US08837110B2

An apparatus having reduced phononic coupling between a graphene monolayer and a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes an aerogel substrate and a monolayer of graphene coupled to the aerogel substrate.
US08837107B2

An electronic weapon has an installed deployment unit, from which at least one tethered electrode is launched, provides a stimulus current through a target to inhibit locomotion by the target. The wire tether, also called a filament, conducts the stimulus current. The one or more electrodes, according to various aspects of the present invention, perform one or more of the following functions in any combination: binding the filament to the electrode, deploying the filament from the deployment unit, coupling the electrode to the target, and distributing a current density with respect to a volume of target tissue. An electrode may include conductive material and insulative material. Relatively high electric field flux density at a tip of the electrode may be reduced or avoided by practice of the invention.
US08837101B2

Aspects of the invention provide for qualifying a new meter with specific power supply requirements. In one embodiment, aspects of the invention include a system, including: an electric meter having a housing; and a voltage-modifying device connected to the electric meter for modifying a received voltage, such that the electric meter operates in accordance with a predetermined power supply requirement, wherein the voltage-modifying device is located within the electric meter housing or external to the electric meter housing.
US08837097B2

A protection apparatus is for a direct current electrical generating apparatus. The protection apparatus includes a first terminal; a second terminal; a third terminal; a fourth terminal; at least one current sensor structured to sense current flowing between the first and second terminals or between the third and fourth terminals; a voltage sensor structured to sense a voltage between the first terminal and the third terminal; at least one switch structured to interrupt the current flowing between the first and second terminals or between the third and fourth terminals; and a processor cooperating with the at least one current sensor, the voltage sensor and the at least one switch, and being structured to provide feed forward fault protection for the direct current electrical generating apparatus.
US08837091B2

A head suspension includes a base to be attached to a carriage, a load beam having a rigid part and a resilient part that connects the rigid part to the base, the load beam applying load onto a read/write head, a flexure attached to the load beam and supporting the head, an actuator attaching part located between the base and the head, and a piezoelectric element being deformable in response to a voltage applied thereto to move the head in a sway direction relative to the base. For the head suspension, it bonds the piezoelectric element with a bonding tape to the actuator attaching part and applies an adhesive to fix the piezoelectric element to the actuator attaching part.
US08837090B2

A head suspension for a disk drive with a load beam having continuous rails and a distal lift tab. A dimple is positioned proximal to the lift tab, either on the load beam or the gimbal, the dimple providing a pitch axis and a roll axis for the slider. The suspension also includes at least one tab member fixed in relation to the load beam, where each of the at least one tab member is aligned with or is distal to the dimple. The at least one tab and a portion of the gimbal define a gimbal limiter that is aligned with or distal to the dimple. The at least one tab member extends either longitudinally or laterally from the load beam at or distal to the dimple.
US08837089B1

A magnetic head includes a main pole and a heater for heating the main pole. The main pole is shaped to have a receiving space formed therein for receiving at least part of the heater. The at least part of the heater is received in the receiving space. The main pole includes a first layer and a second layer stacked. The receiving space is sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer.
US08837085B2

An apparatus is provided that generally relates to a data writer that may be constructed with a write pole coupled to a yoke. The yoke may be configured with a stabilizing layer that stabilizes magnetic domains present in the yoke. In some embodiments, the yoke has first and second sub-yokes.
US08837076B1

Apparatus and method for positional sensing and control. In accordance with some embodiments, a transducer is positioned adjacent a recording medium. The transducer includes a write element, a read element, a heater and a thermally responsive sensor. Power is applied to the heater to establish a selected fly height of the transducer relative to the medium. A contact event between the transducer and the medium is detected responsive to an accumulated plural count of pulses in a bias signal obtained from the thermally responsive sensor.
US08837070B1

A modulated signal of a predetermined frequency is applied to a capacitive sensor of a magnetic head. The capacitive sensor is located proximate to a media-facing surface of the magnetic head. A clearance between the magnetic head and a magnetic medium is determined using a response to the modulated signal at the predetermined frequency.
US08837066B1

An apparatus comprises an alternating current coupling stage comprising a first filter configured to filter an analog signal to remove relatively low-frequency energy and read channel circuitry coupled to the alternating current coupling stage. The read channel circuitry comprises an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the filtered analog signal to a digital signal, a detector configured to obtain a recovered signal using the digital signal, and a baseline correction module comprising a second filter and being configured to estimate a parameter of the first filter using a least mean squares algorithm based at least in part on the analog signal and an output of the second filter, adjust a parameter of the second filter based on the estimated parameter and add at least a portion of the removed relatively low-frequency energy to the digital signal by combining the output of the second filter and the digital signal.
US08837064B1

The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for bit error rate prediction in a data processing system.
US08837050B2

An exit pupil expander (904), operable as a numerical aperture expander and suitable for use with high angle of incidence scanned laser projection systems, includes a microlens array (910) and a varied thickness optical element (900). The varied thickness optical element can be configured to transform a principal beam (953) of a received scan cone (952) to be substantially orthogonal with an output of the exit pupil expander (904) or major surface of the microlens array (910). Further, the varied thickness optical element (900) can be configured to cause the received scan cone (952) to exit the varied thickness optical element (900) substantially symmetrically about the principal beam (953). The varied thickness optical element (900) can also be configured to introduce a controlled amount of spread to the received scan cone (952). The varied thickness optical element (900) is useful in correcting distortion, such as keystone distortion introduced by high angle of incidence feed.
US08837047B2

A method for delaying transmitted light. The method may include illuminating a leaky-mode resonant element with light pulses of short duration and sequences of such pulses. The leaky-mode resonant element may include a spatially modulated periodic layer and may be configured so that at least some of the light is transmitted in a delayed manner.
US08837043B2

A light source arrangement (101) for an illumination device of a medical-optical observation apparatus has an illumination light source (7) and an illumination optical unit (15) for illuminating an observation object (23) with illumination light from the illumination light source (7). The light source arrangement (101) has at least one luminescence emitter (3) as light source and an imaging optical unit (105) that generates an image (7) of the at least one luminescence emitter (3) with a defined magnification scale, which image forms the illumination light source for the illumination device.
US08837029B2

Disclosed is an optical scanning device, including a mirror, a first drive beam configured to swing the mirror around a first axis, and a second drive beam configured to swing the mirror around a second axis, wherein the second drive beam is provided in such a manner that a plurality of beams extending in a direction intersecting with a direction of the second axis are joined with adjacent beams at edge portions thereof, and thereby has a zigzag shape, and each of the plurality of beams includes a rib extending in a direction of a width of the beam.
US08837028B2

A light scattering element 1 is equipped with a transparent, thin film-like optical element 2 which scatters incident laser light, and a thin film-like piezoelectric element 4, which is sandwiched between two electrodes 3a, 3b and which is laminated on a surface of the optical element 2 that is different from an optical scattering surface 2a. The light scattering element 1 averages a speckle pattern of laser light scatted by the optical scattering surface 2a and emitted therefrom by vibration of the piezoelectric element 4 generated when alternating voltage is applied between the two electrodes 3a, 3b.
US08837020B2

An image reading apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a document conveyance path, a transparent member, a guide member, a transparent sheet member and a first pressing member. The second housing is openable and closable with respect to the first housing. The document conveyance path is arranged in the second housing and conveys a document passing through a first position. The guide member is arranged on the transparent member at a side downstream of the first position. The transparent sheet member is arranged on the transparent member to cover the first position. The first pressing member is arranged to cover a part of the transparent sheet member upstream of the first position from above and presses the transparent sheet member. An end portion of the first pressing member is arranged inwardly of an end portion of the transparent sheet member in the main scanning direction.
US08837008B2

An image reading apparatus includes a drive unit that is mounted on a carriage having an image reading sensor, which is moved with respect to an original, mounted thereon and moves the carriage. The drive unit includes: a motor; a gear train for transmitting rotation of the motor so as to move the carriage; an encoder sensor for reading a code wheel fixed to a rotary shaft of the motor; and a support member for holding the motor. The encoder sensor is urged against a part of the support member by a resilient member, to be thus fixed to the support member.
US08837006B2

Embodiments herein provide for a pre-processing stage or mechanism for enhancing data compression of an image by splitting or separating the color channels for pixels into planar data sources. Typically, image data is displayed as an interleaved set of channel types for a color space such that each pixel within an image (such as a bitmap) has one component for each color channel. By separating the interleaved bitmap into a planar representation, each plane can be compressed independently and often times achieve higher compression ratios. This is especially true for channels that are expected to stay fairly constant throughout the bitmap most of the time. The utilization of the above embodiment can be further enhanced through manipulation of channel data or through converting the color space from one form to another.
US08837004B2

A computer program product includes a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program codes embodied in the medium. The program codes when executed cause a computer to function as: an instruction module that instructs each of a plurality of printer drivers to generate an image pattern to be embedded in print image data; an acquisition module that acquires the plurality of image patterns generated by the printer drivers; an embedding module that embeds the acquired plurality of image patterns in the print image data; and a print instruction module that transmits the print image data in which the plurality of image patterns are embedded, to an image forming apparatus.
US08837003B2

An image processing apparatus determines whether a color image is formed by reading an original with a reading unit or input from an external apparatus, and sets a conversion method for converting the color image into a monochrome image such that when an image obtained by monochrome converting the color image is output onto a recording medium, security information included in the color image is difficult to be discriminated by human eyes, if the color image is formed by reading an original. If the color image is input from the external apparatus, the image processing apparatus sets a monochrome conversion method selected by a user. The apparatus then converts the color image into a monochrome image by the set monochrome conversion method.
US08837000B2

An information processing apparatus includes: a total amount control unit that applies a total amount controlling process to perform correction such that a sum of density values of all pixels composing the color plane data and clear plane data becomes not larger than a certain value; a clear toner plane generating unit that generates clear toner plane data based on gloss control plane data, the clear plane data and the color plane data; a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the density value of a pixel of the clear toner plane data and the density value of the pixel of the clear toner plane data to which the total amount controlling process is applied, for each pixel; and a display unit that displays an inconsistent region composed of a pixel in which the difference is not smaller than a predetermined threshold.
US08836996B2

The embodiment described herein can prompt setting of processing conditions to be set by using a display of a weight value used in a quota function. There is provided an image forming apparatus, including: a residual amount detection unit that detects a residual amount of each disposable product; a residual amount information acquisition unit that acquires residual amount information; a determination unit that determines whether there are the disposable products in which a residual amount is disproportionately small; a weight value setting unit that sets the weight value used for weighting so that the weighting for calculating the processing amount of the image forming processing corresponding to setting conditions not using the disposable products having a disproportionately small residual amount is relatively smaller than the weighting corresponding to other setting conditions; and a display control unit that displays the set weight value on a screen.
US08836995B2

A method and apparatus for replacing banner pages with document identification information in an image production device is disclosed. The method may include receiving a request from a user to cease including a banner page with each printed document, the banner page being separate page containing document identification information, prompting the user to enter document identification information to be printed on the document, receiving the document identification information from the user, receiving a request from the user to print a document, and printing the document with document identification information on one or more pages of the document.
US08836992B2

An image forming apparatus forms adjustment patterns having a predetermined edge interval on a recording medium, while moving a carriage mounted with recording heads that eject a liquid droplet on the recording medium and formed of a sub-scanning motor and the like in a main-scanning direction by a main-scanning motor. The image forming apparatus performs a positional deviation correction process in which the adjustment pattern formed on the recording medium is read by a reading sensor mounted on the recording heads, while moving the carriage in the main-scanning direction, to correct a positional deviation of a landing position of the liquid droplet ejected from the recording heads based on an ideal interval between the adjustment patterns and a read result of the reading sensor repeatedly at least twice.
US08836989B2

A device and method for controlling the initiation of an image forming apparatus are provided using a NAND flash memory. The device for controlling initiation of an image forming apparatus includes: a NAND flash memory for storing a boot program and system control programs for initiating the image forming apparatus; a random-access-memory (RAM) for temporarily storing an execution program and data; and a driving unit arranged to first read the boot program and an engine control program among the system control programs from the NAND flash memory, execute the boot program and the engine control program, then read remaining system control programs from the NAND flash memory and store the remaining system control programs in the RAM when the boot program and the engine control program are being executed. Since the remaining system control programs and data that have not been read during printing preparation are read by driving a driving unit of the image forming apparatus, the preparation time for the image forming apparatus to begin printing operation can be greatly shortened.
US08836988B2

Electronic systems, such as printing systems, often use components that have a memory. The integral memory can be used to store information about the component. In some printing systems this memory includes storing a portion that stores a value indicative of an amount of a consumable that has been used. Discloses is a method and system for updating a memory that is integral to a component within a printing system. The value stored in the memory can be read to determine an amount of a consumable used. Alternatively, when a specific value is stored in the memory the printing system can deactivate the component.
US08836986B2

A print controller and associated methods of purging a print data path are disclosed. A print controller comprises a job storage system that receives and stores print jobs, and a print data path, which includes components operable to process print jobs, from the job storage system to print engines. The control system receives registrations from the components for flush job messages, flush path messages, or both. The control system receives a request to purge the print data path, and identifies print jobs being processed in the print data path. The control system transmits flush job messages to the components registering for the flush job messages for each print job instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs. The control system also transmits a flush path message to the components registering for the flush path messages instructing the components to purge data for the print jobs being handled.
US08836985B2

Provided is a method of executing a process by a driver using a storing unit having a first region capable of storing data and a second region capable of storing data with lower generality than the first region. The method includes storing a print-related value that relates to printing in the second region when an excess instruction that instructs the print-related value to be a value that exceeds a predetermined value is given. When the print-related value is not stored in the second region, a print instruction is given to a printing apparatus using print setting information including a print-related value stored in the first region at non-storing time. The method further includes giving a print instruction to the printing apparatus by using print setting information including a print-related value stored in the second region at storing time when the print-related value is stored in the second region.
US08836970B2

We describe a portable paperless electronic printer for displaying a printed document on an electronic paper display. The paperless electronic printer includes an input to receive print data from an output of a printer driver of a computerised electronic device, a non-volatile electrophoretic display to provide an electronic paper display of stored said print data for a said document page to mimic said document page when printed on paper; and a processor coupled to said input, to non-volatile memory, and to said non-volatile electrophoretic display and configured to input said print data, to store said data derived from said print data in said non-volatile memory, and to provide to said non-volatile electrophoretic display data for displaying a said document page derived from said stored data.
US08836966B2

In a printing system capable of supplying a sheet of a job having undergone print processing by the printing unit of a printing apparatus to a post-processing unit capable of executing at least a specific type of post-processing among a plurality of types of post-processes, when the target job requires the specific type of post-processing, the printing apparatus is inhibited from executing print processing of the job without explicitly determining a sheet necessary for the print processing of the job by a user using a user interface unit. When the target job does not require the specific type of post-processing, the printing apparatus is permitted to execute print processing of the job without explicitly determining a sheet necessary for the print processing of the job by the user using the user interface unit.
US08836962B2

A logical device registration process and universal device driver are described. Through use of the universal device driver, a device is registered as a logical device and associated with a first user. The registered logical device is then set as a default device for the user. The process may additionally include a default device setting program.
US08836960B1

Imaging devices incorporating semi-volatile memory are described herein. According to various embodiments, device driver information may be stored in the semi-volatile NAND flash memory. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08836959B2

A method and apparatus are provided for recognizing characters in a portable terminal with a scan module. Scanned image data is generated by the scan module by scanning a scan target through a scanning-light input/output panel provided on an external surface of the portable terminal as the portable terminal moves across the scan target. Part of the scanned image data is deleted when a current moving speed of the portable terminal is less than a lower limit of an optimal scan speed range, and character recognition is performed on remaining scanned image data. Image data most similar to the scanned image data is detected from a previously stored correction image database when the current moving speed is greater than an upper limit of the optimal scan speed range, and characters corresponding to the detected image data are output as character recognition results.
US08836957B2

An optoelectronic sensor (10) is provided with a plurality of light transmitters (14) and light receivers (26) that form between one another a field (20) of mutually parallel monitoring beams (18), wherein beam shaping optics (16, 24) are assigned to the light transmitters (14) and the light receivers (26). The optics (16, 24) comprise a geometry and arrangement leading to a mutual overlap of the optics (16, 24) in a direction diagonal, in particular perpendicular, to the field (20).
US08836948B2

Disclosed are systems, apparatus, methods and devices, including a method that includes generating two or more sequential surface plasmon interference patterns, at least one of the two or more sequential surface plasmon interference patterns being different from another of the two or more sequential surface plasmon interference patterns, and capturing respective images of a specimen resulting from the interference patterns. Also disclosed is a method that includes generating two or more sequential optical interference patterns, at least one of the two or more sequential optical interference patterns being different from another of the interference patterns, and removing from each of the generated interference patterns, using a beam stopper, a corresponding zero-order diffraction light component included in the respective generated patterns to obtain resultant corresponding two or more sequential optical interference patterns, directed at a specimen, with missing respective zero-order light components.
US08836941B2

An device for Raman spectroscopy such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is disclosed herein. Various embodiments may be utilized to prepare a SERS substrate using several deposition techniques such as pulsed laser deposition. Some embodiments optimize coverage, volume, or elements of SERS active metals. The method is a single step inexpensive method for preparing a SERS active substrate. In some embodiments a coating layer underneath the SERS active metals is utilized for additional enhancements.
US08836922B1

A LIDAR device may transmit light pulses originating from one or more light sources and may receive reflected light pulses that are then detected by one or more detectors. The LIDAR device may include a lens that both (i) collimates the light from the one or more light sources to provide collimated light for transmission into an environment of the LIDAR device and (ii) focuses the reflected light onto the one or more detectors. The lens may define a curved focal surface in a transmit path of the light from the one or more light sources and a curved focal surface in a receive path of the one or more detectors. The one or more light sources may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the transmit path. The one or more detectors may be arranged along the curved focal surface in the receive path.
US08836921B2

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided for estimating a location on an object in a three-dimensional scene. Multiple radiation patterns are produced by spatially modulating each of multiple first radiations with a distinct combination of one or more modulating structures, each first radiation having at least one of a distinct radiation path, a distinct source, a distinct source spectrum, or a distinct source polarization with respect to the other first radiations. The location on the object is illuminated with a portion of each of two or more of the radiation patterns, the location producing multiple object radiations, each object radiation produced in response to one of the multiple radiation patterns. Multiple measured values are produced by detecting the object radiations from the location on the object due to each pattern separately using one or more detector elements. The location on the object is estimated based on the multiple measured values.
US08836914B2

A liquid immersion lithography apparatus exposes a wafer through a liquid in a space under a lens. The apparatus includes a containment member provided such that the containment member surrounds the space under the lens, and a seal member provided between the lens and the containment member. The containment member has a first fluid inlet. The first fluid inlet removes fluid from a gap between the containment member and the wafer during the exposure.
US08836911B2

A method and system for producing a flat three-dimensional image utilizing acoustic transfer assist. An image is first developed in image bearing material onto the image bearing surface of a rendering device. A three-dimensional plastic sheet can be provided to the transfer section of the rendering device. Transfer of the image can then be accomplished as the plastic sheet comes into contact with the image-bearing surface. The transfer is facilitated by acoustic transfer assist technology associated with the rendering device.
US08836910B2

The present invention comprises a light and sound sensor system and method for repetitively measuring the luminance, chromaticity, sound, and infrared illumination in a theater to detect any changes thereto so that the images being viewed on the screen and the sound in the theater can be kept at their optimal values. In addition, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the system has an audio and video synchronization capability. By monitoring the audio and visual signals in real time, the exact time relationship between the signals is detected to determine whether they are properly synchronized.
US08836908B2

An LCD panel, a manufacturing method and a manufacturing apparatus of the same are provided. The manufacturing method includes the following steps. The first substrate and the second substrate are combined and liquid crystal is disposed between the two substrates to form the LCD panel. The first substrate and the second substrate are fused. In the present disclosure, the interior of the combined LCD panel is isolated from the outside atmosphere by fusing the combined LCD panel. Therefore, the LCD panel can stay in the air for a long time without being damaged, thus solving the problem in the prior art that the atmosphere may break the sealant of the LCD panel in the manufacturing process of the LCD panel to cause the liquid crystal leakage.
US08836907B2

A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates with a liquid crystal therebetween, a thin film transistor on the first substrate, a color filter layer of different colored layers between the liquid crystal and the thin film transistor, and an electrode structure layer between the liquid crystal and the color filter layer. The electrode structure layer includes a transparent insulating film, and first and second transparent conductive films formed on opposite sides of the transparent insulating film. The color filter layer includes a first region formed of one colored layer, and a second region formed of at least two laminated different colored layers. The first transparent conductive film covers an upper surface of the color filter layer in both of the first and second regions.
US08836905B2

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device. The method includes (1) preparing a TFT substrate and a CF substrate; (2) applying sealant resin to the TFT substrate or CF substrate to form an enclosing resin frame body that forms an entry opening on the CF substrate or the TFT substrate; (3) applying sealant resin to the entry opening of the enclosing resin frame body to form a closing section; (4) filling liquid crystal inside the enclosing resin frame body; (5) bonding the TFT substrate and the CF substrate together; and (6) subjecting the bonded TFT substrate and the CF substrate to curing at high temperature in order to cure the enclosing resin frame body.
US08836904B2

An exemplary liquid crystal display panel includes a substrate and first conductive wires. The first conductive wires are arranged at a surface of the substrate. Each of the first conductive wires includes a plurality of first connecting portions, a plurality of second connecting portions and a conductive portion with a plurality of conductive particles. The conductive portion is sandwiched between the first connecting portions and the second connecting portions, thus electrically connecting the first connecting portions to the second connecting portions. A method for manufacturing the liquid crystal display panel is also provided.
US08836899B2

The present invention provides a method for attaching a protection film of a liquid crystal display module, including the following steps: (1) providing a liquid crystal display module protection film and a liquid crystal display module, wherein the liquid crystal display module protection film includes a protection film body and adhesive layers formed at edges of the protection film body and the liquid crystal display module includes a backlight module, a liquid crystal display panel disposed on the backlight module, and a front bezel disposed on the liquid crystal display panel; (2) aligning the liquid crystal display module protection film with respect to the front bezel of the liquid crystal display module; and (3) attaching the adhesive layers of the liquid crystal display module protection film to the front bezel of the liquid crystal display module so as to cover the liquid crystal display panel.
US08836882B2

The present invention provides a flat panel display device, which includes a backlight system and a display panel. The backlight system includes a light source, a light homogenization mechanism, and a back frame. The back frame carries the light source and the light homogenization mechanism. The back frame includes at least first and second primary assembling pieces, in which the first primary assembling piece has an end forming at least two joint sections, and each of the joint sections has a structure mating an end of the second primary assembling piece. The first primary assembling piece uses one of the joint sections to join the corresponding end of the second primary assembling piece. The present invention also provides a stereoscopic display device and a plasma display device. The back frame mold of the flat panel display device, the stereoscopic display device, and the plasma display device of the present invention is of a simple structure and can reduce the expenditure of the back frame mold, and can also save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the cost of flat panel display device.
US08836873B2

A display device includes a first substrate, a middle layer, a first liquid crystal layer, a second substrate, a pixel part and a second liquid crystal layer. A first common electrode is on the first substrate. The middle layer includes a lenticular array, and a control electrode on the lenticular array. The control electrode faces the first common electrode. The first liquid crystal layer is between the middle layer and the first substrate, and a second common electrode is on a back side of the middle layer. The pixel part includes a plurality of pixel electrodes on the second substrate and facing the second common electrode. The second liquid crystal layer is between the second common electrode and the pixel part.
US08836872B2

A switchable three-dimensional (3D) display includes a display device and a switchable parallax barrier that is disposed on the display device. The switchable parallax barrier includes a first electrode structure, a second electrode structure, and a liquid crystal layer. The liquid crystal layer is located between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure. The first electrode structure includes a planar electrode, a plurality of first bar electrodes electrically connected to one another, and an insulating layer. A partial region of the planar electrode is not covered by the first bar electrodes. The insulating layer is disposed between the planar electrode and the first bar electrodes, so that the planar electrode is electrically insulated from the first bar electrodes.
US08836868B2

An information processing apparatus including an interface that receives a wireless signal, a power supply that converts an input direct current (DC) power supply into a predetermined voltage by switching the input DC power supply at a switching frequency to generate a driving power supply, and a controller that controls the switching frequency based on a condition of the interface.
US08836861B2

Method, apparatus and computer program product for processing a video signal, the video signal comprising a plurality of frames, wherein the frames of the video signal are received at a jitter buffer, and the frames are output from the jitter buffer at a variable output rate to account for jitter in the received frames. Variations in the output rate are controlled in dependence upon the visual information content of the video signal, the visual information content of the video signal being the portion of the video signal that is to be displayed when the video signal is played out.
US08836858B1

A method of deinterlacing an interlaced video having a plurality of fields is described. The method includes detecting cadence of each pixel of each of the fields of the interlaced video. The interlaced video is then deinterlaced in accordance with the cadence, if any, of each of the pixels of each of the fields of the interlaced video. A pixel-based multi-cadence detection method is also described. Moreover, a pixel-based multi-cadence detection apparatus is also described.
US08836855B2

A thin image capturing apparatus includes a circuit substrate having at least one electronic component, a light sensing element packaged onto the circuit substrate, and a camera lens installed onto the light sensing element for capturing images.
US08836848B2

The present disclosure relates to a vision system which may include a plurality of lenses coupled to an image sensor by a plurality of optical fiber bundles. Each of the plurality of lenses is configured to capture at least a portion of the scene. The image sensor may be located a distance from the plurality of lenses. The optical fiber bundles are configured to transmit optical image data from each lens to the image sensor. The image sensor is configured to convert the optical image data from each lens into corresponding electrical image data (“electrical image data”) for each lens.
US08836847B2

A method for capturing an image, comprising: providing a switchable imaging apparatus including a display screen having a first display state and a second transparent state, an optical beam deflector switchable between a first non-deflecting state and a second deflecting state, a camera positioned in a location peripheral to the display screen, and a controller; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image capture mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the second transparent state and the optical beam deflector to the second deflecting state; using the camera to capture an image of the scene; setting the switchable imaging apparatus to the image display mode by using the controller to set the display screen to the first display state and the optical beam deflector to the first non-deflecting state; and displaying an image on the display screen.
US08836845B2

An imaging device having an optical imaging system which has a parallel plate which is transparent at least in a visible light region, is joined by adhesives and is held on a holding member, wherein the holding member including: an opening section which is provided in order to pass light rays from the optical imaging system; a holding surface for holding a periphery of the parallel plate, formed around the opening section in a square shape, and intersecting perpendicularly to an optical axis of the optical imaging system; a side wall which is provided to stand parallel to the optical axis at an outside with respect to the opening section of the holding surface; and an adhesive collecting section which is arranged in each of four corners of the holding surface and is hollowed from the holding surface.
US08836843B2

An image pickup apparatus is arranged to receive from a lens unit a predetermined signal for indicating whether or not a focus lens is movable by a mount of movement corresponding to first information within a predetermined time, if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from an image signal corresponding to charges accumulated during a first period, and if the received predetermined signal indicates that the focus lens is not movable by the amount of movement corresponding to the first information within the predetermined time, make the first information on the basis of a focus signal generated from the image signal corresponding to the charges accumulated during a second period after the first period.
US08836841B2

When complicated functions are provided to an electronic apparatus, the number of menu items to be set and guide items to be reference by a user increases. A user can become lost when searching through the menu items to be set and guide items to be referenced from among items in a hierarchical configuration grouped in categories and displayed in the display section. The electronic apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a processing section that performs processing; a display section that performs display; and a control section that, when a change in biometric information of a user is obtained, causes the display section to display a display screen that includes at least one of a setting screen and a guide screen relating to the processing of the processing section.
US08836830B2

A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) assembly includes a FPCB, a dielectric layer, a stiffener, and a conductive adhesive layer. The FPCB includes a surface and a conductive layer positioned on the surface of the FPCB. The conductive layer includes a circuit portion and a grounding portion connected to the circuit portion. The circuit portion is entirely covered by the dielectric layer and the grounding portion is exposed outside the dielectric layer. The conductive adhesive is positioned on the stiffener and includes a first adhering portion and a second adhering portion. A thickness of the second adhering portion is greater than the first adhering portion. A thickness difference between the second adhering portion and the first adhering portion is substantially equal to a thickness the dielectric layer. The first adhering portion is adhered to the dielectric layer and the second adhering portion is adhered to the grounding portion.
US08836826B2

An image signal processing apparatus includes an imaging unit having an imaging element to conduct photoelectric conversion on incident light from a subject and output an electric signal, a defective pixel detection unit for detecting a defective pixel in the imaging element, a defective pixel correction unit for correcting the detected defective pixel, an image signal correction unit for conducting image signal correction every arbitrary area on a signal supplied from the defective pixel correction unit, a system control unit for generally controlling those units, and a temperature measurement unit for measuring temperature in the vicinity of the imaging element. The system control unit controls a detection condition to be used when the defective pixel detection unit detects a defective pixel, i.e., one or more of an exposure time, a defective pixel detection threshold, and a gain, by using information of the temperature obtained from the temperature measurement unit.
US08836823B2

An image pickup sensor that can properly carry out correction processing on noise components at high speed without bringing about an increase in cost. In an effective pixel region, pixels for obtaining image pickup signals used as a picked-up image are arranged. A plurality of reference pixel regions in which pixels for obtaining reference signals for the image pickup signals are arranged are disposed adjacent to opposing sides of the effective pixel region. A holding unit holds the image pickup signals obtained from the effective pixel region and the reference signals obtained from the plurality of reference pixel regions, the image pickup signals and the reference signals vertically scanned on a row-by-row basis. A horizontal scanning unit that horizontally scans the image pickup signals and the reference signals held by the holding unit horizontally scans the reference signals held by the holding unit before the image pickup signals.
US08836819B2

A method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera is provided. In one aspect, image data is captured by a digital camera. Image data analysis is performed on the captured image data by the digital camera to automatically generate a category tag to which the captured image data may relate. The generated category tag is stored in association with the captured image data for categorizing the captured image data.
US08836817B2

A data processing apparatus includes a data conversion part converting first data into second data, an identification data generation part generating identification data which depends on the first data, and a data processing part relating the identification data to the second data. Specifically, the data processing part adds the identification data to the second data.
US08836813B2

In a first filtering processing step, RAW data of a source image is subjected to a pixel-based filtering process along a first array direction to divide the RAW data into a first luminance data and a first color carrier data. In a first luminance distribution equalization processing step, the luminance distribution of the first luminance data in the first array direction is corrected to be uniform to produce a second luminance data. In a first color array reproduction processing step, the first color carrier data is re-synthesized with the second luminance data to produce a first multiple-color array data. In a second filtering processing step, the first multiple-color array data is subjected to a pixel-based filtering process along a second array direction to divide the first multiple-color array data into a third luminance data and a second color carrier data. In a second luminance distribution equalization processing step, the luminance distribution of the third luminance data in the second array direction is corrected to be uniform to produce a fourth luminance data. In a second color array reproduction processing step, the second color carrier data is re-synthesized with the fourth luminance data to produce a second multiple-color array data.
US08836812B2

An image processing device includes an image acquiring unit, a storage unit, and an image processing unit, wherein the image region is divided into a plurality of sub-regions in the vertical direction, and wherein when the rectangular range set in the image region extends over two or more sub-regions, the image processing unit acquires the cumulative value at a pixel position in the lowermost sub-region of the two or more sub-regions by adding the cumulative values in the upper sub-regions at the pixel position in the same column of a lowermost row in the upper sub-regions, over which the rectangular range extends, to the cumulative value in the lowermost sub-region at the pixel position in the lowermost sub-region.
US08836806B2

An image pickup apparatus that is capable of taking a distortion-free moving image without enlarging circuit scale. An image sensor has pixels each of which comprises a photoelectric conversion section that generates an electric charge corresponding to the incident light, a charge storage section that stores the electric charge, and an output section that outputs a voltage corresponding to the electric charge. The pixels include a first type pixel with a charge retention section that temporally holds the electric charge before transferring to the charge storage section, and a second type pixel without the charge retention section. A setting unit sets up a mode. A control unit controls to generate an image corresponding the output voltage from the first type pixel in a moving image pickup mode, and to generate an image corresponding to the output voltages from the first and second type pixels in a still image pickup mode.
US08836800B2

According to one embodiment, an image processing method includes storing, in a frame memory, first and second images of continuously taken N (however, N is not less than 2) images, cutting an image as an image for correction from a plurality of reference areas of the first and second images stored in the frame memory, calculating such a hand shake correction amount that the first image and the second image overlap with high accuracy with the use of a plurality of images for correction of the first and second images and correcting the first image with the calculated hand shake correction amount, overwriting the corrected first image in the first image stored in the frame memory, composing the corrected first image and the second image to obtain a composite image, and overwriting the composited the composite image in the second image stored in the frame memory.
US08836791B2

Provided are devices, methods and recording mediums for processing video data including setting at least one particle on a target in an image of a previously-selected frame in a video, sequentially acquiring temporally-previous frames and temporally-next frames in the video after the previously-selected frame, determining a part whose difference in pixel values between the image of the acquired previous frame and the image of the next frame is a threshold or more and which corresponds to the target in the image of the previous frame as an outer edge of a particle tracking range, and setting the particles in the image of the next frame at positions of pixels which are within the outer edge of the tracking range, and specifying a position of the target in the image of the next frame based on the positions of the set particles.
US08836788B2

An apparatus for tracking the use of at least one destination location, the apparatus including multiple cameras and one or more processors configured to identify a vehicle by use of identification images captured by an identification camera, such as by processing of images of license plates, determine characteristics of the vehicle visible in the identification images, and determine usage of a destination location, such as a parking spot, based on a camera monitoring the destination location capturing images of the vehicle having characteristics corresponding to those determined for the identification images.
US08836780B2

A system and method for monitoring a manufacturing process of a fan-out wafer, the method may include acquiring a first set of images of dies after a completion of a first manufacturing stage of a manufacturing process of the fan-out wafer; processing the first set of images to detect defects; performing at least one corrective operation in response to at least one defect detected by processing the first set of images; acquiring a second set of images of dies after a completion of a second manufacturing stage of the manufacturing process of the fan-out wafer, the second manufacturing process follows the first manufacturing process; processing the second set of images to detect defects; and performing at least one corrective operation in response to at least one defect detected by processing the second set of images.
US08836779B2

The present invention provides an inspection device including an imaging unit 16 for imaging an object to be inspected, a characteristics measurement unit 15 for measuring characteristics of the object to be inspected, an inspection information acquisition unit 11 for acquiring inspection information related to the object to be inspected, a condition determination unit 12 for determining measurement information related to a measurement condition of the object to be inspected corresponding to the inspection information, an imaging control unit 14 for controlling imaging by the imaging unit, and a measurement control unit 13 for controlling measurement by the characteristics measurement unit based on the measurement information.
US08836773B2

A 3D image playback method includes utilizing a detecting module to detect a visual angle included between a display device and a shutter glasses, playing a plurality of 3D image sets with different visual angles at a specific frequency by the display device, transmitting a synchronization signal corresponding to the visual angle to the shutter glasses by the detecting module, and controlling a switching frequency of the shutter glasses so as to make the shutter glasses capable of receiving one of the plurality of 3D image sets corresponding to the visual angle.
US08836772B2

Active shutter 3D glasses with multiple optical detectors, such as photodiodes, are described that detect a frame rate of a 3D television or other 3D display by using independent component analysis. The detected frame rate is used to update a clock onboard the 3D glasses that times the active shutters, thereby synchronizing the shutters to the 3D display. A switch can reverse the shutters in case the left eye/right eye images are shown oppositely.
US08836765B2

Provided are an apparatus and method for generating a fully focused image. A depth map generation unit generates a depth map of an input image obtained by a multiple color filter aperture (MCA) camera. A channel shifting & alignment unit extractes subimages which include objects with same focal distance based on the depth map, and performing color channel alignment and removing out-of-focus blurs for each subimages obtained from the depth map. An image fusing unit fuses the subimages to generate a fully focused image.
US08836763B2

In a pantoscopic camera, right and left images, which overlap with each other, are captured from a subject. Overlap areas are detected from these images, and a composite image is produced from either of the overlap areas and non-overlap areas of the respective images. So long as a shutter button is not operated, the right and left images are successively captured to display the composite image as a moving through-image on an LCD. When the shutter button is pressed halfway, the LCD is switched from the composite image to an overlap area image that corresponds to the overlap area. On the basis of the detected overlap areas, 3D information on the subject may be obtained, or a stereoscopic image may be displayed.
US08836762B2

The invention relates to an optronic system for identifying an object including a photosensitive sensor, communication means and a computerized processing means making it possible to reconstruct the object in three dimensions on the basis of the images captured by the sensor and to identify the object on the basis of the reconstruction. The photosensitive sensor is able to record images of the object representing the intensity levels of an electromagnetic radiation reflected by the surface of the object captured from several observation angles around the object and the communication means are able to transmit the said images to the computerized processing means to reconstruct the object in three dimensions by means of a tomography function configured to process the images of the object representing the intensity levels of an electromagnetic radiation reflected by the surface of the object. The invention also relates to a method of computerized processing for object identification by reconstruction of the object in three dimensions. The invention is applied to the field of target detection, to the medical field and also microelectronics, for example.
US08836761B2

The present invention discloses a 3D information generator for use in an interactive interface. The 3D information generator includes: a MEMS light beam generator having at least one light source for providing a dot light beam and a MEMS mirror for projecting a movable scanning light beam according to the dot light beam to an object; an image sensor for sensing an image of the object to generate a 2D image information; and a processor for generating a distance information by triangulation method according to a reflection result of the scanning light beam scanning on the object, wherein the distance information is combined with the 2D image information to generate a 3D information.
US08836760B2

An image reproducing apparatus for reproducing a stereoscopic image shot by a stereoscopic image capturing apparatus, the image reproducing apparatus comprises: an input unit which inputs image data of the stereoscopic image and additional data recorded in association with the image data; an acquisition unit which acquires depth information indicating a depth of a point of interest in the stereoscopic image set, during shooting, on the basis of the additional data; a generation unit which generates images to be superimposed on right and left images of the stereoscopic image, the images to be superimposed having parallax corresponding to the depth indicated by the depth information, on the basis of the depth information; and a display output unit which combines the right and left images of the stereoscopic image with the images to be superimposed, and outputs the combined right and left images of the stereoscopic image to a display apparatus.
US08836756B2

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and method for acquiring 3D depth information. The apparatus includes a pattern projection unit, an image acquisition unit, and an operation unit. The pattern projection unit projects light, radiated by an infrared light source, into a space in a form of a pattern. The image acquisition unit acquires an image corresponding to the pattern using at least one camera. The operation unit extracts a pattern from the image, analyzes results of the extraction, and calculates information about a 3D distance between objects existing in the space.
US08836750B2

A telepresence system, a telepresence method, and a video collection device are disclosed. The telepresence system includes a video collection device, a video display device, an audio collection device, an audio player, and an audio and video communication device. The audio and video communication device transmits videos collected by the video collection device on a local end and audios collected by the audio collection device on the local end to a remote end through a network; the video display device and the audio player on the remote end play the images and audios respectively; and the video collection device is a panoramic camera. The technical solution under the present invention overcomes the poor effect of panoramic presence in the existing telepresence system, and improves the telepresence system in terms of depth presence, seamless display and eye contact.
US08836749B2

A remote location having at least one monitoring device is monitored via a temporary communication channel so that an image from the remote location is displayed at a monitoring location along with a graphic signal that depends on the source of the image. Scrutiny information is sent from the remote location to the monitoring location, including the image. The graphic signal may represent a map of the remote location, and may include text providing helpful information relating to the remote location. In some cases, the temporary communication channel is provided at least in part through an online computer service. In some cases, the communications interface is a wireless communications interface.
US08836744B2

An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector, an incident optical system and one scanning lens. The scanning lens includes a first face and a second face. In a main scanning direction cross section of the scanning lens, when a scanning range is separated, with on axis as a reference, into an image height region of a first direction and an image height region of a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, the incident optical system is disposed on a side of the image height region of the first direction. Curvature of the first face in a sub scanning direction cross section decreases from on axis toward off axis in the main scanning direction, and curvature of the second face in the sub scanning direction cross section increases from off axis of the first direction toward the second direction in the main scanning direction.
US08836743B2

A drive device to drive a plurality of three-terminal light emitting elements includes a drive circuit. The drive circuit includes a first and second conductive type MOS transistor complementarily connected to each other and configured to drive three-terminal light emitting elements that are in conduction state based on a received drive signal. The first conductive type MOS transistor is formed in a substrate region and includes a channel formation region, which is a region wherein a channel is to be formed. An impurity with the same polarity as that of the substrate region is injected in the channel formation region.
US08836741B2

According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus having an image forming function to form an image on a recording medium, and an image erasing function to erase an image formed on a recording medium is provided. The image forming apparatus has an erasing unit which erases the image formed on the recording medium under an erasing condition changeable in accordance with whether or not erasable coloring material used in the image formed on the recording medium is predetermined coloring material, when the image erasing function is performed.
US08836722B2

A method, computer program product, and system for protection screen information is described. A method may comprise determining, via a computing device, if there is a screen protection rule, the screen protection rule based upon, at least in part, at least one of an application rule for protecting a portion of a screen region, and a process rule for protecting the portion of the screen region. The method may further comprise modifying, via the computing device, the portion of the screen region based upon, at least in part, at least one of the application rule, and the process rule.
US08836717B2

In one embodiment, an image formatting utility is embodied in code, stored and executed apart from any device that it retrieves images from, that, in response to receiving an image request from a device management tool: 1) retrieves an image from a device that is a target of the image request, the image illustrating at least a portion of the device; 2) retrieves component presence and status information for the device; 3) formats the image in response to the component presence and status information; and 4) returns the formatted image to the device management tool. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
US08836709B2

Frequently accessed state data used in a multithreaded graphics processing architecture is cached within a vector register file of a processing unit to optimize accesses to the state data and minimize memory bus utilization associated therewith. A processing unit may include a fixed point execution unit as well as a vector floating point execution unit, and a vector register file utilized by the vector floating point execution unit may be used to cache state data used by the fixed point execution unit and transferred as needed into the general purpose registers accessible by the fixed point execution unit, thereby reducing the need to repeatedly retrieve and write back the state data from and to an L1 or lower level cache accessed by the fixed point execution unit.
US08836708B2

A device for processing a data stream originating from a device generating matrices of Nl rows by Nc columns of data includes K computation tiles and interconnection means for transferring the data stream between the computation tiles. At least one computation tile includes: one or more control units to provide instructions, n processing units, each processing unit carrying out the instructions received from a control unit on a neighborhood of Vl rows by Vc columns of data, a storage unit to place the data of the stream in the form of neighborhoods of Vl rows by (n+Vc−1) columns of data. The storage unit includes a block of shaping memories of dimension Vl×Nc and a block of neighborhood registers of dimension Vl×(n+Vc−1), an input/output unit to convey the data stream between the interconnection means and the storage unit on the one hand, and between the processing units and the interconnection means on the other hand.
US08836705B2

A method, processing system, and/or computer program product for generating a graphic for application to a surface to produce a plaque. In one aspect, the method includes, in a processing system: receiving, from a user, first location data indicative of a first location; receiving, from the user, second location data indicative of a plurality of second locations; determining for each second location, a displacement pair, each displacement pair being indicative of: a distance between the first location and the respective second location; and a direction of the respective second location relative to the first location; and generating, using each displacement pair, graphical data indicative of a graphic for application to a surface, wherein the graphical data is indicative of the distance and direction of each second location relative to the first location.
US08836703B2

Certain examples provide collaboration systems, apparatus, and methods to facilitate display, review, and annotation of image data on a small display. An example method includes determining an initial display resolution by comparing an image dimension at an image display resolution and an available screen dimension of the reduced size display screen. The example method includes, based on a selected region of interest in an image, displaying the selected region of interest at the initial display resolution. The example method includes, using the selected region of interest, displaying image data in the selected region of interest to set a plurality of data points via user interaction with a touchscreen display. The example method includes computing a potential error introduced for a measurement between the plurality of data points based on a tolerance value. The example method includes adjusting the image display resolution and zoom based on the potential error.
US08836702B2

A ray tracing core comprises a ray tracing unit (RTU), a control unit, and a tree build unit (TBU). The ray tracing unit performs ray tracing based on a spatial partitioning structure. The control unit calculates the degree of complexity of the spatial partitioning structure by monitoring the load state of the ray tracing unit. The tree build unit builds the spatial partitioning structure having the degree of complexity which is calculated. The load state is determined based on a frame rate which is processed in the pertinent unit. The spatial partitioning structure applies a K-dimensional tree. For example, the degree of complexity can be modified according to either the maximum primitive number of a leaf node with respect to a K-dimensional tree structure or a tree depth.
US08836694B2

In a mobile phone, a display section capable of 3D display, which includes a high-definition liquid crystal, has a liquid crystal layer for generating a parallax barrier on the front surface thereof. A central controlling section judges suitability in 3D display of content based on the contents of the content before displaying the content in the display section, and displays the content in 3D when the content is judged to be suitable for 3D display.
US08836692B2

An image display device includes a display panel which selectively displays a 2D image and a 3D image and includes a plurality of pixels, a patterned retarder for dividing light from the display panel into first polarized light and second polarized light, and a control voltage generation circuit which generates a 2D control voltage at an off-level and generates a 3D control voltage alternately having a slight-on level and the off-level every predetermined period of time. The slight-on level is higher than the off-level and is lower than a full-on level. Each pixel includes a main display unit including a first pixel electrode and a first common electrode and a subsidiary display unit including a second pixel electrode, a second common electrode, and a discharge control switch.
US08836685B2

The liquid crystal display device includes: first and second substrates disposed facing each other via a liquid crystal layer, each substrate having a plurality of pixels arranged thereon in matrix form; a first electrode formed for each pixel on the first substrate side; a second electrode formed for each pixel on the first or second substrate side; and the liquid crystal layer being driven by a liquid crystal drive voltage applied between the first and second electrodes; wherein an inequation of VLmin≦VLmax
US08836684B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a plurality of common electrodes arranged so as to counter pixel electrodes extending in the row direction on a substrate. First and second voltage supply lines to supply first and second voltages to the common electrodes are connected with the common electrodes through a first switch circuit. A second switch circuit is arranged between the first voltage supply line and signal lines to switch a connection between the first voltage supply line and the signal lines. A gate open circuit is connected to scan lines to simultaneously supply a signal to switch on the pixel electrodes to all the scan lines. In case the power supply of the liquid crystal display device is turned off, a control circuit starts the power OFF driving operation to set the potential of the pixel electrode and the common electrode to substantially same by switching the first and second switch circuits.
US08836681B2

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for reducing artifacts in an image generated by a display device. In one aspect, data is written to a display and a position of display elements is maintained based on the application of a bias voltage pattern. The bias voltage pattern includes alternating polarities along one dimension in a pattern having a first frequency spectrum, and alternating polarities along a second dimension in a pattern having a second frequency spectrum that is different than the first frequency spectrum. At least one of the first and second frequency spectrums may include a plurality of frequency components.
US08836663B2

A touch sensitive device includes a touch sensitive panel for providing a tactile user interface including at least one tactile object, a sensor unit configured to detect contact with the touch sensitive panel and generate contact region information of a contact region in which the contact is detected, a tactile feedback unit configured to generate tactile feedback of a mini-map of the tactile user interface in the contact region indicated by the generated contact region information, and a controller configured to control the touch sensitive panel, the sensor unit, the tactile feedback unit and the tactile user interface. The mini-map of the tactile user interface includes a duplicate of the tactile object provided on the touch sensitive panel, and the duplicate of the tactile object indicates a direction from the contact region indicated by the contact region information to the tactile object.
US08836656B2

A device that can autonomously scan a sensor panel is disclosed. Autonomous scanning can be performed by implementing channel scan logic. In one embodiment, channel scan logic carries out many of the functions that a processor would normally undertake, including generating timing sequences and obtaining result data; comparing scan result data against a threshold value (e.g., in an auto-scan mode); generating row count; selecting one or more scanning frequency bands; power management control; and performing an auto-scan routine in a low power mode.
US08836637B2

A touch-based user interface for an electronic device, including a housing including electronic circuitry, a plurality of buttons mounted within a first area on a first side of the housing, and a screen mounted on a second area of a second side of the housing, the second side being opposite to the first side, and the second area being opposite to at least a portion of the first area, wherein the electronic circuitry is operative (i) to display on the screen at least one user interface control element that corresponds respectively to at least one button, each such user interface control element having a command associated therewith, and (ii) to perform the command associated with a designated user interface control element when its corresponding button is pressed. A method and a computer-readable storage medium is also described and claimed.
US08836634B2

A stereoscopic image display and a method for driving the same are disclosed. The stereoscopic image display includes a display panel that displays a 2D image data in a 2D mode and displays a 3D image data in a 3D mode, a backlight unit providing light to the display panel, a timing controller that supplies a left eye image data during a data addressing period of a (2N−1)th frame period and supplies a right eye image data during a data addressing period of a 2Nth frame period in the 3D mode, where N is a natural number, and a backlight controller generating a backlight control signal for controlling light sources of the backlight unit so that the light sources of the backlight unit are turned on during a vertical blanking interval of each of the (2N−1)th frame period and the 2Nth frame period in the 3D mode.
US08836628B2

Provided is a liquid crystal panel driving method and device employing a dot inversion system. The liquid crystal panel driving method includes the steps of: (a) generating an alternating signal; (b) adding a signal of a different potential to the alternating signal, to then be applied to input ends of a gamma voltage generating unit (72) and a common voltage generating unit (73); (c) applying an alternating common voltage generated from the common voltage generating unit (73) to a common electrode (220); and (d) generating the data voltage whose polarity is inverted in the gamma voltage generating unit (72) on the basis of the alternating common voltage generated by the common voltage generating unit (73). In the dot inversion system, a common voltage is formed to alternate and a data voltage is inverted on the basis of the alternating common voltage, to thereby provide an effect of performing touch detection by using the alternating common voltage in a high-definitive liquid crystal display device (LCD).
US08836627B2

A liquid crystal display apparatus and a pixel driving method are provided. The liquid crystal display apparatus comprises a pixel array, a scan driving circuit and a data driving circuit. The pixel array comprises a plurality of first pixels, a plurality of second pixels, a plurality of third pixels and a plurality of fourth pixels. The scan driving circuit is configured to activate the first pixels and the fourth pixels sequentially and then activate the second pixels and the third pixels sequentially. The data driving circuit is configured to supply a first polarity data signal when the first pixels and the fourth pixels are activated and supply a second polarity data signal when the second pixels and the third pixels are activated.
US08836611B2

A multi-panel device is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the device includes a first hinge coupled to a first panel and coupled to a second panel. The first panel includes a first display surface and the second panel includes a second display surface. The second hinge is coupled to the second panel and coupled to a third panel that includes a third display surface. The device also includes a sensor coupled to the first hinge to detect a relative orientation of the first panel to the second panel. The device includes a processor responsive to the sensor to detect a device configuration. The processor is configured to adjust a user interface displayed at the first display surface, the second display surface, and the third display surface based on the detected device configuration.
US08836600B2

A quadrifilar helix antenna system with a finite ground plane has a pair of bifilar helical elements extending upwardly from the finite ground plane. A symmetrical array of monopole elements surrounds the lower portion of the pair of bifilar helical elements in the near field so as to load the lower portion and thereby raise the phase center of the antenna to improve the circularly polarized far-field radiation at low elevation angles.
US08836597B1

An antenna radome assembly has a radome base and an annular stationary bearing plate attached to and spaced from the radome base. A rotary joint has a fixed portion attached to the stationary bearing plate and a rotating portion extending through a central opening of the stationary bearing plate. A rotating platform is attached to the rotating portion of the rotary joint. The rotating platform includes a circular recess extending into the rotating platform from a first side. The stationary bearing plate is disposed completely within the circular recess. An annular bearing assembly is disposed within the circular recess between the rotating platform and the stationary bearing plate. The bearing assembly is in contact with the rotating platform and the stationary bearing plate, and the rotating platform rotates with respect to the stationary bearing plate and the radome base.
US08836596B2

A multi-pole filter antenna may include aperture-coupled non-dominant mode cavity resonators, and an aperture-coupled dominant mode patch antenna. The filter antenna may be implemented in a multilayer printed circuit board or similar structure. The filter antenna may for example operate in the Ku-Band, the Ka-Band, the C-Band, or another band.
US08836595B2

An antenna device that radiates or receives a radio wave includes: a first wire line; a second wire line that is parallel to the first wire line; a power feeding/receiving point that is provided at proximal portions of the first wire line and second wire line; and a terminal resistance that is provided at distal end portions of the first wire line and second wire line.
US08836591B2

To improve the signal/noise ratio of a radio reception system intended for a vehicle, comprising multiple antennas having marked radiation characteristics with a directional effect, in each instance, it is proposed to orient the antennas in the vehicle at spatial sectors, with the proviso that their individual radiation characteristics supplement one another to produce a specific required radiation characteristic. For this purpose, the signals of the antennas are combined in an active combiner, with the interposition of amplifiers, and a sum signal is passed to a receiver by way of an output-side line.
US08836585B2

The invention relates to a transponder for marking wood material and a method of manufacturing thereof. The method comprises embedding an RFID microchip and antenna into a casing essentially consisting of one or more biodegradable materials. According to the invention the embedding step comprises forming the antenna by layering conductive material directly on biodegradable material, and covering the antenna by biodegradable material. By means of the invention, environmentally friendly and pulping-compatible transponders can be manufactured, for example, for aiding the logistics of forest industry.
US08836583B2

A reflectarray, including: a substrate; and a plurality of patches formed on each of areas into which a principal surface of the substrate is divided, wherein the plurality of patches are formed by including a gap.
US08836576B2

A method and system for navigation are provided to locate a GNSS device. The GNSS device comprises a RF front end receiving satellite signals of a plurality of satellites, and a GNSS device comprising a plurality of correlation channels each performing a correlation process to generate a correlation result from satellite signals corresponding to a satellite, a memory device for storage of the correlation results, and a processor performing acquisition and tracking based on the correlation results.
US08836571B2

A method for transmission to a receiver of a geographic coordinate λ of a transmitter positioned in a spherical coordinate system λ, φ, at least a portion of one hemisphere of the Earth's sphere being divided into N sections each bounded by a minimum φ and a maximum φ, each section being subdivided into X cells each bounded by a minimum λ and a maximum λ, X varying depending on the section, includes at least the following steps: partitioning all of the latitude sections into M+1 classes, M sections being interspersed between two sections of the same class; transmitting, in one and the same message, the coordinate λ of the transmitter referenced relative to the cell in which the transmitter is located and the class of the latitude section in which the transmitter is located, the range of the receiver being at the most equal to the width of a cell along the axis of variation of the coordinate λ.
US08836564B2

An A/D conversion device generates a control clock signal having a cycle that is an integral multiple of a cycle of a reference clock signal. A shift voltage is generated which varies every cycle of the reference clock signal while the cycle of the control clock signal is taken as one cycle. An analog signal is offset by the shift voltage. The offset analog signal is converted to a digital signal every cycle of the reference clock signal. Outputs from the A/D converter are averaged every cycle of the control clock signal.
US08836559B2

Some examples relate to a digital to analog converter (DAC). The DAC includes a digital signal input configured to receive a multi-bit digital input signal, and an array of cells. Respective cells in the array comprise respective capacitors. The DAC also includes a control circuit configured to, based on the multi-bit digital input signal, selectively induce one or more corresponding capacitors to discharge current to an output terminal of the DAC.
US08836558B1

A method and a corresponding device reduce the convergence time of a correlation algorithm that uses random signals injected into an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) as input to the algorithm. The method and device involve, at a processor of a pipelined ADC, injecting a random signal into each of a plurality of stages in the pipeline and obtaining digital values generated in response to the random signals. Noise components of residue signals in the plurality of stages are calculated as a function of the digital values and values of the random signals. The noise components correspond to the random signals.
US08836553B2

Methods and apparatuses are described for a DSP receiver with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) having high speed, low BER performance with low power and area requirements. Speed is increased for multi-path ADC configurations by resolving a conventional bottleneck. ADC performance is improved by integrating calibration and error detection and correction, such as distributed offset calibration and redundant comparators. Power and area requirements are dramatically reduced by using low BER rectification to nearly halve the number of comparators in a conventional high speed, low BER flash ADC.
US08836550B2

A system and method of reducing the effects of nonidealities of ADCs in multipath converters is disclosed. The system and method employs a variety of measure and correction blocks to determine statistical properties of the output stream of the multipath converter and to apply corrections to the operation of the subconverters of the multipath converter based upon differences in the measured statistics and expected target values, either explicit or implicit, for those statistics. A variety of examples of possible measure and configuration blocks are disclosed, as is the cascading of the measure and correction blocks to correct multiple errors in the output of the multipath converter. Feedforward (purely digital) and feedback (analog and digital) solutions are both disclosed.
US08836545B2

A motor vehicle includes a plurality of electronic detection devices for detecting and making available vehicle-related information items, wherein the vehicle-related information items relate to various areas or components outside or inside the motor vehicle; a display unit for displaying the vehicle-related information items; an operator control device for detecting an operator control action; and a control unit. The control unit is configured and coupled with the detection devices, the display unit and the operator control device such that in a first display operating state, first vehicle-related information items and a first graphics object, which represents the motor vehicle, are displayed. In a second display operating state, second vehicle-related information items and a second graphics object, which represents the motor vehicle, are displayed. The first graphics object, which represents the motor vehicle, is larger than the second. Switching between the first and the second display operating states is brought about by way of an operator control action.
US08836542B2

Systems and methods for alerting a flight crew when the vertical situation display may be providing incomplete information due to the presence of a non-computed trajectory segment in the flight plan. A processing device in signal communication with a flight management system, a position measuring system, and a velocity measuring system receives a flight plan from the flight management system and determines if the flight plan includes any non-computed trajectory segments. If at least one of time or distance to the beginning of a next non-computed trajectory segment is less than a threshold value, the processing device generates an alert that information displayed on a vertical situation display may be incomplete. An output device outputs the generated alert.
US08836541B2

A rotorcraft (1) having on-board lighting equipment for lighting the surrounding environment. The lighting equipment comprises a plurality of headlights (2, 2′, 3, 3′) that are allocated to respective specific lighting functions in landing and in winching. The headlights (2, 2′, 3, 3′) are also operated to perform a searching lighting function. Control means determine which headlights (2, 2′, 3, 3′) are to be operated depending on a lighting function selected by an operator and depending on where the headlights are located on the rotorcraft (1). A search zone (4, 4′) for illuminating is identified by identification means on the basis of a lighting command common to the headlights (2, 2′, 3, 3′). Coordination means cause the headlights (2, 2′, 3, 3′) to converge on the identified search zone (4, 4′), while taking account of their respective locations on the rotorcraft (1).
US08836539B2

Provided are a loop type automobile sensing device formed integrally with a small loop coil, which has the automobile sensing sensitivity of a related art loop type automobile sensing device using a large loop coil, so as to greatly facilitate installing and maintaining of the loop type automobile sensing device and to expand the application scope of the loop type automobile sensing device, and a parking information system using the loop type automobile sensing device. In addition, the loop type automobile sensing device integrally formed with the loop coil is provided in plurality as automobile sensors to detect the presence and moving state of an automobile according to a signal from the automobile sensors, to control operations of a plurality of cameras, warning lamps, and display devices installed to a parking lot, and to notify parking information and automobile movement information.
US08836538B2

The present application discloses a parking guidance system. The parking guidance system is mounted on a vehicle and includes a camera, a display device with a display correction system, a parking mode selection apparatus, a parking area selection apparatus, a first turning guidance apparatus, and a second turning guidance apparatus. The camera is mounted at the rear of the vehicle to capture the image showing environment behind the vehicle. The display device with a display correction system is coupled to the camera and is configured to display an image corrected by the display correction system. The parking mode selection apparatus is coupled to the display device. The parking mode selection apparatus displays a predicted parking area on the display device. The parking area selection apparatus is coupled to the display device. The parking area selection apparatus displays a parking guidance area on the display device. The first turning guidance apparatus is coupled to the display device. The first turning guidance apparatus displays an arc on the display device. The second turning guidance apparatus is coupled to the display device. The second turning guidance apparatus displays on the display device a parking track with distance indication.
US08836535B2

A mobile network terminal device and method for monitoring the electrophysiological data and a pathological image are provided, including: a baseband processor module, an electrophysiological data collection module, a keyboard module, a graphics and image display module, an image and picture sensor, a voice communication module, an external data memory card, an external data memory, a Bluetooth module, a USB interface module, a GPS receiver module, an application module set and run in the operation system of the baseband processor; an electrophysiological data remote mobile monitoring, a heart pacemaker remote mobile monitoring, a remote consultation appointment, a pathological image remote mobile monitoring, a data exchange, a medical advisory VoIP communication and a network emergency call being performed by the mobile network terminal device under the control of the application module.
US08836532B2

A notification appliance configured to emit a notification output based upon at least one detected environmental condition is provided that includes a sensor configured to detect the at least one environmental condition, at least one light emitting diode (LED) light source configured to emit light having an intensity during a pulse time period, and a controller in communicative connection with the sensor and the LED light source, wherein the controller is configured to control the LED light source so that the pulse time period is approximately less than or equal to two hundred milliseconds (200 ms), while substantially maintaining an effective intensity and enhancing a perceived brightness of the emitted light.
US08836529B2

A chain saw hazard warning light and method for using same. A pair of oppositely-directed light sources emit light beams throughout a chain shot hazard warning zone through rectilinear, slotted openings at opposite ends of a housing. The light beams turn on, if and only if, the cutting chain is rotating about the chain guide bar; alternatively, initiation of rotation of the cutting chain is delayed to permit the light beams to turn on some time prior thereto. The zone is defined by first and second pairs of planes that diverge in opposite directions from the chain guide bar, said planes being disposed at equal, acute angles (most preferably 15°) to, and on opposite sides of, a plane that includes the chain guide bar.
US08836524B2

A detecting device is used for detecting a battery leak, a positive terminal of the battery is electrically connected to a first contact, a negative terminal of the battery is electrically connected to a second contact. The detecting device includes a first conductor, a second conductor electrically connected to the second contact, and a warning unit electrically connected between the first contact and the first conductor. The second conductor being electrically connected to the first conductor through electrolyte leaked out of the battery, thus the warning unit will be actuated to produce a warning signal.
US08836523B2

A fault gas alarm system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the fault gas alarm system includes: a gas sensor configured to fluidly connect with an oil valve in an oil-filled vacuum-type on-load tap changer (OLTC), the gas sensor for monitoring a gas level in an oil within the oil valve; and a bi-level alarm system electrically connected with the gas sensor, the bi-level alarm system including a visual alarm indicator configured to provide a visual alarm in response to receiving an indication the gas level in the oil exceeds a threshold.
US08836521B2

One aspect of the invention is an apparatus including an alarm for alerting an operator to recharge a humidifier, wherein such alarm is generated other than through the use of a humidity sensor. In one embodiment the total work performed during heating and hydrating an insufflation gas is measured and an alarm generated when the total work performed exceeds a particular threshold. In another embodiment, a flow meter is used to measure the total flow of insufflation gas so that when the total flow of insufflation gas reaches a predetermined level an alarm is activated.
US08836519B2

This disclosure relates to detecting fluid in medical tubing. In certain aspects, a method is performed by a data processing apparatus. The method includes controlling repetitive activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes receiving a signal from the ultrasonic receiver during an activation of the ultrasonic transmitter. The method also includes determining that fluid is absent or present in a portion of the medical fluid tube based on a comparison between the signal and a threshold value.
US08836499B2

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed that allow an electronic device to autonomously adapt one or more user alerts to the current operating environment of the electronic device. For example, some embodiments may include a method comprising providing a plurality of alert devices in an electronic device, determining an operating environment of the electronic device using a sensor of the electronic device, and actuating at least one of the plurality of alert devices that corresponds to the determined operating environment.
US08836496B2

A system includes a processor and an external fuel indicator. The processor is configured to instruct powering of a digital display in response to detection that one or more power-up indicators has been satisfied. The processor is also configured to obtain fuel-related readings as a vehicle is fueled. Also, the processor is further configured to determine at least one fuel-related statistic other than a current fuel level. Further, the processor is configured to output the at least one fuel-related statistic to the external fuel indicator.
US08836491B2

A system and method for detecting an occupant in a vehicle capture successive images from an infrared camera that are analyzed to detect thermal characteristics of an occupant as well as movement. If an operator of the vehicle has exited the vehicle, the vehicle is deactivated, an occupant is detected, and a temperature in the cabin of the vehicle is higher or lower than desired, a report is made to the operator via a mobile phone or key fob.
US08836489B2

A system and method for detecting unauthorized vehicle movement that includes measuring a resting angle of a vehicle using a vehicle sensor; thereafter, detecting a change in the measured resting angle of the vehicle; determining that the detected change is not authorized; and sending an alert message based on the determination via a vehicle telematics unit.
US08836488B2

An alarm turning off method and a mobile device adapted to the method are provided. The method includes reproducing a preset alarm audio sound and outputting a preset beat at a preset alarm time, determining whether the mobile device receives an input beat, when the mobile device has received the input beat, muting the reproduced alarm audio sound, determining whether the preset beat is identical to the input beat in a state where the alarm audio sound is muted, and turning off the alarm when the number of occurrences where the preset beat matches the input beat is a preset number in a state where the alarm audio sound is muted.
US08836487B2

An integrated remote controller and a method of selecting a device controlled thereby are disclosed. The present invention is implemented such that it can store position data of devices to be controlled by the integrated remote controller; recognize devices around the integrated remote controller and displaying the devices; determine as to whether an angular velocity of the integrated remote controller is varied, if the recognized devices are plural; if the angular velocity is varied, sense movement direction of the integrated remote controller based on the angular velocity to search for a device to be controlled by a user; and display a control menu of the device to be controlled by the user.
US08836486B2

A portable transmitter has an inner cover, an outer cover, outer knobs, a cover, a circuit substrate, etc. The cover has projection parts made of elastic material. Each projection part projects toward a corresponding opening part of the outer cover through a corresponding penetration hole of the inner case. The front end of the projection part is contacted to the corresponding outer knob. The opposite part of the projection part is contacted to a corresponding tact switch formed on the circuit substrate while the projection part is elastically deformed and the inner case accommodates the cover. Each of the outer knobs is placed in the corresponding opening part of the outer case while the outer peripheral part of the outer knob is pushed onto the outer peripheral part of the wall surface of the opening part formed in the outer case by repulsive elastic force applied from the cover.
US08836483B2

The present invention discloses an optical remote control system, and a method for controlling a light source of the system. The system includes: a light source including a plurality of lighting units, the light source generating at least one light beam; an image sensor receiving an image including the light beam; and a processor determining a number or positions of the lighting units which are activated according to an area of the light beam in the image.
US08836482B2

A method and apparatus are provided for controlling a Remote User Interface Client (RUIC), on which a remote user interface is displayed, through another RUIC. A message including control information that indicates a control action corresponding to a user input at the other RUIC is received at the RUIC from the other RUIC. The RUIC determines whether the control information is predefined information or undefined information. When the control information is predefined information, the control information is delivered from a web server of the RUIC to an application of the RUIC, and a control operation corresponding to the control information is executed by the application. When the control information is undefined information, the received control information is delivered from the web server to the application through a remote control plug-in in the RUIC to execute the control operation corresponding to the control information by the application.
US08836481B2

In a method for operating a transponder (1, 41), the transponder (1, 4) receives a signal from a transmitter (2, 42). The signal comprises an information about a reference sensitivity and the transponder (1, 41) has an input sensitivity such that the transponder (1, 41) detects only signals above a certain power corresponding to the input sensitivity. In response to the received signal, the input sensitivity of the transponder (1, 41) is adjusted to the reference sensitivity.
US08836476B2

In some examples, wireless light controller technology includes methods and apparatuses. In other examples, the technology includes one or more lights on a power line. Each light of the one or more lights is individually controllable via power line communication over the power line. The technology further includes a wireless device configured to transmit wireless communication. The wireless communication includes instructions to control the one or more lights. The technology further includes a wireless light controller configured to receive the wireless communication and transmit the instructions to control the one or more lights over the power line communication to the one or more lights.
US08836470B2

A system for interfacing facility access with control employs an electronic bridge that transparently conveys data between functional devices, such as remotely located card readers and door strikes, and a network incorporating a control and monitor computer that has access to a database of user identifications and permissions. The electronic bridge is flexibly configured to accept a wide range of protocols used by the devices and converts messages to data packets without prior knowledge of the length of the message.
US08836461B2

An M phase coupled inductor includes a magnetic core including a first end magnetic element, a second end magnetic element, and M legs disposed between and connecting the first and second end magnetic elements. M is an integer greater than one. The coupled inductor further includes M windings, where each winding has a substantially rectangular cross section. Each one of the M windings is at least partially wound about a respective leg.
US08836457B2

A contactless switch structure is provided that may turn on and off an electrical signal in a contactless manner, allow a worn operating portion in the structure to be easily replaced, and prevent decrease of the sensitivity caused by foreign material such as dust. A contactless switch structure according to the invention includes a replaceable member to be detachably set to a target portion to which the contactless switch structure is to be set, the replaceable member having an aperture at an end section thereof and a virtual boundary defined by the aperture at the end section; and a detection element and a detector closely opposed across the virtual boundary in the normal state, the detection element and the detector being placed on the replaceable member side and the target portion side of the virtual boundary, respectively.
US08836450B2

An adjustable resonator filter comprised of cavity resonators. There is a movable conductive tuning element in the filter for adjusting each electromagnetic coupling, which element is located outside the resonator cavities. When the coupling between two resonators is the case, the movement of the tuning element changes the coupling between the signal ground and a fixed coupling element which extends from a resonator cavity to the next cavity, whereupon the strength of the coupling between the resonators changes. When the coupling between a resonator and the input/output line of the filter is the case, by means of the tuning element it is implemented a section with a low impedance inside a range with a relatively high impedance on the transmission path. This section moves together with the tuning element, in which case the strength of the coupling between the resonator and the line changes.
US08836446B2

A wave amplitude modulator for modulating a transmitted electromagnetic wave includes one or multiple self-gated capacitively coupled pair(s) of electron layers such as semiconductor or semimetal layers. Two electrical contacts are placed to each layer of electrons of the self-gated pair(s), and a power source is electrically connected to them. The power source, by varying the voltage applied between layers of electrons, tunes the electron density thereof, thereby adjusting the optical conductivity thereof, and the change in the optical conductivity of the layers of electrons causes an amplitude modulation of the transmitted electromagnetic wave passing through the capacitively coupled layers of electrons.
US08836440B2

Doubly-clamped nanowire electromechanical resonators that can be used to generate parametric oscillations and feedback self-sustained oscillations. The nanowire electromechanical resonators can be made using conventional NEMS and CMOS fabrication methods. In very thin nanowire structures (sub-micron-meter in width), additive piezoresistance patterning and fabrication can be highly difficult and thus need to be avoided. This invention shows that, in piezoresistive nanowires with homogeneous material composition and symmetric structures, no conventional and additive piezoresistance loops are needed. Using AC and DC drive signals, and bias signals of controlled frequency and amplitude, output signals having a variety of frequencies can be obtained. Various examples of such resonators and their theory of operation are described.
US08836425B2

A variable gain amplifier has an attenuator having an input and a series of tap points, and a series of low-inertia switches, each switch coupled to a corresponding one of the tap points to steer outputs from the attenuator to an output terminal. An amplifier has an input cell, a load coupled to an output of the input cell, a buffer having an input coupled to the load, a feedback network coupled between an output of the buffer and the input cell, and a variable filter cell coupled to the input cell.
US08836423B2

A method and apparatus are provided for using an automatic BW adjustment circuit to automatically adjust the bandwidth of an electronic amplifier based on the amplitude of a signal that is output from a variable gain amplifier or of one or more variable gain stages that follow the amplifier. By automatically adjusting the bandwidth of the electronic amplifier based on the amplitude of the signal, bandwidth enhancement can be provided while also preventing, or at least reducing, peaking of the frequency response of the electronic amplifier.
US08836421B2

An output network for use with a multi-transistor amplifier circuit comprises N transistors configured to provide a Chireix outphasing behavior. The N transistors coupled to receive different amplitude and/or phase signals relative to a source signal. The output network comprises: a plurality of branches arranged in a hierarchical structure between N input nodes and an output node; at least one branch connection arranged between the input nodes and the output node, wherein each branch connection is arranged to couple first and second branches from an input side to a single branch on an output side. The hierarchical structure is arranged asymmetrically such that at least one branch connection comprises a different number of input nodes ultimately connected to its first branch compared to the number of input nodes ultimately connected to its second branch.
US08836420B2

The invention provides an analog circuit that decreases an effect of variation of a transistor. By flowing a bias current in a compensation operation, a voltage between the gate and source of the transistor to be compensated is held in a capacitor. In a normal operation, the voltage stored in the compensation operation is added to a signal voltage. As the capacitor holds the voltage according to the characteristics of the transistor to be compensated, the effect of variation can be decreased by adding the voltage stored in the capacitor to the signal voltage. Further, an analog circuit which decreases the effect of variation can be provided by applying the aforementioned basis to a differential circuit, an operational amplifier and the like.
US08836413B2

A method for generating a reference voltage includes generating a proportional-to-absolute temperature (PTAT) voltage across a first pseudo resistor. The first pseudo resistor includes a transistor. The method also includes converting the PTAT voltage to a current based on a resistance of the first pseudo resistor. The method also includes mirroring the current using a current mirror circuit and converting the mirrored current to a converted PTAT voltage using a second pseudo resistor. The second pseudo resistor includes a transistor. The first pseudo resistor and the second pseudo resistor include equal transistor types. The method also includes generating a complementary-to-absolute temperature (CTAT) voltage, and summing the converted PTAT voltage and the CTAT voltage to produce the reference voltage. The resulting reference voltage is temperature independent.
US08836412B2

A charge pump system includes a charge pump that receives its clock signals, generated by an oscillator circuit, though a clock buffer. The clock buffer is power-controlled to reduce power consumption and output voltage ripple. The buffer is formed of a series of inverter that are connected to the power supply level through a clamping element, such as a transistor whose gate is controlled by a regulation signal based on feedback from the pump's output.
US08836405B2

A system for synchronizing a first clock and a second clock includes a receiver associated with the first clock, configured to receive a remote pulse from the second clock. The remote pulse has a pulse repetition frequency and spectral characteristics that are known to the local clock. The system also includes a local pulse emitter configured to create a local pulse at the first clock, and optics configured to align the local pulse and the remote pulse. The system further includes an interferometer configured to create an interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse. A controller is provided that is configured to calculate a time delay between the first clock and the second clock based on the interference pattern between the local pulse and the remote pulse.
US08836402B2

A phase splitter includes: a first signal path; and a second signal path, wherein the phase splitter outputs an internal signal of the first signal path as a first phase signal, and mixes an output signal of the first signal path with an output signal of the second signal path, thereby outputting a second phase signal having a predetermined phase difference from the first phase signal.
US08836398B2

In an embodiment of the invention, a flip-flop circuit contains a 2-input multiplexer, a master latch, a transfer gate and a slave latch. The scan enable control signals SE and SEN of the multiplexer determine whether data or scan data is input to the master latch. The clock signals CLK and CLKN and retention control signals RET and RETN determine when the master latch is latched. The slave latch is configured to receive the output of the master latch, a second data bit D2, the clock signals CLK and CLN, the retain control signals RET and RETN, the slave control signals SS and SSN. The signals CLK, CLKN, RET, RETN, SS and SSN determine whether the output of the master latch or the second data bit D2 is latched in the slave latch. Control signals RET and RETN determine when data is stored in the slave latch during retention mode.
US08836391B2

A method for plesiochronous clock generation for parallel wireline transceivers, includes: inputting, into at least one decoder, at least one digital frequency mismatch number; decoding, with the at least one decoder, the at least one digital frequency mismatch number to obtain at least one digital frequency divider number that represents a transmit frequency associated with at least one signal; inputting the at least one digital frequency divider number into at least one fractional-N phase lock loop; and utilizing, by the at least one fractional-N phase lock loop, the at least one digital frequency divider number and an analog reference signal produced by a reference oscillator to produce a resultant signal at the transmit frequency; wherein the at least one decoder and the at least one fractional-N phase lock loop are contained on a single integrated circuit.
US08836390B2

An integrated circuit die stack includes a first die having a first phase locked loop (PLL) and a second die having a second PLL. The first PLL includes a first voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) and the second PLL includes a second VCO. The first VCCO and the second VCCO share a frequency divider and a loop filter.
US08836385B2

A frequency converter includes a comparator, an error computation unit and a calibration unit. The comparator receives a reference voltage signal and a triangle wave signal, and outputs a switching signal. The switching signal is fed back to the error computation unit to calculate an error signal by computing the reference signal and the switching signal. The calibration unit calibrates the triangle wave signal or the reference voltage signal according to the error signal.
US08836383B2

The present invention discloses a multipurpose half bridge signal output circuit. The multipurpose half bridge signal output circuit is capable of selectively operating under a charge sharing mode or a gate pulsing modulation mode. The multipurpose half bridge signal output circuit includes: a first output pin; a second output pin; a first circuit zone having a first common end coupled to the first output pin; and a second circuit zone having a second common end coupled to the second output pin.
US08836382B1

A driving circuit is provided. The driving circuit has: a level shifter configured to receive a reference voltage and an input signal at a first voltage to generate a second voltage; an differential amplifier, coupled to the level shifter, configured to receive the second voltage and an output signal to provide an operating voltage, wherein the differential amplifier is supplied by a first power source at a third voltage; and an output stage, coupled to the differential amplifier, configured to receive the input signal and the operating voltage for switching the output signal, wherein the first voltage is smaller than the third voltage, and the output signal has a fourth voltage between the first voltage and the third voltage.
US08836377B1

A power supervisor circuit is provided. The circuit includes a first sample circuit that periodically samples a first reference voltage derived from a high output rail of a voltage source and generates a first sampled output voltage. The circuit includes second sample circuit that periodically samples a second reference voltage associated with a low output rail of the voltage source and generates a second sampled output voltage. A voltage supervisor in the circuit generates a trip point signal when a combination of the first and second sampled output voltage crosses a predetermined threshold indicating that the voltage source output voltage has fallen below a desired output voltage.
US08836373B2

A delay value control circuit of a phase difference quantization circuit, wherein the phase difference quantization circuit has first to Nth (N is an integer equal to or greater than 2) delay units with binary weights. The delay value control circuit includes a replica delay unit replicating an Ath (2≦A≦N) delay unit; and a delay control unit configured to compare a phase of a first output signal generated from delaying an input signal with an A−1th delay unit and a phase of a second output signal generated from delaying the input signal with the Ath delay unit and the replica delay unit and configured to control a delay value of the Ath delay unit using a comparison result.
US08836372B1

A digital signal processing apparatus includes a digital circuit device having one or more elements configured to process digital data; a power supply configured to deliver a controllable operating voltage for the one or more elements; control logic configured to receive feedback signals from each of the one or more elements, the feedback signals indicative of a rate at which data is moving through each individual element; and the control logic configured to output a control signal to the power supply so as to cause the power supply to reduce the operating voltage for the one or more elements responsive to a decreasing workload detected therein, and to cause the power supply to increase the operating voltage for the one or more pipelines responsive to an increasing workload detected therein.
US08836366B2

A system and method for testing circuits. A generated input voltage waveform for a first phase of a test may use transitions with a voltage swing between expected low and high trigger points for an integrated circuit (IC) with hysteresis. A generated input voltage waveform for a second phase of the test may use transitions with a voltage swing between the expected low trigger point and a high sub-threshold value. The high sub-threshold value may be a tolerable voltage difference below the expected high trigger point. A generated input voltage waveform for a third phase of the test may use transitions with a voltage swing between the expected high trigger point and a low sub-threshold value. The low sub-threshold value may be a tolerable voltage difference above the expected low trigger point. The expected trigger points and sub-threshold values may be found from earlier characterization studies for the IC.
US08836358B2

A multi-point probe particularly suitable for automated handling is disclosed. An automated multi-point measuring system including the multi-point probe and a probe manipulator head is also disclosed In addition, an automated multi-point probe gripping system including a probe holder and the probe manipulator head is revealed. Further, a loaded probe loader comprising a probe loader and a probe cassette for handling the multi-point probe is also revealed, where the probe cassette is provided with the probe holder for securing the multi-point probe.
US08836355B2

A plurality of sets of test conditions of a die in a stacked system is established, wherein the plurality of test conditions are functions of temperatures of the die, and wherein the stacked system comprises a plurality of stacked dies. A temperature of the die is measured. A respective set of test conditions of the die is found from the plurality of sets of test conditions, wherein the set of test conditions corresponds to the temperature. The die is at the temperature using the set of test conditions to generate test results.
US08836352B2

An integrated circuit comprises at least one pin and has at least one resistor connected between a reference voltage and the at least one pin. Current measurement circuitry applies a voltage across the at least one resistor and measures a current at the at least one pin responsive to the applied voltage in a first mode of operation. The measured current enables determination of a current limit set point for the integrated circuit. In a second mode of operation, the at least one resistor comprises a pull up resistor and the at least one pin that is connected to the at least one resistor comprises an open-drain output.
US08836347B2

A surface-conforming obscured feature detector includes a plurality of sensor plates, each having a capacitance that varies based on the dielectric constant of the materials that compose the surrounding objects and the proximity of those objects. A sensing circuit is coupled to the sensor plates 32 to measure the capacitances of the sensor plates. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and are selectively activated to identify the location of an obscured feature behind a surface.
US08836345B2

Apparatus for use in performing impedance measurements on a subject. The apparatus includes a processing system for causing a first signal to be applied to the subject, determining an indication of a second signal measured across the subject, using the indication of the second signal to determine any imbalance and if an imbalance exists, determining a modified first signal in accordance with the imbalance and causing the modified first signal to be applied to the subject to thereby allow at least one impedance measurement to be performed.
US08836343B2

First, second, and third electrodes are exposed to a fuel passage. The third electrode defines a first gap with the first electrode and defines a second gap with the second electrode. A property detection unit detects a property of fuel according to a summation of a first capacitance of the first gap and a second capacitance of the second gap. A correct-erroneous determination unit determines whether the property detected with the property detection unit is correct or erroneous according to a ratio of the summation and the first capacitance.
US08836326B2

When the zero-crossing of one of the output signals of magnetic sensors has been detected, a rotation angle computing device identifies a magnetic pole sensed by the first magnetic sensor based on the other two output signals. Subsequently, the rotation angle computing device identifies the magnetic pole sensed by the second magnetic sensor and the magnetic pole sensed by the third magnetic sensor based on the magnetic pole sensed by the first magnetic sensor. After that, the rotation angle computing device corrects the amplitude of the output signal of each magnetic sensor based on the identified magnetic poles respectively sensed by the magnetic sensors. Then, the rotation angle computing device computes the electric angle θe of the rotor based on the corrected output signals.
US08836317B2

A current sensor includes, a current-measured wiring including parallel wiring sections in which portions of the same wiring are arranged in parallel such that electric current to be measured flows therein in opposite directions each other; a magnetism detection unit which is arranged between parallel wirings located in the parallel wiring sections and detects a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a plane formed by the parallel wirings; a current detection unit which detects electric current flowing in the current-measured wiring, based on the magnetic field detected by the magnetism detection unit; and a magnetic core surrounding the parallel wiring sections so as to intensify the magnetic field generated around the parallel wirings located in the parallel wiring sections when electric current flows in the wirings. The magnetic core has a pair of plates facing each other over a plane formed by the parallel wirings, the pair of plates having flat and parallel inner faces, and the magnetism detection unit is arranged between the pair of plates of the magnetic core.
US08836309B2

A control device is disclosed, having a signal generating circuit and a mode decision circuit. The signal generating circuit is used to generate a first control signal and a second control signal according to an output voltage of a buck-boost converter. The first control signal is used to conduct a first switch and a second switch of the buck-boost converter. The second control signal is used to conduct a third switch and a fourth switch of the buck-boost converter. When the duty cycle of the first control signal is greater than a first predetermined value and the duty cycle of the second control signal is less than a second predetermined value, the mode decision circuit configures the signal generating circuit to generate the first control signal and the second control signal with substantially the same duty cycle.
US08836304B2

The present technology is related generally to a switching mode power supply with virtual current sensing. The switching mode power supply comprises a power stage that includes a first power switch and a second power switch coupled in series. The switching mode power supply senses a first current flowing through the first power switch during on-time and provides a virtual current sense signal that is proportional to a second current flowing through the second power switch during on-time. The switching mode power supply further combines the real current sense signal and the virtual current sense signal to form a current sense signal, which is sent to the controller to realize desired control.
US08836298B1

The present invention discloses a multi-phase switching regulator and a control method thereof. The multi-phase switching regulator includes plural power stage circuits, wherein at least one power stage circuit is enabled or disabled according to a phase adding/shedding signal; at least one zero current detection circuit, which is coupled to one of the power stage circuit, for generating a trigger signal according to an inductor current in a corresponding one of the power stage circuits, a zero current reference signal, and an average reference signal; and a phase control circuit controlling the phase adding/shedding operation according to the trigger signal.
US08836296B2

A three-phase rectification circuit rectifies output voltage of a three-phase AC power supply, a step-up converter circuit steps up the output voltage, and a smoothing device smoothes the stepped-up output voltage. A voltage detection circuit detects output voltage VoL of the smoothing device, and an AC current component detection circuit extracts AC component included in output current of the three-phase rectification circuit and outputs a detection signal ViL corresponding to the AC component. A control circuit calculates a deviation ΔVdc1 (=Vs−VoL−ViL) among an output voltage instruction Vs for output voltage of the step-up converter circuit and detection signals VoL and ViL obtained by the detection circuits, and generates a pulse signal for suppressing the deviation ΔVdc1 to zero, thereby performing PWM control for a switching device of the step-up converter circuit.
US08836286B2

A storage battery charge circuit for charging a battery is provided. The circuit includes a voltage input port, a converting circuit, and a charge circuit. The voltage input port is for being connected to a power source to receive a logic high level voltage. The converting circuit is connected to the voltage input port to convert the received logic high level voltage into a control signal including a logic high level voltage and a logic low level voltage alternately and the mark space ratio is not equal to one. The charge circuit is connected to the converting circuit to charge the battery or discharge the battery according to the control signal.
US08836284B2

A rechargeable battery is used with a plurality of battery cells restrained by a restraint member. After the rechargeable battery has the restraint member removed therefrom and is thus disassembled when the rechargeable battery is subsequently re-restrained by the restraint member and thus reused an internal resistance measurement unit measures the rechargeable battery's internal resistance based on battery data detected after the rechargeable battery is re-restrained. At least for the internal voltage, from a value thereof as measured after the battery is re-restrained an evaluation unit evaluates a value of the rechargeable battery that is reused.
US08836280B2

Methods and systems are provided for determining a state of charge of a battery. The battery is subjected to a predetermined magnetic field such that the battery and the predetermined magnetic field jointly create a resultant magnetic field. The resultant magnetic field is sensed. The state of charge of the battery is determined based on the resultant magnetic field.
US08836275B2

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a charging and discharging management apparatus and a mobile terminal. The charging and discharging management apparatus may include a charging and discharging management chip, primary battery positive and negative electrode contacts, secondary battery positive and negative electrode contacts, and electronic switches connected to the primary battery positive and negative electrode contacts and the secondary battery positive and negative electrode contacts, a detecting unit configured to detect in-place states of a primary battery and a secondary battery, and an electronic switch controlling unit connected to the detecting unit and configured to control the electronic switches to be on/off according to the in-place states of the batteries to enable the charging and discharging management chip to perform charging and discharging management for a battery in place.
US08836273B2

A power reception control device provided in a power reception device of a non-contact power transmission system includes a power-reception-side control circuit that controls an operation of the power reception device, and a power supply control signal output terminal that supplies a power supply control signal to a charge control device, the power supply control signal controlling power supply to a battery. The power-reception-side control circuit controls a timing at which the power supply control signal (ICUTX) is output from the power supply control signal output terminal. The operation of the charge control device is compulsorily controlled using the power supply control signal (ICUTX).
US08836270B2

In an inverter system, a phase adjusting unit configured to adjust, according to reception timing of first data, a phase of second PWM carrier to match a phase of first PWM carrier. A master inverter further includes an amplitude adjusting unit configured to adjust, when second data is received by a communication unit, according to the received second data, amplitude of a first command voltage to balance an actual output current output from a master inverter to the motor and an actual output current output from each of one or more slave inverters to the motor.
US08836267B2

A torque detection device includes: a torsion bar that couples a first shaft to a second shaft; a magnet that is fixed to the first shaft; and a pair of magnetic yokes that are fixed to the second shaft and that are arranged to face each other in an axial direction. Each of the magnetic yokes includes a yoke ring and a plurality of lugs that are arranged in a circumferential direction on the corresponding yoke ring. Each yoke ring includes an extending portion that extends radially outward from base portions of the lugs, and a bent portion that is bent in the axial direction from a radially outer end portion of the extending portion. The outer size of the pair of magnetic yokes in the axial direction is larger than or equal to the length of the magnet in the axial direction.
US08836263B2

Automated shade systems may comprise controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system and components thereof, for example window coverings, glass having variable characteristics, and so forth. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, information regarding one or more variable characteristics of glass, clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.
US08836260B2

A method for controlling a specific electric machine includes receiving with a controller a back electromotive force (BEMF) coefficient for the specific electric machine. The controller is configured to control operation of an inverter coupled to the electric machine where the inverter is configured to provide or receive multi-phase electricity to or from the electric machine in motor mode or generator mode, respectively. The method further includes receiving with the controller an input related to a selected torque to be applied by or a selected power to be removed from the electric machine. The method further includes determining a first electrical parameter the inverter is to apply to in motor mode or a second electrical parameter the inverter is to convert power to in generator mode using the BEMF coefficient, and applying the first electrical parameter to the electric machine or converting the received power to the second electrical parameter.
US08836256B2

A drive system has a switched reluctance motor (SR motor) and a control system configured to determine an estimated total torque of SR motor as a function of the phase voltages and phase currents of the phases of the SR motor.
US08836252B2

An exemplary piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric transducer that exhibits displacements when energized with corresponding voltages. A control system is electrically connected to the piezoelectric transducer so as to provide the transducer with the voltages. The control system includes feedback of displacements of the transducer as functions of respective voltage commands and feed-forward of electrical currents passing through the transducer as functions of the respective voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further has a feedback controller connected to receive transducer-displacement data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. The control system further can include a current-feed-forward amplifier connected to receive transducer-current data corresponding to the voltages applied to the transducer. Such a control system facilitates reduction of hysteresis in controlled actuation of the actuator.
US08836249B2

A method is described wherein a beam of charged particles is confined to an orbit within a compact region of space as it is accelerated across a wide range of energies. This confinement is achieved using a non-scaling magnetic field based on the Fixed Alternating Gradient principle where the field strength includes non-linear components. Examples of magnet configurations designed using this method are disclosed.
US08836248B2

An apparatus to monitor a condition of a solid state charge device (SSCD) useful in electrostatic printing includes a power supply and a frequency detector. The power supply provides current to the SSCD, and includes a resonant controller. The frequency detector senses a frequency associated with the current, and since the frequency is representative of the condition of the SSCD, the frequency detector thereby monitors the condition of the SSCD. A method of monitoring the condition of the SSCD includes providing current to the SSCD using a power supply, and sensing a frequency associated with the current. The power supply includes a resonant controller, and the frequency is representative of the condition of the SSCD, and thus the method thereby monitors the condition of the SSCD. A corresponding computer-readable medium is also disclosed.
US08836243B2

A system and method involving lighting fixtures, a control network, a controller and other devices such as light sensors, input devices and network adapters for coordinating precise brightness and color schedules among the lighting fixtures while maintaining a high color reliability including provisions for managing a plurality of lighting fixtures. The lighting fixtures contain lighting elements selected such that when controlled properly, operating along a daytime locus, the resultant light output closely resembles sunlight on a cloudless day in spectral characteristics, and wherein the total flux of blue light can be adjusted from a relative level of 1-100% the maximum blue flux of the lighting fixture by controlling individual lighting elements.
US08836230B2

This invention relates to a power factor correction circuit of an electronic ballast. The electronic ballast includes a rectification circuit, a first capacitive element and an inverter. The power factor correction circuit comprises a unidirectional element, an inductive element and a second capacitive element. The unidirectional element is connected in series with the inductive element, and the second capacitive element is connected in parallel with the unidirectional element and the inductive element. A junction of the unidirectional element and the second capacitive element is coupled to a first output terminal of the rectification circuit, a junction of the inductive element and the second capacitive element is coupled to an input terminal of the inverter, and the first capacitive element is coupled between a second output terminal of the rectification circuit and a junction of the unidirectional element and the inductive element.
US08836223B2

Embodiments may provide a first device that may comprise a substrate, a plurality of conductive bus lines disposed over the substrate, and a plurality of OLED circuit elements disposed on the substrate, where each of the OLED circuit elements comprises one and only one pixel electrically connected in series with a fuse. Each pixel may further comprise a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic electroluminescent (EL) material disposed between the first and the second electrodes. The fuse of each of the plurality of OLED circuit elements may electrically connect each of the OLED circuit elements to at least one of the plurality of bus lines. Each of the plurality of bus lines may be electrically connected to a plurality of OLED circuit elements that are commonly addressable and at least two of the bus lines may be separately addressable.
US08836218B2

Provided herein are methods of treating a proliferative disease in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of AC220 and a nucleoside analog, a topoisomerase inhibitor or an anthracycline, or a combination thereof.
US08836211B2

A white light emitting device according to an embodiment includes: a light emitting element having a peak wavelength in a wavelength range of 430 nm or more and 470 nm or less; a first fluorescent material emits light with a first peak wavelength of 525 nm or more and 560 nm or less; a second fluorescent material emits light with a second peak wavelength longer than the first peak wavelength; and a third fluorescent material emits light with a third peak wavelength of 620 nm or more and 750 nm or less, which is longer than the second peak wavelength. The first fluorescent material and the second fluorescent material has a composition of MSiαOβNγ, and when the first peak wavelength is denoted by λ1 (nm), whereas the second peak wavelength is denoted by λ2 (nm), 1100≦λ1+λ2 and λ2−λ1≦60 are satisfied.
US08836207B2

A fluorescent layer, its preparation method and uses are provided. The fluorescent layer is provided from a fluorescent material and a calcining material. The fluorescent material is in an amount ranging from about 5 wt % to about 95 wt % based on the total weight of the fluorescent layer. The fluorescent layer of the present invention can be used in a light-emitting diode to change the color of emitting-light and improve the heat dissipation of the light-emitting diode. Furthermore, the fluorescent layer of the present invention is free of an organic resin, and thus, does not have the problem of aging (etiolation). The final product has a stable, lasting and durable luminescent quality.
US08836205B2

A cyclotron includes a superconductive coil that is disposed in a vacuum vessel, a cooling unit that cools the superconductive coil, a basic support member that is installed in the vacuum vessel and supports the superconductive coil in the vacuum vessel, and a support member for quenching that is fixed to one of the superconductive coil and the vacuum vessel and forms a predetermined gap with the other thereof.
US08836186B2

A bus bar device electrically connects a plurality of coils arranged along a circumferential direction of the bus bar device to form an annular shape in entirety. A plurality of bus bars is arranged so that a plurality of layers is formed in a radial direction of the bus bar device. Each of the bus bars is formed from an arc-shaped conductive wire. A plurality of connection wires is respectively connected to the plurality of coils. The connection wires are arranged to overlap the bus bars and intersect the bus bars in the axial direction. Intersection portions at which the bus bars and the connection wires intersect include connection intersection portions at which the connection wires are electrically connected to the bus bars.
US08836172B2

Disclosed is a method for transferring energy wirelessly including transferring energy wirelessly from a first resonator structure to an intermediate resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the first resonator structure and the intermediate resonator structure is κ1B, transferring energy wirelessly from the intermediate resonator structure to a second resonator structure, wherein the coupling rate between the intermediate resonator structure and the second resonator structure is κB2, and during the wireless energy transfers, adjusting at least one of the coupling rates κ1B and κB2 to reduce energy accumulation in the intermediate resonator structure and improve wireless energy transfer from the first resonator structure to the second resonator structure through the intermediate resonator structure.
US08836169B2

A center-tapped solar array includes a plurality of series-connected solar cells connected between a positive terminal and a negative terminal for generating an output voltage. A center-tapped terminal connected to ground is connected to the plurality of series-connected solar cells at a midpoint between the positive and negative terminals. As a result, the positive terminal of the solar array has a positive voltage relative to ground greater than the center-tapped terminal and the negative terminal has a negative voltage relative to ground less than the center-tapped terminal.
US08836161B2

A breaker 162 is opened when a pantograph 101 is lowered. The pantograph 101 is connected to an overhead wire 200. Voltage and its phase of the overhead wire are detected by a detector 161. Power is supplied from a power storage device 150c to a tertiary winding 112c via a power converter 14c such that a primary side of the main transformer 110 has the same voltage and phase as the overhead wire so as to reversely excite the main transformer 110. When the voltage of the main transformer 110 has the same phase as the voltage of the overhead wire 200, the breaker 162 is turned on and then the pantograph 101 is raised, to connect the overhead wire 200 and the main transformer 110 to each other, thereby preventing the occurrence of an excitation inrush current to the main transformer 110.
US08836159B2

A compound-type wind power generator capable of increasing the size of Magnus wind turbine by disposing a propeller wind turbine with the Magnus wind turbine and increasing the amount of electric power generation. The compound-type wind power generator includes a propeller wind turbine; a Magnus wind turbine with perpendicular center shafts and a bevel gear mechanism; generators driven by the horizontal rotation shaft of the Magnus wind turbine and the horizontal rotation shaft of the propeller wind turbine; and connection shafts for fixing the outer end of the perpendicular center shaft of each Magnus wind turbine to an adjacent propeller blade. The horizontal rotation shafts of the propeller wind turbine and of the Magnus wind turbine have a double shaft structure in which one of the horizontal rotation shafts is formed by a cylindrical portion and the other one is axially inserted through the cylindrical portion with a play therebetween.
US08836158B2

A system for operating a horizontal axis wind turbine includes a turbine rotor and a rotor blade adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, two vertical shafts, a plurality of gears adapted to translate a rotational motion of the turbine rotor into counter-rotating vertical rotational motions of the shafts, and two generators fixed to a tower, adapted to translate a rotational motion of the shafts into electrical power. A method of operating a horizontal axis wind turbine system includes obtaining a turbine rotor and a rotor blade adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, obtaining two vertical shafts, obtaining a plurality of gears, and obtaining two generators fixed to a tower, translating a rotational motion of the turbine rotor into counter-rotating vertical rotational motions of the shafts using the gears, and translating a rotational motion of the shafts into electrical power using the generators.
US08836157B2

A power generation device for a vehicle comprises a housing adapted to removably affix to a rear of a vehicle and a rotatable support member for rotatably supporting a first device, the rotatable support member operatively connected to the housing, wherein the first device includes rotor blades for producing electrical energy when exposed to a flow of air. Further, the rotatable support member is adapted to be articulated between a range from a first position, wherein the rotatable support member and the rotor blades of the first device are disposed within the housing, and a second position, wherein the rotatable support member and the rotor blades of the first device are disposed outside of the housing.
US08836154B2

Method of operation of a variable speed wind turbine (11) having control means for its regulation tracking a power vs. generator speed curve (31) comprising a nominal zone (39) where the power is kept constant at a nominal value, a first sub-nominal zone (33) where the generator speed is kept constant at its coupling value, a second sub-nominal zone (35) where both generator speed and power are allowed to increase/decrease in line with wind speed and a third sub-nominal zone (37) between the second sub-nominal zone (35) and the nominal zone (39) that comprises a first vertical segment (41) at a generator speed nr2 higher than the generator nominal speed nr1 and a second vertical segment (43) at the generator nominal speed nr1 connecting with the nominal zone (39), each of both segments (41, 43) to be followed in function of the wind speed changes for optimizing the energy production.
US08836144B2

The present invention provides a semiconductor package structure, which includes a die, a plurality of bonding wires, an encapsulant, and a plurality of first external terminals. The die has an active surface and a back surface. A first end of each of the bonding wires is connected to the back surface of the die, and a second end opposite to the first end is electrically connected to the active surface of the die. The encapsulant covers the back surface of the die and the bonding wires, wherein a portion of each of the bonding wires is exposed from the encapsulant. The first external terminals are disposed on the top surface of the encapsulant, and cover the exposed portions of the bonding wires respectively and are electrically connected to the bonding wires.
US08836141B2

A semiconductor device is prepared by an annealing process to interconnect at least two components of the device by a conductor line surrounded by an insulator material. The annealing process results in formation of residual stresses within the conductor line and the insulator material. A notch is designed in the layout on a selective portion of the mask for patterning conductor line. The existence of a shape of notch on the selective portion generates extra stress components within the conductor line than if without the existence of the notch. The position of the notch is selected so that the extra stress components substantially counteract the residual stresses, thereby causing a net reduction in the residual stresses. The reduction in the residual stresses results in a corresponding mechanical stress migration and therefore improvement in the reliability of the device.
US08836139B2

A method includes providing a substrate with a patterned second layer over a first layer. The second layer includes a second layer opening having a first CD equal to the CD produced by a lithographic system (CDL). CDL is larger than a desired CD (CDD). A third layer is formed to fill the opening, leaving a top surface of the second layer exposed. The second layer is removed to produce a mesa formed by the third layer. The CD of the mesa is equal to about the first CD. The mesa is trimmed to produce a mesa with a second CD equal to about CDD. A fourth layer is formed to cover the first layer, leaving a top of the mesa exposed. The substrate is etched to remove the mesa and a portion of the first layer below the mesa to form an opening in the first layer with CDD.
US08836122B2

A semiconductor device has: a semiconductor substrate formed with a plurality of semiconductor elements, a plurality of interlevel insulating films laminated above the semiconductor substrate, including a first and a second interlevel insulating films adjacent to each other; a first wiring trench formed in the first interlevel insulating film; and a first damascene wiring including: a first barrier metal film having a diffusion preventive function, formed covering inner surface of the first wiring trench and defining a first main wiring trench; and a first main wiring layer filling the first main wiring trench, formed of first metal element, and added with second metal element having migration suppressing function, at spatially different concentration.
US08836117B2

An electronic device may include a bottom interconnect layer and an integrated circuit (IC) carried by the bottom interconnect layer. The electronic device may further include an encapsulation material on the bottom interconnect layer and laterally surrounding the IC. The electronic device may further include electrically conductive pillars on the bottom interconnect layer extending through the encapsulation material. At least one electrically conductive pillar and adjacent portions of encapsulation material may have a reduced height with respect to adjacent portions of the IC and the encapsulation material and may define at least one contact recess. The at least one contact recess may be spaced inwardly from a periphery of the encapsulation material.
US08836115B1

A stacked inverted flip chip package includes a substrate having a secondary electronic component opening and first traces. Primary flip chip bumps electrically and physically couple a primary electronic component structure to the substrate. Secondary flip chip bumps electrically and physically couple an inverted secondary electronic component to the primary electronic component structure between the primary electronic component structure and the substrate and within the secondary electronic component opening. By placing the secondary electronic component between the primary electronic component structure and the substrate, the height of the stacked inverted flip chip package is minimized.
US08836095B2

A base of an electronic component package holds an electronic component element. The base has a bottom face in a rectangular shape in plan view. The base includes a pair of terminal electrodes having a rectangular shape on the bottom face. The pair of terminal electrodes are to be bonded on an external circuit substrate with a conductive bonding material. The pair of terminal electrodes have mutually symmetrical shapes. Each of the terminal electrodes has a long side adjacent to or on an edge of a long side of the bottom face. The long side of each of the terminal electrodes is disposed parallel to the long side of the bottom face. The long side of each of the terminal electrodes has a length that is more than half a length of the long side of the bottom face.
US08836092B2

A lead frame for assembling a semiconductor device has a die pad surrounded by lead fingers. Each of the lead fingers has a proximal end close to but spaced from an edge of the die pad and a distal end farther from the die pad. A semiconductor die is attached to a surface of the die pad. The die has die bonding pads on its upper surface that are electrically connected to the proximal ends of the lead fingers with bond wires. An encapsulation material covers the bond wires, semiconductor die and the proximal ends of the lead fingers. Prior to assembly, hot spots of the die are determined and the lead fingers closest to the hot spots are selected to project closer to the die than the other lead fingers. These longer lead fingers assist in dissipating the heat at the die hot spot.
US08836091B1

A semiconductor package includes a lead frame, a semiconductor die, bond wires providing an electrical connection between the die and the lead frame, and a mold compound that encapsulates the lead frame, the die and the bond wires. The lead frame includes spaced apart first and second frame members each having an inner peripheral edge and an opposing outer peripheral edge, spaced apart lead pads disposed between the inner peripheral edges of the first and second frame members, and conductive leads disposed proximate to the outer peripheral edge of each of the first and second frame members. The die is mounted on the lead pads.
US08836089B2

The positive-type photosensitive resin composition according to the present invention comprises an alkali-soluble resin having a phenolic hydroxyl group, a compound that produces an acid by light, a thermal crosslinking agent, and a silane compound having at least one functional group selected from an epoxy group and a sulfide group.
US08836080B2

Embodiments of the invention provide a power semiconductor module wherein it is possible to reduce switching noise generated in a switching element, and at the same time, to reduce thermal resistance between a power semiconductor chip and an insulating substrate. In some embodiments, by a capacitor being installed between a printed substrate and an insulating substrate so as to be adjacent to a power semiconductor chip which is a switching element, it is possible to reduce switching noise generated in the switching element, and furthermore, it is possible to reduce thermal resistance between the power semiconductor chip and insulating substrate.
US08836070B2

A photo diode includes an intrinsic region on a substrate, a P+ doping region in a first portion of the intrinsic region, and an oxide semiconductor region. The oxide semiconductor region is spaced apart from the P+ doping region on a second portion of the intrinsic region and the second portion of the intrinsic region is different from the first portion of the intrinsic region.
US08836069B2

A lateral Metal-Semiconductor-Metal (MSM) Photodetector (PD) is based on amorphous selenium (a-Se). It has low dark current, high photoconductive gain towards short wavelengths, and high speed of operation up to several KHz. From processing point of view, a lateral structure is more attractive due to ease of fabrication as well as compatibility with conventional thin-film transistor (TFT) processes. The lateral a-Se MSM PD therefore has potentials in a variety of optical sensing applications particularly in indirect X-ray imaging utilizing scintillators and ultraviolet (UV) imaging for life sciences.
US08836061B2

A spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack includes layers to which when electric current is applied cause switching of the direction of magnetization of at least one of the layer. The STTMRAM MTJ stack includes a reference layer (RL) with a direction of magnetization that is fixed upon manufacturing of the STTMRAM MTJ stack, a junction layer (JL) formed on top of the RL, a free layer (FL) formed on top of the JL. The FL has a direction of magnetization that is switchable relative to that of the RL upon the flow of electric current through the spin transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STTMRAM) magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack. The STTMRAM MTJ stack further includes a spin confinement layer (SCL) formed on top of the FL, the SCL made of ruthenium.
US08836058B2

A magnetic device includes a first electrode portion, a free layer portion arranged on the first electrode portion, the free layer portion including a magnetic insulating material, a reference layer portion contacting the free layer portion, the reference layer portion including a magnetic metallic layer, and a second electrode portion arranged on the reference layer portion.
US08836057B2

Magnetoresistive elements, and memory devices including the same, include a pinned layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free layer corresponding to the pinned layer, and a protruding element protruding from the free layer and having a changeable magnetization direction. The free layer has a changeable magnetization direction. The protruding element is shaped in the form of a tube. The protruding element includes a first protruding portion and a second protruding portion protruding from ends of the free layer facing in different directions.
US08836056B2

Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) suitable for spin transfer torque memory (STTM) devices, include perpendicular magnetic layers and one or more anisotropy enhancing layer(s) separated from a free magnetic layer by a crystallization barrier layer. In embodiments, an anisotropy enhancing layer improves perpendicular orientation of the free magnetic layer while the crystallization barrier improves tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) ratio with better alignment of crystalline texture of the free magnetic layer with that of a tunneling layer.
US08836050B2

A structure and method to fabricate a body contact on a transistor is disclosed. The method comprises forming a semiconductor structure with a transistor on a handle wafer. The structure is then inverted, and the handle wafer is removed. A silicided body contact is then formed on the transistor in the inverted position. The body contact may be connected to neighboring vias to connect the body contact to other structures or levels to form an integrated circuit.
US08836049B2

A semiconductor structure includes a work function metal layer, a (work function) metal oxide layer and a main electrode. The work function metal layer is located on a substrate. The (work function) metal oxide layer is located on the work function metal layer. The main electrode is located on the (work function) metal oxide layer. Moreover a semiconductor process forming said semiconductor structure is also provided.
US08836043B2

A lateral bipolar junction transistor includes an emitter region; a base region surrounding the emitter region; a gate disposed at least over a portion of the base region; and a collector region surrounding the base region; wherein the portion of the base region under the gate does not under go a threshold voltage implant process.
US08836040B2

A semiconductor standard cell includes an N-type diffusion area and a P-type diffusion area, both extending across the cell and also outside of the cell. The cell also includes a conductive gate above each diffusion area to create a semiconductive device. A pair of dummy gates are also above the N-type diffusion area and the P-type diffusion area creating a pair of dummy devices. The pair of dummy gates are disposed at opposite edges of the cell. The cell further includes a first conductive line configured to couple the dummy devices to power for disabling the dummy devices.
US08836034B2

A protection circuit used for a semiconductor device is made to effectively function and the semiconductor device is prevented from being damaged by a surge. A semiconductor device includes a terminal electrode, a protection circuit, an integrated circuit, and a wiring electrically connecting the terminal electrode, the protection circuit, and the integrated circuit. The protection circuit is provided between the terminal electrode and the integrated circuit. The terminal electrode, the protection circuit, and the integrated circuit are connected to one another without causing the wiring to branch. It is possible to reduce the damage to the semiconductor device caused by electrostatic discharge. It is also possible to reduce faults in the semiconductor device.
US08836033B1

Embodiments of a method and apparatus for removing metallic nanotubes without transferring CNTs from one substrate to another substrate provide two methods of transferring a thin layer of crystalline ST-cut quartz wafer to the surface of a carrier silicon wafer for subsequent CNT growth, without resorting to CNT transfer. In other words, embodiments of a method and apparatus allow CNTs to be grown on the same substrate that metallic nanotube removal is performed, therefore eliminating the costly and messy step of transferring CNTs from one substrate to another. This is achieved through a residual thin layer of crystalline ST-cut quartz layer on a silicon wafer. The ST-cut quartz wafer promotes aligned growth of CNTs, while the underlying silicon wafer allows backgate burnout.
US08836021B2

A semiconductor device includes an active region, a gate conductor and a source electrode. The active region includes a drain region, a channel region stacked on the drain region, and a source region stacked on the channel region. The active region is formed of a silicon semiconductor layer. The gate conductor is embedded within a trench, which is formed from the source region to the drain region penetrating through the channel region. The source electrode is formed to come in contact with the source region and includes an adhesion layer. The source electrode is formed of a metal layer having a film thickness of 150 Å or smaller. The interface between the source electrode and the source region is silicidized.
US08836019B2

A recessed channel transistor, a semiconductor device including a transistor and methods of manufacturing the same are provided, the recessed channel transistor includes a gate structure, a second impurity region and a first impurity region. The gate structure may be formed on a substrate and filling a recess. The first impurity region, including first impurities, may be formed at a first upper portion of the substrate adjacent to the gate structure. The second impurity region, including second impurities, may be formed at a second upper portion of the substrate contacting the gate structure. The first impurity region may surround the second impurity region. The first impurities have a conductive type different from that of the second impurities.
US08836011B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor layer, first and second stacked bodies, first and second channel body layers, first and second memory films. The first stacked body includes electrode layers and first insulating films alternately stacked on the semiconductor layer. The first channel body layers pierces through the first stacked body in a stacking direction. Lower ends of the first channel body layers are connected. The first memory film is provided between the first channel body layers and the electrode layers. The second channel body layers pierces through the first stacked body in the stacking direction. Lower ends of the second channel body layers are connected. The second memory film is provided between the second channel body layers and the electrode layers. The second stacked body includes a first interlayer insulating film and a select gate layer.
US08836002B2

A method for fabricating a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) capacitor stack is disclosed wherein the stack includes a first electrode, a dielectric layer, and a second electrode. The first electrode is formed from a conductive binary metal compound and the conductive binary metal compound is annealed in a reducing atmosphere to promote the formation of a desired crystal structure. The binary metal compound may be a metal oxide. Annealing the metal oxide (i.e. molybdenum oxide) in a reducing atmosphere may result in the formation of a first electrode material (i.e. MoO2) with a rutile-phase crystal structure. This facilitates the formation of the rutile-phase crystal structure when TiO2 is used as the dielectric layer. The rutile-phase of TiO2 has a higher k value than the other possible crystal structures of TiO2 resulting in improved performance of the DRAM capacitor.
US08835994B2

A structural alternative to retro doping to reduce transistor leakage is provided by providing a liner in a trench, undercutting a conduction channel region in an active semiconductor layer, etching a side, corner and/or bottom of the conduction channel where the undercut exposes semiconductor material in the active layer and replacing the removed portion of the conduction channel with insulator. This shaping of the conduction channel increases the distance to adjacent circuit elements which, if charged, could otherwise induce a voltage and cause a change in back-channel threshold in regions of the conduction channel and narrows and reduces cross-sectional area of the channel where the conduction in the channel is not well-controlled; both of which effects significantly reduce leakage of the transistor.
US08835992B2

An electronic device and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The electronic device includes: a photodiode layer; a wiring layer formed on the first surface of the photodiode layer; a plurality of electrical contact pads formed on the wiring layer; a passivation layer formed on the wiring layer and the electrical contact pads; an antireflective layer formed on the second surface of the photodiode layer; a color filter layer formed on the antireflective layer; a dielectric layer formed on the antireflective layer and the color filter layer; and a microlens layer formed on the dielectric layer, allowing the color filter layer, the dielectric layer and the microlens layer to define an active region within which the electrical contact pads are positioned. As the electrical contact pads are positioned within the active region, an area of the substrate used for an inactive region can be eliminated.
US08835991B2

There is provided a solid-state image pickup device including a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of pixel portions that are provided on the semiconductor substrate. Each of the pixel portions includes a photoelectric converting unit that generates a charge on the basis of incident light, a memory unit that accumulates the charge generated by the photoelectric converting unit, a light shielding portion that shields at least the memory unit from light, a digging portion that digs into the semiconductor substrate between the photoelectric converting unit and the memory unit and is formed of a light shielding material, and a transmitting unit that transmits the charge from the photoelectric converting unit to the memory unit, by forming a channel for transmission in the digging portion.
US08835990B2

A 3-D memory is provided. Each word line layer has word lines and gaps alternately arranged along a first direction. Gaps include first group and second group of gaps alternately arranged. A first bit line layer is on word line layers and has first bit lines along a second direction. A first conductive pillar array through word line layers connects the first bit line layer and includes first conductive pillars in first group of gaps. A first memory element is between a first conductive pillar and an adjacent word line. A second bit line layer is below word line layers and has second bit lines along the second direction. A second conductive pillar array through word line layers connects the second bit line layer and includes second conductive pillars in second group of gaps. A second memory element is between a second conductive pillar and an adjacent word line.
US08835989B2

A semiconductor device includes first and second p-type diffusion regions, and first and second n-type diffusion regions that are each electrically connected to a common node. Conductive features are each defined within any one gate level channel that is uniquely associated with and defined along one of a number of parallel gate electrode tracks. The conductive features respectively form gate electrodes of first and second PMOS transistor devices, and first and second NMOS transistor devices. The gate electrodes of the first PMOS and second NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected in part by a first conductor within a first interconnect level. The gate electrodes of the second PMOS and first NMOS transistor devices are electrically connected in part by a second conductor within the first interconnect level. The first PMOS, second PMOS, first NMOS, and second NMOS transistor devices define a cross-coupled transistor configuration having commonly oriented gate electrodes.
US08835987B2

An insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) includes a first conductivity type substrate and a second conductivity type drift layer on the substrate. The second conductivity type is opposite the first conductivity type. The IGBT further includes a current suppressing layer on the drift layer. The current suppressing layer has the second conductivity type and has a doping concentration that is larger than a doping concentration of the drift layer. A first conductivity type well region is in the current suppressing layer. The well region has a junction depth that is less than a thickness of the current suppressing layer, and the current suppressing layer extends laterally beneath the well region. A second conductivity type emitter region is in the well region.
US08835983B2

According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor wafer includes a silicon substrate, a lower strain relaxation layer provided on the silicon substrate, an intermediate layer provided on the lower strain relaxation layer, an upper strain relaxation layer provided on the intermediate layer, and a functional layer provided on the upper strain relaxation layer. The intermediate layer includes a first lower layer, a first doped layer provided on the first lower layer, and a first upper layer provided on the first doped layer. The first doped layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first lower layer and contains an impurity of 1×1018 cm−3 or more and less than 1×1021 cm−3. The first upper layer has a lattice constant larger than or equal to that of the first doped layer and larger than that of the first lower layer.
US08835980B2

Provided is a semiconductor wafer including: a base wafer containing silicon; an inhibitor that has been formed on the base wafer, has an aperture in which a surface of the base wafer is exposed, and inhibits crystal growth; and a light-absorptive structure that has been formed inside the aperture in contact with a surface of the base wafer exposed inside the aperture, where the light-absorptive structure includes a first semiconductor and a second semiconductor.
US08835961B2

Devices are described including a first component and a second component, wherein the first component comprises a Group III-N semiconductor and the second component comprises a bimetallic oxide containing tin, having an index of refraction within 15% of the index of refraction of the Group III-N semiconductor, and having negligible extinction coefficient at wavelengths of light emitted or absorbed by the Group III-N semiconductor. The first component is in optical contact with the second component. Exemplary bimetallic oxides include Sn1-xBixO2 where x≅0.10, Zn2SnO2, Sn1-xAlxO2 where x≅0.18, and Sn1-xMgxO2 where x≅0.16. Methods of making and using the devices are also described.
US08835960B2

The present invention provides an organic LED element having the significantly larger light emission area than conventional ones. The invention relates to an organic LED element, comprising: a transparent substrate; a light scattering layer; a transparent first electrode; an organic light-emitting layer; and a second electrode formed in this order, wherein the light scattering layer has a base material comprising a glass, and a plurality of scattering materials dispersed in the base material; the light scattering layer has side surfaces, and each of the side surfaces has a surface tilted at an angle larger than right angle from an upper surface on the first electrode side toward a bottom surface on the transparent substrate side; and the first electrode is placed so as to continuously cover the side surfaces.
US08835954B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a structure including a first semiconductor layer of a first conductivity type, a second semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type and a light emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The device also includes an electrode layer provided on the second semiconductor layer side of the structure. The electrode layer includes a metal portion with a thickness of not less than 10 nanometers and not more than 100 nanometers. A plurality of openings pierces the metal portion, each of the openings having an equivalent circle diameter of not less than 10 nanometers and not more than 5 micrometers. The device includes an inorganic film providing on the metal portion and inner surfaces of the openings, the inorganic film having transmittivity with respect to light emitted from the light emitting layer.
US08835953B2

A lighting device comprising LEDs with phosphor layers includes a plurality of LED sets which can emit light with a peak emission wavelength between 360 nm and 490 nm; and a plurality of sets of phosphor layers covering the corresponding LED sets among the plurality of LED sets. At least two of the plurality of LED sets respectively have peak emission wavelength different from each other. The dominant fluorescence wavelength of at least one of the plurality of sets of phosphor layers ranges from 500 nm to 580 nm, and the dominant fluorescence wavelength of at least one of the other sets of phosphor layers ranges from 590 nm to 650 nm.
US08835952B2

A submount for mounting an LED chip includes a substrate, a die attach pad configured to receive an LED chip on an upper surface of the substrate, a first meniscus control feature on the substrate surrounding the die attach pad and defining a first encapsulant region of the upper surface of the substrate, and a second meniscus control feature on the substrate surrounding the first encapsulant region and defining a second encapsulant region of the upper surface of the substrate. The first and second meniscus control features may be substantially coplanar with the die attach pad. A packaged LED includes a submount as described above and further includes an LED chip on the die attach pad, a first encapsulant on the substrate within the first encapsulant region, and a second encapsulant on the substrate within the second encapsulant region and covering the first encapsulant. Method embodiments are also disclosed.
US08835950B2

A semiconductor device has an active layer, a first semiconductor layer of first conductive type, an overflow prevention layer disposed between the active layer and the first semiconductor layer, which is doped with impurities of first conductive type and which prevents overflow of electrons or holes, a second semiconductor layer of first conductive type disposed at least one of between the active layer and the overflow prevention layer and between the overflow prevention layer and the first semiconductor layer, and an impurity diffusion prevention layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the active layer, which has a band gap smaller than those of the overflow prevention layer, the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer and which prevents diffusion of impurities of first conductive type.
US08835945B2

A method of making a substantially monolithic lighting device comprising serially connected LEDs and lighting systems including the same. The serially connected LEDs may be comprised in a monolithic device comprising a first LED, a layer of conductive material, and a second LED positioned thereupon. The serially connected LEDs may also be electrically coupled to a plurality of resistors obviating the necessity of an AC/DC power converter when a luminaire containing the serially connected LEDs is connected to an AC power source.
US08835944B2

In a first aspect of the present invention, a lighting device including a metal plate, an electrical insulation layer that is smaller in size than an outline of the metal plate and arranged on an upper surface of the metal plate, a light-emitting element mounted on the electrical insulation layer, and a first connecting electrode and a second connecting electrode electrically connected to the light-emitting element and arranged on the electrical insulation layer.
US08835942B2

An LED module includes at least two LED package units and at least one connecting unit. Each LED package unit includes at least one first engaging portion, at least one first conductive portion, and at least one LED chip connected electrically to the first engaging portion. The connecting unit includes at least two second engaging portions, and at least one second conductive portion having two opposite end sections extending respectively to the second engaging portions. When the second engaging portions of the connecting unit engaged with the first engaging portions of the LED package units, respectively, the end sections of the second conductive portion contact electrically and respectively the corresponding first conductive portions so as to connect electrically the LED chips of the LED package units.
US08835936B2

A method comprises providing a semiconductor structure comprising a substrate, an electrically insulating layer on the substrate and a semiconductor feature on the electrically insulating layer. A gate structure is formed on the semiconductor feature. An in situ doped semiconductor material is deposited on portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure. Dopant is diffused from the in situ doped semiconductor material into the portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure, the diffusion of the dopant into the portions of the semiconductor feature adjacent the gate structure forming doped source and drain regions in the semiconductor feature.
US08835934B2

A semiconductor device includes a first conduction type semiconductor substrate, a first conduction type semiconductor deposition layer, a trench, second conduction type wells, a JFET region, a first conduction type first source region, a first source region, a trench-type source electrode, a gate insulator film, a gate electrode, and a drain electrode. The trench is formed substantially perpendicularly to the semiconductor deposition layer so that the semiconductor deposition layer exposes to a bottom of the trench. The second conduction type second source region are formed in the first conduction type first source region. The trench-type source electrode is in contact with the first source region, the second source region, and the first conduction type semiconductor deposition layer to configure a Schottky junction.
US08835930B2

A gallium nitride rectifying device includes a p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer and an n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer, the two layers forming a pn junction with each other. The p-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer has a carrier trap (level) density of not more than 1×1018 cm−3, or the n-type gallium nitride based semiconductor layer has a carrier trap (level) density of not more than 1×1016 cm−3.
US08835925B2

An array substrate for an IPS mode LCD device comprises a substrate; a gate line along a first direction; a data line along a second direction; a TFT connected to the gate and data lines; a common electrode having a plate shape on the substrate and formed of a first transparent conductive material; and a pixel electrode formed of a second transparent conductive material on the common electrode and including first and second portions and a plurality of third portions combining the first portion with the second portion. The first and second portions are parallel to the second direction and separated from each other and the plurality of third portions are oblique to the first and second portions and separated from one another.
US08835924B2

A photo-detecting device including a plurality of pixels, each including at least one alternate stack of photodiodes and electrically conducting electrodes. Each photodiode includes one intrinsic amorphous semiconductor layer in contact with one doped amorphous semiconductor layer distinct from the amorphous semiconductor layers in other photodiodes, and is arranged between two electrodes. Each pair of photodiodes includes one of the electrodes arranged between photodiodes. In each pixel: each electrode includes an electrically conducting portion not superposed on other electrodes of the pixel and electrically connected to one interconnection hole filled with an electrically conducting material; and portions of an electrically conducting material are superposed approximately on each of non-superposed portions of electrodes.
US08835921B2

Provided is an oxide semiconductor film which has more stable electric characteristics and essentially consists of indium zinc oxide. In addition, provided is a highly reliable semiconductor device which has stable electric characteristics by using the oxide semiconductor film. The oxide semiconductor film essentially consisting of indium zinc oxide has a hexagonal crystal structure in which the a-b plane is substantially parallel to a surface of the oxide semiconductor film and a rhombohedral crystal structure in which the a-b plane is substantially parallel to the surface of the oxide semiconductor film.
US08835909B2

Thin-film transistors are made using an organosilicate glass (OSG) as an insulator material. The organosilicate glasses may be SiO2-silicone hybrid materials deposited by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition from siloxanes and oxygen. These hybrid materials may be employed as the gate dielectric, as a subbing layer, and/or as a back channel passivating layer. The transistors may be made in any conventional TFT geometry.
US08835904B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes an n-type layer, a p-type layer, and a light emitting unit provided between the n-type layer and the p-type layer and including barrier layers and well layers. At least one of the barrier layers includes first and second portion layers. The first portion layer is disposed on a side of the n-type layer. The second portion layer is disposed on a side of the p-type layer, and contains n-type impurity with a concentration higher than that in the first portion layer. At least one of the well layers includes third and fourth portion layers. The third portion layer is disposed on a side of the n-type layer. The fourth portion layer is disposed on a side of the p-type layer, and contains n-type impurity with a concentration higher than that in the third portion layer.
US08835903B2

This invention relates light-emitting diode displays with simple structure and fabricating method as well as excellent efficiency. In an embodiment, the display features a nanorod LED array arranged on a substrate and divided into a first, second, and third sub-pixels. Two electrodes are preferably arranged in a vertical configuration for driving the sub-pixels. In another embodiment, a method features the sub-pixels for emitting multi-primary colors being formed on a conductive substrate and thus simplifies the steps.
US08835902B2

A nano-structured light-emitting device (LED) includes: a plurality of nanostructures on a first type semiconductor layer. Each of the plurality of nanostructures includes: a first type semiconductor nanocore on a portion of the first type semiconductor layer; a current spreading layer formed to cover a surface of the first type semiconductor nanocore and formed of an AlxGa1-xN(0
US08835901B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light emitting device includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a light emitting part, and a multilayered structural body. The light emitting part is provided between the first and second semiconductor layers and includes barrier layers and well layers alternately stacked. The multilayered structural body is provided between the first semiconductor layer and the light emitting part and includes high energy layers and low energy layers alternately stacked. An average In composition ratio on a side of the second semiconductor is higher than that on a side of the first semiconductor in the multilayered structural body. An average In composition ratio on a side of the second semiconductor is higher than that on a side of the first semiconductor in the light emitting part.
US08835898B2

A memory array including a plurality of memory cells. Each word line is electrically coupled to a set of memory cells, a gate contact and a pair of dielectric pillars positioned parallel to the word line with a spacer of electrically insulating material surrounding the gate contact. Also a method to prevent a gate contact from electrically connecting to a source contact for a plurality of memory cells on a substrate. The method includes depositing and etching gate material to partially fill a space between the pillars and to form a word line for the memory cells, etching a gate contact region for the word line between the pair of pillars, forming a spacer of electrically insulating material in the gate contact region, and depositing a gate contact between the pair of pillars to be in electrical contact with the gate material such that the spacer surrounds the gate contact.
US08835897B2

A nonvolatile memory device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a first wire embedded in a first wiring groove extending in an X direction formed in a first interlayer insulating film; a second interlayer insulating film formed above the first interlayer insulating film; a second wire embedded in a second wiring groove extending in a Y direction formed in the second interlayer insulating film; and a variable resistance memory cell including a variable resistive layer and a rectifying layer arranged to be held between the first wire and the second wire in a position where the first wire and the second wire intersect. A dimension in a plane perpendicular to a thickness direction of the variable resistance memory cell is specified by widths of the first and second wires.
US08835896B2

According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile variable resistance element includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a variable resistance layer, and a dielectric layer. The second electrode includes a metal element. The variable resistance layer is arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. A resistance change is reversibly possible in the variable resistance layer according to move the metal element in and out. The dielectric layer is inserted between the second electrode and the variable resistance layer and has a diffusion coefficient of the metal element smaller than that of the variable resistance layer.
US08835887B2

A radiation blocking shied for the hands of a clinical operator of fluoroscopic equipment during extended surgery or diagnostic testing.
US08835867B2

A cellular-type PD unit is proposed and a plurality of the cellular-type PD units is used in pairs in a multi-axis magnetic lens for focusing a plurality of charged beams. First type PD units or second type PD units (called as hybrid PD unit as well) can be applied to cellular-type PD units to flexibly construct sub-lenses. Furthermore, magnetic shielding plates with a plurality of through openings can be placed above and/or below the multi-axis magnetic lens to make magnetic flux leaking out of the multi-axis magnetic lens vanish away rapidly outside the magnetic shielding plates.
US08835822B2

A field director assembly includes electrically conductive vanes configured to prevent arcing in an unloaded microwave oven.
US08835816B2

The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.
US08835811B2

A control unit can select a large-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is large, and a small-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is small. When a temperature is increased or decreased, the control unit can select the small-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C5 whose number is small, heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C5. When a temperature is stabilized, the control unit can select the large-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from the temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C10 whose number is large, the heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C10.
US08835806B2

A welding power supply including power conversion circuitry adapted to receive a primary source of power, to utilize one or more power semiconductor switches to chop the primary source of power, and to convert the chopped power to a welding output is provided. The provided welding power supply includes a pulse width modulated (PWM) digital controller including gate drive circuitry that generates a PWM output signal that controls the switching of the one or more power semiconductor switches. The PWM output signal includes a duty cycle term corrected for one or more sources of error in the welding system.
US08835801B2

A display device is manufactured by forming a semiconductor film over a substrate and irradiating the film with laser light. The laser light is generated from an oscillator, passes through an attenuator that includes a filter, and passes through an optical system after passing through the attenuator. A first region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with the laser light passed through the optical system such that one point of the first region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with at least two shots. A second region of the semiconductor film is also irradiated with the laser light passed through the optical system such that one point of the second region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with at least two shots. The first region and the second region have a portion at which they overlap, and the semiconductor film is etched into semiconductor layers for transistors in areas outside the portion.
US08835799B2

A method of forming a wire includes providing a first wire segment and a second wire segment. The first and second wire segments are inserted into opposite ends of a coupling segment. The coupling segment is laser welded such that the laser creates an indent in the coupling segment that penetrates into at least one of the first and second wire segments.
US08835796B2

A torch tip for a plasma arc torch includes a body having a first end, configured to attach to the torch, and a second end, where an end wall is disposed. A plasma exit orifice is formed in the end wall. At least two castellations are formed in the end wall. At least one slot is disposed between two castellations. Each slot is defined by a first and second castellation wall, and a slot floor. The first castellation wall is opposite the second castellation wall. The torch tip has at least one of the following characteristics: a slope of the slot floor within the at least one slot tapers in an outward radial direction relative to the plasma exit orifice toward the first end of the body, or a distance between the first and second castellation walls along the slot floor increases with distance away from the exit orifice.
US08835787B2

A push switch includes a switch contact part for carrying out electrical connection by pressing, a case having a wall part on a periphery thereof and accommodating the switch contact part in a concave portion surrounded by the wall part, and a protective sheet covering the concave portion. The protective sheet and at least a part of an upper surface of the wall part of the case are welded together as a first welding place.
US08835786B2

A switch includes a handle for activation and deactivation and an actuating device. The actuating device includes a motor drive, which tensions a spring held in a tensioned state by latching by way of a gear. Two spring pairs are provided for activation and deactivation. The two bridges are arranged, with the spring pairs thereof nested within each other and displaceable with respect to each other. The bridges facing each other are pressed apart from one another to tension the spring pairs, and an actuation element is arranged on the one bridge for activation and an actuation element is arranged on the other bridge for deactivation.
US08835783B2

A switch has a manipulator that is supported by a housing and swung on one side and the other side, a power switch mechanism that brings contact portions of a movable piece and a fixed terminal into contact with each other when the manipulator is swung onto one side, the movable piece and the fixed terminal being disposed opposite each other in the housing, a returning spring that biases the manipulator in a swing manipulation direction when the manipulator is swung onto the other side, and a power retaining and releasing mechanism that includes a retaining portion and a releasing portion, the retaining portion regulating a restoring force of the returning spring according to the swing manipulation of the manipulator onto one side to retain a contact state of the contact portions of the movable piece and the fixed terminal.
US08835780B2

A switch actuating assembly for an automobile seat has a switch operating member moveable along a first path to operate a first switch associated with a first function and moveable along a second path to operate a second switch associated with a second function. To inhibit operation of both functions simultaneously a guide controls movement of the switch operating member. Guide members act between the switch operating member and the guide so that movement of the switch operating member along one of the paths upon movement of the switch operating member along the other of the paths from a rest position. An interlock is provided between the switch operating members of a pair of switch assemblies so that only one function of one of the switch assemblies can be operated at a time.
US08835774B2

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a circuit board assembly including a first circuit board including a first circuit pattern formed on a surface of the first circuit board, and an opening that is adjacent to the first circuit pattern; and a second circuit board including a second circuit pattern corresponding to the first circuit pattern and a protection film that is applied to a surface of the second circuit board so as to form a hollow place located corresponding to the opening, wherein the first circuit board and the second circuit board are combined with each other.
US08835770B2

An electronic component that includes an electronic component body, sealing members sealing the electronic component body, and adhesive layers which adhere the electronic component body and the sealing members, respectively. Between the electronic component body and the sealing members, sealed spaces are formed, respectively. The adhesive layers each contain organic fillers and inorganic fillers. The organic fillers are in contact with both the electronic component body and the sealing members. The inorganic fillers each have a minimum particle diameter smaller than the thickness of each of the adhesive layers. When the adhesive layers are viewed in a thickness direction thereof, the inorganic fillers are provided between the organic fillers and the electronic component body and between the organic fillers and each of the sealing members.
US08835767B2

A suspension board with circuit includes an insulating base layer and a conductive pattern that is laminated on a top surface of the insulating base layer. The conductive pattern includes a wire and a terminal portion that is connected to the wire for being joined by a melted metal. The insulating base layer, in a projected surface when projected in a laminating direction, includes an adjacent region that is adjacent to the terminal portion and a separated region that is separated from the terminal portion so as to sandwich the adjacent region with the terminal portion. The adjacent region is formed to be thinner than the separated region.
US08835766B2

An audio/video cable includes a plurality of parallel arranged insulated wires or twisted pair insulated wires each including a copper conductor and an insulation layer formed on a periphery thereof. The copper conductor includes a soft dilute copper alloy material containing pure copper, an additive element and an inevitable impurity as a balance. The soft dilute copper alloy material includes a recrystallized structure having a grain size distribution such that crystal grains in a surface layer are smaller than internal crystal grains. The surface layer includes a crystal structure such that an average crystal grain size from a surface of the surface layer up to a depth of 50 μm toward inside of the soft dilute copper alloy material is not more than 20 μm.
US08835757B2

A subgrade vault system and method of forming the same is provided. Specifically, a subgrade vault suitable for housing utility and similar equipment is provided, the vault comprising a main body portion, a cap, and a lid that may be selectively secured to prevent or deter unauthorized access to vault contents.
US08835755B2

A laminated film comprising a porous semiconductor layer, a transparent conductive layer and a transparent plastic film, wherein the porous semiconductor layer comprises crystalline titanium oxide fibers and crystalline titanium oxide fine particles, the crystalline titanium oxide fibers and the crystalline titanium oxide fine particles are substantially composed of an anatase phase and a rutile phase, the anatase phase content ratio calculated from the integral intensity ratio of X-ray diffraction is between 1.00 and 0.32, and the laminated film is used in an electrode for dye-sensitized solar cells, and the electrode and a dye-sensitized solar cell comprising the same.
US08835752B2

A multi-junction photovoltaic cell includes at least two P-N junctions electrically connected to each other in series. Each P-N junction includes a P-type absorber layer and a N-type emitter layer, each P-type absorber layer including a plurality of alternating thin film layers of zinc telluride and lead telluride, wherein zinc telluride and lead telluride have respective bandgaps when in bulk thickness and the effective bandgap of each P-type absorber layer is between the respective bandgaps. The effective bandgap of at least one P-type absorber layer is different from that of at least one other P-type absorber layer.
US08835748B2

A photovoltaic device is provided which includes a plurality of junction layers. Each junction layer includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to one another. At least one of the junction layers is at least in part optically transmissive. The junction layers are arranged in a stack on top of each other.
US08835742B2

A thermoelectric device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The thermoelectric device may include a nanowire having nanoparticles which are disposed on one of an exterior surface of the nanowire and an interior of the nanowire.
US08835734B2

Disclosed is a device which is designed to improve the accoustics of a drum. The device has two halves, and it attaches about a hole formed in the drum head. One or both halves have portions which can be flared to a variety of degrees, e.g., 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 360 degrees or more.
US08835729B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV185675. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV185675, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV185675 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV185675 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV 185675.
US08835723B2

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS11423123 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS11423123 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.
US08835722B1

Herein provided is a new soybean variety designated ‘G03-1187RR’ as well as the seeds, plants and derivatives of the new soybean variety ‘G03-1187RR’. Also provided are tissue cultures of the new soybean variety ‘G03-1187RR’ and the plants regenerated therefrom. Methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the new soybean variety ‘G03-1187RR’ with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods are also provided.
US08835709B2

The present invention is directed to hygiene articles comprising nanofibers. The nanofibers are made from a melt film fibrillation process with a polymer composition having a melt flow rate of less than about 400 decigram per minute. The nanofibers, having a diameter of less than 1 micron, must comprise a significant number of the fibers in one layer of the web contained by the hygiene article. The hygiene articles include diapers, training pants, adult incontinence pads, catamenials products such as feminine care pads and pantiliners, tampons, personal cleansing articles, personal care articles, and personal care wipes including baby wipes, facial wipes, and feminine wipes.
US08835705B2

The process concerns ethylbenzene conversion and xylene isomerization with a catalyst pretreated by sulfiding.
US08835699B2

The invention relates to a process for preparing 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (CF3CF═CH2), performed using the steps of dehydrohalogenating 1,1,1,2,2-pentafluoropropane (CH3CF2CF3, HFC-245ca) 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloropropane, 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane (CH2FCHFCF3, HFC-245eb) and/or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-3-chloropropane in the presence of a base, and converting a trifluorodichloropropane or a difluorotrichloropropane or a fluorotetrachloropropane to CH3CF2CF3, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-2-chloropropane, CH2FCHFCF3, and/or 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoro-3-chloropropane.
US08835689B2

The invention relates to compounds that have an affinity to the μ-opioid receptor and the ORL 1-receptor, methods for their production, medications containing these compounds and the use of these compounds for the treatment of pain and other conditions.
US08835685B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of 5-[(2-hydroxyacyl)amino]-2,4,6-triiodo-1,3-benzendicarboxamidic derivatives comprising the Smiles rearrangement of a suitable precursor, by contact of an aqueous solution of this latter with an anion exchanger solid phase.
US08835681B2

A carbonylation process for making acetic acid using a metallic co-catalyst composition, effective as a rhodium stabilizer and/or rate promoter, at molar ratios of metal/rhodium of about 0.5 to 40. The process includes reacting methanol with carbon monoxide in the presence of a rhodium-based catalytic metal complex with about 1 to 20 weight percent methyl iodide, less than about 8 weight % water and about 0.5 to about 30 weight percent methyl acetate. The crude acetic acid is flashed and further purified. This process is stable in the absence of a lithium iodide cocatalyst, or in low concentrations of lithium iodide, with an STY greater than 10 mol/L/hr.
US08835670B2

A method for synthesis of lactic acid and its derivatives is provided. First, a mixture is prepared, which includes: at least one carbohydrate-containing raw material, at least one alcohol, at least one composite catalyst containing metal chloride(s) (MCln) and tin-containing compound(s), and at least one solvent, wherein M is selected from a group consisting of Li+, Na+ K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, Ga3+, In3+, Sb3+, Bi3+, Cr3+, Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, and n represents 1, 2 or 3. Then, the mixture is heated to obtain lactic acid and its derivatives. By using the above catalyst and method, it is capable of converting carbohydrate-containing raw material to lactic acid and its derivatives directly in a more efficient and economical way.
US08835665B2

Methods for recovery of recyclable water and/or fermentation co-products from thin stillage process streams. Microbial metabolites plant derivatives and/or plant extractives are removed from thin stillage after which water is recovered and recycled. Thin stillage is commingled with polar organic solvents or with oil to react microbial metabolites, plant derivatives and/or plant extractives. The reacted organic solvents are then separated from the processed thin stillage. Thin stillage may be commingled with an oil to re act with certain organic compounds, after which, the reacted oil is separated from the processed thin stillage is further extracted with one or more polar organic solvents. Alternatively, thin stillage may be first processed with one or more polar organic solvents, and then processed with an oil. Useful organic compounds may be recovered from the reacted oil and reacted organic solvents.
US08835660B2

The invention provides a method to extract organic compounds from aqueous mixtures, using a specially selected organic compound as an extraction liquid. The method can be applied to remove compounds such as acetic acid or ethanol from complex aqueous mixtures, including fermentation reactions or broths, and can be used for in situ extraction of products or by-products from a fermentation reaction. Some suitable extraction liquids for use in these methods include diethylene glycol dibutyl ether, tripropionin, and di(ethylene glycol) diisobutyl ether.
US08835651B2

A photoelectric conversion element includes a working electrode having a dye-supported metal oxide electrode in which a dye is supported on a metal oxide layer, a compound having a structure represented by the following general formula (1): is used as the dye. wherein R1 to R4 are each independently a linear alkyl group having 4 to 20 carbon atoms and may be the same or different; A1 and A2 are each any one selected from the following aromatic ring group A (a pyrrole ring in the formula (1) is represented by an arc a to show a condensation position with the pyrrole ring), may be the same or different, and may have a substituent in an aromatic ring; Anp- is a p-valent anion; p is 1 or 2; and q is a coefficient for keeping a charge of the entire dye neutral.
US08835650B1

The present disclosure relates to therapeutic compositions comprising substituted imidazoliums having multiple acidic groups. The compounds may be used to treat diseases or conditions such as those associated with bone, cancer, or pain. Compositions, dosage forms, methods of treating diseases or conditions, methods of preparation, and other related embodiments related to the substituted imidazoliums are also described herein.
US08835648B2

Heterocyclic compounds that modulate the hedgehog signaling pathway, pharmaceutical composition thereof and their therapeutic applications.
US08835639B2

The invention provides a process for the preparation of a compound of Formula 1, comprising coupling a carboxylic acid of Formula 2 with an aniline of Formula 3 in the presence of a coupling agent.
US08835619B2

The present invention is directed to heat shock proteins from Mycobacterium leprae as well as their encoding polynucleotides and vectors and host cells containing these polynucleotides. These heat shock proteins and their encoding polynucleotides are useful in detection of Mycobacterium leprae. In addition, the heat shock protein can be used as an adjuvant in a pharmaceutical composition containing an antigen to induce or enhance the immune response against the antigen. Further, the heat shock protein may be used to treat atopic conditions or as a vaccine against Mycobacterium leprae. Alternatively, the heat shock protein can be used to form a fusion protein with an antigen to induce or enhance the immune response against the antigen.
US08835618B2

The invention concerns nucleic acids coding for mutated or truncated forms of the human parkin gene, or forms comprising multiplication of exons, and the corresponding proteins and antibodies. The invention also concerns methods and kits for identifying mutations of the parkin gene, and for studying compounds for therapeutic purposes.
US08835612B2

The invention provides methods and apparatus for the selective isolation of phosphorylated and glycosylated proteins and their fragments. Metal cation is used to precipitate proteins or protein fragments containing phospho groups and/or glyco groups. The sample preparation method can be used for several types of biological samples, including HeLa cells, food, and human cerebrospinal fluid. The proteins are isolated, recovered and ready for analysis by mass spectrometry or other analytical methods allowing detection limits down to the femtomole level. The method and apparatus are valuable tools in the field of protein analysis and diagnostics.
US08835609B2

The invention relates to purinergic receptors, to antibodies and related fragments thereof for binding to said receptors, to production of said antibodies and fragments and to use of said antibodies and fragments for cancer detection and therapy. In particular the antibodies described bind specifically to non-functional P2X7 receptors expressed by live cells.
US08835602B2

Compounds having the Formula I and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are provided in which the variables are described herein. Methods of making the compounds of Formula I are also disclosed.
US08835600B2

The invention concerns processes for forming a polymer comprising residues of 2-(4-amino phenyl)-5 (6) amino phenyl benzimidazole (DAPBI), paraphenylene diamine, and terephthaloyl dichloride, comprising the steps of: a) forming a solution of DAPBI and paraphenylene diamine dihydrochloride in a solvent system comprising an organic solvent and an inorganic salt; b) cooling the solution to a temperature of 30° C. or less; c) adding a stoichiometric amount of terephthaloyl dichloride, relative to the total amount of the DAPBI and the paraphenylene diamine dihydrochloride, to the solution; and d) agitating the solution of step c) to form a polymer.
US08835593B2

Dry-to-the-touch compositions containing a curable polymeric matrix and a curable anaerobic composition present within the polymeric matrix are disclosed. In a particularly desirable form, the compositions are moisture curable. The compositions are non-flowable at high temperatures and have an improved solvent resistance once cured.
US08835589B2

An improved polycondensation method for bio-based polyesters synthesized from pre-formed macromers and the corresponding compositions, which are useful for producing binder polymers for imaging applications such as emulsion-aggregation (EA) toner.
US08835584B2

In one embodiment of the disclosure, a copolymer and method for manufacturing the same are provided. The copolymer is copolymerized from a composition including: (a) a first hydrophilic monomer, including itaconamic acid, itaconamic salt, or combinations thereof; and (b) a second hydrophilic monomer, including acrylic acid, acrylic salt, acrylamide, or combinations thereof.
US08835559B2

A rubber-modified polystyrene resin composition is for making an electroplatable article which has a sectioned layer defining a unit area. The rubber-modified polystyrene resin composition includes a resin matrix, occlusion rubber particles dispersed in the resin matrix, and non-occlusion rubber particles dispersed in the resin matrix. A total sectional area ratio of the occlusion rubber particles to the non-occlusion rubber particles in the unit area ranges from 1.1 to 14.
US08835557B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a polymer composition for an inner liner, that is excellent in air permeation resistance and adhesion with an adjacent rubber, and a pneumatic tire using the same. In the polymer composition for an inner liner, a polymer component contains 99 to 50% by mass of a styrene-isobutylene-styrene triblock copolymer, and at least one of a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer and a styrene-isobutylene diblock copolymer in a total amount of 1 to 50% by mass.
US08835554B2

Novel articles, in particular films, made from polymers, which are elastic, impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor. Said articles are made from a composition comprising a dispersion of an elastomer in an aqueous solvent, a hydrophilic compound and a cross-linking agent.
US08835527B2

The present invention relates to cements useful in dental applications, and more particularly to dental compositions which may release calcium ions, which may comprise at least one of salicylic acid ester derivative and a calcium source. The present invention further relates to the use of at least one of salicylic acid ester derivative and a calcium source for producing a dental composition, having biological properties and which may release calcium ions for use in dental procedures of intermediate restorations and channel filling.
US08835526B2

The present invention provides optic portions, intraocular lenses, and polymers for use in manufacturing optic portions and intraocular lenses. The optic portions include a polymer that comprises (a) one or more alkoxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more alkoxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; (b) one or more hydroxyalkyl methacrylate monomers and/or one or more hydroxyalkyl acrylate monomers that are incorporated in the polymer; and (c) optionally, one or more crosslinking agents that are incorporated in the polymer.
US08835523B2

There is disclosed a silicone rubber composition curable by a radial ray comprising, at least, (A) an organopolysiloxane shown by the following general formula (1), (B) a phenyl ester derivative having an acryl group, (C) a sensitizer sensitized by a radial ray, and (D) a photosensitive dye, wherein each R1, R2, and R3 independently represents a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; X represents the same or different monovalent organic group having an acryl group or a methacryl group. As a result, there is provided a silicone rubber composition capable of being cured by irradiation of a radial ray whereby showing excellent adhesion with various substrates, capable of forming a cured film, and capable of easily distinguishing whether it is cured or not by observing appearance when not irradiated with a radial ray.
US08835521B2

Disclosed are a photosensitive composition and a compound used in the same. If the composition provided through the present application is used, it is possible to form a thin film having improved adhesion strength of a pattern.
US08835516B2

A process for performing a Fischer Tropsch reaction comprising (a) providing syngas to a reactor, said reactor comprising catalyst particles that have been produced by extruding a paste using a die comprising a plurality of channels extending from an inlet to an outlet, wherein from the inlet to the outlet each channel comprises a first section with a helical bore with a non-circular cross-section, and a second section with a cylindrical bore which has a diameter equal or greater than that of the first section, wherein the second section is at least twice as long as a diameter of the first section; (b) providing the following process conditions in the reactor: a temperature from 125 to 350° C., and a pressure from 5 to 150 bar absolute, and a gaseous hourly space velocity from 500 to 10000 Nl/l/h; and (c) removing Fischer Tropsch product from the reactor.
US08835500B2

Therapeutic formulations and methods for inhibiting amyloid deposition in a subject, whatever its clinical setting, are described. Therapeutic formulations and methods for preventing or treating amyloidosis and/or amyloid-related disease are also described.
US08835499B2

A compound of Formula (I): or a metabolite thereof, or an ester of the compound of Formula (I) or the metabolite thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of each thereof, wherein m, n, X1 and X2 are as defined herein, is useful for treating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
US08835498B2

Provided are anti-wrinkle agents having a novel scaffold that is suitable as components for external skin preparations such as cosmetics. The anti-wrinkle agents comprise compounds represented by general formula (1), stereoisomers thereof, or pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof. Said anti-wrinkle agents have excellent efficacy in improving wrinkles and sagging that are caused by skin aging with increased age or occur as a result of photoaging due to ultraviolet rays exposure. [In the formula, R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a 1 to 8 carbon straight or branched alkyl group. R2 represents —SH, —SO3H, —S—S—X1, —S—X2, —SO—X3, —SO2—X4, —SO2—NY1—X5 or —SO2—NY2—Y3. X1-X5 independently are hydrogen atoms or 1 to 8 carbon aliphatic hydrocarbon groups or 5 to 12 carbon aromatic moiety wherein carbon atoms may be substituted with heteroatoms. Y1 to Y3 independently represent hydrogen atoms or 1 to 8 carbon linear or branched alkyl groups. R3 represents a hydrogen atom or acyl group having a 1 to 8 carbon straight or branched alkyl chain. R4 represents a 5 to 12 carbon aromatic group or polycyclic condensed aromatic group that may have unsubstituted or substituted groups. m represents an integer 0-3 and n represents an integer 1 or 2].
US08835497B2

A food composition that is useful for increasing antioxidant levels in the body is provided having increased levels of sulfur-containing amino acids, such as methionine, cysteine, or mixtures thereof. Methods of using these compositions for increasing antioxidant levels in the body in mammals, especially in companion animals, are also provided.
US08835481B2

The present invention relates to novel 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethylindazole derivatives according to Formula (I) described in the claims, and to a pharmaceutical composition comprising them, together with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of 1-benzyl-3-hydroxymethylindazole derivatives for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition that is active in the treatment of diseases based on the expression of MCP-1, CX3CR1 and p40, and to their use in a method for treating or preventing diseases based on the expression of MCP-1, CX3CR1 and p40.
US08835479B2

The invention provides a method for the treatment of fungal dermatitis. The treatment method involves administering an effective amount of luliconazole or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof to a target in need of a treatment of fungal dermatitis.
US08835478B2

The present invention provides methods for the treatment of tumors, comprising administration of an effective amount of at least one taxoid and an effective amount of at least one benzimidazol carbamate compound of formula (I). The invention also provides a method for the treatment of tumors insensitive to one or more anti-mitotic drugs, the method comprising administering a effective amount of at least one benzimidazole carbamate compound of formula (I). Also provide are compositions for carrying out methods of the invention.
US08835475B2

The present application relates to isothiazolylidene containing compounds of Formula (I) wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and L are as defined in the specification, compositions comprising such compounds, and methods of treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions.
US08835469B2

The present invention relates to substituted benzamide derivatives of the Formula I and their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutically acceptable solvates, enantiomers, diastereomers, prodrugs, metabolites, and polymorphs and can be useful for treating disease states mediated by glucokinase. Compounds disclosed herein can be used for reducing blood glucose levels and for increasing insulin secretion for treating type II diabetes. The invention also relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of invention, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds, and their use.
US08835467B2

Compounds are disclosed which inhibit SIR2 base exchange more than deacetylation, thus enhancing SIR2 deacetylation activity. Methods of using the compounds for enhancing SIR2 deacetylation activity and increasing longevity of an organism are also disclosed. Methods for screening for compounds that enhance SIR2 deacetylation activity and increase longevity of an organism are additionally disclosed.
US08835448B2

The present invention relates to compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof and formulations comprising the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof that are useful in modulating lyn kinase activity. In particular, the compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful for treating or preventing a disease or disorder including cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, a disorder of glucose metabolism, metabolic syndrome (i.e., Syndrome X), a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-associated disorder, septicemia, a thrombotic disorder, type II diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, hypertension, renal disease, inflammation, or impotence.
US08835445B2

The present disclosure provides compounds of Formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein R5, R6 and Z are as described herein. The disclosure also provides pharmaceutical compositions thereof; and methods for inhibiting DHFR activity; and methods for treating cell proliferative diseases, autoimmune disease, inflammatory disease or bacterial, fungal or parasitic infection by administering a compound of Formula I.
US08835442B2

The present invention relates to novel 3-substituted (7-imino-2-thioxo-3,7-dihydro-2H-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-6-yl of formula 1 wherein R is selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having carbon no up to 10, allyl, cycloalkyl, aromatic, substituted aromatics (halogen, OH, COOH, OCH3, alkyl, etc), pyridyl, piperidine, piprazine, morphine. R1 is selected from a group consisting of NH2, NHR, N(R)2 (wherein R could be aliphatic or olefinic group up to 10 carbon), hetrocycles such as furan, thiophene, pyrole, prydyl, piprazine, morphine and R2 is O and S separately. Particularly the present invention relates to (7-Imino-3-substituted-2-thioxo-3,7-dihydro-2H-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)-urea (15-21) and Furan-2-carboxylic acid (7-imino-3-substituted-2-thioxo-3,7-dihydro-2H-thiazolo[4,5-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)-amide. The compounds of present invention are useful in the treatment of central nervous disorders including, Parkinson disease, Huntington's disease, attention disorder, cognition, Alzheimer disease, depression and hypertension.
US08835432B2

Substituted bicyclic heteroaryls and compositions containing them, for the treatment of general inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic diseases, osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disorders, inflammatory eye disorders, inflammatory or unstable bladder disorders, psoriasis, skin complaints with inflammatory components, chronic inflammatory conditions, including but not restricted to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), myestenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, multiples sclerosis, Sjoegren's syndrome and autoimmune hemolytic anemia, allergic conditions including all forms of hypersensitivity, The present invention also enables methods for treating cancers that are mediated, dependent on or associated with p110δ activity, including but not restricted to leukemias, such as Acute Myeloid leukaemia (AML) Myelo-dysplastic syndrome (MDS) myelo-proliferative diseases (MPD) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic leukaemia (B-ALL) Non Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) B-cell lymphoma and solid tumors, such as breast cancer.
US08835426B2

This invention relates to novel compounds of the Formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof, which are useful for the therapeutic treatment of diseases associated with the modulation or inhibition of 11β-HSD1 in mammals. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions of the novel compounds of the Formula (I) and methods for their use in the reduction or control of the production of cortisol in a cell or the inhibition of the conversion of cortisone to cortisol in a cell.
US08835424B2

In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions for the suppression, alleviation and prevention of the often chronic, severe and debilitating pain that can accompany inflammatory diseases and neuropathic insults, pain that is often unresponsive to conventional analgesic treatment. The preferred embodiments of the present invention further relate to methods of treatment and pharmaceutical compositions using benzodiazepine derivatives that provide suppression, alleviation and prevention of neuropathic pain, migraine-related pain and inflammatory pain with reduced sedative and ataxic side effects.
US08835421B2

The present invention provides a compounds of general formula (8), (11) and (14), useful as potential antitumour agents against human cancer cell lines. The present invention further provides a process for the preparation of pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine hybrids of general formula (8), (11) and (14).
US08835417B2

The present invention relates to a crystalline hydrochloride salt of (1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-indol-5-yl)(3-(4-(thiazole-2-carbonyl)piperazin-1-yl)azetidin-1-yl)methanone, methods of making said salt, pharmaceutical compositions containing said salt, and the use of said salt in the treatment of pain and diseases that cause such pain, and metabolic disorders such as, obesity, hyperphagia, and diabetes.
US08835413B2

Novel methods for treating or reducing the likelihood of acquiring vaginal dysfunctions, more particularly vaginal dryness and dyspareunia, leading to sexual dysfunction and low sexual desire and performance , in susceptible warm-blooded animals including humans involving administration of a sex steroid precursor. Further administration of estrogen or selective estrogen receptor modulator, particularly those selected from the group consisting of Raloxifene, Arzoxifene, Tamoxifen, Droloxifene, Toremifene, Iodoxifene, GW 5638, TSE-424, ERA-923, and lasofoxifene, and more particularly compounds having the general structure: is specifically disclosed for the medical treatment and/or inhibition of development of some of these above-mentioned diseases. Pharmaceutical compositions for delivery of active ingredient(s) and kit(s) useful to the invention are also disclosed.
US08835406B2

A method of treating a patient inflicted with Reynaud's Disease including the step of injecting into the back of the patient's hand an effective amount of a hyaluronic product, thereby creating a glove-like insulation to decrease the blood vessel vasospasm.
US08835404B2

Disclosed is a method for preparing polysaccharides of green tea, and more particularly to a method for preparing polysaccharides of green tea comprising the steps of: a) removing chlorophyll and a low molecular weight polyphenol from green tea powder using a solvent; b) hot-water extracting a water-soluble active ingredient from the green tea residue of step a); and c) separating the polysaccharides of green tea from the hot-water extract of step b) by ultrafiltration and ethanol precipitation. Also, the present invention relates to a cosmetic composition for skin whitening, moisturization and anti-wrinkle effects comprising the polysaccharides of green tea as an effective ingredient.
US08835392B2

The present invention relates to peptide-mimetic compounds, the synthesis and use thereof fort he inhibition of proteasomes and the induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. The present invention furthermore relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and the use of the compounds for a treatment of diseases, in particular cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.
US08835389B2

The present invention relates to a novel use of calcitonin in rheumatoid arthritis, and to methods of treating and/or preventing rheumatoid arthritis and conditions associated therewith in mammals, particularly humans. In particular, a method is provided of preventing or/and treating rheumatoid arthritis in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of calcitonin, e.g. salmon calcitonin in free form or salt form, in a pharmaceutically acceptable oral delivery form, wherein the therapeutically effective amount of a calcitonin is delivered orally in a composition comprising the calcitonin and a delivery agent for calcitonin.
US08835386B2

The present invention provides methods of producing biologically active recombinant eFSH analogs and methods of increasing reproduction in mammals, particularly equine, using recombinant eFSH analogs. Also provided are methods of producing biologically active single chain recombinant eFSH. The recombinant eFSH analogs of the present invention increase superovulation, follicular development, embryo development, and reproductive efficiency in horses, cattle and other ungulates.
US08835385B2

The invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding FGF21 mutant polypeptides, FGF21 mutant polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions comprising FGF21 mutant polypeptides, wherein the FGF 21 mutant polypeptides comprise two or more mutations, and methods for treating metabolic disorders using such nucleic acids, polypeptides, or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08835382B2

The present disclosure provides novel powder daptomycin formulations which have improved chemical stability and faster reconstitution times when in the solid state. Some examples of the compositions comprise daptomycin and sucrose.
US08835380B2

The invention concerns a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP) polymer conjugate comprising at least one AMP, typically colistin, and a dextrin polymer wherein said dextrin polymer has a molecular weight between 5,000-60,000 g/mol and is modified by the additions of pendant groups which increase the stability of the conjugate and so delays its degradation thereby slowing the rate at which the AMP is released.
US08835369B2

One aspect of the present invention comprises a nail polish removing composition that is essentially free of acetone and ethyl acetate, and is essentially free of odor. The composition includes at least one triester of glycerol and C2-C5 carboxylic acid, at least one C3-C5 glycol, at least one C4-C6 cyclic carbonate, and, optionally, at least one colorant. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of removing nail polish, comprising providing the nail polish removing composition; immersing an absorbent material in the composition, wherein the absorbent material absorbs the composition; contacting the absorbent material to nail polish for a time sufficient to plasticize the nail polish film; and removing the plasticized nail polish film by mechanically rubbing with the absorbent material, wherein the composition comprises one or more phases.
US08835368B2

The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity and a product obtainable from a 1,4-conjugate addition of an aminocarboxylic acid to an activated olefin. The invention further relates to a method of lubricating an internal combustion engine by lubricating the engine with the lubricating composition. The invention further relates to the use of the product disclosed herein as a lead corrosion inhibitor.
US08835363B2

Drilling, drill-in and completion fluids containing nanoparticles for use in hydrocarbon drilling and recovery processes and methods related thereto are provided. The fluids also include a dual acting shield agent that shields the nanoparticles and also acts as a viscosifier. The fluids can be used in various types of hydrocarbon drilling and recovery processes, such as drilling, drill in, completion, and the like.
US08835357B2

The present invention relates to an oil-in-water emulsion, comprising oily globules that include at least one agriculturally active ingredient, in which the oily globules of the emulsion and are coated with a polymeric adsorption layer. The polymeric adsorption layer coating the oily globules includes (1) at least one polymeric surface-active agent having an HLB values in the range of about 16 to about 18, and (2) at least one ionic surface-active agent. The oily globules of the emulsion have mean particle diameter of less than about 800 nanometers, are resistant to Ostwald ripening and are well suited for the treatment of plants. Agriculturally active ingredients that can be used with the emulsion include, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, mitocides, bactericides and the like. The invention further includes methods of using the inventive oil-in-water emulsions to treat plants and on surfaces adjacent to plants, plant pests or other pests.
US08835348B2

A process of contacting an alkylene oxide with 2-methoxy-1-propanol (PM1) in the presence of an oligomeric Schiff base metal complex catalyst is disclosed. Further, a process involving contacting an alkylene oxide with an alkyl alcohol using an oligomeric Schiff base metal complex as a catalyst is also disclosed. Additionally, novel compositions which can be used as catalysts in processes involving the contacting of an alkyl alcohol with an alkylene oxide are also disclosed.
US08835347B2

Disclosed are dehydrogenation catalyst composites and methods of making the dehydrogenation catalyst composites. The dehydrogenation catalyst composites contain alumina, lithium oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, chromium oxide, and sodium oxide. Also disclosed are methods of dehydrogenating a dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon involving contacting the dehydrogenatable hydrocarbon with a dehydrogenation catalyst composite containing alumina, lithium oxide, alkaline earth metal oxide, chromium oxide, and sodium oxide to provide a dehydrogenated hydrocarbon, such as an olefin.
US08835341B2

A method for removing tightly bound sodium from a zeolitic support comprising contacting the support with a sodium specific removal agent to produce a treated support. A method comprising providing an aromatization catalyst comprising a treated support, and contacting the aromatization catalyst with a hydrocarbon feed in a reaction zone under conditions suitable for the production of an aromatic product. A catalyst support comprising an L-zeolite having less than 0.35 wt. % sodium.
US08835333B2

A heat treatment method of the present invention includes mounting a plurality of semiconductor wafers upright on a treatment boat in parallel to each other, inserting the treatment boat in a space above an injector located in a tube to be oriented to plane surfaces of the semiconductor wafers in parallel to an extending direction of the tube, and heating the tube while continuously supplying source gas into the tube through openings of the injector.
US08835329B2

Methods for combinatorially processing semiconductor substrates are provided. The methods may involve receiving a substrate into a combinatorial processing chamber and sealing a plurality of flow cells against a surface of the substrate. The plurality of flow cells is enclosed within the combinatorial processing chamber to define an enclosed external environment for the plurality of flow cells. A pressure differential is created between a reaction area of the plurality of flow cells of the combinatorial processing chamber and the external environment, wherein each flow cells of the plurality of flow cells defines a site isolating region of the substrate. The regions the substrate are then combinatorially processed.
US08835325B2

The present invention discloses a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device. In order to form a trench with a smaller width, patterns of various monomers are formed by utilizing self-assembly characteristics of a block copolymer comprising various monomers. A metal or metal nitride is deposited on a surface of the block copolymer, the metal or metallic nitride selectively depositing due to a preferential chemical affinity between various monomers and the metal or metal nitride. After reaching a certain thickness, the metal or metal nitride layer begins to grow laterally. Deposition can be stopped by controlling deposition time so that the metal or metal nitride layer grows laterally but does not completely cover the surface of the block copolymer. Etching is then conducted using the metal or metal nitride layer as a mask to obtain a trench with a very small width.
US08835324B2

In an exemplary method for forming contact holes, a substrate overlaid with an etching stop layer and an interlayer dielectric layer in that order is firstly provided. A first etching process then is performed to form at least a first contact opening in the interlayer dielectric layer. A first carbon-containing dielectric layer subsequently is formed overlying the interlayer dielectric layer and filling into the first contact opening. After that, a first anti-reflective layer and a first patterned photo resist layer are sequentially formed in that order overlying the carbon-containing dielectric layer. Next, a second etching process is performed by using the first patterned photo resist layer as an etching mask to form at least a second contact opening in the interlayer dielectric layer.
US08835323B1

A method of forming a target pattern includes forming a mandrel pattern on a substrate, the mandrel pattern having a line with a first dimension in a first direction and a second dimension in a second direction; forming a spacer around the mandrel pattern, the spacer having a first width; forming a cut pattern over the mandrel pattern and the spacer wherein the cut pattern partially overlaps the spacer on both sides of the line in the first direction; etching the mandrel pattern using the cut pattern as an etch mask, thereby defining a plurality of openings with sidewalls of the spacer, the cut pattern, and a portion of the mandrel pattern underneath the cut pattern; and reducing the first width of the spacer thereby to enlarge the plurality of openings.
US08835319B2

In one embodiment, a method of forming a semiconductor device includes forming a metal line over a substrate and depositing an alloying material layer over a top surface of the metal line. The method further includes forming a protective layer by combining the alloying material layer with the metal line.
US08835316B2

The disclosure provides a transistor, a method for manufacturing the transistor, and a semiconductor chip comprising the transistor. The transistor comprises: an active area, a gate stack, a primary spacer, and source/drain regions, wherein the active area is on a semiconductor substrate; the gate stack, the primary spacer, and the source/drain regions are on the active area; the primary spacer surrounds the gate stack; the source/drain regions are embedded in the active area and self-aligned with opposite sides of the primary spacer. Wherein the transistor further comprises: a silicide spacer, wherein the silicide spacer is located at opposite sides of the primary spacer, and a dielectric material is filled between the two ends of the silicide spacer in the width direction of the gate stack, so as to isolate the source/drain regions from each other.
US08835307B2

A method and a structure for reworking an antireflective coating (ARC) layer over a semiconductor substrate. The method includes providing a substrate having a material layer, forming a planarization layer on the material layer, forming an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, forming an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer, forming a pattern in the ARC layer, and removing the organic solvent soluble layer and the ARC layer with an organic solvent while leaving the planarization layer unremoved. The structure includes a substrate having a material layer, a planarization layer on the material layer, an organic solvent soluble layer on the planarization layer, and an ARC layer on the organic solvent soluble layer.
US08835300B2

The present invention relates to a method for inhibiting growth of intermetallic compounds, comprising the steps of: (i) preparing a substrate element including a substrate on which at least one layer of metal pad is deposited, wherein at least one thin layer of solder is deposited onto the layer of metal pad, and then carry out reflowing process; and (ii) further depositing a bump of solder with an appropriate thickness on the substrate element, characterized in that a thin intermetallic compound is formed by the reaction of the thin solder layer and the metal in the metal pad after appropriate heat treatment of the thin solder layer. In the present invention, the formation of a thin intermetallic compound is able to slow the growth of the intermetallic compound and to prevent the transformation of the intermetallic compounds.
US08835299B2

A sintered connection is formed by pressing a semiconductor die against a substrate with a dried sintering material interposed between the substrate and the semiconductor die, the dried sintering material having sintering particles and a solvent. The substrate is heated to a temperature below a sintering temperature of the dried sintering material while the semiconductor die is pressed against the substrate to form local sinter connections between adjacent ones of the sintering particles. The local sinter connections collectively provide a stable joint that fixes the semiconductor die to the substrate prior to sintering. A sintered connection is then formed between the semiconductor die and the substrate from the dried sintering material, after the stable joint is formed.
US08835294B2

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device that includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming a gate structure on the substrate, the gate structure including a dummy gate, removing the dummy gate from the gate structure thereby forming a trench, forming a work function metal layer partially filling the trench, forming a fill metal layer filling a remainder of the trench, performing a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove portions of the metal layers outside the trench, and implanting Si, C, or Ge into a remaining portion of the fill metal layer.
US08835292B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device including a replacement metal gate process incorporating a conductive dummy gate layer (e.g., silicon germanium (SiGe), titanium nitride, etc.) and a related are disclosed. The method includes forming an oxide layer on a substrate; removing a gate portion of the oxide layer from the substrate in a first region of the semiconductor device; forming a conductive dummy gate layer on the semiconductor device in the first region; and forming a gate on the semiconductor device, the gate including a gate conductor disposed in the first region and directly connected to the substrate.
US08835288B2

A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide semiconductor device of an embodiment includes: implanting ions in a silicon carbide substrate; performing first heating processing of the silicon carbide substrate in which the ions are implanted; and performing second heating processing of the silicon carbide substrate for which the first heating processing is performed, at a temperature lower than the first heating processing.
US08835286B2

The invention provides a manufacturing method of a graphene-on-insulator substrate which is mass productive, of high quality, and yet is directly usable for manufacture of semiconductor devices at a low manufacturing cost. According to the manufacturing method of a graphene substrate of the invention, a metal layer and a carbide layer are heated with the metal layer in contact with the carbide layer so that carbon in the carbide layer is dissolved into the metal layer, and then the metal layer and the carbide layer are cooled so that the carbon in the metal layer is segregated as graphene on the surface of the carbide layer.
US08835285B2

The present invention relates to growth of vertically-oriented crystalline nanowire arrays upon a transparent conductive or other substrate for use in 3rd generation photovoltaic and other applications. A method of growing crystalline anatase nanowires includes the steps of: deposition of titania onto a substrate; conversion of the titania into titanate nanowires; and, treatment of the titanate nanowires to produce crystalline anatase nanowires.
US08835280B1

A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation film defining an active region, forming a recess configured to expose a seam contained in the device isolation film by etching the active region and the device isolation film, forming a sacrificial film to fill the exposed seam, and forming a gate at a lower part of the recess.
US08835274B2

Metal-insulator-metal capacitors with a bottom electrode including at least two portions of a metal nitride material. At least one of the portions of the metal nitride material includes a different material than another portion. Interconnects including at least two portions of a metal nitride material are also disclosed, at least one of the portions of the metal nitride material are formed from a different material than another portion of the metal nitride material. Methods for fabricating such MIM capacitors and interconnects are also disclosed, as are semiconductor devices including such MIM capacitors and interconnects.
US08835273B2

A first electrode layer for a Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) DRAM capacitor is formed wherein the first electrode layer contains a conductive metal oxide formed using a high temperature, low pressure ALD process. The high temperature ALD process results in a layer with enhanced crystallinity, higher density, reduced shrinkage, and lower carbon contamination. The high temperature ALD process can be used for either or both the bottom electrode and the top electrode layers.
US08835272B1

A resistive switching device and methods for making the same are disclosed. In the above said device, a resistive switching layer is interposed between opposing electrodes. The resistive switching layer comprises at least two sub-layers of switchable insulative material characterized by different ionic mobilities.
US08835264B1

A substrate having thereon an epitaxial layer is provided. A hard mask having an opening is formed on the epitaxial layer. A sidewall spacer is formed within the opening. A first trench is etched into the epitaxial layer through the opening. A dopant source layer is formed on the surface of the first trench. The dopants are driven into the epitaxial layer to form a doped region within the first trench. The doped region includes a first region adjacent to the surface of the first trench and a second region farther from the surface. The entire dopant source layer and the spacer are removed. A sacrificial layer is then filled into the first trench. The sacrificial layer and the epitaxial layer within the first region are etched away to form a second trench.
US08835262B2

One method includes performing an etching process through a patterned mask layer to form trenches in a substrate that defines first and second fins, forming liner material adjacent the first fin to a first thickness, forming liner material adjacent the second fin to a second thickness different from the first thickness, forming insulating material in the trenches adjacent the liner materials and above the mask layer, performing a process operation to remove portions of the layer of insulating material and to expose portions of the liner materials, performing another etching process to remove portions of the liner materials and the mask layer to expose the first fin to a first height and the second fin to a second height different from the first height, performing another etching process to define a reduced-thickness layer of insulating material, and forming a gate structure around a portion of the first and second fin.
US08835259B2

Provided are a transistor of a semiconductor device and a method for manufacturing the same. A gate induced drain leakage (GIDL) current is reduced by decreasing a work function at an upper portion of a gate electrode, and a threshold voltage of the transistor is maintained by maintaining a work function at a lower portion of the gate electrode at a high level, thereby reducing a leakage current of the transistor and reducing a read time and a write time of the semiconductor device. The transistor of the semiconductor device includes: a recess with a predetermined depth in a semiconductor substrate; a first gate electrode disposed within the recess; and a second gate electrode disposed on the first gate electrode into which ions of one or more of nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), arsenic (As), aluminum (Al), and hydrogen (H) are doped.
US08835256B1

A system and method for fabricating a memory array device. An example memory array device includes a plurality of memory cells, each including a FET over a substrate and a memory element over the FET. Each memory element includes a plurality of epitaxially grown memory element layers. The memory array device includes a plurality of gate conductors configured a first axis, in parallel. Each gate conductor laterally surrounds a plurality of FETs of the memory cells along the first axis. The memory array device includes a plurality of bit lines configured along a second axis, in parallel, and electrically coupled to a plurality of memory elements along the second axis. Embodiments of the memory array preserve alignment of crystal lattices beginning from the bottom layers in the FET up to the top active layers in memory element, thus preserving crystal lattice alignment between transistor and memory element.
US08835253B2

Provided is a photoelectric conversion device fabrication method in which current leakage from an intermediate contact layer via an intermediate-contact-layer separating groove is prevented as much as possible. Included are a step of film-forming a top layer having amorphous silicon as a main component; a step of film-forming, on the top layer, an intermediate contact layer electrically and optically connected thereto; a step of separating the intermediate contact layer by removing the intermediate contact layer by irradiating it with a pulsed laser, forming an intermediate-contact-layer separating groove that reaches the top layer; and a step of film-forming, on the intermediate contact layer and inside the intermediate-contact-layer separating groove, a bottom layer electrically and optically connected thereto and having microcrystalline silicon as a main component. A pulsed laser having a pulse width of 10 ps to 750 ps, inclusive, is used as the pulsed laser for separating the intermediate contact layer.
US08835246B2

A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming at least one transistor over a substrate. The at least one transistor includes a first gate dielectric structure disposed over a substrate. A work-function metallic layer is disposed over the first gate dielectric structure. A conductive layer is disposed over the work-function metallic layer. A source/drain (S/D) region is disposed adjacent to each sidewall of the first gate dielectric structure. At least one resistor structure is formed over the substrate. The at least one resistor structure includes a first doped semiconductor layer disposed over the substrate. The at least one resistor structure does not include any work-function metallic layer between the first doped semiconductor layer and the substrate.
US08835244B2

Integrated circuits and methods for fabricating integrated circuits are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for fabricating integrated circuits includes providing a sacrificial gate structure over a semiconductor substrate. The sacrificial gate structure includes two spacers and sacrificial gate material between the two spacers. The method recesses a portion of the sacrificial gate material between the two spacers. Upper regions of the two spacers are etched while using the sacrificial gate material as a mask. The method includes removing a remaining portion of the sacrificial gate material and exposing lower regions of the two spacers. A first metal is deposited between the lower regions of the two spacers. A second metal is deposited between the upper regions of the two spacers.
US08835241B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a substrate, an upper-layer wire provided on the substrate, a lower-layer wire provided on the substrate, a memory cell located at an intersection of the upper-layer wire and the lower-layer wire and includes a diode and a storage layer, a conductive layer located between the upper-layer wire and the memory cell in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface, and an interlayer insulating film provided between memory cells. The position of an interface between the upper-layer wire and the interlayer insulating film is lower than a top surface of the conductive layer.
US08835240B2

A method for fabricating a semiconductor device is provided, wherein the method comprises steps as follows: A first conductive-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor and a second conductive-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor are firstly formed on a substrate. Subsequently, a first stress-inducing dielectric layer and a first capping layer are formed in sequence on the first conductive-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor; and then a second stress-inducing dielectric layer and a second capping layer are formed in sequence on the second conductive-type metal-oxide-semiconductor transistor. Next, the fist capping layer is removed.
US08835234B2

A delta doping of silicon by carbon is provided on silicon surfaces by depositing a silicon carbon alloy layer on silicon surfaces, which can be horizontal surfaces of a bulk silicon substrate, horizontal surfaces of a top silicon layer of a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate, or vertical surfaces of silicon fins. A p-type field effect transistor (PFET) region and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) region can be differentiated by selectively depositing a silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region, and not in the NFET region. The silicon germanium alloy layer in the PFET region can overlie or underlie a silicon carbon alloy layer. A common material stack can be employed for gate dielectrics and gate electrodes for a PFET and an NFET. Each channel of the PFET and the NFET includes a silicon carbon alloy layer, and is differentiated by the presence or absence of a silicon germanium layer.
US08835226B2

In one embodiment, a meta-module having circuitry for two or more modules is formed on a substrate, which is preferably a laminated substrate. The circuitry for the different modules is initially formed on the single meta-module. Each module will have one or more component areas in which the circuitry is formed. A metallic structure is formed on or in the substrate for each component area to be shielded. A single body, such as an overmold body, is then formed over all of the modules on the meta-module. At least a conductive vertical interconnect access structure (vias) associated with each component area to be shielded is then exposed through the body by a cutting, drilling, or similar operation. Next, an electromagnetic shield material is applied to the exterior surface of the body of each of the component areas to be shielded and in contact with the exposed conductive vias.
US08835216B2

An oxide thin-film transistor (TFT) substrate that includes: a substrate, a gate line, a data line, an oxide TFT, and a pixel electrode. An oxide layer of the oxide TFT includes a first region that has semiconductor characteristics and a channel, and a second region that is conductive and surrounds the first region. A portion of the first region is electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and the second region is electrically connected to the data line.
US08835215B2

A simple method is developed in the present invention for fabricating periodic ripple microstructures on the surface of an ITO film by using single-beam femtosecond laser pulses. The periodic ripple microstructures composed of self-organized nanodots can be directly fabricated through the irradiation of the femtosecond laser, without scanning. The ripple spacing of ˜800 nm, ˜400 nm and ˜200 nm observed in the periodic ripple microstructures can be attributed to the interference between the incident light and the scattering light of the femtosecond laser from the surface of the ITO film. In the present invention, the self-organized dots are formed by the constructive interference formed in the surface of the ITO film, where includes higher energy to break the In—O and Sn—O bonds and then form the In—In bonds. Therefore, the dots have higher surface current greater than other disconstructive regions of the ITO film.
US08835210B2

The present invention reduces the time required to manufacture a solar cell. After etching main surfaces (10B1, 10B2) of a crystalline silicon substrate (10B) using one etching solution, the main surfaces (10B1, 10B2) of the crystalline silicon substrate (10B) are etched at a lower etching rate than the etching performed using the one etching solution by using another etching solution that has a higher concentration of etching components than the one etching solution. In this way, a textured structure is formed in the main surfaces (10B1, 10B2) of the crystalline silicon substrate (10B).
US08835209B2

When forming sophisticated semiconductor devices including complementary transistors having a reduced gate length, the individual transistor characteristics may be adjusted on the basis of individually provided semiconductor alloys, such as a silicon/germanium alloy for P-channel transistors and a silicon/phosphorous semiconductor alloy for N-channel transistors. To this end, a superior hard mask patterning regime may be applied in order to provide compatibility with sophisticated replacement gate approaches, while avoiding undue process non-uniformities, in particular with respect to the removal of a dielectric cap layer.
US08835201B2

A method of manufacturing an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display, the method including forming a frit adhesive layer on an outer edge portion of a display substrate; forming a mold-releasing layer on a support substrate; attaching the frit adhesive layer of the display substrate on the mold-releasing layer of the support substrate; forming an organic light emitting member on the display substrate; and separating a display portion of the display substrate from the mold-releasing layer by cutting an outer edge portion of the display substrate.
US08835196B2

The purpose of the present invention is to favorably modify a transparent conductive film and provide a transparent conductive film with few grain boundaries. In the manufacturing method for the transparent conductive film of the present invention, a transparent conductive film 3 is formed on a substrate 2 inside a vacuum chamber 10, after which radiant heat is imparted from a surface modifying device 4 arranged near the substrate 2 to modify the transparent conductive film 3, and the substrate 2 having the modified transparent conductive film 3 is removed from the vacuum chamber 10.
US08835191B2

Methods for sensing a mechanical stress and methods of making stress sensor integrated circuits. The sensing methods include transferring the mechanical stress from the object to one or more nanowires in a stress sensor or stress sensor circuit and permitting the nanowires to change in length in response to the mechanical stress. An electrical characteristic of the stress sensor or stress sensor circuit, which has a variation correlated with changes in the magnitude of the mechanical stress, is measured and then assessed to determine the stress magnitude. The manufacture methods include electrically connecting nanowire field effect transistors having, as channel regions, one or more nanowires of either a different crystalline orientation or a different body width for the individual nanowires so that an offset output voltage results when mechanical strain is applied to the nanowires.
US08835188B2

Screening assays and methods of performing such assays are provided. In certain examples, the assays and methods may be designed to determine whether or not two or more species can associate with each other. In some examples, the assays and methods may be used to determine if a known antigen binds to an unknown monoclonal antibody.
US08835185B2

A substrate of a target substance-detecting element for detecting a target substance in a specimen based on localized surface plasmon resonance comprises a supporting member and a metal nano-dot group provided on the supporting member, metal nano-dots each of which is comprised in the metal nano-dot group and adjacent to each other are arranged with a gap between the metal nano-dots of not larger than 30 nm.
US08835179B2

Provided are systems, apparatus, materials and methods for directly monitoring products and intermediates of solid phase chemical synthesis such as solid phase peptide synthesis.
US08835178B2

A bio-threat simulant that includes a carrier and DNA encapsulated in the carrier. Also a method of making a simulant including the steps of providing a carrier and encapsulating DNA in the carrier to produce the bio-threat simulant.
US08835168B2

A method for forming neuromuscular junctions includes forming functional neuromuscular junctions between motoneurons and muscle cells by co-culturing one or more human motoneurons and one or more human muscle cells in a substantially serum-free medium. A synthetic mammalian neuromuscular junction includes a human motoneuron functionally linked to a human muscle cell in a substantially serum-free medium. An artificial substrate may be used to support the one or more neuromuscular junctions.
US08835157B2

Methods of providing at least one reagent for use in a device for processing sample material, delivering at least one reagent to a device for processing sample material, and adding at least one reagent to at least one of the steps in a process for detecting or assaying a nucleic acid; a support film coated with a dry reagent layer; and a device for processing sample material having a support film coated with a dry reagent layer contained within at least one chamber of the device are disclosed.
US08835153B2

A process for expression of active [FeFe]-hydrogenase in a host organism that does not contain either the structural gene(s) for [FeFe]-hydrogenases and/or homologues for the maturation genes HydE, HydF and HyG, comprising: cloning the structural hydrogenase gene(s) and/or the maturation genes HydE, HydF and HydG from an organisms that contains these genes into expression plasmids; transferring the plasmids into an organism that lacks a native [FeFe]-hydrogenase or that has a disrupted [FeFe]-hydrogenase and culturing it aerobically; and inducing anaerobiosis to provide [FeFe] hydrogenase biosynthesis and H?2#191 production.
US08835142B2

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, microbial, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as food products and amino acids.
US08835135B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for reducing steric hindrance in the product of nucleic acid polymerase reaction. Methods and compositions of the invention encompass application of exonucleases, endonucleases, and uracil-DNA glycosylases to a nucleic acid polymerase reaction such that newly formed nucleic acid strands are modified (e.g., cleaved) while the polymerase reaction continues to proceed.
US08835134B2

This invention provides a method for preparing cycloastragenol monoglucoside CMG (cycloastragenol-6-O-β-D-glucoside), comprising the steps of: a. using astragaloside IV or Astragali extracts prepared by a conventional method as raw materials and adding an appropriate solvent thereinto to form a raw material solution; b. adding hydrolase and allowing for hydrolysis at a constant temperature to obtain a hydrolysate; c. separating the hydrolysate with macroporous adsorption resin; and d. obtaining the product by purification and separation. The present invention further provides cycloastragenol-6-O-β-D-glucoside prepared according to the method of this invention as well as its use in the preparation of a medicament for treating cardiovascular diseases and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same.
US08835133B2

The invention provides therapeutic anti-beta7 antibodies, compositions comprising, and methods of using these antibodies.
US08835122B2

The invention relates to a method for automated determination of immunofluorescent foci by means of an immunofluorescence assay using synthetic calibration particles, in addition to a system and kit for carrying out the method. In a preferred embodiment the method is characterized in that the immunofluorescent foci are gamma H2Ax foci.
US08835121B2

Provided herein is a modified method of agglutination to detect infections caused by microorganisms including the steps of staining the test serum, plasma or blood or purified antibodies with a protein stain; mixing serum, plasma or blood with stained antibodies with an equal quantity of colored antigen particles on a glass slide; adding diluted Antiglobulin conjugated with Biotin to the mixture; subjecting the mixture to the step of mixing, adding diluted Avidin (preferably tagged with a visible indicator) to the mixture and thoroughly mixing all the ingredients.
US08835120B2

The present disclosure describes immunoassays for detecting cardiac troponin-T (cTnT) in a test sample, and in particular immunoassays and kits for detecting cTnT in a test sample suspected of containing substances that may interfere with the determination of cTnT, such as heterophilic endogenous antibodies and autoantibodies to cTnT. The methods use more than one capture phase antibody and more than one detection antibody to improve specificity, and provide for the use of humanized immunoreagents to overcome heterophilic antibody interferences.
US08835118B2

A fluorescence detection apparatus for analyzing samples located in a plurality of wells in a thermal cycler and methods of use are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a support structure attachable to the thermal cycler and a detection module movably mountable on the support structure. The detection module includes one or more channels, each having an excitation light generator and an emission light detector both disposed within the detection module. When the support structure is attached to the thermal cycler and the detection module is mounted on the support structure, the detection module is movable so as to be positioned in optical communication with different ones of the plurality of wells. The detection module is removable from the support structure to allow easy replacement.
US08835113B2

This invention relates to an aggregation sensor useful for the detection and analysis of aggregants in a sample, and methods, articles and compositions relating to such a sensor. The sensor comprises first and second optically active units, where energy may be transferred from an excited state of the first optically active unit to the second optically active unit. The second optically active unit is present in a lesser amount, but its relative concentration is increased upon aggregation, increasing its absorption of energy from the first optically active units. This increase in energy transfer can be detected in variety of formats to produce an aggregation sensing system for various aggregants, including for quantitation. Other variations of the inventions are described further herein.
US08835110B2

The present invention relates, e.g., to a method for determining the size distribution of DNA molecules in a sample comprising cell-free nucleic acid, comprising labeling the DNA with a fluorescent dye in a stoichiometric manner, subjecting the DNA to molecular spectroscopy (e.g., cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy), analyzing suitable fluorescent burst parameters of the labeled DNA, and conducting single molecule DNA integrity analysis of the labeled DNA molecules in the sample. In one embodiment of the invention, the method is used as a diagnostic method for detecting cancer.
US08835098B2

Provided is a pattern forming method making it possible to obtain a pattern with less scums and watermark defects. The pattern forming method includes the steps of forming a film from an actinic-ray- or radiation-sensitive resin composition includes a resin (A) that exhibits an increased solubility in an alkali developer when acted on by an acid, a compound (B) that generates an acid when exposed to actinic rays or radiation, and a resin (C) containing at least one of a fluorine atom and a silicon atom, exposing the film to light, and developing the exposed film using a tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution whose concentration is less than 2.38 mass %.
US08835093B2

There is provided a resist underlayer film forming composition for lithography for forming a resist underlayer film capable of being used as a hardmask. A resist underlayer film forming composition for lithography comprising a silane compound containing an anion group, wherein the silane compound containing an anion group is a hydrolyzable organosilane in which an organic group containing an anion group is bonded to a silicon atom and the anion group forms a salt structure, a hydrolysis product thereof, or a hydrolysis-condensation product thereof. The anion group may be a carboxylic acid anion, a phenolate anion, a sulfonic acid anion, or a phosphonic acid anion. The hydrolyzable organosilane may be a compound of Formula (1): R1aR2bSi(R3)4−(a+b) (1). A composition comprising a mixture of a hydrolyzable organosilane of Formula (1), and at least one organic silicon compound selected from the group consisting of a compound of Formula (2): R4aSi(R5)4−a (2) and a compound of Formula (3): [R6cSi(R7)3−c]2Yb (3); a hydrolysis product of the mixture; or a hydrolysis-condensation product of the mixture.
US08835092B2

There is disclosed a resist underlayer film composition of a multilayer resist film used in lithography including (A) a fullerene derivative having a carboxyl group protected by a thermally labile group and (B) an organic solvent. There can be a resist underlayer film composition of a multilayer resist film used in lithography for forming a resist underlayer in which generation of wiggling in substrate etching can be highly suppressed and the poisoning problem in forming an upper layer pattern using a chemically amplified resist can be avoided, a process for forming the resist underlayer film, a patterning process and a fullerene derivative.
US08835090B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a developing apparatus which is less affected by usage environments, has high development efficiency for long term use and can provide a high quality image without image density non-uniformity.The present invention relates to a developing apparatus wherein a magnetic toner-carrying member has a work function value at the surface thereof within a specific range, a toner regulating member which regulates toner carried on the magnetic toner-carrying member is made of a specific material at a portion contacting the magnetic toner, the magnetic toner has an average circularity of 0.950 or more and the magnetic toner has a surface tension index within a specific range.
US08835082B2

The present disclosure provides a method for electron-beam (e-beam) lithography patterning. The method includes forming a resist layer on a substrate; performing a first e-beam exposure process to the resist layer according to a first pattern; performing a second e-beam exposure process to the resist layer according to a second pattern, wherein the second patterned is overlapped to the first pattern on the resist layer; and developing the resist layer.
US08835069B2

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell module having a solid-oxide fuel cell and a reformer adapted to perform steam reforming of a fuel gas supplied to the solid-oxide fuel cell, a water supplying unit and a control unit. The controller unit is adapted to control, at least during start up of the fuel cell system switching of a pulse pump from a stop state to a pumping state to start pumping of water, and to change the pulse pump to a normal control state after performing a start-operation-control which sets a feed flow rate of the pulse pump higher for a predetermined time than a feed flow rate of the water during the normal control state.
US08835068B2

According to one embodiment, a fuel cell includes an electric-power generator, a fuel distribution mechanism, and a pump. The electric-power generator includes a membrane electrode assembly including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolytic membrane. The fuel distribution mechanism includes a container and a thin tube. The container includes a fuel discharge surface, and contains the electric-power generator inside. The thin tube is formed in the container in a manner that a fuel outlet and a fuel inlet communicate with each other. The pump is connected directly to the fuel inlet.
US08835063B2

An evaporative humidifier for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system including a fuel cell stack, comprising: a condensation channel to which exhaust gas from the fuel cell stack is introduced; an evaporation channel to which supply gas for the fuel cell stack is introduced; a partition wall for separating the condensation channel and the evaporation channel from each other; and a water distribution unit for supplying water into the evaporation channel, wherein the water is condensed in the condensation channel by heat exchange between the exhaust gas and the supply gas.
US08835060B2

Silicon-oxygen batteries comprising a silicon anode as chemical fuel, an air-cathode for dissociating oxygen, and an electrolyte, and applications using the same are provided. The silicon-batteries may utilize air for generating oxygen.
US08835057B2

The present invention relates to an anode for a secondary battery, comprising: a spiral anode having at least two anode wires which are parallel to each other and spirally twisted, each of the anode wires having an anode active material layer coated on the surface of a wire-type current collector; and a conductive layer formed to surround the spiral anode.The anode active material layer of the spirally-twisted has a thin thickness as compared with a single strand of an anode having the same anode active material. Therefore, Li ions can be easily diffused to enhance battery performance. Also, the anode of the present invention has a conductive layer on the surface thereof to prevent or alleviate the release of an anode active material which is caused by volume expansion during charging and discharging processes, and to solve the isolation of the anode active material.
US08835039B2

A battery module according to one embodiment of this disclosure includes a battery pack including multiple spaced apart battery cells, and a cooling system having multiple cooling plates providing a cooling plenum. The cooling plates are arranged in an alternating relationship between the battery cells, with each cooling plate including at least a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel. The first cooling channel has a first shape and is arranged in a first thermal region, and the second cooling channel has a second shape different than the first shape, and is arranged in a second thermal region different than the first thermal region.
US08835031B2

A rechargeable battery including an electrode assembly including a negative electrode and a positive electrode; a case housing the electrode assembly; a cap plate coupled to an opening of the case; a negative terminal and a positive terminal penetrating the cap plate and connected to the negative electrode and the positive electrode, respectively; an external short-circuit unit separately provided between the negative terminal and the cap plate and configured to short-circuit the negative terminal on the cap plate; and a thermistor for connecting the positive terminal and the cap plate, wherein the thermistor is configured to have reduced resistance when its temperature is increased.
US08835030B2

A battery pack includes a first bare cell and a second bare cell having positive electrodes electrically connected to each other at a first node and negative electrodes electrically connected to each other at the second node, a first protective device connected between the positive electrode of the first bare cell and the first node, and a protective circuit module electrically connected between the first bare cell and second bare cell.
US08835025B2

A battery pack that implements an electrical coupling structure between a bare cell and a protection circuit module without welding includes: a bare cell including an electrode assembly, a can receiving the electrode assembly and a cap assembly sealing an opening of the can; a protection circuit module provided with a pin that is electrically coupled to an electrode terminal of the bare cell; and a top case, receiving the protection circuit module, and combined with the bare cell.
US08835020B2

A blue fluorescent compound includes a host material being capable of transporting an electron or a hole; and a dopant material represented by following Formula 1: wherein at least two of the R1, the R2, the R3, and the R4 are selected from substituted or non-substituted aromatic group or substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic group, and the R5 is selected from substituted or non-substituted aromatic group or substituted or non-substituted heterocyclic group.
US08835019B2

Organic light emitting devices including an electron transport-emission layer, and methods of preparing the same are included. The electron transport-emission layer may be an electron transport-red emission layer, an electron transport-green emission layer or an electron transport-blue emission layer. The methods produce high yields of the organic light emitting devices and are less expensive than conventional methods.
US08835018B2

An anthracene derivative represented by a general formula (1) and an organic compound represented by a general formula (8) are provided. Further, by use of the anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (1), a light-emitting element with high emission efficiency can be obtained. Furthermore, by use of the anthracene derivative represented by the general formula (1), a light-emitting element that emits blue light with high color purity can be obtained.
US08835007B2

A tempered glass has a compression stress layer in a surface thereof, and includes as a glass composition in terms of mol %, 50 to 75% of SiO2, 3 to 13% of Al2O3, 0 to 1.5% of B2O3, 0 to 4% of Li2O, 7 to 20 % of Na2O, 0 to 10 % of K2O, 0.5 to 13% of MgO, 0 to 6% of CaO, and 0 to 4.5% of SrO. The tempered glass is substantially free of As2O3, Sb2O3, PbO, and F. The tempered glass has a molar ratio MgO/(MgO+Al2O3) of 0.05 to 0.30.
US08835006B2

A carbon nanohorn carried material for producing a carbon nanotube by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method, including a catalytic metal or a compound thereof contained inside carbon nanohorns or supported on exterior walls of the carbon nanohorns is provided. A carbon nanotube is produced by a CVD reaction using the carbon nanohorn carried material. A novel technical means for producing a carbon nanotube which does not use any noncarbon type carrier, can easily collect and purify the carbon nanotube and can control the length of the carbon nanotube can be provided.
US08835004B2

A sintering support comprising a fully stabilized zirconia outer surface; wherein the sintering support withstands sintering a ceramic part in contact with the outer surface without adhesion between the outer surface and the ceramic part, and methods of making and using the sintering support are disclosed.
US08834998B2

A variable stiffness tow cable comprising a plurality of strands. Most of the strands comprise a polymer with interstitial spaces filled with a ferrofluid comprising nanoparticles. And, least one of the strands is a nanoparticle control field source. The stiffness is varied for a number of control objectives such to dampen motion. In another application, strum is controlled by electrical input rather than by changing the length of tow cable let out.
US08834995B2

A coating includes a nano-composite layer including an equal number of films. The films are stacked on top of each other one after another. Each film includes a zirconium-copper carbonitride layer and a zirconium carbonitride layer.
US08834994B2

To provide a top plate for a cooking device which has low transmittance in a visible wavelength range and high transmittance in an infrared wavelength range of 3500 nm to 4000 nm. A top plate 1 for a cooking device includes: a glass substrate 10; and a layered coating 2 made of a Si film 11 and a silicon nitride film 12 which are formed on the glass substrate 10. Where t1 represents the thickness of the Si film 11 and t2 represents the thickness of the silicon nitride film 12, (t1, t2) in FIG. 1 showing the relation between the thickness t1 of the Si film and the thickness t2 of the silicon nitride film is within the bounds X defined by connecting Points A1 to A36 shown in TABLE 1 in this order with straight lines.
US08834991B2

Laminates and methods of making them are generally provided. The methods of making a laminate for use as a clothing tag can include laminating a first fibrous web to a second fibrous web. Both the first and second fibrous webs can include cellulosic fibers and a binder composition present in the respective fibrous web from about 10% by weight to about 100% by weight of the dry weight of the fibrous web. Both the first and second binder composition can include a curable latex polymer and a crosslinker. The second fibrous web can be creped and can have a thickness less than 10 mils. The laminate can be aged for at least about 1 hour at an aging temperature of greater than about 150° F. The resulting laminated and their use in clothing are also provided.
US08834988B2

An assembly including a first wafer, a second wafer, a spacing wafer configured to be positioned between the first wafer and the second wafer, and a plurality of spacing elements configured to be positioned within the spacing wafer and to contact the first wafer and the second wafer, the spacing elements sized to define a first spacing distance between the first wafer and the second wafer.
US08834975B1

A modular block system that is aesthetically and functionally versatile by providing a plurality of independent puzzle-like block members to form furniture, table, wall and floor coverings.
US08834971B2

Process for the continuous preparation of prepolymers based on phenolic resin, an oxazoline component and an epoxide in the presence of a catalyst, including supplying the phenolic resin and the oxazoline component to an extruder in a stream A; a Lewis adduct of boron trifluoride or of aluminum trichloride, or arylsulphonic acids or alkylsulphonic acids, or latent arylsulphonic acids or latent alkylsulphonic acids, in a stream B, and the epoxide in a stream C, the infeed of stream A being situated, as seen in extrusion direction, before the infeed of stream C, these reactants are mixed at a reaction temperature of 120 to 200° C. with a residence time in the extruder of 3 seconds to 15 minutes, and then the product discharge of the extruder is cooled to a temperature of less than 45° C. within from 30 to 60 seconds.
US08834969B2

For vacuum treatment of workpieces by a multitude of distinct processing stations (P11-P1n, P21-P2m) the processing stations are grouped in two groups (I and II). The workpieces are handled towards and from the processing stations of the first group (I) simultaneously, whereat the workpieces are treated by the processing stations of the second group (II) in a selectable individual sequence.
US08834968B2

In one aspect, a method of forming a phase change material layer is provided. The method includes supplying a reaction gas including the composition of Formula 1 into a reaction chamber, supplying a first source which includes Ge(II) into the reaction chamber, and supplying a second source into the reaction chamber. Formula 1 is NR1R2R3, where R1, R2 and R3 are each independently at least one selected from the group consisting of H, CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C4H9, Si(CH3)3, NH2, NH(CH3), N(CH3)2, NH(C2H5) and N(C2H5)2.
US08834967B2

A method of reducing the diameter of pores formed in a graphene sheet includes forming at least one pore having a first diameter in the graphene sheet such that the at least one pore is surrounded by passivated edges of the graphene sheet. The method further includes chemically reacting the passivated edges with a chemical compound. The method further includes forming a molecular brush at the passivated edges in response to the chemical reaction to define a second diameter that is less than the initial diameter of the at least one pore.
US08834960B2

The present invention relates to a process which comprises: providing a substrate having a surface; applying a dispersion to the surface, wherein the dispersion comprises at least one liquid dispersant, and electrostatically stabilized silver nanoparticles having a zeta potential of from −20 to −55 mV in the dispersant at a pH value of from 2 to 10; and heating one or both of the surface and the dispersion applied thereon to a temperature of from 50° C. below the boiling point of the dispersant to 150° C. above the boiling point of the dispersant, to form a conductive coating on the surface.
US08834959B2

The synthesis of single graphene sheets decorated with metal or metal oxide nanoparticles, and their uses.
US08834953B2

The present invention relates to a protein-binding material including a mesoporous silica and a method for selectively separating and purifying using the protein-binding material. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of preparing a magnetic mesoporous silica responding to a magnetic field by adsorbing a precursor of a transition metal or its ion, such as an iron (Fe) precursor, onto a mesoporous silica, and to a protein-binding material prepared by coating the surface of the magnetic mesoporous silica with a transition metal or its ion so as to be capable of binding to a specific protein labeled with histidine, and also to a method of selectively separating and purifying a specific protein using the protein-binding material.
US08834947B2

A process for heating a pumpable food product comprising the steps of: a) providing a pumpable food product, b) transporting the pumpable food product through a continuous flow passage, c) heating the pumpable food product during at least part of the transporting of step b), characterized in that the flow rate of transportation during step b) comprises phases of acceleration and phases of deceleration, wherein the phases of acceleration and of deceleration periodically repeat.
US08834946B2

A system and method for a beverage container configured to test for a contaminated beverage in the beverage container comprises a base of the beverage container, an upper portion of the beverage container, and a sidewall with an inner surface and an outer surface that extends from the base to the upper portion, and a testing material. A portion of the beverage container is the testing material configured to visibly react when the portion of the beverage container is contacted with the contaminated beverage.
US08834943B2

The present invention features compositions comprising at least one compound of the formula I or formula II: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 independently, are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 hydroxyalkyl, or a cosmetically acceptable salt thereof, and the use thereof.
US08834933B2

Provided are nanoparticles and formulations which are useful for cosmetic, diagnostic and therapeutic applications to mammals such as humans.
US08834931B2

The present invention is related to a dry powder formulation containing tiotropium to be administered via inhalation, the use of said formulation in the treatment of respiratory diseases especially asthma and COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), and the production process of said formulation.
US08834921B2

The invention provides a method for obtaining local anesthetics encapsulated in liposomes, such as multi vesicular liposomes, with high encapsulation efficiency and slow release in vivo. When the encapsulated anesthetic is administered as a single intracutaneous dose, the duration of anesthesia and half-life of the drug at the local injection site is increased as compared to injection of unencapsulated anesthetic. The maximum tolerated dose of the encapsulated anesthetic is also markedly increased in the liposomal formulation over injection of unencapsulated anesthetic. These results show that the liposomal formulation of local anesthetic is useful for sustained local infiltration and nerve block anesthesia.
US08834919B2

The present invention provides lipid emulsions and methods of intravenously administering lipid emulsions to treat systemic toxicity caused by foreign lipophilic and amphiphilic substances. In particular, methods are provided to treat cardiovascular impairment, such as cardiotoxicity, asystole and ischemia of the brain and heart, and neurological impairments, such as seizures and comas, caused by foreign lipophilic and amphiphilic substances, including cardiovascular impairment caused by local anesthetics, tricyclic antidepressants, sodium channel blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
US08834913B2

A medical implant device having a substrate with an oxidized surface and a silane derivative coating covalently bonded to the oxidized surface. A bioactive agent is covalently bonded to the silane derivative coating. An implantable stent device including a stent core having an oxidized surface with a layer of silane derivative covalently bonded thereto. A spacer layer comprising polyethylene glycol (PEG) is covalently bonded to the layer of silane derivative and a protein is covalently bonded to the PEG. A method of making a medical implant device including providing a substrate having a surface, oxidizing the surface and reacting with derivitized silane to form a silane coating covalently bonded to the surface. A bioactive agent is then covalently bonded to the silane coating. In particular instances, an additional coating of bio-absorbable polymer and/or pharmaceutical agent is deposited over the bioactive agent.
US08834911B2

A device for use in combination with a fluid flow having a biologic component and subject to an adverse response to shear stress includes a surface in contact with the flow of the fluid. The surface has a longitudinal direction extending from a leading end toward a trailing end and aligned with a direction of the flow. The surface is susceptible to inducing boundary layer formation within the flow sufficient for a resulting shear stress to induce the response. The surface includes a surface feature sufficient to induce boundary layer tripping in the flow to retard growth of boundary layer formation along the length.
US08834902B2

A biodegradable in vivo supporting device is disclosed. The in vivo supporting device comprises a biodegradable metal scaffold and a biodegradable polymer coating covering at least a portion of the biodegradable metal scaffold, wherein the biodegradable polymer coating has a degradation rate that is faster than the degradation rate of the biodegradable metal scaffold.
US08834898B2

The present invention relates to chimeric protein vaccines and methods of use thereof in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of generating an immune response in a mammal, that includes administering to the mammal, a composition having a chimeric protein having at least one of: a portion of a cholera toxin, a portion of a heat-labile toxin, and a portion of a shiga toxin; and an antigen having at least one of an antigenic material from S. aureus and an antigenic material from a S. aureus-specific polypeptide.
US08834897B2

Methods of using tetanus toxin to modulate or control neural functions or nonneural cellular activities at selected sites in animals, particularly in mammals, and more particularly in humans, are provided. Pharmaceutical formulations to modulate neural functions or non-neural cellular activities of an animal at selected sites in animals, particularly in mammals, and more particularly in humans are also provided. Uses of tetanus toxin in preparation of medicaments for methods of treating clinical disorders or symptoms of animals, particularly mammals and more particularly humans are also provided.
US08834891B2

The present invention provides combination vaccines that comprise an immunological agent effective for reducing the incidence of or lessening the severity of PPE caused by L. intracellularis, and one or more immunological active components effective in treatment and/or prophylaxis of at least one further disease-causing organism for swine. Moreover, the present invention also relates to a kit that comprises an immunological agent effective for reducing the incidence of or lessening the severity of PPE caused by L. intracellularis, and one or more immunological active components effective in treatment and/or prophylaxis of at least one further disease-causing organism for swine.
US08834885B2

The present disclosure relates to immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin conjugates with reduced oligomerization and efficient labeling and compositions, methods of generating such immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin conjugates and methods of using such immunoglobulin conjugates particularly in the treatment and prevention of disease.
US08834878B1

A method for the treatment of cancer is provided wherein a cancer recognition (CARE) antigen or CARE antibody is administered to a patient. Administration of the CARE antigen or antibody will induce an immune or promote a response of IgM CARE antibodies which will bind to CARE antigen bound to cancer cells, inducing an immune response to destroy the cancer cells. Subsequent to said treatment, ELISA assays may be used to detect levels of said CARE antigen to monitor the efficacy of the treatment, and to govern the further administration of CARE antigens.
US08834874B2

Provided herein are methods and compositions for treating a subject suffering from a deficiency in iduronate 2-sulfatase in the CNS. The methods include systemic administration of a bifunctional fusion antibody comprising an antibody that crosses the blood brain barrier (BBB) and an iduronate 2-sulfatase.
US08834865B2

The invention provides methods, compositions, systems, and kits that include an enzyme/substrate co-delivery system. The liquid delivery system includes at least one enzyme encapsulated in a water-soluble polymeric matrix and a substrate for the enzyme in a carrier liquid in which the polymeric matrix is insoluble. When water is added, the polymeric matrix is solubilized and enzyme is released from the matrix, permitting catalytic action upon the substrate.
US08834863B2

Recombinant vectors comprise simian adenovirus A1321 (SAdV-A1321), SAdV-A1325, SAdV-A1295, SAdV-A1309, SAdV-A1316, and/or SAdV-A1322 sequences and a heterologous gene under the control of regulatory sequences. A cell line which expresses simian adenovirus SAdV-A1321, SAdV-A1325, SAdV-A1295, SAdV-A1309, SAdV-A1316, and/or SAdV-A1322 gene(s) is also disclosed. Methods of using the vectors and cell lines are provided.
US08834858B2

The present invention relates to compounds, and compositions, useful for treating dyslipidemia.
US08834855B2

The invention concerns methods of treating or preventing the effects of irradiation in a human or non-human animal using carotenoid compounds, preferably diadinoxanthin, diatoxanthin and/or fucoxanthin as well as photoprotective compositions and their use to prepare photoprotective or photoprotected products.
US08834854B2

An oral treatment composition that includes a carrier, an active agent and a silicon dioxide compound. The active agent can be a variety of compositions, such as dental whitening or bleaching agents, desensitizing agents, antimicrobials, anti-plaque agents, remineralizing agents, anti-tartar agents, mouth fresheners, and anesthetics. Optionally, a processing aid can be added to the composition to streamline manufacture of the gel. The composition can be formed as a bead in a dental tray so that when a user applies the dental tray to their dental arch, the bead readily spreads over the surfaces of the teeth without the user having to supply significant force to achieve such spreading.
US08834845B2

A bioactive PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) bone cement contains a powder component and a reactive monomer liquid, wherein the powder component and the reactive monomer liquid when mixed with one another react with one another and form a polymer-based solid material. The powder component contains particulate polymer powder of polymethylmethacrylates; a radical starter; and anionic copolymer nanoparticles. The anionic copolymer nanoparticles are distributed in nano-particulate form within the particulate powder component or coated as a film on particles of the particulate polymer powder.
US08834842B2

The invention relates to compounds and methods for targeting radionuclide-based imaging agents to cells having receptors for a vitamin, or vitamin receptor binding derivative or analog thereof, by using such a vitamin as the targeting ligand for the imaging agent.The vitamin-based compounds can be used to target radionuclides to cells, such as a variety of tumor cell types, for use in diagnostic imaging of the targeted cells.
US08834839B2

Imaging agents that comprise labeled substrates of the cystine/glutamate antiporter of cells, whereby the methods of use comprise introducing the labeled agents into cells via the cystine/glutamate antiporter, which are then reduced to a labeled cysteine, and subsequently detected in the cell.
US08834831B2

A method for biomimetically preparing titanium oxide precipitates with specific morphologies. According to one embodiment, designed peptides that are 5-20 amino acids long are used as initiators to cause the precipitation of titanium oxide from a buffered aqueous solution containing a titanium oxide precursor, such as titanium(IV) bis(ammonium lactate) dihydroxide. The peptides consist of amino acids that are hydrophilic at neutral pH, such as serine, and amino acids that are cationic at neutral pH, such as lysine and arginine. The peptides sequences are designed to induce the formation of specific morphologies including, but not limited to, spheres, rectangular blocks, cubes, porous sheets, non-porous sheets, and flowers. The method enables the formation of distinct and consistent titanium oxide morphologies without a need for high temperatures and pressures or for caustic reaction conditions. This, in turn, allows for oxide formation in the presence of environmentally sensitive materials and limits hazardous waste streams.
US08834828B2

A novel fine carbon fiber is produced by vapor growth, in which a graphite-net plane consisting of carbon atoms alone forms a temple-bell-shaped structural unit comprising closed head-top part and body-part with open lower-end, where an angle θ formed by a generatrix of the body-part and a fiber axis is less than 15°, 2 to 30 of the temple-bell-shaped structural units are stacked sharing a central axis to form an aggregate, and the aggregates are connected in head-to-tail style with a distance, thereby forming a fiber. Furthermore, a fine short carbon fibers with excellent dispersibility can be obtained by shortening the fine carbon fiber.
US08834825B2

Methods for producing silane by reacting a hydride and a halosilane are disclosed. Some embodiments involve use of a column which is not mechanically agitated and in which reactants may be introduced in a counter-current arrangement. Some embodiments involve use of a baffled column which has multiple reaction zones.
US08834823B2

Methods and systems for selective catalytic reduction of NOx with an activated-carbon-supported metal catalyst at an operating temperature of between about between about 500° C. and about 750° C. An exhaust stream including NOx is introduced to a catalytic reactor having the activated-carbon-supported metal catalyst for NOx reduction of at least 90%. A second catalyst reactor can be provided downstream to remove or convert nitrous oxide as desired.
US08834818B2

There is provided a hydrometallurgical process of recovering indium and gallium values from mixtures thereof with other metal values for example recycled and scrap solar panel cells which comprises subjecting the mixture to strongly oxidizing acid conditions, preferably via the simultaneous addition of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide to the leach vessel, so as to form indium and gallium salt species of at least the major proportion of the indium and gallium values in the mixture, extracting the indium and gallium values with an organic extractant by adjusting the pH so as to extract individually the indium and gallium values with the organic extractant, stripping indium and gallium values from the extractant using an acid and an alkaline solution respectively and recovering the indium and gallium values.
US08834815B2

The invention relates to a valve structure for a microfluidic channel, where the valve serves the opening and closing of a channel (8) on a second level raised through channel pillars from the plane of the microfluidic channel network at the first level of a base plate (1), and where the channel wall is formed of a resilient material.The valve structure consists of a base plate (1) part, of protruding supporting walls (3, 3′) belonging to the base plate (1) and of a resilient part (7) between the supporting walls (3, 3′), within which the channel (8) is formed, and it consists furthermore of pressing appliances (9, 9′) situated on the two sides of the channel, as well as of displacement appliance (10) ensuring the movement of the pressing appliances in the direction of the mid-line of the channel (8).
US08834814B2

The automatic analysis system is equipped with a mechanism to transport a sample container having a stopper body, the system comprising: a sample dispensing mechanism that dispenses a predetermined amount of sample accommodated in the sample container; a stopper body removing/mounting mechanism that removes the stopper body from the sample container; a control unit that stores therein association between the sample container and the stopper body of the sample container; the stopper body removing/mounting mechanism that in accordance with the association stored into the control unit, mounts the stopper body back on the sample container containing the sample dispensed by the sample dispensing mechanism; and a stopper body transport mechanism that transports the sample that the stopper body removing/mounting mechanism has removed at a stopper removing position to a stopper mounting position.
US08834810B2

A method and apparatus for microfluidic processing by programmably manipulating a packet. A material is introduced onto a reaction surface and compartmentalized to form a packet. A position of the packet is sensed with a position sensor. A programmable manipulation force is applied to the packet at the position. The programmable manipulation force is adjustable according to packet position by a controller. The packet is programmably moved according to the programmable manipulation force along arbitrarily chosen paths.
US08834806B2

A reaction-crystallization apparatus for carrying out reaction and/or solvent extraction and/or crystallization of soluble salts has an upper section having a top and a decanter. The decanter has a vertical vessel having a horizontal weir at the top of the upper section. The top of the upper section has an outlet for removing a light phase at the top of the decanter. The apparatus has a lower section, including a crystallizer. The crystallizer includes: a coaxial draft tube; a feed pipe; an agitator inside the draft tube; and at least one outlet at the bottom for crystal slurry removal. The apparatus has an intermediate section sandwiched between the lower section and the upper section such that the sections are in fluid communication and includes at least one coaxial vertical baffle with a gap between the draft tube and the coaxial vertical baffle and is adjustable by moving the baffle.
US08834798B2

There is provided an analysis device comprising a gas phase and a liquid phase and at least one sensor, said sensor having at least one point where an analyte is detected, said at least point being in contact with the liquid phase, characterized in that the device comprises a membrane with a first and a second side, which membrane is in contact with the gas phase on at least a part of one side of the membrane and which membrane is in contact with the liquid phase on at least a part of the other side of the membrane, wherein the membrane comprises openings, and wherein the largest possible distance between any two openings in the membrane is larger than the distance between the membrane and the point where an analyte is detected, moreover there is provided a method for analyzing an analyte in a gas phase.
US08834790B2

An apparatus (1) for sterilizing container closures comprises a conduit (2) defining a passage for the closure and having a wall (3) surrounding the passage, spraying means (4) for injecting inside the conduit (2) a sterilization fluid heated and vaporized, drying means for introducing hot air in the conduit (2) and means for capturing the exhaust fluids exiting from the con-duit (2), said means comprising at least a suction hood (15) arranged over a corresponding exhaust opening (14) defined in the conduit (2) at a predetermined distance thereto, to capture the exhaust fluids from said exhaust opening (14) bay way of a draught effect.
US08834786B2

Carbide pellets including relatively small amounts of metallic binder are produced by steps of pressing, comminuting, shaping and sintering. The carbide pellets may be used as wear resistant hard facing materials that are applied to various types of tools. The carbide pellets provide improved mechanical properties such as hardness and abrasiveness while maintaining required levels of toughness and strength.
US08834785B2

A method for producing a metal article according to one embodiment may involve the steps of: Providing a composite metal powder including a substantially homogeneous dispersion of molybdenum and molybdenum disulfide sub-particles that are fused together to form individual particles of the composite metal powder; and compressing the molybdenum/molybdenum disulfide composite metal powder under sufficient pressure to cause the mixture to behave as a nearly solid mass.
US08834782B2

A complex-shaped, three-dimensional fiber reinforced composite structure may be formed by using counteracting pressures applied to a structural lay-up of fiber plies. The fiber plies are arranged on a pressurizable member that may become an integral part of the final product, or may be removed before the product is finalized. The pressurizable member may take the form of a hollow blow molded or rotomolded thermoplastic component or a superplastic formed metallic component having an opening such that the pressurizable member may be vented or pressurized and thus expanded against the fiber plies. In addition, a number of the pressurizable members may be joined in fluid communication, where they may each have different configurations, yet be arranged to form a large, complex-shaped lay-up surface for the fiber plies. The arrangement of the fiber plies onto the pressurizable members may produce integral I-Beam stiffeners, ribs, flanges, and other complex shaped structural components.
US08834778B2

A method of fluid forming a container comprising positioning a plastic preform into a mold cavity, wherein the mold cavity defines a first configuration and a first volume. The method further includes injecting a fluid within the plastic preform at a first fluid pressure urging the plastic preform into an expanded shape. The method includes actuating the mold cavity into a second configuration and a second volume, whereby the second volume is smaller than the first volume, thereby resulting in a second fluid pressure within the plastic preform being greater than the first fluid pressure.
US08834770B2

A sole component having a base, a toe cover and an integral line of articulation permitting the toe cover to be molded in an “open” position and moved into a “closed” position during assembly on the article of footwear. The line of articulation may include a line of reduced thickness extending laterally across the sole. The line of articulation may also include breaks defined in the sidewall of the sole in alignment with the line of reduced thickness. The present invention also provides a method of forming a sole component generally including the steps of providing a mold having bottom and top mold parts shaped to cooperatively define a mold cavity in the shape of a sole component having a toe cover joined to a base along a line of articulation, closing the mold parts, injecting a sole forming material into the cavity, removing the sole component and moving the toe cover about the line of articulation into a closed configuration for use.
US08834762B2

A pleatable nonwoven material is provided, including thicker form-giving fibers and thinner fibers determining the filter effect, wherein the thinner fibers are incorporated largely homogeneously in the thicker fibers running in the direction along the surface of the nonwoven material and a distribution density gradient of the thinner fibers is established perpendicular to the surface of the nonwoven material such that the highest concentration of thinner fibers is in the region of the center or on one of the two outsides, wherein the thicker and thinner fibers are bonded together by solidification from the melted condition and are made from the same material.
US08834760B2

Described herein are extrusion processes to produce hollow pellets. Also disclosed are pelletizer devices that can be used to produce the hollow pellets. The processes and devices make use of an extrusion die having a die orifice and an insert that is placed in the die orifice to produce the hollow pellets.
US08834747B2

Compositions containing tin nanoparticles and electrically conductive particles are described herein. The tin nanoparticles can have a size below about 25 nm so as to make the compositions fusable at temperatures below that of bulk tin (m.p.=232° C.). Particularly, when the tin nanoparticles are less than about 10 nm in size, the compositions can have a fusion temperature of less than about 200° C. The compositions can contain a whisker suppressant to inhibit or substantially minimize the formation of tin whiskers after tin nanoparticle fusion. In some embodiments, the compositions contain tin nanoparticles, electrically conductive particles comprising copper particles, and a whisker suppressant comprising nickel particles. Methods for using the present compositions are also described herein. The present compositions can be used as a lead solder replacement that allows rework to be performed.
US08834744B2

The invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium comprising one or more compounds of the formula I in which R0, X0 and L1-6 have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, and to the use thereof in electro-optical liquid-crystal displays.
US08834742B2

A system having a vertically-aligned negative delta E nematic liquid crystal host material and a small amount of liquid crystal polymer is provided. The liquid crystal polymer improves the switching speed of a vertically aligned nematic system without sacrificing contrast or viewing angle.
US08834736B2

A thermoelectric material that comprises a ternary main group matrix material and nano-particles and/or nano-inclusions of a Group 2 or Group 12 metal oxide dispersed therein. A process for making the thermoelectric material that includes reacting a reduced metal precursor with an oxidized metal precursor in the presence of nanoparticles.
US08834722B2

Methods for in-line purification of surfactant from a first fluid, such as a microemulsion are disclosed. Magnetic particles coated with surfactant molecules may be used to bind surfactants from a fluid. A magnetic field may be used to separate the bound materials from the fluid.
US08834718B2

A dialysis service box for centralized control and plumbing arrangement of a dialysis machine is disclosed. The dialysis service box includes a plumbing arrangement having a supply inlet for supplying a fluid to the dialysis machine, a backflow preventer for preventing retrograde flow through the plumbing arrangement, a trap primer for maintaining a trap seal designed to prevent waste gases from flowing into the dialysis service box and a waste connection for allowing waste from the dialysis machine to exit. The dialysis service box can be universally installed to operate, control and adjust any dialysis machine that requires supply connection, waste connection, backflow preventer and trap primer, or any combination of the foregoing.
US08834716B2

A water treatment system, for example for treating grey water from domestic appliances comprises a water treatment device containing a filter media through which the water passes to remove particulates and bio-matter. The device has a lid provided with a spraying device. The spraying device may, for example, receive treated water along a line, possibly with the addition of an anti-foaming agent. Operating of the spraying device thus serves to collapse any foam generated within the water treatment device. Filter media can be cleaned periodically in a cyclone, after being drawn up through a pipe by means of a jet pump, receiving treated water along a line. Treated water is stored in a storage tank for subsequent use.
US08834711B2

The present invention relates to an upstream ozone contact tank for removing residual ozone. The upstream ozone contact tank includes an inlet through which purified raw water flows, at least one contact chamber, at least one reaction chamber, an upstream contact chamber, and an outlet that discharges ozone-treated raw water. Especially, the invention provides an upstream contact chamber between the reaction chamber and outlet, wherein the upstream contact chamber includes carbonaceous filter media mounted on a porous plate. An openable gate unit is installed at the lower part of a panel partitioning a final reaction chamber and the upstream contact chamber and controls flow rate. Additionally, the invention enables upstream flow of the raw water flowing into the upstream contact chamber from the final reaction chamber so that the raw water may pass through the carbonaceous filter media upwardly.
US08834709B2

A process of producing a light oil stream from slurry oils. The process begins by obtaining slurry oil from a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The slurry oil is then flowed over a fixed bed catalyst, consisting essentially of a non-metal catalyst, to produce a processed slurry oil. The processed slurry oil is then separated by boiling point to separate out the light oil stream.
US08834705B2

A novel lubricant composition is disclosed. In one embodiment the lubricant composition comprises in admixture: a first base stock component comprising one or more base stocks each having a viscosity of at least 40 cSt, Kv100° C. and a molecular weight distribution (MWD) as a function of viscosity at least 10 percent less than algorithm: MWD=0.2223+1.0232*log (Kv at 100° C. in cSt); and a second base stock component comprising one or more base stocks each having a viscosity less than 10 cSt, Kv100° C.
US08834701B2

A process for the transformation of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to nanoribbons composed of a few layers of graphene by an electrochemical approach involving dispersing CNTs by sonication and depositing onto a conducting substrate, and oxidizing CNTs at controlled potential, followed by reduction to form graphene nanoribbons having smooth edges and fewer defects.
US08834696B2

The present invention provides a device and methods of use thereof for desalting a solution. The methods, inter-alia, make use of a device comprising microchannels, which are linked to conduits, whereby induction of an electric field in the conduit results in the formation of a space charge layer within the microchannel. The space charge layer provides an energy barrier for salt ions and generates an ion depletion zone proximal to the linkage region between the microchannel and the conduit. The method thus enables the removal of salt ions from the region proximal to the conduit and their accumulation in a region distant from the conduit, within the microchannel.
US08834693B2

The present invention provides, as one aspect, a gas sensor element including a solid electrolytic substance having a bottomed cylindrical shape and oxygen ion conductivity, a reference electrode arranged on an inner side surface of the solid electrolytic substance, a measuring electrode arranged on an outer side surface of the solid electrolytic substance, and a protective layer which covers the outer side surface of the solid electrolytic substance together with the measuring electrode and which allows gas to be measured to pass through the protective layer, wherein an end side of the gas sensor element is formed of a leg portion whose profile line is straight on an axial cross section and a bottom portion whose profile line is curved, and the film thickness of the protective layer of the bottom portion is larger than the film thickness of the protective layer of the leg portion.
US08834689B2

A device, apparatus, and method for abrasive electrochemical finishing of an arc flange leaf pack are presented. The device includes: a concave support block having holes to receive securing members; removable first and second end blocks configured to seat at opposite ends of the concave support block; removable first and second face plates attached to opposite sides of the concave support block via the securing members; and a region of space between the removable first and second face plates, the removable first and second end blocks, and the concave support block.
US08834685B2

The sputtering apparatus has: a vacuum chamber in which a substrate is disposed; a cathode unit which is disposed inside the vacuum chamber so as to lie opposite to the substrate. The cathode unit has mounted a bottomed cylindrical target material from a bottom side thereof into at least one recessed portion formed in one surface of a holder, and has assembled therein a magnetic field generator for generating a magnetic field in an inside space of the target material. The sputtering apparatus further has: an anode shield to which a positive electric potential is applied; a gas introduction device for introducing a sputtering gas into the vacuum chamber; a power supply for activating power to the cathode unit; a vertical magnetic field generator including coils disposed along a wall surface of the vacuum chamber about a reference axis connecting the cathode unit and the substrate, and a power supply; and a controller for switching on or off the introduction of the sputtering gas from the gas introduction device.
US08834676B2

Methods of producing cellulosic or lignocellulosic materials for use in papermaking include treating a cellulosic or lignocellulosic dry feedstock having a first average molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation such that the average molecular weight of the feedstock is reduced to a predetermined level. A method of producing an irradiated paper product includes treating a paper product including a first carbohydrate-containing material having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation, and controlling the dose of ionizing radiation so as to provide an irradiated paper product with a second carbohydrate-containing material having a second molecular weight higher than the first molecular weight. Pulp and paper products are produced.
US08834667B2

Fluted core sandwich panels are joined together to form a composite structure. Variations in panel ends are accommodated by a core stiffener insert installed in a joint between ends of the panels.
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