 4XASSS4 through seeds and tissue culture. The invention also relates to methods of producing the triploid seedless watermelon seeds and plants by crossing inbred 4XASSS4 with diploid watermelon inbreds, and to the triploid plants produced therefrom. The invention further relates to the methods of developing new tetraploid lines by using tetraploid inbred 4XASSS4 as breeding material, and to tetraploid watermelon seeds and plants produced therefrom.
US08476498B2

A lettuce cultivar, designated Keeper, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Keeper, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Keeper and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Keeper with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Keeper, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Keeper and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Keeper with another lettuce cultivar.
US08476494B2

A lettuce cultivar, designated Dragoon, is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of lettuce cultivar Dragoon, to the plants of lettuce cultivar Dragoon and to methods for producing a lettuce plant by crossing the cultivar Dragoon with itself or another lettuce cultivar. The invention further relates to methods for producing a lettuce plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic lettuce plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to lettuce cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Dragoon, to methods for producing other lettuce cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from lettuce cultivar Dragoon and to the lettuce plants, varieties, and their parts derived from the use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid lettuce seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar Dragoon with another lettuce cultivar.
US08476489B1

A novel maize variety designated X08B846 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X08B846 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X08B846 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X08B846, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X08B846. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X08B846.
US08476482B2

The present disclosure relates to a process for removal of pesticide residues from aqueous solutions and food products by ionizing radiation. Standard pesticides concentrations recognized by international organizations as maximum residues limit (MRLs) were used as the targeted concentrations in both aqueous solutions and food products. Commercially known pesticides and recommended irradiation doses by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were selected for this investigation. Aqueous solutions and food products fortified with pesticide residues were subjected to selected doses of ionizing radiation. Radiation-induced removal of pesticide residues is generally greater in aqueous solutions than in food products. Ionizing radiation can reduce the residues of pirimiphos-methyl in potatoes, grapes and dates; malathion and cypermethrin in grapes to below MRLs at the recommended irradiation doses.
US08476468B2

The invention relates to a process for treating a composition containing silicon compounds, especially organosilanes and/or inorganic silanes, and at least one extraneous metal and/or a compound containing extraneous metal, wherein the composition is contacted with at least one adsorbent and/or a first filter and then a composition in which the content of the extraneous metal and/or of the compound containing extraneous metal has been reduced is obtained. The invention further relates to the use of organic resins, activated carbon, silicates and/or zeolites and/or else of at least one filter with small pore sizes to reduce the level of the compounds mentioned.
US08476461B2

Dipyrromethene-boron hydrophilic fluorescent compoundsThe invention concerns fluorescent and hydrophilic compounds meeting following formula (I): wherein: S1 is a group of formula —C≡C-L′-A where L′ is a linkage group and A is a polar functional group; S2 is a —C≡C-L′-A group the same or different from S1; —F; —H; or a hydrocarbon chain optionally interrupted by one or more oxygen atoms, and use thereof, in particular in aqueous or hydrophilic media.
US08476455B2

The invention relates to the compounds of formula (I): in which R1, R2, R3, R4, Q and Z are as defined in the specification. The invention also relates to the pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds.
US08476449B2

The present invention is a compound represented by the following formula (1) or a salt thereof. Furthermore, the present invention is an imaging agent used for imaging a tau protein, the imaging agent containing a compound represented by the formula (1) below or a salt thereof. In the formula (1), R3 is a radioactive iodine.
US08476446B2

The present invention relates to isoxazole compounds of formula (I) having fungicidal activity, to agricultural compositions comprising them, and to the use of said compounds and compositions in agriculture for the control of microbial pests, particularly fungal pests, on plants.
US08476444B2

A photosensitive resin composition which is excellent in resolution, low in cost, and usable in a wide range of structures of polymer precursors each of which is reacted into a final product by a basic substance or by heating in the presence of a basic substance. The photosensitive resin composition includes a base generator which has a specific structure and generates a base by exposure to electromagnetic radiation and heating, and a polymer precursor which is reacted into a final product by the base generator and by a basic substance or by heating in the presence of a basic substance.
US08476440B2

The invention provides an efficient method for preparing 3-endo-(8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-3-yl)benzamide by hydrogenation, under controlled conditions, of an amino-protected 3-(8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-3-yl)benzamide intermediate in which the amino-protecting group is removable by catalytic hydrogenation.
US08476439B2

Disclosed are compounds of the formula I: wherein R1, R2, V, W, X, Y and Z can be as defined herein. The compounds can be used in the treatment of disorders mediated by the cannabinoid receptors.
US08476438B2

Disclosed is a process for production of 7-ethyl-10-[4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino]-carbonyloxycamptothecin from a camptothecin composition containing 18,19-dehydrocamptothecin without producing any vinyl form of the compound. The process is characterized by catalytically reducing at least one compound selected from a compound (1) and others in the process of producing a compound (5) from a composition containing the compound (1).
US08476436B1

A method for enhancing a luminescence activity of clytin-II is provided. A codon-optimized nucleic acid is used for coding the apo-clytin-II protein, and the luminescent activity of the clytin-II is remarkably enhanced when comparing with the conventional use of the wild-type clytin-II.
US08476433B2

The present invention relates to the field of chemical-pharmaceutical industry and medicine. An agent, exhibiting the properties of a cognitive function promoter, was selected from 1,3-dimethyl-5-[(4-pyridylamino)methylene]barbituric acid and 4-amino-1-(3-nitro-2-oxo-1-pheny-1,2-dihydro-1,6-naphthyridin-5-yl)pyridinium chloride. The compounds, that are proposed as agents, exhibit potent biological activity.
US08476432B2

The present invention provides an improved process for preparing HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors such as rosuvastatin calcium, fluvastatin sodium, and pitavastatin calcium under a mild condition, using a novel amide-bond-containing compound having R2—N—O—R1 moiety as a key intermediate. And also, the present invention provides the novel compound, an intermediate useful for the preparation thereof, and a process for the preparation thereof.
US08476426B2

Process for the synthesis of ivabradine of formula (I): and addition salts thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid.
US08476423B2

An antisense molecule capable of binding to a selected target site to induce exon skipping in the dystrophin gene, as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 to 202.
US08476412B2

Methods for selective extraction and fractionation of algal proteins from an algal biomass or algal culture are disclosed. A method of selective removal of products from an algal biomass provides for single and multistep extraction processes which allow for efficient separation of algal proteins. These proteins can be used as renewable sources of proteins for animal feedstocks and human food. Further, lipids remaining in the algal biomass after extraction of proteins can be used to generate renewable fuels.
US08476409B2

Provided are bispecific antibodies that are useful as anti-neoplastic agents and that bind specifically to human IGF-1R and human ErbB3. Exemplary antibodies inhibit signal transduction through either or both of IGF-1R and ErbB3.
US08476407B2

This application provides a metallopeptide catalyst comprising dirhodium bound to one or more carboxylate residues of a peptide, protein or peptidomimetic. These stable metallopeptides can achieve structure-selective protein modification though molecular recognition.
US08476402B2

The present invention relates to a novel carbohydrate lactone, functionalized aliphatic polyesters and copolymers formed therefrom, and processes for the preparation thereof from renewable resources.
US08476400B2

An oxygen-scavenging composition is provided that includes an oxygen-scavenging polymer and a catalyst. The oxygen-scavenging polymer, which in preferred embodiments is suitable for use in packaging articles, is a dendritic polymer having one or more oxygen-scavenging groups.
US08476394B2

A polymeric resin having a lower molecular weight (LMW) component and a higher molecular weight (HMW) component and the resin having a density of from about 0.955 g/cc to about 0.967 g/cc, a melt index of from about 0.5 dg/min to about 4.0 dg/min, and a zero shear viscosity of from about 3.0×103 Pa-s to about 4.0×104 Pa-s. A method comprising providing a catalyst system comprising at least one transition metal complex, an activator support, and a cocatalyst; contacting the catalyst system with an olefin under conditions suitable to form a polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin has a HMW component and a LMW component; and recovering the polyolefin, wherein the polyolefin has a melt index of from about 0.5 dg/min to about 4.0 dg/min, and a zero shear viscosity of from about 3.0×103 Pa-s to about 4.0×104 Pa-s.
US08476387B2

Provided is a process for preparing a (meth)acrylic ester (F) of an N-hydroxyalkylated lactam, in which a cyclic N-hydroxyalkylated lactam (L): where the structural variables as defined herein, in the presence of at least one metal salt of C1-C10-alkoxides (A), is esterified with (meth)acrylic acid (S) or transesterified with at least one (meth)acrylic ester (D), in which the metal salt of C1-C10-alkoxides (A) used as a catalyst is added in the absence of solvents and completely at the start of the reaction.
US08476372B2

There is provided a polyester fiber which has few defects such as voids due to catalyst particles, and low variation in physical properties and minimal fluff generation. The polyester fiber of the invention comprises laminar nanoparticles composed of a divalent metal and a phosphorus compound and having side lengths of 5-100 nm and an interlayer spacing of 1-5 nm. There are also provided a tire cord, tire, belt-reinforcing fiber material and belt, comprising the polyester fiber.
US08476368B2

The invention relates to a dielectric layer with a permittivity of 3.5 or less comprising a dielectric obtainable by polymerizing at least one twin monomer comprising a) a first monomer unit which comprises a metal or semimetal, and b) a second monomer unit which is connected to the first monomer unit via a chemical bond, wherein the polymerization involves polymerizing the twin monomer with breakage of the chemical bond and formation of a first polymer comprising the first monomer unit and of a second polymer comprising the second monomer unit, and wherein the first and the second monomer unit polymerize via a common mechanism.
US08476361B2

A transfer material that can favorably form a fine pattern by nanoimprinting. The nanoimprinting transfer material is a fine pattern resin composition that includes an organosilicon compound and a metal compound of a metal from groups 3 through 14 of the periodic table.
US08476358B2

The invention relates to the use of protective-colloid-stabilized vinyl ester/ethylene copolymers in the form of polymer powder as low-profile-additives (LPAs).
US08476343B2

A putty material primarily used as a toy which is solid and capable of flowing for forming, preferably by manual manipulation, onto various pleasing shapes. This putty material is used primarily by children as an amusement device. The putty material is formed from a homogeneous mixture of primarily water, polyvinyl alcohol, gum, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and a small amount of borax wherein the ratio by weight of borax to polyvinyl alcohol is preferably in the range of between 1:12 to 1:22. The toy modeling composition can be formed opaque or translucent and can be dyed, particularly when clear, to create various overall artistic effects, and glitter can be applied on the paste to create unusual aesthetic effects, particularly when using white glitter. Coloration can be applied to the materials with translucent ink or with a marker.
US08476325B2

A method for producing styrene-modified polyethylene-based resin beads, including the steps of: dispersing 100 parts by weight of polyethylene-based resin beads which contain an inorganic nucleating agent and have a melting point of 95° C. to 115° C., 20 parts by weight or more and less than 300 parts by weight of a styrene-based monomer and a polymerization initiator into an aqueous suspension containing a dispersant; impregnating the polyethylene-based resin beads with the styrene-based monomer under heating the resulting dispersion at such a temperature that the styrene-based monomer does not substantially polymerize; and performing polymerization of the styrene-based monomer at a temperature of (T)° C. to (T+25)° C. (where T° C. is a melting point of the polyethylene-based resin beads.)
US08476324B2

A method for manufacturing an anion exchange resin, in which remaining of impurities and generation of decomposition products are suppressed and leachables are reduced, the method including the following steps (1-a) to (1-e) of: (1-a) obtaining a cross-linked copolymer by copolymerizing a monovinyl aromatic monomer and a cross-linkable aromatic monomer; (1-b) specifying the content of a specific leachable compound to be 400 μg or less relative to 1 g of the cross-linked copolymer; (1-c) haloalkylating the cross-linked copolymer so as to introduce 80 percent by mole or less of haloalkyl group relative to the monovinyl aromatic monomer; (1-d) removing a specific leachable compound from the haloalkylated cross-linked copolymer; and (1-e) subjecting the haloalkylated cross-linked copolymer to a reaction with an amine compound.
US08476323B2

The invention relates to a fluorocarbon polymer material comprising a backbone with the following unit: wherein: Z is a quaternary ammonium group, Y1 and Y2 are each independently an oxygen heteroatom or a sulphur heteroatom, A is a fluorinated or perfluorinated straight chain having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R1 represents a phenyl or aryl group or a —CR2R3— group, and R4 is selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, a straight or branched, cyclic or acyclic, alkyl or halogenated alkyl group, and a group represented by the following formula: m is an integer comprised between 0 and 10, preferably between 0 and 3; m′, n and r are integers, each independently equal to 0 or 1; and s is equal to 0 or 1, provided that when s is equal to 0, then R4 is different from the hydrogen atom.
US08476322B2

Provided is a microphase-separated structure membrane including a block copolymer in which a hydrophilic polymer component and a hydrophobic polymer component are coupled to each other via a structural unit having a reactive group, an electron acceptor or electron donor, or a dye. In the microphase-separated structure membrane, a cylinder structure composed of the hydrophilic polymer component lies in a matrix composed of the hydrophobic polymer component and is oriented in the direction perpendicular to the membrane surface, and the structural unit having a reactive group, an electron acceptor or electron donor, or a dye lies between the matrix and the cylinder structure.
US08476315B2

The present invention encompasses novel triterpene compounds of general formula I, wherein R3a, R3b, R11a, R11b, R31 and R32 are defined as in claim 1, which are suitable for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases mediated by 11 β-HSD and the use thereof for preparing a medicament having the above-mentioned properties.
US08476310B2

Pharmaceutical formulations comprising docetaxel, solubilizer, and α-lipoic acid, wherein the formulation is substantially free of polysorbates and polyethoxylated castor oil. The solubilizer may comprise glycofurol, acetic acid, benzyl alcohol, or ethanol. The α-lipoic acid, at certain concentrations, may impart stability and prevent degradation of docetaxel while the formulations are in storage. The formulations may be combined with a diluent, which comprises one or more hydrotropes such as tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate and polyethylene glycol. The formulations combined with the diluent also exhibit stability after storage. Methods of administering docetaxel comprise preparing the formulation comprising docetaxel, solubilizer, and α-lipoic acid; mixing the formulation with a diluent; diluting the resulting formulation in saline, water for injection, or the like; and then injecting the formulations into patients in need thereof.
US08476307B2

A pharmaceutical composition comprising idazoxan or derivatives and their therapeutically acceptable salts, racemates, optically active isomers and polymorphs.
US08476305B2

A novel therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for an inflammatory bowel disease is provided. An amino alcohol derivative represented by the general formula (1): which is a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof are a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent for an inflammatory bowel disease comprises.
US08476304B2

The present invention relates to methods and compositions of metadoxine and physiologically compatible active derivatives thereof, and their use for decreasing symptoms of alcohol consumption as well as in the prevention of alcohol consumption related symptoms in subjects in need thereof.
US08476301B2

A compound represented by formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof has an inhibitory effect in the fractalkine-CX3CR1 pathway: wherein R represents a C1-6 alkyl group unsubstituted or having 1 to 3 substituents selected from Substituent Group A, a C3-8 cycloalkyl group unsubstituted or having 1 to 3 substituents selected from Substituent Group A, or a C3-8 cycloalkenyl group unsubstituted or having 1 to 3 substituents selected from Substituent Group A, X represents a C1-6 alkyl group, Y and Z are the same or different from each other and each represents a halogen atom or a C1-6 alkyl group unsubstituted or having 1 to 3 substituents selected from Substituent Group B, n represents 0 or 1, Substituent Group A consists of halogen atoms, and Substituent Group B consists of halogen atoms.
US08476299B2

The invention provides a crystalline 1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid salt of biphenyl-2-ylcarbamic acid 1-[2-(2-chloro-4-{[(R)-2-hydroxy-2-(8-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-5-yl)ethylamino]methyl}-5-methoxyphenylcarbamoyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl ester or a solvate thereof. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising such a salt or prepared using such a salt; processes and intermediates for preparing such a salt; and methods of using such a salt to treat a pulmonary disorder.
US08476292B2

Amide and carbamate derivatives N-{2-[4-amino-2-(ethoxymethyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinolin-1-yl]-1,1-dimethylethyl}methanesulfonamide, pharmaceutical compositions containing these compounds, methods of making the compounds, and methods of use of these compounds in modulating the immune system, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08476289B2

This invention comprises the novel compounds of formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, A and X have defined meanings, having histone deacetylase inhibiting enzymatic activity; their preparation, compositions containing them and their use as a medicine.
US08476286B2

Use of compound of formula (I), wherein, is, or, and wherein the symbols are as defined, or a pharmaceutically-acceptable and -cleavable ester, or acid addition salt thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for promoting the release of parathyroid hormone, e.g. for preventing or treating bone conditions which are associated with increased calcium depletion or resorption or in which stimulation of bone formation and calcium fixation in the bone is desirable.
US08476281B2

The present application is directed to solid forms of compounds of formula I: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, that inhibit bacterial gyrase and/or Topo IV and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds and salts. These compounds and salts are useful in treating bacterial infections.
US08476278B2

The present invention relates to novel Thiazole Derivatives, compositions comprising the Thiazole Derivatives, and methods for using the Thiazole Derivatives for treating or preventing a proliferative disorder, an anti-proliferative disorder, inflammation, arthritis, a central nervous system disorder, a cardiovascular disease, alopecia, a neuronal disease, an ischemic injury, a viral infection, a fungal infection, or a disorder related to the activity of a protein kinase.
US08476263B2

The present disclosure provides prodrugs of biologically active 2,4-pyrimidinediamine compounds, compositions comprising the prodrugs, intermediates and methods for synthesizing the prodrugs and methods of using the prodrugs in a variety of applications.
US08476262B2

This invention provides a progesterone receptor antagonist of formula 1 having the structure wherein, T is O, S, or absent; R1, and R2 are each, independently, hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl; or R1 and R2 are taken together form a ring and together contain —CH2(CH2)nCH2—, —CH2CH2CMe2CH2CH2—, —O(CH2)pCH2—, —O(CH2)qO—, —CH2CH2OCH2CH2—, or —CH2CH2NR7CH2CH2—; n=1-5; p=1-4; q=1-4; R3 is hydrogen, OH, NH2, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, or CORA; RA is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aminoalkyl, or substituted aminoalkyl; R4 is hydrogen, halogen, CN, NH2, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aminoalkyl, or substituted aminoalkyl; R5 is hydrogen, alkyl, or substituted alkyl; R6 is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, or CORB; RB is hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl, alkoxy, substituted alkoxy, aminoalkyl, or substituted aminoalkyl; R7 is hydrogen or alkyl; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
US08476257B2

Compounds of formula I: wherein X, R2, R3, R3a, R3b, R5 and R6 are defined herein, are useful as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus NS5B polymerase.
US08476254B2

The present invention relates to the treatment of psychosis associated with interferon-α therapy by administering an amount of a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist effective to ameliorate the symptoms of psychosis in the patient, wherein the patient is not otherwise in need of treatment with a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist. The present invention further relates to kits for the treatment of Hepatitis C infection in a patient.
US08476249B2

Invented is a method of treating thrombocytopenia in a human, in need thereof which comprises the in vivo administration of a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide or a non-peptide TPO receptor agonist and an anti-clotting agent or agents, and optional further active ingredients, to such human.
US08476237B2

Novel peptides that inhibit the release of microparticles from cells are disclosed. Also disclosed are polynucleotides encoding the peptides, expression vectors carrying the polynucleotides and methods for treating tumors using the novel peptides.
US08476236B2

The present disclosure is generally related to methods of inducing non-palmoplantar skin to develop a palmoplantar phenotype, for example, methods for increasing skin thickness, decreasing skin pigmentation, and/or decreasing hair growth. In particular, disclosed herein are methods of using topical administration of DKK1 to increase skin thickness, decrease skin pigmentation, or reduce hair growth. Also disclosed are topical DKK1 compositions for inducing non-palmoplantar skin to develop a palmoplantar phenotype.
US08476227B2

Methods and therapeutics are provided for treating metabolic disorders by activation of melanocortin signaling pathways. Generally, the methods and therapeutics can induce activation of melanocortin receptor signaling to increase energy expenditure and induce weight loss. In one embodiment, a method for performing a diagnostic procedure can be chosen, energy expenditure then assess in light of the diagnostic procedure and a definitive procedure(s) can be selected dependent on the outcome of the energy assessment. In another embodiment, a diagnostic procedure can be chosen to activate melanocortin receptor pathways, energy expenditure can be assessed and a definitive procedure(s) can be chosen that selectively and optimally activate melanocortin receptor pathways.
US08476217B2

The present invention provides the nonionic surfactant represented by the formula (1): R—O—(PO)m-(EO)n—H  (1) wherein, R represents a saturated linear-chain hydrocarbon group having 8 to 18 carbon atoms, and n-octyl groups are 20 to 80% by mole of the saturated linear-chain hydrocarbon groups, n-decyl groups are 0 to 10% by mole of the saturated linear-chain hydrocarbon groups, and saturated linear-chain hydrocarbon groups having 12 to 18 carbon atoms are 20 to 80% by mole of the saturated linear-chain hydrocarbon groups; PO represents a propyleneoxy group; EO represents an ethyleneoxy group; m represents an average addition mole number of propyleneoxy groups ranging from 0.1 to 5; n represents an average addition mole number of ethyleneoxy groups ranging from 0.5 to 20; and (PO)m and (EO)n are bonded as blocks in this order.
US08476206B1

Embodiments of the present invention may include a macro-composition with a special structure. The structure includes a layered macro-composition made of a nanoparticle as an inner nucleus, an intermediate layer around the nucleus, and an outer layer intercalated with the nucleus or encapsulating the nucleus and the intermediate layer. A plurality of the layered macro-compositions is bonded together by bonds, so that each layered macro-composition is bonded to at least one other such layered macro-composition. Embodiments include a macro-composition made of three 3-layered macro-compositions joined in a chain by two bonds. These macro-composition assemblies may take the shape of layered macro-compositions bonded together in chains, or forming other shapes, such as rings. Embodiments may be added to lubricants such as oil or grease, to increase their performance.
US08476203B2

Methods and compositions that comprise sub-micron alumina for accelerating setting of a cement composition. An embodiment includes a method of cementing in a subterranean formation. The method may comprise introducing a cement composition into the subterranean formation, wherein the cement composition comprises hydraulic cement, sub-micron alumina, and water. The method further may comprise allowing the cement composition to set in the subterranean formation. Another embodiment includes a cement composition that may comprise hydraulic cement, sub-micron alumina, and water.
US08476199B2

This invention provides a rare earth-type tape-shaped oxide superconductor having excellent mechanical strength and superconducting properties and a composite substrate using for the same. Non-oriented and non-magnetic Ni-9 at % W alloy tapes (11, 21) were bonded onto both sides of a non-oriented and non-magnetic hastelloy tape (100) by a normal temperature bonding process, and an Ni-3 at % W alloy tape (12) having a cubic texture was bonded onto the surface of the tape (11) by a normal temperature bonding process. Thereafter, the heat-treatment was given in a reducing atmosphere and a bonding layer (50a) etc. was formed on the adhesive interface of each layer. Next, a (Ce, Gd)O2 intermediate layer (13) and a Ce2Zr2O7 intermediate layer (14) by an MOD process, a CeO2 intermediate layer (15), a YBCO superconducting film (16) by a TFA-MOD method, and a silver stabilization layer (17) were stacked sequentially on the surface of the tape (12). A critical current value (Ic) of this superconductor showed 150 A.
US08476197B2

The present invention relates to aminopropenoate derivatives, the process of their preparation, intermediate compounds, their use as fungicide active agents, particularly in the form of fungicide compositions, and methods for the control of phytopathogenic fungi, notably of plants and in material protection, using these compounds or compositions.
US08476193B2

Interaction of cloquintocet mexyl in the discontinuous oil phase with water in the continuous aqueous phase of an oil-in-water emulsion, which can lead to cloquintocet mexyl hydrate formation, crystal formation and Ostwald ripening, is minimized by the use of specific surfactants and solvents which provide enhanced stability to the emulsion.
US08476182B2

A method to obtain a catalyst of transition metals supported on a carbonaceous material, via impregnation, with a solution of metal-thiourea complex, obtained from precursor salts. The formation of the sulfur on the surface of the support occurs through the thermal decomposition of the complex. The obtained catalysts are applicable toward the direct liquefaction of coal.
US08476174B2

There is provided a lithium ion conductive glass-ceramics which is dense, contains few microvoids causing the decrease in lithium ion conductivity, and achieves good lithium ion conductivity. A glass-ceramics which comprises at least crystallines having an LiTi2P3O12 structure, the crystallines satisfying 1
US08476167B2

The invention relates to a method of manufacturing an electrostatic clamp configured to electrostatically clamp an article to an article support in a lithographic apparatus. The method includes providing a first layer of material, etching a recess in the first layer of material, and disposing an electrode in the recess of the first layer of material.
US08476165B2

A method is provided for thinning a wafer, for example a wafer containing Through Silicon Vias (TSV). The method includes providing a bonding wafer coupled to a handling wafer, and performing a wafer edge trimming process that forms a trimmed bonding wafer, where the wafer edge trimming process removes an edge portion of the bonding wafer and exposes an upper surface of the handling wafer. The method further includes forming a protective mask on the trimmed bonding wafer and on the exposed upper surface of the handling wafer, planarizing the protective mask and the trimmed bonding wafer, and selectively removing the planarized protective mask by an etching process. In one embodiment, the removing includes performing a first wet etching process that selectively removes a portion of the planarized trimmed bonding wafer relative to the planarized protective mask, and performing a second wet etching process that selectively removes the planarized protective mask.
US08476141B2

A method for fabricating a DRAM capacitor stack is described wherein the dielectric material is a multi-layer stack formed from a highly-doped material combined with a lightly or non-doped material. The highly-doped material remains amorphous with a crystalline content of less than 30% after an annealing step. The lightly or non-doped material becomes crystalline with a crystalline content of equal to or greater than 30% after an annealing step. The dielectric multi-layer stack maintains a high k-value while minimizing the leakage current and the EOT value.
US08476122B2

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device with high electric characteristics is provided. Part of a stacked semiconductor film in which an amorphous semiconductor film is provided on a crystalline semiconductor film is etched using a mixed gas including an HBr gas, a CF4 gas, and an oxygen gas, so that part of the crystalline semiconductor film provided in the stacked semiconductor film is exposed. Etching for forming a back channel portion of a thin film transistor is performed with the method for etching, whereby high electric characteristics can be provided for the thin film transistor.
US08476119B2

The disclosure provides methods and materials suitable for use as encapsulation barriers and dielectric layers in electronic devices. In one embodiment, for example, there is provided an electroluminescent device or other electronic device with a dielectric layer comprising alternating layers of a silicon-containing bonding material and a ceramic material. The methods provide, for example, electronic devices with increased stability and shelf-life. The invention is useful, for example, in the field of microelectronic devices.
US08476116B2

A method of making a support structure is provided. The method includes depositing a photoresist layer on a substrate of the support structure and patterning the photoresist layer. The method further includes etching the patterned photoresist layer. Etching the patterned photoresist includes forming a first group of through silicon vias (TSVs) configured to electrically connect a first surface of the substrate to a first electrical interface adjacent an opposite second surface of the substrate. Etching the patterned photoresist further includes forming a second group of TSVs configured to conduct thermal energy from the first surface of the substrate to a thermal interface adjacent the second surface of the substrate. A difference in cross-sectional area between TSVs in the first group of TSVs and TSVs in the second group of TSVs is less than 10%, and the first electrical interface is separated from the thermal interface.
US08476113B2

When chip-scale molding system is employed for QFP, the number of semiconductor devices available from a leadframe decreases because cavities each requires a runner portion. This problem can be overcome by employing MAP system, but use of a laminate tape increases the production cost. In through mold system, each cavity needs an ejector pin, which however makes it difficult to place a support pillar. The present application provides a manufacturing method of a semiconductor device by filling, while sandwiching a leadframe between mold dies having a matrix-state cavity group in which cavity columns obtained by linking mold cavities in series via a through gate have been placed in rows, a sealing resin in the cavities. In this method, the matrix-state cavity group has, at the cavity corner portions thereof, a support pillar having a cross-section striding over all the cavities adjacent to the cavity corner portions when viewed planarly.
US08476108B2

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed, which is capable of realizing an extension of a cleaning cycle for a processing chamber, the method comprising preheating a substrate; placing the preheated substrate onto a substrate-supporting unit provided in a susceptor while the preheated substrate is maintained at a predetermined height from an upper surface of the susceptor provided in a processing chamber; and forming a thin film on the preheated substrate, wherein a temperature of the preheated substrate is higher than a processing temperature for forming the thin film in the processing chamber.
US08476097B2

A method for manufacturing a thin-film solar cell includes providing a first conducting layer on a substrate that has an area at least 0.75 m2. The first conducting layer is located in a deposition portion of the area. An ultraviolet laser beam is applied through a lens to the first conducting layer. Portions of the first conducting layer are scribed form a trench through the layer. The lens focuses the beam and has a focal length at least 100 mm. The focused beam includes an effective portion effective for the scribing and an ineffective portion ineffective for the scribing. The substrate sags and the first conducting layer remains in the effective portion of the focused beam across the area during the step of applying. One or more active layers are provided on the first conducting layer. A second conducting layer is provided on the one or more active layers.
US08476095B2

An improved diode energy converter for chemical kinetic electron energy transfer is formed using nanostructures and includes identifiable regions associated with chemical reactions isolated chemically from other regions in the converter, a region associated with an area that forms energy barriers of the desired height, a region associated with tailoring the boundary between semiconductor material and metal materials so that the junction does not tear apart, and a region associated with removing heat from the semiconductor.
US08476092B2

According to an embodiment, there is provided a fabricating method for a thin film transistor substrate divided into a display area displaying images and a non-display area beside the display area, the fabricating method comprising: forming a gate wire in the display area, a common voltage line for a MPS (mass production system) test in the non-display area, and a grounding line for the MPS test in the non-display area with same material at the same time; forming a gate insulating layer covering the gate wire and a first insulating layer covering the common voltage line for the MPS test and the grounding line for the MPS test with same material at the same time; forming a data wire crossing the gate wire and defining a pixel area in the display area; and forming a pixel electrode in the pixel area and an electrode layer on the first insulating layer corresponding to the common voltage line for the MPS test and the grounding line for the MPS test with same material at the same time.
US08476085B1

The present invention discloses a method of fabricating dual trench isolated epitaxial diode array. This method starts with the formation of heavily-doped first conductivity type regions and heavily-doped second conductivity type regions on the substrate, followed by epitaxial growth, then the formation of the isolations between diode array word lines by deep trench etch and the formation of the isolations between bit lines vertical to deep trenches by shallow trench etch, and finally the formation of separate diode array cells in the regions enclosed by deep and shallow trench isolations by ion implantation. This invention also provides a method of preventing the crosstalk current between adjacent word lines and bit lines of epitaxial diode arrays isolated by foregoing dual shallow trenches. This invention can be used for diode-driven, high-density, large-capacity memory, such as phase change random access memory, resistive memory, magnetic memory and ferroelectric memory; the method thereof is completely compatible with conventional complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process, and because the diode arrays can be formed before the formation of peripheral circuits, no drift of peripheral circuits will be caused by the thermal process thereof, thereby solving the technical challenge of fabricating high-density, large-capacity embedded phase change random access memory.
US08476081B2

A method for identifying a ligand or compound which binds to albumin comprises the steps of contacting a reaction mixture comprising a site-specific probe and albumin in the presence and the absence of the ligand or compound and measuring either dissociation constant KD, inhibitor concentration IC50 or fluorescence displacement; whereby a change in KD, IC50 and/or fluorescence in the presence of the ligand or compound is indicative of the ligand or compound binds to albumin.
US08476061B1

This invention provides methods of isolating ferritin from plant and animal material. The isolated ferritin can be administered to humans or animals in need of iron, and can be used to treat or supplement iron deficiency. The isolated ferritin can be used in industrial applications, such as increasing the iron content in heat-processed food or beverages. The methods of the invention also include quantitation of iron derived from plant or animal ferritin.
US08476059B2

The invention provides methods of manufacturing oils and oil-based products such as transportation fuels, industrial chemicals, edible oils, lubricants and plastics using sugar cane, sugar beets, and cane/beet agricultural processing byproducts as a feedstock for bioproduction processes. The disclosed processes utilize oil-bearing microbes as a conversion technology to convert chemical energy produced by sugar cane and sugar beets into energy-containing oils and oil derivatives. Also provided herein are oil-bearing microbes containing one or more exogenous sucrose utilization genes.
US08476055B2

The present invention relates to a method of preparing heavy metal nanoparticles using a heavy metal-binding protein. More specifically, relates to a method for preparing heavy metal structures, comprising the steps of: culturing a microorganism transformed with a gene encoding a heavy metal-binding protein, in a heavy metal ion-containing medium, to produce heavy metal structures in the microorganism; and collecting the produced heavy metal structures, as well as nanoparticles of heavy metal structures prepared according to said method. Unlike prior methods of preparing quantum dots by physically binding metal materials, the quantum dots disclosed herein can be efficiently produced by expressing the heavy metal-binding protein in cells. In addition, the quantum dots are useful because they can solve an optical stability problem that is the shortcoming of organic fluorophores.
US08476052B2

The present invention provides methods and compositions comprising at least one perhydrolase enzyme for cleaning and other applications. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods and compositions for generation of long chain peracids. Certain embodiments of the present invention find particular use in applications involving cleaning, bleaching and disinfecting.
US08476050B2

Methods for preparing conjugates including enzyme conjugates and especially alkaline phosphatase (ALP) conjugates, and a kit are provided. The methods include: blocking an amino group on a molecule surface of a first substance to be conjugated containing an amino group and a carboxyl group (for example, an enzyme) with a carboxyl compound; adding a carbodiimide to activate the first substance to be conjugated with the amino group blocked; inactivating or removing the carbodiimide; and adding a second substance containing an amino group (for example, a substance to be labeled). Conjugates (for example, enzyme conjugates) are obtained.
US08476030B2

Provided herein is a method of reversing or preventing a target cell's resistance to a death receptor agonist. Also provided are methods of screening for biomarkers resistance of and monitoring resistance to death receptor agonists. Also provided are methods of selectively inducing apoptosis in a target cell, treating a subject with cancer, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, comprising administering compositions provided herein. Further provided are compositions comprising agents that modulate CARD containing proteins.
US08476007B2

A biosensor having an optical fiber having at least one curved portion configured to enhance penetration of evanescent waves; and one or more nanoparticles associated with the optical fiber, and configured to enhance localized surface plasmon resonance.
US08476004B2

A method for forming photoresist patterns includes providing a substrate, forming a bi-layered photoresist on the substrate, and performing a photolithography process to pattern the bi-layered photoresist. The bi-layered photoresist includes a first photoresist layer and a second photoresist layer positioned between the first photoresist layer and the substrate. The first photoresist layer has a first refraction index and the second photoresist layer has a second refraction index, and the second refraction index is larger than the first refraction index.
US08476000B2

A method of producing a relief image from a liquid photopolymerizable resin, said method comprising the steps of: a) placing a coverfilm onto an exposure glass; b) casting a liquid photopolymerizable resin layer onto the coverfilm; c) laminating a substrate to a backside of the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer as the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer is being cast onto the coverfilm; d) placing an image or film negative on top of the substrate; and e) exposing the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer through the image or film negative from the backside of the liquid photopolymerizable resin layer to selectively crosslink and cure the photopolymerizable resin layer and form a cured relief image, wherein said depth of the cured relief image is less than the height of the cast liquid photopolymerizable resin.
US08475998B2

A compound synthesis method includes bonding a first compound to a substrate to form a first film. A second film is formed on the first film using an acid-transfer composition including (A) a polymer that includes a structural unit shown by a following formula (1) and a structural unit shown by a following formula (2), (B) a photoacid generator shown by a following formula (3), and (C) a sensitizer shown by a following formula (4). The second film is exposed to remove the protecting group from the first compound under an exposed area of the second film. An acid generated in the exposed area of the second film is transferred to the first film. The second film after being exposed is removed. A second compound is bonded to the first compound from which the protecting group has been removed.
US08475993B2

A method for producing a decolorable toner comprising: forming particles containing a color former compound, a color developing agent, and a binder resin; forming first aggregated particles by aggregating and fusing the particles containing the color former compound, the color developing agent, and the binder resin in a dispersion medium; and forming second aggregated particles by aggregating and fusing the first aggregated particles and a binder resin in a dispersion medium.
US08475990B2

An image forming method includes using a charging device to charge a surface of a monolayer-type electrophotographic photoconductor that contains a specific amine compound, setting a projection area of the charging device per time relative to the photo sensitive layer surface of the electrophotographic photoconductor to be S (cm2), applying a current value to the charging device to be ICC (μA) and setting an inflow current value represented by ICC/S (μA/cm2) to a value within the range of from 5 to 25 μA/cm2.
US08475989B2

The carrier is used for a two-component developer for developing an electrostatic latent image, and includes a particulate magnetic core material; and a cover layer located on a surface of the core material and including a crosslinked material and barium sulfate. The cover layer is formed by applying a coating medium including barium sulfate, a copolymer including a unit (A) having a specific acrylic siloxane structure including a tris(trialkylsiloxy)silanyl group and a unit (B) having a specific acrylic silicone structure having a crosslinking ability, and a condensation reaction catalyst, heating the applied medium to a temperature of from 100° C. to 230° C. so that the copolymer is hydrolyzed to produce a material having a silanol group, and the material and the catalyst are subjected to a condensation reaction to form the crosslinked material.
US08475982B2

An electrophotographic photoreceptor comprising: a conductive support; and a photosensitive layer, wherein the photosensitive layer comprises a functional layer that comprises at least one of a first compound represented by formula (I); and a second compound derived from the first compound: wherein F represents a hole-transporting, n-valent organic group; R independently represents an organic group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms; T represents a divalent group; m indicates 0 or 1; and n indicates an integer of from 1 to 4.
US08475980B2

A method of forming a semiconductor device can include determining a shot set including a plurality of shots, based on a final pattern used to form a mask. Shots included in the plurality shots can be classified as being in a first pass shot set or in a second pass shot set, where each can include a plurality of non-directly neighboring shots. A first pass exposure can be performed to radiate a reticle to provide the first pass shot set and a second pass exposure can be performed to radiate the reticle to provide the second pass shot set.
US08475979B2

An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a color filter substrate, comprising: forming a black matrix on a base substrate; and forming color filter patterns having at least two colors on the base substrate on which the black matrix is formed, wherein forming a color filter pattern having one color of the at least two colors, comprising: forming a color filter resin layer having the one color on the base substrate on which the black matrix is formed; radiating the color filter resin layer from a side of the base substrate which is opposite to a side on which the black matrix is formed by using a mask to expose the color filter resin layer so as to form the color filter pattern, wherein light transmitting regions of the mask at least correspond to the color filter pattern to be formed.
US08475974B2

A membrane electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, anode catalyst layers, and cathode catalyst layers provided counter to the anode catalyst layers, respectively. An insulating layer is provided on the electrolyte membrane between adjacent anode catalyst layers. An insulating layer is provided on the electrolyte membrane between adjacent cathode catalyst layers. The resistivity of the insulating layer is preferably identical to or higher than that of the electrolyte membrane.
US08475964B2

A membrane electrode assembly includes solid polymer electrolyte membrane, an anode, and cathode. The cathode has a stacked body formed of a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The catalyst layer, which contains catalyst metal-supporting carbon particles and an ion conductor, further contains a mesoporous humidity control agent whose amount of water adsorption rises steeply as a relative humidity increases in a specific relative humidity region.
US08475960B2

An anode material is based on lithium-titanium spinel that contains doping components, chromium and vanadium, in equivalent quantities, of the chemical formula Li4Ti5-2y(CryVy)O12-x, where x is the deviation from stoichiometry within the limits 0.02
US08475957B2

The present invention relates to a negative electrode structure for use in a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery and a method of making such negative electrode structure. The negative electrode structure comprises: a monolithic anode comprising a semiconductor material, and a uniform ion transport structure disposed at the monolithic anode surface for contacting a non-aqueous electrolyte, wherein the uniform ion transport structure serves as a current collector and the negative electrode structure does not contain another current collector. The present invention also relates to a battery comprising the negative electrode structure of the present invention, a cathode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte.
US08475956B2

An exemplary embodiment provides: a composite of an electrode active material and an electric conductivity-imparting agent, which has a high capacity density and can produce a large current; a method for producing it; and a battery which has a high energy density and can produce a large output. Specifically, a polyradical compound as the electrode active material and a conductive material are heated and mixed at a temperature of not less than the softening temperature of the polyradical compound and less than the decomposition temperature thereof to form a composite of the polyradical compound and the conductive material. Fabricating an electrode using the composite can provide a novel battery having a high energy density and a large output.
US08475953B2

An energy store for a motor vehicle for storage and emission of electrical energy as required, having a multiplicity of cells which are positioned one above the other and/or alongside one another like an array, wherein each cell is surrounded by a first material, wherein a second material is positioned between the cells which are surrounded by the first material and form a cell array, and wherein heat exchanging ribs are positioned at edges of the cell array.
US08475949B2

A magnetic recording medium is presented that includes protruded magnetic patterns formed on a substrate, and a nonmagnetic material filled in recesses between the magnetic patterns in which an oxygen concentration thereof is higher at a surface side than at a substrate side. The nonmagnetic material is at least one selected from the group consisting of Si, SiC, SiC—C, SiOC, SiON, Si3N4, Al, AlxOy, Ti and TiOx.
US08475946B1

The present invention includes a method of preparing a ceramic precursor article, the ceramic precursor made thereby, a method of making a ceramic article and an article made by that method. It also includes a method of replicating a ceramic shape.
US08475941B2

There is provided a hard film excellent in wear resistance. The hard film in accordance with the present invention includes (TiaCrbAlcLd)(BxCyNz) in terms of composition, in which the L is at least one of Si and Y, and the a, b, c, d, x, y, and z each denote the atomic ratio, and satisfy: 0.1≦a<0.3; 0.3
US08475936B2

Organic compounds and organic electroluminescence devices employing the same are provided. The organic compound has a chemical structure represented as follows: wherein: R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are each independently an H, C1-8 alkyl group, C1-8 alkoxy group, C1-8 halo-alkyl group, aryl group, heteroaryl group, cycloalkyl group, hetero-cycloalkyl group, or cycloaliphatic group; Z is independently and R8 and R9 are each independent an aryl group, heteroaryl group, cycloalkyl group, hetero-cycloalkyl, or cycloaliphatic group.
US08475927B2

A dispersion of tin-doped indium oxide fine particles has tin-doped indium oxide fine particles, a plasticizer for an interlayer film, an organic solvent containing alcohols as a main component, and a dispersion stabilizer, wherein under measuring conditions of a concentration of tin-doped indium oxide fine particles of 0.7% by weight and an optical path length of a glass cell of 1 mm, a visible light transmittance is 80% or more, a solar radiation transmittance at a wavelength within a range from 300 nm to 2100 nm is ¾ or less of the visible light transmittance, a haze value is 1.0% or less, and a reflection yellow index is −20 or more.
US08475926B2

An intermediate transfer member for electrophotography includes a substrate and a non-ceramer polyurethane compliant layer. Disposed directly on the compliant layer is an outermost surface layer consisting essentially of a non-particulate, non-elastomeric ceramer or fluoroceramer and nanosized inorganic particles that are distributed within the non-particulate ceramer or fluoroceramer in an amount of at least 5 and up to and including 50 weight % of the outermost surface layer. This intermediate transfer member can be incorporated into a suitable imaging apparatus for forming a toned image on a receiver element.
US08475923B2

A heat transfer film includes a heat transfer layer formed of a first constituent material containing C (carbon) for transferring heat in an in-plane direction thereof and a layer thickness direction thereof; and a strain relaxation layer formed of a second constituent material and laminated on the heat transfer layer for relaxing a strain in the heat transfer layer. The first constituent material includes a graphite, and the second constituent material includes an amorphous material.
US08475922B2

According to one embodiment, there is provided a nanoparticle composite material, including nanoparticle aggregates in a shape having an average height of 20 nm or more and 2 μm or less and having an average aspect ratio of 5 or more, the nanoparticle aggregates including metal nanoparticles having an average diameter of 1 nm or more and 20 nm or less and containing at least one magnetic metals selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co and Ni and binder existing between the nanoparticle aggregates.
US08475918B2

Cutting elements comprise a substrate and an unleached polycrystalline table attached on an end of the substrate. The polycrystalline table comprises a plurality of continuously inter-bonded grains of a superhard material and a quantity of catalyst material disposed in interstitial spaces between grains of the plurality of continuously inter-bonded grains of a superhard material. A mean grain size of the plurality of continuously inter-bonded grains is at least substantially uniform throughout the polycrystalline table and the quantity of catalyst material varies across the polycrystalline table in a direction parallel to a central axis of the polycrystalline table.
US08475917B2

A fluororubber-metal laminate sheet, which comprises a metallic sheet and a vulcanized fluorocarbon layer, provided on the metallic sheet by applying thereto a fluororubber composition comprising (A) 100 parts by weight of a polyol-vulcanizable fluororubber, (B) 10-50 parts by weight of amorphous graphite, (C) 1-15 parts by weight of a phenol resin, (D) 1-4 parts by weight of a silane coupling agent, (E) 0.5-8 parts by weight of a polyol-based vulcanizing agent, and (F) 0.5-6 parts by weight of a vulcanizing accelerator, followed by vulcanization of the fluororubber composition to form laminate, where the metallic sheet is free from either a chromating treatment or a chromating substitute treatment, is distinguished in characteristics such as sealability, compression resistance, air-heated aging resistance, anti-freezing liquid resistance, oil resistance, sticking resistance, abrasion resistance, etc.
US08475916B2

An antireflection film that requires neither a special vacuum chamber nor other expensive instruments and can be formed on a substrate of any size, and a method for manufacturing such an antireflection film are provided. The antireflection film is configured as follows: to the surface of a substrate coated with a film composed of a first film compound having a first functional group, is bound and fixed a layer of transparent fine particles through a bond formed by a coupling reaction between the first functional group and a first coupling reactive group of a first coupling agent that forms a film coating each of the transparent fine particles. Furthermore, alternating layers that consist of transparent fine particles each coated with a film composed of a film compound reactive with the first coupling reactive group and the reactive transparent fine particles may be bound and fixed thereonto.
US08475913B2

A titanium/titanium alloy-and-resin composite includes a titanium/titanium alloy substrate, a nano-porous oxide film formed on the substrate, and resin compositions coupled to the surface of the nano-porous oxide film. The nano-porous oxide film has nano pores and includes at least two layers of different three dimensional meshed structures. The resin compositions contain crystalline thermoplastic synthetic resins. A method for making the titanium/titanium alloy-and-resin composite is also described.
US08475912B2

A coating composition for forming a low-refractive-index layer includes a first fluorine compound represented by Formula 1 below, (CH2═CR1COO)2Rf  Formula 1 and a reactive silicon compound, a (meth)acrylate compound, a polymerization initiator, and a solvent. The first fluorine compound represented by Formula 1, the reactive silicon compound, the (meth)acrylate compound, the polymerization initiator, and the solvent may each be different from one another, and in Formula 1, Rf may be a C1-19 perfluoro group, and R1 may be a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
US08475906B2

A silicon carbide based porous material, which contains a metal silicide in an amount of 1 to 30% by mass and having a porosity of 38 to 80%, is provided.
US08475899B2

The present invention provides a polymerization process which is conducted by contacting an olefin monomer and at least one olefin comonomer in the presence of hydrogen and a metallocene-based catalyst composition. Polymers produced from the polymerization process are also provided, and these polymers have a reverse comonomer distribution, low levels of long chain branches, and a ratio of Mw/Mn from about 3 to about 6.
US08475886B2

A method is disclosed herein for treating a polymeric surface to resist non-specific binding of biomolecules and attachment of cells. The method includes the steps of: imparting a charge to the polymeric surface to produce a charged surface; exposing the charged surface to a nitrogen-rich polymer to form a polymerized surface; exposing the polymerized surface to an oxidized polysaccharide to form an aldehyde surface; and exposing the aldehyde surface to a reducing agent. Advantageously, a method is provided which produces surfaces that resist non-specific protein binding and cell attachment and that avoids the use of photochemical reactions or prior art specially designed compounds.
US08475879B1

Polymer nanocomposites with improved resistance to high energy ionizing radiation. Certain embodiments involve methods for providing a nanocomposite material with resistance to high energy ionizing radiation using nanodiamond, zinc oxide and mixtures of these nanoparticles with other nanoparticles dispersed within the matrix. Other embodiments relate to methods of delivering and dispersing the nanoparticles through the material or a surface layer. Other embodiments include methods of forming chemical bonds between the nanoparticles and the material. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08475867B2

A method for forming electrical traces on a substrate includes the steps of: providing a substrate; printing an ink pattern using an ink on the substrate, the ink including a aqueous medium containing silver ions and a heat sensitive reducing agent; heating the ink pattern to reduce silver ions into silver particles thereby forming an semi-finished traces; and forming a metal overcoat on the semi-finished traces by electroless plating thereby obtaining patterned electrical traces.
US08475859B2

A coffee dispensing device is provided with a transport device that couples various components for the processing of unroasted coffee beans together. For example a roaster may be coupled to a grinding and brewing device to enable the transfer of roasted coffee beans between the roaster and grinder/brewer. Also, the transport device may transfer the roasted coffee beans from a roaster to an output port so that roasted coffee beans may be obtained. An automated coffee transaction device (ACTD) is also provided to automate aspects of the purchasing of coffee. A service delay projection calculator is also provided to estimate the expected wait time of a customer entering a queue.
US08475858B2

The present invention includes methods and devices for mass producing cooked, cooled egg products having a grill fried egg appearance. One device includes a portion for positioning whole, intact, shelled eggs positioned laterally across and above a cooking mold conveyor, and a portion for cracking the eggshells and depositing the eggs into cooking molds on the conveyor. Some devices and methods include an egg yolk splitter for rupturing the egg yolk sac to deposit a whole egg having a ruptured egg yolk into each mold. Other devices and methods include irregular shaped egg molds for providing a mass produced cooked egg having a natural, irregular shaped outlines and/or surfaces. Devices and methods according to the present invention can be used to produce irregular, outlined shaped cooked egg products including whole eggs, formulated eggs, or eggs made from scrambled egg mixes. The pre-cooked eggs can be delivered pathogen free to fast food establishments and reheated for consumers in less time than required to cook the egg.
US08475841B2

Sustained release pharmaceutical formulations comprising an antihyperglycemic drug or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are disclosed. The formulations provide therapeutic plasma levels of the antihyperglycemic drug to a human patient over a 24 hour period after administration.
US08475836B2

Topical patch preparations that contain an odorless physiological cooling agent, and methods for using the same are provided. The subject topical patch preparations are made up of an adhesive gel composition that is present on a support, where the adhesive gel composition includes the odorless physiological cooling agent, a water-soluble polymer gel, water and a water holding agent. In using the subject topical patch preparations, the topical patch preparations are applied to a skin surface of a subject and maintained at the site of application for a period of time sufficient for an effective amount of the an odorless physiological cooling agent to be administered to the subject. The subject invention finds use in a variety of applications.
US08475833B2

Provided is a jelly preparation which enables easy intraoral dissolution thereof, easy adjustment of the dissolution time, and stable containment of a drug therein. The jelly preparation of the present invention is a jelly preparation including water, a gelatin, a drug, and a trivalent metal ion.
US08475826B2

The titanium oxide-organic polymer composite material for artificial bone obtained by forming titania gel on the surface of said base material by titania solution treatment to dip into a solution of 0° C. to 50° C. temperature for from several seconds to 1 week obtained by adding a solution consisting of acidic alcohol and water into alcohol solution of titaniumtetraalcoxide to a base material composed of a polymer compound selected from a group consisting of polyolefin, polyester and nylon, and modifying to a titanium oxide membrane which forms apatite having similar Ca/P atom ratio to an apatite of mammalian's bone in supersaturated aqueous solution to apatite or from a body fluid of mammalian by dipping said base material on the surface of which titania gel is formed into hot water of. 50° C. to 95° C. or solution of room temperature to 95° C. to which acid is added.
US08475824B2

Compression resistant matrices and methods are provided that have elongated particles embedded therein. The compression resistant matrices provide improved stability and mechanical strength and resists shifting, extrusion and rotation after implantation. In some embodiments, the matrices provided reduce or prevent surface compression of the implantable matrix which will cause unwanted increased amounts of growth factor (e.g., bone morphogenic protein) to leak from the matrix.
US08475822B2

Methods of making room temperature-curable polymers. Reactants include siloxane-terminated polymers and silanols. The reactants are mixed, and the polymerization allowed to proceed in air at room temperature. The polymers are exceptionally useful because they allow for the incorporation into the polymers themselves of one or more therapeutic compounds. Thus, medical devices from which controlled drug release is desirable (for either local or systemic delivery) can be coated with therapeutic compound-containing polymers of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, a polymer of poly(MPCw:LAMx:HPMAy:TSMAz) where w, x, y, and z represent the molar ratios of monomers used in the feed for preparing the polymer; MPC represents the unit 2-methacryoyloxyethylphosphorylcholine, LMA represents the unit lauryl methacrylate, HPMA represents the unit 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, and TSMA represents the unit 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate is reacted with polydimethylsiloxane. In another preferred embodiment, a therapeutic compound is incorporated into the polymer, such as dexamethasone.
US08475815B2

A composition comprising an alloplastic injectable suspension for use as a dermal filler comprising a biocompatible and pliable material and a physiologically acceptable suspending agent comprising particles of the unsubstituted acrylate/substituted acrylate copolymer with a diameter of less than about 100μ. Methods for making a composition comprising an alloplastic injectable suspension for use as a dermal filler are provided. Methods of augmenting soft tissue to provide long-term reduction of a skin defect and the stimulation of collagen production are also provided.
US08475814B2

Pharmaceutical compositions of 4-hydroxy tamoxifen, particularly compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, are useful in methods for treating and preventing breast cancer. When percutaneously administered to a patient's breasts, 4-hydroxy tamoxifen concentrates locally, and exerts an anti-estrogenic effect. In patients with breast cancer, this effect reduces tumor tissue proliferation. In patients at risk for developing breast cancer, the anti-estrogenic effect prevents breast tumor formation.
US08475809B2

The present invention provides an immunogenic composition comprising one or more Streptococcus uberis sortase-anchored surface proteins, or an immunogenic part thereof, wherein the composition is capable of eliciting an immune response, when administered to a subject.
US08475793B2

The invention relates to binding compounds that specifically bind to human TSLPR, as well as uses thereof, e.g., in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
US08475791B2

The present invention relates to ZCYTO18 polynucleotide and polypeptide molecules. The ZCYTO18 is a novel cytokine. The polypeptides may be used within methods for stimulating the proliferation and/or development of hematopoietic cells in vitro and in vivo. The present invention also includes methods for producing the protein, uses therefor and antibodies thereto.
US08475786B2

The present invention relates to methods for a long-term and sustained release of flavonoids, in particular rhamnose-containing flavonoids, and for prolonging the uptake of said flavonoids in the gastro-intestinal tract. It further relates to compositions comprising said flavonoid and α-rhamnosidase. It also encompasses compositions comprising hesperidin and hesperetin-7-glucoside.
US08475782B2

The present invention relates to a method for treating at least a surface of a substrate containing labile hydrogen atoms to confer to it cytotoxic properties or cell-adhesion properties, characterized in that it comprises at least a step consisting of exposing, within a liquid medium, said substrate or a surface thereof with at least a copolymer, said copolymer containing at least a monomer unit of type A including at least a reactive site able to attach to said substrate or said surface by covalent bonds and at least a monomer unit of type B including at least one molecule able to confer antimicrobial, antiviricidal and/or antifungicidal or cell-adhesion properties to said substrate or said surface, said step being carried out in efficient conditions to promote the covalent grafting of said copolymer to said substrate or a surface thereof.
US08475778B2

The present invention is drawn to a composition and process for inhibiting hair from becoming frizzy when exposed to high and/or low humidity, the composition containing: (a) at least one fatty quaternary amine; (b) at least one nonionic surfactant; (c) at least one anionic silicone; (d) at least one water-insoluble material; (e) at least one cationic polymer; and (f) at least one film former, different from (e).
US08475775B1

The present invention provides new retinoid compounds and uses of the compounds in humans and animals for non-neoplastic dermal or inflammatory conditions or disorders.
US08475765B2

The present invention relates to a method of producing a hydroxyalkyl starch derivative comprising reacting hydroxyalkyl starch of formula (I) at its reducing end which is not oxidized prior to said reaction, with a compound of formula (II) R′NH—R″ (II) wherein R1-R2 and R3 are independently hydrogen or a linear or branched hydroxyalkyl group, and wherein either R′ or R″ or R′ and R″ comprise at least one functional group X capable of being reacted with at least one other compound prior to or after the reaction of (I) and (II), as well as to the hydroxyalkyl starch derivative as such, obtainable by said method, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said hydroxyalkyl starch derivative.
US08475764B2

The present invention relates to an adrenomedullin derivative including an adrenomedullin peptide, or a fragment thereof chelated or otherwise bound to at least one active agent. Examples of active agents include a paramagnetic element, a radioactive element and a fibrinolytic agent, among others. Paramagnetic agents have a distribution that is relatively easily shown through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Radioactive agents have applications in imaging and delivery of radiations, depending on the specific element included in the active agent. Delivery of fibrinolytic agents mainly to a specific organ, such as for example to the lungs, allows to substantially improve the specificity and efficacy of thrombolytic therapy by allowing local delivery of the fibrinolytic agent, thereby reducing the risks of major bleeding in the therapy of the organ. If the organ is the lungs, a non-limiting example of pathology treatable with the fibrinolytic agent is pulmonary embolus.
US08475758B2

The present invention is directed to a method for providing an agricultural waste product having amorphous silica, carbon, and impurities; extracting from the agricultural waste product an amount of the impurities; changing the ratio of carbon to silica; and reducing the silica to a high purity silicon (e.g., to photovoltaic silicon).
US08475735B2

A disposable immunodiagnostic test system tests for marker proteins in a sample and includes intimately contacting passage, protein, and absorbent layers. The passage layer is non-porous and has an aperture therethrough. The protein layer is porous, has combinable proteins immobilized thereon, and enables passage of the sample therethrough. The protein layer has an active surface aligned with the passage layer aperture. The sample is introduced onto the protein layer through the passage layer aperture. In positive results, the marker proteins are bound to the combinable proteins and immobilized relative to the protein layer. In negative results, the sample passes through the protein layer, and is absorbed by the absorbent layer. A housing may also be provided, as may a wash structure. The system may be constructed of combustible materials that produce non-toxic by-products upon incineration, preferably enabling ecologically responsible disposal after diagnostic use of the system.
US08475731B2

An assay reader system incorporating a conventional assay reader, for example a lateral flow reader, and an insert aligned with the reader's sensor to detect an assay result. The insert may include a housing which defines a cavity to receive a removable barrier, wherein the removable barrier can be aligned between the sensor and the test strip. The barrier may include an optical window, and may be cleanable and/or disposable to maintain the accuracy of the reader. Test strips are introduced into the reader through a receiving port within the insert's housing. An air inlet on the insert further maintains the reader's accuracy by allowing air to be tunneled over the housing to remove excess dust, debris, or the like.
US08475730B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for single cell trap and position fixing of the trapped cell thereof, and specifically, it induces cell movement from where fluid flows strongly to where the fluid flows weakly, by injecting pressed air to an air channel to modify a thin film of a vibrator, and therefore to induce the fluid flow. Further, the present invention relates to an apparatus which can fix the cell position as well as minimizing the external stimulation to the cells, wherein single cells are trapped in a region wherein the fluid flows are minimized and their positions are fixed using the effect that the fluid flows induced by the vibrators are offset one another because the vibrators are formed symmetrically one another.
US08475727B2

This invention relates to a new system for controlling temperature and pressure in, at least, one chemical reactor, characterized in that it includes, at least, the following devices: a) a deposit with at least one pressure regulation device; b) a connecting duct between said deposit and the reactor; c) a device for injecting condensates into the reactor. Moreover, the invention relates to the use of said control system to control the pressure and temperature of at least one chemical reactor, being especially applicable to a chemical reactor in which a hydrothermal biomass carbonization reaction takes place.
US08475726B2

A reactor (6) for pyrolysing waste, in particular rubber tires, said reactor comprising a pyrolysis space (68), an inlet port (63) and an outlet port (64) enabling a flow across the pyrolysis space (68) of a heating medium for transferring heat required for the pyrolysis, and a lower discharge port (62) for discharging solid residues of the pyrolysis. The invention is, characterized in that—it comprises a baffle means (65) made of a plate material and enabling a gravitational slipping of the solid residues towards the discharge port (62), which baffle means (65) has openings (66) allowing the flow of the heating medium and is arranged to divide the inner space of the reactor (6) to form an upper pyrolysis space (68) and a lower space and—one of the inlet and outlet ports (63, 64) is in connection with the pyrolysis space (68) and the other one with the lower space. The invention is also an apparatus comprising the above reactor (6).
US08475717B2

A police tester to detect the presence of a target substance includes a housing adapted to be mounted in a police cruiser; a chemical reservoir insertable into the housing; a test swipe in a disc or an automated cartridge, the test swipe adapted to receive a chemical from the chemical reservoir, the test swipe including one or more chemically treated pads; a camera to capture an image from the test swipe; a processor coupled to the camera to process the image to detect the target substance; and a transmitter coupled to the processor to transmit a test result to a remote computer at a police headquarter.
US08475713B2

Methods and systems for reduced temperature radiation sterilization of stents are disclosed.
US08475703B2

A method is provided of fabricating a composite incorporating fillers. The method includes the steps of depositing the fillers in a matrix material either in a rapid prototyping device or prior to inserting the matrix material into a mold. The mold is positioned at a desired location with respect to an electrical field such that at least a portion of the fillers in the matrix material align in a first direction in response thereto. For producing a heterogeneous composite through a rapid prototyping process, the electrodes are positioned at a desired orientation to align the fillers. Thereafter, at least a portion of the matrix material is cured with desirable filler orientation. The procedure is repeated with the desired filler orientation and distribution being introduced layer by layer within the composite.
US08475701B2

A silicone rubber molding, which contains 1-50 wt % of a thermoplastic resin powder and whose silicone rubber surface possesses thermoplasticity and irregularities, and a method for manufacturing a silicone rubber molding, wherein an embossing die having surface irregularities is pressed into the surface of silicone rubber containing 1-50 wt % of a thermoplastic resin powder at a temperature that is not less than the softening point of said thermoplastic resin powder so as to transfer the irregularities of the embossing die thereto.
US08475697B2

A transfer molding box and a method to produce a plurality of brushes with an applicator is provided. The transfer molding box includes a pressing plate 30, an upper molding box 10 where at least a brush molding groove is formed and a lower molding box 20 where at least another brush molding groove corresponding to the brush molding groove of the upper molding box is formed and placed under the upper molding box 10. A wick 1 is settled in horizontal direction between the brush molding groove of the upper molding box and the brush molding groove of the lower molding box. Further material inserting portion 11 and a projected pressing portion 31 which has corresponding shape to the material inserting portion 11 are provided at the top of the upper molding box 10 and at the top of the lower molding box 20, respectively.
US08475695B2

The integral layer provides a ductile interface for attachment locations of a turbine engine component where a metallic surface is adjacent the attachment location. The ductile layer provides a favorable load distribution through the composite at the attachment location, and eliminates the need for a metallic shim.
US08475680B2

A luminescent material which is featured in that it exhibits an emission peak at a wavelength ranging from 490 to 580 nm as it is excited by light having a wavelength ranging from 250 to 500 nm and that it has a composition represented by the following general formula (2): (M1-xRx)a2AlSib2Oc2Nd2  (2) (In the general formula (2), M is at least one metallic element excluding Si and Al, R is a luminescence center element, and x, a2, b2, c2 and d2 satisfy the following relationships: 0
US08475678B2

The present invention provides a method of using a solid-layered composition having at least two parts. The first past comprises a) calcium hypochlorite, magnesium hypochlorite and mixtures thereof, b) a builder, c) a water-soluble polymer, d) an acid, and e) wherein the first part does not contain sodium hypochlorite, lithium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite and mixtures thereof. The second part comprises a) a surfactant, b) a builder, c) an acid, and d) wherein the second part does not contain any oxidant.
US08475677B2

An etchant gas and a method for removing at least a portion of a late transition metal structure. The etchant gas includes PF3 and at least one oxidizing agent, such as at least one of oxygen, ozone, nitrous oxide, nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide. The etchant gas provides a method of uniformly removing the late transition metal structure or a portion thereof. Moreover, the etchant gas facilitates removing a late transition metal structure with an increased etch rate and at a decreased etch temperature. A method of removing a late transition metal without removing more reactive materials proximate the late transition metal and exposed to the etchant gas is also disclosed.
US08475676B2

Electrolyte for use in an energy storage device such as a capacitor or supercapacitor which comprises a solvent (preferably propionitrile) and an ionic species (preferably methyltriethylammonium tetrafluoroborate). The electrolytes provide a low ESR rise rate, a high voltage and permit operation over a wide range of temperatures, which makes them beneficial for use in a range of energy storage devices such as digital wireless devices, wireless LAN devices, mobile telephones, computers, electrical or hybrid electrical vehicles.
US08475670B2

A method for manufacturing a patterned magnetic media. The method allows both a data region and a servo region to be patterned without the patterning of one region adversely affecting the patterning of the other region. The method results in a patterned data region a patterned servo region and intermediate regions between the servo and data regions. The intermediate regions, which are most likely, but not necessarily, asymmetrical with one another indicate that the method has been used to pattern the media.
US08475667B2

The present disclosure relates to a method of patterning a photosensitive material on a polymeric fill matrix comprising at least one latent photoacid generator; and a structure prepared according to said method. The method comprises: a. depositing a polymeric fill matrix comprising at least one latent photoacid generator; b. curing the polymeric fill matrix; c. depositing a layer of photosensitive material directly onto the cured polymeric fill matrix; and d. forming a pattern with at least one opening in the layer of photosensitive material with lithography.
US08475640B2

The present invention provides a simple method to correct cross-talk, after the data have been generated. Adjacent signals are simply subtracted from the original observed signal with a repeating process. The data processing is stopped when a predefined condition is met. By this technique, cross-talk can be reduced from >5% to less than 0.1%. And as an additional advantage, this method provides a way to correct the cross-talk without the need to know which peaks are caused by the adjacent capillary signal.
US08475634B2

A method of magnetically enhanced sputtering an electrically-conductive material onto interior surfaces of a trench described herein includes providing a magnetic field adjacent to a target formed at least in part from the electrically-conductive material, and applying a DC voltage between an anode and the target as a plurality of pulses. A high-frequency signal is applied to the pedestal supporting the semiconductor substrate to generate a self-bias field adjacent to the semiconductor substrate. The high-frequency signal is applied to the pedestal in pulses, during periods of time that overlap with the periods during which the DC voltage pulses are applied. The periods of time that the high-frequency signals are applied include a duration that extends beyond termination of the DC voltage pulse applied between the anode and the target. During each DC voltage pulse the electrically-conductive material is sputter deposited onto the side walls of the trench formed in the semiconductor substrate.
US08475623B2

A substrate processing method is used for a substrate processing system having a substrate processing device and a substrate transfer device. The substrate processing method includes a substrate transfer step of transferring a substrate and a substrate processing step of performing a predetermined process on the substrate. The substrate transfer step and the substrate processing step include a plurality of operations, and at least two operations among the plurality of the operations are performed simultaneously. Preferably, the substrate processing device includes an accommodating chamber, a mounting table placed in the accommodating chamber to be mounted thereon the substrate, and a heat transfer gas supply line for supplying a heat transfer gas to a space between the substrate mounted on the mounting table and the mounting table.
US08475621B2

Hot melt adhesive compositions which have enhanced adhesion to difficult substrates, particularly at refrigerator/freezer temperatures or at elevated temperatures. The inventive compositions require a base polymer comprising at least one metallocene ethylene-containing polymer or at least one non-metallocene, amorphous, propylene containing polymer; a tackifier; an optional wax; and an adhesion promoting additive comprising at least one semi-crystalline polymer having a weight average molecular weight of about 30,000 daltons or less. It has been found that the adhesion promoting additive of this invention enhances the adhesion properties of a hot melt adhesive composition having a metallocene ethylene-containing base polymer or non-metallocene, amorphous, propylene containing base polymer, particularly at elevated temperatures or at low refrigerator and freezer temperatures where other conventional adhesives have been unsuccessful.
US08475618B2

A manufacturing method of a hermetic container includes an assembling step of assembling the hermetic container and a sealing step of sealing by first and second sealing materials. Thus, in a case where local heating light is scanned toward an already-sealed portion of the second sealing material, since a separation portion of an unsealed state is located between the already-sealed portion and a downstream end of scanning, a load due to expansion/contraction of a frame body is applied to the first sealing material which is present in the separation portion of the unsealed state. After then, since the local heating light is irradiated to the first sealing material to which the load has been applied so as to heat and melt it, the load is relieved, whereby it is possible to suppress deterioration of joining strength and airtightness of the hermetic container.
US08475616B2

An RF inductor such as a Tesla antenna splices nanotube ends together to form a nanostructure in a polymer foam matrix. High Internal Phase Emulsion (HIPE) is gently sheared and stretched in a reactor comprising opposed coaxial counter-rotating impellers, which parallel-align polymer chains and also carbon nanotubes mixed with the oil phase. Stretching and forced convection prevent the auto-acceleration effect. Batch and continuous processes are disclosed. In the batch process, a fractal radial array of coherent vortices in the HIPE is preserved when the HIPE polymerizes, and helical nanostructures around these vortices are spliced by microhammering into longer helices. A disk radial filter produced by the batch process has improved radial flux from edge to center due to its area-preserving radial vascular network. In the continuous process, strips of HIPE are pulled from the periphery of the reactor continuously and post-treated by an RF inductor to produce cured conductive foam.
US08475615B2

The invention relates to a method for repairing a wall (1), including a plurality of layers (2), each layer including fibers (3) extending in a main direction (4), and having a damaged area (5) over a plurality layers (2). The repair method includes a material removal step comprising making a recessed area (6) encircling the damaged area (5) and comprising a peripheral area (7) including steps (8) and adapted such that each step defines an interface area (9) having a width (10), the dimension of which in the main direction of the fibers of the lower layer adjoining the interface area (9) is greater than the dimension of said width in directions other than the main direction (4), a step of producing a replacement part (12) suitable for obstructing the recessed area, and a step of assembling the replacement part (12) onto the wall.
US08475609B2

A method of treating an Al/Zn-based alloy coated product that includes an Al/Zn-based alloy coating on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes the steps of rapid intense heating of the alloy coating for a very short duration, and rapid cooling of the alloy coating, and forming a modified crystalline microstructure of the alloy coating.
US08475608B2

Magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys having metallic magnesium (Mg) and a magnesium-containing intermetallic compound (MgxMy wherein y is 1−x) and containing not less than 60 mass-% of magnesium in total, and having a phase of a primarily crystallized magnesium-containing intermetallic compound in its solidification structure.
US08475603B2

The invention is directed toward a system and method for sanitizing a condensate drain to reduce sludge and related pathogens. The system is directed to a sanitizing assembly having a treatment chamber connected to the condensate drain, where the treatment chamber includes a top end and a shaft. A spray assembly is positioned proximate to the top end of the treatment chamber. This spray assembly has a nozzle spray connected to a hot water source. A spray controller within the spray assembly helps disperse a sufficient quantity and pressure of hot water within the shaft to dislodge sludge, when necessary.
US08475593B2

In a crystal preparing device, a crucible holds a mixed molten metal containing alkali metal and group III metal. A container has a container space contacting the mixed molten metal and holds a molten alkali metal between the container space and an outside of the container, the molten alkali metal contacting the container space. A gas supply device supplies nitrogen gas to the container space. A heating device heats the crucible to a crystal growth temperature. The crystal preparing device is provided so that a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the molten alkali metal is substantially equal to a vapor pressure of the alkali metal which evaporates from the mixed molten metal.
US08475592B2

A single crystal of semiconductor material is produced by a method of melting semiconductor material granules by means of a first induction heating coil on a dish with a run-off tube consisting of the semiconductor material, forming a melt of molten granules which extends from the run-off tube in the form of a melt neck and a melt waist to a phase boundary, delivering heat to the melt by means of a second induction heating coil which has an opening through which the melt neck passes, crystallizing the melt at the phase boundary, and delivering a cooling gas to the run-off tube and to the melt neck in order to control the axial position of an interface between the run-off tube and the melt neck.
US08475591B2

A method and apparatus for forming a sheet are disclosed. A melt is cooled and a sheet is formed on the melt. This sheet has a first thickness. The sheet is then thinned from the first thickness to a second thickness using, for example, a heater or the melt. The cooling may be configured to allow solutes to be trapped in a region of the sheet and this particular sheet may be thinned and the solutes removed. The melt may be, for example, silicon, silicon and germanium, gallium, or gallium nitride.
US08475588B2

A wafer structure and epitaxial growth method for growing the same. The method may include forming a mask layer having nano-sized areas on a wafer, forming a porous layer having nano-sized pores on a surface of the wafer by etching the mask layer and a surface of the wafer, and forming an epitaxial material layer on the porous layer using an epitaxial growth process.
US08475586B2

Various methods for forming structural composites are disclosed. For example, a particular method may include adding an effective amount of algae extract to an aggregate mixture so as to provide a plasticizer to the aggregate mixture, and processing the aggregate mixture to form a hardened composite.
US08475579B2

A black ink composition is provided. The black ink composition includes a dispersive black colorant; less than 1 wt % of a glycol ether compound based on total weight of the black ink composition; a solvent; and water. The black ink composition of the present invention is free of surfactants and has excellent compatibility with a nozzle, and thus provides good smoothness in printing and high-quality image.
US08475577B2

An aerosol sampling intake configured to exclude particles generally greater than 20 microns AD and capture particles of less than about 10 microns AD with high efficiency, independent of weather conditions, through which air is sampled by suction. The intake combines an omnidirectional horizontal segment with diffuser and elbow, the elbow transitioning flow to a vertical segment, the vertical segment with overhanging lip, the centrifugal impactor for self-cleaning operation, thus relieving the dual problems of re-entrainment of particles bouncing from the impactor surface and fouling by particles sticking to the impactor surface. The device is adapted for use on moving vehicles, for sampling at increased windspeeds, or for sampling in rain.
US08475570B2

The invention provides a process for producing purified gas from feed gas comprising H2S, CO2 and HCN and/or COS, the process comprising the steps of: (a) contacting feed gas comprising H2S, CO2 and HCN and/or COS with a HCN/COS hydrolysis sorbent in the presence of water in a HCN/COS hydrolysis unit, thereby obtaining gas depleted in HCN and/or COS; (b) contacting the gas depleted in HCN and/or COS with absorbing liquid in an H2S/CO2 absorber to remove H2S and CO2, thereby obtaining the purified gas and absorbing liquid rich in H2S and CO2; (c) heating and de-pressurizing at least part of the absorbing liquid rich in H2S and CO2 to obtain hot flash gas enriched in CO2 and absorbing liquid enriched in H2S; (d) contacting the absorbing liquid enriched in H2S at elevated temperature with a stripping gas, thereby transferring H2S to the stripping gas to obtain regenerated absorbing liquid and stripping gas rich in H2S; and (e) leading at least part of the flash gas enriched in CO2 to the HCN/COS hydrolysis unit and/or to the H2S/CO2 absorber.
US08475563B2

In a method of treating a gas stream, an aqueous scrubbing liquor is circulated through an essentially closed loop (20) comprising an electrochemical unit (48) for reducing the acidity of the liquor. A portion of the circulating liquor is diverted away from the closed loop (20) to a gas scrubbing unit (10). The gas stream enters the scrubbing unit (10), wherein an acid, for example HF and solid particulates, for example SiO2 particulates, within the gas stream dissolve in the diverted liquor. The diverted liquor is subsequently returned to the closed loop (20), and is replenished in the scrubbing unit (10) by fresh liquor diverted from the closed loop (20). A device (46) is provided for monitoring the acidity of the liquor at a location within the closed loop (20). The reduction in the acidity of the liquor by the electrochemical cell (48) is controlled depending on the monitored concentration. By controlling the acidity of the liquor, the solubility of the solid particulates within the diverted portion of the liquor may be optimised. This can increase the lifetime of one or more filter cartridges (42) located in the closed loop (20) upstream from the electrochemical unit (48).
US08475562B2

A gas purification apparatus capable of removing fine particles of substantially any size without lowering the efficiency of gas supply. A loader module of a substrate processing apparatus includes a fan filter unit for producing a downward flow of atmospheric air in the internal space of a transfer chamber. The fan filter unit includes a fan for generating an atmospheric air flow, a filter of mesh structure for trapping and removing particles mixed in the atmospheric air flow, an irradiation heater disposed between the fan and the filter, and a high temperature part disposed in the atmospheric air flow and higher in temperature than the filter.
US08475561B2

A method for producing molten iron by melting an iron source material using an iron bath-type melting furnace comprising a top-blowing lance at an upper part of the furnace, a bottom-blowing tuyere in the bottom of the furnace and a tap hole at a lower part on the side of the furnace, the method comprising: a melting process of melting the iron source material, wherein the melting process has at least one tapping process of discharging the molten iron and the slag through the tap hole while holding a position of the furnace in generating the molten iron, and the tapping process continues or interrupts generation of the molten iron and continues top-blowing of the oxygen-containing gas to thereby keep a temperature of the molten iron in the furnace at or above a pre-set lowest temperature of the molten iron.
US08475558B2

Provided is a freely flowing particulate fertilizer essentially consisting of potassium phosphate of the formula K3H3(PO4)2 and of less than 8 wt % water. The stable and not caking fertilizer is characterized by an XRD signal corresponding to 2-theta of about 70°. An economic process for making the fertilizer is also provided consisting in reacting KOH and monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) in water, heating the mixture under vacuum and cooling it down, thereby obtaining the particulate fertilizer.
US08475553B2

A bonded abrasive tool comprises a blend of abrasive grains and a bond component. The blend of abrasive grains comprises a filamentary sol-gel alumina abrasive grain and agglomerated abrasive grain granules. A bonded abrasive tool comprising an agglomerate of filamentary sol-gel alumina abrasive and non-filamentary abrasive grains, and a bond component is also disclosed. The filamentary sol-gel alumina abrasive grain has a length-to-cross-sectional-width aspect ratio of greater than 1.0. The agglomerated abrasive grain granules comprise a plurality of abrasive grains held in a three-dimensional shape by a binding material. A method of making such a bonded abrasive tool as described above is also disclosed.
US08475548B2

In a reactor for the gasification of solid and liquid fuels in the entrained flow at temperatures between 1200 and 1900° C. and pressures between ambient pressure and 10 MPa with an oxidizing agent containing free oxygen, the cooling screen is connected in a gas-tight manner to the pressure shell via a bellows compensator to accommodate linear deformation. Continuous sweeping by gas of the annular gap between pressure shell and cooling screen is unnecessary and backflow by producer gas is prevented.
US08475545B2

A method of assembling a feed injector is provided. The method includes providing a feed injector tip that includes an inlet, a tip end, a flow passage that extends longitudinally through the feed injector tip from the inlet to the tip end, an annular cooling channel that substantially circumscribes the flow passage, and a buffer region that separates the annular cooling channel from the flow passage. The method further includes coupling the feed injector tip to the feed injector to enable a fluid to be channeled through the flow passage, such that the fluid flows past the inlet, at which the buffer region has a first width, before flowing past the tip end, at which the buffer region has a second width, the first width wider than the second width, and coupling a cooling assembly to the feed injector to enable a flow of cooling fluid to be channeled into the annular cooling channel.
US08475544B2

Disclosed is an apparatus for burning comprising a combustible body having an exterior surface and an axis extending between opposed top and bottom surfaces. The body has an interior surface defining a cavity extending from the top surface and a first blind bore extending radially from the cavity to the exterior surface wherein the interior surface includes a plurality of slots extending longitudinally therein.
US08475534B2

Methods and instrumentation for arthroscopic elbow surgery which include a humeral component. The humeral component is installed in a trough formed in the humeral condyle. The trough may be formed by using a plurality of drill pins and a plurality of corresponding cutters (and optionally a template). The two drill pins are passed through the template and drilled into the humerus, and cutters are advanced over the corresponding drill pins to form the trough. The humeral component may be employed in conjunction with an ulnar implant.
US08475533B1

A system, stabilizer and method for assisting the inhibition of the inward advancement of the surgically implanted spinal implant. The current system, stabilizer and method are particularly useful with spinal cages or other implants having one or more apertures about their perimeters.
US08475528B2

An intraocular lens insertion device capable of folding an intraocular lens into a predetermined shape without giving a local stress to the intraocular lens. The intraocular lens insertion device 2 includes a lens disposing part 15 for disposing an intraocular lens 4, a slider 7 for pushing out the intraocular lens 4, a plunger 8 for further pushing out the intraocular lens pushed out by the slider 7, a transition part 31 for deforming the intraocular lens 4 pushed out by the slider and the plunger, and a nozzle 32 for ejecting out the deformed intraocular lens 4. The slider 7 includes a lens push-out part 47 having a larger contact area than the plunger 8 and a lens holder 52 holding one face of an optical part 4b of the intraocular lens 4 in one direction. The transition part 31 deforms a portion of an outer edge of the intraocular lens 4 parallel to the lens traveling direction in an other direction opposite to the one direction.
US08475525B2

A method is provided, including implanting at least a first tissue-engaging element in a first portion of tissue in a vicinity of a heart valve of a patient, implanting at least a second tissue-engaging element in a portion of a blood vessel that is in contact with an atrium of a heart of the patient, and drawing at least a first leaflet of the valve toward at least a second leaflet of the valve by adjusting a distance between the portion of the blood vessel and the first portion of tissue in the vicinity of the heart valve of the patient. Other applications are also described.
US08475523B2

A catheter assembly according to the present invention includes a handle assembly, an introducer sheath, and a distal tip assembly. The distal tip assembly can include first and second retaining sleeves and a slotted tip with a non-traumatic tip guard positioned at the proximal end of the slotted tip. The handle assembly can include a fixed main handle and two or more rotating handles that allow a user to control the distal tip assembly of the catheter. Each control knob on the handle assembly controls a portion of the components on the distal tip of the catheter by allowing for precise manipulation of various delivery shafts. Each delivery shaft extends from the handle assembly to respective positions towards the distal end of the catheter.
US08475518B2

A stent for implantation in a body lumen for protecting from rupture a fibrous cap in order to treat vulnerable plaque. One embodiment of the stent achieves staged expansion through stronger and weaker circumferential regions, and includes optional anchors positioned at the circumferential transition between the stronger and weaker regions. During the first stage expansion, the weaker region expands moving the anchors laterally apart. The anchors straddle the fibrous cap and embed into the vessel wall. The second stage expansion of the stent exerts gentler stresses by the weaker region against the fibrous cap while the stronger region exerts greater stresses on the remainder of the vessel wall to open the vessel.
US08475512B2

The present invention relates to medical devices and in particular to frameless grafting prostheses and methods of making and using such devices. The frameless grafting prostheses include a stiffening member useful in the attachment of the frameless grafting prostheses to a wall of a body lumen.
US08475511B2

A device for applying cold therapy to the foot of a wearer is disclosed. The device comprises a foot pad having a premolded configuration for directly contacting the bottom of the foot and surrounding heel area. The foot pad includes a heel portion sized to receive and surround the heel of the foot and a raised and contoured arch portion positioned to place localized pressure on the arch of the foot. The entire foot pad is formed of an ice pack that includes a container or shell for receiving and containing a substance capable of maintaining an extremely low temperature for an extended period of time during application to the foot. The device also includes a securement mechanism that is arranged for engaging the foot pad to the bottom of the wearer's foot.
US08475506B1

An apparatus and method using an array of VCSELs operable to emit light at one or more wavelengths, pulse-repetition rates, pulse durations, pulse powers, pulse energies, and/or light-distribution spatial and/or temporal patterns, that are effective to stimulate or photostimulate human or other animal tissue, and in particular, nerve tissue. In some embodiments, the invention provides an implantable device that includes an array having a plurality of VCSELs in a spatial pattern suitable to stimulate or photostimulate a plurality of different areas of tissue (e.g., a plurality of different nerves). In some embodiments, the device is instead partially implantable. In some embodiments, the device is instead external to the body of the animal.
US08475505B2

An orthopaedic screw having a plurality of regions, at least one of which may be porous. The orthopaedic screw includes a head, a tip and at least one thread. The porosity of the screw of the present invention can vary within the part or region, including changes in pore shape, size and density. These characteristics can vary along the length of the screw axis and/or radially (from the outer diameter to the axis). The orthopaedic screw may further include at least one solid region formed of any implantable polymer, reinforced polymer or metal.
US08475504B2

System, including methods, apparatus, kits, and components, for bone fixation using a pair of slender spanning members to span a fracture outside bone.
US08475501B2

A polyaxial bone screw includes a head member and a shank member. The shank has a capture end and an opposite threaded end for threaded insertion into a vertebra. The head has a U-shaped cradle for receiving a spinal fixation rod and a central bore for receiving the capture end of the shank. An expandible retainer ring with a radial split is snapped onto the capture end of the shank to retain it within the head. The retainer ring has a spherical outer surface which forms a ball joint with a spherical socket cavity within the head to enable the head to be angled relative to the shank. A threaded closure plug is tightened within the cradle to clamp the rod into engagement with a knurled dome on the capture end of the shank to secure the rod relative to the vertebra.
US08475499B2

A connector for connecting a first spinal rod to a second spinal rod includes a body having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The first end of the body has a first rod opening formed therein for receiving the first spinal rod and the second end has a second rod opening formed therein for receiving the second rod. The body of the connector has a passage extending between the first opening and the second opening. The body of the connector has a plurality of spaced apart adjustment openings oriented along the length of the body between the first end and the second end, the adjustment openings communicating with the passage to facilitate adjustment of the first and second spinal rods within the passage.
US08475495B2

The present invention generally is directed toward a spinal fixation system whereby a coupling element allows the physician to selectively lock or unlock either the connection between the coupling element and a fastener, such as to allow for repositioning of the coupling element, or the connection between the coupling element and an elongate rod. The locking or unlocking of these connections may be made independently and as desired by the physician.
US08475488B2

A compact retrievable blood clot filter has a filter section, a releasable lock and an alignment section connected to the filter section. Alignment ribs of the alignment section have releasable upstream ends that are locked to the filter by the releasable lock. The releasable upstream ends of the alignment ribs are capable of being released from the releasable lock so that during retrieval of the filter, the alignment ribs can slide through the endothelial tissue that may have grown around the alignment ribs.
US08475477B2

A vascular graft for anastomosis of blood vessels or ducts comprises piercing means (3) for engaging an end portion (8/8′) of a blood vessel or prosthesis and means (6, 6′) for precisely guiding one or more piercing elements (3) to pierce the wall of the vessel or prosthesis to a predetermined depth and in a predetermined direction.
US08475475B2

The invention is a device for performing remote suturing operations with an atraumatic needle when there is distance between the hand and the place to be sutured. The device, which is adaptable to needles of different sizes used for surgical suturing, utilizes needle thrusting and needle capture mechanisms. These mechanisms allow the needle to pass through the tissue (flesh) and to be captured and released with a single stitch movement.
US08475472B2

A single catheter valve repair device for stabilizing a tissue portion and selectively applying a tissue fastener thereto. The single catheter valve repair device of the present invention includes an extendable engagement tip having at least one vacuum port formed thereon, at least one deployable fastener in communication with the engagement tip, and at least one actuator member in communication with the port. The deployable fastener is capable of controllably engaging and fastening a tissue segment located proximal to the engagement tip.
US08475463B2

Custom radiographically designed tibial and talar cutting guide system and instrumentalities including a tibial cutting guide position verification device is disclosed. A computer-based system and method for making the custom radiographically designed tibial and talar cutting guides is also disclosed. Further disclosed is an adjustable tibial reaming guide positioning system for allowing a position for reaming of a distal tibia to be adjusted during total ankle replacement surgery and, particularly, during total ankle arthroplasty for prostheses with an intramedullary stem.
US08475459B2

A drill bit including a shaft which has a pyramidal shaped end defining a drill tip with a plurality of edges defining the pyramidal shape.One or more recesses are provided for directing away debris produced whilst drilling, the at least one recess having a first portion extending along the shaft and a second portion having a first portion extending along the shaft and a second portion which extends along the drill tip; wherein the. The second portion which extends along the drill tip. The second portion of the at least one recess extends along an edge of the drill tip.
US08475457B2

The invention relates to a clip-like implant for osteosynthesis of at least two repositioned bone fragments, with at least two retainer web sections and with one connection web section connecting the retainer web sections, wherein the free ends of the at least two retainer web sections can be at least partially fixed in a respective one of the two repositioned bone fragments. Advantageously the clip-like implant has a C-shaped cross section, in which the first and second retainer web sections each enclose with the connection web section an angle (w, w′) between 75° and 90°, and the free ends of the at least two retainer web sections are designed as inwardly directed points.
US08475456B2

An intramedullar osteosynthetic device includes a body with an elongated shape and a flat cross-section having, in succession, from one of its ends, a first fixation zone cooperating with one of the bone parts to be immobilized, a median zone suitable for withstanding the shear and bending stresses, and a second fixation zone in the other bone part to be immobilized. Each of the fixation zones is made from a material suitable for enabling their deformation by thermal action (tepid memory) or mechanical action (superelasticity), to permit an introduction into the bone parts without pulpar approach, followed by a fixation in the bone parts, while avoiding any rotational movement, withstanding the tensile stresses, and maintaining a compressive force. At least one of the fixation zones has two tabs or fins and which are separable under the effect of the deformation.
US08475451B2

A medical plasma generator and its application are provided. In the medical plasma generator, a gas supply tube supplies a gas required for the generation of plasma. An internal electrode in a tube shape has a joined part joined to the end of the gas supply tube, and an extended part extended from the joined part. The extended part has a smaller diameter than the joined part, thereby allowing the gas to jet out with an increased speed when the gas passes through the internal electrode. A high voltage is applied to the internal electrode. A glass tube encloses the extended part of the internal electrode and protruding from the internal electrode. A ground electrode is formed on an outer surface of a protruding part of the glass tube. Interaction between the ground electrode and the internal electrode leads to ionization and discharge of the gas passing through the internal electrode, thereby generating plasma. A tubular cover covers the glass tube and is extended beyond the glass tube. The medical plasma generator may be used alone or in combination with medical equipment such as en endoscope.
US08475449B2

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed for the ablation of tissue. A steerable ablation catheter can include one or more ablation elements at its distal end and one or more ablation elements fixedly attached to its shaft. The distal end of the ablation catheter can be deflected to assume a number of different deflection geometries in at least one direction along the shaft. One feature of the ablation catheter is that its shaft can comprise materials of differing durometers or stiffnesses attached together at a joint. Methods associated with use of the ablation catheter are also covered.
US08475440B2

The present invention advantageously provides a method and system for cryogenically ablating large areas of tissue within the left atrium. In an exemplary embodiment a cryotherapy device includes a catheter body having a substantially fixed diameter, a proximal end and a distal end; a first lumen for permitting passage of a cooling fluid from the proximal end to the distal end; a second lumen permitting return of the cooling fluid from the distal end to the proximal end; and an ablation element expandable from a first diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of the catheter body to a second diameter that is at least twice the diameter of the catheter body, the ablation element having a surface portion that conforms to the uneven surface topography of the cardiac tissue. The ablation element can include one or more balloon and/or a flexible element that is deformed by moving the distal end of the catheter toward the proximal end of the catheter. The surface of the balloon can further be shaped by regulation of pressure within the one or more balloons. In an exemplary method a tissue ablation device is provided and tissue in the antrum of the left atrium is ablated with the device. In an exemplary method, only tissue in the antrum is ablated, and the ablation is created by freezing tissue.
US08475437B2

An irradiation system for opthalmological applications includes: a radiation source (1) for changing the biomechanical properties of the cornea; an optical system for directing the radiation towards the tissue; a beam-splitter (3) which couples out a part of the radiation directed towards the tissue for measuring or monitoring purposes; the beam-splitter also being set up in order to combine a further radiation of a different wavelength with the first-mentioned radiation; a controller for controlling the system, including a sensor; a mechanical stand (16) for supporting an irradiation unit (17); and interfaces for exchange of data.
US08475431B2

The present embodiments provide an introducer sheath having a braided member and methods of manufacture. The introducer sheath comprises an inner tube, a braided member disposed over at least a portion of the inner tube, and an outer tube disposed over the inner tube and the braided member. In one embodiment, the braided member comprises a plurality of intersecting first and second wire segments at least partially covered with a coating. At least a portion of the first and second wire segments are bonded together at one or more intersections, for example, by melting the coating, to reduce movement of at least one of the first and second wire segments with respect to one another. Optionally, a coiled member having a plurality of turns may be disposed over a portion of the braided member and the inner tube.
US08475430B2

A catheter assembly and method for internally anchoring a catheter in a patient. According to one embodiment, the catheter assembly includes a catheter, a tubular fitting coupled to one end of the catheter, and an internal bolster coaxially mounted around the tubular fitting. The tubular fitting has a waist portion, and the internal bolster is secured thereto by a snap-fit. To internally anchor the catheter in a patient, one inserts the end of the catheter to which the fitting is coupled into the patient and then, while the fitting and its coupled end of the catheter are within the patient, inserts the internal bolster over the fitting until it snap-fits into place over the waist portion, thereby internally anchoring the catheter within the patient.
US08475426B2

An incontinence protector for males intended for disposable use, including a fastening pocket for fastening the genitalia during use.
US08475408B2

An infusion pump system is described that increases patient comfort and convenience. The infusion pump system includes an infusion site interface that is releasably connected to an infusion pump body, and has no tubing associated between the infusion site interface and the pump body. The infusion pump body may include a carrier frame that may be adhered to the skin of a user.
US08475403B2

A medical device for aspirating and injecting fluid into a body cavity for use with first and second syringes is provided. The medical device includes an outer needle having an outer lumen formed therethrough. A distal end of the outer needle is configured to puncture tissue for insertion of the needle into the body cavity. An inner cannula is disposed within the outer lumen and has an inner lumen formed therethrough. A distal end of the inner cannula is disposed within the outer lumen. A hub has a first hub opening for fluidly connecting the first syringe to the outer lumen and a second hub opening for fluidly connecting the second syringe to the inner lumen. The inner cannula extends from at least one of the first and second hub openings to the distal end of the inner cannula. A method for treating a cyst is also provided.
US08475399B2

The present application discloses a portable dialysis system for conducting a dialysis treatment. The portable dialysis system has a controller unit that includes a display, a scale, a bar code reader, and a memory storing a plurality of programmatic instructions. Upon execution, the instructions generate a first graphical user interface, a second graphical user interface, and a third graphical user interface for presentation on the display. The first graphical user interface displays each additive required for use in the dialysis treatment. The second graphical user interface prompts a user to submit additives to scanning using the bar code scanner. The third graphical user interface prompts a user to submit additives to measurement using the scale.
US08475388B2

Devices and methods for detecting disordered breathing involve determining that the patient is asleep and sensing one or more signals associated with disordered breathing indicative of sleep-disordered breathing while the patient is asleep. Sleep-disordered breathing is detected using the sensed signals associated with disordered breathing. The sensed signals associated with disordered breathing may also be used to acquire a respiration pattern of one or more respiration cycles. Characteristics of the respiration pattern are determined. The respiration pattern is classified as a disordered breathing episode based on the characteristics of the respiration pattern. One or more processes involved in the detection of disordered breathing are performed using an implantable device.
US08475385B2

Blood pressure measurements are represented aurally. An audio synthesizer (15) receives a signal representative of blood pressure information, and synthesizes an audio output from the signal. Both the duration and pitch of the synthesized audio output are dependent on the value of the blood pressure information, according to a linear scale or a non-linear scale such as stepped scale. The blood pressure information includes at least one of arterial or pulmonary arterial systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure measurements, and the audio output includes an earcon comprising a tone or sequence of tones, the tone(s) being representative of a respective type of blood pressure measurement. The earcon may also include one or more static or dynamic beacons.
US08475384B2

An ultrasound probe includes a transducer array which is moved back and forth to sweep the image plane of the array through a volumetric region for 3D scanning. The transducer array is mounted on a carriage assembly which moves back and forth on a pair of rails inside a fluid compartment in the probe. The rails are preferentially arcuately curved to provide an elevationally divergent scan with a relatively wide aperture in the near field. A cam is provided for a motor-driven cable drive for the carriage assembly which provides relatively linear motion through the path of travel of the transducer array.
US08475379B2

A transducer subassembly with combined imaging and therapeutic capabilities is disclosed. The subassembly includes heat sinks that are configured to maintain the transducer at a low operating temperature so that the transducer operates at high efficiency and also can handle a wider range of frequencies. The subassembly is also configured to allow cooling fluid to flow past the transducer element. One heat sink in the subassembly also acts as an acoustic matching layer and another heat sink acts as a backing. Alternatively, the second heat sink which acts as a backing is optional. The transducer is configured to transmit at one power level for imaging, and at a second power level for ablating. The transducer may comprise sub-elements transmitting at different power levels. The subassembly may be operated at one power level for imaging and a second power level for ablating.
US08475377B2

A multi-modality breast cancer test assembly (20) of the type for detecting the position of potential breast cancer by performing thermography and optical spectroscopy and ultrasound tests (64). A contour recorder (108) takes and stores a contour-shape of the breast and a first contour analysis program (110) analyzes the contour-shape to generate and store a 3D model (112) of the breast having at least one testing coordinate (114) relative to a mass of the breast. At least one diagnostic program (122, 124, 126) initiates the diagnostic tests (60, 62, 64) at the at least one testing coordinate (114) and a data analysis program (128) analyzes the spatial interrelationship of the tests (60, 62, 64) at the testing coordinate (114) to detect the spatial position of a potential breast cancer within the breast.
US08475371B2

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for monitoring characteristics of a subject. A system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a sensor subsystem including at least one respiratory sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a respiratory characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one respiratory signal representing the respiratory characteristic, and at least one physiological sensor disposed proximate to the subject and configured to detect a physiological characteristic of the subject, wherein the sensor subsystem is configured to generate and transmit at least one physiological signal representing the physiological characteristic, and a processor subsystem in communication with the sensor subsystem, the processor subsystem being configured to receive at least one of the at least one respiratory signal and the at least one physiological signal.
US08475368B2

A heart monitoring system for a person includes one or more wireless nodes; and a wearable appliance in communication with the one or more wireless nodes, the appliance monitoring vital signs.
US08475353B2

An applicator for delivering brachytherapy includes elongate members movable between collapsed and expanded configurations for delivering brachytherapy within a lumpectomy cavity, a vaginal cavity, or other target region. The elongate members may be expandable into a symmetrical or asymmetrical expanded configuration, e.g., into a generally spherical, pear-shaped, or planar configuration. A system for delivering brachytherapy includes the applicator and an access device for lining and/or dilating a body cavity and/or for receiving the applicator therein. The access device is advanced into a body cavity, an expandable member on the access device is inflated, the applicator is advanced into the access device, and the elongate members are expanded to deliver radiation to the target region. Alternatively, the access device carries an expandable device into the target region, the expandable device is removed after dilating the target region, and the applicator is introduced through the access device to deliver radiation.
US08475348B2

An apparatus for assembly of multi-segment rod-like objects, such as, for example, components of a composite cigarette filter, is disclosed. The apparatus may include an intercalating unit and an assembly unit, linked by a transfer unit. Intercalating unit may include at least one rod supply unit and a conveyor. In one embodiment, intercalating unit may include a plurality of independent rod supply units. Each rod supply unit may include a hopper and a rod delivery mechanism comprising a rotary drum, a cutting device, a transfer wheel and a delivery wheel.
US08475338B2

Exercise machines and linear motor systems for use in exercise machines are provided herein, where the linear motor provides a resistance force in response to a force generated by a user performing an exercise. The linear motor systems include a programmable logic and force generation control system, which is programmable to control the resistance provided by the linear motor.
US08475333B2

A powertrain system includes a hybrid transmission and an internal combustion engine coupled to an exhaust aftertreatment device. A method for operating the powertrain system includes operating the hybrid transmission to generate tractive torque responsive to an operator torque request with the internal combustion engine in an engine-off state so long as the tractive torque is less than a threshold. The internal combustion engine is operated in an engine-on state at preferred operating conditions to effect light-off of the exhaust aftertreatment device and the hybrid transmission is coincidentally operated to generate tractive torque responsive to the operator torque request when the operator torque request exceeds the threshold. The internal combustion engine is then operated in the engine-on state to generate tractive torque responsive to the operator torque request.
US08475331B2

The invention relates to a method and device for controlling a creep operation of a vehicle with a hybrid drive (1), comprising a parallel hybrid drivetrain (2), with an internal combustion engine (3), at least one electric motor (5), a first switching element (4) in the form of a friction element between the internal combustion engine (3) and the electric motor (5), a gearbox (7), an output (26) and a second switching element (6) arranged between the electric motor (5) and the output (26). According to the invention, a simple, effective and component-friendly continuous creeping can be achieved without additional constructional or economic costs can be achieved, wherein the creeping operation is carried out with the internal combustion engine (3) running and both switching elements (4,6) simultaneously operating with slip, wherein the total operating power required to generate a required creeping torque is variably distributed over both switching elements (4, 6).
US08475323B2

A drive system includes a planetary gear system. An input is affixed to a sun gear of the planetary gear system to rotate therewith and an output is affixed to the output ring gear to rotate therewith. A first brake system is selectively operable to rotationally lock an output ring gear of the planetary gear system, and a second brake system is selectively operable to rotationally lock the planet carrier of the planetary gear system. Rotary-wing aircraft implementations of the drive system are also disclosed.
US08475319B2

A final drive comprising a lubrication system is provided. The final drive comprises a differential housing and a reaction plate, wherein the reaction plate is mounted to the differential plate. The final drive also comprises a shaft and a friction disc. The shaft is rotatably disposed with differential housing, and the friction disc, which has a lubrication hole, is mounted about the shaft. The lubrication system comprises a differential supply passage positioned in the differential housing, and it also comprises a plate passage positioned in the reaction plate. The plate passage is in fluid communication with the differential supply passage, and the plate passage is in intermittent fluid communication with the lubrication hole.
US08475318B2

A planetary gear transmission mechanism includes an input shaft, an input bevel gear connecting to the input shaft, four planetary bevel gears meshed with the input bevel gear, an output gear driven by the planetary bevel gears, a stationary bevel gear meshed with the planetary bevel gears, and four bearing modules. The output gear evenly defines four through holes along one axis. Each planetary bevel gear is received in one through hole and rotatably connected to the output gear. The rotation axis of each planetary bevel gear is substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis of the output gear. The stationary bevel gear meshes with the planetary bevel gears. The input bevel gear and the stationary bevel gear are positioned on opposite sides of the output gear respectively. The bearing modules are received in the through holes respectively, and each bearing module rotatably supports one planetary bevel gear.
US08475313B2

The present invention is applied to pedal vehicles, or mixture of electric and pedal vehicles, or combination of electric and pedal auxiliary vehicles, especially to a bicycle capable of being pedaled bidirectionally and driven to move in unidirectional.
US08475301B1

A multi-functional gaming assembly may include a portable free-standing first section capable of being selectively modified into a baseball batting game, a basketball shooting game, and a tether-ball swinging game assembly respectively. A portable free-standing second section may be removably connected to the portable free-standing first section in such a manner that the portable free-standing first and second sections may cooperate to selectively include a tennis playing game, a badminton playing game, and a volleyball playing game. A plurality of anchor stakes may be removably attached to the portable free-standing first and second sections respectively. The portable free-standing first section may include a mobile primary base which may include a wire frame preferably having a handle and a plurality of rings extending out from a perimeter of the wire frame. The portable free-standing second section may include a mobile auxiliary base spaced apart from the mobile primary base.
US08475298B2

A golf ball comprising a core comprising an inner core center and an outer core layer disposed over the inner core center. The inner core center has a deflection of greater than 0.210 inch under a load of 220 pounds and the core has a deflection ranging from 0.120 inch to 0.080 inch under a load of 220 pounds. An inner mantle layer is disposed over the core, an outer mantle is disposed over the inner mantle layer, and a cover is disposed over the outer mantle.
US08475293B2

An iron type golf club head with improved performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses an iron type golf club head having a frontal face portion made out of a lightweight material that is separate and distinct from the material used to form the remaining body portion of the iron type golf club head. The thinner material allows the frontal face portion of the iron type golf club head to be made thinner, yielding improved performance characteristics such as a higher Coefficient of Restitution (COR) of greater than about 0.770, a lower Center of Gravity (CG) location of less than about 5.0 mm from a ground, and a lower primary resonant frequency of less than about 5,000 Hertz.
US08475290B2

A golf training system includes a wedge training aid adapted to help the user control the hitting range of each wedge accurately so that the user can drive the ball to the green easily for putting into the hole when playing a golf game at a golf course. The golf training system further includes a putting green training aid, a mat arranged between the wedge training aid and the putting green training aid, a ball collector arranged at the rear side of the wedge training aid, a track connected between the putting green training aid and the ball collector, and a guard net mounted at the putting green training aid. Thus, each ball been hit onto the putting green training aid or intercepted by the guard net can be collected by the ball collector for a next hitting practice.
US08475283B2

A method includes receiving a request, from a device, to play a light version of a wagering game based on communications over a network. The method includes transmitting, to the device, wagering game content associated with execution of the light version of the wager game. The method includes prompting download of a full version of the wagering game over the network from a remote server during the executing of the light version of the wagering game, wherein the full version of the wagering game has more game features than the light version of the wagering game. The method includes responsive to acceptance of the download of the full version of the wagering game to the device, downloading the full version of the wagering game and providing a reward for the downloading of the full version of the wagering game.
US08475277B2

Certain exemplary embodiments described herein relate to gaming machines and/or table games having interfaces provided thereto so as to allow players to control their participation in base games and random rewards scenarios. More particularly, an interface provided to the gaming machines and/or table games enables separate and/or separable credit meters to be maintained such that players may determine whether, and to what extent, to allocate credits to base games and one or more random rewards scenarios. This advantageously provides players with further control over their gaming opportunities. Also, certain exemplary embodiments may enable players to wager credits in excess of those capped by a particular gaming machine or table game. This advantageously provides additional revenue possibilities for gaming operators.
US08475263B2

Disclosed are a gaming machine system and method including a perceived skill component comprising a skill-based award and a supplemental award that, when summed, are equal in value to a predetermined award.
US08475246B2

An airflow damper is provided, the airflow damper includes a resilient body having a fixed end and a free end. In a default state, the free end extends to restrict airflow. In a device accommodation state, the free end flattens to accommodate a device.
US08475241B1

A field dressing knife suitable for all aspects of field dressing small and large game is disclosed. Various novel aspects of the knife include: a large butt-end of the handle and a groove near the butt-end of the handle, both to spread the normal stress over a larger surface area when striking the butt-end of the handle with a free hand for splitting pelvis and brisket bones; and a configurable handle, permitting the double-edged field dressing knife to be used in knife mode or in a hatchet mode.
US08475240B2

Apparatus for de-feathering (i.e. picking or plucking) poultry. More particularly, picking apparatus employing a plurality of elongated picking elements which are resistant to cracking and/or micro-poring, and which are preferably flexible and/or bendable and which are of sufficiently low mass such as to decrease poundage yield loss (e.g., decrease fat loss and poultry wing damage). In some embodiments, apparatus comprised of a plug and elongated picking element combination which is removably installable to a conventional picking disk structure. In other embodiments, picking element kits for converting existing picking line machinery. In still other embodiments, methods and/or apparatus for improving feather picking ability and/or efficiency and/or cleanliness.
US08475237B2

An optical-grade surfacing tool includes: a rigid holder (60); an elastically compressible interface (12) secured to the rigid holder (60); and a flexible pad (13) that can be applied against a surface to be machined (71) and secured to the interface (12) opposite the rigid holder (60). The pad (13) is carried by an elastically extensible membrane (14) including: a central plate (15); and a plurality of straps (18) each radially protruding from the periphery of the plate (15) and each having a distal portion engaged with a fastening element (38), each strap (18) rotating about the side surface (28) of the interface (12) and extending up to the fastening element, each strap (18) being taut.
US08475234B2

A power tool holding article is provided and fastened to a power output element by clamping. The power output element has a fastening portion which has at least one protrusive fastening element to hold the holding article. The holding article has an article body and a mating portion connecting to the article body. The mating portion has a plurality of bulged elements spaced from each other to form a plurality of holding spaces. The protrusive fastening element of the fastening portion is engaged with the holding spaces to hold the holding article. Thus no special-shaped drilling openings are needed on the holding article. It can mate power output elements made by varying producers to reduce cost and improve compatibility.
US08475233B2

A device for grinding spinning cots has a rotating grinding roller and a carriage that is linearly movable relative to the grinding roller. A pivot arm is pivotably supported on the carriage and movable between a loading position and a grinding position. A workpiece receptacle is mounted on the pivot arm and adapted to receive a spinning cot to be ground. A feed device is provided that is actuatable in accordance with progression of a grinding process performed on the spinning cot toward a grinding surface of the grinding roller. The pivot arm is moveable by the feed device relative to the carriage. A device is provided that is actuatable independent of the feed device for manual adjustment of the carriage into a desired linear position relative to the grinding roller.
US08475228B2

A polishing pad has an opaque polishing layer with an aperture therethrough and a polishing surface, and a solid light-transmissive window in the aperture. The solid light-transmissive window includes an outer portion secured to the polishing layer and an inner portion secured to the outer portion. The outer portion has a upper surface recessed relative to the polishing surface, whereas the inner portion has an upper surface that is substantially co-planar with the polishing surface.
US08475223B2

A method of manufacturing a display device includes the steps of: forming a positive type photoresist above a surface of a first transparent substrate having a transistor formed on the surface thereof so as to cover the transistor; radiating a light from a back surface side of the first transparent substrate to the first transparent substrate having the positive type photoresist formed thereabove, for exposing the positive type photoresist; developing the positive type photoresist thus exposed to selectively leave the positive type photoresist located above the transistor, for forming a spacer; and laminating a second transparent substrate above the surface of the first transparent substrate through the spacer.
US08475216B2

An electrical connector includes an insulative housing defining a receiving cavity thereof, a tongue member retained to the receiving cavity, and a shell surrounding the housing. The tongue member includes first and second tongue modules interlocked with each other, the first tongue module retains a plurality of first contacts thereof and the second tongue module retains a plurality of second contacts thereof. The first tongue module defines a retaining slot at a front portion thereof and a blocking plate surrounding the retaining slot, the second tongue module defines at least one retaining portion received in the retaining slot and supported by the blocking plate.
US08475213B2

An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (2) and a contact module (4) assembled to the insulative housing. The contact module includes a paddle board (42), a number of mating terminals (43) assembled to the paddle board, and a magnetic module (41) including a cage (410) mounted on the paddle board directly and a magnetic assembly received in the cage. The magnetic assembly has at least a magnetic core (46) and a number of wires (47) winding around the magnetic core and electrically connecting with the paddle board directly.
US08475200B2

The present disclosure relates to a cable insertion (1) for connecting a cable (7) to a housing (10). The cable insertion (1) includes a connection device (2) having a cantilever-like element (14) having a mounting fixture (11) on the front end thereof for mounting a mating part (3) attached to a jacket (12) of the cable (7). A securing means (4) secures the fixture.
US08475194B2

A connector for introducing fluid to an electrical cable affixed in a chamber internal to the connector, the connector comprising an injection port exposed to at least one exterior surface of the cable connector, wherein the injection port is in fluidic communication with the chamber, and a reticulated plug is positioned within an insulated segment of the injection port and sized to fill at least a portion thereof. The reticulated plug may be used in combination with various types of conventional injection connectors to allow swapping of an insulative permanent plug for an injection plug after a dielectric enhancement fluid has been introduced into the interior of a cable using the reticulated plug, wherein the cable is energized during the swapping operation.
US08475193B2

A cable connecting configuration electrically connects cables with a terminal attached to one end of each of the cables. The cable connecting configuration has a contact section having a contact surface parallel to a longitudinal direction of the cables. In a state that the cables are connected to each other, the contact section of each of the terminals is provided to face each other having an overlapping range in the longitudinal direction, with the facing direction being a direction perpendicular to the contact surface of the contact section. Between the contact surfaces, there is a metal elastic member, which can be elastically displaced in the facing direction within the overlapping range. The terminal is held by the housing such that the contact sections tightly press the elastic member in the facing direction, and thereby the terminals are electrically connected via the elastic member.
US08475187B2

There is provided an electrical charger including a charger assembly and a locking assembly. The charger assembly includes a base unit configured for being electrically coupled to an electronic device, and an adaptor unit configured for being electrically coupled to a power supply. The external surfaces of the base unit and the adaptor unit include co-operating external geometries that provide a visual indication whether the charger assembly is disposed in the locked state or the unlocked state.
US08475186B1

A guest connection assembly for a surface having a grommet hole comprises an extension cord having a first end adapted to be interconnected to a source and a second end having at least one socket, the first end interconnected with the at least one socket by a cord. A grommet can be received on the cord and have an inner dimension greater than an outer dimension of the at least one socket and a grommet cap can be coupled with the extension cord and adapted to be selectively mounted to the grommet. When the first end of the cord is connected to the source and the grommet is mounted within the grommet hole, the at least one socket on the second end of the extension cord can be selectively exposed and positioned for use by removing the grommet cap from its mounting to the grommet.
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