US08704946B2
A method for encoding a carrier signal in a video signal, the video signal having one or more frames, the frames each having a first field and a second field, the first field and the second field of each frame having a plurality of scan lines, each having a plurality of pixels with an intensity value indicating brightness, the method comprising selectively designating the plurality of scan lines of the first field of the one or more frames as up lines or down lines, calculating an optimum amount of adjustment to the pixels of the up lines and the down lines, and selectively increasing the intensity value of pixels of the up lines and decreasing the intensity value of pixels of the down lines by the optimum amount of adjustment thereby modulating the video signal with a carrier signal and creating a modulated video signal.
US08704945B1
A motion adaptive deinterlacer (MADI) receives two pairs of interlaced fields from a current frame and a reference frame of an input video. The MADI deinterlacer filters noise of the received interlaced fields and detects edges of the received interlaced fields. From the detected edges, the MADI deinterlacer spatially interpolates an output pixel using directional filtering. The MADI deinterlacer also detects motion of the output pixel and calculates temporal constraints of the output pixel based on same parity field difference and/or opposite parity field difference. Based on the temporal interpolation and spatial interpolation of the output pixel, the MADI deinterlacer blends the temporal and spatial interpolation of the output pixel to generate an output pixel in progressive format.
US08704942B2
An imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, a first light blocking unit that performs pupil division by blocking a portion of the subject light, and a second light blocking unit that is disposed between the first light blocking unit and the micro lens, and blocks the portion of the subject light which is incident to the first light blocking unit, wherein an aperture area of the second light blocking unit is smaller than an aperture area of an image generation pixel.
US08704940B2
An imaging device includes an image pick-up device including phase difference detection pixel pairs, each formed from a pair of phase difference detection pixels respectively having their openings eccentrically formed on opposite sides of a main axis of an imaging lens, and imaging pixel pairs; a reading section that reads out signals from the pixels arrayed in the image pick-up device using a rolling shutter method; a first correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the phase difference detection pixel pairs; a second correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the imaging pixel pairs; a correction section that corrects a result from the first correlation computation section using a result from the second correlation computation section; and a focusing section that performs focus control using the corrected result.
US08704929B2
A method for capturing an image using an image acquisition device, includes determining that at least one area of an image to be captured has been selected, analyzing geometrical and compositional properties of an area surrounding the at least one area, providing a dynamic compositional guideline based on a result of analyzing the geometrical and compositional properties, and indicating when the image to be captured should be captured based on a position of the dynamic compositional guideline relative to the image to be captured.
US08704924B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate, a photoelectric conversion element provided on the light incidence side of the substrate and including a photoelectric conversion film sandwiched between a first electrode provided separately for each of pixels, and a second electrode provided opposite the first electrode, the photoelectric conversion film being made of an organic material or an inorganic material and generating a signal charge according to the quantity of incident light, an amplifier transistor having an amplifier gate electrode connected to the first electrode, and a voltage control circuit that is connected to the second electrode, and supplies a desired voltage to the second electrode.
US08704918B2
A line memory stores sequentially image data captured through optical lenses. A distortion correction value storage stores distortion correction values used in the correction of optical distortion occurring in the image data due to distortion aberration present in the optical lens. An image data control unit selects pixels of image data stored in the line memory as pixels to be corrected for the correction of optical distortion respectively. Then the image data control unit determines a region for use in correction, having the fixed number of pixels horizontally and the fixed number of lines vertically, based on the positions of the pixels to be corrected and the distortion correction values obtained from the distortion correction value storage. Here, the region contains a plurality of pixels for use in correction of the pixels to be corrected. Then the image data control unit reads out the image data from the line memory. A distortion correction unit determines pixel values for the pixels to be corrected, based on (1) the pixels for use in correction, which are contained in the image data, within the region for use in correction, and (2) the distortion correction values.
US08704917B2
Offered digital zoom levels may be distributed at equal spacing of zoom factors. Offered digital zoom levels may be distributed among optically uniform digital zoom levels. Gradual zoom may be achieved by generating preview images at one or more intermediate digital zoom levels at which generation of a recordable image is not permitted. One or more intermediate digital zoom levels may be distributed generally evenly between two adjacent offered digital zoom levels. An image sensor supports a discrete set of zoom factors. One or more intermediate zoom factors may be distributed generally evenly between zoom factors that correspond to two adjacent offered digital zoom levels.
US08704915B2
When a connected recording medium has a wireless communication function, the save destination is changed to store received data in a save destination set for data transmitted from the recording medium by wireless communication. The save destination of data received from the connected recording medium having the wireless communication function can be set appropriately.
US08704914B2
An apparatus to automatically tag an image and a method thereof conveniently classifies images by acquiring information of a tag image when an image is photographed and stored, automatically adding tag information to the photographed image based on the information of a tag image, generating an image file, and storing the image file. The apparatus and method acquire an image and record a photographed image based on classification information of an image which is automatically tagged when the image is acquired and stored.
US08704912B2
A method for a compressive sampling to capture an image of the object by using a spatial light modulator and a photo-detector, the method includes driving the spatial light modulator in a first rough sampling mode which is executed by using first coded patterns; detecting signals from the photo-detector to obtain a first data at t=t1; detecting signals from the photo-detector to obtain a second data at t=t2, where t2>t1; and changing the first rough sampling mode to a second rough sampling mode which is executed by using second coded patterns finer than the first coded patterns when a difference between the first data and the second data is greater than a threshold value.
US08704911B2
An image processing method generates first developed image data by correcting first image data with use of a white balance correction value corresponding to flash light, generates second developed image data by correcting the first image data with use of a second white balance correction value corresponding to external light, calculates a combining ratio of each block based on a flash component and an external light component of each of blocks into which the first image data is divided, and combines the first developed image data and the second developed image data according to the calculated combining ratio.
US08704909B2
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for efficiently coding and processing image data using an electronic device are provided. While both image-quality processing and coding operations may be performed for a frame of captured image data, the electronic device may leverage information generated during one operation in order to more efficiently conduct another operation. For example, an image coding operation may be performed on a first frame of image data by partitioning the image data into blocks of data and transforming the blocks of data into a frequency domain representation or format. Color component statistics from one or more of the blocks of data may be obtained, and an image-quality processing operation may then be performed on the first frame of image data or a subsequent frame of image data using the obtained color component statistics.
US08704891B2
An electro-optic display unit is disclosed. The electro-optic unit may be mountable to an exterior of a vehicle and may be rotatable about a single axis of rotation.
US08704889B2
Apparatus and method for acquiring images of car license plates, the apparatus is configured to be part of an LPR (License Plate Recognition) system. The apparatus includes a camera, a multi band-pass filter, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) and an illumination control board. The camera is configured for acquiring the images, having a focus shift corrected lens. The multi band-pass filter is coupled to the focus shift corrected lens, being configured for allowing only wavelengths of multiple predetermined spectrum ranges to reach the lens. Each one of said LEDs is configured for emitting light in at least one of the multiple predetermined spectrum ranges for the purpose of illuminating the car license plates and their vicinity. The illumination control board is coupled to the LEDs and to the camera, for controlling operation thereof.
US08704887B2
A transportation vehicle configured to track an object external to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a camera, a range sensor, and an on-board computer. The on-board computer includes a processor and a tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform select steps. The steps include determining that new-object data corresponding to the object is available based on input received from the sensor sub-system of the vehicle. The steps also include registering the new-object data and estimating an expected location and an expected appearance for the object according to a prediction algorithm to generate a predicted track corresponding to the object. The steps also include analyzing motion for the object including comparing the predicted track with any existing track associated with the object and stored in a database of the on-board computer.
US08704886B2
Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to form a wavelet representation of a pathology slide having glass and tissue regions are disclosed. A disclosed example method includes capturing a digital image of a pathology slide, identifying a portion of the digital image that represents a glass portion of the slide, and storing a value representing that the wavelet coefficients for the identified glass portion of the slide are unused without computing a wavelet transform for the identified glass portion.
US08704883B2
A method of driving a 3D image display device includes according to an embodiment receiving 3D data and separating a 3D input frame including the 3D data into a left-eye data frame and a right-eye data frame; doubling the left-eye data frame into the original left-eye data frame and a copied left-eye data frame and doubling the right-eye data frame into the original right-eye data frame and a copied right-eye data frame; and modulating the original left-eye data frame to a first modulated left-eye data frame based on the copied right-eye data frame arranged prior to the original left-eye data frame, modulating the copied left-eye data frame, and the copied right-eye data frame.
US08704879B1
The exemplary illustrative non-limiting technology herein enables 3D viewing on conventional 2D displays such as home television sets by tracking a person's viewpoint. Detecting a player's viewpoint movement to change the viewing of the displayed object gives the illusion that the object is physically present in three-dimensional space. Viewpoint movement detection can provide collision-related game logic benefits such as allowing a player to dodge projectiles, giving a game character an ability to “see” the player when not behind line-of-sight obstacles, and other advantages.
US08704865B2
The invention discloses a system for re-access of a wireless video conference terminal, including: a protection module configured to record relevant information of a conference in the event of terminal disconnection, log in to the video conference network according to the relevant information of the conference upon recovery of the network signal, and send a terminal reentering module the information for reentering the conference, wherein the relevant information of the conference contains a username and a password; and the terminal reentering module configured to determine that the terminal passes authentication according to the username as well as the information for reentering the conference and admit the terminal into the conference. The invention further discloses a method for re-access of a wireless video conference terminal. Adoption of the system and the method improves the user experience and facilitates the promotion of the wireless video conference.
US08704857B2
A three-dimensional display device is provided in the present disclosure. The three-dimensional display device includes an image displaying device, an optical control element, a direction sensor and a control unit. The optical control element is positioned on a surface of the image displaying device, the direction sensor measures and inclination angle of the display panel, and the control unit adjusts images displayed by the image displaying device according to the inclination angle. The three-dimensional display device of the present disclosure has the advantages of fast tracking speed, high tracking precision and low cost. A mobile terminal and a three-dimensional display tracking method are also provided in the present disclosure.
US08704856B2
The image display apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: an image input device which inputs an image signal; a particular target detection device which detects a particular target included in the image signal based on a particular target evaluation value indicating the feature of the particular target; a frame display information generation device which generates frame display information indicating a frame surrounding the detected particular target and which causes the frame to change continuously or by stages according to the particular target evaluation value; and a display device which displays the frame based on the generated frame display information. That is, by causing the frame to change continuously or by stages according to the evaluation value of a particular target, it is possible to avoid sudden change in the frame display.
US08704845B2
Methods and systems for displaying full-color three-dimensional imagery are provided. A first color set, having a first color spectrum, is defined to include a first set of LEDs. The first color set is assigned to a first color-coded image perspective. A second color set, having a second color spectrum, is defined to include a second set of LEDs. The second color set is assigned to a second color-coded image perspective. The full-color three-dimensional imagery is caused by activating, alternatively, at least two LEDs of the first color set or the second color set and one LED of a remaining color set and displaying the three-dimensional image based on the first image perspective and the second image perspective.
US08704842B1
A method and system for obtaining a histogram and related statistical values from a data set of texels is disclosed. A processing device receives from a first buffer, a data set of texels. The data set has a dimensionality D of at least two and each texel contains a value. The processing device sorts the data set into a point list of coordinates, wherein a point in the point list corresponds to a texel location in the data set. The processing device reduces the dimensionality of the point list by arranging points in the point list according to an N−1 dimensional dominancy. The processing device performs a raster operation on each associated value of the arranged points to obtain at least one value. The processing device is to output the at least one value to a second buffer. The processing device may be a graphics processing unit.
US08704841B2
A system and method to generate digital representations of hair or animal fur on surfaces. In one embodiment the system and method includes methods to automatically place hairs on surfaces, comb the placed hairs, adjust the hairs on surface boundaries to ensure continuity across surface patches, selectively break hairs along fur tracks, and selectively clump hairs to provide wet fur looks. Rendering techniques are applied to the hairs to produce realistic two-dimensional images.
US08704840B2
A memory system having multiple address allocation methods for graphics data in a computer graphics processing system. The memory system includes a plurality of memory arrays, and a format register having a programmable format flag. The status of the format flag indicates the memory address allocation format in which the memory addresses for each of the memory arrays are allocated. An address decoder is coupled to the format register to obtain the status of the format flag in order to determine the address allocation method for an array being accessed. The address decoder is further coupled to receive a requested address for a memory location in one of the memory arrays and then provide a requested memory address to the memory arrays to access. The requested address is translated by the address decoder to the requested memory address according to the memory address allocation format indicated by the format flag status for the memory array.
US08704833B2
A system that displays a video signal on a display for a computer system is presented. During operation, the system receives a signal to switch from displaying a video signal from an internal video source to displaying a video signal from an external video source. In this system, the internal and external video sources are coupled to a bi-directional video port for the computer system, wherein the internal video source generates an output video signal and the external video source generates an input video signal. The system then determines whether the external video source is coupled to the bi-directional video port. If so, the system couples the external video source to the display and determines whether the external video source is a valid video source. If the external video source is a valid video source, the system displays the video signal from the external video source on the display.
US08704832B2
Systems and methods are described for animating 3D characters using synthetic motion data generated by generative models in response to a high level description of a desired sequence of motion provided by an animator. An animation system is accessible via a server system that utilizes the ability of generative models to generate synthetic motion data across a continuum to enable multiple animators to effectively reuse the same set of previously recorded motion capture data to produce a wide variety of desired animation sequences. An animator can upload a custom model of a 3D character and the synthetic motion data generated by the generative model is retargeted to animate the custom 3D character.
US08704831B2
Techniques are disclosed for using a local lighting representation to explicitly model spatial variation of a character in a graphics scene as well as for using error driven criteria to determine whether to evaluate a given light source analytically or in a lighting rig. For near light sources, the error driven criteria may be used to determine when a spherical light source should be evaluated in the lighting rig verses analytically. For large characters, local irradiance models may be used to provide a limited form of spatial variation.
US08704829B2
In a multi-participant modeled virtual reality environment, avatars are modeled beings that include moveable eyes creating the impression of an apparent gaze direction. Control of eye movement may be performed autonomously using software to select and prioritize targets in a visual field. Sequence and duration of apparent gaze may then be controlled using automatically determined priorities. Optionally, user preferences for object characteristics may be factored into determining priority of apparent gaze. Resulting modeled avatars are rendered on client displays to provide more lifelike and interesting avatar depictions with shifting gaze directions.
US08704825B2
A method for generating a four-dimensional representation of a periodically moving target region is proposed. A motion-compensated three-dimensional image dataset is determined from two-dimensional projection images recorded from different projection directions. Estimation parameters that describe a non-periodic motion and are derived from a motion model formulated independently of the phase of the periodic motion with respect to the recording instants of the projection images are determined from the projection images, such that the three-dimensional image dataset represents a static reconstruction based on all projection images for a specific instant. The three-dimensional image dataset is animated from the estimation parameters used in its reconstruction. The motion information that is missing in the estimation parameters due to the two-dimensionality of the projection images is additionally determined using a boundary condition that describes the periodicity of the motion, and used for the animation.
US08704821B2
In general, the present invention provides a system and method for creating, managing and utilizing virtual worlds for enhanced management of an Information Technology (IT) environment. Two dimensional (2D) and three dimensional (3D) virtual world renditions are automatically created to replicate the associated real-life IT environment. Such virtual environments can then be used to familiarize staff with remote locations and to securely provide virtual data center tours to others. The virtual environments are managed through an information monitor and management module that generates a work order sent to the physical location for reconfiguration of the real-life environment.
US08704816B2
A control circuit includes a power supply, a control IC, a liquid crystal panel, a driving integrated chip arranged between the control IC and the liquid crystal panel, and a number of voltage adjusting sub-circuits. The driving integrated chip includes a plurality of output ports for outputting a plurality of driving voltages respectively. Each voltage adjusting sub-circuit is arranged between the corresponding output port of the driving integrated chip and the liquid crystal panel for adjusting an initial value the voltage outputted from the corresponding output port before the driving voltage is transferred to the liquid crystal panel. With the voltage adjusting sub-circuits, the driving voltages received by the liquid crystal panel have the same value to avoid the color deviation of the images displayed in the liquid crystal panel. This improves the display effect of the liquid crystal panel under without increasing the layout area.
US08704809B2
An embodiment of the present invention provides a liquid crystal display device. In each pixel circuit, a pixel electrode is connected to a source line via a third transistor. When a refreshing circuit performs a refreshing operation, a boosting signal line is supplied with a voltage pulse. If the pixel electrode is at a high voltage level at this time point, a voltage at a node is boosted and a first transistor turns ON to supply a refreshing voltage to the pixel electrode. If the pixel electrode is at a low voltage level, there is no boost, and the first transistor stays in OFF state, so a node assumes a voltage which is given by an off-resistance ratio of the first and the third transistors, and this voltage is supplied to the pixel electrode.
US08704808B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a controlling chip and a circuit wire electrically connected to the controlling chip, both disposed on a printed circuit board, and N wire sets and 2N driving chips, all disposed on a glass substrate. N is a positive integer. A characteristic impedance of the circuit wire is equivalent to an output impedance of the controlling chip. The k-th wire set includes 2k−1 peripheral wires, a midpoint of the first peripheral wire in the first wire set is electrically connected to the circuit wire, characteristic impedances of the peripheral wires in the k-th wire set are 2k times the output impedance, k is an integer, and 1≦k≦N. The driving chips are electrically connected to the N-th wire set, and each of the driving chips adjusts the input impedance according to a control information, so as to make the input impedance 2N times the output impedance.
US08704806B2
An object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide a display device and a driving method of a display device in each of which power consumption can be sufficiently reduced even in the case of displaying a moving image. In the display device and the driving method of a display device, a display screen is divided into a plurality of sub-screens in a row direction (a direction of a gate line) and image data in sequential frame periods is compared for each of the sub-screens. Whether or not the image data is rewritten is controlled on the basis of results of the comparison. In other words, writing is performed only in a region of the screen where rewriting is needed.
US08704803B2
In case of a display device using a light emitting element, there is a problem that visibility is extremely decreased under strong outside light when outside light is stronger than light emitted from the light emitting element. According to the present invention, an optical sensor is incorporated to detect an intensity of outside light by monitoring outside light. In the case where strong outside light is detected, a background image of the display device is displayed in black so as to improve visibility of a display image. Besides, luminance of the display image is heightened to improve the visibility further.
US08704795B2
A touch panel includes a first substrate having a first resistance film, a second substrate having a second resistance film and a wiring electrode. The first resistance film and the second resistance film are arranged to face each other. A conductive connection member is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate and electrically connects the first resistance film to the first wiring electrode. The touch panel further-includes auxiliary electrodes partially covered with the first wiring electrode and in contact with the conductive connection member. The resistivity of the auxiliary electrodes in the contact surface with the conductive connection member is lower than the resistivity of the first wiring electrode in the contact surface with the conductive connection member.
US08704792B1
In one example, a computing device may receive an indication of a user input entered at a location of a presence-sensitive screen and defines a group of gesture events based at least in part on the indication. The computing device may determine a density of a portion of the group of gesture events. The density may indicate, for example, a quantity of gesture events associated with a region of the presence-sensitive screen over a time duration. In response to determining that the density satisfies a threshold, the computing device may modify the group of gesture events based at least in part on the density.
US08704790B2
One embodiment of the user interface system comprises: a volume of fluid; a tactile layer; a retaining wall substantially impermeable to the fluid; a permeable layer; a displacement device; and a touch sensor. The tactile layer, with a back surface, defines a second region, operable between: a retracted state, wherein the second region is substantially flush with a first region; and an expanded state, wherein the second region is substantially proud of the first region. The permeable layer, joined to the back surface of the first region, includes a plurality of fluid ports that communicate a portion of the fluid through the permeable layer to the back surface of the second region. The displacement device directs the fluid through the fluid ports to the back surface to transition the second region from the retracted state to the expanded state. The touch sensor detects a user touch on the tactile layer.
US08704785B2
A haptic feedback apparatus includes a screen and a piezoelectric vibrator partially connected with the screen. The screen comprises a display viewing area and a frame surrounding the display viewing area. The piezoelectric vibrator engaged with the screen defines a moving portion having a projecting portion extending from one distal end of the moving portion toward the screen. Wherein, the screen defines a cavity and the projecting portion of the piezoelectric vibrator is at least partially accommodated in the cavity. The manufacture of the haptic feedback apparatus is simple and low-cost.
US08704780B2
A haptic feedback device includes: a haptic device receiving a contact pressure applied thereto; and an actuator provided to the haptic device and excited according to a change in the contact pressure of the haptic device to generate vibrations.
US08704778B2
A display apparatus is provided which includes a display control unit which displays predetermined information on a display screen, a position detecting unit which detects a touch position on the display screen touched by a touch substance, and a display splitting unit which, when the position detecting unit detects at least two touch positions, splits the display screen into at least two display areas according to movement of at least one of the at least two touch positions.
US08704771B2
Portable electronic apparatus includes a display unit (ELD); a first sensor element group (G1) having a plurality of sensor elements (L1-L4) for detecting a contact and arranged continuously around the display unit side by side; a switch element formed where the first sensor element group is arranged; and a control unit for controlling the portable electronic apparatus to display a plurality of selection candidate items which can be displayed as an operation target region on the display unit, to monitor a change in a detection state of the first sensor element group and a state of the switch element, to change a selection state of a selection candidate item by changing the selection candidate items and/or the operation target region based on the change in the detection state of the first sensor element group, and to execute a selection candidate item in the selection state when the switch element is pressed.
US08704769B2
An ambidextrous mouse is disclosed. The ambidextrous mouse is configured for both left and right handed use. The mouse may include right handed buttons on the front side of the mouse and left handed buttons on the back side of the mouse. The user may change the handedness of the mouse by rotating the mouse about a vertical axis of the mouse such that the left hand can use the left hand buttons and the right hand can use the right hand buttons. The mouse may include a handedness selection system for configuring the mouse for right handed or left handed use even though the mouse has the capability for both right and left hands.
US08704765B1
In one general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can store instructions that when executed cause a computing device to perform a process. The instructions can include instructions to receive a cursor behavior representing an interaction with a user interface where the interaction is triggered via a cursor device. The instructions can include instructions to identify a deviation of the cursor behavior from an expected cursor behavior, and calculate a cursor value related to a responsiveness of the cursor device based on the deviation.
US08704759B2
A coordinate calculation apparatus calculates a coordinate point representing a position on a display screen based on an orientation of an input device. The coordinate calculation apparatus includes direction acquisition means, orientation calculation means, first coordinate calculation means, and correction means. The direction acquisition means acquires information representing a direction of the input device viewed from a predetermined position in a predetermined space. The orientation calculation means calculates the orientation of the input device in the predetermined space. The first coordinate calculation means calculates a first coordinate point for determining the position on the display screen based on the orientation of the input device. The correction means corrects the first coordinate point such that the first coordinate point calculated when the input device is directed in a predetermined direction takes a predetermined reference value.
US08704758B1
A means and method for enabling contact or touch point location detection to be implemented on a particular garment. This means and method simplifies the design of the garment by reducing the number of conductors required to interconnect the various touch points and signal processing circuitry; it provides a way to dynamically reposition or resize the effective touch point target regions; and it provides for new control capabilities by optionally allowing continuously variable user input control.
US08704757B2
An input system executes an input to an information processing apparatus depending on the hand motion. Plural myoelectric sensors are provided on an area between a wrist of the person and bases of a second finger to a fifth finger, and detect myoelectric signals depending on the hand motion. A setting portion outputs at least one command to make the person execute at least one particular motion in a state where the myoelectric sensors are worn on the hand, and associates the detected myoelectric signals after the output of the command with the particular motion corresponding to the command. An input portion identifies the hand motion from myoelectric signals detected based on the hand motion after the termination of the association and the association result of the setting portion, and executes the input to the information processing apparatus depending on the identified hand motion.
US08704742B2
When each of R, G, and B pixels continuously display identical gray scales (1023 gray scale) in a liquid crystal display device in which the thicknesses of the liquid crystal layers are of R pixel>G pixel>B pixel, the R pixel is alternately supplied with a positive signal potential (SHR1023) and a negative signal potential (SLR1023), the G pixel is alternately supplied with a positive signal potential (SHG1023) and a negative signal potential (SLG1023), and the B pixel is alternately supplied with a positive signal potential (SHB1023) and a negative signal potential (SLB1023). A first middle value (SMR1023) that between SHR1023 and SLR1023 is set higher than a second middle value (SMG1023) that is between SHG1023 and SLG1023, and second middle value (SMG1023) is set higher than a third middle value (SMB1023) that is between SHB1023 and SLB1023.
US08704738B2
An organic light emitting display device includes: a display unit including pixels coupled to scan lines and data lines; one or more control lines coupled to the pixels; a control line driver for supplying control signals to the pixels through the control lines; a first power driver for applying a first power having a low voltage level or a high voltage level to the pixels; and a second power driver for applying a second power having a low voltage level or a high voltage level to the pixels, in which each of the pixels includes: an organic light emitting diode (OLED); a driving transistor for controlling an amount of current supplied to the OLED; and an initializing transistor coupled to a gate electrode of the driving transistor and for supplying a reset voltage to the gate electrode of the driving transistor.
US08704734B2
Various embodiments of a digit display are provided. In one aspect, a digit display comprises at least one display unit. The at least one digit unit comprises twenty-eight character segments that are arranged in a manner including a quadrilateral, a cross, and four X-shaped arrangements. The quadrilateral is formed by eight of the twenty-eight character segments with two character segments on each of four sides of the quadrilateral. The cross is formed by four of the twenty-eight character segments and dividing the quadrilateral into four quadrants. Each of the four X-shaped arrangements is disposed in a respective one of the four quadrants and formed by respective four of the twenty-eight character segments.
US08704733B2
A method and system for use in conjunction with a push-pull liquid crystal modulator system for creating circularly polarized light of alternating handedness is provided. The method and system comprise a pair of surface mode liquid crystal cells and a driver electrically coupled to the cells. The driver is configured to move an electrical charge using a quenching pulse comprising a relatively brief voltage spike at a beginning of a waveform period. Multiple additional improvements are provided, including reducing the thickness of the LC gap (the distance between cell electrode plates), creating a charge connection or wiring connection to the cell electrodes, employing anti-reflection coating technology, thinner ITO and ITO index matched to the LC material, bonding all possible air to material surfaces, using superior glass, employing more efficient polarizers, and reducing projector blanking time.
US08704730B2
A wireless device incorporating an antenna made of Composite Right Left Hand (CRLH) structures, having a connection element coupling a portion of the antenna to a ground electrode. In some embodiments a wireless device has one or more mechanical connection units made of electrically conductive materials to provide both mechanical engagement and electrical conduction for the antenna devices.
US08704718B2
A radiating element having a transition from a waveguide to a dipole radiator. The radiating element utilizes the electric field of electromagnetic waves propagating in the waveguide to excite a section of a microstrip transmission line that is collinear with the waveguide's propagation direction. A waveguide septum guides the electric field of the electromagnetic waves into the transmission line and provides impedance matching. The transmission line can be formed on a first side of a dielectric substrate having a ground plane on a second side of the substrate. A first dipole leg is formed by making a ninety degree turn in the transmission line. A second dipole leg is extended from the ground plane and turned opposite from the first dipole leg. The transmission line includes a transformer having stepped or gradual changes in width of the transmission line leading to the dipole to provide additional impedance matching.
US08704712B2
A system and method of generating a radio frequency signal adapted for allowing a receiving device to calculate a navigational indicator relative to a plurality of antennas. The system comprising a radio frequency generator unit for generating: a primary signal for driving at least one antenna of the plurality of antennas to provide a primary transmission; and an actively derived secondary signal to complement the primary signal for driving at least one other antenna of the plurality of antennas to provide, collectively with the primary transmission, the combined transmission, wherein the combined transmission, relative to the primary transmission only, provides a reduced observed distortion at the receiving device.
US08704709B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for estimating parameters, i.e. ambiguities, derived from GNSS signals. Observations of each of received frequencies of a GNSS signal from a plurality of GNSS satellites are obtained for a plurality of instances in time (3120). The time sequence of observations is fed to a filter to estimate a state vector comprising float ambiguities, wherein each float ambiguity constitutes a non integer estimate of an integer number of wavelengths for a received frequency of a GNSS signal between a receiver of the GNSS signal and the GNSS satellite from which it is received and wherein the float ambiguities of the state vector are updated over time on the basis of the observations (3140). The occurrence of an interruption in tracking of at least one signal of a satellite is determined (3121). The float ambiguity of the state vector for the at least one signal for which an interruption in tracking occurred is maintained at the value before the interruption in tracking occurred (3122). Integer values are assigned to at least a subgroup of the estimated float values to define a plurality of integer ambiguity candidate sets (3160). A quality measure is determined for each of the candidate sets. A weighted average of the candidate sets is formed (3200). Ambiguities of the weighted average can be used in subsequent operations to aid in determining a position of the receiver or can be used to prepare data, e.g., in a network processor that can be used to augment position information of a rover.
US08704707B2
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to positioning systems and location determination using measurement stitching.
US08704705B2
A method, system and computer program product for calibrating and operating a radar apparatus provides for obtaining calibration response data from, for example, a radar cylinder and a plurality of radar columns, prior to assembling the radar cylinder and plurality of radar columns into an assembled radar apparatus. The calibration response data for the exemplary radar cylinder and the plurality of radar columns is evaluated to provide a simulated response of the assembled radar apparatus. Actual measured responses from the assembled radar apparatus may then be correlated with the simulated response through use of a look-up table. The particular method, system and program product for calibrating and operating the radar apparatus provides for avoidance of field calibration of the assembled radar apparatus, which is generally neither desirable nor feasible under hostile conditions.
US08704689B2
The present invention relates to data manipulation and in particular incrementing, decrementing and comparing binary coded numbers, notably the manipulation of thermometer codes and the performance of arithmetic operations thereon. A method of processing data is provides which comprises receiving a series of data samples, each sample being represented as an N-bit thermometer code, wherein the most significant bit thereof represents the sign of the data sample value Y(n) and the remaining N−1 bits represent the magnitude of the data sample and executing a predetermined sequence of arithmetic operations directly on the series of N-bit thermometer code data samples to determine one of two values for each data sample, without any recoding of the thermometer code data samples.
US08704685B2
An encoding method includes searching a search target symbol string within a specific range from the end of a symbol string, which has been utilized for encoding, for a match symbol string corresponding to a beginning symbol string of a symbol string to be encoded, encoding the beginning symbol string based on a distance between the match symbol string and the beginning symbol string, and a length of the match symbol string.
US08704674B2
Device (10) for detecting wrong position of a container (2) in a container handling machine (1), comprising a movable contact element (11) provided with a trigger (34) coupled to an alarm sensor (33), said contact element (11) having a rest position wherein the trigger (34) blocks said alarm sensor (33), and a tilted position wherein the trigger (34) actuates the alarm sensor (33) to stop movement of the container (2).
US08704673B2
The present invention relates to a cable structure with indicating function, which comprises a cable, a first connector plug and an indication unit. The first connector plug has a main body and a connection part, and coupled with one end of the cable; and the indication unit is fastened in the main body and installed with at least an indicating device coupled with a circuit board and having an indicating function on the main body, the circuit board is connected to a power circuit between the cable and the first connector plug through a wire, and through a detecting circuit of the circuit board performing a comparison operation, the indicating device is enabled to respectively display the indication of charging in progress and charging finished. As such, a user can directly observe the charging status of the hand-held device through the display of the indication unit without needs of actuating the screen of the hand-held device.
US08704670B2
A smoke detector includes processing circuitry coupled to a camera. The field-of-view of the camera contains one or more targets, each having spatial indicia thereon. At least a portion of one of the targets is coated, at least in part, by an infra-red absorbing dye. The dye produces visually discernable dark areas on the coated target(s).
US08704668B1
A system for monitoring and alerting based on animal behavior includes an apparatus to observe one or more animals using a sensor network, a processor to capture tracking information and to interpret animal state based on sensor observations, and a communication device to communicate alerts based on animal state.
US08704666B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to customization of user interfaces for medical devices. According to certain embodiments, patient monitors may include a device body designed to interface with interchangeable and removable faceplates. The faceplates may include input devices for controlling the patient monitor. Further, the properties of the input devices, such as the size, shape, labels, type, and location, may vary between faceplates. Further, in certain embodiments, the faceplates may include a memory for storing preferences associated with the user interface.
US08704648B2
A handheld communication device having a reconfigurable keyfield and a display screen upon which characters are displayed. A plurality of actuable input keys makeup the keyfield, and each has at least one character associated therewith and an engageable top surface for actuation. A microprocessor is configured to receive data indicative of an actuated input key and to output data indicative of an associated character determined to correspond to the indicated input key. At least one of the plurality of actuable input keys is mounted to the handheld communication device by an adjustable interconnection configurable between at least first and second operating orientations. In the first operating orientation, the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a first direction and in the second operating orientation the engageable top surface of the at least one input key faces a second direction.
US08704642B2
The present invention relates to an RFID-based intelligent storage cabinet and its management method, while utilizing the shielding effect enabled by each partitions for allowing any electromagnetic wave in one compartment to transmit only inside the confinement of such compartment without interfering another compartment. Each stock keeping unit (SKU) that is to be stored in the RFID-based intelligent storage cabinet is attached with at least one RFID tag, and different SKUs of different usages are sorted so as to be stored in different compartments. Moreover, each RFID reader can be designed to function according to the command of a control device for scanning the corresponding compartment in a periodic manner or non-periodic manner, by that any SKU that is stored in the corresponding compartment can be detected and identified as each RFID reader is also connected to an inventory database, a database of item list, or a memory database.
US08704636B2
An information processing apparatus includes: a storage block configured to store a first region as part of a layer structure; an execution block which, in response to a designation command transmitted by a communication apparatus to designate the creation of a second region as a lower layer of the first region, performs a region creation process for creating the second region as the lower layer of the first region; and a transmission block which, if the region creation process is stopped, then transmits first information indicating whether or not the second region is already created to the communication apparatus, in response to a request from the communication apparatus.
US08704634B2
A system is provided for creating and/or collecting, storing and providing access to data from an electric power device which contains a cooling or operating liquid. A sensing device is mounted on the electric power device. The sensing device includes a microprocessor/microcontroller, a memory, a display panel, an input panel, and a tag read/write apparatus. A sampling container for holding a liquid sample to be taken from the electric power device has a container tag mounted thereon. The tag read/write apparatus uses a wireless communication link, when a sample has been taken, to transmit (i) administrative data denoting the electric power device, and (ii) diagnosis data denoting the sample taken to the container tag. The diagnosis data can be input directly using the input panel of the sensing device when a sample has been taken.
US08704632B2
In an in-vehicle system, a portable terminal interprets a command intended by operation data operated by an occupant via a touch panel of a DA, and determines whether the interpreted command is a prohibition command, that is, whether execution of the command in an own device is prohibited. When the command is not a prohibition command, the portable terminal is caused to execute the command, and when it is a prohibition command, the DA is caused to execute the command.
US08704629B2
A coil-type electronic component has a coil inside or on the surface of its base material and is characterized in that: the base material is constituted by a group of grains of a soft magnetic alloy containing iron, silicon and other element that oxidizes more easily than iron; the surface of each soft magnetic alloy grain has an oxide layer formed on its surface as a result of oxidization of the grain; this oxide layer contains the other element that oxidizes more easily than iron by a quantity larger than that in the soft magnetic alloy grain; and grains are bonded with one another via this oxide layer.
US08704628B2
Provided are a wireless power communication system, including: a primary core where a primary coil, to which a current is applied, is wound; and a secondary core having a width wider than a width of the primary core, and receiving a secondary coil which outputs a current generated by a magnetic field, wherein the magnetic field is induced by the primary coil to the secondary coil, a wireless power transmission apparatus and a wireless power receiving apparatus therefor.
US08704627B2
The invention relates to an inductor element, an integrated circuit device and a three-dimensional circuit device where a wire passes through the opening of a coil so that the efficiency in the use of wires is high.Coil elements are provided in the main direction of wires in at least two adjacent layer levels having different main directions of wires, and the coil elements are connected to coil elements formed in different layer levels so that a single coil is formed.
US08704625B2
An electromagnetic energy transducer configured to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy comprises two magnetic elements including a permanent magnetic element and a soft-magnetic element and an electrical coil. The permanent magnetic element and the soft-magnetic element are arranged to form a magnetic circuit and one of the two magnetic elements is movable in relation to the other of the two magnetic elements. The electrical coil surrounds a part of the soft magnetic element. The movable magnetic element is held in a first position by a spring force and moved into a second position by applying an external mechanical force exceeding the spring force, and at the first position the magnetic flux within the soft magnetic element is different than the flux at the second position.
US08704624B2
The present invention concerns a magnetic apparatus for magnetic clamping of ferrous elements (P1), comprising a support structure (11) with at least one pole piece (30A) held within its thickness (S), first and second sides (12, 13) being formed in said support structure (11, 11A) at the opposed larger surfaces, said pole piece (30A) comprising at least one first pole piece collector (50), said first pole piece collector (50) being adapted to convey at least one first magnetic flux (F1) generated by said magnetic apparatus to said first side (12, 13). The invention is characterized in that said at least one first pole piece collector (50) is held within the thickness (S) of said support structure (11) and is formed of one piece with said support structure (11).
US08704622B2
A switch arrangement for electric currents has at least two contacts to be closed and opened. At least one of the contacts is formed by sections of an electrically conductive pathway of a foil. At least one magnet assigned to the foil. At least one magnetic component is placeable in the magnetic field of the magnet and facing the magnet on the other side of the foil. When the magnetic body is placed in the magnetic field of the magnet it is attracted to the magnet causing the foil to be squeezed and the contacts to make contact, closing the switch.
US08704621B2
An electromagnetic relay includes: a main body including: a first cover; an electromagnet having a first terminal extending toward the outside from a bottom surface of the first cover; and a contact portion that opens and closes according to a magnetic attractive force of the electromagnet, and has a second terminal extending toward the outside from the bottom surface of the first cover; a cable line drawn out to the outside of the electromagnetic relay; and a printed circuit board that fixes the cable line to at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal by dip soldering, and electrically connects the cable line to the at least one of the first terminal and the second terminal.
US08704618B2
A microwave filter is provided that includes a transmission line having a signal input port and a signal output port, a stub connected to the transmission line between the input port and the output port, and a spurline embedded in the stub. The microwave filter is configured to substantially attenuate a frequency while substantially passing at least one predetermined odd harmonic of the frequency.
US08704617B2
A tunable filter for expanding tuning range includes: a housing, which has multiple cavities defined by partitions; a resonator contained in the cavity; at least one sliding member installed over the resonator; a main cover coupled to an upper portion of the housing; and at least one tuning element coupled to a lower portion of the sliding member and made of a metallic material. Tuning is accomplished by a sliding motion of the sliding member, and the resonator includes a cylindrical first conductor and a second conductor coupled to an upper portion of the cylindrical conductor, where a cross section of the second conductor is shaped as a circle with a portion removed such that an area of overlap between the tuning element and the second conductor is varied according to a sliding of the tuning element.
US08704616B2
A contour mode micromechanical piezoelectric resonator. The resonator has a bottom electrode; a top electrode; and a piezoelectric layer disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode. The piezoelectric resonator has a planar surface with a cantilevered periphery, dimensioned to undergo in-plane lateral displacement at the periphery. The resonator also includes means for applying an alternating electric field across the thickness of the piezoelectric resonator. The electric field is configured to cause the resonator to have a contour mode in-plane lateral displacement that is substantially in the plane of the planar surface of the resonator, wherein the fundamental frequency for the displacement of the piezoelectric resonator is set in part lithographically by the planar dimension of the bottom electrode, the top electrode or the piezoelectric layer.
US08704611B2
A hybrid filter may include sum, low-pass, high-pass, and intermediate nodes. A terminating impedance may couple the intermediate node to a circuit ground. A first low-pass network may couple the sum node to the low-pass node, and a first high-pass network may couple the sum node to the high-pass node. A second low-pass network may couple the high-pass node to the intermediate node. A second high-pass network may couple the low-pass node to the intermediate node. The second high-pass network may include the series connection of a first capacitor, a coupling network, and a second capacitor. The coupling network may include two coupling sections each with planar broadside-coupled first, second, and third conductor elements separated by dielectric layers. The first and third conductor elements in each section may be connected electrically in parallel.
US08704610B2
A multi-layer cradle comprises a first layer comprising first and second contact pads configured to be electrically coupled to a signal input and a signal output of the electronic component, respectively. The first layer also comprises a first ground plane configured to be electrically coupled to a ground of the electronic component and a first fence positioned about the first ground plane. The first ground plane is positioned at least between the first and second contact pads. A second layer comprising a second ground plane is also included. The cradle further comprises a first dielectric material positioned between the first and second layers, a ground plane via extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first and second ground planes, and a plurality of fence vias extending through the first dielectric material and electrically coupled to the first fence and to second ground plane.
US08704608B1
A circulator/isolator assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a first magnetic substrate having first surface and a second surface and a first ground plane formed on the first surface. A dielectric layer is disposed adjacent first magnetic substrate. The dielectric layer includes a multi-port junction circuit coupled to transmission traces. One of the traces forms an input port and another forms an output port. A first magnet is disposed proximate the multi-port junction circuit of the dielectric layer. The first magnet excites a circular, unidirectional magnetic flux field in the first magnetic substrate that limits electromagnetic wave propagation to a single direction.
US08704606B2
Embodiments provide a mixer cell, which is implemented to logically combine a data signal with an oscillator signal and a sign signal to obtain a mixer cell output signal based on the logical combination. Further embodiments provide a modulator with a plurality of mixer cells.
US08704603B2
A tunable Injection-Locked Oscillator (ILO) having a wide locking range is used in a Local Oscillator (LO) of a wideband wireless transceiver to generate differential signals. The ILO includes a resonator with an adjustable natural oscillating frequency. In one example, the ILO is part of a quadrature divider that can lock onto a Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) output signal in a wide frequency band while achieving lower power consumption and lower phase noise than a differential latch type divider. The ILO is tuned by disabling a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator (VCO) from driving the ILO, adjusting the natural oscillating frequency, making a measurement indicative of the natural oscillating frequency, and determining whether the measurement is within a predetermined range. If the measurement is below the predetermined range, capacitances of resonators within the ILO are decreased, whereas if the measurement is above the predetermined range, capacitances of the resonators are increased.
US08704598B2
A circuit that includes a Darlington transistor pair having an input transistor and an output transistor configured to generate an output signal at an output node in response to an input signal received through the input node is disclosed. The circuit has a resistor-inductor-capacitor (RLC) type frequency bias feedback network communicatively coupled between the output transistor and the input node for providing biasing to the Darlington transistor pair as well as for adjusting at least one characteristic of an amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor and into the frequency bias network. The circuit further includes a feedback coupling network coupled between the output node and the input node for feeding back to the input node a portion of the amplified version of the input signal that passes through the input transistor.
US08704596B2
An amplifier arrangement constituted of: a first input lead; a second input lead; a difference amplifier; a first buffer, the input of the first buffer coupled to the first input lead, the output of the first buffer coupled to a first input of the difference amplifier; a second buffer, the input of the second buffer coupled to the second input lead, the output of the second buffer coupled to a second input of the difference amplifier; and a transconductance amplifier, the non-inverting input and the non-inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the first input of the difference amplifier, the inverting input and the inverted output of the transconductance amplifier coupled to the second input of the difference amplifier. The input signals are thus buffered and the offset of the buffers are compensated for.
US08704594B2
A drain modulator circuit for operation with a radio frequency (RF) amplifier, includes a pair of AC signal sources each of the AC signal sources having an output at which an AC signal is provided. The drain modulator circuit further includes a pair of tapped delay elements, each of which is configured to receive an AC signal from a respective one of the AC signal sources and a control element coupled to provide one or more control signals to the pair of tapped delay elements such that the tapped delay elements provide a selected instantaneous differential voltage to the RF amplifier.
US08704591B1
A reference circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor and a bias circuit. The NMOS transistor includes a source connected with a first voltage supply and a gate adapted to receive a first bias signal. The PMOS transistor includes a source connected with a second voltage supply, a gate adapted to receive a second bias signal, and a drain connected with a drain of the NMOS transistor at an output of the reference circuit. The bias circuit generates the first and second bias signals. Magnitudes the first and second bias signals are configured to control a reference signal generated by the reference circuit such that when the reference signal is near a quiescent value of the reference signal, a current in the reference circuit is below a first level, and when the reference signal is outside of the prescribed limits, the current in the reference circuit increases nonlinearly.
US08704586B2
A capacitance detecting apparatus, coupled to a capacitor to be measured, includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, a control module and a judging module. The first and second capacitors are coupled to the capacitor to be measured via an input node. The control module provides a first voltage-drop variation to the first capacitor and a second voltage-drop variation to the capacitor to be measured to introduce a third voltage-drop variation to the second capacitor. The first and second voltage-drop variations cause charge flowing from the first capacitor to the input node have a same sign with charge flowing from the input node to the capacitor to be measured. The judging module determines capacitance of the capacitor to be measured according to capacitance of the first and second capacitors as well as the first, second and third voltage-drop variations.
US08704585B2
A method for driving a field effect transistor for shaping an electrical signal, representing a sound, to an output signal is disclosed. The method comprises modifying the input signal to an intermediate signal, and output of the intermediate signal to the field effect transistor for shaping the output signal. The method comprises the steps of adjusting the quiescent point of the field effect transistor such that the same is placed in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistors, and adjusting the amplitude of the intermediate signal, such that the same causes the potential swing between the gate terminal and the source terminal to at least partly be in the quadratic region of the transfer characteristics of the field effect transistor.
US08704584B2
A driver device drives a load circuit by a common output signal from a first driver transistor and a second driver transistor. The driver device includes a first pre-driver unit that outputs a first driver control signal to the first driver transistor in response to the input signal; and a second pre-driver unit that outputs a second driver control signal to the second driver transistor in response to the input signal. The first pre-driver unit controls the first driver control signal in such a manner that the first driver control signal is rounded in the vicinity of a threshold of the first driver transistor and is sharply changed in a region exceeding the threshold.
US08704575B2
Active directional couplers are provided. In accordance with certain embodiments of the invention, the subject active directional couplers are tunable. The tuning is accomplished via varactors connected to the lines of the active directional couplers. Active directional elements are provided between different lines of the subject active directional couplers to control a signal path between ports of the different lines. The active directional elements are selected from diodes, transistors, inverting amplifiers, non-inverting amplifiers, differential amplifiers, and active baluns. The lines include a phase shift element between the two ports of each line. The phase shift element is selected from a transmission line, a delay line, and a phase shifter. Advantageously, the subject lines do not have to be designed for ideal phase shifting and can be designed at near 90° or near λ/4 values.
US08704574B2
A power distribution system includes the use of a master digital signal processor (DSP) and two slave DSPs connected to the master DSP. The slaves DSPs may be connected to each of a plurality of solid state power channels (SSPC) controlling power distribution functions to each of the channels. A power control strategy may use one power supply for the master DSP, a second power supply shared between the slave DSPs, and a third power supply shared between each of the SSPC channels.
US08704571B2
Methods and systems for synchronizing an electric grid having unbalanced voltages are provided. A voltage vector may be filtered in a quadrature tracking filter (QTF) to generate a quadrature signal. A phase-locked-loop (PLL) operation may be performed on the quadrature signal to monitor a voltage vector between the grid and a connected power converter. The QTF and PLL methods are suitable for either single-phase applications or n-phase (any number of phases) applications. A frequency estimator estimates the grid frequency of the electric grid and outputs the estimated frequency to the QTF algorithms. The frequency estimator may include a three-phase phase-locked-loop (three-phase PLL) suitable for estimating the center frequencies of multiple phases of the electric grid. The frequency estimator may also include means for reducing the harmonics in the grid system.
US08704569B2
A delay locked loop includes initialization circuitry that ensures that a DLL is initialized to an operating point that is not to close to either end of a delay vs. control voltage characteristic. The initialization circuitry forces the DLL to initially search for a lock point starting from an initial delay, the delay is varied in one direction, forcing the DLL to skip the first lock point. The initialization circuitry only allows the DLL to vary the delay of the voltage controlled delay loop in the one direction from the initial delay until the operating point is reached.
US08704564B2
A PLL circuit includes a low-pass filter configured to generate a control voltage according to an output current from a charge pump. The low-pass filter includes a preceding stage circuit portion configured to store electric charges according to the output current from the charge pump, and a succeeding stage circuit portion configured to generate the control voltage by receiving the electric charges stored in and transferred from the preceding stage circuit portion. Also, the preceding stage circuit portion includes plural charge storage circuits each including a capacitor, a first switch connected between the capacitor and the charge pump and configured to be driven by a first switch control signal, and a second switch connected between the capacitor and the succeeding stage circuit portion and configured to be driven by a second switch control signal.
US08704558B2
A triangular waveform generator includes a square waveform clock circuit and an integrating circuit. The integration circuit receives input from the square waveform clock circuit and generates a triangular waveform output. A feedback circuit is operatively connected to the integrating circuit to reduce the audio band noise content in the triangular waveform output. The feedback circuit acts as a DC balance without significant sacrifice in the linearity of the triangular waveform output.
US08704555B2
An integrated circuit comprises reference voltage generation circuitry for providing a reference voltage for use within a transmission of electrical signals. The reference voltage generation circuitry comprises a reference voltage node operably coupled via a plurality of resistance elements to a plurality of signal nodes such that the reference voltage node assumes as the reference voltage an average of the voltage values of the signal nodes to which it is coupled.
US08704548B1
Integrated circuits may include logic regions configurable to perform custom functions. Interconnects may be used to route signals throughout the integrated circuit. The logic region may be coupled to input selection circuitry for selecting and providing input signals from the interconnects to the logic regions and to output selection and routing circuitry for selecting and transmitting output signals over interconnects to other logic regions. Bypass circuitry may provide direct access to registers inside the logic regions and to the output selection and routing circuitry by bypassing the input selection circuitry and other processing circuitry inside the logic regions. Bus interconnections having logic regions performing register pipelining, wire stitching, and acting as data source/sink stations to get on and off the bus interconnections may be generated by configuring the bypass circuitry and the output selection and routing circuitry appropriately.
US08704544B2
An apparatus, suitable for coupling a pads of integrated circuits on wafer to the pogo pins of a pogo tower in a test system without the need of a probe card, includes a body having a first surface and a second surface, the body having a substantially circular central portion, and a plurality of bendable arms extending outwardly from the central portion, each bendable arm having a connector tab disposed at the distal end thereof; a first plurality of contact terminals disposed on the second surface of the central portion of the body, the first plurality of contact terminals arranged in pattern to match the layout of pads on a wafer to be contacted; at least one contact terminal disposed on the first surface of the plurality of connector tabs; and a plurality of electrically conductive pathways disposed in the body such that each of the first plurality of contact terminals is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the contact terminals on the first surface of the connector tabs.
US08704543B2
A test head moving apparatus includes elevating arms that move a test head up and down, a frame that horizontally moves the test head, and an interlock mechanism that prohibits the horizontal movement of the frame on the basis of a height of the test head. The interlock mechanism has a limit switch that detects that the test head is positioned at the lowermost limit and stoppers capable of pressing the pressing units onto a floor plane.
US08704541B2
A circuit testing interface and test method are disclosed. The circuit testing interface may include a test current transmitting pad, a test voltage measuring pad, and at least one driving circuit comprising an output terminal. The output terminal of the at least one driving circuit may be coupled to a through-silicon via (TSV). The circuit testing interface may further include at least one switch module, coupled to (1) the output terminal of the driving circuit, (2) the test current transmitting pad, and (3) the test voltage measuring pad.
US08704531B2
There is provided a shield-structured loop element which can suppress noise via a silicon substrate and can be manufactured by a semiconductor process. The loop element includes: a first well of a first polarity that is formed on a substrate; a deep well of a second polarity that is formed below the first well; a ring-shaped second well of a second polarity that is formed on the deep well along an outer periphery of the deep well; a third well of the first polarity that is formed in an island area surrounded by the deep well and the second well; a looped conductor that is formed in a layer above the third well and has smaller outer dimensions than those of the third well; and a first path that connects the second well to a bias power supply. The second well and the deep well are electrically connected to each other.
US08704529B2
A circuit test interface and a test method are disclosed. The circuit test interface may include a test voltage input pad, a test voltage output pad, and a plurality of input buffers. Each of the plurality of input buffers may have a first input terminal, a second input terminal, and an output terminal. The first input terminal of each respective input buffer may be coupled to one of a plurality of through-silicon vias (TSVs). The circuit test interface may further include a plurality of switch units. Each of the plurality of switch units may have a first terminal and a second terminal. The circuit test interface may further include a scan chain, coupled to both the output terminal of each of the plurality of input buffers and to the test voltage output pad.
US08704528B2
In one embodiment, a method for inspecting an electronic component includes preparing a current detector which is electrically connected to a current detection terminal via a gating device, and electrically connecting the current detection terminal to an interconnect which is in the electronic component and on which a failure portion is suspected to be generated. The method further includes pulsing an electron beam and irradiating the interconnect with the electron beam, and detecting a current generated when the interconnect is irradiated with the electron beam, by the current detector, while adjusting an opening and a closing of a gate in the gating device.
US08704527B2
A comparison judgment circuit judges the level of a signal received, via a transmission line, from a second device which is a communication partner. An input/output terminal is connected to the transmission line. An attenuator circuit attenuates the voltage at the input/output terminal so as to generate an attenuated voltage. A level comparator compares the attenuated voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage, and generates a level judgment signal that corresponds to the comparison result. A protection circuit monitors the voltage at the input/output terminal or the attenuated voltage. When the voltage to be monitored deviates from a predetermined voltage range, the protection circuit forcibly cuts off or changes the voltage input to the level comparator.
US08704522B2
In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes first and second clock generators, a pulse generator, transmission and reception coils, pulse and phase detectors, and a corrector. The pulse generator generates an excitation pulse signal based on a clock signal generated by the first clock generator. The reception coil outputs a radio frequency signals corresponding to an excitation pulse transmitted from the transmission coil or an MR echo. The converter digitizes, synchronously with a clock signal generated by the second clock generator, the radio frequency signal, to obtain radio frequency data. The pulse detector detects excitation pulse data corresponding to the excitation pulse from the radio frequency data. The phase detector detects a phase of a pulse indicated by the detected excitation pulse data. The corrector corrects the radio frequency data based on the detected phase, to compensate for a phase offset which occurs in the echo during the digitization.
US08704519B2
A magnetic resonance tomography device has a local coil that is fashioned to receive a magnetic resonance signal. This device has a detector system that is fashioned to detect a position of the local coil on the basis of electromagnetic waves that are affected by the position of the local coil and can be differentiated from the magnetic resonance signal. A method to detect a position of a local coil in a magnetic resonance tomography device Is implemented in this manner as well.
US08704518B2
An MRI apparatus is disclosed, the MRI apparatus comprising a computer programmed to apply a fluid suppression technique prior to an imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the fluid suppression technique is configured to suppress signals from fluids having long longitudinal relaxation times, and apply a fat suppression technique after the fluid suppression technique and prior to the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the fat suppression technique is configured to suppress fat signals. The computer is further programmed to apply a flow suppression preparation sequence after the fat suppression technique and prior to the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, wherein the flow suppression preparation sequence is configured to suppress moving tissue signals. The computer is also programmed to apply the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, cause the RF transceiver system to acquire MR signals during the imaging pulse-gradient sequence, and reconstruct an image from the acquired MR signals.
US08704516B2
A magnetic resonance imaging system (10) includes a local coil (40) for receiving a resonance signal induced by a whole body quadrature coil (32). The local coil (40) includes a dielectric former (68) in which a plurality of receive coils (60, 74, 76, 78) and a passive B0 and B1 field shim (62, 82) are mounted. The passive shim includes a plurality of capacitively coupled elements (64) of an electrically conductive diamagnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic material which passively shield and enhance the field in local regions. A surface configuration of the elements is tailored to optimize local B1 homogeneity and a mass of the elements is configured to optimize local B0 field homogeneity.
US08704510B2
A method for identifying, measuring, and monitoring metal loss through corrosion ferromagnetic piping includes drive coils secured to the pipe and driven to emit a magnetic field which is transmitted through the object by magnetic domains in the object. Response coils detect the magnetic domains and generate a response signal. Response coils may be saddle or loop coils, or printed coils on flexible substrates that are applied to conform to the pipe peripheral surface. The system operates reiteratively over an extended period of time to detect loss of magnetic domains which is an important indicator of corrosion and deterioration of the object.
US08704509B2
An electrical power meter for monitoring electrical power supplied to a load comprises a meter case, a plurality of current transformers within the meter case for sensing the electrical current in a plurality of line conductors of a power distribution system, and a plurality of pairs of terminals on the meter case for connecting the meter to the line conductors. The terminals of each pair are located on opposite sides of one of the current transformers, and a current transformer bus bar connects the two terminals and extends through one of the current transformers. A plurality of guides adjacent selected pairs of the terminals position lugs connecting line conductors to the selected pairs of terminals.
US08704507B2
A method and measuring device for determining the usage rate of a breaking hammer, and to a rock breaking device. The measuring device comprises a sensor for measuring a physical phenomenon caused by the operation of the percussion device. The measuring results are processed, and they are used to determine the start and end times of the operation of the percussion device. By means of a timing device, it is possible to determine the duration of an impact cycle which is added to a time counter. The durations of impact cycles added cumulatively to the time counter indicate the total percussion time of the breaking hammer. Impact pauses between impact cycles are also monitored, and pauses shorter than a predefined time limit are taken into account as part of the usage rate.
US08704493B2
This invention offers an battery system that reduces a conversion loss due to a charger to reduce power consumption. The battery system has a solar battery, a battery module, a bypass route to bypass a charger to charge the battery module with DC power generated by the solar battery, and a control unit to control so that the electric power generated by the solar battery is supplied to the battery module through the bypass route when an output voltage of the solar battery is equal to or higher than a first predetermined voltage, that is higher than a terminal voltage of the battery module, and equal to or lower than a second predetermined voltage.
US08704490B2
Charge and discharge control apparatus and charge and discharge control method for secondary battery
A charge and discharge control apparatus for a secondary battery, which uses feedforward control and feedback control in combination to execute charge and discharge control over the secondary battery, includes: a feedforward control unit that executes the feedforward control; a feedback control unit that executes the feedback control; and a control mode changing unit that changes a control mode between the feedforward control and the feedback control. The feedforward control unit controls at least one of a charging electric power and a discharging electric power on the basis of a predetermined permissible electric power value. When the permissible electric power value is lower than or equal to a predetermined value, the control mode changing unit prohibits the feedforward control, and changes the control mode so as to control at least one of the charging electric power and the discharging electric power through the feedback control.
US08704486B2
An electricity storage system has secondary battery housing system racks in which secondary batteries and circuit blocks are respectively housed, and a power converter housing rack in which a power converter is housed, and which is orderly disposed together with the plurality of secondary battery housing system racks. The secondary battery housing system rack having a positive-electrode-side terminal directly connected to a positive-electrode-side terminal of the power converter by a positive-electrode bus and the secondary battery housing system rack having a negative-electrode-side terminal directly connected to a negative-electrode-side terminal of the power converter by a negative-electrode bus, are different from each other.
US08704476B2
To detect an entrapment situation when a driven component is adjusted using a mechanical adjustment system which has an electric motor (2), a value (Fakt) relating to the force acting upon the driven component is compared with a threshold value (FTh) relating to a reference value (FRef). The reference value (FRef), and thus the threshold value (FTh), are continuously matched, for the purpose of force tracking, with the force value which changes during the movement of adjustment depending on the mechanical system.
US08704475B2
Disclosed is a current source inverter device which controls the power factor in an arbitrarily configurable manner without a magnetic pole position detector. The device is provided with a current source inverter; a motor supplied with alternating current power from the current source inverter; and a control means which detects the terminal voltage of the motor, calculates the motor's internal induced voltage and the motor current that flows in the motor based on the detected terminal voltage, and controls the current source inverter. The control means calculates the phase difference (θc) between the terminal voltage and the motor current, the phase difference (θx) between the motor current and the internal induced voltage, and the phase difference (θv) between the terminal voltage and the internal induced voltage. An adjustment angle (θα), which is the error in the phase difference between the motor current and the internal induced voltage when the set value of the phase difference (θx) is θy, is obtained from the conditional equation θα=θv−θy−θc.
US08704473B2
A motor for a synchronous electric machine includes a first inverter configured to provide alternating current power at a first plurality of phases. Also included is a second inverter configured to provide alternating current power at a second plurality of phases. Further included is a first stator winding and a second stator winding each in operable communication with the first inverter and the second inverter and configured to operate synchronously at a first phase, a second phase and a third phase. Yet further included is a first interphase transformer for receiving one of the first plurality of phases and one of the second plurality of phases for communicating a pair of simultaneous, matching voltage outputs to the first stator winding and the second stator winding for reducing a stress imposed on a rotor.
US08704471B2
A zero-cross detection unit monitors an AC voltage detected by a voltage sensor, generates a zero-cross point signal when the voltage crosses 0V, and supplies the signal to a controller. A rotation number setting unit sets a rotation number command to serve as a target of a synchronous motor. A rotation number correction coefficient data table stores correction coefficient data for a target rotation number. A correction coefficient data extraction unit extracts correction coefficient data in accordance with an elapsed time of the zero-cross point signal generated by the zero-cross detection unit from a rotation number correction coefficient data table, and outputs the data to a corrected rotation number creation unit. The corrected rotation number creation unit corrects the rotation number set by the rotation number setting unit in accordance with the extracted correction coefficient data, and outputs the corrected rotation number to a sine wave data creation unit.
US08704467B2
An inverter device provided on a washing machine for controlling a permanent magnet motor being provided with a rotor magnet including a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet having a level of coercivity smaller than the first permanent magnet. An excitation current is produced to vary the amount of magnetism of the second permanent magnet to execute a dehydrate operation with a magnetic flux of the rotor magnet reduced and to execute an operation being specified to operate at a lower maximum rotation count compared to the dehydrate operation with the magnetic flux of the rotor magnet increased. When the amount of magnetism of the second permanent magnet is varied while rotation of the permanent magnet motor is stopped, a phase of the excitation current for varying the amount of magnetism is switched depending on a rotation stop position of the rotor.
US08704463B2
A temperature control method for light emitting diode (LED) is disclosed, and the method comprises the following steps: acquiring the present temperature of the LED during the light emission of the LED; obtaining a driving electric current corresponding to the present temperature based on the present temperature of the LED; and driving the LED based on the driving electric current. This invention further discloses a temperature control device for the LED and a liquid crystal display.
US08704460B2
The invention relates to a light emitting diode (“LED”) illumination system, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of driving a LED module by a current generator that is powered and controlled by a regulated dc voltage associated with a brightness level. Such a dimmable LED illumination system is compatible with both a high-voltage ac signal coupled from any wall outlet and a low-voltage ac signal provided by an electronic transformer. A diode bridge rectifies the ac signal to a rectified ac signal, and a LED driver generates the LED current from the rectified ac signal and drives the LED to the brightness level. Within the LED driver, the level of the LED current is determined from a boost voltage that is substantially a regulated dc voltage generated from the rectified ac signal.
US08704447B2
In a light source device for combining light waves with at least three wavelengths and outputting thus combined light waves, an optical system element and an electrical system element are formed on a semiconductor substrate, thereby eliminating the necessity of optical members such as an optical connector, and saving space to place the optical members as well as reducing arrangement spacing. In addition, the space necessary for wiring in an electrical circuit is reduced. Therefore, an integration degree of each of the elements, the optical system element and the electrical system element, is enhanced. The optical system element and the electrical system element are formed in layers on the same conductor substrate, thereby reducing the area that is required in configuring a parallel establishment of the optical system element and the electrical system element.
US08704446B2
An analog electronic circuit for driving a string of LEDs including input terminals for accepting connection to AC voltage, a current regulation circuit operatively coupled to receive an AC voltage from the input terminals and to provide an output for connection to drive the string of LEDs. Included is a current regulation circuit configured to limit the current flow through the string of LEDs on a half-cycle basis to a predetermined value. Also disclosed is an over voltage circuit configured to switch off electrical connection between the AC voltage and the string of LEDs upon the AC reaching a predetermined high voltage value on a half-cycle basis.
US08704438B2
Disclosed herein are lamps comprising a radiation source and a phosphor blend configured for conversion of radiation, the phosphor blend including at least two different rare earth phosphors, wherein the phosphor blend comprises at least one multimodal rare earth phosphor. Disclosed advantages may include greater lumen output than an identical lamp in which the phosphor blend, at the same loading, does not comprise at least one multimodal rare earth phosphor.
US08704437B2
A phosphor mixture for a discharge lamp, which includes a first phosphor compound and a second phosphor compound, wherein the first phosphor compound has an emission spectrum in the green and/or yellow spectral range and absorbs the UV radiation emitted by an Hg source and the radiation in the blue spectral range emitted by the Hg source, characterized in that the first phosphor compound of the phosphor mixture comprises (Ba,Sr,Ca)2SiO4:Eu and/or (Srl-x-yBaxCay)Si2O2N2:Eu(SrSiON), as a constituent, and the second phosphor compound of the phosphor mixture comprises Y2O3:Eu, as a constituent; and the phosphor mixture has a color temperature of less than 2500 K.
US08704422B2
An electromagnetic machine has a rotor and a stator core. The stator core has a plurality of radially-extending teeth and a plurality of bridges having opposite ends secured to corresponding teeth. Stator windings are positioned at least partially in slots between the teeth. Each of the bridges is in a compressed configuration and includes a midsection radially offset from the ends. In a method of making an electromagnetic machine, stator windings are wound around the teeth of the stator core while the stator core is in an expanded configuration in which each of the slots is relatively wider and the configuration of the stator core is changed after winding, for example by compressing or otherwise deforming the bridges, to a compressed configuration in which each of the slots is relatively narrower. The bridges hold the teeth in the expanded configuration facilitating high slot fill without using a segmented stator.
US08704418B2
An electronically commutated external-rotor motor has an internal stator (20), having a stator lamination stack (64) and a winding arrangement (66) associated therewith. the latter, as well as a central opening (149) of the stator lamination stack (64), in which opening a bearing tube (56) is arranged. The motor further has a permanent-magnet external rotor (26) separated from the stator lamination stack (64) by a magnetically effective air gap (99), which rotor has a shaft (42) that is journalled in the bearing tube (56). First and second rolling bearings (48, 50) are arranged at a distance from one another in the bearing tube (56). The first rolling bearing (48), adjacent the rotor hub, is a floating bearing, while the second rolling bearing (50), near the shaft end (70) remote from the hub (40), is braced with one side against a shoulder (82) provided in the bearing tube (56). A compression spring (78) urges the two bearings toward one another, so that they serve as both an axial bearing and a radial bearing for the motor, thereby providing improved durability and longer service life.
US08704416B2
Electric submersible well pumping systems operable in well temperatures of above about 180° C. (356° F.) utilize high temperature electrical insulation. The electrical insulation includes E-base polyimide films or perfluoropolymer TE films on various components. The insulation films are employed around magnet wires that are threaded through slots in the stator. Slot insulation of E-base polyimide or perfluoropolymer TE surrounds the magnet wires in the stator slots. Sheets of E-base polyimide or perfluoropolymer TE film extend around and between phase loops of the magnet wire at the lower end of the stator. The magnet wires in the stator have lead portions that extend The motor contains a PAO oil having additives to dissipate acid generated by epoxy used in the motor.
US08704410B2
A semiconductor device includes: a first power line to supply a first voltage to a plurality of internal circuits; a second power line to supply the first voltage to the plurality of internal circuits; a first switch provided between said first power line and each of the plurality of internal circuits; a second switch provided between said second power line and each of the plurality of internal circuits; and a control circuit to control the first switch of a second internal circuit included in the plurality of the internal circuits based on the amounts of noise and voltage drop at power-on in a first circuit included in the plurality of internal circuits.
US08704406B2
A solar power plant is disclosed for converting solar energy into electric energy, and having a plurality of solar cell units, each solar cell unit containing a first cell pole and a second cell pole. The cell poles can cooperate for feeding electric energy produced by the solar cell unit as direct current out of the solar cell unit. A direct-current converter can include a plurality of direct-current input poles and two direct-current output poles, each direct-current input pole being connected to at least one cell pole. The direct-current converter can convert input direct currents entered via the direct-current input poles, and having input voltages, into an output direct current having an output voltage, and feed the output direct current via the direct-current output poles out of the direct-current converter. The direct-current converter can include a three-phase inverter unit having three phase poles and two direct-voltage poles, the inverter unit being adapted to serve as a direct-current converter in such a manner that each of the three phase poles are adapted as direct-current input poles and each of the direct-voltage poles is in electrically conductive connection to exactly one direct-current output pole of the direct-current converter.
US08704401B2
A vehicle electric power supply system includes: an electric power generating source; a battery; a first voltage converter configured to raise a voltage of the electric power generating source; a second voltage converter configured to raise a voltage of the battery; and an electric power converter configured to supply voltages, which are obtained by conversions by the respective first and second voltage converters, to a vehicle load. A power control unit, which includes the first voltage converter, the second voltage converter and the electric power converter, and the battery are integrated into a unitary component, and are placed in a front portion of a vehicle while isolated from a vehicle interior. Accordingly, it is possible to widen the vehicle interior and a luggage containing space in the vehicle's rear portion, and to avoid increase in the weight of the vehicle.
US08704391B2
A method for moving a double-bladed rotor of a wind power plant into a parking position characterized by the orientation of the rotor blades in a horizontal plane and braking the rotor.
US08704390B2
Method, power plant, and computer program product for use in controlling power output by a power plant. The power plant includes a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines, a grid power converter (such as one or more HVDC links), a sensor to measure the frequency of a power grid, and a supervisory controller. The supervisory controller implements a control algorithm that adjusts the power output from the power plant in response to the frequency of the power grid dropping below a first target frequency by changing the pitch of the blades of at least one wind turbine, increasing the level of a portion of the power contributed by at least one wind turbine, or increasing the level of the power output by the grid power converter.
US08704387B2
An electrical energy generator comprising a housing having a longitudinal axis and opposite ends, an electromagnetically active mass positioned within the housing reciprocally movable along at least a portion of the longitudinal axis, an electrically conductive material within the housing, a body engaged with the electromagnetically active mass, and at least one spring positioned between at least one of an end of the housing and an end of the body, or between an end of the body and the electrically conductive material.
US08704383B2
A silicon-based thin package substrate is used for packaging semiconductor chips. The silicon-based thin package substrate preferably has a thickness of less than about 200 μm. A plurality of traces is formed in the silicon-based thin package substrate, connecting BGA balls and solder bumps. A semiconductor chip may be mounted on the solder bumps. The silicon-based thin package substrate may be used as a carrier of semiconductor chips.
US08704382B2
The present invention provides a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface, which is to be formed on a back surface of a semiconductor element flip-chip connected on an adherend, the film including a wafer adhesion layer and a laser marking layer, in which the wafer adhesion layer has a light transmittance of 40% or more in terms of a light having a wavelength of 532 nm and the laser marking layer has a light transmittance of less than 40% in terms of a light having a wavelength of 532 nm.
US08704375B2
Through substrate via barrier structures and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a first substrate including an active device region disposed within isolation regions. A through substrate via is disposed adjacent to the active device region and within the first substrate. A buffer layer is disposed around at least a portion of the through substrate via, wherein the buffer layer is disposed between the isolation regions and the through substrate via.
US08704371B2
A semiconductor die includes a first contact stack including a first UBM pad on a first die pad, a second contact stack including a second UBM pad on a second die pad, and a third contact stack including a third UBM pad on a third die pad. The second UBM pad perimeter is shorter than the first UBM pad perimeter, and the third UBM pad perimeter is longer than the second UBM pad perimeter. A first solder bump is on the first UBM pad, a second solder bump is on the second UBM pad, and a third solder bump is on the third UBM pad. The first solder bump, second solder bump and third solder bump all have different sizes.
US08704368B1
A stackable via package includes a substrate having an upper surface and a trace on the upper surface, the trace including a terminal. A solder ball is on the terminal. The solder ball has a solder ball diameter A and a solder ball height D. A via aperture is formed in a package body enclosing the solder ball to expose the solder ball. The via aperture includes a via bottom having a via bottom diameter B and a via bottom height C from the upper surface of the substrate, where A
US08704364B2
An integrated circuit structure can include a first interposer and a second interposer. The first interposer and the second interposer can be coplanar. The integrated circuit structure further can include at least a first die that is coupled to the first interposer and the second interposer.
US08704363B2
An interface plate capable of being mounted between first and second surface-mounted electronic chips. The plate includes a plurality of first, second, and third through openings, the first openings being filled with a conductive material and being arranged to be in front of pads of the first and second chips during the assembly, the second openings being filled with a second material, the third openings being filled with a third material, the second and third materials forming two complementary components of a thermoelectric couple.
US08704361B2
A sealing glass, a sealing material, and a sealing material paste, which suppress metal deposition by reducing glass components (metal oxides) without decreasing the reactivity with and the adhesion to a semiconductor substrate. The sealing glass, contains a low temperature melting glass containing, by mass ratio: from 0.1 to 5% of at least one metal oxide selected from the group consisting of Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Nb, Hf, W, Re, a rare earth element, and optionally Mo; and from 5 to 100 ppm by mass ratio of K2O, wherein the low temperature melting glass has a softening point of at most 430° C. The sealing material device, contains the sealing glass and an inorganic filler in an amount of from 0 to 40% by volume ratio. The sealing material paste contains a mixture of the sealing material and a vehicle.
US08704355B2
A semiconductor device having a through electrode excellent in performance as for an electrode and manufacturing stability is provided. There is provided a through electrode composed of a conductive small diameter plug and a conductive large diameter plug on a semiconductor device. A cross sectional area of the small diameter plug is made larger than a cross sectional area and a diameter of a connection plug, and is made smaller than a cross sectional area and a diameter of the large diameter plug. In addition, a protruding portion formed in such a way that the small diameter plug is projected from the silicon substrate is put into an upper face of the large diameter plug. Further, an upper face of the small diameter plug is connected to a first interconnect.
US08704351B2
A microelectronic assembly includes units superposed on one another to form at least one stack having a vertical direction. Each unit includes one or more microelectronic devices and has top and bottom surfaces. Top unit terminals are exposed at the top surfaces and bottom unit terminals are exposed at the bottom surfaces. The top and bottom unit terminals are provided at a set of ordered column positions. Each top unit terminal of the set, except the top unit terminals at the highest ordered column position, is connected to a respective bottom unit terminal of the same unit at a next higher ordered column position. Each bottom unit terminal of the set, except the bottom unit terminals of the lowest unit in the stack, is connected to a respective upper unit terminal of the next lower unit in the stack at the same column position.
US08704344B2
Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide the design and manufacture of an ultra-small chip assembly. The ultra-small chip assembly comprises a die, a plate-like back electrode disposed on the back-side of the die, and one or more plate-like positive electrodes disposed on the front-side of the die. The ultra-small chip assembly is configured such that one end of the plate-like back electrode extends beyond a first side of the die, and each of the one or more plate-like positive electrodes includes an end which extends beyond a second side of the die. By attaching both the plate-like back electrode and the plate-like positive electrodes on the surfaces of the die, and directly using the exposed ends of the plate-like electrodes as the lead-out electrodes for the chip assembly, the electrical connections outside of the die only occupy a very small volume.
US08704332B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is provided that includes forming an oxide containing isolation region in a semiconductor substrate to define an active semiconductor region. A blanket gate stack including a high-k gate dielectric layer may then be formed on the active semiconductor region. At least a portion of the blanket gate stack extends from the active semiconductor device region to the isolation region. The blanket gate stack may then be etched to provide an opening over the isolation region. The surface of the isolation region that is exposed by the opening may then be isotropically etched to form an undercut region in the isolation region that extend under the high-k gate dielectric layer. An encapsulating dielectric material may then be formed in the opening filling the undercut region. The blanket gate stack may then be patterned to form a gate structure.
US08704329B2
SOI devices for plasma display panel driver chip, include a substrate, a buried oxide layer and an n-type SOI layer in a bottom-up order, where the SOI layer is integrated with an HV-NMOS device, an HV-PMOS device, a Field-PMOS device, an LIGBT device, a CMOS device, an NPN device, a PNP device and an HV-PNP device; the SOI layer includes an n+ doped region within the SOI layer at an interface between the n-type SOI layer and the buried oxide layer; and the n+ doped region has a higher doping concentration than the n-type SOI layer.
US08704328B2
A high-voltage integrated circuit device has formed therein a high-voltage junction terminating region that is configured by a breakdown voltage region formed of an n-well region, a ground potential region formed of a p-region, a first contact region and a second contact region. An opposition section of the high-voltage junction terminating region, whose distance to an intermediate-potential region formed of a p-drain region is shorter than those of other sections, is provided with a resistance higher than those of the other sections. Accordingly, a cathode resistance of a parasitic diode formed of the p-region and the n-well region increases, locally reducing the amount of electron holes injected at the time of the input of a negative-voltage surge. As a result, an erroneous operation or destruction of a logic part of a high-side circuit can be prevented when the negative-voltage surge is applied to an H-VDD terminal or a Vs terminal.
US08704327B2
An integrated circuit, comprising a capacitive device having a thermally variable capacitive value and comprising a thermally deformable assembly disposed within an enclosure, and comprising an electrically-conducting fixed body and a beam held at least two different locations by at least two arms rigidly attached to edges of the enclosure, the beam and the arms being metal and disposed within the first metallization level. A part of the said thermally deformable assembly may form a first electrode of the capacitive device and a part of the said fixed body may form a second electrode of the capacitive device. The thermally deformable assembly has a plurality of configurations corresponding respectively to various temperatures of the said assembly and resulting in a plurality of distances separating the two electrodes and various capacitive values in the capacitive device corresponding to the plurality of distances.
US08704323B2
A method for manufacturing a solid state image forming device in one embodiment includes forming a transparent resin layer on a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of photodiode layers formed thereon in a lattice, through R, G, and B color filters that are formed according to a Bayer arrangement; forming a plurality of first microlens mother dies on the transparent resin layer at the positions corresponding to the G color filters in such a manner that the outer peripheries thereof are separated from each other; forming a plurality of second microlens mother dies in such a manner that they are formed to fill the gap between the first microlens mother dies and the outer peripheries thereof are separated from each other; and etching the transparent resin layer with the plurality of first microlens mother dies and the plurality of second microlens mother dies being used as masks.
US08704318B2
An encapsulation structure for silicon pressure sensor including a case and a stem is proposed. The case and the stem are connected with a cavity therebetween. A sealing pad and a pressure sensitive silicon chip are provided in the said cavity. The sealing pad is placed under the silicon chip and the silicon chip is connected to the external circuit through the bonding pad. This invention, with the anti-overloading ability, simplifies the encapsulation structure and manufacturing process which greatly reduces the cost of material and process.
US08704314B2
A mechanical memory transistor includes a substrate having formed thereon a source region and a drain region. An oxide is formed upon a portion of the source region and upon a portion of the drain region. A pull up electrode is positioned above the substrate such that a gap is formed between the pull up electrode and the substrate. A movable gate has a first position and a second position. The movable gate is located in the gap between the pull up electrode and the substrate. The movable gate is in contact with the pull up electrode when the movable gate is in a first position and is in contact with the oxide to form a gate region when the movable gate is in the second position. The movable gate, in conjunction with the source region and the drain region and when the movable gate is in the second position, form a transistor that can be utilized as a non-volatile memory element.
US08704308B2
The invention provides a semiconductor device including an ESD protection circuit with a high ESD protection characteristic. An RC timer included discharge portion including an RC timer formed by a resistor element and a capacitor element and a PLDMOS transistor is formed so as to turn on only when a surge voltage due to static electricity is applied. Furthermore, a noise prevention portion including first and second NMOS off transistors of which the source electrode and the drain electrode are connected is formed. The source electrode of the PLDMOS transistor of the RC timer included discharge portion is connected to a power supply line. The drain electrode of the PLDMOS transistor and the drain electrode of the first NMOS off transistor are connected. The source electrode of the second NMOS off transistor is connected to a ground line.
US08704286B2
Methods for fabricating integrated circuits include fabricating a logic device on a substrate, forming an intermediate semiconductor substrate on a surface of the logic device, and fabricating a capacitor-less memory cell on the intermediate semiconductor substrate. Integrated circuits with capacitor-less memory cells formed on a surface of a logic device are also disclosed, as are multi-core microprocessors including such integrated circuits.
US08704285B2
Present embodiments may be directed to a capacitor device, including a first electrode, which includes a first area and a second area, separated from each other, and a first bridge located between the first area and the second area, the first bridge electrically interconnecting the first area and the second area; a second electrode arranged to face the first electrode; and a dielectric layer between the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08704273B2
A semiconductor device includes a nitride semiconductor layer having a (0001) face and a (000-1) face, formed above a common substrate; a (0001) face forming layer provided partially between the substrate and the nitride semiconductor layer; a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode, provided on the nitride semiconductor layer having the (0001) face; and a hole extracting electrode provided on the nitride semiconductor layer having the (000-1) face.
US08704270B2
A Shockley diode including: a vertical stack of first to fourth layers of alternated conductivity types between first and second electrodes; a recess formed in the fourth layer and extending vertically to penetrate into the second layer; a first region of same conductivity type as the second layer but of greater doping level, extending at the bottom of the recess in the second layer; and a second region of same conductivity type as the third layer but of greater doping level, extending along the lateral walls of the recess and connecting the first region to the fourth layer.
US08704265B2
In one embodiment, the light emitting device package includes a package body, electrodes attached to the package body, and at least two light emitting devices electrically connected to the electrodes. Each light emitting device emits light of a different color from the other light emitting devices. A protective layer is formed over the at least two light emitting devices, and a phosphor layer formed over the protective layer. Other embodiments include other structures such a individual phosphor layers on each light emitting device. And, a light apparatus including a package may include a single driver driving the light emitting devices of the package.
US08704264B2
A light emitting diode (LED) package structure including a leadframe, a housing, a LED chip and a light-transmissive encapsulant is provided. The leadframe has a first electrode and a second electrode separated from each other. The housing wraps the first electrode and the second electrode and includes a recess having a bottom and a sidewall. The bottom of the recess has a cover layer covering the leadframe and having an opening exposing an end of the first electrode, an end of the second electrode and a spacer disposed therebetween and connected thereto wherein the spacer, the end of the first electrode and the end of the second electrode are substantially coplanar. The LED chip is disposed in the recess and electrically connected to leadframe. The light-transmissive encapsulant is filled in the recess.
US08704262B2
A solid state light source with LEDs in thermal contact to thermally conductive translucent elements where light emitted from the LEDs is directed to emerge from the heat dissipating surfaces of the elements. The thermally conductive translucent elements are arranged or combined with a reflector to form a light recycling cavity. The outside surfaces of the thermally conductive translucent elements forming the cavity become luminescent as the light emitted by the LEDs on the inside of the cavity is continually reflected and recycled until a very high percentage of the light emitted by the LEDs is eventually transmitted through and emitted uniformly and omnidirectionally. Simultaneously, the heat from the LEDs conducts through and to the luminescent outside surfaces of the elements of the cavity, which radiatively and convectively cool the light source thereby eliminating the need for bulky appended heat sinks.
US08704250B2
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a first nitride semiconductor layer having a super lattice structure of AlGaN/n-GaN or AlGaN/GaN/n-GaN; an active layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer to emit light; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; and a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer. According to the present invention, the crystallinity of the active layer is enhanced, and optical power and reliability are also enhanced.
US08704245B2
After the LEDs 2 (red LEDs (R), green LEDs (G) and blue LEDs (B), or white LEDs (W)) are mounted on the frame 3, without dicing the frame 3 for dividing the LEDs 2 into pieces, the tie bar is punched off to form an electric circuit. Thus, the RGB three primary color LED light source 1A or the white LED light source 1B that emits light in the state of the frame 3 can be manufactured.
US08704243B2
Disclosed is a light emission element including, on a substrate having an insulative surface, a first electrode connected with a thin film transistor and an insulator covering the end of the first electrode, a layer containing, an organic compound in contact with the first electrode, a second electrode in contact with the layer containing the organic compound. The first electrode has an inclined surface and the inclined surface reflects emitted light from the layer containing the organic compound. Further, a light absorbing multi-layered film absorbing external light is disposed on the portion of the first electrode covered with the insulator. The light absorbing multi-layered film comprising at least has a three-layered structure comprising a light transmitting film, a film partially absorbing light and a light transmitting film.
US08704237B2
An organic light-emitting display device includes a thin film transistor including an active layer, a gate electrode, source/drain electrodes, a first insulating layer between the active layer and the gate electrode, and a second insulating layer over the gate electrode; a pixel electrode on the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer and connected to the source or drain electrode; a first wire on the first insulating layer, of the same material as the gate electrode; a second wire on the second insulating layer to at least partially overlap the first wire and including a lower wiring layer of the same material as the pixel electrode and an upper wiring layer on the lower wiring layer, of the same material as the source/drain electrodes; and third insulating layers between the second insulating layer and the pixel electrode and between the second insulating layer and the second wire.
US08704231B2
An array substrate of a TFT-LCD, comprising: a base substrate; gate lines and data lines formed on the substrate, the gate lines and the data lines crossing with each other to define a plurality of pixel units each of which comprises a thin film transistor, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer, wherein the first electrode layer is separated from the second electrode layer through an insulation layer; the first electrode layer comprises a plurality of first electrodes separated by openings; the second electrode layer comprises a plurality of second electrodes separated by openings; the second electrodes comprise overlapping electrodes each of which completely overlaps with the first electrodes and non-overlapping electrodes whose edges are completely located within an region corresponding to the openings in the first electrode layer.
US08704230B2
To reduce parasitic capacitance between a gate electrode and a source electrode or drain electrode of a dual-gate transistor. A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer covering a first conductive layer; a first semiconductor layer, second semiconductor layers, and an impurity semiconductor layer sequentially provided over the first insulating layer; a second conductive layer over and at least partially in contact with the impurity semiconductor layer; a second insulating layer over the second conductive layer; a third insulating layer covering the three semiconductor layers, the second conductive layer, and the second insulating layer; and a third conductive layer over the third insulating layer. The third conductive layer overlaps with a portion of the first semiconductor layer, which does not overlap with the second semiconductor layers, and further overlaps with part of the second conductive layer.
US08704227B2
The present invention discloses an LED and its fabrication method. The LED comprises: a sapphire substrate; an epitaxial layer, an active layer and a capping layer arranged on the sapphire substrate in sequence; wherein a plurality of cone-shaped structures are formed on the surface of the sapphire substrate close to the epitaxial layer. The cone-shaped structures can increase the light reflected by the sapphire substrate, raising the external quantum efficiency of the LED, thus increasing the light utilization rate of the LED. Furthermore, the formation of a plurality of cone-shaped structures can improve the lattice matching between the sapphire substrate and other films, reducing the crystal defects in the film formed on the sapphire substrate, increasing the internal quantum efficiency of the LED.
US08704221B2
A semiconductor device with high productivity and high yield is provided. The semiconductor device includes a word line, a capacitor line, a first bit line, a second bit line, and a first transistor and a second transistor each of which includes a gate, a source, and a drain. The first transistor and the second transistor at least partly overlap with each other, and the gates of the first transistor and the second transistor are connected to the word line. A capacitor is formed between at least part of the capacitor line and each of the drains of the first transistor and the second transistor. The first bit line is connected to the source of the first transistor, and the second bit line is connected to the source of the second transistor.
US08704213B2
A photoelectric conversion device having: a pair of electrodes; a photoelectric conversion layer sandwiched between the pair of electrodes; and at least one electron blocking layer provided between one electrode of the pair of electrodes and the photoelectric conversion layer, wherein the photoelectric conversion layer contains at least one organic material, and the at least one electron blocking layer has a mixed layer containing fullerene or fullerene derivatives.
US08704210B2
A method of providing miniaturized size down to nanoscale electronic materials, which may be easily incorporated into the future ever-scaling down power electronics, microelectronics and nanoelectronics device systems, is disclosed. A linear or nonlinear nanoparticle (nanowire) junction design that allows precise controllability over an electronic device (e.g., a varistor) performance, which is typically difficult for the traditional sintered bulk varistor, is also disclosed. A localized doping and chemical modulation, across junctions allows flexible and tunable design over the nanoscale grain boundary band engineering is further disclosed. Furthermore, a method of operating memory, using electrostatic potential modulated coding and decoding across periodic nanoparticle grain boundary linearly, is also disclosed.
US08704204B2
Disclosed herein are nanoscale devices comprising one or more ferroelectric nanoshells characterized as having an extreme curvature in at least one spatial dimension. Also disclosed are ferroelectric field effect transistors and metal ferroelectric metal capacitors comprising one or more ferroelectric nanoshells. Methods for controlling spontaneous ferroelectric polarization in nanoshell devices are also disclosed.
US08704203B2
Embodiments of the invention include nonvolatile memory elements and memory devices comprising the nonvolatile memory elements. Methods for forming the nonvolatile memory elements are also disclosed. The nonvolatile memory element comprises a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and a plurality of layers of an oxide disposed between the first and second electrode layers. One of the oxide layers has linear resistance and substoichiometric composition, and the other oxide layer has bistable resistance and near-stoichiometric composition. Preferably, the sum of the two oxide layer thicknesses is between about 20 Å and about 100 Å, and the oxide layer with bistable resistance has a thickness between about 25% and about 75% of the total thickness. In one embodiment, the oxide layers are formed using reactive sputtering in an atmosphere with controlled flows of argon and oxygen.
US08704198B2
Extreme ultraviolet radiation is generated based on high-order harmonic generation. First, a driver pulse is generated from a drive laser. Second, the infrared driver pulse is passed through a second harmonic generator with an output wavelength in the range from 400 to 700 nm. Third, the pulse is then passed through a gas medium, which can be inside a resonant cavity, to generate a high-order harmonic in the form of extreme ultraviolet radiation.
US08704196B2
A method for generating an image of a sample by a microscopy method including varying local resolution, wherein at least two of the following microscopy methods are combined: laser scanning microscopy, a microscopy method wherein the sample is excited to luminescence by structured line or wide area illumination, and a first microscopy image is generated from the images thus obtained, having increased local resolution greater than the optical resolution of the image, a further microscopy method according to the PAL principle, by which a second microscopy image is generated, indicating geometric locations of marker molecules emitting luminescent radiation at an increased local resolution relative to the optical resolution, and a further microscopy method, wherein the sample is marked using marking molecules suitable for the STED, ESA, or RESOLFT technique, and a third microscopy image is generated of STED, ESA, or RESOLFT, wherein the obtained images are superimposed.
US08704184B2
A method of manufacturing a radiological image detection apparatus includes: bonding a phosphor to a sensor panel constructed such that a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged on a substrate; connecting a wiring member to a connection portion that is provided on a front face of the sensor panel opposite to the phosphor and that is electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion elements; covering with a first protective film the connection portion connected to the wiring member; peeling off the substrate from the sensor panel in which the first protective film is formed; and covering, with a second protective film having a moisture prevention property, at least a part corresponding to the connection portion in a rear face of a sensor portion exposed when the substrate is peeled off from the sensor panel.
US08704175B2
Provided is a scanning electron microscope equipped with a high-speed and high-precision astigmatism measuring means to be used when both astigmatism generated by an electron-beam column and astigmatism generated from the surroundings of a measuring sample exist. This scanning electron microscope is characterized in controlling an astigmatism corrector (201) with high-speed and high-precision, to correct the astigmatism, by using both a method of obtaining the astigmatism from the qualities of two-dimensional images to be acquired upon changing the intensity of the astigmatism corrector (201), and a method of measuring the astigmatism from the change in the position displacement of an electron beam that occurs when the electron beam is tilted using a tilt deflector (202).
US08704172B2
In an ion cyclotron resonance cell, which is enclosed at its ends by electrode structure elements with DC voltages of alternating polarity, longitudinal electrodes are divided so that the ICR measurement cell between the electrode structure elements consists of at least three sections. An excitation of ion cyclotron motions can be performed by applying additional trapping voltages to longitudinal electrodes located closest to the electrode structure elements and introducing ions into the center set of longitudinal electrodes. The ions are then excited into cyclotron orbits by applying radiofrequency excitation pulses to at least two rows of longitudinal electrodes to produce orbiting ion clouds. Subsequently, the additional trapping voltages are removed and an ion-attracting DC voltage is superimposed on the DC voltages. Ions excited to circular orbits can be detected using detection electrodes in the outer ICR cell sections.
US08704166B2
Provide is an ion trap mass spectrometer which is configured to gain an MS spectrum of only fragment data in an MS/MS analysis, thereby makes it possible to perform the analysis in a short period. For this purpose, the device is comprised of: an ionization unit configured to ionize a sample which has been separated into respective components; an ion trap unit configured to trap ions ionized by ionization unit in an electric field and eject the ions in accordance with the respective masses of the ions; a detection unit configured to detect the ions ejected from the ion trap unit; and a processing unit configured to generate an MS spectrum (mass spectrum) on the basis of data detected in the detection unit. The processing unit further configured to gain an MS spectrum of only fragment data of a target ion from a difference between an MS spectrum gained in an MS analysis made before and/or after an MS/MS analysis and an MS spectrum gained in the MS/MS analysis.
US08704159B2
An apparatus, system and method are disclosed for estimating a property of a fluid downhole, the apparatus including but not limited to a carrier that is conveyable in a borehole; a test cell carried by the carrier for capturing a fluid downhole; a fluid channel immersed in the fluid downhole, the fluid channel having a first wall and a second wall, wherein the first wall faces the second wall; at least on charged particle source placed at location along the first wall of the fluid channel; and at least one charged particle detector placed at a location along the second wall of the fluid channel, wherein the at least one radioactive detector is in positioned to be in particle communication with the at least one of the charged particle source.
US08704158B2
The invention concerns fluorescence standards, and in particular fluorescence standards for calibrating optical detectors. According to the invention, a fluorescent mineral or mixtures of minerals are employed for use as a fluorescence standard. The fluorescent mineral can be a naturally occurring mineral or a synthetically produced mineral. Preferred fluorescent minerals for use as fluorescence standards are corundum, fluorite, turquoise, amber, zircon, zoisite, iolite or cordierite, spinel, topaz, calcium fluorite, sphalerite or zincblende, calcite or calcspar, apatite, scheelite or calcium tungstate, willemite, feldspars, sodalite, a uranium mineral, a mineral containing Al3+, and in particular ruby and sapphire.
US08704157B2
A rotating shaft; a boss that has a fitting hole formed in a center portion thereof, has a clean adhering surface at an end thereof, and is configured so that the rotating shaft is fitted into the fitting hole while the boss is fixed to the rotating shaft by a fixing member; a pulse disk that has an interference-fit hole formed in a center portion thereof for the rotating shaft, has a clean adhesion-receiving surface in a surrounding of the interference-fit hole, is configured so that the rotating shaft is pressed into the interference-fit hole and so that the adhesion-receiving surface is adhered to the adhering surface of the boss by an adhesive agent, and has a position detecting pattern formed thereon; a light emitting element that radiates light; and a light receiving element that receives the light from the light emitting element via the position detecting pattern are included.
US08704156B2
Disclosed is a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a photoelectric converter formed on a substrate, a wiring portion formed above the photoelectric converter and constituted of multilayer wirings, and an insulating portion in which the multilayer wirings of the wiring portion are embedded, the insulating portion having a refractive index larger than a silicon oxide.
US08704132B2
In a welding wire storage device for a welding system including a housing with a wire core surrounding the welding wire being arcuately arranged to lie freely in a free space of the housing, one end of the wire core is fixed in an end region of the housing and a measuring means is provided to detect the deflection of the wire core. In order to provide a very simple and compact structure for such a welding wire storage device, the wire core is displaceably mounted in a guide element on the opposite end region, and two coupling mechanisms, for connection with a wire guide hose for the wire core are arranged on the housing.
US08704131B2
A method and system for pulse welding provides an output pulse waveform. The waveform has at least a frequency from a range of available frequencies not limited to harmonic frequencies. The waveform provides power suitable for welding, and has a plurality of background portions alternating with a plurality of peak portions. A transition down occurs from the peak portion to the background portion with a first acceleration and a transition up occurs from the background portion to the peak portion with a second acceleration. At least one of the first and second accelerations are non-zero over at least most of the transition. The waveform is preferably created by switching an inverter. Both accelerations may be non-zero, and each transition may have two accelerations, one negative closer to the peak, and one positive closer to the background. The accelerations may be constant with opposite polarity. Preferably the process is current controlled during the transitions. The process frequency may be fixed or varying.
US08704130B2
A electric welding machine having an auxiliary power output, and a method for controlling the auxiliary power output on a welding machine is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a main transformer having a first secondary winding in circuit communication with a welder power output and a second secondary winding in circuit communication with an auxiliary power supply having an auxiliary power output. The auxiliary power supply includes an input for monitoring the welder power output to determine if the welder power output is on; circuitry for determining whether a surge or spike in demand is present at the auxiliary power output; and circuitry for limiting the available power to the auxiliary power output if certain conditions are satisfied. One method includes monitoring the demand on an auxiliary power output, monitoring a welding power output, determining whether there is a spike in the demand on the auxiliary power output that is above a first limit, and reducing the available power to the auxiliary power output if the spike is above the first limit and the welding power output is energized.
US08704123B2
A method of creating a positive substance joint between components (1,2) involves the provisioning of the components (1, 2) and placing them at a joining position in relation to one another such that they contact at least one joining point or are kept apart by a narrow joining gap. The components (1, 2) feature a locating device that forces the components (1, 2) to fit and interlock in their relative position at the joining point. The components (1, 2) are then joined by a positive substance joint.
US08704121B2
The present technology relates to adjustment mechanisms for control settings on stud weld tools. Stud welding tools typically have a body that comprises a handle, a front end and a rear end. In one aspect, the present technology relates to plunge adjustment mechanisms for stud welding tools that are located at the front end of a stud welding tool and provide an adjustment knob for manual plunge adjustment. Another aspect of the present technology relates to weld heat adjustment mechanisms for stud welding tools that are located at the rear end of a stud welding tool and provide an adjustment knob for manual weld heat adjustment.
US08704114B2
A single module circuit breaker housing includes a first circuit breaker, wherein the first circuit breaker includes a first shaft assembly and a first contact mechanism coupled to the first shaft assembly, a second circuit breaker, wherein the second circuit breaker includes a second shaft assembly and a second contact mechanism coupled to the second shaft assembly, a first linkage coupled to the first shaft assembly and the second contact mechanism, and a second linkage coupled to the second shaft assembly and the first contact mechanism.
US08704111B2
A robot hand (20) and has: a measurement instrument (22); a hollow shaft unit (24b) attached to a distal end of the measurement instrument coaxially with the distal shaft; a suction unit (26) attached to a distal end of the hollow shaft unit and holds the object; a hollow member (32) that surrounds the hollow shaft unit rotatably in the circumferential direction; a hollow member connecting unit (31, 31a) that extends from a casing (12) supporting the distal shaft (11) and is connected to the hollow member; and a suction unit drive unit (37, 42) that is connected to the hollow member in a position corresponding to the peripheral surface of the hollow shaft unit and drives the suction unit, and the suction unit drive unit communicates with the inner space of the hollow shaft unit through one opening (25).
US08704108B2
Methods of making an assembly are disclosed. The assembly may include a circuit board with a top surface and a circuit component mounted on the top surface of the circuit board. The method may include positioning an inductor coil above the circuit component and the top surface of the circuit board and encapsulating the inductor coil, the circuit component and at least part of the top surface of the circuit board in a magnetic material. Assemblies according to such methods are also disclosed.
US08704094B1
A communication cable can comprise twisted pairs of electrical conductors for transmitting electrical signals, such as for digital communication or data transmission. The pairs can be twisted to different tightness in connection with managing interference among the pairs. Within the cable, a separator having an economical polymeric composition can maintain the pairs in a desired orientation. The pairs can be insulated with polymeric materials that compensate for relaxed electrical characteristics of the economical polymeric composition of the separator. One or more pairs having relatively tight twist can be insulated with a premium polymeric material that provides a relatively high level of electrical performance. One or more pairs twisted less tightly can be insulated with another polymeric material providing somewhat lesser but still sufficient electrical performance.
US08704092B2
The present invention discloses to a faceplate with a dust-proof shutter (10). In one embodiment, the faceplate includes: a faceplate body (1); a connection port (4) provided in the faceplate body and adapted for plugging and unplugging; a dust-proof shutter for covering the connection port. The dust-proof shutter can move between a closed position and an opened position so that the connection port is switched between a closed state and an opened state; and a dust-proof shutter locating unit (30, 21, 22) is able to locate the dust-proof shutter in the closed position and the opened position respectively, in response to the action of the dust-proof shutter. Particularly, the dust-proof shutter can be held in an opened position where the connection port is in an opened state, and also the dust-proof shutter is capable of being timely returned to a closed position once the connection port needs to be closed.
US08704089B2
A foundation base member is provided for supporting an above ground electrical device such as a light pole and for supplying electrical wiring to the electrical device. The foundation base includes a body for inserting into the ground and has an axial passage for carrying the underground electrical wires to the electrical device. A base member is coupled to the top end of the foundation body and has a passageway aligned with the axial passage of the foundation body for receiving the electrical wires. The base member is adapted for coupling to and supporting the electrical device. A clamping device is received within a recess of the base member for fixing the position of the clamping device with respect to the foundation base. In one embodiment, the clamping device is captured between the foundation base and the electrical device. The wires are clamped in position by the clamping device to prevent unauthorized removal of the wiring.
US08704085B2
The present invention shows a solar cell element comprising a semiconductor substrate layer (2) with precisely one first doping, a layer structure (1) which is disposed on the front-side of the substrate layer (2) and is adjacent to the substrate layer, said layer structure having at least one doping complementary to the first doping, a rear-side metallization (3) which is disposed on the rear-side of the substrate layer which is situated opposite the layer structure (1) and is adjacent to the substrate layer, and a first (4) and a second (6) front-side metallization, the first front-side metallization (4) contacting the layer structure (1) electrically and the second front-side metallization (6), electrically insulated from the first front-side metallization and the layer structure (1), being disposed on the front-side of the substrate layer adjacent to the substrate layer.
US08704078B2
The invention discloses differing embodiments of integrated solar cells and battery devices, in addition to disclosing methods of distributing energy. In one embodiment of the invention, an integrated solar cell and battery device may include a top layer, a middle layer, and a bottom layer. The top, middle, and bottom layers may be made of Nanoscale material, and may comprise sublayers. The top layer may include one or more solar cells, while the bottom layer may include a battery. The middle layer may direct thermal energy from the top layer to the bottom layer. The device may also include one or more electronic circuits adapted to control electrical charge along one or more paths between the solar cells and the battery. The Nanoscale materials of the top, middle, and bottom layers may comprise a plurality of Nanotubes or a plurality of Nanowires.
US08704075B2
A guitar pickup assembly which would allow a guitar player to blend the sound of two or more pickups smoothly as the player desires via the use of a foot pedal. The guitar pickup assembly includes a guitar separately providing the output from a first pickup and a second pickup separately to an actuator, such as a foot pedal, wherein movement of the foot pedal from one position to another position alters the ratio of the signal from the first pickup and the second pickup.
US08704074B1
This embodiment is a noise cancellation system for electric stringed instrument comprises of passive pickup circuit with non humbucking pickup coils called a signal coil. Each signal coil senses the unwanted electromagnetic radiation from the surrounding and produce a noise voltage that gives humming and buzzing noise through an amplifier. This embodiment cancels the noise by injecting a current signal directly into the signal coil. The impedance of the signal coil in parallel with the impedance already loading the signal coil, transform the current signal back to a voltage equal and opposite to the noise voltage; thereby, canceling each other and eliminates the noise.
US08704070B2
The present invention relates generally to a method and system for defining a reference sound position and producing an indicia proximate thereto in relation to one or more sound characteristics. The present invention, in one or more embodiments, provides for displaying a holographic image at a reference sound location which is determined in relation to the identification of one or more target sounds being associated with one or more identified sound characteristics. In other embodiments, the present invention provides for an indicia to appear to be interactive with a reference sound location and may be used in a variety of environments including but not limited to rock theatrics, homeland security and residential security.
US08704068B2
The invention generally pertains to a hand-held computing device. More particularly, the invention pertains to a computing device that is capable of controlling the speed of the music so as to affect the mood and behavior of the user during an activity such as exercise. By way of example, the speed of the music can be controlled to match the pace of the activity (synching the speed of the music to the activity of the user) or alternatively it can be controlled to drive the pace of the activity (increasing or decreasing the speed of the music to encourage a greater or lower pace). One aspect of the invention relates to adjusting the tempo (or some other attribute) of the music being outputted from the computing device. By way of example, a songs tempo may be increased or decreased before or during playing. Another aspect of the invention relates to selecting music for outputting based on tempo (or some other attribute). For example, the computing device may only play songs having a particular tempo. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to both selecting music based on tempo and adjusting the tempo of the music.
US08704062B1
A novel maize variety designated X13B545W 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 X13B545W with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13B545W through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13B545W, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13B545W. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13B545W.
US08704060B1
A novel maize variety designated X13C738 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 X13C738 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X13C738 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X13C738, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X13C738. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X13C738.
US08704059B1
A novel maize variety designated X05C007 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 X05C007 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X05C007 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X05C007, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X05C007. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X05C007.
US08704058B1
A novel maize variety designated X00C165 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 X00C165 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X00C165 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X00C165, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X00C165. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X00C165.
US08704055B1
A novel maize variety designated PH1M8G and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1M8G with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1M8G through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1M8G or a locus conversion of PH1M8G with another maize variety.
US08704051B1
A novel maize variety designated X18B733 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 X18B733 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X18B733 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X18B733, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X18B733. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X18B733.
US08704050B2
It is intended to provide a method for producing a non-browning apple. Apples in which total polyphenol content is not more than 40 mg/100 g fresh weight in terms of catechin when extracted from apple flesh using methanol and assayed by the Folin-Denis method are used as cross parents and by crossing and breeding them, using a low level of the browning degree of fruit flesh as an index and performing selection based on the index, the non-browning apple is produced. The non-browning apple has a non-browning characteristic that browning of flesh is less likely to occur and a polyphenol oxidase activity is significantly lower than that of a conventional cultivar.
US08704048B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1035473. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1035473. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1035473 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1035473 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08704044B2
The present invention is directed to plant genetic engineering. In particular, it is directed to producing green leaves in maize through inhibition of ethylene. The genes involved in producing this phenotype include 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-Carboxylate (“ACC”) synthase, ACC oxidase, ACC deaminase, ethylene response sensor (“ERS”), ethylene resistant (“ETR”), and ethylene insensitive (“EIN”).
US08704041B2
A variety of methods and compostions are provided, including methods and compositions for targeted modification of a specific target site in a cell or organism, methods for integrating polynucleotides of interest, methods to assess promoter activity, directly select transformed organisms, minimize or eliminate expression resulting from random integration into the genome of an organism, such as a plant, remove polynucleotides of interest, combine multiple transfer cassettes, invert or excise a polynucleotide, silence a gene, and identify and/or characterize transcriptional regulating regions. The methods involve the introduction of a cell proliferation factor and a double-strand break-inducing enzyme into an organism.
US08704036B2
A sanitary napkin has a facing layer joined to a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the facing layer and backsheet. The facing layer has a first region comprising a plurality of apertures, and a second region comprising a plurality of raised, out-of-plane deformations that can be soft, resilient, rib-like elements. In one embodiment, the sanitary napkin also comprises a deep-embossed channel.
US08704033B2
A device for recording and transferring the contours of a wound or opening in tissue of a human being to an adhesive wafer of a wound appliance is provided. The device includes a transparent polymer sheet having a first and a second surface, the first surface being non-adhesive and facing the wound or opening and the second surface having a central portion and an edge portion, with the edge portion being provided with an adhesive layer. The device is placed over the wound or opening and the contours are traced on the central portion of the device. The adhesive layer on the second surface is then adhered to the wafer so that the drawn image contacts the wafer and is directly imparted to the wafer.
US08704031B2
A method for separating a xylene from a feed mixture by contacting the feed mixture with a bed of adsorbent comprising metal organic framework crystals selective to the xylene.
US08704022B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed generally to methods for producing high purity exo-alkenylnorbornenes from a mixture of conformational isomers thereof.
US08704021B2
The process converts FCC olefins to heavier compounds. The heavier compounds are more easily separated from the unconverted paraffins. The heavier compounds can be recycled to an FCC unit or delivered to a separate FCC unit. Suitable conversion zones are oligomerization and aromatic alkylation zones.
US08704018B2
We provide an extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), comprising a hydrogenated conjunct polymer naphtha, from a used ionic liquid catalyst, having a final boiling point less than 246° C. (475° F.), a Bromine Number of 5 or less, and at least 30 wt % naphthenes. We also provide a blended alkylate gasoline (97) comprising the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45), and integrated alkylation processes to make the extracted conjunct polymer naphtha (45) and the blended alkylate gasoline (97). We also provide a method to analyze alkylate products, by determining an amount of methylcyclohexane in the alkylate products (80).
US08704016B2
Disclosed is an improved SMB process incorporating novel regeneration steps for the separation of ethanol associated oxygenates such as butanediol from a dilute mixture of ethanol and associated oxygenates in water in the presence of organic compounds derived from a biofermentation process. Applicant discovered that increasing the number of raffinate streams alone or in combination with a hot regeneration zone within the SMB cycle can significantly reduce the capital and operating costs associated with the incorporation of the SMB process in a complex for the production of ethanol and butanediol from biofermentation effluent. The process is useful for removing water from dilute aqueous mixtures of organic compounds comprising ethanol in dilute concentration in water and produced by fermentation, biomass extraction, biocatalytic and enzymatic processes which are not economically recoverable by conventional distillation methods.
US08704014B2
Purifying and/or recovery of ethanol from a crude ethanol product obtained from the hydrogenation of acetic acid. Separation and purification processes of crude ethanol mixture are employed to allow recovery of ethanol and remove impurities. In addition, the process involves returning acetaldehyde separated from the crude ethanol product to the reactor.
US08704010B2
A method of removing impurities, such as halogens, sulfurs, and corrosion metal impurities, in an ethanol production process. Ion exchange resins may be used to remove these impurities from acetic acid feed streams and recycle streams that comprise unreacted acetic acid.
US08704008B2
The present invention produces ethanol in a stacked bed reactor that comprises a first catalyst comprising platinum and tin and a second catalyst comprising copper or an oxide thereof. The crude ethanol product may be separated and ethanol recovered.
US08704007B2
A hydrocarbon conversion process comprises contacting a renewable feedstock under hydroprocessing conditions with a bulk catalyst to form oleochemicals such as fatty alcohols, esters, and normal paraffins. Advantageously, the reaction conditions can be selected to directly convert the renewable feedstock to the desired product(s).
US08703997B2
What is proposed is a process for preparation and distillative workup of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), proceeding from a benzene-comprising feedstream, in which, in a catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene to aniline, steam is raised at two different pressure levels, which partly or completely covers the energy demand for the overall process, by using two fluidized bed reactors of identical design, of which a first fluidized bed reactor is operated with an aniline load for which the fluidized bed reactors have been designed and provides steam at a first, lower pressure level, and a second fluidized bed reactor is operated with a load lowered with respect to the first fluidized bed reactor to such an extent that the second fluidized bed reactor affords steam at the higher pressure level.
US08703995B2
The present invention relates to a method of preparing an alkyl (meth)acrylate, and more specifically to a method of preparing an alkyl (meth)acrylate which comprises the steps of: carrying out an esterification reaction with reactants comprising an alkanol and (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of an organic acid catalyst with a conversion rate of about 70% or more; supplying reaction products of the esterification reaction to a distillation tower equipped with a reboiler at the lower end to purify them; recovering a upper discharge comprising an alkyl (meth)acrylate and water at the upper part of the distillation tower and recovering a lower discharge comprising high boiling materials and water at the lower part of the distillation tower; separating the lower discharge of the distillation tower into a water layer and an organic layer; and recirculating the water layer separated from the lower discharge so as to be used in the esterification reaction, wherein each of the steps occurs continuously and the lower discharge of the distillation tower includes water in an amount of about 2-25% by weight with respect to the total weight of the lower discharge.
US08703990B2
The invention relates to a novel process, novel process steps and novel intermediates useful in the synthesis of pharmaceutically active compounds, in particular neutral endopeptidase (NEP) inhibitors.
US08703989B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a process for producing isocyanates, which are industrially useful compounds, without using phosgene, and to provide a process for chemically recycling waste polycarbonate resin. The present invention discloses a process enabling isocyanate compounds to be produced without using phosgene as a raw material by subjecting a carbamic acid ester compound obtained by a reaction between an aromatic polycarbonate resin and an amine compound to a thermal decomposition reaction, while at the same time disclosing a process enabling chemical recycling of aromatic polycarbonate resin by recovering a divalent aromatic hydroxy compound forming aromatic polycarbonates.
US08703987B2
The present invention relates to new synthetic methods for preparing 2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile and metal isonitrile complexes, such as tetrakis(2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile)copper(I) tetrafluoroborate, which are used in the preparation of technetium (99mTc) Sestamibi, and novel intermediate compounds useful in such methods.
US08703981B2
A lignosulfonate compound for phase change ink of the formula wherein R is hydrogen or and wherein the cationic counterion+ is a nitrogen-alkyl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-aryl cationic counterion, a nitrogen-alkylaryl cationic counterion, or a nitrogen arylalkyl cationic counterion; and wherein the cationic counterion contains at least eight carbon atoms.
US08703967B2
A process for the preparation of a new crystal form of sunitinib malate, along with pharmaceuticals comprising the same are described.
US08703965B2
Methods for the preparation of saturated imidazolinium salts and related compounds that comprises reaction of formamidines with compounds such as dihaloethane and an optional base are disclosed. Alternatively, the imidazolinium salts and related compounds can be prepared in a one-step process without purification of the formamidine reactant. These methods make it possible to obtain numerous imidazolinium salts and related compounds under solvent-free reaction conditions and in excellent yields.
US08703964B2
The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising: (a) bendamustine, (b) a charged cyclopolysaccharide, and (c) a stabilizing agent having a charge opposite to that of the cyclopolysaccharide. Such composition provides unexpectedly desirable stability in reactive environments such as plasma, coupled with unexpectedly desirable anticancer activity. Such compositions are suitable for injection or infusion into patients in need for treatment with bendamustine.
US08703954B2
The present invention provides a crystal of a 1.5 D-tartrate of a compound represented by the formula (1) having an A production inhibitory effect, characterized in that the crystal has a diffraction peak at a diffraction angle (20.2) of 23.2 in powder X-ray diffractometry; a crystal of a disulfate of the compound of the formula (1), characterized in that the crystal has a diffraction peak at a diffraction angle (20.2) of 17.1 in powder X-ray diffractometry; various other salts of the compound of the formula (1); crystal polymorphs of these salts; and the like, which are expected to be used as drug substances.
US08703952B2
The present invention pertains generally to methods of preparing certain 9-(arylalkyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-γ-carboline compounds and their analogues, and especially to methods of preparing dimebon. The present invention also pertains to methods of preparing certain intermediate compounds which find use in the synthesis of the 9-(arylalkyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-γ-carboline compounds.
US08703951B2
The present invention provides a series of 2,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)-4H-benzo[d]pyrrolo-[1,2-a]thiazoles and 1,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)indolizino[6,7-b]indole derivatives and their bis(alkylcarbamates) derivatives. These derivatives were designed as bi-functional DNA cross-linking agents. The in vitro cytotoxicity study of these compounds revealed that they exhibit significant anti-proliferative activity in inhibiting human lymphoblastic leukemia and various solid tumor cell growth. The compounds also exhibit therapeutic efficacy against human breast carcinoma and lung cancer in xenograft model. The compounds generally possess potent antitumor activity to kill various human solid tumors and have high potential for clinical applications.
US08703945B2
There is provided a process for the preparation of a compound of formula (7) wherein R1 represents an alkyl group; R2 represents an aryl group; R3 represents hydrogen, a protecting group or an alkyl group; and R4 represents hydrogen, a protecting group or a SO2R5 group where R5 is an alkyl group, which comprises a) hydroxylating a compound of formula (1) wherein Y represents a halo group; P1 represents hydrogen or a protecting group, and W represents ═O or —OP2, in which P2 represents hydrogen or a protecting group, to give a compound of formula (2), b) oxidixing the compound of formula (2) to give a compound of formula (3), c) coupling the compound of formula (3) with a compound of formula (4), wherein R3 represents a protecting group or an alkyl group; R4 represents a protecting group or a SO2R5 group where R5 is an alkyl group; and R6 represents (PR7R8)+X− or P(═O)R7R8 in which X is an anion and R7 and R8 each independently is an alkyl, aryl.
US08703939B2
Provided are a method for preparing (R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-(1-methyl-5, 6-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-4(1H)-yl)phenyl)-5-(substituted methyl) oxazolidin-2-one derivatives, which are oxazolidinone antibiotic compounds having a cyclic amidrazone group, represented by Chemical Formula 1, and intermediates thereof, and uses 3,4-difluoro-4-nitrobenzen as a starting material. According to the preparation method of the present invention, (R)-3-(3-fluoro-4-(1-methyl-5, 6-dihydro-1,2,4-triazin-4(1H)-yl)phenyl)-5-(substituted methyl) oxazolidin-2-one derivatives, which are useful as oxazolidinone antibiotics, can be prepared in high purity and high yield in a simpler manner than conventional methods.
US08703938B2
The present invention discloses compounds of Formula (I), or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit RNA-containing virus, particularly the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. The present invention relates to novel antiviral compounds represented herein above, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and methods for the treatment or prophylaxis of viral (particularly HCV) infection in a subject in need of such therapy with the compounds.
US08703929B2
The present invention relates to the combinatorial use of an siRNA targeted against an endogenous gene to knock out or knock down expression of the endogenous gene in a host and a delivery of a polynucleotide encoding the gene in a delivery vehicle/expression vector to the host to provide expression in the host of the protein encoded by the polynucleotide.
US08703926B1
The invention provides compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and for decreasing or prevention of accumulation of cholesterol in a subject by modifying LCAT polypeptide.
US08703923B2
Processes for the synthesis of the Factor Xa anticoagulent Fondaparinux, and related compounds are described. Also described are protected pentasaccharide intermediates as well as efficient and scalable processes for the industrial scale production of Fondaparinux sodium by conversion of the protected pentasaccharide intermediates via a sequence of deprotection and sulfonation reactions.
US08703922B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal compound that can be used as a base for injection formulations. The present invention provides an amphipathic compound having the following general formula (I): wherein X and Y each denotes a hydrogen atom or together denote an oxygen atom, n denotes an integer from 0 to 2, m denotes the integer 1 or 2, and R denotes a hydrophilic group generated by removal of one hydroxyl group from any one selected from the group consisting of glycerol, erythritol, pentaerythritol, diglycerol, triglycerol, xylose, sorbitol, ascorbic acid, glucose, galactose, mannose, dipentaerythritol, maltose, mannitol, and xylitol; as well as a base for injection formulations and depot formulation comprising the same.
US08703915B2
A method for producing a mutant G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) with increased stability relative to a parent GPCR, the method comprising making one or more mutations in the amino acid sequence that defines a parent GPCR, wherein (i) the one or more mutations are located within a window of/plus or minus 5 residues, where/is the position of amino acid residue 2.46 in the parent GPCR when the parent GPCR is a Class 1 GPCR, or where/is the position of an equivalent amino acid residue in the parent GPCR when the parent GPCR is a Class 2 or 3 GPCR, and/or (ii) the one or more mutations are located within an amino acid sequence of transmembrane helix 7 in the parent GPCR which amino acid sequence interacts with the window of/plus or minus 5 residues, to provide one or more mutants of the parent GPCR with increased stability.
US08703912B2
A dibenzofulvene amine adduct is removed by contacting a reaction mixture containing the dibenzofulvene amine adduct, which is obtained by reacting, for deprotection, an amino acid compound protected with an Fmoc group with an amine compound containing a nitrogen atom which is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, with carbon dioxide, and removing the carbonate of the dibenzofulvene amine adduct. Alternatively, a dibenzofulvene amine adduct is removed by mixing a reaction mixture during a deprotection reaction of the amino acid compound protected with an Fmoc group, or after the reaction with an amine compound containing a nitrogen atom which is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom to give a mixture containing the dibenzofulvene amine adduct, contacting the mixture with carbon dioxide, and removing the carbonate of the dibenzofulvene amine adduct.
US08703909B2
A polypeptide with a predominantly hydrophobic sequence long enough to span a membrane lipid bilayer as a transmembrane helix (TM) and comprising one or more dissociable groups inserts across a membrane spontaneously in a pH-dependant fashion placing one terminus inside cell. The polypeptide conjugated with various functional moieties delivers and accumulates them at cell membrane with low extracellular pH. The functional moiety conjugated with polypeptide terminus placed inside cell are translocated through the cell membrane in cytosol. The peptide and its variants or non-peptide analogs can be used to deliver therapeutic, prophylactic, diagnostic, imaging, gene regulation, cell regulation, or immunologic agents to or inside of cells in vitro or in vivo in tissue at low extracellular pH.
US08703905B2
The invention relates to cellular localization signals. In particular, the invention relates to endoplasmic reticulum localization signals in monomeric or multimeric form. The localization signals are utilized as research tools or are linked to therapeutics. Disclosed are methods of making and using polypeptides and modified polypeptides as signals to localize therapeutics, experimental compounds, peptides, proteins and/or other macromolecules to the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. The polypeptides of the invention optionally include linkage to reporters, epitopes and/or other experimental or therapeutic molecules. The invention also encompasses polynucleotides encoding the localization signals and vectors comprising these polynucleotides.
US08703903B2
The invention relates to method for quantification of the absolute amount of allergen in an allergen sample comprising: a) providing a known amount of one or more allergen calibration standard peptide(s) having a sequence of amino acids which is identical with, and optionally unique for, a sequence to be found in the allergen to be quantified and optionally labelling said allergen calibration standard peptide(s), b) degrading the allergen sample to obtain a mixture of peptides, and optionally labelling said peptides with one or more labelling agent(s), wherein at least the peptides in the degraded allergen sample or the calibration standard peptides are labelled, and if both the peptides in the degraded allergen sample and the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) are labelled, the labelling agent(s) used for labelling the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) are different from the labelling agent(s) used for labelling the peptides of the degraded allergen sample, c) quantifying the absolute amount of allergen by correlating the amount of the allergen calibration standard peptide(s) with the amount of the corresponding peptide(s) of the degraded allergen sample by mass analysis.
US08703900B2
Processes for making caprolactam (CL) from monoammonium adipate (MAA) and/or adipic acid (AA) obtained from a clarified diammonium adipate-containing (DAA-containing) fermentation broth or MAA-containing fermentation broth and converting the MAA or AA to the CL with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst at selected temperatures and pressures.
US08703893B2
A polymeric dendrimer-like structure with four branches of monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol that can be represented as: The carboxylic group of the previous structure can be functionalized for the production of conjugates of pharmaceutical interest. The binding of this dendrimer-like polyethylene glycol to therapeutic proteins improves their in vitro and in vivo stability.
US08703888B2
The present invention relates to a catalytic system comprising a precatalyst, a precatalyst activator and an inhibitor. Further, the invention relates to the use of this catalytic system in ring-opening metathesis polymerization reactions.
US08703883B2
Polymerization reactor systems providing real-time control of the average particle size of catalyst system components are disclosed. Methods for operating such polymerization reactor systems also are described.
US08703872B2
A multiple function polymer comprising a graft polymer of a polyolefin, a nitrogenous, ethylenically unsaturated, aliphatic or aromatic monomer having from 2 to about 50 carbon atoms, and an organo-metallic compound capable of reacting with said polyolefin is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for making said multiple function graft polymer. Also disclosed is a lubricating oil comprising a lubricant base oil, the multiple function polymer, and optionally other dispersants. Also disclosed is a multiple function polymer comprising a graft polymer of a polyolefin, and an organo-metallic compound capable reacting with said polyolefin, and a process for making the same.
US08703869B2
The invention relates to impact-modified polycarbonate compositions which are distinguished by high heat resistance and good melt flow behavior. In addition, the moldings produced from the compositions according to the invention in an injection-molding process can be metallised, the resulting metallised moldings having a surface with a particularly high and, in particular, homogeneous gloss. The invention thus also provides the metallised moldings produced from the compositions according to the invention.
US08703846B2
The invention pertains to improving the workability of an aqueous formulation with a hydraulic binder base using a combination between at least one comb-branched copolymer having a (meth)acrylic skeleton, onto which are grafted side-chains terminated by a hydrophilic group, and at least one comb-branched copolymer having a (meth)acrylic skeleton, onto which are grafted side-chains terminated by a hydrophobic group.
US08703842B1
Light-weight hybrid materials with significantly-reduced coefficient of thermal expansion, low density, and high durability in the aggressive environment such as low-earth orbit are disclosed. The high performance polymer materials can include epoxy, cyanoester, bismalmeide, polyimide, vinylester, polyamide, polyacrylate, and others; with their applications as matrix in the carbon fiber-reinforced or glass fiber-reinforced composite. The fillers for the hybrid include one or two or all, of the following components: the layered-silicate, negative-CTE powder, and low-density material.
US08703841B2
The invention provides an ink composition comprising a colorant, water and wax particles, the wax particles comprising at least two kinds of wax; an ink set including the ink composition; and a method of forming an image using the ink composition.
US08703837B2
Photocurable composition and process for producing molded product having fine pattern on its surface
To provide a photocurable composition whereby it is possible to obtain a cured product having both a release property and flexibility, and a process whereby it is possible to produce a flexible molded product having on its surface a fine pattern having a reverse pattern of a mold precisely transferred. A photocurable composition comprising a compound (A) having at least two urethane bonds and at least two (meth)acryloyloxy groups and having a mass average molecular weight of less than 2,000, a compound (B) having a fluorine atom and at least one carbon-carbon unsaturated double bond, a compound (C) having one (meth)acryloyloxy group, a photopolymerization initiator (D), and a fluorinated surfactant (E), wherein in the total (100 mass %) of (A) to (E), (A) is from 10 to 50 mass %, (B) is from 5 to 35 mass %, (C) is from 15 to 75 mass %, (D) is from 1 to 12 mass %, and (E) is from 0.1 to 5 mass %, is used.
US08703834B2
Crosslinked organic polymeric porous particles have a crosslinked organic solid phase and discrete pores dispersed within the crosslinked solid phase which pores are isolated from each other. These porous particles are prepared using one or more water-in-oil emulsions containing a polyfunctional reactive compound, a reagent that causes crosslinking, optionally an ethylenically unsaturated polymerizable monomer, and optionally an organic solvent, and can include various marker materials.
US08703819B2
The use of guanidinoacetic acid and/or salts thereof in combination with choline and/or betaine to produce an agent for improving brain function, bone growth and the mineralization of bones, for improving cartilage growth, for alleviating aging processes, for strengthening the immune system, as an antioxidative and neuroprotective agent, for lowering the cholesterol and triglyceride value, for preventing inflammatory processes and for lowering the blood sugar level in humans and vertebrates is described.In this connection it has surprisingly turned out that the new agents have a considerably higher bioavailability and are thus better taken up into the cells than was previously known when using creatine.
US08703810B2
Described herein are compounds that are estrogen receptor modulators. Also described are pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments that include the compounds described herein, as well methods of using such estrogen receptor modulators, alone and in combination with other compounds, for treating diseases or conditions that are mediated or dependent upon estrogen receptors.
US08703808B2
The present invention relates to the use of derivatives of indoles having a general formula (I) as follow: for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition intended for the treatment of cancer.
US08703805B2
Compounds of the invention, such as compounds of Formulae Ia, Ib, Ic, or Id and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, isomers, and prodrugs thereof, which are useful as modulators of the activity of liver X receptors, where R1, R2, R21, R3, and G are defined herein. Pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and methods of using the compounds are also disclosed.
US08703801B2
New chiral and achiral oxy-substituted cyclopentyl pyridinone diketocarboxamides and their derivatives and methods for their preparations are disclosed. The compounds include tautomers, regioisomers and geometric isomers. These complex carboxamides are designed as inhibitors of HIV replication through inhibition of HIV integrase. The compounds are useful in the prevention or treatment of infection by HIV and in the treatment of AIDS and ARC, either as the compounds, or as pharmaceutically acceptable salts, with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, used alone or in combination with antivirals, immunomodulators, antibiotics, vaccines, and other therapeutic agents, especially other anti-HIV compounds (including other anti-HIV integrase agents), which can be used to create combination anti-HIV cocktails. Methods of treating AIDS and ARC and methods of treating or preventing infection by HIV are also described.
US08703797B2
The invention provides compounds represented by the formula I, each of which compounds may have sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist and or antagonist biological activity, wherein these compounds selected from the group consisting of wherein A, B, C, D, X, Y, Z and R3 are defined in the specification. Said compounds are useful for treating a disease or condition of a mammal selected from the group consisting of ocular diseases; systemic vascular barrier related diseases; allergies and other inflammatory diseases; cardiac diseases or conditions; fibrosis; pain and wounds.
US08703794B2
Indazole compounds for treating various diseases and pathologies are disclosed. More particularly, the present invention concerns the use of an indazole compound or analogs thereof, in the treatment of disorders characterized by the activation of Wnt pathway signaling (e.g., cancer, abnormal cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, Alzheimer's disease and osteoarthritis), the modulation of cellular events mediated by Wnt pathway signaling, as well as genetic diseases due to mutations in Wnt signaling components. Also provided are methods for treating Wnt-related disease states.
US08703793B2
Compounds of formula (I) wherein the groups R1 to R8 have the meanings indicated in the description, the tautomers, the stereoisomers, the mixtures thereof and the salts thereof have valuable pharmacological properties, which make them useful for the treatment of cardiovascular and related disorders.
US08703786B2
Provided herein is a pharmaceutical formulation of etravirine, said formulation comprising: etravirine; a dipolar aprotic solvent; a non-ionic water dispersible surfactant; and water. Further provided is a pharmaceutical formulation of etravirine, said formulation comprising: etravirine; a non-ionic water dispersible surfactant; and water.
US08703775B2
The present invention relates to novel amidomethyl-substituted oxindole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use for the treatment of vasopressin-dependent disorders.
US08703764B2
The invention provides, in part, methods and compositions for treating psychiatric disorders, for example, apathy, dementia, or depression, using combination therapies such a monoamine oxidase inhibitor or a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor in combination with an anti-psychotic agent.
US08703759B2
The present disclosure relates to compounds that are sodium channel inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are as described herein, to methods for the preparation and use of the compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.
US08703740B2
The present invention relates to a composition for preventing tissue adhesion which comprising a bio-compatible hyaluronic acid and a polymer compound. More specifically, the invention is a composition containing hyaluronic acid which has not been modified by a chemical crosslinking or other chemical modification a method for preparing the same, and a composition for adhesion prevention with superior efficacy.The composition of the present invention for preventing adhesion exhibits a physical barrier function and a new adhesion prevention function whereby thrombus formation, which is the basis of adhesion, is inhibited. Unlike conventional compositions which simply mix polymeric substances that function as physical barriers, the present invention performs a more effective role as a physical barrier by undergoing decomposition, absorption and excretion after a certain period inside a human body, does not interfere with healing of scars following surgery, and exhibits superior effects since application to areas of surgery is convenient.
US08703733B2
Compositions and methods for treating neurological diseases and disorders are disclosed.
US08703727B2
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to articles of manufacture, spheres having a diameter of 50 to 500 nanometers which contain poorly soluble drugs and methods of making such spheres. Embodiments of the present invention have particular application for the following drug candidates and closely related poorly soluble derivatives of such candidates: (i) indole hydrazinecarbothioamide [NSC 73306]; (ii) fenretinide (4HPR) [NSC 374551]; (iii) safingol [NSC 714503]; (iv) 17-allylamino demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) [NSC 330507]; and (v) an aminoflavone drug [NSC 686288].
US08703725B2
The present disclosure is directed to compositions for the promotion of muscle protein synthesis and control of tumor-induced weight loss in patients that are, for example, suffering from cancer cachexia. The present disclosure is also directed to methods of administering such compositions.
US08703723B2
The present invention provides glycoside compounds, methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds, and a method for the treatment of hyperproliferative diseases using the same.
US08703720B2
Compounds having an effect as i.a. galectin inhibitors, to the use of said compounds as a medicament, as well as for the manufacture of a medicament for treatment of disorders relating to the binding of galectin to receptors in a mammal, where in the galectin is preferably a galectin-3. The novel compounds are defined by the general formula:
US08703719B1
A method for regulating glucose release, promoting glycogen conservation, and/or glycogen synthesis includes orally administering an effective amount of a nutritional composition comprising fast and slow absorbing carbohydrates in combination with an insulinomimetic compound to provide a steady release of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract.
US08703714B2
Auristatin peptides, including MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Norephedrine (MMAE) and MeVal-Val-Dil-Dap-Phe (MMAF), were prepared and attached to Ligands through various linkers, including maleimidocaproyl-val-cit-PAB. The resulting ligand drug conjugates were active in vitro and in vivo.
US08703709B2
Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for contributing to the treatment of a solid cancerous tumor are disclosed. The methods, compositions and articles of manufacture can utilize an endothelin B agonist (ETB) to enhance the delivery of a chemotherapeutic agent to a solid tumor in mammals, including humans.
US08703700B2
Inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3 protease are provided. In particular, bimacrocyclic compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of HCV infections are provided. Methods of making the bimacrocyclic compounds and their pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of using the compounds for treating HCV infections are also provided.
US08703696B2
The present application relates to prodrug derivatives of 2-amino-6-({[2-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]methyl}thio)-4-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile, processes for their preparation, their use for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, and their use for the manufacture of medicaments for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of diseases, especially of cardiovascular disorders.
US08703693B2
Methods of treating a mammal at risk for ischemia-reperfusion injury are provided. The methods comprise administering an adrenomedullin binding protein-1 (AMBP-1) to the mammal in sufficient amount to reduce the injury. Also provided are methods of treating a mammal at risk for ischemia-reperfusion injury to the bowel. The methods comprise administering adrenomedullin to the mammal in sufficient amount to reduce the injury.
US08703687B2
The application relates to clear liquid compositions comprising alkanoyl glycinate, amphoteric, alkyl sulfate and specific acrylate polymers.
US08703685B2
The present invention relates to a liquid, cleaning and/or cleansing composition comprising biodegradable abrasive cleaning particles.
US08703682B2
Tetra-alkylated phenylenediamine compounds useful as ashless TBN sources for lubricating oil compositions that are compatible with fluoroelastomeric engine seal materials and meet copper corrosion requirements, and lubricating oil compositions containing such phenylenediamine compounds.
US08703673B2
A method of improving the compatibility of an overbased detergent with other additives in a lubricating oil composition. The method includes the step of the using a detergent have a degree of carbonation of greater than 85%.
US08703668B2
A method for applying an additive, e.g. a fluoropolymer, to cellulose. The method comprises a number of steps. First, solid cellulose, a solvent capable of dissolving cellulose, e.g. NMMO and a dispersion of the additive are brought into contact with each other. The additive is allowed to diffuse into the dissolved cellulose, which is possible as a result of the dissolution of the surface layer of the solid cellulose. The solubility of cellulose in the solvent is then reduced, whereby the additive that has diffused into the dissolved cellulose is incorporated into the resulting solid cellulose. A method for applying a fluoropolymer to cellulose as a surface coat is also described. Flexible bearing components comprising a mat of cellulose fibers and a fluoropolymer which may be made by the methods described.
US08703664B2
The present invention provides a metal rolling oil composition excellent in both an emulsion stability and a plating-out property, wherein the metal rolling oil composition comprises: at least one base oil selected from the group consisting of a mineral oil, animal and vegetable fat and oil, and synthetic ester; a surfactant; and an elastomer.
US08703663B2
The hydrocarbon-based lubricating base oil of the invention has a urea adduct value of not greater than 4% by mass, a viscosity index of 100 or greater, and a cycloparaffin content of 30-60% by mass based on the total amount of the saturated components, as measured by field desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The hydrocarbon-based lubricating base oil of the invention allows high levels of both viscosity-temperature characteristic and low-temperature viscosity characteristic to be obtained, and exhibits excellence in terms of evaporation property and energy efficiency.
US08703662B2
A lubricating oil composition for refrigerators comprising a base oil which comprises as a main component a polyol ester compound obtained from a polyhydric alcohol selected from among pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, trimethylolpropane, and neopentyl glycol and a C4 to C20 aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and which has an acid value of 0.02 mgKOH/g or less and a hydroxyl value of 5 mgKOH/g or less. A compressor using the lubricating composition. The lubricating oil composition is applicable to such refrigerators that use a refrigerant having a specific structure, such as an unsaturated fluorinated hydrocarbon compound, and being usable in current car air conditioner systems, and has excellent compatibility with the refrigerant, good sealing properties, capability of imparting a low coefficient of friction to sliding members and, yet, excellent stability. The compressor uses the lubricating composition.
US08703656B2
According to one aspect of the invention, a method of converting an oxy halide salt into a halide dioxide in a reaction zone under certain conditions is provided. More specifically, the method includes generating chlorine dioxide from a stable composition comprising an oxy halide salt by introducing said composition to a reducing agent and minimum temperature within the reaction zone. According to another aspect of the invention, a composition for a stable chlorine dioxide precursor comprising an oxy halide salt is provided.
US08703650B2
The present invention relates to liquid suspension concentrate formulations for plant protection comprising: 2-chloro-5-[3,6-dihydro-3-methyl-2,6-dioxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-1-(2H)pyrimidinyl]-4-fluoro-N-[[methyl(1-methylethyl)amino]sulfonyl]benzamide in the form of the crystalline anhydrate; at least one diluent selected from: hydrocarbon solvents having a boiling point of at least 100° C.; and C1-C8-alkyl esters of C8-C26-fatty acids, mono- and di-C1-C4-alkyl amides of C8-C26-fatty acids; at least two different non-ionic surfactants selected from poly-ethoxylate-co-C3-C4-alkoxylates of C3-C20-alkanols, polyethoxylates of C8-C22-alkanols, polyester-polyoxyethylene block copolymers, polyethoxylates of mono-, di- or tristyryl phenols and polyethoxylates of vegetable oils; and at least one anionic surfactant selected from C1-C16-alkylarene sulfonates.
US08703648B2
Disclosed are a polysiloxane-modified polyhydroxy polyurethane resin derived from a reaction between a 5-membered cyclic carbonate compound and an amine-modified polysiloxane compound, and its production process; and a resin composition, thermal recording medium, imitation leather, thermoplastic polyolefin resin skin material, weather strip material, and weather strip, all of which make use of the resin.
US08703625B2
Described herein are methods of forming dielectric films comprising silicon, oxide, and optionally nitrogen, carbon, hydrogen, and boron. Also disclosed herein are the methods to form dielectric films or coatings on an object to be processed, such as, for example, a semiconductor wafer.
US08703624B2
Described herein are methods of forming dielectric films comprising silicon, such as, but not limited to, silicon oxide, silicon oxycarbide, silicon carbide, and combinations thereof, that exhibit at least one of the following characteristics: low wet etch resistance, a dielectric constant of 6.0 or below, and/or can withstand a high temperature rapid thermal anneal process. Also disclosed herein are the methods to form dielectric films or coatings on an object to be processed, such as, for example, a semiconductor wafer.
US08703618B2
A micropattern is joined to a substrate (W1) by: a first group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in a transfer step; and a second group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in the transfer step.
US08703617B2
The present application discloses provides a method for planarizing an interlayer dielectric layer, comprising the steps of: providing a multilayer structure including at least one sacrificial layer and at least one insulating layer under the sacrificial layer on the semiconductor substrate and the first gate stack, performing a first RIE on the multilayer structure, in which a reaction chamber pressure is controlled in such a manner that an etching rate of the portion of the at least one sacrificial layer at a center of a wafer is higher than that at an edge of the wafer, so as to obtain a concave etching profile; performing a second RIE on the multilayer structure to completely remove the sacrificial layer and a part of the insulating layer, so as to obtain the insulating layer having a planar surface which serves as an interlayer dielectric layer. The planarization process can replace a CMP process for providing an interlayer dielectric layer having a planar surface, which achieves a relative larger available area of the wafer.
US08703615B1
Disclosed are methods of depositing and annealing a copper seed layer. A copper seed layer may be deposited on a ruthenium layer disposed on a surface of a wafer and on features in the wafer. The thickness of the ruthenium layer may be about 40 Angstroms or less. The copper seed layer may be annealed in a reducing atmosphere having an oxygen concentration of about 2 parts per million or less. Annealing the copper seed layer in a low-oxygen atmosphere may improve the properties of the copper seed layer.
US08703610B2
A semiconductor wafer has an insulating layer formed over an active surface of the wafer. A conductive layer is formed over the insulating layer. A first via is formed from a back surface of the semiconductor wafer through the semiconductor wafer and insulating layer to the conductive layer. A conductive material is deposited in the first via to form a conductive TSV. An insulating material can be deposited in the first via to form an insulating core within the conductive via. After forming the conductive TSV, a second via is formed around the conductive TSV from the back surface of the semiconductor wafer through the semiconductor wafer and insulating layer to the conductive layer. An insulating material is deposited in the second via to form an insulating annular ring. The conductive via can be recessed within or extend above a surface of the semiconductor die.
US08703608B2
A method of fabricating gate level electrodes and interconnects in an integrated circuit, and an integrated circuit so fabricated, with improved process margin for the gate level interconnects of a width near the critical dimension. Off-axis illumination, as used in the photolithography of deep sub-micron critical dimension, is facilitated by the patterned features having a preferred orientation in a common direction, with a pitch constrained to within a relatively narrow range. Interconnects in that same gate level, for example “field poly” interconnects, that run parallel to an array of gate elements are placed within a specified distance range from the ends of the gate elements, or at a distance sufficient to allow sub-resolution assist features.
US08703606B2
When a wiring structure is formed by a trench-first dual damascene method, a first hard mask for forming via holes and a second hard mask for forming wiring trenches are sequentially formed on an interlayer insulating film, openings are formed at the first hard mask while using the second hard mask as a mask, and thereafter, the openings are expanded in a lateral direction by an isotropic etching to form openings, via holes are formed by etching the interlayer insulating film while using the first hard mask and the second hard mask as masks, and wiring trenches communicating with the via holes are formed by etching the interlayer insulating film while using the second hard mask as a mask.
US08703594B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is disclosed. A dummy gate feature is formed between two active gate features in an inter-layer dielectric (ILD) over a substrate. An isolation structure is in the substrate and the dummy gate feature is over the isolation structure. Source/drain (S/D) features are formed at edges of the active gate features in the substrate for forming transistor devices. The disclosed method provides an improved method for reducing parasitic capacitance among the transistor devices. In an embodiment, the improved formation method is achieved by introducing species into the dummy gate feature to increase the resistance of the dummy gate feature.
US08703589B2
A flat panel display having a thin-film transistor (TFT) and a pixel unit and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a step difference layer having a relatively high step and a relatively low step on a substrate and forming an amorphous silicon layer on the step difference layer along a height shape of the step difference layer. The method further includes crystallizing the amorphous silicon layer into a crystalline silicon layer and polishing the crystalline silicon layer to form a planarized surface of the crystalline silicon layer having no height differences so that the crystalline silicon layer remains on a region corresponding to the low step and an active layer is formed. According to this method, crystallization protrusions are effectively removed from the active layer, and thus, stable brightness characteristics of the display apparatus are guaranteed.
US08703584B2
The present invention provides a dicing tape-integrated film for semiconductor back surface, which includes: a dicing tape including a base material and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer provided on the base material; and a film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface provided on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, in which the film for flip chip type semiconductor back surface has a multilayered structure including a wafer adhesion layer and a laser mark layer, the wafer adhesion layer is formed of a resin composition containing a thermosetting resin component and, as an optional component, a thermoplastic resin component in an amount of less than 30% by weight relative to the whole amount of resin components, and the laser mark layer is formed of a resin composition containing a thermoplastic resin component in an amount of 30% by weight or more relative to the whole amount of resin components and, as an optional component, a thermosetting resin component.
US08703581B2
Methods of dicing substrates having a plurality of ICs. A method includes forming a mask comprising a water soluble material layer over the semiconductor substrate. The mask is patterned with a femtosecond laser scribing process to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the substrate between the ICs. The substrate is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the IC and the water soluble material layer washed off.
US08703577B1
A method for fabricating a deep trench isolation structure, wherein the method comprising steps as follows: A first hard mask layer, a second hard mask layer and a third hard mask layer are firstly formed in sequence on a substrate. The third hard mask layer is then patterned using the second hard mask layer as an etching stop layer. Subsequently, a trench etching process is performed using the patterned third hard mask layer as a mask to form a deep trench in the substrate.
US08703572B2
A method and structure is directed to eDRAM cells with high-conductance electrodes. The method includes forming upper layers on a semiconductor substrate and forming an opening in the upper layers. The method further includes forming a trench in the semiconductor substrate, aligned with the opening. The method further includes forming a metal plate on all exposed surface in the trench by applying a metallic aqueous solution with an electrical bias to a backside of the semiconductor substrate.
US08703554B2
An array substrate for an LCD device includes a gate line crossing a data line to define a pixel region. A thin film transistor (TFT) includes a gate electrode connected to the gate line, insulating and active layers on the gate electrode, a source electrode connected to the data line, and a drain electrode spaced apart from the source electrode. An auxiliary common electrode includes a horizontal portion disposed in the pixel region. A metal layer overlaps the insulating layer and contacts the horizontal portion of the auxiliary common electrode through a contact hole defined through the insulating layer. A passivation layer is disposed on the TFT and the metal layer. A pixel electrode has a horizontal portion overlapping the metal layer with the passivation layer therebetween to form a storage capacitor, the pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode through a second contact hole defined through the passivation layer.
US08703545B2
A semiconductor package is provided with an Aluminum alloy lead-frame without noble metal plated on the Aluminum base lead-frame. Aluminum alloy material with proper alloy composition and ratio for making an aluminum alloy lead-frame is provided. The aluminum alloy lead-frame is electroplated with a first metal electroplating layer, a second electroplating layer and a third electroplating layer in a sequence. The lead-frame electroplated with the first, second and third metal electroplating layers is then used in the fabrication process of a power semiconductor package including chip connecting, wire bonding, and plastic molding. After the molding process, the area of the lead-frame not covered by the molding compound is electroplated with a fourth metal electroplating layer that is not easy to be oxidized when exposing to air.
US08703543B2
A method to vertically bond a chip to a substrate is provided. The method includes forming a metal bar having a linear aspect on the substrate, forming a solder paste layer over the metal bar to form a solder bar, forming a plurality of metal pads on the substrate, and forming a solder paste layer over the plurality of metal pads to form a plurality of solder pads on the substrate. Each of the plurality of solder pads is offset from a long edge the solder bar by an offset-spacing. The chip to be vertically bonded to the substrate has a vertical-chip thickness fractionally less than the offset-spacing. The chip to be vertically bonded fits between the plurality of solder pads and the solder bar. The solder bar enables alignment of the chip to be vertically bonded.
US08703541B2
An electronic system is provided including forming a substrate having a radiating patterned pad, mounting an electrical device having an external interconnect over the radiating patterned pad with the external interconnect offset from the radiating patterned pad, and aligning the external interconnect with the radiating patterned pad.
US08703539B2
System and method for providing a multiple die interposer structure. An embodiment comprises a plurality of interposer studs in a molded interposer, with a redirection layer on each side of the interposer. Additionally, the interposer studs may be initially attached to a conductive mounting plate by soldering or wirebond welding prior to molding the interposer, with the mounting plate etched to form one of the redirection layers. Integrated circuit dies may be attached to the redirection layers on each side of the interposer, and interlevel connection structures used to mount and electrically connect a top package having a third integrated circuit to the interposer assembly.
US08703536B2
An integrated heat spreader (IHS) lid over a semiconductor die connected to a substrate forms a cavity. A bead of foaming material may be placed within the IHS cavity. During an IHS cure and reflow process the foaming material will expand and fill the IHS cavity and the foam's shape conforms to the various surface features present, encapsulating a thermal interface material (TIM) material, and increasing contact area of the foam sealant.
US08703532B2
Provided is a resin sealed semiconductor device including: a semiconductor element; a plurality of micro-balls including an internal terminal surface and an external connection electrode in two sides of the micro-balls; metal wires for electrically connecting the semiconductor element and an internal terminal surface; and a sealing body for sealing the semiconductor element, a part of each the plurality of the terminals, and metal wires with a sealing resin, in which a back surface of the semiconductor element is exposed from the sealing body, and a part of each the plurality of micro-balls are exposed as the external connection electrodes from a bottom surface of the sealing body in a projection manner.
US08703528B2
A method for forming a back-side illuminated image sensor, including the steps of: a) forming, from the front surface, doped polysilicon regions, of a conductivity type opposite to that of the substrate, extending in depth orthogonally to the front surface and emerging into the first layer; b) thinning the substrate from its rear surface to reach the polysilicon regions, while keeping a strip of the first layer; c) depositing, on the rear surface of the thinned substrate, a doped amorphous silicon layer, of a conductivity type opposite to that of the substrate; and d) annealing at a temperature capable of transforming the amorphous silicon layer into a crystallized layer.
US08703526B2
A method of fabricating a transparent electrode for use in a quantum dot sensitized solar cell, and a quantum dot sensitized solar cell fabricated according to the method are provided. According to the fabrication method, (S1) quantum dot precursor is introduced into a high pressure storage vessel and a quantum dot precursor is dissolved using subcritical fluid or supercritical fluid; (S2) the quantum dot precursor fluid prepared at (S1) is transported to contact with a conductive thin layer substrate comprised of a metal oxide placed in a high pressure reaction vessel, thereby causing the quantum dot precursor to be adsorbed in the metal oxide thin layer; (S3) non-adsorbed quantum dot precursor fluid of (S2) is transported and thus recovered to the high pressure storage vessel together with the subcritical fluid or supercritical fluid; and (S4) the subcritical fluid or supercritical fluid is removed from the high pressure reaction vessel, and the quantum dot precursor, adsorbed at (S2), is reacted with a second element which constitutes the quantum dot or a compound comprising the second element.
US08703525B2
A solar cell includes; a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate, and including a first groove formed therein, a semiconductor layer disposed on the first electrode, and including a second groove formed therein, and a second electrode disposed on the semiconductor layer and connected to the first electrode via the second groove, wherein a third groove passing through the first electrode, the semiconductor layer, and the second electrode is formed in a first region, a fourth groove passing through only the semiconductor layer and the second electrode is formed in a second region, and the first region and the second region are alternately disposed along a direction of extension of the third groove.
US08703523B1
In one embodiment, a tunable resistor/transistor includes a porous material that is electrically coupled between a source electrode and a drain electrode, wherein the porous material acts as an active channel, an electrolyte solution saturating the active channel, the electrolyte solution being adapted for altering an electrical resistance of the active channel based on an applied electrochemical potential, wherein the active channel comprises nanoporous carbon arranged in a three-dimensional structure. In another embodiment, a method for forming the tunable resistor/transistor includes forming a source electrode, forming a drain electrode, and forming a monolithic nanoporous carbon material that acts as an active channel and selectively couples the source electrode to the drain electrode electrically. In any embodiment, the electrolyte solution saturating the nanoporous carbon active channel is adapted for altering an electrical resistance of the nanoporous carbon active channel based on an applied electrochemical potential.
US08703516B2
Micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) substrates, devices, and methods of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, a MEMS device includes a workpiece having an isolation ring in a top portion thereof, and a moveable element disposed within the isolation ring.
US08703510B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a method for manufacturing an array substrate, wherein the procedure for forming a data line, an active layer with a channel, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a pixel electrode comprises applying a photoresist on a data line metal thin film and performing exposure and development processes by using a multi-tone mask so as to form a photoresist pattern including a third thickness region, a second thickness region and a first thickness region whose thicknesses are successively increased, the third thickness region at least corresponding to the pixel electrode, the second thickness region corresponding to the data line, the active layer, the source electrode and the drain electrode, and the first thickness region corresponding to the other regions.
US08703502B2
Electrospray ionization techniques are used to generate reagents that ionize analytes for mass spectrometric analysis by charge transfer. Such techniques may be performed under ambient conditions. Suitable precursors for such reagents include ionizable nonpolar solvents, such as toluene or xylenes, polar solvents, such as water or alcohols, inert gases, such as helium or nitrogen, or combinations thereof. Environmental conditions in the ionization chamber of the mass spectrograph can be manipulated to generate a selected ion of an analyte in preference to other ions.
US08703501B2
The present invention provides a method for directed assembly of a conducting polymer. A method of the invention comprises providing a template such as an insulated template and electrophorectically assembling a conducting polymer thereon. Preferably, the template comprises a patterned electrode on which the conducting polymer is assembled. Moreover, the invention provides a method for transferring an assembled conducting polymer. For example, a method of the invention comprises providing a substrate such as a polymeric substrate and contacting a surface thereof with an assembled conducting polymer. The assembled conducting polymer can be disposed on a patterned electrode of a template, hi one embodiment, a method comprises removing the substrate. By removing the substrate, the assembled conducting polymer is transferred from the patterned electrode of the template to the substrate. The invention also provides a device with a template or substrate comprising an assembled conducting polymer.
US08703500B2
A chemical sensor can include a nanofiber mass of p-type nanofibers having a HOMO level greater than −5.0 eV. Additionally, the chemical sensor can include oxygen in contact with the p-type nanofibers. Further, the chemical sensor can include a pair of electrodes in electrical contact across the nanofiber mass, where the p-type nanofibers conduct an electric current that decreases upon contact with an amine compound.
US08703496B2
This invention provides methods of using of the sizes and levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, the −641 allele of the promoter of the gene encoding apolipoprotein C-3 (APOC-3), the 405 allele of the gene encoding cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin, CETP and APOC-3, for determining and increasing an individual's likelihood of longevity and of retaining cognitive function during aging, and for determining and decreasing an individual's likelihood of developing a cardiovascular-, metabolic- or age-related disease.
US08703490B2
Histochemical process compositions comprising at least one nanoparticle in an amount effective to reduce or substantially eliminate the average number of spots per slide that result from a sample staining protocol are disclosed. Various nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, including metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, ceramics, functionalized metals or metalloids, and other miscellaneous nanoparticles, such as carbon nanoparticles and diamond nanoparticles, can be used. The nanoparticle concentration typically is from about 2 parts per million to about 20 parts per million. One embodiment of a disclosed method concerns applying a histochemical process composition to a sample, followed by performing a staining protocol on the sample. Particular embodiments concern dispensing a nanosolution onto a sample using an automated system, heating the sample, and performing a sample staining process.
US08703487B2
The invention provides compositions for making erythroid progenitor cells that comprise in vitro-activated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and embryoid bodies (EBs) or pluripotent stem cells, and methods for making and using them, including ameliorating (e.g., preventing or treating) anemia and/or stimulating erythropoiesis. In one embodiment, the invention provides methods of increasing propensity of committed stem cell differentiation towards the erythroid lineage.
US08703483B2
The invention provides biomarker profiles of cellular metabolites and methods for screening chemical compounds including pharmaceutical agents, lead and candidate drug compounds and other chemicals using human embryonic stem cells (hESC) or lineage-specific cells produced therefrom. The inventive methods are useful for testing toxicity, particularly developmental toxicity and detecting teratogenic effects of such chemical compounds.
US08703480B1
Provided are novel vectors comprising virus or viral portions in which biological function is effected by components on the surface or envelope. Biological function includes viral nucleic acid propagation and delivery in the same vector as well as other important functions such as enhanced target cell specificity and other favorable properties for endocytosis, nuclear localization, integration into the target cell genome and enhanced transduction efficiency functions. Also provided by this invention are chimeric cells useful as packaging cell lines or as target cells or even as both. By virtue of their unique sequences, such chimeric cells provide the machinery for viral nucleic acid propagation and packaging combined with other useful properties for delivering genetic information to any target cells of interest. Also provided are other vectors including those comprising initial nucleic acid wherein the initial nucleic acid has been modified and novel reconstituted vectors and fused vectors.
US08703472B2
New strains of Lactobacillus paracasei which can be used as probiotics in dairy products and which are characterized in surviving the gastrointestinal passage and giving a palatable cheese product when used as an adjunct in cheese manufacturing. The invention especially refers to the new strains Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2, DSM 13434, and Lactobacillus paracasei 02A, DSM 13432. The invention also refers to dairy food products, such as cheese, containing said strains.
US08703466B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a DOI synthase having properties such as stability to heat and pH, which are superior to those of conventional enzymes, and a method for producing DOI using the above-mentioned enzyme. The present invention provides a 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose synthase having the properties described in the following (1), (2), (4), (6) and (7), and also having the properties described in the following (3) and/or (5): (1) action: the enzyme has a function to convert glucose-6-phosphate to 2-deoxy-scyllo-inosose; (2) optimum pH range: pH 7.0 to 7.7; (3) stable pH range: pH 6.0 to 8.0; (4) optimum temperature range: 55° C. to 70° C.; (5) stable temperature range: 20° C. to 46° C.; (6) coenzyme used: NAD+; and (7) molecular weight: 39,000 to 42,000.
US08703456B2
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing red mold dioscorea, and the method comprises the following steps: washing and cutting a fresh dioscorea into pieces with a specific dimension; drying the pieces of the fresh dioscorea for making the dried dioscorea contain a specific water content and a specific sulfur content; adding some water with an appropriate ratio to fresh dioscorea or dried dioscorea; sterilizing the dioscorea; after the dioscorea being cooled down, inoculating the dioscorea with Monascus species; cultivating the dioscorea with an appropriate temperature, an appropriate humidity and an appropriate shacking frequency for an appropriate time period; and drying the cultivated red mold dioscorea with an appropriate water content.
US08703451B2
A process for the preparation of free carboxylic acids including: A) preparation of carboxylic acid by a biological cell located in an aqueous medium with addition of an amine of formula (I) where R1, R2 and R3, independently of one another, are identical or different, branched or unbranched, optionally substituted hydrocarbon radicals or H; B) for cases where the added amine A) is water-soluble, addition of a water-insoluble amine of formula (I), where, in A) or B), a multiphase system is obtained and the corresponding ammonium carboxylate is formed from the water-insoluble amine and the carboxylic acid; C) removal of the water-insoluble phase; and D) heating of the water-insoluble phase with release of free carboxylic acid.
US08703444B2
The present invention relates to micro-organisms and to methods of producing proteins. More specifically, the inventions relates to a host cell useful for the expression of heterozygous proteins in which the host cell, Pichia pastoris, has been genetically modified so that the gene for endogenous secreted subtilisin Sub2 protease is completely or partially inactivated.
US08703438B2
Drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) is a method of drug target ID with several significant advantages over current techniques. In certain embodiments the method involves contacting a sample comprising one or more protein target(s) with a test agent to form a sample/test agent mixture; contacting the mixture with a protease; and identifying a protein or protein fragment that is protected from proteolysis, wherein the protection from proteolysis is an indicator that the protein or protein fragment binds to or interacts with the test agent.
US08703435B2
The presently-disclosed subject matter provides methods for diagnosing a cardiovascular disease in a subject by determining an amount of one or more peptide biomarkers disclosed herein in a biological sample from the subject. The presently-disclosed subject matter further provides methods for determining treatment efficacy and/or progression of a cardiovascular disease in a subject by measuring amounts of one or more of the biomarkers in a biological sample from the subject. The presently-disclosed subject matter also provides antibodies and kits for measuring the biomarkers.
US08703434B2
The present invention relates to a device for collecting and concentrating biological or chemical targets with a view to detecting same, wherein the device comprises a reaction chamber (1) in which functionalized magnetic beads (2) are placed, an ultrasonic agitation system (3), a magnetic field (4) that can be activated (ON position) or inactivated (OFF position), and a fluid movement system (5) for feeding (51) and discharging (52) a portion or the entirety of the contents of the reaction chamber.The present invention also relates to a method for capturing biological or chemical targets using said device.
US08703424B2
The invention provides biomarker profiles of metabolites and methods for screening chemical compounds including pharmaceutical agents, lead and candidate drug compounds and other chemicals using human stem-like cells (hSLCs) or lineage-specific cells produced therefrom. The inventive methods are useful for testing toxicity, particularly developmental toxicity and detecting teratogenic effects of such chemical compounds. Specifically, a more predictive developmental toxicity model, based on an in vitro method that utilizes both hSLCs and metabolomics to discover biomarkers of developmental toxicity is disclosed.
US08703421B2
Provided are compositions, kits, and methods for the identification of Salmonella. In certain aspects and embodiments, the compositions, kits, and methods may provide improvements in relation to specificity, sensitivity, and speed of detection.
US08703419B2
The present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancers using an epigenetic marker consisting of a specific single CpG site in TTP (Tristetraprolin) promoter and treatment of cancers by regulating its epigenetic status. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer by measuring specific methylation of C, the 32nd residue of the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ. ID. NO. 41, and a method for treatment of cancer by regulating the same. The present invention can be effectively used for the diagnosis and/or treatment of liver cancer characterized by TTP down-regulation and methylation of C, the 32nd residue of the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ. ID. NO. 41. The present invention can be further applied for the diagnosis and treatment of other cancers or inflammatory diseases that are characterized by TTP down-regulation and methylation of C, the 32nd residue of the nucleic acid sequence represented by SEQ. ID. NO. 41.
US08703411B2
A method of preserving an umbilical cord is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a segment of an umbilical cord; mincing the segment of the umbilical cord into cord tissue pieces; admixing the cord tissue pieces with a cryogenic composition comprising a cryoprotectant and a protein to form a mixture; shaking the mixture for a duration of no shorter than 20 minutes and no longer than 40 minutes; and cryopreserving the mixture.
US08703409B2
A method for forming a microstructure includes: (a) forming a photocurable layer on a substrate, the photocurable layer including at least one photocurable compound that has a photocurable functional group equivalent weight ranging from 70 to 700 g/mol; (b) covering partially the photocurable layer using a patterned mask; (c) exposing the photocurable layer through the patterned mask using a first light source so that the photocurable layer is cured at first regions which are exposed; (d) removing the patterned mask; and (e) illuminating the photocurable layer using a second light source to cure second regions of the photocurable layer which have not been cured. The first and second regions have different surface heights and provide a surface roughness for the microstructure.
US08703407B2
According to one embodiment, a pattern formation method contains: forming first guides by changing a surface energy of an underlayer material by transferring a pattern of a photomask onto the underlayer material by exposure, and forming second guides by changing the surface energy of the underlayer material between the first guides by diffraction of exposure light generated from the exposure; applying a block copolymer containing a plurality of types of polymer block chains onto the underlayer material; and causing any one of the polymer block chains to form a pattern in accordance with the first and second guides by microphase separation of the block copolymer by a heat treatment.
US08703405B2
In a method of generating a three-dimensional process window qualification, a photoresist layer is coated on a substrate including an underlying structure. A plurality of circular-shaped regions of the substrate are distinguished into 1 to n regions to partition the substrate into a center portion and an edge portion, n being a natural number greater than 2. 1 to n exposing ranges are set, including a common exposing condition for the 1 to n regions. A photoresist pattern is fox led by exposing each shot portion in the 1 to n regions using a split exposing condition in the 1 to n exposing ranges. The photoresist pattern is detected, and a normal photoresist pattern with respect to each of the 1 to n regions is selected to generate the three-dimensional process window qualification.
US08703396B2
Some embodiments include methods of forming patterns of openings. The methods may include forming spaced features over a substrate. The features may have tops and may have sidewalls extending downwardly from the tops. A first material may be formed along the tops and sidewalls of the features. The first material may be formed by spin-casting a conformal layer of the first material across the features, or by selective deposition along the features relative to the substrate. After the first material is formed, fill material may be provided between the features while leaving regions of the first material exposed. The exposed regions of the first material may then be selectively removed relative to both the fill material and the features to create the pattern of openings.
US08703395B2
A pattern-forming method includes applying a photoresist composition to a substrate to form a resist film. The photoresist composition includes an acid generator and a first polymer that includes an acid-dissociable group. The resist film is exposed. The resist film is developed using a developer having an organic solvent content of 80 mass % or more to form a prepattern of the resist film. A polymer film having a phase separation structure in a space defined by the prepattern is formed using a composition that includes a plurality of second polymers. A part of the phase separation structure of the polymer film is removed.
US08703383B2
A copolymer has formula: wherein R1-R5 are independently H, C1-6 alkyl, or C4-6 aryl, R6 is a fluorinated or non-fluorinated C5-30 acid decomposable group; each Ar is a monocyclic, polycyclic, or fused polycyclic C6-20 aryl group; each R7 and R8 is —OR11 or —C(CF3)2OR11 where each R11 is H, a fluorinated or non-fluorinated C5-30 acid decomposable group, or a combination; each R9 is independently F, a C1-10 alkyl, C1-10 fluoroalkyl, C1-10 alkoxy, or a C1-10 fluoroalkoxy group; R10 is a cation-bound C10-40 photoacid generator-containing group, mole fractions a, b, and d are 0 to 0.80, c is 0.01 to 0.80, e is 0 to 0.50 provided where a, b, and d are 0, e is greater than 0, the sum a+b+c+d+e is 1, l and m are integers of 1 to 4, and n is an integer of 0 to 5. A photoresist and coated substrate, each include the copolymer.
US08703382B2
A photosensitive resin composition for flexographic printing having excellent resistance to an ink comprising an organic solvent and an emulsion ink used in flexographic printing, for example, a UV-curable ink or an ink using a vegetable oil or light naphtha and having excellent suitability for printing applications such as image reproducibility and print durability. The photosensitive resin composition for flexographic printing includes, at least, (a) one or more thermoplastic elastomers, (b) an acrylic-terminated liquid polybutadiene containing 1,2-bonds in an amount of 80% or more, (c) a photopolymerizable unsaturated monomer having at least one or more ethylenically unsaturated groups, and (d) a photopolymerization initiator.
US08703381B2
On-press developable, negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors have a sulfuric acid anodized aluminum-containing substrate in which the oxide layer pores have been widened using an acidic or alkaline treatment. Over the widened pores, a hydrophilic coating is applied, which coating comprises a non-crosslinked hydrophilic polymer having carboxylic acid side chains. This particular substrate provides improved adhesion and printing durability for on-press development and printing.
US08703380B2
A process comprising: contacting at least one bio-based amorphous polyester resin with an optional plasticizer to form a pre-blend mixture; neutralizing the pre-blend mixture with a neutralizing agent; contacting the pre-blend mixture with a surfactant; melt-mixing the pre-blend mixture; contacting the melt-mixed mixture with de-ionized water to form an oil in water emulsion possessing a latex; and recovering the latex.
US08703377B2
Disclosed is a toner which comprises particles comprising: (a) a core comprising: (1) a first resin; and (2) a first conductive colorant; and (b) a shell comprising: (1) a second resin; and (2) a second conductive colorant.
US08703376B2
A toner, wherein a binder resin contains a polyester resin (A) produced by polycondensing an alcohol component with a carboxylic acid component which contains a rosin compound in an amount of 5% by mass or more of the total amount by mass of the alcohol component and the carboxylic acid component, and a polyester resin (B) produced by polycondensing an alcohol component containing an alkylene oxide adduct of bisphenol A represented by General Formula (1) given below with a carboxylic acid component, and wherein the toner contains abietic acid in an amount of 0.01% by mass to 1% by mass: where R1 and R2 each represent C2-C4 alkylene; R3 and R4 are each any one of a hydrogen atom, C1-C6 straight-chain alkyl, and C1-C6 branched-chain alkyl; and x and y each represent a positive integer and the sum of x and y is 1 to 16.
US08703372B2
An electrophotographic photosensitive member includes a support, a charge-generating layer disposed on the support, and a charge-transporting layer disposed on the charge-generating layer, in which the charge-generating layer contains a charge-generating substance and a compound represented by the formula (1). A process cartridge includes the electrophotographic photosensitive member described above. An electrophotographic apparatus includes the electrophotographic photosensitive member described above.
US08703370B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor includes a conductive substrate; and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate and containing a resin binder that is a polycarbonate resin having structural units represented by General Formulae (1) and (2). The electrophotographic photoreceptor reduces the amount of wear and provides good images while maintaining a low frictional resistance on the surface of a photoreceptor drum from the beginning until after printing. A method for manufacturing such an electrophotographic photoreceptor includes applying a coating liquid containing at least such a resin binder onto a conductive substrate to thereby form a photosensitive layer. An electrophotographic device is disclosed that is equipped with such an electrophotographic photoreceptor.
US08703369B2
In one or more embodiments, the disclosure relates to a method of setting a photolithography exposure machine, comprising: forming on a photolithography mask test patterns and circuit patterns, transferring the patterns to a resin layer covering a wafer, measuring a critical dimension of each test pattern transferred, and determining a focus setting error value of the photolithography machine from the measure of the critical dimension of each pattern, the test patterns formed on the mask comprising a first reference test pattern and a second test pattern forming for a photon beam emitted by the photolithography machine and going through the mask, an optical path having a length different from an optical path formed by the first test pattern and the circuit patterns formed on the mask.
US08703367B2
A positive photosensitive resin composition includes: (A) a polybenzoxazole precursor; (B) a photosensitive diazoquinone compound; (C) a silane compound; (D) a polyamic acid ester compound; and (E) a solvent. The positive photosensitive resin composition can reduce film shrinkage, can have high sensitivity, high resolution, and excellent residue removal properties, and can provide good pattern shapes.
US08703364B2
A method for repairing a defect, such as a pinhole, on a photomask is described. In an example, a laser beam is used to form a matrix of laser burn spots in a substrate of the photomask proximate a defect, such as a pinhole, of the photomask. Each laser burn spot is formed at a focal point of the laser beam inside the substrate by melting a material of the substrate proximate to the defect. In an example, the defect is surrounded and covered by the matrix of laser burn spots. The matrix of laser burn spots can attenuate or block light from passing through the defect, such as the pinhole. The matrix of laser burn spots may repair the defect of the photomask without removing a pellicle and pellicle frame mounted on the photomask.
US08703362B2
A sintered electrolyte sheet comprising: a body of no more than 45 μm thick and laser machined features with at least one edge surface having at least 10% ablation. A method of micromachining the electrolyte sheet includes the steps of: (i) supporting a sintered electrolyte sheet; (ii) micromachining said sheet with a laser, wherein said laser has a wavelength of less than 2 μm, fluence of less than 200 Joules/cm2, repetition rate (RR) of between 30 Hz and 1 MHz, and cutting speed of preferably over 30 mm/sec.
US08703359B2
A fuel cell capable of being thinned while maintaining a stable electric power supply is provided. A fuel cell includes a power generation section, a fuel tank, a fuel supply section (pump), and a fuel vaporization section. The power generation section has a structure in which a combined body is sandwiched between a cell plate and a cell plate. The combined body has a structure in which an anode electrode and a cathode electrode are oppositely arranged with an electrolyte film in between. In particular, the fuel supply section and the fuel vaporization section are integrally provided, and are connected by a nozzle section buried therein. A fuel contained in the fuel tank is pumped by the fuel supply section according to the state of the power generation section, and then is vaporized by the fuel vaporization section, and is supplied to the power generation section side.
US08703355B2
A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a fuel cell comprising a gradient catalyst structure and a method of making the same. The gradient catalyst structure can include a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles, e.g., platinum, disposed on layered buckypaper. The layered buckypaper can include at least a first layer and a second layer and the first layer can have a lower porosity compared to the second layer. The gradient catalyst structure can include single-wall nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, or both in the first layer of the layered buckypaper and can include carbon nanofibers in the second layer of the layered buckypaper. The MEA can have a catalyst utilization efficiency of at least 0.35 gcat/kW or less.
US08703352B2
On each of upper and lower surfaces of a flat-plate-like support substrate having a longitudinal direction and having fuel gas flow channels formed therein, a plurality of power-generating elements A connected electrically in series are disposed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. On each of the upper and lower surfaces of the support substrate, a plurality of recesses are formed at predetermined intervals along the longitudinal direction. Each of the recesses is a rectangular-parallelepiped-like depression defined by four side walls arranged in a circumferentially closed manner and a bottom wall. That is, in the support substrate, frames are formed to surround the respective recesses. Fuel electrodes of the power-generating elements A are embedded in the respective recesses, and inter connectors are embedded in respective recesses formed on the outer surfaces of the fuel electrodes.
US08703341B2
With the object of providing a positive electrode active material for lithium battery that can increase the filling density, can increase the output characteristics, and furthermore, with a small voltage decrease during conservation at high temperature in a charged state, a positive electrode active material for lithium battery is proposed, containing a spinel type (Fd3-m) lithium transition metal oxide represented by general formula Li1+xM2−xO4−δ (where M represents a transition metal including Mn, Al and Mg, x represents 0.01 to 0.08 and 0≦δ) and a boron compound, the inter-the atomic distance Li—O of the spinel type lithium transition metal oxide being 1.971 Å to 2.006 Å, and the amount of magnetic substance measured for the positive electrode active material for lithium battery being 600 ppb or less.
US08703339B2
A positive electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a first positive active material represented by LiaNibCocMdO2, and a second positive active material represented by LieNifCogMnhO2. M is selected from Al, B, Cr, Fe, Mg, Sr, and V, 0.95≦a≦1.1, 0.5≦b≦0.9, 0≦c≦0.3, 0≦d≦0.1, 0.95≦e≦1.1, 0.33≦f≦0.5, 0.15≦g≦0.33, and 0.3≦h≦0.35. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte.
US08703337B2
A lithium cobalt oxide powder for use as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the lithium cobalt oxide powder having a Ti content of between 0.1 and 0.25 mol %, and the lithium cobalt oxide powder having a density PD in g/cm3 dependent on the powder particle size expressed by the D50 value in μm,wherein PD≧3.63+[0.0153*(D50−17)].
US08703333B2
A composition for use in an electrochemical cell is disclosed wherein the composition includes a clean metal substantially free of impurities and a layer of protective material in contact with the clean metal. Further disclosed is an electrochemical cell including a metal film comprising a clean metal substantially free of impurities. The electrochemical cell may further include an electrolyte and a layer of protective material disposed between the electrolyte and the metal film. A process for manufacturing an electrode is further disclosed including preparing a metal film comprising a clean metal substantially free of impurities and depositing a layer of protective material on to the metal film.
US08703330B2
Nickel zinc cylindrical battery cell designs are described. The designs provided limit dendrite formation and prevent build up of hydrogen gas in the cell. The present invention also provides low-impedance cells required by rapid discharge applications. The cylindrical battery cells may have polarity opposite of that of conventional power cells, with a negative cap and positive can. The cylindrical cells may include a gel electrolyte reservoir.
US08703326B2
A rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly having electrodes on opposite sides of a separator, a case retaining the electrode assembly, a cap plate coupled with an opening of the case, electrode terminals extending through terminal holes of the cap plate, lead tabs connecting the electrode terminals to the electrode assembly, the electrode terminals being electrically connected to the lead tabs at connection parts, and insulators, the connection parts being embedded in the insulators.
US08703317B2
A battery pack includes a battery chamber (3) which houses a plurality of battery cells (2), a cooling air chamber (4) provided below the battery chamber (3), and a fan (5) which supplies cooling air (A) into the cooling air chamber (4) at a static pressure not less than atmospheric pressure. On a bottom part of the battery chamber (3), there is provided a supporting part (6) which supports the battery cells (2) while maintaining horizontal gaps therebetween, and air inlet holes (7) which guide cooling air (A) upward are provided in the bottom part of the battery chamber (3) at positions corresponding to the gaps between the battery cells (2).
US08703312B2
A battery module including a plurality of battery cells, each of the battery cells including a terminal such that the plurality of battery cells provide a plurality of terminals, wherein a terminal of one of the battery cells is connected to a terminal of an adjacent battery cell with a connecting member; a top plate on the plurality of battery cells, the top plate including an opening corresponding to a position of the terminals connected by the connecting member such that the terminals connected by the connecting member extend therethrough, and a terminal cover detachably covering the opening of the top plate, the terminal cover including a release that selectively detaches the terminal cover from the top plate.
US08703310B2
A polymer that combines high ionic conductivity with the structural properties required for Li electrode stability is useful as a solid phase electrolyte for high energy density, high cycle life batteries that do not suffer from failures due to side reactions and dendrite growth on the Li electrodes, and other potential applications. The polymer electrolyte includes a linear block copolymer having a conductive linear polymer block with a molecular weight of at least 5000 Daltons, a structural linear polymer block with an elastic modulus in excess of 1×107 Pa and an ionic conductivity of at least 1×10−5 Scm−1. The electrolyte is made under dry conditions to achieve the noted characteristics. In another aspect, the electrolyte exhibits a conductivity drop when the temperature of electrolyte increases over a threshold temperature, thereby providing a shutoff mechanism for preventing thermal runaway in lithium battery cells.
US08703301B2
Provided are an organic light emitting device including a substrate; a first electrode; a second electrode; and an organic layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the organic layer includes a first layer including an organic-metal complex represented by Formula 1 below, and a method of preparing the same: wherein Formula 1 is described in the description of the invention.
US08703292B2
An intermediate transfer member that includes a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer, a zirconium tungstate, an optional polysiloxane, and an optional conductive filler.
US08703289B2
The organic polymer particles comprise a carboxyl group and 2,3-dihydroxypropyl group, and the magnetic particles for diagnostics comprise fine magnetic material particles and a polymer part containing a hydrophilic polymer part and a crosslinked polymer part, a dry coating film obtained from a water dispersion thereof having a contact angle with water of 5° to 60°. The process for producing the carboxyl group-containing particles comprises a step of producing an ester bond by reacting a hydroxyl group in organic polymer particles having the hydroxyl group with a carboxylic anhydride. The organic polymer particles comprise a hydroxyl group originating from a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl group and a polyoxyethylene group.
US08703283B2
The invention relates to selected polymer blends which can be used for production of films or sheets having reduced defects, and also to a process for preparation of the polymer blends.
US08703281B2
A coated article is provided so as to include a solar control coating having an infrared (IR) reflecting layer and a breaker layer, one or both of which may be of or include a material such as NiCr, NiCrNx, NbCr, NbCrNx, NbZr, NbZrNx, Nb and/or NbNx. Each of the IR reflecting layer and the breaker layer is sandwiched between at least a pair of dielectric layers of a material such as silicon nitride or the like. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the IR reflecting layer is substantially thicker than the breaker layer. Such coated articles may be used in the context of windows such as monolithic or IG windows, and may optionally be heat treated (e.g., thermally tempered) in certain instances and may be substantially thermally stable.
US08703269B2
Embodiments of reinforced composite structures for aircrafts and methods for making such reinforced composite structures are provided herein. A reinforced composite structure for an aircraft comprises a fiber reinforced composite stringer. The fiber reinforced composite stringer comprises a beam body portion and a runout portion that extends from the beam body portion in a first direction. The beam body and runout portions are defined by projection of a variable I-shaped cross-section in the first direction along at least a portion of an entire combined length of the beam body and runout portions. The variable I-shaped cross-section has a cap section, a foot section, and a web section that extends between the cap and foot sections. The variable I-shaped cross-section is configured such that a height of the web section tapers in the first direction along at least a portion of an entire length of the runout portion.
US08703263B2
The present invention relates to a pressure-sensitive hotmelt adhesive composition suitable for sticking permanent-tack self-adhesive labels to any type of smooth or rough surface, an item comprising said adhesive composition, and the method of preparing said item.
US08703261B2
An elongate tube formed from a composite material comprising a polymer and a photoluminescent material has a cylindrical wall that defines an arc of between about 180 degrees and 360 degrees or greater. An elongate opening is defined in the wall along the length of the tube. The wall of the tube is flexible which permits the opening to be manually enlarged to enable the tube to be mounted over an electric light source. The wall is configured to approximate the outer dimensions of the light source which retains the tube on the light source. The photoluminescent material in the tube wall is energized by the light source and emits sufficient light for a period of time if the electricity to the light source is temporarily interrupted.
US08703260B2
A catheter balloon and method involves extruded tubing with multiple layers of different durometer values, selected such that the blow up ratio (BUR) at the balloon's inner surface is increased. In one method a two stage blow mold process uses a small radius initial stage where radial growth is limited, followed by a second stage to a final dimension. A single stage blow mold process is also disclosed where the materials and processing are selected to approach the elongation to failure limit of the material. The single stage approach is preferably followed by a modified post-expansion heat set treatment to promote greater axial strength, leading to a preferred failure mode in the axial rather than radial direction.
US08703250B2
A method of manufacturing a diamond layer having a porous three-dimensional structure, the method being of the type which includes growing the diamond layer from a sacrificial material and gradually decomposing said sacrificial material during growth of the diamond layer, said material including the following steps; 1) provision of a substrate capable of supporting the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition growth of the diamond layer on at least one of the surfaces of the substrate, the substrate comprising, on said at least one surface thereof, a layer made of a sacrificial material having a porous three-dimensional structure capable of gradually decomposing upon contact with said plasma, the layer of sacrificial material containing diamond grains of nanometric size, and 2) growth by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of the diamond layer from diamond grains and concomitant and gradual decomposition of the sacrificial material upon contact with said plasma.
US08703248B2
A polycrystalline silicon reactor which can prevent polycrystalline silicon which deposits on the surface of an electrode holding a silicon seed rod from being peeled off is provided. In a polycrystalline silicon reactor which applies an electric current to a silicon seed rod provided within a furnace, thereby heating the silicon seed rod, brings a source gas supplied into the furnace into reaction, and deposits polycrystalline silicon on the surface of the silicon seed rod, the reactor includes, at a bottom plate of the furnace, an electrode holder provided so as to be electrically insulated from the bottom plate, and a seed rod holding electrode connected to the electrode holder, and holding the silicon seed rod toward the upside. Concavo-convex portions exposed to a furnace atmosphere is provided at an outer peripheral surface of the seed rod holding electrode.
US08703247B2
A cross section processing method to be performed on a sample by irradiating the sample having a layer or a structure of an organic substance on a surface at a cross section processing position thereof with a focused ion beam using a focused ion beam apparatus includes: a protective film forming step for forming a protective film on the surface of the layer or the structure of the organic substance by irradiating the surface of the sample including the cross section processing position with the focused ion beam under the existence of source gas as the protective film; and a cross section processing step for performing cross section processing by irradiating the cross section processing position formed with the protective film with the focused ion beam at a voltage higher than an accelerating voltage in the protective film forming step.
US08703238B2
A method for inkjet printing includes, in order, the steps of a) providing an ink-receiver; b) jetting an image on the ink-receiver with a curable inkjet ink; and c) jetting and curing on the image an outermost layer of a curable liquid; wherein the curable liquid contains a silicon modified or fluorinated polymerizable compound in an amount between 20 wt % and 99.6 wt % based on the total weight of the curable liquid and the silicon modified or fluorinated polymerizable compounds are either absent or present in the curable inkjet ink in a concentration of less than 20 wt % based on the total weight of the curable inkjet ink. A curable inkjet ink set includes curable inkjet inks and one curable liquid wherein the curable liquid contains a silicon modified or fluorinated polymerizable compound in an amount between 20 wt % and 99.6 wt % based on the total weight of the curable liquid and that silicon modified or fluorinated polymerizable compounds are either absent or present in the curable inkjet inks in a concentration of less than 20 wt % based on the total weight of the curable inkjet ink.
US08703215B2
The invention discloses herbal ingredient(s) derived from Ficus hispida comprising herb powder(s), extract(s), fraction(s), pure compound(s) or mixtures thereof and their compositions for alleviating metabolic disorders selected from metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and other metabolic disorders or conditions; the for amelioration of different biological marker proteins and metabolic processes associated metabolic disorders.
US08703213B2
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical antidiabetic composition containing, among the active ingredients thereof, a plant extract of Englerina lecardii, preferably a hydroalcoholic extract of Englerina lecardii leaves. The composition is preferably formulated in the form of microspheres produced using an extrusion and spheronisation method, and then grouped together in capsules. In particular, the composition is intended for cases of type 2 diabetes.
US08703211B2
The invention relates to the treatment and prophylaxis of cancer. In particular, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical agent comprising strontium, amino acid(s) and mineral element(s), and its use in the preparation of an agent useful for the treatment and prophylaxis of cancer. The invention also relates to a method for treatment and prophylaxis of cancer.
US08703204B2
A pharmaceutical composition comprises nanoparticles comprising a cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitor and a poorly aqueous soluble non-ionizable polymer.
US08703201B2
The disclosure provides various methods and systems for providing hyperpolarized materials as well as the hyperpolarized materials so provided. In addition, methods of providing hyperpolarized materials, such as agents, to end users from a remote location are also provided.
US08703197B2
A branched polyamine comprises about 45 to about 70 backbone tertiary amine groups, about 90 to about 140 backbone secondary amine groups, a positive number n′ greater than 0 of backbone terminating primary amine groups, and a positive number q greater than 0 of backbone terminating carbamate groups of formula (2): wherein (n′+q) is a number equal to about 45 to about 70, the starred bond of formula (2) is linked to a backbone nitrogen of the branched polyamine, L′ is a divalent radical comprising 3 to 30 carbons, and q/(n′+q)×100% equals about 9% to about 47%.
US08703194B2
There is presently provided a stimulus-responsive polymer comprising a biodegradable polymer backbone and a stimulus-responsive pendant group attached to the biodegradable polymer backbone, wherein the biodegradable polymer backbone comprises a poly(amino ester) or a poly(amido amine), the poly(amido amine) optionally comprising a disulfide linkage in the backbone.
US08703193B2
The present invention relates to controlled porous osmotic pump tablets of high permeable drugs and the preparation process thereof. The controlled porosity osmotic pump tablets do not need to be drilled by laser, but provides controlled porosity for drug release by adding a suitable quantity of pore-forming agents into the semipermeable membrane. In specific embodiments, the present invention relates to controlled porous osmotic pump tablets comprising venlafaxine or metoprolol or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08703189B2
The present invention provides a medicinal composition that exhibits excellent storage stability and, even over long-term storage, little change in the release rate of the pharmacologically active substance contained therein. The medicinal composition of the invention prepared by dissolving or dispersing a pharmacologically active substance and a pH-independent water-insoluble polymer in a molten low-melting substance, and which can be prepared by spraying a liquid substance, obtained by dissolving or dispersing the pharmacologically active substance in a molten mixture comprising the low-melting substance and the pH-independent water-insoluble polymer, and then cooling the liquid substance.
US08703184B2
Methods and compositions for reducing the frequency of urination are disclosed. One method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent formulated in a delayed-release formulation. Another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising multiple active ingredients. Yet another method comprises administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a diuretic followed with another administration of a pharmaceutical composition comprising an analgesic agent.
US08703178B2
The present invention relates to a percutaneous administration device of bisoprolol, which includes a backing; and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer containing bisoprolol, which is laminated on one surface of the backing, wherein the maximum value of a release rate of bisoprolol during a period of from immediately after the application on skin until a lapse of 24 hours is 30 μg/cm2/hr or less; and wherein the release rate of bisoprolol at the time of a lapse of 24 hours after the application on skin is 10 μg/cm2/hr or less. The percutaneous administration device of the present invention is reduced in the skin irritation during the application, especially at the time of peeling, and is capable of persistently administrating a therapeutically or preventively effective amount of bisoprolol into a living body.
US08703171B2
The present invention relates to a method of easing childbirth using a composition having a lubricant effect for use in particular during human vaginal delivery. The methods comprise applying a bioadhesive composition comprising (a) a polyacrylic acid, (b) a water-soluble thickener and (c) a humectant and (d) optionally water.
US08703168B2
An implantable medical device for releasing therapeutic agent having a medical device body and a plurality of reservoir-defining structures disposed on a surface of the body. A reservoir can be defined by the reservoir-defining structures and therapeutic agent may be located in the reservoir. A cover may extend over the reservoir so that the therapeutic agent is released from the reservoir when the medical device implanted. Methods for making the medical device may also include providing a medical device body, positioning a plurality of reservoir-defining structures on a surface of the body to form a reservoir, loading therapeutic agent into the reservoir, and covering the reservoir so that the therapeutic agent may release when the medical device is implanted. Alternatively, the reservoir may be covered with a cover and an opening formed in the cover so that the therapeutic agent may release when the medical device is implanted.
US08703165B2
Compounds of the formula (I) wherein the substituents are as defined in claim 1, are useful as pesticides.
US08703162B2
A base makeup cosmetic satisfying the relationship expressed by the following Formula (1) and the relationship expressed by the following Formula (2) and exhibiting a hue angle of the cosmetic in a range of from 40° to 80°, wherein, when incident light falls on a light-receiving surface from a direction at −45° relative to the light-receiving surface, the light-receiving surface being a surface of a coating layer obtained by applying the base makeup cosmetic, (C*45) and (angle h*45) respectively represent the chroma (C*45) and hue angle (angle h*45) of reflected light in a specular reflection direction (a direction at)45°; and, when incident light falls on the light-receiving surface from a direction at −45° relative to the light-receiving surface, (C*0) and (angle h*0) respectively represent the chroma (C*0) and hue angle (angle h*0) of reflected light in a diffuse reflection direction (a direction at 0°). (C*0)−(C*45)≦2.0 Formula (1) |(angle h*0)−(angle h*45)|≦1.5 Formula (2)
US08703159B2
The present invention relates to cosmetic compositions containing polyglycerol partial esters of linear, unsubstituted carboxylic acids and bifunctional carboxylic acids with the provisos that the polyglycerol partial ester comprises an HLB-value from 2 to 10 and that the polyglycerol obtained by hydrolysis or alcoholysis of the polyglycerol partial ester comprises an average degree of polymerization of from 2 to 8 and at least 1% of the polyglycerol comprises cyclic structures. The present invention also relates to the use of aforementioned polyglycerol esters for the production of and use in cosmetic compositions.
US08703154B2
A vaccine adjuvant which, based on the 100% mass thereof, includes between 10% and 95% of a mineral oil containing: between 0.05 mass-% and 10 mass-% hydrocarbon chains having less than 16 carbon atoms, and between 0.05 mass-% and 5 mass-% hydrocarbon chains having more than 28 carbon atoms. In addition, the adjuvant has a P/N ratio, corresponding to the ratio of the mass quantity of the paraffinic hydrocarbon chains to the mass quantity of the naphthenic hydrocarbon chains, of between 2.5 and 3, the adjuvant being intended for the production of a vaccine composition to prevent coccidiosis.
US08703153B2
The invention provides an attenuated Salmonella vaccine vector comprising one or more heterologous polynucleotides that encode immunogenic Chlamydial peptides. In one embodiment, the attenuated Salmonella vaccine vector comprises aroC and ssaV attenuating mutations. The heterologous polynucleotides encoding the immunogenic Chlamydial peptides can be under the control of an inducible promoter such as a Salmonella ssaG promoter. In one embodiment of the invention, the immunogenic Chlamydial peptide is a PmpG peptide, for instance, a CT110, CT84 or CT40 peptide.
US08703145B2
The subject invention pertains to methods and compositions for protecting feline animals from infection by FIV using immunogens derived from primate immunodeficiency viruses, including HIV and SIV. Methods for vaccinating feline animals with the subject vaccine compositions are described. Feline animals vaccinated according to the methods and compositions of the subject invention exhibit protective humoral and cellular immune responses to FIV when challenged with FIV.
US08703137B2
The invention is directed to methods of treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, via the administration of antibodies having specificity to abnormal forms of tau protein, the antibodies showing no binding and/or reactivity to a normal tau protein and being administered under conditions and in amounts effective to prevent or treat Alzheimer's disease or other tauopathies. In certain embodiments, the antibodies are selective for soluble truncated tau protein truncated at (i) its C-terminus after the glutamic acid residue Glu391, or (ii) at the aspartic acid residue Asp421, or (iii) at its N-terminus at the aspartic acid residue Asp13, or (iv) a combination of (i)-(iii). Further aspects of the invention are directed to the administration of an immunogen comprising an abnormal tau, preferably a soluble truncated tau.
US08703136B2
The present invention relates to methods and medicaments used for treating conditions that require axonal regeneration, e.g. in mammals affected by injury or disease of the central or peripheral nervous system. The medicaments used in these methods facilitate axonal regeneration by inhibition of the complement system. Conditions requiring axonal regeneration that may be treated in accordance with the invention include physical injuries as well as neurodegenerative disorders of the peripheral or central nervous system.
US08703134B2
The present invention relates to fusion proteins comprising a microorganism targeting molecule (e.g., immunoglobulin) and a biocide. The present invention also relates to therapeutic and prophylactic methods of using a fusion protein comprising a microorganism targeting molecule and a biocide in diverse fields.
US08703132B2
The present invention relates to bispecific, tetravalent antigen binding proteins, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions containing said antibodies, and uses thereof.
US08703131B2
The present invention relates to improved Nanobodies™ against Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), as well as to polypeptides comprising or essentially consisting of one or more of such Nanobodies. The invention also relates to nucleic acids encoding such Nanobodies and polypeptides; to methods for preparing such Nanobodies and polypeptides; to host cells expressing or capable of expressing such Nanobodies or polypeptides; to compositions comprising such Nanobodies, polypeptides, nucleic acids or host cells; and to uses of such Nanobodies, such polypeptides, such nucleic acids, such host cells or such compositions, in particular for prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes, such as the prophylactic, therapeutic or diagnostic purposes.
US08703129B2
Disclosed herein are antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof directed against extended Type I chain antigens, in particular extended Type I chain glycosphingolipids, and the uses of the antibodies or antigen-binding portions thereof in the diagnosis, amelioration, treatment or prevention of diseases or disorders in mammals, including humans, resulting from or associated with the improper activity/metabolism or the presence of extended Type I chain antigens, in particular extended Type I chain glycosphingolipids.
US08703126B2
The present application concerns concentrated protein formulations with reduced viscosity, which are particularly suitable for subcutaneous administration. The application further concerns a method for reducing the viscosity of concentrated protein formulations.
US08703125B2
The present invention relates to methods for modulating the activity of one or more Vps10p-domain receptors selected from the group consisting of Sortilin, SorLA, SorCS1, SorCS2 and SorCS3, in an animal and methods for preparation of a medicament for the treatment of mental and behavioral disorders. The modulation is carried out by inhibiting or promoting the binding of ligands to the Vps10p-domain receptor. In vitro and in vivo methods for screening for agents capable of modulation of said Vps10p-domain receptor activity are also provided. The invention further-more relates to methods of altering expression of said receptors in vivo.
US08703121B2
Cells derived from postpartum tissue and methods for their use in treatment of diseases of the heart or circulatory system are disclosed. Cells may be used in either differentiated or undifferentiated forms, in homogenous cultures, or as populations with other cells, and in conjunction with other bioactive factors.
US08703118B2
The present invention discloses a cross-linked hyaluronic acid/collagen formulation which has improved composition for dermal filling and higher persistence than cross-linked collagen or HA alone. Also disclosed are methods for preparing cross-linked hyaluronic acid/collagen formulations and using such for augmenting soft tissues in mammals.
US08703111B2
This invention relates to a thermoplastic paste with a highly thixotropic rheology, the components of which are a block biopolymer and a bioceramic. The material described herein can be used in bone implants and in the regeneration of both animal and plant live tissues.
US08703110B2
Embodiments of the invention include a system comprising: an Acetoxy curable silicone Binder; and an active agent blended with the silicone binder, effective for one or more of radiopacification, lubricity, elution of a secondary compound such as a drug, echogenic properties, thermal or electrically insulative properties or chemical indicators wherein the silicone binder effectiveness is not substantially changed by the active agent.
US08703093B2
A method is described for batchwise slaking of burnt lime in a slaker, in which a lime slurry is produced with a greater degree of fineness and prolonged sedimentation time, comprising the following processing steps: emptying of finished slaked and diluted lime slurry from the slaker; automatic coupling of a control system for automatic operation after the wanted slaking temperature has been reached in the first batch; automatic regulation of the slaking temperature in the subsequent slurry batch; and automatic registering of the remaining amount of slurry in the slaker after complete dosing of lime.
US08703091B2
A high modulus graphite fiber with a tensile modulus of 270˜650 GPa and a plurality of crystal structures with a thickness (Lc) of 20˜70 angstroms is disclosed. Carbon fiber is used as a raw material, and a microwave focusing method is used to perform an ultra quick high temperature graphitization process to increase the temperature of the carbon fiber at a heating speed of 10˜100° C. per minute to a graphitization temperature of 1400˜3000° C., and then to perform a quick graphitization process for 0.5˜10 minutes to form the high modulus graphite fiber.
US08703088B2
The present invention relates to processes for reducing or eliminating the amount of hydrazine from a hydroxylamine-free base containing hydrazine by treating said hydroxylamine-free base with a scavenger agent, and to the hydroxylamine-free base thereby obtained, as well as to its use for producing microdispersions containing a hydroxamated polymer for use as a flocculant in the Bayer process.
US08703079B2
A method for feeding lime mud into a lime kiln including a rotary kiln shell having an interior between a first end wall and a second end wall, the method including: feeding the lime mud into a flue gas flow in the interior of the rotary kiln shell or in close proximity to the shell to pretreat the lime mud; separating the pretreated lime mud from the flue gas flow; conveying the separated lime mud into the lime kiln, and calcining the separated lime mud in the lime kiln.
US08703070B1
Apparatus for immunoassay includes: a cartridge, including at least one test unit; a pin-film assembly, having a second sealing film, a plurality of pierce mechanisms, and a first actuation unit; a plurality of magnetic particles; at least one first magnetic unit; and at least one second magnetic unit. The test unit includes a plurality of fluid chambers, a plurality of pin chambers, a microchannel structure, a buffer chamber, a detection chamber and a waste chamber. The first actuation unit drives the pierce mechanisms to enable a working fluid to flow into the detection chamber storing the magnetic particles. As the second magnetic unit has a magnetic force larger than that of the first magnetic unit and can move reciprocatingly between a third position and a fourth position, the magnetic particles are driven to move reciprocatingly inside the detection chamber, thereby fully mixing the magnetic particles with the working fluid.
US08703059B2
A method and apparatus for combustion analysing a sample in a combustion analyzer (120,160,180), where the sample comprises a proportion of sulphur. The sample is supplied to the combustion analyzer and combusted to produce combustion products, comprising a yield of sulphur dioxide for detection. Nitrogen monoxide or a source of nitrogen monoxide is supplied to the combustion analyzer to improve the yield of sulphur dioxide in the combustion products. The yield improver may be supplied before and/or during the combusting step. A proportion of yield improver is preferably greater than the (expected) proportion of sulphur. Ozone may be supplied to the combustion products to convert at least a proportion of any nitrogen monoxide in the combustion products to nitrogen dioxide, before detection.
US08703056B2
An automated analyzer and a reagent vessel opening/closing device allows reduction of the time period during which reagent vessels are opened unnecessarily. The reagent vessel opening/closing device opens or closes the lids of reagent vessels when the reagent vessels are at a dispensing/stirring position on a reagent vessel transfer device of an automated analyzer. The device for opening/closing the lids of reagent vessels includes a hook base secured to a unit base and a hook-base drive unit for moving the hook base with respect to the unit base in opening/closing directions of the lids of the reagent vessels. A plurality of hooks are attached to the hook base and a plurality of motors are each adapted to slide one of the hooks with respect to the hook base to engage/disengage the hook with/from the lid of a reagent vessel.
US08703055B2
An automatic analysis apparatus analyzing a test specimen held in a reaction vessel on the basis of a property of a mixed liquid of the test specimen and a reagent, includes a plurality of reaction vessels which corresponds to a plurality of measurement channels, respectively, a moving unit which moves the plurality of the reaction vessels then stops them at every analysis recycle, a control unit which controls the dispensing unit so as to aspirate the test specimen during movements of the reaction vessels, infuse the test specimen to one of the plurality of the reaction vessels after the reaction vessels stop, and repeatedly aspirate the test specimen and infuse the test specimen to one or more reaction vessels except the first reaction vessel among the plurality of the reaction vessels during stoppages of the reaction vessels.
US08703052B2
A method for disinfecting a bottle, in particular a baby bottle, including a bottle jacket which is open on both ends, wherein, in a dispensing position, a bottom cap is fastened to a bottom-side opening and a teat is fastened to a teat-side opening by a fastening ring, the inner periphery of the bottom-side opening being larger than the outer periphery of the fastening ring, wherein, for transfer into a disinfection position, the bottom cap is removed from the bottle jacket, the teat and the fastening ring are placed onto the bottom cap and introduced into the bottle jacket, the bottom cap is attached to the bottom-side opening, a disinfectant is filled into the bottle jacket before the bottle is heated for disinfection.
US08703036B1
A chew toy product is made of multiple layers of silicone. Liquid silicone layers are vulcanized to a solid silicone layer to form a unitary solid silicone chew toy. Each of the layers can include a silicone colorant, so the chew toy can have multiple colors.
US08703035B2
An imprint apparatus includes a detector and an adjusting device. A second mark formed on a substrate includes a grating pattern having grating pitches in first and second directions which are respectively parallel to first and second axes which are parallel to a pattern surface of a mold and orthogonal to each other. A first mark formed on the mold includes a grating pattern having a grating pitch in the first direction. The first and second marks have different grating pitches in the first direction. The detector includes an image sensor, and an optical system which forms a moire fringe on an image sensing surface of the image sensor. The adjusting device adjusts, in a plane including the second axis and a third axis that is perpendicular to the first and second axes, an angle between the optical axis of the detector and the third axis.
US08703034B2
A process of making a tack-free gel is disclosed comprising the steps of providing a mold defining a mold cavity, the mold cavity comprising a plastic material; pouring or injecting a molten gel having a high molding temperature into the mold cavity; and forming the tack-free gel as a thin layer of plastic of the mold cavity is melted over the gel. The forming step further comprises cooling the gel from the molten state to a solidified state. The melting temperature of the plastic material is lower than the molding temperature of the gel; and the higher the temperature differential, the greater the melting of the plastic material and the thicker the layer of the plastic material on the surface of the gel. The mold may be formed of low-density polyethylene (LDPE).
US08703030B2
A method for producing a high strength, flexible crosslinked polyethylene (PEX) material is provided wherein the base polymer is intermixed with a polymer modifier which affects the amorphous region of the polymer, leaving the crystalline portion of the base polymer virtually unaffected. Consequently, the amorphous region's density is lowered, resulting in a more flexible final product, while the crosslinked molecular structure and/or crystalline portion of the polymer, which controls the strength of the base polymer, remains strong. The polymer modifier can comprise a hydrocarbon fluid such as PAO, Group III basestocks, or a gas-to-liquid hydrocarbon. The plastic material has particular utility in the production of tubing, piping, and conduits for transporting gases, liquids, and the like, as well as wire and cable coatings such as jacketing and insulation.
US08703029B2
A method is provided for obtaining a polyarylene sulfide resin composition with a low chlorine content, which has high fluidity and high quality and produces less burrs. Specifically, a method is provided wherein a polyarylene sulfide resin composition is produced by melting and mixing (A) a polyarylene sulfide resin, (B) an inorganic filler, and (C) an alkoxysilane compound. In this method, (A) a polyarylene sulfide resin having a melt viscosity of 80-400 Pa·s (at a temperature of 310° C. and a shear rate of 1200/sec) and a chlorine content of 1000-2000 ppm is supplied from a raw material feed port of a specific extruder, and then extruded at two kneading parts within the range of [shear rate (1/sec)×kneading time (sec)=1600-6000], thereby producing a polyarylene sulfide resin composition having a melt viscosity of 150-330 Pa·s (at a temperature of 310° C. and a shear rate of 1200/sec) and a chlorine content of not more than 950 ppm.
US08703026B2
Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
US08703019B2
A phosphor which emits light having high brightness, serves as an excellent orange or red phosphor whose light brightness is less decreased when exposed to an excitation source contains a crystal phase having the chemical composition expressed by the general formula [1]: (1−a−b)(Ln′pMII′1−pMIII′MIV′N3).a(MIV′(3n+2)/4NnO).b(AMIV′2N3) [1] wherein Ln′ represents a metal element selected from the group consisting of lanthanoids, Mn, and Ti; MnII′ represents a divalent metal element except the Ln′ element; MIII′ represents a trivalent metal element; MIV′ represents a tetravalent metal element; A represents a metal element selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, and K; 0
US08703010B2
A curing agent for epoxy resins which comprises cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid anhydride (A) comprising trans,trans-1,2,4-cyclohexanetricarboxylic acid 1,2-anhydride expressed by formula (1) and aliphatic dicarboxylic acid anhydride (B) and an epoxy resin composition which comprises the curing agent and an epoxy resin are provided. The curing agent of the present invention can be handled easily since the curing agent is liquid at the ordinary temperature, exhibits an excellent curing property without addition of a curing accelerator and provides a cured product of an epoxy resin exhibiting excellent transmission of light and heat stability. The epoxy resin composition can be advantageously used for coating materials, adhesives, molded products, resins for encapsulating photo-semiconductors and coating fluids for protective films of color filters constituting liquid crystal display devices (LCD), solid state imaging devices (CCD) and electroluminescence (EL) devices.
US08703009B2
The present invention provides for a lithium ion battery and process for creating such, comprising higher binder to carbon conductor ratios than presently used in the industry. The battery is characterized by much lower interfacial resistances at the anode and cathode as a result of initially mixing a carbon conductor with a binder, then with the active material. Further improvements in cycleability can also be realized by first mixing the carbon conductor with the active material first and then adding the binder.
US08703007B2
A polishing composition of the present invention contains an oxidant, an anticorrosive, and a surfactant comprising a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1: One to three of R1 to R5 in Chemical Formula 1 are alkyl groups, alkynyl groups, alkenyl groups, aryl groups, or arylalkylene groups, one is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, and the remainder are hydrogen atoms. O—R6 is oxyethylene, oxypropylene, or a random or block conjugate of oxyethylene and oxypropylene. n is an integer of 1 or more. X is an OSO3− group, an OPO32− group, or an OH group.
US08703005B2
A method for removing a plurality of dielectric materials from a supporting substrate by providing a substrate with a plurality of materials, contacting the substrate at a first temperature with a solution to more quickly remove a first dielectric material than a second dielectric material at the first temperature, and then contacting the substrate at a second temperature with a solution to more quickly remove the second dielectric material than the first dielectric material at the second temperature. Thus, the dielectric materials exhibit different etch rates when etched at the first and second temperatures. The solutions to which the first and second dielectric materials are exposed may contain phosphoric acid. The first dielectric material may be silicon nitride and the second dielectric material may be silicon oxide. Under these conditions, the first temperature may be about 175° C., and the second temperature may be about 155° C.
US08703003B2
In a method of vapor etching, a sample that includes a first layer atop of and in contact with a second layer which is atop of and in contact with a third layer, wherein at least the first and second layers are comprised of different materials. The sample is etched by a vapor etchant under first process conditions that cause at least a part of the first layer to be fully removed while leaving the third layer and the second layer underlying the removed part of the first layer substantially unetched. The sample is then etched by the same or a different vapor etchant under second process conditions that cause at least the part of the second layer exposed by the removal of the at least part of the first layer to be fully removed while leaving the third layer underlying the removed part of the second layer substantially unetched.
US08703001B1
A grid assembly for use in an etching system for etching at least a wafer. The grid assembly may include a first grid member, a second grid member, and a third grid member. When the grid assembly is used in etching the wafer, the first grid member may be electrically grounded, the second grid member may be electrically negative relative to the first grid member, and the third grid member may be electrically positive relative to the first grid member. The second grid member may be disposed between the first grid member and the third grid member. The first grid member may be thicker than at least one of the second grid member and the third grid member.
US08702990B2
A fluid purification system, comprising: a first fluid purification media comprising a rigid porous purification block, comprising: a longitudinal first surface; a longitudinal second surface disposed inside the longitudinal first surface; and a porous high density polymer disposed between the longitudinal first surface and the longitudinal second surface; a second fluid purification media, comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric disposed adjacent to the first surface of the first fluid purification media, the second surface of the first purification media, or both.
US08702988B2
Novel compositions are disclosed for use as a stationary phase in chromatography comprising an inorganic substrate that is modified with at least one silane having the formula R1δ-Qα-(CH2)βSiR2γX3-γ. In a preferred embodiment, the inorganic substrate is silica gel and is modified with at least two silanes. Methods of preparation and use in chromatographic applications are disclosed. The novel compositions provide superior chromatographic performance, reduced silanol activity, enhanced stability, and reproducibility in preparation and performance.
US08702980B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning a surface which is immersed in a liquid, comprising a hollow body, guiding members defining at least one axle, a filtration chamber, at least one electric motor, a pumping device which creates, in a normal cleaning direction through a filtering device, a liquid flux which is discharged via at least one main outlet, and at least one secondary liquid outlet arranged so as to orientate a current of liquid which is discharged in a backward direction via this secondary outlet so that this current creates a secondary hydraulic reaction force which generates a nosing-up torque of the apparatus by the hollow body being pivoted about the axle.
US08702979B2
A method for determining online adequacy parameters for any hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration treatment modality is provided. Blood equilibrated dialysate samples at the begin and/or at the end of the treatment; and a continuous measurements of waste compounds in the effluent dialysate by means of spectroscopic techniques, are required. With the data coming from the measurements and a simple mathematic approach Kt/V and reduction ratios for different compounds, which are important from the medical point of view, are obtained.
US08702965B2
The present invention relates to electrochemical sensor strips and methods of determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample or improving the performance of a concentration determination. The electrochemical sensor strips may include at most 8 μg/mm2 of a mediator. The strips, the strip reagent layer, or the methods may provide for the determination of a concentration value having at least one of a stability bias of less than ±10% after storage at 50° C. for 4 weeks when compared to a comparison strip stored at −20° C. for 4 weeks, a hematocrit bias of less than ±10% for whole blood samples including from 20 to 60% hematocrit, and an intercept to slope ratio of at most 20 mg/dL. A method of increasing the performance of a quantitative analyte determination also is provided.
US08702959B2
A system for analyzing a liquid is provided. The system comprises: an electrochemical unit having an electrochemical microchamber for receiving a sample of the liquid and electrochemically analyzing the sample; and a microfluidic unit being attached to the electrochemical unit and having microchannels constituted for sampling the sample in situ and feeding the sample to the electrochemical microchamber. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs and cells comprising same for analyte detection.
US08702952B2
An electrically energized compact coalescer (50) comprising an elongated, closed shell (53) having a fluid inlet (52) and a fluid outlet (59); at least one electrode (55) mounted in an internal chamber formed in the closed shell and forming at least one narrow gap (58) between the electrode means and a wall in the closed shell. An external power supply (64) is electrically connected to the electrode and the energized electrode (55) is fully encapsulated with insulation to enable an intense electrostatic field to be applied to an electrically conductive emulsion whereby the flow of emulsion through said at least one narrow gap (58) will be non-laminar. One or more helical vanes (57) are disposed in the narrow gap at an angle with respect to the electrode longitudinal axis and extending for at least a portion of the length (L) of the electrode, whereby the fluid flowing through said narrow gap will follow a spiraling pattern at least partially around the electrode (55).
US08702942B2
In one general aspect, an electrophoretic measurement method is disclosed that includes providing a vessel that holds a dispersant, providing a first electrode immersed in the dispersant, and providing a second electrode immersed in the dispersant. A sample is placed at a location within the dispersant between the first and second electrodes with the sample being separated from the electrodes, an alternating electric field is applied across the electrodes, and the sample is illuminated with temporally coherent light. A frequency shift is detected in light from the step of illuminating that has interacted with the sample during the step of applying an alternating electric field, and a property of the sample is derived based on results of the step of detecting.
US08702937B2
A gas sensor control apparatus is provided which controls an operation of a gas sensor made up of a solid electrolyte body and a pair of electrodes to output a signal indicating the concentration of a given gas component contained in gas. The gas sensor control apparatus includes a constant current circuit that is connected electrically to one of the electrodes of the gas sensor and supplies a constant current thereto and a controller. The controller supplies a constant current to the gas sensor so that it flows from one of the electrodes to the other in a selected direction, thereby changing a response time the gas sensor takes to react to a change in concentration of the gas component. This results in an increased accuracy, for example, in controlling an air-fuel ratio of a mixture to an internal combustion engine in an engine control system.
US08702924B2
An electrode for an electrochemical device includes a conductor, and an active layer formed on the conductor and including a polybenzimidazole polymer that contains at least one of the functional group of the following formula:
US08702923B2
Disclosed is a method of measuring sample reaction results on a biosensor having a working electrode and other electrodes, including: applying voltage between the working electrode and each of the other electrodes and detecting the amount of current flowing through the working electrode to determine whether or not a sample is injected; applying voltage between the working electrode and one of the other electrodes and re-detecting the amount of current flowing through the working electrode; and acquiring and displaying a concentration value as a sample reaction result corresponding to the amount of detected current.
US08702921B2
A biosensor array having a substrate, a plurality of biosensor zones arranged on the substrate, each of which has a first terminal and a second terminal, at least one drive line and at least one detection line, the at least one drive line being electrically insulated from the at least one detection line. In each case the first terminal of each biosensor zone is coupled to precisely one of the at least one drive line and the second terminal of each biosensor zone is coupled to precisely one of the at least one detection line, and at least one of the at least one drive line and at least one of the at least one detection line is coupled to at least two of the biosensor zones. The biosensor array also has a drive unit for providing an electrical drive signal, a detection unit for detecting an electrical detection signal resulting from the electrical drive signal, and a selection unit that couples the drive unit to the drive line of a biosensor zone to be selected and the detection unit to the detection line of the biosensor zone to be selected, whereby the biosensor zone is selected.
US08702920B2
A repeller structure is provided in a plasma generating chamber of an ion source facing a cathode that emits electrons for ionizing a source gas in the plasma generating chamber to generate a plasma. The repeller structure reflects the ions toward the cathode. The repeller structure includes a sputtering target that is sputtered by the plasma to emit predetermined ions, the sputtering target including a through hole that connects a sputtering surface and a back surface of the sputtering target; and an electrode body that is inserted in the through hole, the electrode body including a repeller surface that is exposed to the sputtering surface side through the through hole.
US08702913B2
A film formation apparatus and film formation method that improve film thickness uniformity. A rotation mechanism holds a target having a sputtered surface in a state inclined relative to a surface of a substrate. The rotation mechanism rotatably supports the target about an axis extending along a normal of the sputtered surface. The target supported by the rotation mechanism is sputtered to form a thin film on the surface of the substrate. When forming the thin film, the rotation mechanism maintains the rotational angle of the target.
US08702901B2
According to one embodiment, a method is disclosed for manufacturing a reflective mask. The method can include forming a reflection layer on a major surface of a substrate. The method can include forming an absorption layer on the reflection layer. The method can include forming a pattern region in the absorption layer. In addition, the method can include forming a light blocking region surrounding the pattern region in the absorption layer and the reflection layer. The forming the light blocking region includes etching-processing the reflection layer using a gas containing chlorine and oxygen.
US08702900B2
The invention relates to a low application temperature hot melt adhesive. More specifically, the low application temperature hot melt adhesive comprises olefin copolymers with an average Melt Index greater than 5 but less than about 35 g/10 minutes at 190° C. The adhesive is particularly useful in the construction of nonwoven articles.
US08702894B2
The method comprises the steps of arranging a bunch of cloths stacked onto one another; taking a label (4) containing a respective identifying code of the upper cloth (30) of the bunch, laying onto the label one end (23), provided with a cavity, of a gripping element (21) and creating in the cavity a pressure lower than an ambient pressure, so that the label obstructs the cavity; laying the label onto a labelling area (3b) of the upper cloth, and fixing the label to the upper cloth; moving the labelling area (3b) of the upper cloth by shifting the gripping element (21), maintaining in the cavity a pressure lower than an ambient pressure; increasing pressure in the cavity of the gripping element until the label gets off it, so that the labelling area (3b) of the upper cloth (30) reaches a firm position away from the respective labelling area (3b) of a cloth (31) lying directly below the upper cloth, so as to enable a subsequent application of a respective label (4) onto the respective labelling area (3b) of the cloth (31) lying directly below.
US08702887B2
Apparatus for applying ribbon in a nonlinear pattern to a web includes a guide assembly having a roller adapted to guide the ribbon onto the web as the web is moving in a first direction. A reciprocating device is provided to move at least the roller of the guide assembly back and forth along an axis of motion. The axis of motion is other than parallel to the first direction.
US08702886B2
According to some embodiments, there is provided a method of producing a patterned artificial marble slab (2, 5, 11, 16). The method includes adhering one or more patterned substances (1) to a surface of the artificial marble slab, processing said artificial marble slab and removing said one or more patterned substances from the surface of the artificial marble slab, thereby obtaining an elevated or recessed pattern (3, 4, 6, 7, 9) on the surface of the artificial marble, wherein the elevated or recessed pattern has essentially the form of the patterned substances.
US08702883B2
Invention relating to a method for controlling an ultrasonic machining, in which an ultrasonic vibration is transmitted via a sonotrode into the material to be machined. During the first machining interval, a first welding variable of the group S, consisting of the frequency f and the amplitude ü of the ultrasonic vibration, the force F, which the sonotrode exerts on the material to be machined, the power P, which the generator delivers, and the speed v, with which the sonotrode is moved in the direction of the material to be machined, is kept constant until a first target variable of the group Z adopts a predetermined value. During an adjoining second machining interval, a second welding variable of the group S is kept constant until a second target variable of the group Z adopts a predetermined value, wherein the first and the second target value differ.
US08702878B2
A method for controlling the beta-tin crystal orientation in solder joints is provided. The method is suitable for joining metallization pads using a solder containing tin and silver. By adjusting the silver content in the solder within a specific range of equal to or more than 2.5 wt. % and less than 3.2 wt. %, the [001] axes of beta-tin crystals in the solder is aligned to be in the direction parallel with a solder/metallization pad interface substantially. Electromigration-induced solder deformations and metallization pad consumption can be significantly reduced when solder joints have such a microstructure. Additionally, the undesired Ag3Sn plates in the solder matrix can be avoided accordingly.
US08702866B2
A showerhead electrode assembly for a plasma processing apparatus is provided. The showerhead electrode assembly includes a first member attached to a second member. The first and second members have first and second gas passages in fluid communication. When a process gas is flowed through the gas passages, a total pressure drop is generated across the first and second gas passages. A fraction of the total pressure drop across the second gas passages is greater than a fraction of the total pressure drop across the first gas passages.
US08702865B2
Affords AlxGa1-xN crystal growth methods, as well as AlxGa1-xN crystal substrates, wherein bulk, low-dislocation-density crystals are obtained. The AlxGa1-xN crystal (0
US08702864B2
In a method for growing a silicon carbide single crystal on a silicon carbide single crystal substrate by contacting the substrate with a solution containing C prepared by dissolving C into the melt that contains Cr and X, which consists of at least one element of Ce and Nd, such that a proportion of Cr in a whole composition of the melt is in a range of 30 to 70 at. %, and a proportion of X in the whole composition of the melt is in a range of 0.5 at. % to 20 at. % in the case where X is Ce, or in a range of 1 at. % to 25 at. % in the case where X is Nd, and the silicon carbide single crystal is grown from the solution.
US08702861B2
An ink composition includes a water resistant aluminum pigment and water. The water resistant aluminum pigment is formed of an aluminum pigment and a covering film that contains Si and is formed on the surface of the aluminum pigment. A 50% average particle diameter of a corresponding circle obtained by calculation from areas of X-Y plain surfaces of the aluminum pigment is in a range from 0.5 pm to 3 pm. The coverage ratio of the covering film on the surface of the aluminum pigment, calculated from presence ratios of C, O, Al, and Si detected by XPS measurement at an incident angle of 30°, is in a range from 30% to 90%.
US08702858B2
In one embodiment, an aqueous dispersion liquid contains at least one particles selected from tungsten oxide particles and tungsten oxide composite particles. A mean primary particle diameter (D50) of the particles is in the range of 1 nm to 400 nm. In the aqueous dispersion liquid, concentration of the particles is in the range of 0.1 mass % to 40 mass %, and pH is in the range of 1.5 to 6.5. The aqueous dispersion liquid excels in dispersibility of particles and capable of maintaining good liquidity for a long period.
US08702853B2
The invention relates to a fluid storage tank having an interior volume and a floor and having an internal spill containment chamber comprising a vent gas scrubbing apparatus or scrubber. The chamber may be defined by a containment wall which completely separates the chamber from the tank interior volume. The containment wall may comprise an exterior portion which extends beyond the tank wall. The scrubber is disposed within the chamber and comprises a gas inlet passing through the containment wall into the tank interior volume, a gas outlet for venting scrubbed gases, and a gas scrubbing chemical storage and circulation system.
US08702850B2
In an electric device (1), an air inlet (3),a gas-liquid contact portion (5), a water collecting portion (6) and an air outlet (7) are arranged in sequential order from upstream of an air duct (2). In a water storage portion (8) the gas-liquid contact portion (5) is dipped and the water collected thereby is stored. An electrolyzing portion (9) generates the electrolyzed water (4) containing an active oxygen species by electrolyzing the water stored in the water storage portion (8). As a result, a compact electric device with an air cleaning function is provided at low cost that is capable of generating water containing an active oxygen species without requiring additional water feed and without generating a by-product.
US08702847B2
The present invention describes methods and systems for extracting, capturing, reducing, storing, sequestering, or disposing of carbon dioxide (CO2), particularly from the air. The CO2 extraction methods and systems involve the use of chemical processes. Methods are also described for extracting and/or capturing CO2 via exposing air containing carbon dioxide to a solution comprising a base—resulting in a basic solution which absorbs carbon dioxide and produces a carbonate solution. The solution is causticized and the temperature is increased to release carbon dioxide, followed by hydration of solid components to regenerate the base.
US08702837B2
The invention relates to a method of integrating a plurality of blast furnaces with a plurality of air gas separation units, in which the replacement blower available on the blast furnace site is used to feed compressed air into an air gas separation unit making it possible to enrich the blast-furnace blast with oxygen, this unit being stopped when one of the blowers of the blast furnaces has to be replaced with the blower used by the air gas separation unit.
US08702829B2
A framed air filter and method of making. The framed air filter includes air filter media and a frame with a frame portion with an upstream flange and a downstream flange and an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall. The inner sidewall includes an open-ended, offset slot.
US08702828B2
A flat bag is for vacuum cleaners. The bad includes, in the interior thereof, at least one diffuser which forms an intermediate plane and is made of strips of material and/or sheet materials with oblong-shaped flow openings. Such flat bags are distinguished by excellent dust storage capacity and extension of the useful life.
US08702815B2
The present invention relates to dyes of the general formula CAT+ Y− (I), where Y− is an anion selected from the group of the cyanoborates, fluoroalkylphosphates, fluoroalkylborates or imidates and CAT+ is a cation selected from the group of the azine, xanthene, polymethine, styryl, azo, tetrazolium, pyrylium, benzopyrylium, thiopyrylium, benzothiopyrylium, thiazine, oxazine, triarylmethane, diarylmethane, methine, acridine, quinoline, isoquinoline or quaternary azafluorenone dyes, for coloring plastics and plastic fibers, for the preparation of flexographic printing inks, as ball-point pen pastes, as stamp ink, for coloring leather and paper, for use in data acquisition systems, reprography, in ink microfilters, in photogalvanics, laser technology and the photo industry.
US08702808B2
Bioresorbable scaffolds for bone engineering, such as repair of bone defects, particularly long bone defects, or augmentation of bone length are described. Scaffolds are porous and comprise multiple side channels. In one embodiment, scaffolds are made from layers of micro-filament meshes comprising polycaprolactone (PCL) or a PCL-composite sequentially laid in incremental 60 degrees of rotation to produce a 0/60/120 degree layering pattern, providing for the formation of interconnected pores. The scaffold can comprise a central channel filled, packed or infused with suitable agents such as bioactive agents. Furthermore, the scaffolds are stiff but yet fracture resistant and with sufficient bending, compressive and torsional strength suitable for bone engineering. The slow degradation of the scaffold is sufficient for the 3D matrix to maintain structure integrity and mechanical properties during the remodelling process.
US08702805B2
An acetabulum surgical resurfacing aid that includes a body conformed to fit an acetabulum of a patient is presented. A portion of the body is further conformed to fit an acetabular fossa of the patient. One or more arms extend outward from the body and are configured to fit the surface of the acetabulum. A support extends from the body beyond the acetabulum. An alignment tube guide connects to the support.
US08702799B2
A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated. A patient monitoring system is also disclosed.
US08702795B2
An intraocular lens insertion device (1) includes a main body (2), an operational portion (3) provided on an end (2a) of the main body (2), a knock mechanism (4) for moving the operational portion (3) forward and backward with respect to the main body (2), and a cartridge (5) attached to the other end (2b) of the main body (2) and serving as an insertion tube. The device is constructed, as a whole, such that the knock mechanism (4) moves the operational portion (3) repeatedly forward and backward so that an intraocular lens (6) placed in the cartridge (5) can be pushed out stepwise. The knock mechanism (4) is structured so as to move the operational portion (3) pushed forward toward a backward direction and automatically return it to an original position prior to the same being pushed forward.
US08702787B2
An endoluminal prosthesis is provided that includes a tubular graft and an expandable annular support structure. The annular support structure is coupled to the tubular graft so that the graft and support structure, in combination, provide columnar support while maintaining prosthesis flexibility. The prosthesis has sufficient strength and durability to withstand loads applied during deployment and sufficient flexibility to permit implant in a sealing arrangement within a tortuous body lumen. An embodiment according to the invention provides a plurality of annular structures with staggered, longitudinally overlapping apices of undulating structures. One embodiment relates to tubular grafts for endoluminal placement within a body lumen, including blood vessels, and for the treatment of abdominal and other aneurysms.
US08702781B2
Delivery catheters and systems are adapted for delivering multiple discreet prostheses in body lumens. An exemplary delivery catheter comprises a sheath, a pusher for moving the prostheses relative to the sheath, and a valve member for selectively retaining the prostheses in the sheath. For balloon expandable stents, an elongated shaft and an expandable member are slidably disposed in the sheath, and the prostheses are positionable on the expandable member for deployment in the body lumen. The valve member allows a selected number of prostheses to be deployed from the sheath while retaining other prostheses within the sheath.
US08702768B2
An improved bone screw is disclosed which includes a shaft with distal portion having a threaded surface thereon, a sleeve having an opening which receives the shaft such that the shaft is able to move within the sleeve without moving the sleeve. A compressive device may be incorporated between the sleeve and the proximal portion of the shaft such that the compressive device forces the shaft and sleeve towards each other, thereby maintaining the compressive load at the union of the fracture. As additional compression is exerted on the load from weight bearing, the force may be reduced, but the head of the sleeve is still substantially maintained against the lateral cortex.
US08702767B2
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.
US08702762B2
Methods and devices are provided for passively locking a bone screw within a bone plate. In particular, the methods and devices allow a bone screw to be locked within a thru-hole in a bone plate without requiring any additional locking steps. In an exemplary embodiment, an annular feature is provided in a thru-hole of a bone plate, or in a bushing that is disposed within a thru-hole of a bone plate, for engaging a bone screw. The annular feature can be configured such that it allows the bone screw to be inserted through the thru-hole at various insertion angles while still being effective to prevent back-out of the bone screw, thereby locking the screw to the plate.
US08702760B2
A dynamic stabilization system includes a stabilization element, such as a spinal rod, a plurality of bone anchors, such as bone bolts, and a like plurality of connectors for connecting the bolts to the spinal rod. At least some of the connectors include a flexible element between the bone anchor and the rod and an adjustment element for adjusting the flexibility of the flexible element, to thereby adjust the dynamic flexibility between the rod and the bone anchor. In one embodiment, the flexible element is a flexible bearing element of a rod end bearing.
US08702758B2
A flexible spine fixing structure includes a first flexible element and a second flexible element. The first flexible element includes a first flexible part, a first fixing part and a second fixing part. The first fixing part and the second fixing part are respectively connected to two ends of the first flexible part and used for fixing to a first vertebra, and the first flexible part includes a first through hole and a second through hole. The second flexible element includes a second flexible part, a third fixing part and a fourth fixing part. The third fixing part and the fourth fixing part are respectively connected to two ends of the second flexible part and used for fixing to a second vertebra. The second flexible part is disposed by penetrating through the first through hole and the second through hole.
US08702756B2
An interspinous process spacer includes a main body, a first wing, and a screw. The main body includes a first securing member extending from a top portion of the main body that engages a first vertebra and a bottom portion of the main body that engages a second vertebra. The first wing pivotably couples to a distal portion of the main body and includes a second securing member extending parallel to the first securing member to form a first clamp. The screw is positionable within the main body and includes a distal end that positions the first wing between a first position and a second position. The first clamp includes a first diameter in the first position and a second diameter in the second position.
US08702753B2
A method for suturing a perforation formed in a hollow organ comprises the steps of: causing plural end portions of the suture thread to puncture a tissue around the perforation in the same direction as each other; connecting the end portions of the suture thread to each other; and tightening up the suture thread after connecting the end portions of the suture thread with each other.
US08702749B2
A surgical instrument includes a housing and an end effector spaced from the housing and transitionable between first and second conditions. A drive bar is coupled to the end effector and extends into the housing. The drive bar is translatable between first and second positions for transitioning the end effector between the first and second conditions. A handle assembly is moveable between initial and actuateds position for translating the drive bar between the first and second positions. One or more linkages couple the drive bar, the handle assembly, and the housing to one another by at least first, second and third pivots. At least one of the pivots is fixed and at least one of the pivots is floating. The second pivot is movable relative to the first and third pivots between an unlatched position and an over-center latched position for latching the end effector in the second condition.
US08702743B2
A medical instrument including an inflatable balloon and a plurality of filamentary tool elements with a proximal movable section that is attached to a wall of the balloon and with a distal end projecting freely from the balloon, wherein the proximal end forms a substantially cylindrical shape when the inflatable balloon is inflated and deflated and the distal end bends inwards from the substantially cylindrical shape when the balloon is deflated.
US08702730B2
A centerboard shaped like a long board has width that spreads a vessel opening to a slit with free edges drawn against centerboard. Needle pairs are two shafts temporarily attached to needle noses located in openings at 2 mm intervals across centerboard width. Pushing a wedge between pairs spreads needle noses about 1 mm on either side of centerboard. Suture loops ends are attached to needle noses of each pair. An outboard has legs like long boards on either side of the centerboard with a foot on each leg pointing away from centerboard on either side of slit outside vessel. Needle nose housings in each foot are directly opposite needle noses. Operator turning a screw pushes needle noses through free edges and into needle nose housings where detents hold needle noses and shafts detach. Removing device from body brings suture ends outside with suture loops across slit in ideal 2×2 pattern.
US08702725B2
A method of positioning a device for pedicle access includes securing a clip in an adjustable frame assembly and securing the device in the clip. The method also includes positioning the device at an initial position having a trajectory estimated to allow the device to penetrate a pedicle without damaging the nervous system, and determining whether the trajectory of the initial position is proper to avoid damage. Further, the method includes re-positioning the device to a new position if the trajectory of the initial position is not proper to avoid damage to the nervous system, and determining whether the trajectory of the new position is proper to avoid damage. The method also includes repeating the steps of re-positioning the device and determining whether the trajectory of the new position is proper as required until a proper trajectory is obtained.
US08702715B2
Apparatus for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the apparatus comprising: cutting apparatus for forming an osteotomy cut in the tibia, the cutting apparatus comprising: targeting apparatus for identifying a cutting plane through the tibia and a boundary line for terminating a cut made along the cutting plane, wherein the boundary line is located within the tibia, parallel to the anterior-posterior slope of the tibia and parallel to the sagittal plane of the patient. A method for performing an open wedge, high tibial osteotomy, the method comprising: positioning targeting apparatus for identifying a cutting plane through the tibia and a boundary line for terminating a cut made along the cutting plane, wherein the boundary line is located within the tibia, parallel to the anterior-posterior slope of the tibia and parallel to the sagittal plane of the patient; cutting the bone along the cutting plane, with the cut terminating at the boundary line; moving the bone on either side of the cut apart so as to form the wedge-like opening in the bone; and stabilizing the bone.
US08702714B2
An instrument assembly for resecting a distal femur for receipt of a knee implant, comprising an intramedullary rod and resection instruments. A valgus portion of the intramedullary rod has series of engagement members positioned to provide a plurality of engagement positions for use in fixing the resection instruments on the valgus portion. The resection instruments are configured to selectively engage and selectively lock on the valgus rod at the engagement positions via the engagement members. The engagement members preferably comprise pairs of substantially vertical indents arranged in parallel along opposing sides of said valgus portions. The resection instruments preferably engages and locks to said engagement members via a sliding rod engagement member. The resection instruments preferably include a distal cut guide having a distal resection slot and a femoral resection block.
US08702711B2
A system for applying a treatment to a defect in one bone of two bones forming a joint that comprises a bladder for delivering a reduced pressure to the defect and for providing a positive pressure as bracing between the two bones of the joint is disclosed. A method for applying such treatment is also disclosed. A bladder for applying such treatment that comprises a reduced-pressure chamber and a bracing chamber is also disclosed.
US08702710B2
A surgical sagittal saw capable of actuating an assembly that includes a static bar and at least one drive rod and a blade head, both of which are pivotally mounted to the bar. The saw includes a receiving surface on which the blade assembly bar is seated. A clamp removably holds bar in a static position against the receiving surface. The saw includes at least one drive pin. When the bar is mounted to the plate, the drive pin engages the assembly drive rod. A motor is connected to the drive pin to oscillate the pin.
US08702705B2
A device for electromechanically and/or electro-pneumatically positioning a fractured bone having a first clamping unit adapted for attachment to the bone by at least one first bone fastener, a second clamping unit adapted for attachment to the bone by at least one second bone fastener, and at least one of: (i) a translation component operatively driven by a translational driver for relative translational movement of one clamping unit with respect to the other along a translational axis; (ii) an angulation component operatively driven by an angulational driver for relative angulational movement of one clamping unit with respect to the other along an articulation axis; and (iii) a rotational component operatively driven by a rotational driver for relative rotational movement of one clamping unit with respect to the other along a rotational axis.
US08702701B2
A treatment device for electrosurgery includes a sheath that has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion; a needle-like electrode that has a distal end and a proximal end, is inserted into the sheath such that it is capable of advancing and retracting inside the sheath, and treats a target site at the distal end; a first electrode provided at the distal end of the needle-like electrode and exposed from the sheath; a second electrode fixed with respect to the first electrode at a position separated from the first electrode toward the proximal end; an insulator that insulates the first electrode from the second electrode by being interposed between the first and second electrodes; a first conductive portion that applies a high-frequency current to the first electrode; and a second conductive portion that applies a high-frequency current to the second electrode.
US08702696B2
Variable size apparatus for supporting diagnostic and/or therapeutic elements in contact with tissue
A probe that facilitates the creation of circumferential lesions in body structures that may vary in size.
US08702693B2
Methods and apparatus for supplying fluid during a tissue coagulation procedure.
US08702692B2
Devices and methods are disclosed for providing access to the pericardial cavity while reducing risk of myocardial damage. The methods include maintaining the positions of a puncture device and of a portion of a parietal pericardium relative to one other while delivering energy from the puncture device to create a channel through the pericardium. Additional embodiments disclosed include delivering a pulse or pulses of energy to the parietal pericardium and attempting to advance the puncture device through the parietal pericardium between deliveries of energy pulses.
US08702689B2
A cryoablation catheter assembly includes a catheter that defines at least one coolant outtake region and receives a rotatable guide tube and a coolant transfer tube. The coolant transfer tube receives and transfers coolant from a coolant source to a distal end of the coolant transfer tube. An expansion element is coupled to a distal portion of the catheter and defines an inner expansion-element space. The inner expansion-element space is in fluid communication with the at least one coolant outtake region and the distal end of the coolant transfer tube. A distal end of the expansion element couples to the guide tube. A rotation system is coupleable to, or coupled to, a proximal end of the guide tube and rotates the distal end of the expansion element relative to the proximal end of the expansion element by rotating the guide tube relative to the catheter.
US08702688B2
A system is provided for identifying the sufficiency of lesions formed during a tissue ablation procedure. The system captures live and still images from the surgical site and provides composite imaging to the operator. Through the use of the system, the aiming light used to direct ablative energy is captured on the still images and used to indicate locations in a surgical site where energy has been directed. Through the use of processing modules, the system can analyze the lesions and determine the sufficiency thereof.
US08702687B2
Laser systems operating at two or more wavelengths.
US08702682B2
In one aspect, the present invention provides therapeutic-agent-releasing medical devices which comprise at least one region of piezoelectric material. Therapeutic agent release is initiated or increased when the piezoelectric material is subjected to mechanical stress, which leads to the development of a voltage across the piezoelectric material. This voltage is used to initiate or increase therapeutic agent release.
US08702681B2
A valve having a valve body with a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis extending between the first end and the second end, and an inclined sliding surface having a longitudinal slot therein. The valve also includes a tubular member with walls defining a passageway extending through the valve body from the first end to the second end; and a slidable member mounted on the valve body and moveable between a first position and a second position. The slidable member is adapted to urge walls of the tubular member towards mutual contact when moved from the first position to the second position.
