US08970725B2
The user interaction system comprises a portable pointing device (101) connected to a camera (102) and sending pictures to a digital signal processor (120), capable of recognizing an object (130) and a command given by the user (100) by moving the pointing device (101) in a specific way, and controlling an electrical apparatus (110) on the basis of this recognition.
US08970705B2
A graphical power meter involving a device for measuring, in real time, an internal power consumption value corresponding to power being consumed by an electronic device; and a device for displaying a graphical representation of the real-time internal power consumption value from the measuring device to a consumer.
US08970702B2
The present invention relates to a method for controlling access to a compartment of a control panel. The method includes the step of posing, with a controller, an indemnification query to a user. The controller receives a response to the indemnification query. The method further includes the step of enabling, with the controller, access to the compartment subsequent to receiving said response.
US08970701B2
A system and method for detecting a traffic signal violation. In one embodiment a system includes a video image capture device, an image rectifier, and a vehicle position predictor. The image rectifier is configured to provide a rectified image by applying a rectification function an image captured by the video image capture device. The vehicle position predictor is configured to provide a prediction, based on the rectified image, of whether a vehicle approaching an intersection will enter the intersection.
US08970692B2
A head mount personal computer (HMPC) and an interactive system using the same are provided. The provided HMPC includes a microprocessing unit, an output unit and an image capture unit with a distance detection function (ICWDD). The microprocessing unit is served as an operation core of the HMPC. The output unit is coupled to and controlled by the microprocessing unit, and configured to project an optical image onto a space. The ICWDD is coupled to and controlled by the microprocessing unit, and configured to capture operation gestures on the projected optical image from a user wearing the HMPC, such that the microprocessing unit correspondingly controls operations of the HMPC in response to the operation gestures on the projected optical image from the user.
US08970691B2
Visual atmospheric effects, colloquially often referred to as “haze”, are filtered from images while taking into account the directional component of such atmospheric effects. A mathematical model, taking into account directional components of light scattering causing the “haze” is utilized to provide more accurate results, especially within the context of wide field images. This mathematical model includes a directional component in the transmission coefficient. To remove the haze from images, each pixel of an individual image can have the atmospheric coloring subtracted from that pixel and can then have an appropriate compensation made for the atmospheric transmission losses. An image capture system collects metadata to aid in the determination of directional components of haze. The removal of haze from images can provide images that can be more easily combined into a composite image.
US08970687B2
An order storage unit stores an order for a medical practice to be performed using an endoscopic system. A control unit transmits an order to the endoscopic system via a communication line and also transmits device setting information linked to at least one of a doctor and a medical practice type specified by the order. When the control unit receives a notification of a change from the endoscopic system while the medical practice specified by the order is being performed, the control unit transmits new device setting information corresponding to the change to the endoscopic system.
US08970685B2
An endoscope apparatus is provided for which a user does not need to adjust irradiation light quantity intentionally while confirming a captured image. A captured image which is bright and has stable tint can be obtained without being limited by an imaging distance with respect to the observation of the structure or components of living bodies. The endoscope apparatus includes a first light source section, a second light source section, a light source control unit which controls the irradiation and irradiation light quantity, an imaging unit which obtains a captured image, luminance value calculating unit which calculates the luminance value, a light source light quantity changing unit which changes the irradiation light quantity according to the luminance value, a white balance adjustment value calculating unit which calculates a white balance adjustment value, and a gain adjusting unit which adjusts the gain of the imaging unit.
US08970680B2
A monoscopic low-power mobile device is capable of creating real-time stereo images and videos from a single captured view. The device uses statistics from an autofocusing process to create a block depth map of a single capture view. Artifacts in the block depth map are reduced and an image depth map is created. Stereo three-dimensional (3D) left and right views are created from the image depth map using a Z-buffer based 3D surface recover process and a disparity map which is a function of the geometry of binocular vision.
US08970679B2
A three dimensional camera device and a method of controlling the same are provided. The three dimensional camera device and the method enable a user to photograph a three dimensional image suitable for a photographing angle. Since a swing hinge rotates a left camera element and a right camera element about a mid-point between the left camera element and the right camera element, a user may photograph a three dimensional image suitable for a photographing angle.
US08970678B2
First, a stereoscopic vision reference distances is individually determined for each virtual object disposed in a virtual space, based on a depth position of each of the virtual objects. Next, each of the virtual objects is rendered and combined based on one pair of virtual cameras such that a relative position, with respect to the screen of a stereoscopic display device, of a virtual object, viewed by a user through a screen of the stereoscopic display device, matches a relative position of the virtual object with respect to a stereoscopic vision reference surface for the virtual object in the virtual space.
US08970669B2
Systems and methods for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a first plane. A second selectable media guidance object may be displayed on the screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a second plane. The first and second planes may be perceived to intersect an axis normal to the display in different locations. A user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects may be received. An action of moving a cursor in 3D space or selecting one of the selectable media guidance objects displayed in the 3D space may be performed based on the user selection. The user selection may be performed with an input device having an accelerometer.
US08970667B1
A method of providing an image to be displayed includes providing captured scene data representing one or more images of a real scene and providing illumination data representing real illumination impinging on the real scene, providing a virtual reality image of a theoretical object by modeling said theoretical object using said illumination data to define illumination impinging on the theoretical object, and providing a combined image including elements of the real scene based on said captured scene data and including said virtual reality image.
US08970657B2
Upon receiving a continuous presence video image, an endpoint of a videoconference may identify its self image and replace the self image with other video data, including an alternate video image from another endpoint or a background color. Embedded markers may be placed in a continuous presence video image corresponding to the endpoint. The embedded markers identify the location of the self image of the endpoint in the continuous presence video image. The embedded markers may be inserted by the endpoint or a multipoint control unit serving the endpoint.
US08970645B2
A display device includes: a timing controller (10) for driving a scanning line driving circuit (4) and a signal line driving circuit (6) by providing a scanning period (T1) and a pause period (T2) which follows the scanning period (T1); a data analyzing section (101) for obtaining detection data on an external light intensity; and a BL luminance setting section (104) for outputting, at least during the pause period (T2), a BL control signal for adjusting, in accordance with the detection data obtained by the data analyzing section (101), a luminance of light to be emitted to a screen.
US08970634B2
An operation control device includes a contact detection unit for detecting contact of an operation body with a display surface of a display unit on which information is displayed, a pressure detection unit, provided on the display unit, for detecting a pressure at which the operation body presses the display surface of the display unit, and an operation control unit for changing a display state of the information displayed on the display unit in a forward or reverse direction on the basis of an amount of pressure detected by the pressure detection unit until the operation body makes contact with and is separated from the display surface of the display unit.
US08970632B2
The present disclosure relates to temporarily rendering a display on a display device using map data stored in a high speed memory of the display device while the display device is waiting to receive updated data from a display device persistent memory or a remote map data database in response to a user initiated request for updated data. The present disclosure also relates to a display device high speed memory management module for managing the contents of a high speed memory.
US08970628B1
A method allowing for quick manipulation of weight values associated with points on a polygonal mesh that is to be deformed. A point on the polygonal mesh may be selected by the user. Then, a solution space of possible positions for the selected point may be calculated by solving a deformation model for a range of weight values. A graphical representation of the solution space may be provided, such as a locus of possible positions for the selected point, where each point on the locus corresponds to a particular weight value. Manipulation of these weight values, and hence, the deformation of the polygonal mesh, may be achieved simply by selecting a position on the locus. The mesh may be updated to reflect the weight corresponding to the selected position.
US08970624B2
An entertainment device comprises an image receiver operable to receive, from a video camera, images captured therefrom, and display logic for displaying the images captured by the video camera together with one or more selection icons. Each selection icon corresponds to a game object. The entertainment device further comprises an image processor for detecting the presence and position of an augmented reality marker in images received from the camera, a detector for detecting the presence of an augmented reality marker at an image position corresponding to a selection icon for at least a predetermined selection time period, and associating logic, responsive to such a detection, for associating the game object corresponding to the first one of the selection icons with the augmented reality marker, so that the display logic displays the game object so as to move the game object with the detected position of the augmented reality marker.
US08970623B2
An example information processing system which includes a plurality of information processing devices, the respective information processing devices carrying out imaging by an imaging device, wherein the respective information processing devices include: an imaging processing unit to generate a captured image by sequentially capturing images of a real space; a virtual space setting unit to set a virtual space commonly used by another information processing device which captures an image of one of an imaging object that is included in a captured image, and an imaging object, at least a portion of external appearance of which matches the imaging object, based on at least the portion of the imaging object included in the captured image; and a transmission unit to send data relating to change in a state of the virtual space, to the other information processing device, when the change in the state of the virtual space is detected.
US08970622B2
One embodiment of the invention sets forth a technique for placing objects across a surface of a graphics object. The technique includes establishing a first plurality of grid points over the surface of the graphics object, wherein each grid point in the plurality of grid points is located either inside or outside the surface, establishing a second plurality of grid points that includes only grid points in the first plurality of grid points that are located inside the surface, marking each grid point in the second plurality of grid points as an eligible area or an ineligible area onto which objects can be placed, selecting from the second plurality of grid points a grid point that is marked as an eligible area, and placing an object onto the selected grid point.
US08970620B2
A position information providing device includes a display control portion which controls, based on sound position information showing sound data transmission positions, the display of a map display screen where icons showing the sound data transmission positions are superimposed on a map.
US08970612B2
The present invention provides an image processing device, including a buffering unit, a minifying unit, a synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), an overdriving unit, a comparing unit, a restoring unit, and an output controlling unit. The present invention further provides an image processing method and a liquid crystal display incorporated with the image processing device. The image processing device, the image processing method, and the liquid crystal display incorporated with the image processing device will not only directly perform the overdrive-processing of an input high-resolution image, but will also, on the one hand caches an input high-resolution image by the buffering unit, and on the other hand minifies an input high-resolution image. As a result, the image data is already reduced when the overdrive-processing performs, and the consumption of the space of the SDRAM is also accordingly reduced. For the input of a high-resolution image, there is no need to increase the amount of the SDRAM anymore, and it is easier to control the overall cost. During output, a static image is directly output, and a dynamic image is output through the overdrive-processing and the restoration of original resolution to maintain the quality of the image.
US08970592B1
A system includes a computing device that includes a memory configured to store instructions. The computing device also includes a processor configured to execute the instructions to perform a method that includes obtaining first data corresponding to a first simulation of matter in a space domain. The method also includes performing, using the first data, a second simulation that produces second data representative of particles in the space domain. The method also includes rasterizing the second data representative of the particles as defined by cells of a grid, wherein each cell has a common depth-to-size ratio, and, rendering an image of the particles from the rasterized second data.
US08970587B2
A standard occlusion query (OQ) may be generalized to five dimensions, which can be used for motion blurred, defocused, occlusion culling. As such, the occlusion query concept is generalized so that it can be used within 5D rasterization, which is used for rendering of motion blur and depth of field. For 5D rasterization, occlusion culling may be done with OQs as well, applied to solve other rendering related problems.
US08970581B2
A method for segmenting an object in a volume image, executed at least in part on a computer, renders the volume image data to a two-dimensional display screen showing first, second, and third mutually orthogonal planes in the two-dimensional rendering. One or more operator instructions that identify a plurality of seed points on the rendered volume image are accepted. Two-dimensional coordinates of the identified seed points on the display screen are converted to three-dimensional seed-point coordinates relating to the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal planes a segmentation operation is performed on the volume image according to the converted three-dimensional seed-point coordinates. Segmentation results are displayed on the display screen, relative to the first, second, and third mutually orthogonal planes.
US08970559B1
A stylus is provided with a finger engaging structure including a conductive portion for electrically contacting a finger of a user and a grasping portion for grasping the finger. The stylus has an electrically conductive stylus pad and a fingernail support element connected to the stylus pad and with a portion in contact with the fingernail of the user for positioning the stylus pad relative to the fingernail. A connection is provided from the fingernail engaging structure to the fingernail support element for electrical charge connection between the conductive portion and the stylus pad and for connecting the fingernail support to the finger engaging structure.
US08970558B1
A digit hood to enable a user to quickly and accurately actuate keys of a hand held device. The digit hood can include a cover configured to be disposed over a digit. The cover can include an opening configured to receive the digit. One or more raised protrusions can extend from the cover and away from the digit for actuating the keys of the hand held device. A plurality of joint holes can be disposed through the cover to allow the digit to bend. A plurality of ventilation holes can be disposed through the cover to provide ventilation to the digit.
US08970556B2
A sensing apparatus may emit light, radiated from a light source, to an upper part and may preserve light in an internal part, based on a total internal emission angle of the light. Also, the sensing apparatus may project the light radiated to the upper part, and the light preserved in the internal part, towards at least one of a touching object and the proximate object.
US08970545B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally provide shield electrodes for shielding one or more conductive routing traces from one or more receiver electrodes in an input device comprising a display device integrated with a sensing device to reduce the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. The shield electrode may be configured to reduce the effect of an input object on the capacitive coupling between the conductive routing traces and the receiver electrodes. In other embodiments, end portions of common electrodes shield the receiver electrodes from the conductive routing traces, thereby reducing the capacitive coupling between the receiver electrodes and the conductive routing traces.
US08970523B2
A two-dimensional capacitive touch panel includes three electrodes made from a single sensor layer, with the first one of the electrodes between the other two of the electrodes to establish mutual capacitances between the first electrode and the other two, respectively. The mutual capacitance between the first and second electrodes increases along a direction, and the mutual capacitance between the first and third electrodes decreases along a direction. The first electrode is applied with an excitation signal for sensing variations in the mutual capacitances to calculate a position in the direction that is touched by an external conductor.
US08970514B2
The invention relates to methods and apparatus for performing touch-screen surveys. The surveys comprise a plurality of screen displays each including a survey question and one or more screen buttons by means of which the user signifies an answer to the survey question by touching the screen button. A method of quarantining responses to a touch screen survey comprises defining a set of criteria for identifying if a response is likely to be a serious response or a nuisance response. The method includes monitoring the screen touches to determine the number of survey questions answered and the time intervals between screen touches. The monitored screen touches are compared with the defined criteria to categorize the response as a likely nuisance response or a likely serious response. The response is quarantined if it is categorized as a likely nuisance response. A method of discriminating between valid and nuisance responses comprises: monitoring screen touches; determining a same place touch count depending on a zone at which the screen is touched and the number of consecutive touches in the zone; comparing the same place touch count to a threshold; and determining if the response is valid or a nuisance response based on the comparison.
US08970508B2
A touch screen panel includes a plurality of first connection patterns formed on a substrate; an insulation layer having a plurality of contact holes that exposes portions of the plurality of first connection patterns; and a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes formed on the insulating layer, wherein at least one of the plurality of first connection patterns connects at least one adjacent pair of the plurality of first electrodes through at least two of the plurality of contact holes that expose respective portions of the at least one of the plurality of first connection patterns, and at least one hollow is formed by portions of the at least one adjacent pair of the plurality of first electrodes being formed in the at least two of the plurality of contact holes.
US08970500B2
A system and method are provided for extracting a portion of content from a data item and separately displaying such content on a secondary display screen such as an interactive display (e.g. touch-sensitive or clickable display) that enables interactive content portions to be extracted from the data item and provided separately from the remaining content to both free up space on a primary display screen and maintain visibility of the interactive content, while permitting navigation within the remaining content. Such extraction of content is particularly advantageous for separating logos (e.g. those used for brand recognition (passive), those providing home page links (active), etc.), advertising, and M-commerce (e.g. “buy now” or “add to cart” buttons). By using interactive secondary displays, the extracted content item can target interactive content portions that allow easy access to features without having to navigate within the main content each time.
US08970499B2
In an implementation, a mobile communications device includes a display device having touchscreen functionality, a keyboard having a plurality of physical keys that include a dedicated key and letter keys arranged according to a QWERTY layout, and one or more modules. The one or more modules are configured to output a user interface on the display device responsive to selection of the dedicated key, the user interface having a plurality of portions that are selectable via the touchscreen functionality to cause input of a respective one of a plurality of emoticons.
US08970497B2
A computer mouse with adjustable decorative wing includes a main housing, a bottom board covered on the bottom surface of the main housing, a decorative wing disposed on one side of the main housing and a distance-adjusting mechanism. The decorative wing has a fastening end fixed to the main housing, and a movable end. There is a adjustable distance between the movable end and the main housing. The distance-adjusting mechanism is disposed on the main housing and contacts the movable end of the decorative wings for adjusting the distance of the movable end and the main housing of the decorative wings. A width of the computer mouse therefore is changed. The decorative wings on two sides of the computer mouse of the present invention can be expanded to support fingers for suiting to different users' palms.
US08970492B2
Accessing and controlling a remote desktop of a remote computing system using a multi-touch display of a local computing system. The remote desktop is displayed on the multi-touch display. Upon detecting a user contact with the multi-touch display when the display is not engaged as a trackpad, the multi-touch display is engaged as a trackpad; and the user contact is assigned as a cursor pointer for controlling the multi-touch display as a trackpad. In accordance with some embodiments described herein, left and right pointer controls (e.g., left mouse button and right mouse button) controls may be emulated also. This remote desktop technique allows multi-touch displays to be used to manipulate remote desktops, even for those that do not support multi-touch semantics, interaction techniques, or metaphors.
US08970490B2
The invention relates to an electronic device, which includes a display component, in which at least one controllable element is arranged to be visualized in its entirety, the control of which element is arranged to be based on determining a change (M) relating to the attitude or position of the device and camera means arranged to form image frames (IMAGE1, IMAGE2), and in which, in order to control the functions of the device, such as, for example, to control the element, the change is arranged to be determined, using optical data-flow algorithms, from the image frames formed by the camera means, which image frames are arranged to be compared to each other in a set manner, and on the basis of which comparison the said change is arranged to be determined. The image frames are arranged to be segmented in a selected manner, from which at least one movement vector (SR, SL, SUp, SDown) determining the said change is arranged to be determined from at least some of the segments (SEGMENT1, SEGMENT2).
US08970487B2
An image such as a depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. A grid of voxels may then be generated based on the depth image such that the depth image may be downsampled. A background included in the grid of voxels may also be removed to isolate one or more voxels associated with a foreground object such as a human target. A location or position of one or more extremities of the isolated human target may be determined and a model may be adjusted based on the location or position of the one or more extremities.
US08970472B2
Disclosed are an apparatus for driving a light emitting diode (LED) array and an LCD device using the same. The apparatus for driving the LED array includes a current amount setter configured to have a resistance value which varies according to a selection signal inputted from an external system, and a controller configured to generate a driving voltage and a driving current by using an input voltage inputted from the external system and the resistance value set by the current amount setter, and supply the driving voltage and the driving current to the LED array.
US08970464B2
The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for determining sheet resistance values in a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. In certain embodiments, a system for determining sheet resistance values in an LCD panel may include a display driver integrated circuit (IC). The display driver IC may include a first switch coupled to a first input/output (I/O) pad and a second I/O pad such that the first I/O pad is configured to couple to a voltage source and the second I/O pad is configured to couple to a current source. The display driver IC may also include a second switch coupled to a third I/O pad and the second I/O pad such that the second switch has substantially the same geometry as the first switch and the third I/O pad is configured to couple to a thin-film transistor (TFT) layer of the display panel.
US08970462B2
This disclosure provides a liquid crystal display panel, comprising a first polarizer sheet, a liquid crystal layer and a second polarizer sheet from the bottom up in this order. A first biaxial ¼ wave plate and a first biaxial ½ wave plate for expanding the wavelength range of the first biaxial ¼ wave plate are provided, in order from the top down, between the liquid crystal layer and the first polarizer sheet; and a second biaxial ¼ wave plate and a second biaxial ½ wave plate for expanding the wavelength range of the second biaxial ¼ wave plate are, in order from the bottom up, between the liquid crystal layer and the second polarizer sheet.
US08970459B2
In accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, a method and system for the timing color of an image display are provided. In one embodiment, a method for displaying image includes sequentially illuminating a spatial light modulator with a plurality of colors by shining light through a color wheel having a plurality of adjacent color segments. The method further includes determining, a time period in which the output of the color wheel is deemed not to correspond solely to either of the two adjacent color segments for at least a portion of the spatial light modulator. The time period is based at least in part on the luminance difference between two adjacent color segments in the color wheel.
US08970446B2
An electronic device may have magnetically mounted antenna structures. The electronic device may have a dielectric member against which one or more antennas are mounted. The dielectric member may be a cover glass layer that covers a display in the electronic device, a dielectric antenna window, or other dielectric structure. Each antenna may have an antenna support structure. Conductive antenna structures for the antenna may be mounted to the antenna support structure. The antennas may be cavity-backed planar inverted-F antennas. Portions of each antenna support structure may be configured to receive magnets. The magnets may be attracted towards ferromagnetic structures mounted on the dielectric member. As the magnets are attracted towards the ferromagnetic structure, the antennas may be held in place against the dielectric member.
US08970445B2
There is provided a radio device including an antenna, a first impedance converting circuit, a second impedance converting circuit and a differential output unit. The antenna has a first terminal and a second terminal to receive a signal. The first impedance converting circuit and the second impedance converting circuit have a first impedance and a second impedance, respectively. The first impedance and the second impedance each are controllable. One end of the first impedance converting circuit and one end of the second impedance converting circuit are connected to the first terminal and the second terminal of the antenna, respectively. The differential output unit is connected to the other end of the first impedance converting circuit and the other end of the second impedance converting circuit through which the signal received by the antenna is input to the differential output unit, and transform the signal into a differential signal.
US08970432B2
Systems and methods disclosed herein can implement a femtocell calibration solution that uses the known location of the femtocell to calibrate timing based locating systems. The calculated time differences of different signals sent between macrocells and a mobile device can be used to solve for a reference time difference that accounts for the timing differences of the unsynchronized macrocells. The reference time difference can then be used to solve for the location of another mobile device if the calculated time differences between that mobile device and the macrocells are known. The solution can include taking many measurements of the calculated time difference at the first mobile device in order to average them to get a more accurate reference time difference. The solution can further include ceasing measurements at the first mobile device when the mobile device is no longer within range of the femtocell.
US08970427B2
A phase-arrayed device includes: a signal processing circuit arranged to generate a specific signal; a first phase-arrayed channel arranged to provide a first phase-arrayed signal according to the specific signal; a first conducting path arranged to conduct the specific signal to the first phase-arrayed channel; a second conducting path arranged to conduct the first phase-arrayed signal to the signal processing circuit; and a detecting circuit, arranged to detect a mismatch between the first phase-arrayed signal and a reference signal to generate a detecting signal utilized for calibrating the first phase-arrayed signal.
US08970426B1
A system for suppressing clutter in a radar system is provided. The system includes an antenna configured to receive radar signals containing clutter and a digital receiver adapted to convert the radar signals received by the radar arrays to complex I/Q samples. These I/Q samples are provided to a Doppler filter bank comprising a plurality of Doppler filters for filtering the pulse compressed data into Doppler bins representative of range values according to Doppler frequency. The system further includes at least one processor for comparing the output of each of the plurality of Doppler filters types to respective background clutter maps, and identifying the Doppler filter which outputs the radar return signal with the greatest magnitude over the clutter map. Once identified, target detection operations may be performed on the output of the identified Doppler filter.
US08970425B2
A radar apparatus for obtaining a higher range resolution than conventional radar apparatus without increasing the bandwidth comprises a transmitter antenna that transmits a frequency modulated transmit signal having a transmit bandwidth and a receiver antenna that receives a receive signal reflected from said scene in response to the transmission of said transmit signal. A mixer mixes said receive signal with said transmit signal to obtain a mixed receive signal, a sampling unit samples said mixed receive signal to obtain receive signal samples from a period of said receive signal, and a processor processes said receive signal samples by defining a measurement matrix and determines the positions of one or more targets of the scene by applying compressive sensing using said measurement matrix and said receive signal samples.
US08970423B2
A helicopter collision-avoidance system is disclosed. An exemplary system includes at least one lamp, such as a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, an infrared lamp, or the like; a radar emitter configured to emit a radar signal; a radar detector configured to receive a radar return signal associated with reflections of the emitted radar signal that are reflected from an object; and a radio frequency (RF) system configured to wirelessly transmit radar information associated with the received radar return signal to a radar information receiver configured to receive the wirelessly transmitted radar information. The light module is located at one of a plurality of light positions on an external surface of a helicopter.
US08970421B1
Disclosed is a time-to-digital (TDC) converter comprising an analog voltage source. An analog-to-digital converter quantizes two voltage samples in response to receiving a first input signal at a first time t1 and a second input signal at a second time t2. The first and second digital signals are combined to produce a digital signal that represents the difference (t2−t1).
US08970415B2
A digital-to analog converter (DAC) of the charge transfer type can be used in a sigma delta modulator for generating N output levels, wherein an output level is defined by a respective amount of charge transferred by the DAC. The DAC has a first capacitor switch unit receiving a reference voltage and a first digital input value to transfer first output charges, at least one second capacitor switch unit receiving the reference voltage and a second digital input value, wherein an output of the second capacitor switch unit is coupled in parallel with an output of the first capacitor switch unit to generate a sum of first and second transferred output charges; and a sequencer controlling switches of the first and second capacitor switch units wherein switching sequences according to individual first and second digital input values are provided for every DAC input value to generate the N output levels.
US08970411B2
Traditionally, pipelined continuous-time (CT) sigma-delta modulators (SDM) have been difficult to build due at least in part to the difficulties in calibrating the pipeline. Here, however, a pipelined CT SDM is provided that has an architecture that is conducing to being calibrated. Namely, the system includes a digital filter and other features that can be adjusted to account for input imbalance errors and well as quantization leakage noise.
US08970410B2
The semiconductor integrated circuit device has: more than one analog port; an A/D conversion part operable to execute an A/D conversion process for converting an analog signal taken in through each analog port into a digital signal for each preset virtual channel; and an A/D conversion control part operable to control an action of the A/D conversion part. The A/D conversion control part includes: virtual channel registers on which correspondence between the virtual channel and the analog port can be set; and a scan-group-forming register on which a start position of a scan group and an end position thereof can be set. The A/D conversion control part controls the A/D conversion part to successively execute an A/D conversion process on a plurality of virtual channels from a virtual channel associated with the start pointer to a virtual channel associated with the end pointer.
US08970409B2
A dynamic dithering method is provided for improving linearity in analog-to-digital converters.
US08970407B2
Methods and devices for encoding and decoding that involve sorting bins according to their respective estimated probabilities to form subsequences, each subsequence having an associated estimated probability. Subsequences are encoded to form codewords. Ordered sets of phrases of known length are then formed from the codewords. Each first of the phrases in a set contains at least part of one codeword. The first phrase has an associated estimated probability and the probability estimates associated with each of the other phrases in the set are determined based upon the probability estimate associated with the first phrase, which permits the phrases to be decoded in parallel.
US08970406B2
In one embodiment, a power amplification system of a radio-frequency transmitter includes a digital signal source that provides a digital input signal to an interleaved-bit-stream generator, which outputs a digital switching signal to a switching power amplifier. The interleaved-bit-stream generator has an eight-path interleaving architecture that helps reduce the effective clock-rate requirements of the interleaved-bit-stream generator. The interleaved-bit-stream generator includes an array of fractional-delay filters for receiving the digital input signal and outputting eight fractionally delayed digital output signals to a bit-stream generation array adapted to output eight corresponding bit streams to a serializer block that interleaves and combines the eight bit-streams into the digital switching signal. The relative phases of the interleaved signals may be adjusted to achieve certain desired effects.
US08970405B2
An entropy decoder and method for decoding code words with an indication of associated probability for each code word. The decoder can be operable to receive code words and the indication of associated probability. A branch node block can be in communication with a leaf node block. The branch node block comprising one or more branch node lookup tables and branch node control logic. The branch node control logic operable to process a code word in the input buffer using a selected table from the one or more branch node lookup tables to obtain leaf node information and a bit count of a code word size, the branch control logic further operable to refresh the input buffer to replace the bit count of the code word size and to make the leaf node information and the table selection available to the leaf node block.
US08970403B2
A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of deforming a deformable region of the surface into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface, detecting a force from the user on a deformed deformable region, interpreting the force as a command for the deformable region, and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.
US08970397B2
A roadside detection system installed in a vehicle to detect a roadside of a road on which the vehicle travels includes detection results acquiring means, first edge line detecting means and second edge line detecting means. The detection results acquiring means emits light waves or electromagnetic waves to a target detection region in which an object to be measured is detected and acquires an objective distance and a reflection intensity, for each of separate regions obtained by separating the target detection region into a plurality of divisions. The first edge line detecting means detects a first edge line that is a candidate of a roadside based on each objective distance. The second edge line detecting means detects a second edge line that is a candidate of a roadside based on each reflection intensity. A driver assistance system and a roadside detecting method are also provided.
US08970392B2
A communicator facilitates communications with a remote server via a wireless network supporting a plurality of disparate data transport mechanisms having differing characteristics. A processor coupled to memory is disposed in a communicator housing, which is configured for portability. The memory stores wireless radio firmware and data transfer instructions that are executable by the processor for transferring data to the remote server in accordance with a priority level. The priority level is based in part on criticality of the data and the communicator status. A radio disposed in the housing effects communications via the wireless network in accordance with the firmware. A power source in the housing supplies power for communicator components. The processor executes program instructions for selecting a data transport mechanism among the plurality transport mechanisms based on the priority level, and transmits the data via the wireless network via the radio using the selected transport mechanism.
US08970390B2
A method of aiding viewing position for autostereoscopic displays having a suggested viewing zone or optimal viewing position. The method detects a position of a viewer using a detection sensor associated with the display and determines if the viewer is within the suggested viewing zone. If the viewer is not within the suggested viewing zone, the method provides feedback to the viewer, such as visual cues on the display, indicating how the viewer should move in order to be within the suggested viewing zone. The method can continuously provide the feedback in order to indicate how the viewer is moving with respect to the suggested viewing zone and when the viewer has moved into the suggested viewing zone.
US08970386B2
The present invention discloses an easy-to-use, installation-free water leak warning device having a sturdy hollow body enclosing essential functioning elements including a power source, an amplifier, a speaker, and portions of two electrodes. The water leak warning device is preferably small in size and may be placed at potential water leak or flooding spots. The essential functioning elements are operatively connected with conductive material so that when leaked water flows to where the device is located, an audible signal can be emitted to remind the user of the device to prevent further leakage and mitigate any damage.
US08970377B2
An item tracking system includes a plurality of items for storage and removal from a compartment. The system includes tags affixed to the items and configured to store identifiers for the items. A tag reader receives data from the tags in response to the items being removed from and returned to the compartment. A sensor in the compartment identifies a state change associated with the compartment. A processor identifies removal of an item with data received by the tag reader, identifies the state change with the sensor after the item is removed and before it is returned, and generates an output with an output device including the identifier corresponding to the item in response to the state change in the compartment.
US08970375B2
A method of providing information, the method comprising interrogating a memory tag; receiving content from the memory tag by wireless electromagnetic communication in response to the interrogation, the memory tag comprising a memory and a transponder to enable the wireless electromagnetic communication; storing the content; sending a release request to an authorizer; receiving a release confirmation from the authorizer in response to the release request; and releasing the stored content in response to receipt of the release confirmation. The memory tag may contain encrypted content. A plurality of said release requests may be sent, each release request having an associated cost. An aggregate cost can then be calculated in accordance with the sum of the associated costs.
US08970373B2
A door, or window detector incorporates a magnet and a magnetometer. Dual loop processing can be provided for real-time signals from the magnetometer, as the magnet moves relative to it, to determine when at least one of small gap or large gap indicating alarms should be issued. Security can be substantially increased by randomizing the orientation of the magnet.
US08970371B2
The detection device comprises a sensor, a power supply, an alarm and an acousto-electric transducer. The activated acousto-electric transducer receives an acoustic signal and emits an electrical signal representative of the acoustic signal. The detection device further comprises a means of recognizing a predefined acoustic signal according to the electrical signal emitted by the transducer and triggering an emission of a message by the alarm when the predefined acoustic signal is recognized. The acoustic-electric transducer is only activated at regular intervals. Preferably, the transducer also serves an alarm to emit the message when the predefined acoustic signal is recognized.
US08970366B2
Using wireless features, a public service agency is enabled to provide alert information to first responders. An automatic call back from the first responder triggers a voice call launching a location fix on the current location of the first responder. Preferably delivery confirmation that the responder has received the message is received. Once the location fix has been completed, then driving directions with map images are sent to the first responder based on their current location and desired destination for response.
US08970358B2
A method of alerting a driver of a vehicle is provided. The method includes: receiving conditions data from one or more collision avoidance systems; determining an alert mode based on the conditions data; receiving a fault status indicating a fault of at least one of a haptic alert device, a visual alert device, and an auditory alert device; resetting the alert mode to an override mode based on the fault status; and selectively generating an alert pattern for at least one of a haptic alert device, a visual alert device, and an auditory alert device that does not have a fault based on the override mode of the alert mode.
US08970349B2
A system to facilitate management of surveillance devices, that are distributed over a monitored region, through a geographic information (GI) portal, having GI storage to store map data defining a geographic map of the monitored region. A GI manager unit (GIMU) to record, in the GI storage, asset position information with regarding locations for assets of interest within the monitored region. The GIMU obtains, from a remote surveillance device (SD) database, device-related records. The GIMU obtains, from a remote network (NW) database, network-related records. The SD and NW databases are maintained and managed separately from the GI database by one or more independent management units. A display presents a geographic map of the monitored region with device markers and network links illustrated thereon.
US08970345B2
An improved barrier door one way wireless communication system for operating a barrier, such as a garage door, includes the transmission and reception of multibit code hopping data packets in combination with automatic RF channel switching. Packet data is transmitted automatically on more than one RF channels in a switching style while sending two or more redundant multibit code hopping data packets on each of the RF channels. The system also provides for the learning of a transmitter to a receiver where two or more code hopping data packets must be received and decoded by the receiver on all RF channels before a transmitter can be learned to a receiver. Once the transmitter is learned, actuation of the transmitter during a learn mode can open a window for learning of a single channel transmitter.
US08970337B2
In a solenoid magnet assembly, and a method for manufacture thereof, the magnet assembly includes a number of concentrically aligned coils, each including a winding impregnated with a resin. Each coil is mechanically restrained so as to hold the coils in fixed relative positions relative to each other when forming the magnet assembly. The mechanical restraint can be formed by annular support sections bonded to the respective coils, lugs bonded to the respective coils, or by lugs that are at least partially embedded in a crust formed on a radially outer surface of the respective windings.
US08970334B2
There is provided a magnetic substance holding device that controls permanent magnet energy with which it is possible to obtain a strong holding force with a simple structure.The magnetic substance holding device that controls permanent magnet energy of the present invention includes an N pole piece formed of a magnetic substance, wherein the N pole piece has a holding face to which a target formed of a magnetic substance is attached and a base attachment face at a side different from the holding face; an S pole piece formed of a magnetic substance, wherein the S pole piece has a holding face to which the target is attached and a base attachment face at a side different from the holding face; a permanent magnet that is disposed such that the N pole thereof comes in contact with the N pole piece and the S-pole thereof comes in contact with the S pole piece; a coil that is wound around at least one of the N pole piece and the S pole piece; a base that is movable between a first position at which the base does not come in contact with both of the base attachment face of the N pole piece and the base attachment face of the S pole piece and a second position at which the base comes in contact with both of the base attachment face of the N pole piece and the base attachment face of the S pole piece; and a control device that controls a current applied to the coil, in which the target is held or released by applying a current to the coil through the control device such that at least one of the N pole piece and the S pole piece is magnetized.
US08970331B2
A keyswitch assembly includes a movable keycap having a space provided in a bottom of the keycap; a metal support plate having an opening, the metal including a cantilever bridge; a switch located under the opening of the metal support plate; a magnet disposed within the space of the keycap; wherein as the keycap is undepressed, the keycap is in an initial state and the keyswitch assembly is OFF, and the magnet draws in the cantilever bridge, and as the keycap is depressed downward, the magnet is forced to depart from the cantilever bridge and actuates the switch making the keyswitch assembly to turn ON. As the forced is released, the magnetic force between the cantilever bridge and the magnet forces the keycap to return its initial state.
US08970329B2
A high power RF energy device component is disclosed that is exposed to high power RF energy in a vacuum environment, and includes a multipactor-inhibiting carbon nanofilm covering at least one surface of the component. A secondary electron emission (SEE) coefficient of the multipactor inhibiting carbon nanofilm is desirably less than a SEE coefficient of the underlying surface of the component.
US08970326B2
A coaxial resonator includes a dielectric block; a first inner conductor disposed in an inner surface of a first through hole which extends from a first main surface of the dielectric block to an opposite second main surface thereof, the first inner conductor being connected to a reference potential at one side thereof; and an outer conductor disposed over side surfaces of the dielectric block, the outer conductor surrounding the first inner conductor, the outer conductor being connected to the reference potential. There is a low-dielectric-constant portion in a location between the first inner conductor and the outer conductor. The low-dielectric-constant portion surrounds a periphery of the first inner conductor and is lower in dielectric constant than the dielectric block.
US08970322B2
A five-six-port circuit comprising a waveguide on a main surface of a substrate. The hollow waveguide comprises probes arranged longitudinally inside the hollow waveguide arranged to contact the input port of one of three power detectors, whose output ports are arranged to contact the input port of one power detector. The output ports of the power detectors contact the conductor of an open waveguide which extends in parallel to the hollow waveguide. The probes are equidistantly spaced with a distance of L. The circuit also comprises three LP filters, each of which is connected to the conductor of the open waveguide at a position which corresponds to the position of one of the power detectors.
US08970321B2
A millimeter waveband filter is provided with a resonator formed by a pair of electric wave half mirrors in a transmission line of a waveguide allowing electromagnetic waves in a predetermined frequency range of a millimeter waveband to propagate in a TE10 mode, and allows frequency components centering on the resonance frequency of the resonator to pass therethrough. A high-pass filter which has a transmission line reduced in size so as to have a cutoff frequency matching an upper limit of a lower rejection band of a filter passband is formed in a transmission line between the end of the waveguide and the electric wave half mirror, thereby increasing the attenuation of the lower rejection band.
US08970318B2
A transforming circuit includes: a first winding having a first port and a second port operably coupled for a differential signal; and a plurality of second windings, each having a third port and a fourth port operably coupled for a single-ended signal when magnetically coupled to the first winding. When one of the second windings is magnetically coupled to the first winding, each remaining second winding(s) is not magnetically coupled to the first winding.
US08970315B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed related to an oscillator that includes a sustaining amplifier. One such apparatus includes a resonant circuit configured to operate at a resonant frequency, a sustaining amplifier, and a passive impedance network. The resonant circuit can have a first terminal and a second terminal. The sustaining amplifier can include at least a first switch configured to drive the first terminal of the resonant circuit in response to an input at a first control terminal of the first switch. The passive impedance network can be configured to pass a bias to the first control terminal, such as a gate of a field effect transistor, of the first switch. The passive impedance network can be electrically coupled to the second terminal of the resonant circuit and can include at least one inductor.
US08970313B2
Methods and circuits for CMOS relaxation oscillators are disclosed. A single capacitive element, a single current source and a switching network are utilized. A switching network of the oscillator allows both nodes of the capacitive element to rise and fall between a positive and a negative voltage with respect to ground supply, without causing leakage to substrate or risk of latch-up, i.e. the inadvertent creation of a low-impedance path. The oscillator requires minimum silicon area, has an improved duty cycle, is particular useful for implementing lower frequency clocks and is enabled for smaller technology nodes, lower than 250 nm, due to lower supply voltage.
US08970307B2
Techniques for monitoring and controlling bias current of amplifiers are described. In an exemplary design, an apparatus may include an amplifier and a bias circuit. The amplifier may include at least one transistor coupled to an inductor. The bias circuit may generate at least one bias voltage for the at least one transistor in the amplifier to obtain a target bias current for the amplifier. The bias circuit may generate the at least one bias voltage based on a voltage across the inductor in the amplifier, or a current through a current mirror formed with one of the at least one transistor in the amplifier, or a gate-to-source voltage of one of the at least one transistor in the amplifier, or a voltage in a replica circuit replicating the amplifier, or a current applied to the amplifier with a switched mode power supply disabled.
US08970297B2
A novel Doherty amplifier with improved efficiency is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment an apparatus includes a phase shifter configured to generate a phase shifted first millimeter (MM) wave signal based on a selected phase shift, and a hybrid plus coupler comprising output terminals and configured to adjust output power levels at the output terminals based on combinations of the phase shifted first MM wave signal and a second MM wave signal.
US08970294B2
A distribution amplifier with intellectual signaling comprises a first connector, a first amplifier, a second connector, a power regulator, an inductive coil, a voltage detecting circuit, a first indicating lamp, a second amplifier and a second indicating lamp. The distribution amplifier with intellectual signaling may effectively display whether the distribution amplifier operates normally or not according to the above-mentioned arrangement.
US08970291B1
A method of debouncing a variable frequency step signal is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) determining a first period in oscillations of the variable frequency step signal and applying a first debounce time to debounce oscillations in the variable frequency step signal, (b) detecting a second period in the oscillations of the variable frequency step signal, (c) calculating a second debounce time as a fraction of the first period, (d) applying the second debounce time to debounce oscillations having the second period, and (e) repeating the steps (b)-(d) for debouncing successive oscillations of varying periods in the variable frequency step signal.
US08970288B2
A device for detecting the presence of a user for the unlocking of an access point to a motor vehicle, includes a first generator of a first supply voltage, a detection capacitor adapted to be charged on account of the presence of a user, and a storage capacitor defining at the terminals thereof a storage voltage. The device also includes an intermediate capacitor, elements for charging the detection capacitor from the first supply voltage and the storage voltage, elements for discharging the detection capacitor into the intermediate capacitor, elements for charging the storage capacitor, the elements being configured so that the charge of the storage capacitor is equal to the charge of the intermediate capacitor, and elements for detecting the presence of a user for the unlocking of an access point to the motor vehicle on the basis of the charge of the storage capacitor.
US08970285B2
A dual supply level shifter circuit includes a switching circuit and a set of level shifter circuits coupled to the switching circuit. The switching circuit includes a first set of coupled transistors, wherein the supply switching circuit is coupled to a first supply source that is configured to provide a first power supply voltage and is coupled to a second supply source that is configured to provide a second power supply voltage. The set of level shifter circuits includes a second set of coupled transistors, wherein the set of level shifter circuits is configured to receive a voltage input signal at an input node from a first circuit and to supply to an output node of the dual supply level shifter circuit an output signal having a value that is a highest voltage value between the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage.
US08970278B2
Described are embodiments of stacked field effect transistor (FET) switch having a plurality of FET devices coupled in series to form an FET device stack. A control circuit provides biasing voltages to the gate, source, and drain contacts of each of the plurality of FET devices to switch the FET device stack to and from a closed state and an open state. In the open state, the gate contacts of each of the plurality of FET devices are biased by the control circuit at the second voltage. To prevent activation in the open state, the control circuit biases the drain contacts and source contacts of each of the plurality of FET devices at the first voltage. The first voltage is positive relative to a reference voltage, such as ground, while the second voltage is non-negative relative to the reference voltage but less than the first voltage.
US08970277B2
An integrated circuit device contains two oscillators to generate a first clock signal and a second clock signal. Along with comparing the frequencies of the first clock signal and the second clock signal, the integrated circuit device is configured to monitor whether or not each frequency is within the frequency tolerance range. The integrated circuit device selects an output clock signal from either of the first clock signal or the second clock signal according to results from comparing the frequencies of the first clock signal and the second clock signal and whether or not each of the first clock signal and the second clock signal are within the frequency tolerance range.
US08970274B2
A pulse latch includes a pulse generator and a latch circuit. The pulse generator generates first and second pulse signals. The first pulse signal is generated when a test enable signal is in a first state, and the second pulse signal is generated when the test enable signal is in a second state. The latch circuit outputs the latched signal by selectively latching a normal data input signal or a test data input signal. The latch circuit includes first and second tri-state elements. The first tri-state element is controlled by the first pulse signal to enable the test data input signal to be latched when the test enable signal is in the first state. The second tri-state element is controlled by the second pulse signal to enable the normal data input signal to be latched when the test enable signal is in the second state.
US08970273B2
Phase offset cancellation circuit and associated clock generator, include a first modifying phase interpolator and a second modifying phase interpolator, and provide a first modified clock and a second modified clock according to a first to a fourth input clocks; wherein the first and the third clocks are of opposite phases. The first modifying phase interpolator performs equal phase interpolation between the first and the second input clocks to generate the first modified clock, and the second modifying phase interpolator performs equal phase interpolation between the third and the fourth input clocks to generate the second modified clock, such that a phase difference between the first modified clock and the second modified clock is of substantially 90 degrees, against phase offsets between the first to the fourth input clocks.
US08970271B2
A signal coupling circuit for generating an output signal according to an input signal is provided. The signal coupling circuit includes: a coupling capacitor, configured to generate a coupling signal according to the input signal; a clock generating circuit, configured to generate a clock and determine a duty cycle of the clock by the coupling capacitor; a discharge circuit, configured to intermittently discharge the coupling capacitor according to the duty cycle of the clock; and an output circuit, coupled to the coupling capacitor, for generating the output signal according to the coupling signal.
US08970270B2
The present invention relates to a square wave generator circuit, an integrated circuit, a DC/DC converter and an AC/DC converter. The square wave generator circuit comprises a first mirror current branch which is connected with ground via a first switching element and a first capacitor in parallel with the first switching element, wherein the first switching element is operable to be opened or closed periodically under control of a first clock signal so as to generate a first sawtooth wave signal at a non-grounded terminal of the first capacitor; a second mirror current branch which is connected with ground via a second switching element and a second capacitor in parallel with the second switching element, wherein the second switching element is operable to be opened or closed periodically under control of a second clock signal synchronous with the first clock signal so as to generate a second sawtooth wave signal at a non-grounded terminal of the second capacitor; and a comparator, one input terminal of which is connected to the non-grounded terminal of the first capacitor and the other input terminal of which is connected to the non-grounded terminal of the second capacitor, so that a square wave signal can be outputted at an output terminal of the comparator, wherein a duty cycle of the square wave signal depends on a ratio of a capacitance of the second capacitor to a capacitance of the first capacitor.
US08970269B2
A pulse width modulation signal with a less distortion component that is not influenced by a common-mode noise or an offset voltage is generated. Pulse signal generation circuits 6, 7 generate pulse signals S1, S2 whose pulse widths are discharge times t1, t2 of integrators 3, 4, respectively, a PWM signal generation circuit 8 detects discharge end timings of the integrators 3, 4 based on the pulse signals S1, S2, and a pulse whose pulse width is a time between discharge end timing of one of the integrators 4 and discharge end timing of the other one of the integrators 3 is generated so as to be output as a PWM signal Spwm.
US08970267B2
This invention is a means to definitively establish the occurrence of various clock edges used in a design, balancing clock edges at various locations within an integrated circuit. Clocks entering from outside sources can be a source of on-chip-variations (OCV) resulting in unacceptable clock edge skewing. The present invention arranges placement of the various clock dividers on the chip at remote locations where these clocks are used. This minimizes the uncertainty of the edge occurrence.
US08970264B2
The invention relates to an analog isolation device (100) comprising a primary part (102) and a secondary part (104) separated by an electrical isolation barrier, these parts including a high-frequency channel configured to produce a high-frequency component in the secondary part and a low-frequency channel configured to produce a low-frequency component in the secondary part, in order to form the output signal from the high-frequency and low-frequency components, the device further including a control circuit (D1, 132) configured to receive, in the primary part, a setpoint signal (Sic) and a so-called image signal (Soim) representative of the output signal (So) and to apply in the high-frequency and/or low-frequency channel a correction signal VCOR as a function of the difference between the image signal and the setpoint signal in order to cause that difference to tend toward zero.
US08970252B2
In an embodiment, a field programmable analog array (FPAA) comprises state variable filter engines arranged in parallel, each state variable filter engine comprising at least one variable attenuator and at least one variable integrator configured to operate on a wideband analog signal; and a summer configured to add outputs from the state variable filter engines.
US08970249B2
One embodiment provides a look-up table circuit, including: 2i memories, a half of which constituting a first memory group, the other half of which constituting a second memory group; first to i-th input terminals to which first to i-th input signals are input, respectively; a first output terminal; a switch group that selectively connects one of the memories to the first output terminal according to the first to i-th input signals; a first power-off switch that shuts off power supply to the first memory group in response to one of the first to i-th input signals; and a second power-off switch that shuts off power supply to the second memory group in response to the one of the first to i-th input signals.
US08970243B2
A test carrier 10A comprises: a base board 21A which holds a die 90; and a cover board 31A which is laid over the base board 21A so as to cover the die 90. The test carrier 10A comprises a seal member 24 which is interposed between the base board 21A and the cover board 31A and which surrounds the die 90.
US08970240B2
Resilient electrical interposers that may be utilized to form a plurality of electrical connections between a first device and a second device, as well as systems that may utilize the resilient electrical interposers and methods of use and/or fabrication thereof. The resilient electrical interposers may include a resilient dielectric body with a plurality of electrical conduits contained therein. The plurality of electrical conduits may be configured to provide a plurality of electrical connections between a first surface of the electrical interposer and/or the resilient dielectric body and a second, opposed, surface of the electrical interposer and/or the resilient dielectric body. The systems and methods disclosed herein may provide for improved vertical compliance, improved contact force control, and/or improved dimensional stability of the resilient electrical interposers.
US08970226B2
An RF current probe is encapsulated in a conductive housing to permit its placement inside a plasma reactor chamber. An RF voltage probe is adapted to have a long coaxial cable to permit a measuring device to be connected remotely from the probe without distorting the voltage measurement.
US08970209B2
A variable reluctance sensor system for processing a variable reluctance sensor signal including an arming comparator and an arming circuit. The arming comparator compares the variable reluctance sensor signal with an arming threshold which decreases proportional to 1/t from a predetermined maximum level and asserts an armed signal when the variable reluctance sensor signal reaches the arming threshold. The arming threshold may be decreased based on a scaling factor multiplied by 1/t to ensure detection of each pulse of the variable reluctance sensor signal. The arming threshold may decrease to a predetermined minimum level sufficiently low to intersect the variable reluctance sensor signal and sufficiently high relative to an expected noise level. The arming threshold is reset in response to a timing event, such as zero crossing of the variable reluctance sensor signal.
US08970206B2
The invention discloses an electrical sensor for a two-wire power cable. The sensor includes: a flexible substrate joined onto the power cable or the protective jacket thereon; an inductive coil formed on the flexible substrate; a pair of metal electrodes formed on the flexible substrate and at the opposite sides of the power cable, respectively; and a readout circuit formed on the flexible substrate, electrically connected to the inductive coil so as to measure the current in the power cable, and electrically connected to the metal electrodes so as to measure the voltage in the power cable.
US08970205B2
A adjustable Hall effect sensor system having a sensor positioning component is described. In one embodiment, the Hall effect sensor system is an independently adjustable sensor system, having a plurality of Hall effect sensor, wherein one Hall effect sensor may be displaced and adjusted without effecting the location of another Hall effect sensor. A sensor positioning component comprising a paddle coupled to a main body portion by a more narrow neck is described. A cam may be configured on a paddle and provide for fine tuning the position of a Hall effect sensor. In one embodiment the main body and extensions are comprised essentially of a circuit board.
US08970203B2
A field device comprising a signal processing unit that generates a digital measurement, control or regulation signal, and comprises an output stage that converts the digital measurement, control or regulation signal into an analog voltage or current signal, The field device also includes a monitoring device which comprises a measuring device that detects the analog voltage or current signal and converts this signal into a digital voltage or current measurement signal, a first digital low-pass filter for filtering the digital measurement, control or regulation signal, a second digital low-pass filter having the same cut-off frequency as that of the first digital low-pass filter, a comparator downstream of the low-pass filters, and an evaluation device that generates an error message when the deviation between the compared signals exceeds a pre-determined level.
US08970194B2
A switch mode power supply system has a constant on-time signal generator, a logic circuit, a feedback circuit, a first ramp signal generator, a second ramp signal generator, a switch circuit having a power switch, and a comparator. A feedback signal from the feedback circuit is compensated by the first ramp signal generator, and a reference signal is compensated by the second ramp signal generator. The comparator compares the compensated feedback signal with the compensated reference signal to indicate an off time of the power switch while the constant on-time signal generator decides the on-time of the power switch.
US08970189B2
A voltage generation circuit supplies an internal power supply voltage to an internal circuit via an output terminal and includes a regulator, a second drive element, and a control circuit. The regulator includes a first drive element disposed between an external power supply VDD (first power supply) and an output terminal, and supplies a voltage based on a reference voltage to the output voltage by controlling the first drive element. The second drive element is disposed between the external power supply VDD and the output terminal, and supplies a voltage of the external power supply VDD to the output terminal when activated. When a voltage of the external power supply is a previously set detection voltage value or less, the control circuit activates the first and the second drive element, and when the voltage of the external power supply exceeds the detection voltage value, deactivates the second drive element.
US08970185B1
A switching regulator includes a high-side driver configured to receive an input voltage, and a low-side driver configured to receive the input voltage. The high-side driver and the low-side driver are configured to provide an output voltage based on the input voltage. A charge pump module is configured to receive a supply voltage that varies between a first voltage level and a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level, generate the input voltage based on the supply voltage, and maintain the input voltage at the second voltage level independent of variations in the supply voltage.
US08970175B2
A charging circuit employed in an electronic apparatus is operable to charge a portable electronic device. The charging circuit includes a charging control microchip including two control terminals, a southbridge microchip, a logic control circuit, and a basic input/output system (BIOS). The southbridge microchip and the BIOS are both electronically connected to the logic control circuit to control the logic control circuit to set or reset voltage of the two control terminals, then the charging control microchip is switched to a charging mode or a data transmission mode according to the voltage of the two control terminals.
US08970154B2
A resonance suppression control block includes a high-pass filter for extracting an AC component of DC link voltage, and a gain section for outputting a correction signal obtained by multiplying the AC component by a gain. A control unit controls an inverter based on a signal obtained by adding the correction signal to the voltage instruction. Thus, a power conversion apparatus with a simple configuration can be obtained that can suppress resonance of a DC link section and omit extra work for performing adjustment again in accordance with a power supply frequency.
US08970152B2
An exemplary power supply assembly includes a drive device having a bus capacitor. A switch associated with an input side of the drive device selectively connects the drive device to a power supply. An inductor has an impedance that limits an amount of current supplied to the bus capacitor during an initial charging of the bus capacitor when the switch connects the input side of the drive device to the power supply. A restrictive circuit portion dampens a resonance effect of the inductor. The restrictive circuit portion has a resistance that allows the bus capacitor to charge quickly. The impedance of the inductor has a more significant effect on how quickly the bus capacitor charges than an effect of the resistance. A dampening factor of the restrictive circuit controls a voltage of the bus capacitor during the charging of the bus capacitor.
US08970143B2
The power source apparatus is provided with a shunt resistor connected in series with batteries, and a current computation circuit that detects the voltage induced by current flow through the shunt resistor to compute battery current. The shunt resistor is provided with a pair of current flow terminals at two separated points on a metal plate connected in series with the batteries via connecting leads, and a pair of voltage detection terminals on a side of the metal plate between the pair of current flow terminals. Further, the shunt resistor has interval adjustment structures to adjust the distance (L) between attachment points where the connecting leads attach to the pair of current flow terminals. The distance (L) between lead attachment points is adjusted with the interval adjustment structures to finely adjust the voltage induced at the voltage detection terminals due to current flow between the two attachment points.
US08970141B2
A magnetic actuator system which includes a case (10) and a spindle (22) which extends through the case comprising a magnetizable material such as iron. The actuator further includes a pair of permanent magnet assemblies (14, 16) positioned fixedly within the casing with a longitudinal space there between, wherein the permanent magnet assemblies comprise an alternating plurality of north pole/south magnet sections (18) which extend longitudinally or circumferentially of the actuator. The actuator further includes a coil winding (24) which surrounds the spindle, positioned between the two permanent magnet assemblies. Magnetic pole assemblies (28, 30) attached to the spindle are positioned within the volume encompassed by the permanent magnet assemblies, such that an alternating drive signal produces an oscillating action of the spindle of desired frequency and amplitude.
US08970137B2
A synchrocyclotron includes magnetic structures to provide a magnetic field to a cavity, a particle source to provide a plasma column to the cavity, where the particle source has a housing to hold the plasma column, and where the housing is interrupted at an acceleration region to expose the plasma column, and a voltage source to provide a radio frequency (RF) voltage to the cavity to accelerate particles from the plasma column at the acceleration region.
US08970133B2
A representative apparatus controls current supplied to solid state lighting, such as light emitting diodes. The apparatus includes an inductor, a memory adapted to store a plurality of current parameters and a controller. The controller is configured to control a power source to supply current to the inductor to start an energizing cycle, monitor an inductor current level, reduce the inductor current level in response to the inductor current level reaching a predetermined peak inductor current, and increase the inductor current level in response to the inductor current reaching a predetermined minimum current is reached. In at least one embodiment, the controller modulates a current provided to the solid state lighting such that a DC average current level is substantially proportional to one-half of a sum of the predetermined peak current level and the predetermined minimum current level.
US08970131B2
Solid state lighting apparatuses are adapted to operate with alternating current (AC) received directly from an AC power source. An exemplary apparatus includes a substrate and multiple sets of one or more solid state light emitters disposed over the substrate. Multiple sets of solid state light emitters are configured to be activated and/or deactivated at different times relevant to one another during portions of an AC cycle, and optionally have different duty cycles. Emitter configurations, color combinations, and/or circuit components reduce perceivable flicker, color shifts, and/or spatial variations in luminous flux. Color temperature and/or beam pattern are adjustable. Multiple emitters are arranged along non-coplanar substrate portions.
US08970129B2
A voltage conversion circuit comprises a first and a second output (O1, O2) which are configured to have an electric load (LD) connected therebetween, wherein an output signal between the first and a second output (O1, O2) is generated in response to a pulse-width modulated clock signal (PWM). The circuit further comprises a forward branch (FWD) being configured to generate an output voltage (VDC) at the first output (O1) depending on a control signal. A feedback branch (FBK) comprises a comparison circuit (CC) being configured to generate the control signal. The feedback branch (FBK) is configured to provide a first potential corresponding to a voltage (VSINK) at a second output (O2) to a comparison input (CI) of the comparison circuit (CC) during a first sensing period which corresponds to at least a part of a period of a first state of the clock signal (PWM) and to provide a second potential derived from the voltage (VSINK) at a second output (O2) by means of a first charge store (C1) to the comparison input (CI) during a second sensing period which corresponds to a part of a period of a second state of the clock signal (PWM).
US08970126B2
A method for amplifying an input optical signal includes the following steps: providing a light-emitting transistor device having a base region between collector and emitter regions; applying electrical signals with respect to the base, collector, and emitter regions to produce light emission from the base region of the light-emitting transistor device; and applying the input optical signal to the base region of the light-emitting transistor device to produce an amplified optical output from the base region.
US08970125B2
In a memory unit 6, there is stored a correction table for each candidate value of an output set value of each of LED units 2. If UV rays have ever been emitted so far by the LED units 2, each of which is formed of a plurality of LED chips 8, then a PLC 5 acquires, upon setting of a output set value by an operation unit 53, a correction value corresponding to a cumulative emission time up to a previous emission, from the correction table of the output set value. Thereafter, the PLC 5 sets the magnitude of the power supplied to each of the LED units 2 using the acquired correction value. If an output set value different from a previous output set value is set, the PLC 5 obtains the correction value starting from the cumulative emission time upon modification. As a result, the UV irradiation apparatus enables power consumption necessary for emission of UV rays to be reduced, and UV ray output to be kept constant regardless of the cumulative emission time, even if the output set value is modified.
US08970124B2
A photoelectric sensing sensitivity adjusting device includes: an LED for emitting light by being supplied with energy (current or voltage); a regulator for LED driving for supplying the energy to the LED; a light receiving device for receiving the light emitted from the LED; a digital potentiometer for controlling increase or decrease of the energy to be supplied to the LED; a CPU for digitally controlling, according to a control program, the increase or decrease of the energy to be supplied to the LED; and a photodetection portion for detecting an optical signal, converting the optical signal to an electrical signal, and outputting the electrical signal.
US08970123B2
An LED drive circuit that is connectable to an a.c. power supply via a phase control type light adjuster and drives an LED load, including a discharge portion that consumes energy of a resonance phenomenon generated by a light adjuster capacitance component of the phase control type light adjuster and a light adjuster inductance component of the phase control type light adjuster when a current holding portion of the phase control type light adjuster is turned on.
US08970117B2
A light emitting element drive device of the present invention includes a light emitting element; a drive unit for driving the light emitting element; an electricity storage element capable of storing electric power; a battery power supply capable of supplying electric power to the electricity storage element; and a boost chopper circuit having an inductor, for boosting voltage by opening and closing a switching element. The drive unit is switchable between three states: a storing state in which electric power from the battery power supply is stored in the electricity storage element; a first discharging state in which the electric power stored in the electricity storage element is supplied to the light emitting element; and a second discharging state in which electric power from the battery power supply is boosted by the boost chopper circuit and is supplied to the light emitting element.
US08970106B2
According to one aspect of the present invention, a laminated structure of conductive transparent oxide layers containing silicon or silicon oxide is applied as an electrode on the side of injecting a hole (a hole injection electrode; an anode) instead of the conventional conductive transparent oxide layer such as ITO. In addition, according to another aspect of the invention, a laminated structure of conductive transparent oxide layers containing silicon or silicon oxide, each of which content is different, is applied as a hole injection electrode. Preferably, silicon or a silicon oxide concentration of the conductive layer on the side where it is connected to a TFT ranges from 1 atomic % to 6 atomic % and a silicon or silicon oxide concentration on the side of a layer containing an organic compound ranges from 7 atomic % to 15 atomic %.
US08970095B2
In a piezoelectric actuator including a substrate, an insulating layer formed on the substrate, an adhesive layer formed on the insulating layer, a Pt lower electrode layer formed on the adhesive layer, and a PZT piezoelectric layer formed on the Pt lower electrode layer, the adhesive layer is made of TiOx having a composition x which is graded so that the composition x on the side of thio insulating layer is larger than the composition x on the side of the Pt lower electrode layer.
US08970094B2
A piezoelectric ceramic material has the general formula: P1-c-dDcZd(PbO)w where: 0
US08970085B2
A rotor includes a rotor core comprised of magnetic steel sheets laminated in the axial direction and a pair of end plates that are respectively provided on the axial end faces of the rotor core so as to together sandwich the rotor core in the axial direction. The rotor is rotatably disposed in an electric rotating machine with a circumferential surface of the rotor core facing a stator. At least one of the end plates is configured to have through-holes, each of which is formed so as to axially penetrate the end plate, and a pressing portion that is radially positioned on the stator side of the through-holes. The pressing portion abuts a corresponding one of the axial end faces of the rotor core and exerts an axial load on the corresponding axial end face of the rotor core by an elastic force of the end plate.
US08970078B2
An electric motor includes a stator, a rotor and an end cap. The stator includes a housing and magnets attached to an inner surface of the housing. The housing has an open end closed by the end cap. The rotor includes a shaft, an armature and a commutator fixed to the shaft. The end cap includes a cover case, a support plate integrally formed in the cover case, brushes, a bearing and a printed circuit board mounted in the cover case. The support plate divides the interior space of the cover case into a first cavity and a second cavity. The brushes are mounted in the first cavity, the bearing is mounted on the support plate, and the printed circuit board is mounted in the second cavity.
US08970072B2
A magnetic spring arrangement for a resonant motor including a housing, magnets fixed in position at opposing ends of the housing, a magnet positioned within the housing for movement toward and away from the fixed magnets in a reciprocal oscillating motion with a driving action produced by a stator coil and an AC drive signal, wherein an applicator member is attachable to the moving magnet for corresponding movement of a workpiece portion of the applicator member.
US08970069B2
Power is fed from a feeding coil to a receiving coil L3 by magnetic resonance. The receiving coil L3 and a capacitor C3 are connected in series to constitute a receiving coil circuit. A loading coil L4 electromagnetically coupled to the receiving coil L3 is connected to a load through a rectification circuit 142 to constitute a loading circuit. Placing the rectification circuit 142 on a first flat plate electrode 132 of the capacitor C3 allows heat generated from the rectification circuit 142 to escape to the first flat plate electrode 132.
US08970063B2
An arrangement which includes two or more energy storage units for electrical energy connected in series, and two or more balancing resistor units. Each balancing resistor unit is connected in parallel with one of the energy storage units. The arrangement also includes means for determining a voltage over all of the series-connected energy storage units and means for determining the energy storage unit voltages between poles of the energy storage units. One or more of the balancing resistor units include a base resistor unit and a control resistor unit connected in series and a switching device connected in parallel with the control resistor units. The arrangement further comprises means for determining reference voltages for the energy storage units based on the voltage over all of the series-connected capacitors and means for controlling the switching device to control the resistance of one or more of the balancing resistor units so that the energy storage unit voltage of each energy storage unit is maintained within a set range of the reference voltage for each energy storage unit.
US08970061B2
In an electric vehicle in which a high voltage battery supplying electric power to an electric motor generating power to drive a drive wheel and a low voltage battery supplying electric power to an accessory are mounted in a vehicle body, a breaker (62) is provided in a circuit (74) of a high power system linked to the high voltage battery (36); manual connection-disconnection means (71) for allowing switching between connection and disconnection of a circuit (75) of a low power system linked to the low voltage battery (40) to be performed by a manual operation is provided in the circuit (75) of the low power system; a relay switch (63, 64) which is capable of performing switching between connection and disconnection of the circuit (74) of the high power system by being supplied with electric power from the circuit (75) of the low power system, and which interrupts the circuit (74) of the high power system when the circuit (75) of the low power system is interrupted is provided on the circuit (74) of the high power system; and touch prevention means allows the breaker (62) to be touched only when the circuit (75) of the low power system is interrupted by using the manual connection-disconnection means (71). Accordingly, it is possible to make a work procedure in the maintenance of a breaker of a high power system easier to follow.
US08970060B2
Power feeding is performed in a non-contact manner from a power feeding device to an electrical powered vehicle by resonance of a primary self-resonant coil of the power feeding device and a secondary self-resonant coil of the electrical powered vehicle through an electromagnetic field. The electric power received by the secondary self-resonant coil is rectified by a rectifier, and voltage-converted by a DC/DC converter to be supplied to a power storage device. A vehicle ECU controls the DC/DC converter such that the voltage between the rectifier and the DC/DC converter attains a target voltage.
US08970059B2
An example ram air turbine generator assembly includes a generator housing that holds a generator in axial alignment with a hydraulic pump. The generator housing includes a wall having contacting portions that contact a stator of the generator and spaced portions that are radially spaced from the stator. The generator wall is designed to be strong enough to withstand HLSD and windmilling vibrations, while flexible enough to accommodate thermal expansion.
US08970055B2
A system employs wave energy harvesting apparatus and a water vessel (e.g., a ship) carrying an energy storage apparatus (e.g., array of batteries). The energy harvesting apparatus is preferably also carried by the water vessel, but may be fixed or carried by a separate water vessel. The water vessel is operated in an energy storing mode at an energy harvesting location subject to wave activity, during which the energy storage apparatus stores energy from the wave activity as harvested by the energy harvesting apparatus. The water vessel is operated in an energy transporting mode to transport the stored energy from the energy harvesting location to an energy releasing location (preferably onshore, but may be offshore) having a connection to an electrical power grid. The water vessel is operated at the energy releasing location in an energy releasing mode in which the stored energy is transformed into appropriate AC electricity supplied to the electrical power grid.
US08970053B2
A semiconductor package and a fabrication method thereof are disclosed, which is characterized in that a solder material is used to bond an LED chip and a substrate so as to provide a thick joint between the substrate and the LED chip and hence reduce stresses generated between the LED chip and the substrate due to their CTE mismatch, thereby preventing delamination from occurring between the LED chip and the substrate after a reliability test.
US08970049B2
A module having multiple die includes a first die on a first substrate and an inverted second package stacked over the first die, with, where necessary, provision is made for a standoff between the second package and the first die. Also, methods for making the module include steps of providing a first package having a first die attached onto an upward facing side of a first package substrate, and stacking an inverted second package over the die on the first package, provision being made where necessary for a standoff between the second package and the first package die to avoid damaging impact between the downward-facing side of the second package and wire bonds connecting the first die to the first package substrate.
US08970048B2
A higher aspect ratio for upper level metal interconnects is described for use in higher frequency circuits. Because the skin effect reduces the effective cross-sectional area of conductors at higher frequencies, various approaches are described to reduce the effective RC delay in interconnects.
US08970047B2
A 3D stacked multichip module comprises a stack of W IC die. Each die has a patterned conductor layer, including an electrical contact region with electrical conductors and, in some examples, device circuitry over a substrate. The electrical conductors of the stacked die are aligned. Electrical connectors extend into the stack to contact landing pads on the electrical conductors to create a 3D stacked multichip module. The electrical connectors may pass through vertical vias in the electrical contact regions. The landing pads may be arranged in a stair stepped arrangement. The stacked multichip module may be made using a set of N etch masks with 2N-1 being less than W and 2N being greater than or equal to W, with the etch masks alternatingly covering and exposing 2n-1 landing pads for each mask n=1, 2 . . . N.
US08970046B2
A semiconductor package may include a substrate including a substrate connection terminal, at least one semiconductor chip stacked on the substrate and having a chip connection terminal, a first insulating layer covering at least portions of the substrate and the at least one semiconductor chip, and/or an interconnection penetrating the first insulating layer to connect the substrate connection terminal to the chip connection terminal. A semiconductor package may include stacked semiconductor chips, edge portions of the semiconductor chips constituting a stepped structure, and each of the semiconductor chips including a chip connection terminal; at least one insulating layer covering at least the edge portions of the semiconductor chips; and/or an interconnection penetrating the at least one insulating layer to connect to the chip connection terminal of each of the semiconductor chips.
US08970045B2
Methods of fabricating semiconductor devices that include interposers include the formation of conductive vias through a material layer on a recoverable substrate. A carrier substrate is bonded over the material layer, and the recoverable substrate is then separated from the material layer to recover the recoverable substrate. A detachable interface may be provided between the material layer and the recoverable substrate to facilitate the separation. Electrical contacts that communicate electrically with the conductive vias may be formed over the material layer on a side thereof opposite the carrier substrate. Semiconductor structures and devices are formed using such methods.
US08970043B2
A wafer structure includes a first wafer stack and a first bonding layer disposed on the first wafer stack. The wafer structure further includes a second wafer stack that includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface. A second bonding layer is disposed on the second surface and is in contact with the first bonding layer. The second wafer stack comprises through-silicon-vias (TSVs) that extend from the first surface to the second bonding layer. A seed layer is disposed on the first surface and is in contact with the TSVs.
US08970041B2
An assembly can include a microelectronic element such as, for example, a semiconductor element having circuits and semiconductor devices fabricated therein, and a plurality of electrical connectors, e.g., solder balls attached to contacts of the microelectronic element. The connectors can be surrounded by first, inner regions 200 of compressible dielectric material and second, outer regions of dielectric material. In one embodiment, an underfill can contact a face of the microelectronic element between respective connectors or second regions. The second regions can provide restraining force, such that during volume expansion of the connectors, the first regions can compress against the restraining force of the second regions.
US08970038B2
A semiconductor substrate is provided, including: a substrate; a plurality of conductive through vias embedded in the substrate; a first dielectric layer formed on the substrate; a metal layer formed on the first dielectric layer; and a second dielectric layer formed on the metal layer. As such, when a packaging substrate is disposed on the second dielectric layer, the metal layer provides a reverse stress to balance thermal stresses caused by the first and second dielectric layers, thereby preventing warpage of the semiconductor substrate.
US08970035B2
A package structure includes a first substrate bonded to a second substrate by Connecting metal pillars on the first substrate to connectors on the second substrate. A first metal pillar is formed overlying and electrically connected to a metal pad on a first region of the first substrate, and a second metal pillar is formed overlying a passivation layer in a second region of the first substrate. A first solder joint region is formed between metal pillar and the first connector, and a second solder joint region is formed between the second metal pillar and the second connector. The thickness of the first metal pillar is greater than the thickness of the second metal pillar.
US08970029B2
A flip chip microelectronic package having a heat spreader is provided. In one embodiment, the microelectronic package comprises a die having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface being coupled to a substrate; a thermal interface material disposed in thermal conductive contact with the second surface of the die; and a heat spreader adapted for dissipating heat from the die, the heat spreader disposed in thermal conductive contact with the thermal interface material. The heat spreader includes a lid having an inner chamber therein defined by a first wall and a second wall, the second wall securely joined to the first wall to seal the chamber, the lid being mounted to the substrate and a wick layer positioned in the chamber.
US08970020B2
Provided is a semiconductor device which includes a bonding wire, one end of which is connected to a bipolar device, the other end of which is connected to a conductive member, and the center of which is connected to a unipolar device, said semiconductor device being capable of improving the reliability of wire bonding. A package (4) includes a die pad (61), a source lead (63), a first MOSFET (11), and a first Schottky barrier diode (21). A source electrode (11S) of the first MOSFET (11), an anode electrode (21A) of the first Schottky barrier diode (21), and the source lead (63) are electrically connected by the bonding wire (31), one end of which is bonded to the source electrode (11S) of the first MOSFET (11), the other end of which is bonded to the source lead (63), and the center of which is bonded to the anode electrode (21A) of the first Schottky barrier diode (21).
US08970019B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip with bonding pads, the bonding pads being arranged along one side of an element forming surface of the semiconductor chip, a lead frame including first and second internal leads arranged such that tips thereof correspond to some of the bonding pads of the semiconductor chip, and first and second bonding wires by which the first internal leads and the some of the bonding pads are bonded to each other. The semiconductor device further includes a hanging pin section provided on the element non-forming surface of the semiconductor chip, and a sealing member with which the semiconductor chip is sealed including the hanging pin section and a bonding section between the first and second internal leads and the first and second bonding wires.
US08970017B1
An apparatus having a bonding pad and a conductor is disclosed. The bonding pad may be formed in a conductive layer of an integrated circuit. The bonding pad generally has (i) a bond region, (ii) an interface edge sized to match a transmission line and (iii) a tapered region between the bond region and the interface edge. The interface edge may be narrower than the bond region. The tapered region generally has a non-rectangular shape that spans from the bond region to the interface edge. The conductor may be bonded to the bond region. The conductor is generally configured to exchange a signal with the bond region. The signal may be in a microwave frequency range.
US08970010B2
Embodiments of a semiconductor wafer having wafer-level die attach metallization on a back-side of the semiconductor wafer, resulting semiconductor dies, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semiconductor wafer includes a semiconductor structure and a front-side metallization that includes front-side metallization elements for a number of semiconductor die areas. The semiconductor wafer also includes vias that extend from a back-side of the semiconductor structure to the front-side metallization elements. A back-side metallization is on the back-side of the semiconductor structure and within the vias. For each via, one or more barrier layers are on a portion of the back-side metallization that is within the via and around a periphery of the via. The semiconductor wafer further includes wafer-level die attach metallization on the back-side metallization other than the portions of the back-side metallization that are within the vias and around the peripheries of the vias.
US08970004B2
A junction diode array is disclosed for use in protecting integrated circuits from electrostatic discharge. The junction diodes integrate symmetric and asymmetric junction diodes of various sizes and capabilities. Some of the junction diodes are configured to provide low voltage and current discharge via un-encapsulated interconnecting wires, while others are configured to provide high voltage and current discharge via encapsulated interconnecting wires. Junction diode array elements include p-n junction diodes and N+/N++ junction diodes. The junction diodes include implanted regions having customized shapes. If both symmetric and asymmetric diodes are not needed as components of the junction diode array, the array is configured with isolation regions between diodes of either type. Some junction diode arrays include a buried oxide layer to prevent diffusion of dopants into the substrate beyond a selected depth.
US08969999B2
A fuse device and method for fabricating the fuse device is disclosed. An exemplary fuse device includes a first contact and a second contact coupled with a metal-semiconductor alloy layer, wherein the metal-semiconductor alloy layer extends continuously between the first contact and the second contact. The metal-semiconductor alloy layer is disposed over an epitaxial layer that is disposed over a fin structure of a substrate.
US08969998B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of element-separating insulators, and contacts. The plurality of element-separating insulators partition the upper layer portion into a plurality of active areas extending in a first direction. The contacts are connected to the active areas. A recess is made in a part in the first direction of an upper surface of each of the active areas. The recess is made across the entire active area in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. Positions in the first direction of two of the contacts connected respectively to mutually-adjacent active areas are different from each other. One of the contacts is in contact with a side surface of the recess and not in contact with a bottom surface of the recess.
US08969997B2
A method of forming of a semiconductor structure has isolation structures. A substrate having a first region and a second region is provided. The first region and the second region are implanted with neutral dopants to form a first etching stop feature and a second stop feature in the first region and the second region, respectively. The first etching stop feature has a depth D1 and the second etching stop feature has a depth D2. D1 is less than D2. The substrate in the first region and the second region are etched to form a first trench and a second trench respectively. The first trench and the second trench land on the first etching stop feature and the second etching stop feature, respectively.
US08969994B2
An MPS diode includes a III-nitride substrate characterized by a first conductivity type and a first dopant concentration and having a first side and a second side. The MPS diode also includes a III-nitride epitaxial structure comprising a first III-nitride epitaxial layer coupled to the first side of the substrate, wherein a region of the first III-nitride epitaxial layer comprises an array of protrusions. The III-nitride epitaxial structure also includes a plurality of III-nitride regions of a second conductivity type, each partially disposed between adjacent protrusions. Each of the plurality of III-nitride regions of the second conductivity type comprises a first section laterally positioned between adjacent protrusions and a second section extending in a direction normal to the first side of the substrate. The MPS diode further includes a first metallic structure electrically coupled to one or more of the protrusions and to one or more of the second sections.
US08969989B2
An optical-to-electrical converter unit includes a substrate having front and back surfaces; an original waveguide unit; and an optical-to-electrical converter. The optical-to-electrical converter includes a light-receiving element optically coupled to the optical waveguide unit; a capacitance element including first and second conductive layers and an insulating layer disposed between the first and second conductive layers; an electrode pad electrically connected to the light-receiving element; a back electrode formed on the back surface of the substrate; and a via electrode extending from the front surface to the back surface of the substrate. The optical waveguide unit, the light-receiving element, the capacitance element, and the electrode pad are formed on the front surface. The first conductive layer of the capacitance element is electrically connected to the light-receiving element and the electrode pad. The second conductive layer of the capacitance element is electrically connected to the back electrode through the via electrode.
US08969983B2
A memory includes a semiconductor substrate. Cell transistors are on the substrate. Contact plugs each of which is buried between the adjacent cell transistors and electrically connected to a diffusion layer between the adjacent cell transistors. An interlayer dielectric film buries gaps between the contact plugs. A storage element is provided not above the contact plugs but above the interlayer dielectric film. A sidewall film covers a part of a side surface of the storage element, and is provided to overlap with one of the contact plugs as viewed from above a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A lower electrode is provided between a bottom of the storage element and the interlayer dielectric film and between the sidewall film and one of the contact plugs, and electrically connects the storage element to one of the contact plugs.
US08969982B2
A multi-layered bottom electrode for an MTJ device on a silicon nitride substrate is described. It comprises a bilayer of alpha tantalum on ruthenium which in turn lies on a nickel chrome layer over a second tantalum layer.
US08969975B2
Disclosed herein is a device that includes: a semiconductor substrate including an active region having a semiconductor pillar, the semiconductor pillar having first and second side surfaces substantially perpendicular to a main surface of the semiconductor substrate; an element isolation region surrounding the active region, the element isolation region including a first insulating pillar that is in contact with the first side surface of the semiconductor pillar; a gate electrode that covers the second side surface of the semiconductor pillar with an intervention of a gate insulating film; a first impurity diffusion layer formed on an upper surface of the semiconductor pillar; a second impurity diffusion layer formed in the active region located below the semiconductor pillar; and an etching protection wall that is arranged to surround the semiconductor pillar.
US08969961B2
A semiconductor body (10) comprises a field-effect transistor (11). The field-effect transistor (11) comprises a drain region (12) of a first conduction type, a source region (13) of the first conduction type, a drift region (16) and a channel region (14) of a second conduction type which is opposite to the first conduction type. The drift region (16) comprises at least two stripes (15, 32) of the first conduction type which extend from the drain region (12) in a direction towards the source region (13). The channel region (14) is arranged between the drift region (16) and the source region (13).
US08969947B2
A memory device includes a substrate, a semiconductor column extending perpendicularly from the substrate and a plurality of spaced-apart charge storage cells disposed along a sidewall of the semiconductor column. Each of the storage cells includes a tunneling insulating layer disposed on the sidewall of the semiconductor column, a polymer layer disposed on the tunneling insulating layer, a plurality of quantum dots disposed on or in the polymer layer and a blocking insulating layer disposed on the polymer layer.
US08969940B1
A process integration is disclosed for fabricating non-volatile memory (NVM) cells having patterned select gates (211, 213), charge storage layers (219), inlaid control gates (223, 224), and inlaid control gate contact regions (228).
US08969937B2
A semiconductor device includes a first insulating layer, a contact plug formed in the first insulating layer, a first etch stop layer over the first insulating layer, a second etch stop layer over the first etch stop layer, a second insulating layer over the second etch stop layer and having a contact opening over the contact plug, and a conductive layer disposed in the contact opening and over the contact plug. The contact opening is substantially free of the second etch stop layer, and the first etch stop layer is present in the contact opening.
US08969926B2
An embodiment of a vertical power device includes a III-nitride substrate, a drift region coupled to the III-nitride substrate and comprising a III-nitride material of a first conductivity type, and a channel region coupled to the drift region and comprising a III-nitride material of the first conductivity type. The vertical power device also includes a source region coupled to the channel region and comprising a III-nitride material of the first conductivity type, and a gate region coupled to the channel region. The gate region includes a III-nitride material of a second conductivity type. The vertical power device further includes a source-coupled region coupled to the drift region and electrically connected with the source region. The source-coupled region includes a III-nitride material of the second conductivity type.
US08969916B2
A semiconductor device includes a gate electrode structure of a transistor, the gate electrode structure being positioned above a semiconductor region and having a gate insulation layer that includes a high-k dielectric material, a metal-containing cap material positioned above the gate insulation layer, and a gate electrode material positioned above the metal-containing cap material. A bottom portion of the gate electrode structure has a first length and an upper portion of the gate electrode structure has a second length that is different than the first length, wherein the first length is approximately 50 nm or less. A strain-inducing semiconductor alloy is embedded in the semiconductor region laterally adjacent to the bottom portion of the gate electrode structure, and drain and source regions are at least partially positioned in the strain-inducing semiconductor alloy.
US08969913B2
A high voltage laterally diffused metal-oxide-semiconductor (HV LDMOS) device, particularly an insulated gate bipolar junction transistor (IGBT), and a method of making it are provided in this disclosure. The device includes a semiconductor substrate having at least one highly doped buried portion, a first doped well grown over the substrate, a gate structure formed on the first well, a source and a drain formed on either side of the gate structure, and a second doped well having a U-shaped cross section formed in the first well. A portion of the drain is formed over the first well outside of the second well.
US08969900B2
An optoelectronic semiconductor chip includes a semiconductor layer stack having an active layer that generates radiation, and a radiation emission side, and a conversion layer disposed on the radiation emission side of the semiconductor layer stack, wherein the conversion layer converts at least a portion of the radiation, which is emitted by the active layer, into radiation of a different wavelength, the radiation emission side of the semiconductor layer stack has a first nanostructuring, and the conversion layer is disposed in this first nanostructuring.
US08969896B2
Described is a solid-state light-emitting element, a light-emitting device using the solid-state light-emitting element, and a lighting device using the light-emitting device. The solid-state light-emitting element comprises a member with a low refractive index which has a hemispherical structure on a first surface and an uneven structure on a second surface, a bonding layer with a high refractive index which planarizes the uneven structure, and a light-emitting body whose light-emitting surface is in contact with a flat surface of the bonding layer. The uneven structure of the member with a low refractive index is provided inside at least an outside shape of the hemispherical structure formed on the first surface; and the light-emitting body is provided such that an outside shape of the light-emitting region of the light-emitting body is smaller than the outside shape of the hemispherical structure and overlaps with the hemispherical structure.
US08969893B2
Provided are a light emitting device, a light emitting device package, and a lighting system. The light emitting device includes a light emitting structure, a non-periodic light extraction pattern, and a phosphor layer. The light emitting structure includes a first conductive type semiconductor layer, a second conductive type semiconductor layer over the first conductive type semiconductor layer, and an active layer between the first conductive type semiconductor layer and the second conductive type semiconductor layer. The non-periodic light extraction pattern is disposed over the light emitting structure. The phosphor layer is disposed over the non-periodic light extraction pattern. The phosphor layer fills at least one portion of the non-periodic light extraction pattern.
US08969885B2
Disclosed herein is a light emitting device module comprising: a heat transfer member having a cavity; first conductive layer and second conductive layer contacting the heat transfer member via an insulating layer, the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer being electrically isolated from each other in accordance with exposure of the insulating layer or exposure of the heat transfer member; and at least one light emitting diode electrically connected to the first conductive layer and second conductive layer, the at least one light emitting device is thermally contacted to an exposed portion of the heat transfer member, wherein the heat transfer member has an exposed portion disposed within the cavity between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.
US08969883B2
The present invention discloses a light device and a fabrication method thereof. An object of the present invention is to provide the light device and the fabrication method thereof an electric/thermal/structural stability is obtained, and a P-type electrode and an N-type electrode can be simultaneously formed. In order to achieve the above object, the inventive light device includes: a GaN-based layer; a high concentration GaN-based layer formed on the GaN-based layer; a first metal-Ga compound layer formed on the high concentration GaN-based layer; a first metal layer formed on the first metal-Ga compound layer; a third metal-Al compound layer formed on the first metal layer; and a conductive oxidation preventive layer formed on the third metal-Al compound layer.
US08969878B2
A semiconductor device includes a N-type field effect transistor comprising a N-channel region in a substrate. A high dielectric constant (high-k) layer is disposed on the N-channel region. A diffusion layer including a metal oxide is disposed on the high-k layer. A passivation layer is disposed on the diffusion layer, and a first metal gate is disposed on the passivation layer. The first high-k layer and the N-channel region include metal atoms of a metal element of the metal oxide.
US08969868B2
A thin film transistor comprises a transparent substrate, a gate is disposed on the transparent substrate, a gate insulator is disposed on the gate and the transparent substrate, an active layer is disposed on the gate insulator, an electrode layer is electrically connected the active layer and the portion of the active layer is exposed, and an ultraviolet light absorbing layer is disposed on the electrode layer. By using the advantage of the ultraviolet light absorbing layer with the range of visible light transmittance and with the component protection, preventing the optical characteristics of the thin film transistor from the outside moisture is achieved, and by adjusting the parameters in the thin film deposition process to change its conductivity.
US08969859B2
An object is to provide a display device with a high aperture ratio or a semiconductor device in which the area of an element is large. A channel formation region of a TFT with a multi-gate structure is provided under a wiring that is provided between adjacent pixel electrodes (or electrodes of an element). In addition, a channel width direction of each of a plurality of channel formation regions is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pixel electrode. In addition, when a channel width is longer than a channel length, the area of the channel formation region can be increased.
US08969846B2
A variable resistance memory according to the present embodiment includes a memory cell including an ion source electrode including metal atoms, an opposite electrode, an amorphous silicon film formed between the ion source electrode and the opposite electrode, and a polysilicon film formed between the amorphous silicon film and the ion source electrode.
US08969845B2
A memory cell is provided that includes a steering element, a metal-insulator-metal stack coupled in series with the steering element, and a conductor above the metal-insulator-metal stack. The steering element includes a diode having an n-region and a p-region. The metal-insulator-metal stack includes a reversible resistivity-switching material between a top electrode and a bottom electrode, and the top electrode includes a highly doped semiconductor material. The memory cell does not include a metal layer disposed between the metal-insulator-metal stack and the conductor. The bottom electrode includes the n-region or the p-region of the diode, and the reversible resistivity-switching material is directly adjacent the n-region or the p-region of the diode. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08969823B2
A multi-component tunable resistive coating and methods of depositing the coating on the surfaces of a microchannel plate (MCP) detector. The resistive coating composed of a plurality of alternating layers of a metal oxide resistive component layer and a conductive component layer composed of at least one of a metal, a metal nitride and a metal sulfide. The coating may further include an emissive layer configured to produce a secondary electron emission in response to a particle interacting with the MCP and a neutron-absorbing layer configured to respond to a neutron interacting with the MCP.
US08969822B2
Two and three dimensional position sensing systems and sensors for use in such systems are disclosed. The sensors incorporate linear array sensors and an aperture plate to block light or other radiation from reaching most elements of the sensors. A direction of a radiation source relative is determined based on illuminated sensor elements in each sensor. The sensors are combined in systems to allow the position of a radiation source to be estimated.
US08969819B2
A radiation image pickup apparatus allowed to restore a change in characteristics in a pixel transistors caused by radiation, and a method of driving the same are provided. The radiation image pickup apparatus includes: a pixel section including a plurality of unit pixels and generating an electrical signal based on incident radiation, each of the unit pixels including one or more pixel transistors and a photoelectric conversion element; a drive section for selectively driving the unit pixels of the pixel section; and a characteristic restoring section including a first constant current source for annealing and a selector switch for changing a current path from the unit pixels to the first constant current source at the time of non-measurement of the radiation, and allowing an annealing current to flow through the pixel transistor, thereby restoring characteristics of the pixel transistor.
US08969815B2
An integrated magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) system includes an MR scanner including a magnet that defines an opening in which a subject is positioned, a set of PET detectors disposed about the opening, a plurality of data processing units each electrically connected with a respective one or more of the PET detectors of the set of PET detectors, and a plurality of power supply modules, each power supply module being operable to generate a DC power supply for different groups of one or more of the data processing units. Each power supply module is discrete from the other power supply modules.
US08969798B2
An improved trap-TOF mass spectrometer has a set of electrodes arranged to produce both a quadrupolar RF confining field and a substantially homogeneous dipole field. In operation, ions are first confined by the RF field and then, at a selected time, the RF confining field is discontinued and the dipole field is used to accelerate the ions so as to initiate a TOF MS analysis. The apparatus of the present invention may be used alone or in conjunction with other analyzers to produce mass spectra from analyte ions.
US08969797B2
The length of a delay time d from a suspension period starting point t1 until the application of a pulse voltage is begun is changed according to the length of the suspension period during which no data is collected at the time of m/z switching. It is thus ensured that the amount of product ions can be reliably restored at a suspension period termination point t2. In addition, the peak value of the pulse voltage is also changed according to the ionic strength immediately before entering the suspension period. The ion removal rate is thus increased when the amount of remaining ions is high, and the amount of remaining ions is reliably brought to zero within the same pulse width. As a result, crosstalk can be completely removed.
US08969769B2
Two dimensional position sensing system and sensors for use in such systems are disclosed. The sensors incorporate linear array sensors having sensor elements and an aperture plate. Some embodiments include a radiation source that directs radiation onto some of the sensor elements. Other embodiments including radiation blocking objects that block radiation from reaching some of sensor elements. The direction or position of the radiation source or radiation blocking object may be estimated from the radiation incident on the sensor elements.
US08969766B2
An adaptive heating system for optimizing energy resources while heating a confined area. The adaptive heating system includes at least the following components: a controller, a first heat source, a switch device, and a wireline system. The wireline system is configured to connect the controller to the first heat source, a second heat source, and the switch device. The controller is configured to receive an input from the switch device, determine whether the input indicates a selection of the first heat source or a selection of the second heat source, and then initiate operation of either the first or the second heat source, based on the determined selection. The first heat source is associated with an electric heater and the second heat source is associated with a gas furnace.
US08969765B2
An ice protection system for a structure has at least one electro-thermal heating element carried by the structure and a controller for selectively controlling the operation of each heating element. The controller operates each heating element according to a selected duty cycle defined by a pattern of time intervals, the controller selecting the duty cycle at least partially in response to measurements of ambient conditions about the structure.
US08969763B2
In a welding power supply, a feedback circuit senses electrical signals from the power output studs and from remote welding sense leads. The feedback control circuit scales the electrical signals and converts the signals to binary numbers having magnitude bits and a polarity bit respectively. The binary numbers, representing the signals, are simultaneously shifted into a logic processor for calculation of a feedback signal based on the digitized input. The feedback signal is calculated based on the polarity of connectivity of the remote welding sense leads as represented by the binary numbers. The feedback signal is then fed into the power supply output controller for automatically adjusting the power output of the arc welder.
US08969756B2
A workpiece cutting apparatus includes a laser source, a first suction system, and a first finger configured to guide a workpiece as it moves past the laser source. The first finger includes a first end provided adjacent a point where a laser from the laser source cuts the workpiece, and the first end of the first finger includes an aperture in fluid communication with the first suction system.
US08969754B2
Methods for depositing hardfacing material on portions of drill bits comprise providing a vertically oriented plasma transfer arc torch secured to a positioner having controllable movement in a substantially vertical plane. A rolling cutter is secured to a chuck mounted on an articulated arm of a robot. A surface of a tooth of the rolling cutter is positioned in a substantially perpendicular relationship beneath the torch. The torch is oscillated along a substantially horizontal axis. The rolling cutter is moved with the articulated arm of the robot in a plane beneath the oscillating torch. A hardfacing material is deposited on the tooth of the rolling cutter.
US08969753B2
A plasma treatment installation including at least two stationary workpiece holders adapted for controlled rotation about their respective axis and having supporting plates for supporting workpieces for the treatment thereof, at least one hood to be set on a workpiece holder that is adapted to enclose each of a plurality of workpiece holders to form a sealed treatment space, and a manipulator for automatically equipping the supporting plates of a workpiece holder with workpieces, while the other workpiece holder is covered by the hood to perform the plasma treatment of the workpieces.
US08969749B2
A push & lock unit includes cam sections mounted on an outer wall of a rotary body that is disposed on an underside of an operating body, and each one of the cam sections contacts a saw-tooth section disposed on a lower end of a rib on an inner wall of a cover and a projection disposed at a bottom center of a housing in response to an up and down movement of the operating body, whereby the rotary body is rotated. When the operating body is pushed, a push face thereof is locked at a position almost flush with an outer face of a panel. When the operating body is pushed once more, it is released from the lock, and restores to a state where the operating body projects from the outer face of the panel.
US08969743B2
A dynamic scale has multiple weighing units, each equipped with a weighing cell and a weighing pan, the weighing pan lying in an upper plane and the weighing cell between a lower plane spaced from the upper plane in the direction of gravity. A transport device has a motor encoder and sensors, with the encoder and sensors being electrically connected with the inputs of a control unit. The multiple weighing units are serially adjacent in a transport path, with simultaneous cascaded arrangement of the weighing cells in the direction of gravity. The control unit simultaneously starts the weighing processes in all weighing cells in a dynamic weighing mode and controls a transport motor depending on signals of the sensors and the encoder and controls the dynamic scale depending on signals from the weighing cells.
US08969740B2
An electric control or signaling device to be assembled through an opening formed in a wall, and including a tubular metal body which is to engage with a first surface of the wall, wherein the body includes a threaded cylindrical portion to be inserted into the opening and an attachment device including a metal clamping ring to be screwed onto the threaded cylindrical portion of the body to attach the control or signaling device through the opening, and a metal attachment plate to be applied against a second surface of the wall opposite the first surface by the clamping ring.
US08969738B2
A port for inhibiting electromagnetic radiation, the port being arranged to seal an opening and to allow for the passage of one or more electrical cables through the opening, wherein the port comprises at least one slit arranged to engage the one or more cables.
US08969737B2
Electrical components such as integrated circuits may be mounted on a printed circuit board. To prevent the electrical components from being subjected to electromagnetic interference, a radio-frequency shielding structure may be mounted over the electrical components. The radio-frequency shielding structure may be formed from a printed circuit that includes a ground plane such as a flex circuit or rigid printed circuit board that includes at least one blanket layer of metal. The printed circuit board to which the electrical components are mounted may include a recess in which the electrical components are mounted. Additional components may be mounted to the interior and exterior surface of the radio-frequency shielding structure. The radio-frequency shielding structure may be formed from a flex circuit that has slits at its corners to accommodate folding.
US08969730B2
Printed circuits may be electrically and mechanically connected to each other using connections such as solder connections. A first printed circuit such as a rigid printed circuit board may have solder pads and other metal traces. A second printed circuit such as a flexible printed circuit may have openings. Solder connections may be formed in the openings to attach metal traces in the flexible printed circuit to the solder pads on the rigid printed circuit board. A ring of adhesive may surround the solder connections. The flexible printed circuit may be attached to the rigid printed circuit board using the ring of adhesive. An insulating tape may cover the solder connections. A conductive shielding layer with a conductive layer and a layer of conductive adhesive may overlap the solder joints. The conductive adhesive may connect the shielding layer to the metal traces on the rigid printed circuit board.
US08969720B2
The present invention provides improved chalcogen-containing, photovoltaic structures as well as related compositions, photovoltaic devices incorporating these structures, methods of making these structures and devices, and methods of using these structures and devices. According to principles of the present invention, the adhesion of PACB compositions is improved through the use of chalcogen-containing tie layers.
US08969718B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an organic semiconductor excellent in the photoelectric conversion efficiency and also a solar cell using the same. This organic semiconductor has a polymer structure comprising a repeating unit represented by the following formula (I): -[A-D]- (I). In the formula, A is a structure represented by and D is a structure having a benzodithiophene skeleton or the like. In the above, R1 is independently H, a substituted or unsubstituted straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted straight-chain or branched-chain alkoxy group. The solar cell according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an active layer containing the organic semiconductor.
US08969706B2
The present invention provides an adhesive tape 10 for electrically connecting a plurality of solar battery cells, which adhesive tape has a metal foil 1 and an adhesive layer 2 composed of an adhesive provided on at least one surface of the metal foil 1, and a solar battery module using the adhesive tape. The adhesive tape of the present invention can suppress the decrease in the product yield and can improve the connection workability of solar battery cells.
US08969699B2
A CPU (31) of a musical instrument (1) calculates distances between central positions of a plurality of virtual pads (81) and a position of a marker unit (15), by making adjustment such that a distance is shorter as a size associated with the virtual pad (81) is larger. The CPU 31 identifies a virtual pad (81) corresponding to the shortest distance among the distances calculated, as a virtual pad (81) for outputting sound. The CPU (31) identifies a tone corresponding to the virtual pad (81) for outputting sound by referring to set layout information.
US08969697B2
A heel driven pedal apparatus includes a base member and a footboard pivotally coupled to the base member. The footboard is pivotally movable between a released configuration at which the rear end is displaced from the base member and a compressed configuration at which the rear end is adjacent the base member. A spindle shaft includes a proximal end operatively coupled to the front end of the footboard with a linkage assembly, and an opposed distal end. A beater head is coupled to the distal end of the spindle shaft, the linkage assembly and the spindle shaft being configured to move the beater head toward a percussion instrument when the footboard is moved toward the compressed configuration and away from the percussion instrument when the footboard is moved toward the released configuration. The beater head is rotatable to position a desired beater head surface for contact with the percussion instrument.
US08969696B2
A drum supporting component is provided for maintaining the legs of a drum or cymbal elevated from an underlying support surface. The elevation positioning decouples the legs from the underlying surface and increases the amount of sound generated from the drum or cymbal.
US08969693B2
The present invention extends to practice devices for practicing to play stringed instruments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a practice device that may assist a user in learning how to properly finger and play a stringed musical instrument. A user can hold an elongate handle and place one or more of his or her fingers on strings to practice fingerings that are used to play chords/notes. Real instrument strings can be used, helping to strengthen a user's fingertips and get the fingertips accustomed to holding/pinching the instrument strings. Further, the stringed instrument practice device can be portable and sized to fit within the user's hand. Accordingly, a user can realize advantages of the invention and utilize practice methods while the user is “on the go,” riding on a bus, watching television, waiting in line, etc.
US08969691B1
A device is provided for assisting beginning players of an unfretted stringed instrument that can be removably attached to the shoulder of an unfretted stringed instrument and is sized such that the device extends out from the shoulder of the instrument a distance of approximately the distance between the first position and third position of the stringed instrument and such that its thickness is approximately the thickness of the body of the instrument.
US08969688B2
The invention relates to the wheat cultivar designated WB6341. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the wheat cultivar WB6341. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the wheat cultivar WB6341 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing wheat plants by crossing the wheat cultivar WB6341 with itself or another wheat cultivar and plants produced by such methods.
US08969684B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH673944. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH673944, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH673944 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH673944.
US08969682B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH395417. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH395417, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH395417 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH395417.
US08969676B1
A novel maize variety designated PH17SN and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17SN with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17SN through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17SN or a locus conversion of PH17SN with another maize variety.
US08969671B2
The invention relates to the sorghum variety designated GSV415986. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the sorghum variety GSV415986. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the sorghum variety GSV415986 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing sorghum plants by crossing the sorghum variety GSV415986 with itself or another sorghum variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08969668B2
The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid DRP 1630 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid DRP 1630 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.
US08969666B1
A soybean cultivar designated S130098 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar S130098, to the plants of soybean cultivar S130098, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar S130098, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar S130098. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130098. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar S130098, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar S130098 with another soybean cultivar.
US08969652B2
A sanitary napkin is disclosed as a form of disposable absorbent article. It has an absorbent core and a hydrophobic topsheet that has an upper side that is to be worn against a user's body. The topsheet is selected from a group of nonwoven topsheets and apertured film topsheets. A trace amount of a fibrous superabsorbent material, in the range of 0.30 and 3.5 grams of superabsorbent material per square meter, is provided in a fibrous matrix in a secondary topsheet that is in intimate contact with the lower side of the topsheet. The fibrous matrix is made by airlaying the superabsorbent material with cellulose and bi-component fiber onto a non-woven carrier.
US08969642B2
A process for making styrene is disclosed that includes reacting toluene with a C1 source and a co-feed in the presence of a catalyst in a reactor to form a first product stream comprising styrene, ethylbenzene, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen; separating the hydrogen and carbon monoxide from the first product stream to form a second stream; separating the hydrogen from the second stream to form a third stream comprising hydrogen and a fourth stream comprising carbon monoxide; wherein the fourth stream is recycled to the reactor and forms at least a portion of the co-feed.
US08969638B2
A styrene monomer reclamation process and system is described. The styrene monomer reclamation process includes providing a waste plastic. The waste plastic includes styrenic polymers. The waste plastic is formed into polymer particles. At least a portion of the polymer particles are dissolved in a solvent to form a polymer stream. The dissolved polymer particles are depolymerized to form a styrene monomer stream.
US08969633B2
A process for the production of a molecular sieve blend with improved performance characteristics produced by preparing or obtaining a hydrophilic zeolite, particularly a hydrophilic zeolite A with a low SiO2:Al2O3 ratio, preparing or obtaining a hydrophobic silicon based binder, particularly a hydrophobic colloidal silica or a hydrophobic siloxane based material, mixing the zeolite with the silicon based binder and, in one embodiment, a seed containing small quantities of a clay binding agent and the zeolite, to form a mixture, and forming the mixture into the molecular sieve blend.
US08969626B2
A compound of the general formula X-[Q-W—(CH═CH)n—(CH2)2-L]m (I) in which X represents a polymer; Q represents a linking group; W represents an electron-withdrawing group; n represents 0 or an integer of from 1 to 4; L represents a leaving group; and m represent an integer of from 1 to 8. The compounds find use in the conjugation of biological molecules.
US08969623B2
A method for the preparation of Cinacalcet is disclosed comprising treating (R)-1-naphthyl ethylamine with an aromatic aldehyde to form (1R)-1-(2-naphthyl)-N-(aryl methylene)ethanamine derivative of Formula (IV), which is further treated with 1-(3-halopropyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)benzene of Formula (V) to obtain an iminium salt of Formula (VI), followed by hydrolysis to obtain Cinacalcet free base.
US08969620B2
The present invention relates to a process of manufacture of compounds of formula (B) wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined for compounds of formula (A), which process comprises hydrogenation of compounds of general formula (A). In particular, the present invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of Lacosamide (LCM), (R)-2-acetamido-N-benzyl-3-methoxypropion-amide (B1), which is useful as an anticonvulsive drug.
US08969607B2
The invention provides complexes in which a calixarene-related compound is coordinated to an iridium-containing metal colloid. The complexes can be immobilized on a substrate. The complexes of the invention are useful as tunable and highly robust isolated metal colloids that find use in binding of molecules and catalysis of chemical reactions.
US08969605B2
A process for producing bio-oil from municipal solid waste, the process including: a) liquifying municipal solid waste, to obtain a mixture containing an oily phase containing bio-oil, a solid phase, and a first aqueous phase; b) treating the first aqueous phase from a) with an adsorbing material, to obtain a second aqueous phase; c) fermenting the second aqueous phase from b), to obtain a biomass; d) subjecting the biomass obtained in c) to the liquification a). The bio-oil obtained is advantageously used in the production of biofuels for motor vehicles or for the generation of electric energy or heat.
US08969601B2
Disclosed are a method for preparing chlorohydrins composition and a method for preparing epichlorohydrin using chlorohydrins prepared thereby. The disclosed method for preparing chlorohydrins composition reacts polyhydroxy aliphatic hydrocarbon with a chlorination agent in the presence of a catalyst, comprises at least one combination of a series of unit operations including a first reaction step, a water removal step, and a second reaction step in the respective order, and additionally comprises a step for reacting the chlorohydrins composition derived from a plurality of reaction mixtures discharged from the plurality of reaction steps with an alkaline chemical, and removing the catalyst included in the chlorohydrins composition in the form of an alkali metal salt. The disclosed method for preparing epichlorohydrin includes a step for contacting the chlorohydrins composition, which was prepared using the method for preparing chlorohydrins composition, with an alkaline chemical.
US08969599B2
The invention provides a catalyst system for catalytic fast pyrolysis comprising a cerium-incorporated HZSM-5 zeolite (Catalyst 1), and methods of making and using the same. The invention also provides a process for reducing coke formation during catalytic fast pyrolysis of biomass using HZSM-5, wherein the process can include incorporating cerium into the HZSM-5 zeolite to produce Catalyst 1 prior to the catalytic fast pyrolysis.
US08969596B2
Subject of the invention is a method for the production of isoflavanes from isoflavones, whereby in a first reaction step (a) the 4-keto group of the isoflavone is reduced in a enantioselective manner, whilst the 2,3-double bond is maintained, to the 4-hydroxy compound.
US08969589B2
The present invention provides a compound that is represented by the following general formula wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, R6, R7, X, W, X and Y are as defined in the specification. The compounds may be administered to treat DP1, FP, EP1, TP and/or EP4 receptor mediated diseases or conditions.
US08969584B2
A Pim kinase inhibitor compound having the structure represented by Formula I, and isomers, diastereomers, enantiomers, tautomers, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The compounds significantly inhibit Pim kinase activity and can be used to prepare drugs for treating Pim kinase mediated diseases, such as cancers, autoimmune diseases, allergic reactions, or organ transplant rejection. Also provided are methods for preparing the compounds represented by Formula I.
US08969575B2
Disclosed herein are substituted N-Aryl pyridinone fibrotic inhibitors and/or collagen infiltration modulators of Formula I, process of preparation thereof, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of use thereof.
US08969574B2
The present invention relates to a substantially a solid form of 3-(6-(1-(2,2-difluorobenzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamido)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl)benzoic acid (Compound 1, Solvate Form A and Compound 1, HCl Salt Form A), processes for making such forms, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and methods of treatment therewith.
US08969573B2
Compositions and methods for inhibiting translation are provided. Compositions, methods and kits for treating (1) cellular proliferative disorders, (2) non-proliferative, degenerative disorders, (3) viral infections, (4) disorders associated with viral infections, and/or (5) non-proliferative metabolic disorders such as type II diabetes where inhibition of translation initiation is beneficial using the compounds disclosed herein.
US08969563B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an industrially useful method for producing a calcium salt of pyrroloquinoline quinone, without using large amounts of organic solvents, and highly pure crystals produced thereby. According to the present invention, a highly pure calcium salt of pyrroloquinoline quinone can be produced by reacting an alkali metal salt of pyrroloquinoline quinone with a source of calcium ions.
US08969561B2
Process for the preparation of apixaban and intermediates useful for the preparation thereof.
US08969559B2
Disclosed herein are ketal amide compounds. The ketal amide compounds are synthesized by the reaction of ketal acids or ketal esters with amine functional compounds. Also disclosed are methodologies useful to make the ketal amide compounds. Also disclosed herein are formulations and articles containing the ketal amide compounds.
US08969558B2
There is provided a process for preparation of sitagliptin of Formula II or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof by deprotection of Formula IX.
US08969555B2
The present invention provides compounds of the Formula I: wherein X is a bond or CH2; R is selected from the group consisting of R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of CH and N; R3 is H or CH3; R4 is H or CH3; L is selected from the group consisting of —O(CH2)3—, —C(O)NH(CH2)2—, —CH2C(O)NH(CH2)2—, —(CH2)3N(C(O)CH3)CH2—, —(CH2)2N(C(O)CH3)CH2—, —(CH2)3NH—, (CH2)2OCH2—, —(CH2)4—, —(CH2)2NHCH2—, —(CH2)3O—, and —CH2O(CH2)2—; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Compounds of this invention are autotaxin inhibitors.
US08969552B2
The present invention relates to aromatic compounds of the formula I wherein Ar is phenyl or an aromatic 5- or 6-membered C-bound heteroaromatic radical, wherein Ar may carry 1 radical Ra and wherein Ar may also carry 1 or 2 radicals Rb; X is N or CH; Y is O, S, —CH═N—, —CH═CH— or —N═CH—; A is CH2, O or S; E is CR6R7 or NR3; R1 is C1-C4-alkyl, C3-C4-cycloalkyl, C3-C4-cycloalkylmethyl, C3-C4-alkenyl, fluorinated C1-C4-alkyl, fluorinated C3-C4-cycloalkyl, fluorinated C3-C4-cycloalkylmethyl, fluorinated C3-C4-alkenyl, formyl or C1-C3-alkylcarbonyl; R1a is H, C2-C4-alkyl, C3-C4-cycloalkyl, C3-C4-alkenyl, fluorinated C1-C4-alkyl, fluorinated C3-C4-cycloalkyl, or R1a and R2 together are (CH2)n with n being 2 or 3, or R1a and R2a together are (CH2)n with n being 2 or 3; R2 and R2a are independently of each other H, CH3, CH2F, CHF2 or CF3; R3 is H or C1-C4-alkyl; R6, R7 independently of each other are selected from H, C1-C2-alkyl and fluorinated C1-C2-alkyl; and the physiologically tolerated acid addition salts thereof. The invention also relates to the use of a compound of the formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment of a medical disorder susceptible to treatment with a dopamine D3 receptor ligand.
US08969546B2
Provided in the following specification are precursors or synthons that are useful for the synthesis of various arabinose based chemical and radiochemical derivatives of nitroimidazole-containing azomycin arabinosides, such as radioiodinated 1-#-D-(5-deoxy-5-[I*]-iodoarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (*IAZA), and radiofluorinated 1-#-D-(5-deoxy-5-[18F]-iodoarabinofuranosyl)-2-nitroimidazole (18FAZA). Such compounds are useful in imaging, therapy, or radiotherapy. Further, various syntheses of said precursors/synthons and the incorporation of said precursors/synthons into kits is provided. The precursors/synthons provided herein allow for an improved and facile manufacturing process for nitroimidazole-containing azomycin arabinosides.
US08969545B2
Alkynyl-derivatized cap analogs, alkynyl-modified capped RNA, 1,4-disubstituted triazole-derivatized capped RNA, methods of preparation, methods of isolation, and uses thereof are provided. The “click” modification facilitates detection and isolation of capped RNAs and the 1,4-disubstituted triazole derivatives formed by the “click” reaction are useful for producing RNA transcripts and encoded protein.
US08969541B2
Disclosed herein are nucleic acid molecules isolated from coffee (Coffea spp.) comprising sequences that encodes various sucrose metabolizing enzymes, along with their encoded proteins. Specifically, sucrose synthase, sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose phosphatase enzymes and their encoding polynucleotides from coffee are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for using these polynucleotides for gene regulation and manipulation of the sugar profile of coffee plants, to influence flavor, aroma, and other features of coffee beans.
US08969538B2
The present invention encompasses albumin fusion proteins. Nucleic acid molecules encoding the albumin fusion proteins of the invention are also encompassed by the invention, as are vectors containing these nucleic acids, host cells transformed with these nucleic acids vectors, and methods of making the albumin fusion proteins of the invention and using these nucleic acids, vectors, and/or host cells. Additionally the present invention encompasses pharmaceutical compositions comprising albumin fusion proteins and methods of treating, preventing, or ameliorating diseases, disorders or conditions using albumin fusion proteins of the invention.
US08969535B2
Provided are novel nucleotides, nucleoside, and their derivatives described herein, that can be used in DNA sequencing technology and other types of DNA analysis. In one embodiment, the nucleotide or nucleoside with an unprotected 3′-OH group is derivatized at the nucleobase to include a fluorescent dye attached via a linker to a photocleavable terminating group. The photocleavable-fluorescent group is designed to terminate DNA synthesis as well as be cleaved so that DNA oligomers can be sequenced efficiently in a parallel format. The design of such rapidly cleavable fluorescent groups on nucleotides and nucleosides can enhance the speed and accuracy of sequencing of large oligomers of DNA in parallel, to allow rapid whole genome sequencing, and the identification of polymorphisms and other valuable genetic information, as well as allowing further manipulation and analysis of nucleic acid molecules in their native state following cleavage of the fluorescent group.
US08969534B2
Described is a method to oxidize lignin or lignin sub-units. The method includes oxidation of secondary benzylic alcohol in the lignin or lignin sub-unit to a corresponding ketone in the presence of unprotected primarily aliphatic alcohol in the lignin or lignin sub-unit. The optimal catalyst system consists of HNO3 in combination with another Brønsted acid, in the absence of a metal-containing catalyst, thereby yielding a selectively oxidized lignin or lignin sub-unit. The method may be carried out in the presence or absence of additional reagents including TEMPO and TEMPO derivatives.
US08969527B2
Recurrent gene fusions of androgen regulated genes and ETS family member genes in prostate cancer are described. Compositions and methods having utility in prostate cancer diagnosis, research, and therapy are also provided.
US08969522B2
An object is to provide a method for producing an ever-larger molecular weight collagen-like polypeptide single strand. Another object is to provide a method for controlling a molecular weight of a product to be obtained in desired magnitude upon producing a collagen-like polypeptide single strand. A solution is a method for producing a polypeptide including a step for allowing a condensation reaction of peptide oligomers represented by any one of formulas (1) to (3) (SEQ ID No:1 to SEQ ID No:3), wherein the condensation reaction is carried out in an aqueous solvent containing a phosphate ion in the range of 0 M to less than 0.01 M in the presence of a condensing agent, or a condensing agent and a condensing auxiliary: H-(Pro-Y-Gly)n-OH (1); H-(Y-Gly-Pro)n-OH (2); and H-(Gly-Pro-Y)n-OH (3); wherein, in formulas (1) to (3), Y is hydroxyproline or proline, and n is an integer from 1 to 10.
US08969521B2
Methods and systems for computationally designing self-assembling polypeptides are disclosed. A representation of a docked configuration of a symmetric protein architecture can be determined by a computing device configured to computationally symmetrically dock representations of protein building blocks within a representation of a symmetric protein architecture, where symmetrically docking a representation of a particular protein building block can include determining a configuration of the protein building blocks in three-dimensional space within the symmetric protein architecture configured to generate interfaces between building blocks suitable for computational protein interface design. The amino acid sequence of the docked protein building blocks can be computationally modified to specify protein-protein interfaces between the plurality of protein building blocks that are energetically favorable to drive self-assembly of a protein that includes the modified amino acid sequence.
US08969503B2
A process for converting epoxy resin to episulfide resin through reactive melt extrusion of a solid epoxy resin with a sulfur donating compound. The resulting resin provides for an application that utilizes the resulting extruded episulfide resin as a low application temperature resin for powder coatings applications.
US08969502B2
The invention relates to a process for the targeted reorganization of polydimethylsiloxanes over sulphonic acid-containing cation exchange resins which have water contents of 8 to 25% by weight, and polydimethylsiloxanes thus prepared and the use thereof.
US08969498B2
The invention generally relates to a method of inhibiting polymerization of vinyl aryl monomers, a process for increasing number average molecular weight of a polystyrene, and to an inhibitor composition useful therein.
US08969496B2
The present invention provides a method for controlling the chain structure of a copolymer. The disclosed method is capable of controlling the arrangement of monomeric units in a copolymer, and of selectively forming a random copolymer, tapered copolymer, multiblock copolymer and block copolymer. In the method for controlling the chain structure of a copolymer of a conjugated diene compound and a non-conjugated olefin, the introduction of the conjugated diene compound is controlled in the presence of the non-conjugated olefin so as to control the chain structure of the copolymer.
US08969492B2
Aqueous dispersions comprise a specific copolymer based on acrylate, a specific paraffin wax and one or more dispersants. The dispersions have high stability and are useful for treating textile fabrics, conferring outstanding water-repellent properties thereon.
US08969489B2
The invention is a thermosetting coating composition comprised of an aliphatic polycarbonate resin and a cross linker. The aliphatic polycarbonate resins are derived from hydroxyl containing compounds including 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD) and 1,4-cyclohexane dimethanol (CHDM). The coatings made of these polycarbonates exhibit exceptional toughness; they possess a high degree of hardness while maintaining a high level of flexibility/impact resistance. These polycarbonate resins also exhibited better hydrolytic stability as compared to their polyester counterparts.
US08969486B2
Disclosed are a liquid crystal alignment agent, a liquid crystal alignment film manufactured using the same, and a liquid crystal display including the liquid crystal alignment film. The liquid crystal alignment agent includes a polymer comprising a polyamic acid including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 1, polyimide including a repeating unit represented by Chemical Formula 2, or a combination thereof: wherein Y1 and Y2 are each independently a divalent organic group derived from diamine, wherein the diamine includes photodiamine represented by Chemical Formula 3 and functional diamine represented by Chemical Formula 5: and wherein the other substituents are the same as defined in the detailed description.
US08969480B2
To provide a polymer alloy formed of a non-polar rubber and a polar rubber, and a rubber product, which are improved in ozone resistance (weather resistance) while having oil resistance and can achieve high mechanical strength (in particular, tensile strength), and a production method thereof.A rubber product in which an organic peroxide or other cross-linking agent is used to cross-link a polymer alloy comprising: a modified rubber in which EPDM, NR, or another non-polar rubber having a non-conjugated double bond is modified with 2-methoxy-1-naphthonitrile oxide, 2,6-dimethoxybenzonitrile oxide, or another nitrile oxide of an aromatic nitrile oxide derivative; and nitrile rubber, acrylic rubber, or another polar rubber.
US08969471B2
A process for the preparation of stable aqueous polycarbodiimide dispersions to be used as cross-linking agents, in which initially an isocyanate functional polycarbodiimide is prepared from a polyisocyanate and a mono- or polyisocyanate which contains a hydrophobic group. Thereafter the polycarbodiimide chain is capped and/or extended by reaction of the isocyanate functions or a part thereof with a hydrophilic amine- or hydroxy functional compound and of the remaining isocyanate functions with an amine- or hydroxy functional compound which contains hydrophobic groups, after which the obtained product is dispersed in water and the pH is adjusted to 9-14. The hydrophobic groups are hydrocarbons with 4-25 carbon atoms, fluorinated hydrocarbons, silicone functional hydrocarbons or polysilicones. Further, the invention relates to a coating mixture in which the polycarbodiimide dispersion is used as cross-linking agent and to the cured material obtained with the coating mixture.
US08969463B2
The present invention provides a rubber composition containing: (A) a rubber component containing from 90 to 100% by mass of at least one kind of diene rubber synthesized by solution polymerization and from 0 to 10% by mass of another kind of diene rubber; (B) silica having a n-hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) adsorption specific surface area of less than 140 m2/g or more measured according to a method described in ASTM D3765-92; (C) at least one silane coupling agent selected from a polysulfide compound and a thioester compound; and (D) a vulcanization accelerator, the rubber composition after vulcanization having an average aggregated aggregate area (nm2) of the silica of 3,100 or less, and thus provides a rubber composition that is improved in low-heat-generation property.
US08969445B2
The present invention relates to a polyolefin composition with good resistance to degradation caused by chlorine dioxide-containing water and at the same time showing low migration of the used additives and its decomposition products, especially phenols, out of the composition. The present invention is also directed to a pipe made of such a polyolefin composition. The present invention further relates to the use of the polyolefin composition for the production of a pipe and to the use of a combination of particular types of antioxidants for increasing the resistance of a polyolefin composition against degradation caused by contact with chlorine dioxide-containing water and for maintaining at the same time a low migration of the used additives and its decomposition products, especially phenols, out of the polyolefin composition.
US08969441B2
The present invention provides a novel cationized microfibrillated plant fiber and a method for manufacturing the same. A cationic microfibrillated plant fiber that is cationically modified with a quaternary-ammonium-group-containing compound, and that has an average diameter of 4 to 200 nm.
US08969438B2
Non-aqueous pigment concentrate comprising one or more pigments, one or more dispersants, and at least one resin, characterized in that the resin is a polyester comprising at least one oligo-ester building block with a hydrophobic tail linked thereto, wherein the hydrophobic tail is selected from the group consisting of: (a) branched hydrocarbons, (b) hydrocarbons containing a cyclic group, and (c) linear hydrocarbons, provided that when said linear hydrocarbon is linked to the oligo-ester building block via an ester group, the linear hydrocarbon contains 3 to 12 carbon atoms.
US08969436B2
A method of producing a molded article by melting a granule at a temperature of 280 to 380° C. and molding it, wherein the granule satisfies the following conditions (I) and (II): (I) when 100 parts by weight of the granule is cleaned with 100 parts by weight of a 1N nitric acid aqueous solution, the amount of an Fe compound eluted into the 1N nitric acid aqueous solution cleaning fluid is 1 to 100 ppb in terms of the Fe atom based on the granule; and (II) the granule comprises (A) 100 parts by weight of a polycarbonate resin (component a) and (B) 0.00010 to 0.5 parts by weight of a specific phosphorous-based compound (component b).
US08969432B2
Provided are modified polytetrafluoroethylene particles having excellent moldability and processability. The modified polytetrafluoroethylene particles each have a core-shell structure that includes a particle core and a particle shell, the particle core having repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene and a comonomer (a), the particle shell having repeating units of tetrafluoroethylene and a comonomer (b), the comonomer (a) being a (perfluoroalkyl)ethylene represented by the following formula (I): CH2═CH—Rf (I) wherein Rf represents a C1 to C10 perfluoroalkyl group, the comonomer (b) being at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of 1,1,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propylene and 1,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-1-propylene.
US08969431B2
An adhesive adapted for stabilizing ceramic restorations for dental use, that includes a reaction product of an admixture of: a di(organo)polysiloxane that includes at least two vinylic groups and has a viscosity of at least 100 cP at 25° C.; a silicone resin; an (organo)(hydrogen)polysiloxane; a silanated fumed silica; and a filler. Preferably, the admixture includes a di(organo)polysiloxane that includes at least two vinylic groups and has a viscosity of at least 100 cP at 25° C.; a silicone resin; an (organo)(hydrogen)polysiloxane; an organoplatinum polymerization catalyst; a silanated fumed silica; a polymerization retardant; an inorganic pigment; and a filler.
US08969430B2
A hydroxyapatite ceramic hybrid material includes a hydroxyapatite ceramic structure having pores therein and a biodegradable polymer included in the pores in the hydroxyapatite ceramic structure. The biodegradable polymer can be a poly L-lactic acid polymer. A method for preparing a hydroxyapatite ceramic-biodegradable polymer hybrid material includes preparing a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic containing pores having an average pore diameter of 10 μm or larger; and forming a biodegradable polymer in the pores of the porous hydroxyapatite ceramic. The porous hydroxyapatite ceramic may be prepared by: preparing a slurry comprising hydroxyapatite fibers and heat-degradable particles in a selected solvent; filtering the slurry to obtain a paste; preparing a molded body using the paste; compacting the molded body to produce a green compact; and firing the green compact at a temperature at least 1000° C. to produce a porous hydroxyapatite ceramic structure.
US08969422B2
A gasification-liquefaction disposal method, system and equipment for MSW are disclosed. The method involves the MSW pretreatment of dehydrating and separating, thus reducing water and inorganic substance content of the waste. Then, the MSW is introduced into a plasma gasifier (23) by a carbon dioxide air-sealed feeding device (13) and gasified therein to obtain hydrogen-rich syngas. The hydrogen-rich syngas is then cooled, deacidified, dedusted and separated to obtain carbon dioxide. Then, the hydrogen-rich syngas is catalyzed to produce methanol product in a methanol synthesis reactor (52). The separated carbon dioxide is sent back to a carbonation reaction chamber (2007) of a gasification system to perform carbonation reaction with calcium oxide, thereby releasing heat to provide assistant heat energy for gasification and avoiding greenhouse gas from being discharged into environment. Exhaust gas is returned to the plasma gasifier (23) for remelting treatment, thus forming a closed-loop circulation production system and realizing the disposal of the MSW with zero discharge and no pollution, thereby avoiding dioxin pollution and converting the MSW to chemical raw materials and fuel needed by mankind. The method, system and equipment are suitable for harmless and recycling disposal of MSW, industrial high polymer waste, composting waste and waste in waste sorting sites.
US08969421B2
A method for producing a solid antifoaming agent comprising the following steps: providing an alkaline solution; adding an oil to the above alkaline solution to produce a saponification reaction; adding a liquid antifoaming agent; and putting aside the mixture containing the above alkaline solution, the oil and the liquid antifoaming agent to form the solid antifoaming agent. The ingredients of the solid antifoaming agent according to the present invention include 5˜40 weight percent vegetable oil, a 20˜40 weight percent sodium hydroxide solution and a 30˜60 weight percent liquid antifoaming agent.
US08969414B2
The present invention relates generally to a sterile, particulate-free, stable intrathecal baclofen solution with less than 0.5% 4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-pyrrolidone, a degradation product. These solutions are stable under a variety of storage conditions and for extended periods of time. Also disclosed are methods for preparing such compositions.
US08969413B2
(1S,3S)-3-amino-4-difluoromethylenyl-1-cyclopentanoic acid also known as CPP-115 or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts can be used to treat addiction and neurological disorders such as epilepsy without side effects such as visual field defects caused by vigabatrin (Sabril).
US08969412B2
The present invention concerns a new use for a composition containing chloroprocaine HCl, and in particular its use for the manufacture of a drug for intrathecal narcosis. The present invention also concerns a new composition containing chloroprocaine HCl, being particularly suited to this new use, as well as a new method for manufacturing the composition.
US08969411B2
A formulation for a stable ascorbic acid composition which, in a simplified form, is comprised of ascorbic acid in solution with a hygroscopic compound (i.e., a substance with the ability to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or adsorption). Also disclosed herein are methods for the production of such compounds and methods of using such compounds in the prevention, inhibition and treatment of striae gravidarum, radiation dermatitis, rhytids, lentigoes, dyschromia, sun-damage induced hyperpigmentation, cellulite, scars, purpura, skin firming, muscle, tendon and ligament improvement and repair, and hair conditions, among other skin diseases or conditions.
US08969403B2
The invention provides crystalline hydrochloride salts of (S)-3-[(S)-2-methanesulfonyl-1-(4-trifluoromethylphenoxy)ethyl]pyrrolidine. This invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the crystalline salts, processes and intermediates for preparing the crystalline salts, and methods of using the crystalline salts to treat diseases.
US08969400B2
This invention relates to novel pharmaceutical compositions comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a slow-release formulation of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and a serotonin-enhancing compound. The pharmaceutical compositions for use according to the invention are contemplated particularly useful for combating CNS disorders, including depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, anxiety disorders, obesity and pain.
US08969389B2
In one aspect, the invention relates to substituted 6-methylnicotinamide analogs, derivatives thereof, and related compounds, which are useful as positive allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5); synthetic methods for making the compounds; pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds; and methods of treating neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction using the compounds and compositions. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
US08969385B2
Ophthalmic compositions containing norketotifen and methods of making the same and the use thereof are disclosed. The methods also comprise administering to the eyes of a mammal in need thereof topical ophthalmic compositions containing norketotifen.
US08969381B2
The disclosure relates to chemokine CXCR4 receptor modulators and uses related thereto. In certain embodiments, the disclosure relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds disclosed herein or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or prodrugs thereof. In certain embodiments, the compositions disclosed herein are used for managing CXCR4 related conditions, typically prevention or treatment of viral infections such as HIV or for managing cancer.
US08969372B2
Therapeutically effective 2,4,5-trisubstituted imidazole compounds are provided. Also provided are methods of preparing the compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds alone or in combination with other agents. The present invention further provides for the use of the compounds as anti-cancer agents; wherein: R1 is aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl or amino; R2 and R3 are independently aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, substituted heterocycle, or substituted heteroaryl or R2 and R3 when taken together along with the carbon atoms they are attached to, form aryl or substituted aryl, and R4 is hydrogen, halogen, hydroxyl, thiol, lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, substituted lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, substituted lower alkynyl, alkylalkenyl, alkyl alkynyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, aryl, aryloxy, amino, amido, carboxyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, substituted heterocycle, heteroalkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkylcycloheteroalkyl, nitro, cyano or —S(O)0-2R wherein R is alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, substituted aryl, heterocycle, heteroaryl, substituted heterocycle, or substituted heteroaryl.
US08969362B2
The present invention provides an 8-oxoadenine compound having immunomodulating activities such as an interferon inducing activity and useful as an antiviral agent and antiallergic agent, which is represented by the following formula (1): [wherein the ring A represents a 6-10 membered aromatic carbocyclic ring and the like, R represents a halogen atom, an alkyl group and the like, n represents an integer of 0-2, Z1 represents alkylene, X2 represents oxygen atom, sulfur atom, SO2, NR5, CO, CONR5, NR5CO and the like, Y1, Y2 and Y3 represent independently a single bond or an alkylene group, X1 represents oxygen atom, sulfur atom, NR4 (R4 is hydrogen atom or an alkyl group) or a single bond, R2 represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, R1 represents hydrogen atom, hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group or a haloalkyl group] or its pharmaceutically acceptable salt.
US08969360B2
The present invention relates to compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of this invention; methods of treating of various diseases, disorders, and conditions using the compounds of this invention; processes for preparing the compounds of this invention; intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of this invention; and methods of using the compounds in in vitro applications, such as the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.The compounds of this invention have formula I: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, wherein the variables R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein.
US08969357B2
The present invention features interferon-free therapies for the treatment of HCV. Preferably, the treatment is over a shorter duration, such as no more than 12 weeks. In one aspect, the therapies comprise administering at least two direct acting antiviral agents and ribavirin to a subject with HCV infection. For example, the therapies comprise administering to the subject effective amounts of therapeutic agent 1, therapeutic agent 2 (or therapeutic agent 3), an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (e.g., ritonavir), and ribavirin.
US08969356B2
The present invention relates to pyrazine and pyridine compounds useful as inhibitors of ATR protein kinase. The invention also relates to pharmaceutically acceptable compositions comprising the compounds of this invention; methods of treating various diseases, disorders, and conditions using the compounds of this invention; processes for preparing the compounds of this invention; intermediates for the preparation of the compounds of this invention; and methods of using the compounds in in vitro applications, such as the study of kinases in biological and pathological phenomena; the study of intracellular signal transduction pathways mediated by such kinases; and the comparative evaluation of new kinase inhibitors.The compounds of this invention have formula I: wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US08969352B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: wherein X is N or CR1; Y is N or CR2; R1 is H, alkoxy, halo, triazolyl, pyrimidinyl, oxazolyl, isoxazole, oxadiazolyl, or pyrazolyl; R2 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, or halo; Z is NH or O; R3 is H, alkyl, alkoxy, halo, or triazolyl; R4 is H or alkyl; or R3 and R4, together with the atoms to which they are attached, form a 6-membered aryl ring or a 5- or 6-membered heteroaryl ring; R5 is pyridyl, pyrazinyl, or pyrimidinyl, wherein the pyridyl, pyrazinyl, or pyrimidinyl is optionally substituted with halo or alkyl; and n is 1 or 2. Methods of making the compounds of Formula I are also described. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of Formula I. Methods of using the compounds of the invention are also within the scope of the invention.
US08969347B2
Disclosed are compounds and methods for treating inflammatory and fibrotic disorders, including methods of modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system with an active compound, wherein the active compound exhibits low potency for inhibition of the p38 MAPK; and wherein the contacting is conducted at a SAPK-modulating concentration that is at a low percentage inhibitory concentration for inhibition of the p38 MAPK by the compound. Also disclosed are derivatives and analogs of pirfenidone, useful for modulating a stress activated protein kinase (SAPK) system.
US08969345B2
A dibenzoxepin derivative represented by the following general formula (I) wherein Y is a hydrogen atom and the like, RA is a hydrogen atom and the like, X is the formula (b3) wherein RB is a hydrogen atom and the like, and the like, A is the formula (a18) wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom and the like, and RC and RD are the same or different and each is a hydrogen atom and the like, and the like, which has a PPARγ agonist activity and the like, and useful as a therapeutic agent and/or prophylaxis agent and the like for type 2 diabetes and the like, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the like is provided.
US08969344B2
The present invention provides a method of predicting the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor. It is possible to predict the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor by evaluating the EOF dependency of a tumor cell for proliferation and/or survival and using the EGF dependency as an indicator. Since the antitumor effect of an angiogenesis inhibitor correlates with the EGF dependency of a tumor cell for proliferation and/or survival, the angiogenesis inhibitors is capable of producing excellent antitumor effect when combined with a substance having EGF inhibitory activity.
US08969340B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for treating chronic pelvic pain syndrome with an agent that targets MCP-1, MIP-1α, or the CCR-2 receptor.
US08969338B2
The present invention relates to ethynyl derivatives of formula I wherein U, V, Y, R1, R2, R2′, R3, R3′ and R8 are described herein. It has been found that the compounds of general formula I are allosteric modulators of the metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5).
US08969335B2
Compounds of the formula I, in which R1, R2, X and Y have the meanings indicated in Claim 1, are inhibitors of TBK1 and IKKε and can be employed, inter alia, for the treatment of cancer and inflammatory diseases.
US08969325B2
Disclosed herein are compounds of formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein X1, L, Rx, Ry, G, Z, A, m, n, and p are as defined in the specification. Compositions comprising such compounds and methods for treating conditions and disorders using such compounds and compositions are also disclosed.
US08969314B2
Methods are provided for the treatment of cardiovascular or metabolic diseases characterized by elevated serum total cholesterol, elevated serum LDL-cholesterol, or elevated serum triglycerides, through the administration of an oligomeric compound which modulates the levels or activity of miR-122a. Further provided are methods for reducing hepatic steatosis or liver tissue triglyceride accumulation through the administration of an oligomeric compound which modulates the levels or activity of miR-122a. Such methods employ oligomeric compounds which hybridize with or sterically interfere with nucleic acid molecules comprising or encoding miR-122a. Such oligomeric compounds may include one or more modifications thereon, which may improve the activity, stability, or nuclease resistance of the oligomeric compound. These modified oligomeric compounds are used as single compounds or in compositions, including pharmaceutical compositions, to modulate or mimic the targeted nucleic acid comprising or encoding miR-122a.
US08969313B2
The invention relates to a method of preventing, inhibiting, arresting or reversing tumorigenesis in a cell as well as a method of inducing apoptosis in a tumor cell. The method includes increasing the amount and/or the activity of a DACT protein, or a functional fragment thereof, in the cell. Also provided is a pharmaceutical composition that comprises a compound of general formula (I), wherein A is CH or N, R1, R4 and R5 are independent from each other H, an aliphatic group, an alicyclic group, an aromatic group, an arylaliphatic group, and an arylalicyclic group comprising 0-3 heteroatoms. The heteroatoms may be N, O, S, or Si. R4 and R5 may optionally be linked so as to define an aliphatic hydrocarbyl bridge. R2 is H or a halogen such as F, Cl, Br or L. R3 is H, F, Cl or an aliphatic or arylaliphatic group that includes 1-8 main chain carbon atoms and 0-3 heteroatoms. The pharmaceutical composition also comprises a histone deacetylase inhibitor.
US08969309B2
The present invention discloses a crystal of a peptide substance and the preparation method as well as the use thereof. Said crystal B possesses peaks at the following 2θ angles in the X-ray diffraction pattern (XRPD): 3.2±0.2°, 5.4±0.2°, 6.2±0.2°, and 9.3±0.2°.
US08969306B2
A composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of cyclosporin A, a blend of oils having a specific gravity of from 0.90 to 1.07, and a surfactant is disclosed herein.
US08969303B2
Esters of tocotrienols having pharmacological activities pertinent to the treatment of breast cancer and other forms of cancer are disclosed herein. Among those compounds is (Z)-4-oxo-4-((R)-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-2-((3E,7E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-3,7,11-trienyl)chroman-6-yloxy)but-2-enoic acid. Tocotrienol esters were used to inhibit the growth and migration of +SA mammary epithelial cells and highly metastatic human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells respectively.
US08969296B2
The present invention relates to a GFP-CAP peptide having an amino acid sequence derived from TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1) and a cell adhesion sequence, wherein the amino acid sequence derived from TGF-β1 consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1 and the TGFP-CAP peptide is represented by the following formula I: Ile-Trp-Ser-Leu-Asp-Thr-Gln-Tyr-Cell adhesion sequence (I). The TGFP-CAP peptide of the present invention exhibits excellent anti-angiogenic activity. In addition, the TGFP-CAP peptide of the present invention prevents effectively melanin generation in skin to have skin whitening effects. The present peptide shows much higher stability and permeability to skin than natural-occurring TGF-β1. Such plausible activities and safety of the present peptide enable advantageously to application to drugs, quasi-drugs and cosmetics.
US08969294B2
Modified glucagon peptides are disclosed having enhanced potency at the glucagon receptor relative to native glucagon. Further modification of the glucagon peptides by forming intramolecular bridges or the substitution of the terminal carboxylic acid with an amide group produces peptides exhibiting glucagon/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist activity. The solubility and stability of these high potency glucagon analogs can be further improved by modification of the polypeptides by pegylation, acylation, alkylation, substitution of carboxy terminal amino acids, C-terminal truncation, or the addition of a carboxy terminal peptide selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 26 (GPSSGAPPPS), SEQ ID NO: 27 (KRNRNNIA) and SEQ ID NO: 28 (KRNR).
US08969285B2
A method of removing food soil using a cleaning composition including a C12 phosphate functionalized alkyl polyglucoside, a water conditioning agent and water. In one embodiment, the cleaning composition is substantially free of alkyl phenol ethoxylates. The cleaning composition is capable of removing soils including up to 20% proteins.
US08969276B2
An aqueous acidic etching solution suitable for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates and containing, based on the complete weight of the solution, 3 to 10% by weight of hydrofluoric acid; 10 to 35% by weight of nitric acid; 5 to 40% by weight of sulfuric acid; and 55 to 82% by weight of water; a method for texturing the surface of single crystal and polycrystal silicon substrates comprising the step of (1) contacting at least one major surface of a substrate with the said aqueous acidic etching solution; (2) etching the at least one major surface of the substrate for a time and at a temperature sufficient to obtain a surface texture consisting of recesses and protrusions; and (3) removing the at least one major surface of the substrate from the contact with the aqueous acidic etching solution; and a method for manufacturing photovoltaic cells and solar cells using the said solution and the said texturing method.
US08969274B2
The present invention relates to provide a scrub soap and a method for manufacturing the same. A method for manufacturing a scrub soap includes preparing a scrub agent consisting of a shirasu and a hollow shirasu having a different average particle diameter each other, preparing a fatty acid composition consisting of at least one kind of fatty acid, preparing an alkali aqueous solution by dissolving at least one kind of alkali metal hydroxide of which molar ratio to at least one kind of fatty acid is not more than 1, and preparing a soap basis material by mixing the scrub agent, the alkali aqueous solution and the fatty acid composition.
US08969272B2
This invention relates to a hydroxyaromatic functionalized polyalpha-olefin comprising the product of the combination of: a) a polyalpha-olefin comprising one or more C3 to C20 linear alpha-olefins and having at least 10% vinylidene unsaturation, a viscosity index of 80 to 400, an Mn of 300 to about 20,000, and a pour point of 0° C. or less; and b) a hydroxyaromatic moiety; wherein the analine point of the functionalized polyalpha-olefin is at least 10° C. lower than the analine point of the polyalpha-olefin.
US08969267B2
Suggested is a method for enhancing energy efficiency of engines by applying to said engines a lubricant composition containing (A) carboxylic esters derived from the reaction of mono-, di- and/or poly alcohols with mono- and/or dicarboxylic acids, together with an additive blend (B) comprising at least two different additives (a) and (b) together, whereby compound (a) is selected from dithiophosphates, and compound (b) is selected from alkylated phosphorothionates, on condition that the total amount of the additive blend (B) is below 0.1 wt %, calculated on the weight of the whole composition.
US08969264B2
A treatment fluid comprises: a metal oxide, wherein the metal oxide is capable of forming a chelate complex or coordination complex with a ligand, wherein the chelate complex or coordination complex has a setting time of less than 90 minutes at a temperature of 71° F. and a pressure of 1 atmosphere. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprises: introducing the treatment fluid into the subterranean formation; allowing or causing a chelate complex or coordination complex to form between the metal oxide and a ligand; and allowing or causing the chelate complex or coordination complex to set.
US08969256B2
The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous 2-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to systems and methods for performing assays within the solution microarrays (e.g., diagnostic assays).
US08969246B2
Pesticidal mixtures comprising, as active components, 1) an anthranilamid compound of the formula I wherein the variables are defined according to the description, and 2) at least one fungicidal compound II selected from the following groups: strobilurins, carboxamides, heterocylic compounds and other active compounds according to the description, in a synergistically effective amount, methods for controlling pests, and harmful fungi, methods of protecting plants from attack or infestation by insects, acarids or nematodes, methods for treating, controlling, preventing or protecting an animal against infestation or infection by parasites, compositions containing these mixtures, and methods for their preparation.
US08969241B2
A silica precursor having a selective adsorptivity with respect to cobalt ions is disclosed. The silica precursor includes a cross-linked 2,6-diamino pyridine group obtained by using 2,6-diamino pyridine, phosgene and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane.
US08969238B2
The present invention concerns a method of preparation of nanoparticular metal oxide catalysts having a narrow particle size distribution. In particular, the invention concerns preparation of nanoparticular metal oxide catalyst precursors comprising combustible crystallization seeds upon which the catalyst metal oxide is co-precipitated with the carrier metal oxide, which crystallization seeds are removed by combustion in a final calcining step. The present invention also concerns processes wherein the nanoparticular metal oxide catalysts of the invention are used, such as SCR (deNOx) reactions of nitrogen oxides with ammonia or urea as reductant, oxidations of alcohols or aldehydes with dioxygen or air to provide aldehydes, ketones or carboxylic acids, and photocatalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
US08969235B2
Disclosed are WC/CNT, WC/CNT/Pt composite material and preparation process therefor and use thereof. The WC/CNT/Pt composite material comprises mesoporous spherical tungsten carbide with diameter of 1-5 microns, carbon nanotubes and platinum nanoparticles, with the carbon nanotubes growing on the surface of the mesoporous spherical tungsten carbide and expanding outward, and the platinum nanoparticles growing on the surfaces of the mesoporous spherical tungsten carbide and carbon nanotubes. The WC/CNT composite material comprises mesoporous spherical tungsten carbide with diameter of 1-5 microns, and carbon nanotubes growing on the surface of the mesoporous spherical tungsten carbide and expanding outward. The WC/CNT/Pt composite material can be used as an electro-catalyst in a methanol flue battery, significantly improving the catalytic conversion rate and the service life of the catalyst. The WC/CNT composite material can be used as an electro-catalyst in the electro-reduction of a nitro aromatic compound, significantly improving the efficiency of organic electro-synthesis.
US08969226B2
A silicate glass that is tough and scratch resistant. The toughness is increased by minimizing the number of non-bridging oxygen atoms in the glass. In one embodiment, the silicate glass is an aluminoborosilicate glass in which −15 mol %≦(R2O+R′O—Al2O3—ZrO2)—B2O3≦4 mol %, where R is one of Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs, and R′ is one of Mg, Ca, Sr, and Ba.
US08969225B2
A method includes a providing a molten glass fiber core and disposing a plurality of nanoparticles that include a transition metal oxide on the molten glass fiber core at or above the softening temperature of the glass fiber core, thereby forming a nanoparticle-laden glass fiber. The plurality of nanoparticles are embedded at the surface of said glass fiber core. A method includes providing a mixture of molten glass and a plurality of nanoparticles. The plurality of nanoparticles include a transition metal. The method further includes forming nanoparticle-laden glass fibers, in which the plurality of nanoparticles are embedded throughout the glass fibers.
US08969218B2
Disclosed is a technique for attaining high etching selectivity of a silicon nitride film to a silicon oxide film. The etching method includes a step of supplying a silylating agent to a substrate having a silicon nitride film and a silicon oxide film exposed on the surface thereof to thereby form a silylated film as a protective film over the surface of the silicon oxide film. After this step, an etching solution is supplied to the substrate. It is thus possible to selectively etch only the silicon nitride film.
US08969216B2
A method for single side texturing of a crystalline semiconductor substrate (10) comprises: providing a substrate (10), for example a semiconductor substrate, comprising a first surface (12) and a second surface (14) opposite to one another with respect to the substrate (10); providing a masking layer (21) with a random pattern on the first surface (12) of the substrate (10); and etching the substrate (10) in a polishing solution, thereby texturing the first surface (12) of the substrate (10) and polishing the second surface (14) in a single wet etching step.
US08969213B2
A metal layer is deposited over an underlying material layer. The metal layer includes an elemental metal that can be converted into a dielectric metal-containing compound by plasma oxidation and/or nitridation. A hard mask portion is formed over the metal layer. Plasma oxidation or nitridation is performed to convert physically exposed surfaces of the metal layer into the dielectric metal-containing compound. The sequence of a surface pull back of the hard mask portion, trench etching, another surface pull back, and conversion of top surfaces into the dielectric metal-containing compound are repeated to form a line pattern having a spacing that is not limited by lithographic minimum dimensions.
US08969205B2
An intermediate semiconductor structure in fabrication includes a silicon semiconductor substrate, a hard mask of silicon nitride (SiN) over the substrate and a sacrificial layer of polysilicon or amorphous silicon over the hard mask. The sacrificial layer is patterned into sidewall spacers for mandrels of a filler material substantially different in composition from the sidewall spacers, such as a flowable oxide. The mandrels are removed such that the sidewall spacers have vertically tapered inner and outer sidewalls providing a rough triangular shape. The rough triangular sidewall spacers are used as a hard mask to pattern the SiN hard mask below.
US08969200B2
An apparatus and method are provided for integrating TSVs into devices prior to device contacts processing. The apparatus includes a semiconducting layer; one or more CMOS devices mounted on a top surface of the semiconducting layer; one or more TSVs integrated into the semiconducting layer of the device wafer; at least one metal layer applied over the TSVs; and one or more bond pads mounted onto a top layer of the at least one metal layer, wherein the at least one metal layer is arranged to enable placement of the one or more bond pads at a specified location for bonding to a second device wafer. The method includes obtaining a wafer of semiconducting material, performing front end of line processing on the wafer; providing one or more TSVs in the wafer; performing middle of line processing on the wafer; and performing back end of line processing on the wafer.
US08969199B1
One illustrative method disclosed herein includes, among other things, patterning a hard mask layer using three patterned photoresist etch masks, wherein a first feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of a cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a first of the three patterned photoresist etch masks and a second feature corresponding to a portion, but not all, of the cross-coupling gate contact structure is present in a second or a third of the three patterned photoresist etch masks, patterning a layer of insulating material using the patterned hard mask layer as an etch mask, and forming a cross-coupling gate contact structure in a trench in the layer of insulating material.
US08969194B2
Disclosed is a backside illuminated image sensor including a light receiving element formed in a first substrate, an interlayer insulation layer formed on the first substrate including the light receiving element, a via hole formed through the interlayer insulation layer and the first substrate while being spaced apart from the light receiving element, a spacer formed on an inner sidewall of the via hole, an alignment key to fill the via hole, interconnection layers formed on the interlayer insulation layer in a multilayer structure in which a backside of a lowermost layer of the interconnection layers is connected to the alignment key, a passivation layer covering the interconnection layers, a pad locally formed on a backside of the first substrate and connected to a backside of the alignment key, and a color filter and a microlens formed on the backside of the first substrate corresponding to the light receiving element.
US08969187B2
A method of forming a gate structure with a self-aligned contact is provided and includes sequentially depositing a sacrificial layer and a secondary layer onto poly-Si disposed at a location of the gate structure, encapsulating the sacrificial layer, the secondary layer and the poly-Si, removing the sacrificial layer through openings formed in the secondary layer and forming silicide within at least the space formally occupied by the sacrificial layer.
US08969185B2
A manufacturing apparatus and a manufacturing method for a quantum dot material. The manufacturing apparatus adds an optical device capable of generating an interference pattern in an existing epitaxial apparatus, so that a substrate applies an interference pattern on an epitaxial layer while performing epitaxial growth. By means of the interference pattern, a regularly distributed temperature field is formed on the epitaxial layer, so that on the epitaxial layer, an atom aggregation phenomenon is formed at dot positions with higher temperature, but no atoms are aggregated on areas having relatively lower temperature. Therefore, according to the temperature distribution on the surface of the epitaxial layer, positions where quantum dots generate can be controlled manually without introducing defects, thereby achieving a defect-free and long-range ordered quantum dot manufacturing.
US08969184B2
A method for fabricating a porous semiconductor body region, including producing at least one trench in a semiconductor body, starting from a surface of the semiconductor body, producing at least one porous semiconductor body region in the semiconductor body starting from the at least one trench at least along a portion of the side walls of the trench, and filling the trench with a semiconductor material of the semiconductor body.
US08969178B2
A method of manufacturing a large area gallium nitride (GaN) substrate includes forming a buffer layer on a silicon substrate, forming an insulation layer pattern on a rim of a top surface of the buffer layer, growing a GaN layer on the buffer layer, and removing the insulation layer pattern and a portion of the GaN layer and the silicon substrate.
US08969177B2
Laser and plasma etch wafer dicing using UV-curable adhesive films. A mask is formed covering ICs formed on the wafer, as well as any bumps providing an interface to the ICs. The semiconductor wafer is coupled to a carrier substrate by a double-sided UV-curable adhesive film. The mask is patterned by laser scribing to provide a patterned mask with gaps. The patterning exposes regions of the semiconductor wafer, below thin film layers from which the ICs are formed. The semiconductor wafer is then etched through the gaps in the patterned mask to singulate the ICs. The UV-curable adhesive film is partially cured by UV irradiation through the carrier. The singulated ICs are then detached from the partially cured adhesive film still attached to the carrier substrate, for example individually by a pick and place machine. The UV-curable adhesive film may then be further cured for the film's complete removal from the carrier substrate.
US08969167B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device with capacitors may include forming a mold structure on a lower structure, patterning the mold structure to form a plurality of holes exposing the lower structure, forming a protection layer on sidewalls of the mold structure exposed by the holes, forming lower electrodes in the holes provided with the protection layer, removing the mold structure to expose the protection layer, removing the protection layer to expose sidewalls of the lower electrodes, and sequentially forming a dielectric film and an upper electrode on the lower electrodes.
US08969161B2
A semiconductor device includes: an active region configured over a substrate to include a first conductive-type first deep well and second conductive-type second deep well forming a junction therebetween. A gate electrode extends across the junction and over a portion of first conductive-type first deep well and a portion of the second conductive-type second deep well. A second conductive-type source region is in the first conductive-type first deep well at one side of the gate electrode whereas a second conductive-type drain region is in the second conductive-type second deep well on another side of the gate electrode. A first conductive-type impurity region is in the first conductive-type first deep well surrounding the second conductive-type source region and extending toward the junction so as to partially overlap with the gate electrode and/or partially overlap with the second conductive-type source region.
US08969146B2
A manufacturing method of an array substrate includes the following steps. A gate electrode and a gate insulator layer are successively formed on a substrate. A semiconductor layer, an etching stop layer, a hard mask layer, and a second patterned photoresist are successively formed on the gate insulator layer. The second patterned photoresist is employed for performing an over etching process to the hard mask layer to form a patterned hard mask layer. The second patterned photoresist is employed for performing a first etching process to the etching stop layer. The second patterned photoresist is then employed for performing a second etching process to the semiconductor layer to form a patterned semiconductor layer. The etching stop layer uncovered by the patterned hard mask layer is then removed for forming a patterned etching stop layer.
US08969142B2
An improved switching material for forming a composite article over a substrate is disclosed. A first volume of nanotubes is combined with a second volume of nanoscopic particles in a predefined ration relative to the first volume of nanotubes to form a mixture. This mixture can then be deposited over a substrate as a relatively thick composite article via a spin coating process. The composite article may possess improved switching properties over that of a nanotube-only switching article. A method for forming substantially uniform nanoscopic particles of carbon, which contains one or more allotropes of carbon, is also disclosed.
US08969139B2
A small form factor near chip scale package is provided that includes input/output contacts not only along the periphery of the package, but also along the package bottom area. Embodiments provide these additional contacts through use of an array lead frame coupled to under die signal contacts through the use of flip chip bonding techniques. The array lead frame contacts are electrically isolated through the use of a partial sawing process performed during package singulation.
US08969133B2
A method of making a microelectronic package includes forming a dielectric encapsulation layer on an in-process unit having a substrate having a first surface and a second surface remote therefrom. A microelectronic element is mounted to the first surface of the substrate, and a plurality of conductive elements exposed at the first surface, at least some of which are electrically connected to the microelectronic element. Wire bonds have bases joined to the conductive elements and end surfaces remote from the bases and define an edge surface extending away between the base and the end surface. The encapsulation layer is formed to at least partially cover the first surface and portions of the wire bonds with unencapsulated portions of the wire bonds being defined by at least one of the end surface or a portion of the edge surface that is uncovered thereby.
US08969132B2
Disclosed and claimed herein is a microwave assembly having a substrate comprising a microwave device; said device having a die, a first layer having a dielectric constant between about 1.00 and about 1.45 and a thickness between about 0.05 and about 2 mm along with one or more layers chosen from an absorbing layer, an EMI blocking layer, a layer comprising conductive material or a metal cover.
US08969131B2
A thin film transistor panel includes a substrate, a light blocking layer on the substrate, a first protective film on the light blocking layer, a first electrode and a second electrode on the first protective film, an oxide semiconductor layer on a portion of the first protective film exposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, an insulating layer, a third electrode overlapping with the oxide semiconductor layer and on the insulating layer, and a fourth electrode on the insulating layer. The light blocking layer includes first sidewalls, and the first protective film includes second sidewalls. The first and the second sidewalls are disposed along substantially the same line.
US08969129B2
Provided are resistive random access memory (ReRAM) cells and methods of fabricating thereof. A ReRAM cell includes an embedded resistor and a resistive switching layer connected in series with this resistor. The resistor is configured to prevent over-programming of the cell by limiting electrical currents through the resistive switching layer. Unlike the resistive switching layer, which changes its resistance in order to store data, the embedded resistor maintains a substantially constant resistance during operation of the cell. The embedded resistor is formed from tantalum nitride and silicon nitride. The atomic ratio of tantalum and silicon may be specifically selected to yield resistors with desired densities and resistivities as well as ability to remain amorphous when subjected to various annealing conditions. The embedded resistor may also function as a diffusion barrier layer and prevent migration of components between one of the electrodes and the resistive switching layer.
US08969124B2
A method for fabricating a Cu—In—Ga—Se film solar cell is provided. The method comprises: a) fabricating a molybdenum back electrode on a substrate; b) fabricating a Cu—In—Ga—Se absorbing layer on the molybdenum back electrode; c) performing an annealing; d) fabricating an In2Se3 or ZnS buffer layer on the Cu—In—Ga—Se absorbing layer; e) fabricating an intrinsic zinc oxide high impedance layer; f) fabricating an indium tin oxide film low impedance layer on the intrinsic zinc oxide high impedance layer; g) fabricating an aluminum electrode on the indium tin oxide film low impedance layer.
US08969121B2
A method for manufacturing a solar cell according to an embodiment of the present invention includes preparing a semiconductor substrate having a first conductivity type dopant; ion-implanting a pre-amorphization elements into a front surface of the semiconductor substrate to form an amorphous layer; and forming an emitter layer by ion-implanting second conductivity type dopant into the front surface of the semiconductor substrate. The method then further includes heat-treating the layers to activate the second conductivity type dopant. The method further includes forming a back surface field layer at a back surface of the semiconductor substrate by ion-implanting a first conductivity type dopant.
US08969116B2
A selective organic emissive material deposition technique is disclosed. A charged organic emissive material may be mixed with a carrier gas and ejected towards a charged intended area of a substrate. The charge for the emissive material may be such that the organic emissive material is attracted to the charged intended area of the substrate and, accordingly, deposited selectively over the charged intended area of the substrate. Additionally, surrounding unintended areas of the substrate may be charged such that the charged organic emissive material is repelled by the unintended areas.
US08969112B2
An optoelectronic device comprises a body of an indirect bandgap semiconductor material having a surface and a photon active region on one side of the surface. A light directing arrangement is formed integrally with the body on an opposite side of the surface.
US08969111B2
An IZO layer (113) is formed on an a-ITO layer (112), and resist patterns (202R, 202G) having different film thicknesses are formed in at least sub-pixels (71R, 71G). The a-ITO layer (112) and the IZO layer (113) are etched by utilizing (i) a reduction in thickness of the resist patterns (202R, 202G) by ashing and (ii) a change in etching tolerance due to transformation from the a-ITO layer (112) into a p-ITO layer (114).
US08969110B2
A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus includes: providing an organic light emission part on a substrate; providing a first inorganic layer including a first low temperature viscosity transition (“LVT”) inorganic material on the substrate to cover the organic light emission part; and adding fluoride into the first inorganic layer using a fluorine group material such that the first inorganic layer is converted into a second inorganic layer comprising a second low temperature viscosity transition inorganic material.
US08969105B2
Processes for forming an actuator having a curved piezoelectric membrane are disclosed. The processes utilize a profile-transferring substrate having a curved surface surrounded by a planar surface to form the curved piezoelectric membrane. The piezoelectric material used for the piezoelectric actuator is deposited on at least the curved surface of the profile-transferring substrate before the profile-transferring substrate is removed from the underside of the curved piezoelectric membrane. The resulting curved piezoelectric membrane includes grain structures that are columnar and aligned, and all or substantially all of the columnar grains are locally perpendicular to the curved surface of the piezoelectric membrane.
US08969103B2
Method for manufacturing silicon carbide substrate and method for manufacturing semiconductor device
A silicon carbide substrate is made of silicon carbide. In the silicon carbide substrate, a normal line of one main surface of the silicon carbide substrate and a normal line of a {03-38} plane form an angle of 0.5° or smaller in an orthogonal projection to a plane including a <01-10> direction and a <0001> direction. In this way, there can be provided the silicon carbide substrate allowing for both improvement of channel mobility of a semiconductor device and stable characteristics thereof.
US08969102B2
A method of testing a device includes setting a potential of a cap terminal of the device to a first voltage, setting a potential of a self test plate of the device to a testing voltage, and detecting a first displacement of a proof mass of the device when the cap terminal is set to the first voltage and the self test plate is set to the testing voltage. The method includes setting a potential of the cap terminal of the device to a second voltage, detecting a second displacement of the proof mass of the device when the cap terminal is set to the second voltage and the self test plate is set to the testing voltage, and comparing the first displacement and the second displacement to evaluate an electrical connection between the cap terminal and a cap of the device.
US08969091B2
The invention features methods for evaluating the conformation of a polymer, for example, for determining the conformational distribution of a plurality of polymers and to detect binding or denaturation events. The methods employ a nanopore which the polymer, e.g., a nucleic acid, traverses. As the polymer traverses the nanopore, measurements of transport properties of the nanopore yield data on the conformation of the polymer.
US08969090B2
In some embodiments, an analyte detection system is provided that includes a nanochannel, an electrode arrangement, and a plurality of nanoFET devices disposed in the nanochannel. A plurality of nucleic acid base detection components can be used that include a plurality of nanopores, a plurality of nanochannels, a plurality of hybridization probes, combinations thereof, and the like. According to other embodiments of the present teachings, different coded molecules are hybridized to a target DNA molecule and used to detect the presence of various sequences along the target molecule. A kit including mixtures of coded molecules is also provided. In some embodiments, devices including nanochannels, nanopores, and the like, are used for manipulating movement of DNA molecules, for example, in preparation for a DNA sequencing detection. Nanopore structures and methods of making the same are also provided as are methods of nucleic acid sequencing using the nanopore structures. Surface-modified nanopores are provided as are methods of making them. In some embodiments, surfaced-modified nanopores for slowing the translocation of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) through the nanopore are provided, as are nanopores configured to detect each of a plurality of different bases on an ssDNA strand.
US08969087B2
There is disclosed a method of pre-treatment and staining, according to a protocol, of a biological sample disposed upon the surface of a carrier, the method comprising the step of recording at least one parameter relating to at least one protocol step in a non-volatile memory located either upon or within the carrier or a device incorporating the carrier. Also disclosed is a device comprising: a non-volatile memory; a surface of the device adapted to carry a biological sample; and communications means electrically coupled to the memory for enabling data transmission to or from an external apparatus. Also disclosed is a method of controlling processing of a biological sample disposed upon a carrier, comprising: providing, upon or within the carrier or an apparatus holding the carrier, a non-volatile memory having information relating to sample processing priority or protocol; reading the information; and scheduling the processing based upon the information.
US08969085B2
Methods and assay for the portable colorimetric detection of an antioxidant in a food sample. The method includes the steps of providing a colorimetric reagent, the reagent including a plurality of ceria nanoparticles immobilized to a support, contacting the colorimetric reagent with the food sample, and detecting an optical property of the colorimetric reagent, where a change in the optical property of the colorimetric reagent is associated with the presence of antioxidant in the food sample. The change in the optical property of the colorimetric reagent is dependent upon the concentration of the antioxidant in the food sample.
US08969074B2
The present invention relates to an electromagnetic bioaccelerator for obtaining biomass by simulating environmental marine conditions, comprising at least the following elements: octagonal biomass converters (1), seawater reserve tanks (3), particle filters (4), UV light filters (5), feedback and mixture tanks (6), pressurization feed tanks (8), manometers (9), pressure controllers (10), buffer tanks (11), expansion tanks with a safety valve (12), heat exchangers (13), temperature control thermostats (14), recycled water feedback tanks (15), reinjection pumps (16), centrifuges for separating the biomass from the water (17), desuperheaters (18); control panels (25), recirculation pumps (26), densimeters (27), biomass mechanical extraction systems by means of centrifugation (32) and biomass accumulation tanks (33).
US08969073B2
The invention describes an appliance and a method, with the help of which specific bio-particles, but also dissolved bio-molecules can be recognized in and separated from fluids making use of suitable carriers and known immobilization methods. The appliance can be used both discontinuously and also for direct and continuous treatment of fluids. Fields of application of the invention are animals, bio-technology (including biological research) and medicinal diagnostics. Areas of application of the invention comprise, among others, therapy of humans, in particular direct treatment of blood.
US08969060B2
The purpose of the present invention is to provide an FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase that is hard to be inhibited by the inhibitors such as 1,10-phenanthroline.The present invention relates to a modified glucose dehydrogenase (GLD), comprising an amino acid sequence of a wild-type FAD-conjugated glucose dehydrogenase (GLD) represented by SEQ ID NO: 1 having a substitution of at least one amino acid residue selected from the group consisting of amino acid residues at positions 298, 338, 340, 341, 343, 352, 354, 424, 426, 431 and 432, wherein the modified GLD has a reduced susceptibility to an inhibitor, as compared with the wild-type GLD, especially to said modified GLD, which has 40% or more of a relative activity when determined in a system wherein the inhibitor coexists at a final concentration of 1 mM based on an enzymatic activity when determined in a system wherein the inhibitor does not coexist.
US08969057B2
Methods or preparing para-xylene from biomass by carrying out a Diels-Alder cycloaddition at controlled temperatures and activity ratios. Methods of preparing bio-terephthalic acid and bio-poly(ethylene terephthalate (bio-PET) are also disclosed, as well as products formed from bio-PET.
US08969047B2
Solid support assays using non-standard bases are described. A capture oligonucleotide comprising a molecular recognition sequence is attached to a solid support and hybridized with a target. In some instances, the molecular recognition sequence includes one or more non-standard bases and hybridizes to a complementary tagging sequence of the target oligonucleotide. In other instances, incorporation of a non-standard base (e.g., via PCR or ligation) is used in the assay.
US08969046B2
A method of detecting a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer in a sample comprises detecting an epigenetic change in at least one gene selected from an NDRG4/NDRG2 subfamily gene, GATA4, OSMR, GATA5, SFRP1, ADAM23, JPH3, SFRP2, APC, MGMT, TFPI2, BNIP3, FOXE1, SYNE1, S0X17, PHACTR3 and JAM3, wherein detection of the epigenetic change is indicative of a predisposition to, or the incidence of, cancer. Also described are pharmacogenetic methods for determining suitable treatment regimens for cancer and methods for treating cancer patients, based around selection of the patients according to the methods of the invention. The present invention is also concerned with improved methods of collecting, processing and analyzing samples, in particular body fluid samples. These methods may be useful in diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing various diseases. The invention also relates to methods for identifying, diagnosing, staging or otherwise characterizing cancers, in particular gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal cancers, gastric cancers and oesophageal cancers. The methods of the invention relate, inter alia, to isolating and analyzing the human DNA component from faecal samples and blood-based samples.
US08969043B2
Biopharmaceutical process development with recombinant protein producing mammalian cells has realized a tremendous increase in both productivity and product yields in the past years. These achievements can be mainly attributed to the advancements in cell line development, media, and process optimization. Only recently, genome-scale technologies enable a system-level analysis to elucidate the complex biomolecular basis of protein production in mammalian cells promising an increased process understanding and the deduction of knowledge-based approaches for further process optimization. The present invention describes a method for a rational cell culturing process using such a knowledge-based approach.
US08969042B2
Compositions and methods for folding proteins belonging to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily are disclosed. The compositions and methods allow for the folding of such proteins when produced in an expression system that does not yield a properly folded, biologically active product.
US08969038B2
The present invention provides a recombinant gram-negative bacterial cell, characterized in that the cell comprises a recombinant polynucleotide encoding DsbC and has reduced Tsp protein activity compared to a wild-type cell.
US08969034B2
Methods and compositions have been described that relate to a newly identified polypeptide family wherein each member has O-glycosidase activity and specified sequence characteristics. This family of enzymes can be used for example for cleaving O-linked glycans and for synthesis of neoglycopeptides or neoglycoproteins.
US08969031B2
This method includes the following steps of: taking a sample of a cell solution from a sample flask, placing the sampled solution in a decantation chamber (2) arranged above the analysis plate (4), allowing the solution to decant in order to obtain a thin layer of cells on the analysis plate (4). It includes a step of measuring the cell density of the sampled solution, the measurement being carried out in the decantation chamber (2). A device for producing a cell analysis plate allowing such a method to be carried out is also described.
US08969030B2
The present invention refers to a process to produce biodiesel and/or fuel oil from microbial oilseed and/or algal biomass and/or from sugar cane residues and derivatives. The products according to the present invention are appropriate for direct use in motors and to generate energy or steam. The integrated process of the present invention comprises the use, as raw materials, of microbial oil-producing biomass obtained from sugar cane residues and derivatives, which is integrated with algal biomass and/or glycerol and are processed by steps of production of oil-producing microbial biomass from filamentous fungi and/or yeasts, steps of simultaneous production of algal biomass by fully using residues, CO2 and residual broth of said production of microbial biomass, as well as steps of extraction and transesterification of lipids contained in the biomass, with reuse of the residual glycerol thus produced. The process as disclosed deals with innovative and ecologically sustainable technology, not generating any kind of residue, also providing for the advantage of releasing considerable volumes of oxygen into the atmosphere.
US08969029B2
A biological sterilization indicator, system, and methods of determining the effectiveness of a sterilization process. The biological sterilization indicator can include a locus of spores, a reservoir containing a liquid, and a sterilant path positioned to provide fluid communication between ambience and the locus of spores. The reservoir can have a closed state in which the reservoir is not in fluid communication with the locus of spores and an open state in which the reservoir is in fluid communication with the locus of spores. The biological sterilization indicator system can include the biological sterilization indicator and a detection device adapted to be coupled to the biological sterilization indicator. In some embodiments, the method can include assaying the spores for a detectable change in a characteristic, and detecting substantially all of the detectable change.
US08969023B2
Aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for treating Alzheimer's disease (AD). In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for screening and identifying compounds that selectively inhibit the targeting of the insulin-Akt signaling pathway by Aβ oligomers.
US08969021B2
The present invention recognizes that diagnosis and prognosis of many conditions can depend on the enrichment of rare cells, especially tumor cells, from a complex fluid sample such as a blood sample. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions for detecting a non-hematopoietic cell, e.g., a non-hematopoietic tumor cell, in a blood sample via, inter alia, removing red blood cells (RBCs) from a blood sample using a non-centrifugation procedure, removing white blood cells (WBCs) from said blood sample to enrich a non-hematopoietic cell, if any, from said blood sample; and assessing the presence, absence and/or amount of said enriched non-hematopoietic cell.
US08969018B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for monitoring, diagnosis, prognosis, and determination of treatment regimens in subjects. In particular, the invention relates to methods and compositions selected to monitor cardiorenal syndrome using assays that detect NGAL, preferably together with assays that detect natriuretic peptides such as BNP. Such methods and compositions can provide early indications of a deterioration in cardiorenal syndrome status, including prognosis regarding mortality and worsening renal function.
US08969014B2
The invention is directed to a method of determining whether a non-purified sample contains a target protein bound to a ligand of interest comprising the steps of: a) exposing said non-purified sample to a temperature which is capable of causing or enhancing precipitation of the unbound target protein to a greater extent than it is capable of causing or enhancing precipitation of the target protein bound to said ligand; b) processing the product of step a) in order to separate soluble from insoluble protein; and c) analyzing either or both the soluble and insoluble protein fractions of step b) for the presence of target protein, wherein said target protein is not detected on the basis of enzymatic activity of a tag, peptide, polypeptide or protein fused thereto. Particularly, the invention may be used to determine whether drugs can bind to their protein targets in samples derived from patients to ascertain whether a certain drug can be used in a therapy for that patient. Additionally, the invention is directed to an instrument for use in the methods of the invention and use of a kit in the methods of the invention comprising an antibody and/or a non-protein fusion tag.
US08969013B2
In certain embodiments, the method may comprise: a) obtaining the antibody sequences from a population of B cells; b) grouping the antibody sequences to provide a plurality of groups of lineage-related antibodies; c) testing a single antibody from each of the groups in a bioassay and, after the first antibody has been identified, d) testing further antibodies that are in the same group as the first antibody in a second bioassay. In another embodiment, the method may comprise: a) testing a plurality of antibodies obtained from a first portion of an antibody producing organ of an animal; b) obtaining the sequence of a first identified antibody; c) obtaining from a second portion of said antibody producing organ the sequences of further antibodies that are related by lineage to said first antibody; and, c) testing the further antibodies in a second bioassay.
US08969010B2
The invention relates to an analysis device, wherein said system includes at least one metal guide at one end of which is provided at least one series of pits to which are directly coupled reagents specific to a substrate, said end being a perforating one, while the other end is intended for controlling said guide and is optionally associated with a suction system. The guide may be inserted into a protection system that is removable at the level of the functionalized end, up to the micro-analysis and/or micro-sampling site, and/or into a medical instrument having an inner channel in which said guide may slide. The present invention also relates to the use of such a device for making a tool for diagnosing cancer, an inflammation, an infection, a neurodegenerative disease or a graft rejection in a patient, preferably by transparietal delivery. The invention further relates to a method for the ex vivo analysis of a substrate using such a device.
US08969009B2
A method for determining a plurality of proteins for discriminating and positively identifying an individual based from a biological sample. The method may include profiling a biological sample from a plurality of individuals against a protein array including a plurality of proteins. The protein array may include proteins attached to a support in a preselected pattern such that locations of the proteins are known. The biological sample may be contacted with the protein array such that a portion of antibodies in the biological sample reacts with and binds to the proteins forming immune complexes. A statistical analysis method, such as discriminant analysis, may be performed to determine discriminating proteins for distinguishing individuals. Proteins of interest may be used to form a protein array. Such a protein array may be used, for example, to compare a forensic sample from an unknown source with a sample from a known source.
US08969000B2
The invention relates to a method of typing non-small cell lung cancer by determining RNA levels for a set of genes. The typing can be used for determining a metastasizing potential of the cancer cells. The invention further relates to a set of probes and a set of primers for typing non-small cell cancer cells.
US08968997B2
Disclosed are benzoxazole-based compounds, kits, and methods of producing and using the described compounds in fluorescence-based detection of analytes (e.g., metal ions). Also disclosed are uses of benzoxazole-based compounds as ratiometric metal ion indicators.
US08968980B2
A radiation-sensitive resin composition includes an acid-dissociable group-containing resin, and a compound shown by the following general formula (1). wherein Z− represents a monovalent anion shown by a general formula (2), M+ represents a monovalent onium cation, R1 represents a linear or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms substituted or unsubstantiated with a fluorine atom, or a linear or branched alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, and n is 1 or 2.
US08968968B2
A solid oxide fuel cell includes an anode layer, a cathode layer, and an electrolyte layer partitioning the anode layer and the cathode layer. The anode layer and the cathode layer are of about the same thickness and have about the same coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
US08968965B2
A curable composition comprising: (i) 2.5 to 50 wt % crosslinker comprising at least two acrylamide groups; (ii) 12 to 65 wt % curable ionic compound comprising an ethylenically unsaturated group and a cationic group; (iii) 10 to 70 wt % solvent; and (iv) 0 to 10 wt % of free radical initiator; and (v) non-curable salt; wherein the molar ratio of (i):(ii) is >0.10. The compositions are useful for preparing ion exchange membranes.
US08968962B2
A reduction process is performed to each fuel electrode layer by supplying a reduction gas into each fuel channel 22 in the state in which a perimetric portion of a sheet body 11 is held to be sealed by perimetric portions of an upper support member 122 and a lower support member 121. In the case of a small-sized fuel cell in which the thickness of the sheet body 11 is 20˜500 μm, the fuel electrode layer is greater in thickness than the solid electrolyte layer and the air electrode layer, and the area of the orthogonal projection of the plane portion 12a of each support member 12 is 1˜100 cm2, a ratio of a warpage of not more than 0.05 cm−1 on the sheet body with respect to the area of the orthogonal projection can be achieved at room temperature after the reduction process.
US08968946B2
A fuel cell system is provided, comprising a cell unit capable of gas exhausting. The cell unit comprises an anode current collector and a cathode current collector. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is interposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector. A frame is formed to surround the MEA, the anode current collector, and the cathode current collector. A hydrophilic gas-blocking layer is disposed adjacent to an anode side of the MEA, underlying the MEA and the frame. A hydrophobic gas-penetrating layer is disposed under the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer. At least one gas exhaust is disposed in the frame, exposing a part of the hydrophilic gas-blocking layer and contacting the area surrounding adjacent to the cell unit for exhausting a gas produced by the MEA from the cell unit.
US08968942B2
A battery system includes a metal oxygen battery. The metal oxygen battery includes a first electrode and a second electrode. The second electrode includes a metal material (M). The metal oxygen battery is in communication with an oxygen storage material. In certain instances, the oxygen storage material is contained within an oxygen containment unit. The metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit may be in a closed-loop with respect to each other. The battery system further includes a conduit for providing fluid communication from one of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit to the other of the metal oxygen battery and the oxygen containment unit.
US08968936B2
The present invention provides a method for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by general formula (1) below, the method at least including a step of preparing a solution by dissolving a lithium source, an element M source, a phosphorus source, and an element X source that serve as source materials in a solvent, the phosphorus source being added after at least the element M source is dissolved; a step of gelating the resulting solution; and a step of calcining the resulting gel: LixMyP1-zXzO4 (1) (where M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ni, Mn, Zr, Sn, Al, and Y; X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Si and Al; and 0
US08968931B2
The present invention relates to the preparation of a mesoporous substantially pure anatase titanium oxide (meso-TiO2) and its use in electrochemical devices, in particular lithium-ion batteries.
US08968913B2
The invention is directed to a rechargeable battery pack for an electrical load with the load being connected to the rechargeable battery pack by a connection cable. A housing of the rechargeable battery pack has an inner space for accommodating a large number of rechargeable individual cells which are electrically connected to one another and supply the load via the connection cable. To provide the housing with a high level of stability, provision is made for the receiving space in the housing to be subdivided into individual receptacles by partition walls. A cell pack includes a predefined number of the individual cells and is arranged in a corresponding individual receptacle. Each cell pack forms an independent unit which is held in the individual receptacle. The individual cells of a cell pack are electrically and mechanically connected to one another by cell connectors.
US08968906B2
A battery module is described. The battery module includes the battery module includes a plurality of repeating frames; a plurality of battery cells positioned between the plurality of repeating frames, the battery cells having a flexible heat conducting covering, an edge of the heat conducting covering folded over an outside edge of the repeating frame; and a heat sink contacting the edge of the heat conducting covering folded over the edge of the repeating frame. A method of cooling a battery module is also described.
US08968904B2
A secondary battery module includes a plurality of secondary battery cells each having a measureable temperature and each spaced apart from an adjacent one of the cells to define a cooling channel therebetween. The plurality of cells includes a first one of the cells having a measureable first temperature, and a terminal one of the cells having a measureable terminal temperature and separated from the first one of the cells by at least one other of the cells. The module includes a fluid flowable within each of the cooling channels and in thermal energy exchange relationship with each of the cells. The module includes a housing having a surface defining an inlet channel disposed in fluid flow communication with each of the cooling channels and configured for directing the fluid flow to each of the cooling channels. The surface has a shape defined by a spline.
US08968903B2
An electrochemical device (such as a battery) includes at least one electrode having a fluid surface, which may employ a surface energy effect to maintain a position of the fluid surface and/or to modulate flow within the fluid. Fluid-directing structures may also modulate flow or retain fluid in a predetermined pattern. An electrolyte within the device may also include an ion-transport fluid, for example infiltrated into a porous solid support.
US08968895B2
The invention relates to a battery comprising an electrode separator arrangement filled with an electrolyte, characterized in that the electrode separator arrangement is at least partially covered with a casting compound (FIG. 6a). The invention also relates to a method for producing such a battery.
US08968891B2
A magnetic recording medium 1 includes a substrate 11; and a metallic glassy layer 12 that is arranged on the substrate 11 and has a plurality of convex portions 12A and concave portions 12B. The metallic glassy layer 12 has a chemical composition represented by any one of the formulae (1) to (3): FemPtnSixByPz (wherein, 20
US08968890B2
Provided are a novel organic compound suitable for emitting green light and an organic light-emitting device including the compound. The organic compound is that shown in claim 1. The organic compound shown in claim 1 has substituents that are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen atoms, halogen atoms, optionally substituted alkyl groups, optionally substituted alkoxy groups, substituted amino groups, optionally substituted aryl groups, and optionally substituted heterocyclic groups.
US08968884B2
The present invention provides a novel compound that is capable of largely improving life span, efficiency, electrochemical stability and thermal stability of the organic light emitting device, and an organic light emitting device in which said compound is included in an organic compound layer.
US08968872B2
Microcapsules comprising an agglomeration of primary microcapsules, each individual primary microcapsule having a primary shell and the agglomeration being encapsulated by an outer shell, may be prepared by providing an aqueous mixture of a loading substance and a shell material, adjusting pH, temperature, concentration and/or mixing speed to form primary shells of shell material around the loading substance and cooling the aqueous mixture until the primary shells agglomerate and an outer shell of shell material forms around the agglomeration. Such microcapsules are useful for storing a substance and for delivering the substance to a desired environment.
US08968870B2
The present invention relates to an aqueous anti-dusting formulation for use in combination with a binder in the manufacture of fiber wool insulation, the formula comprising: a) oil; b) polyvinyl alcohol; and c) water. The invention further relates to a method for preparing a glass or mineral fiber product with the anti-dusting formulations and to products of the process.
US08968866B2
A surface-coated cutting tool excellent in wear resistance is provided. The surface-coated cutting tool of the present invention includes a base material and a coating formed on the base material. The coating includes an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is a single layer or a multilayer stack constituted of two or more layers made of at least one element selected from the group consisting of group IVa elements, group Va elements, group VIa elements in the periodic table, Al, and Si, or a compound of at least one element selected from this group and at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and boron. The outer layer includes α-aluminum oxide as a main component and exhibits an equivalent peak intensity PR(024) of a (024) plane of x-ray diffraction of larger than 1.3.
US08968864B2
A method for at least partially sealing a porous material is provided, comprising forming a sealing layer onto the porous material by applying a sealing compound comprising oligomers wherein the oligomers are formed by ageing a precursor solution comprising cyclic carbon bridged organosilica and/or bridged organosilanes. The method is especially designed for low k dielectric porous materials to be incorporated into semiconductor devices.
US08968858B2
Polymer compositions containing a polyoxymethylene polymer are disclosed that are receptive to paints and ink coatings. The polymer composition contains a polyoxymethylene polymer having a relatively high terminal hydroxyl group content in combination with a thermoplastic elastomer. In one embodiment, a coupling agent may be added for coupling the thermoplastic elastomer to the polyoxymethylene polymer. The polymer composition can be molded into various articles and then painted or printed with an ink composition. The polymer composition has been found to dramatically improve adhesion between the molded article and the ink or paint coating.
US08968854B2
Implementations of the present invention relate to systems, methods, and apparatus for manufacturing aesthetically pleasing architectural resin panels having a thick three-dimensional interlayer. In particular, at least one implementation includes a layup assembly that includes a decorative interlayer, positioned between resin sheets, that decorative interlayer comprising one or more three-dimensional decorative objects and one or more resin blocks. At least one implementation also includes a single-step lamination or pressing process that uses a combination of heat and pressure to melt the resin sheets and the resin blocks together, forming a decorative resin panel which includes the three-dimensional objects.
US08968853B2
A building material comprising a substrate layer and a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer, where the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer includes expandable graphite.
US08968850B2
A seamless can including a resin-coated steel plate. The can is a draw-ironed steel can having a resin coating formed on at least the inner surface of the can, wherein the resin coating on the inner surface of the can has a tensile strength of 160 to 360 MPa. Also disclosed is a method of producing the draw-ironed steel can.
US08968846B2
A thermal transfer film and an organic electroluminescent display manufactured using the thermal transfer film, the thermal transfer film including a base layer; and a transfer enhancement layer having a surface energy of about 25 dyne/cm or less.
US08968845B2
A thermal transfer film and a method of manufacturing an OLED display, the thermal transfer film including a light to heat conversion layer, the light to heat conversion layer being formed of a composition including carbon black having an oil absorption number (OAN) of about 50 cc/100 gram to about 120 cc/100 gram and a mean particle size of about 40 nm to about 200 nm; and a binder.
US08968843B1
A decoration holder is disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the decoration holder can hold a card, such as a Christmas card, on a tree, such as a Christmas tree. The holder can therefore provide way to decorate a Christmas tree with Christmas cards, thereby enhancing the festive appearance of the tree. The holder can also provide a way to decorate other portions of a user's home with various festive objects.
US08968835B2
The present invention concerns a method for heating a polymer article reinforced with electrically conductive embedded fibers, comprising the steps of applying an outer, electrically non-conductive coating so as to cover exposed electrically conductive fibers, and irradiating the coated, fiber-reinforced thermosetting polymer article with microwaves within a predetermined frequency range so as to heat up the coated, fiber-reinforced thermosetting polymer article by dielectric heating.
US08968823B2
Disclosed is an evaporation method to form a thin film over a substrate, which is characterized in the use of an evaporation source equipped with a plurality of evaporation cells. The evaporation source has a rectangular shape with a long side and a short side wherein the long side is longer than the short side. At least one of the evaporation source and the substrate is relatively moved during the evaporation, which allows the formation of a thin film having a highly uniform thickness in a short time.
US08968819B2
Improvements applied to a textile product, and more particularly wherein the improved product is a woven textile product—fabric containing bioceramic microparticles embedded into the fibers thereof with high capacity of irradiation in the infrared region, provided to be used both in humans and animals, more particularly the invention is related to a textile product containing bioceramic microparticles with high capacity of infrared irradiation which, in contact with the heat of the human body, is capable of transmitting infrared radiation in the range between 3 μm and 14.8 μm, preferentially in the 14.8 micron range, said infrared radiation at this wavelength being capable of regulating the blood microcirculation, as the result of its high protection, the blood microcirculation being the nervous center of human and/or animal metabolism.
US08968816B2
Visually distinct, flaked Ready-to-Eat (“R-T-E”) cereal products with varied texture and thickness are produced by forming a cereal dough and forcing the same through an extrusion die assembly including various spaced openings which establish a plurality of dough streams which are merged prior to reaching a die outlet. Directly at the die outlet, a resulting dough extrudate is sliced by a cutter unit to form dough discs which are then dried and cooled, during which the discs curl and form cereal flakes having varying textures defined, at least in part, by distinct sets of surface bumps. The number and configuration of the bumps can be altered by changing the number, shape and/or position of the various spaced openings of the die assembly, while the thicknesses of the resulting cereal flakes can be varied by just altering an operational speed of the cutter unit.
US08968813B2
Instant noodles are produced, which have an excellent reconstitution property, can be reconstituted by pouring of boiling water even if the noodles are thicker than before, and have excellent taste and texture. The instant noodles are produced by: making raw noodle strings each having a multilayer structure including three or more layers; spraying superheated steam to the raw noodle strings; gelatinizing the noodle strings to which the superheated steam has been sprayed; and drying the noodle strings which have been gelatinized. It is preferable to gelatinize the noodle strings by spraying the superheated steam to the noodle strings, supplying moisture in liquid form to the noodle strings, and further heating the noodle strings by using the superheated steam and/or saturated steam.
US08968807B1
Use of ethylene diamine metal complexes, preferably of copper, zinc, iron and manganese in highly absorbable formats for animal nutrition.
US08968793B2
Antiseptic compositions and kits containing a source of silver ions and menthol, which act in synergy such that a concentration of silver ions in the composition is substantially reduced, are disclosed. Further disclosed are uses of the antiseptic compositions as disinfectants and in the treatment of wounds.
US08968788B2
The invention provides, inter alia, a method for producing granules from a powder, characterized in that a low compaction force is applied to the powder to produce a compacted mass comprising a mixture of fine particles and granules and separating fine particles from the granules by entraining the fine particles in a gas stream. Also provided are apparatus for use in the process and tablets formed by compression of the resultant granules.
US08968779B2
Disclosed is a controlled release nucleated tablet which is composed of an inner nucleus and an outer layer that covers the inner nucleus and is capable of maintaining the level of 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid in the blood to a certain value or higher for a long period of time. The controlled release nucleated tablet is characterized in that the inner nucleus contains 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid and the outer layer contains 2-(3-cyano-4-isobutyloxyphenyl)-4-methyl-5-thiazolecarboxylic acid and a gel-forming water-soluble polymer that is in an amount of 16 (w/w) % or more relative to the weight of the outer layer.
US08968770B2
A multi-part kit for administering at least one active pharmaceutical ingredient including at least one piece of chewing gum including the active pharmaceutical ingredient, the piece of chewing gum comprising gum base; and at least one further flavor-containing formulation; wherein the gum base content of the at least one further flavor-containing formulation is less than 70% by weight of the gum base content of said piece of chewing gum.
US08968767B2
Effective treatments of pain and/or inflammation are provided. Through the administration of an effective amount of at least analgesic and/or at least one anti-inflammatory agent at or near a target site, one can reduce, prevent or treat inflammation and pain.
US08968761B2
Disclosed are tissue graft compositions made of particles having different densities, methods of making these compositions, and methods of using these compositions for promoting tissue restoration in a patient.
US08968760B2
A method for attaching an implant to tissue is disclosed. In embodiments, a method includes applying a sprayable material to tissue, the sprayable material possessing functional groups capable of binding to tissue. The sprayable material also possesses functional groups capable of binding to an implant. In embodiments, the functional groups capable of binding to an implant include nucleotides. In such a case, the implant possesses complementary nucleotides capable of binding to the nucleotides on the sprayable material, thereby permitting hydrogen binding between the two. The implant may thus be affixed to tissue, and repositioned as necessary, prior to more permanent attachment utilizing means such as sutures, tacks, etc.
US08968758B2
The present invention provides a method for preparing a material in the form of liquid for forming an antimicrobial surface coating with multi-level antimicrobial properties, comprising: encapsulating one or more volatile or gaseous biocides in two or more amphiphilic block copolymers to obtain a w/o/w double emulsion, and mixing the w/o/w double emulsion with one or more nonvolatile biocides, each of which is selected from the group consisting of a metal containing biocide, triclosan, a carboxylic acid, a sugar acid and a combination thereof.
US08968756B2
Fabrication of yarns or other shaped articles from materials in powder form (or nanoparticles or nanofibers) using carbon nanotube/nanofiber sheet as a platform (template). This includes methods for fabricating biscrolled yarns using carbon nanotube/nanofiber sheets and biscrolled fibers fabricated thereby.
US08968750B2
The present invention relates to peptides comprising at least one antigenic determinant or epitope of an apicomplexan Ferlin, Ferlin-like protein and/or another C2-domain containing protein for use as malaria vaccines. It further relates to compositions comprising said peptides and to the use of such compositions as malaria vaccines.
US08968749B2
The present invention refers to the recombinant vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis containing the recombinant A2 protein and saponin, monophosphoryl lipid A, or aluminum hydroxide plus CpG as an adjuvant, allowing the distinction between vaccinated and infected animals through conventional ELISA or immunofluorescence tests that employ antigens of promastigote forms of Leishmania.
US08968747B2
Disorders such as headaches can be treated by administration of a botulinum toxin to a patient suffering therefrom, such as a migraine headache. A combined a fixed site/fixed dose and an optional follow the pain variable dosage and injection site paradigm is disclosed for optimizing clinical effectiveness of botulinum toxin administration for patients suffering headache, particularly chronic migraine.
US08968741B2
Anti-CD22 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided. Methods of using anti-CD22 antibodies and immunoconjugates thereof are provided.
US08968734B2
Antibodies and fragments thereof have high affinity for human α-synuclein protofibrils and low binding of α-synuclein monomers, wherein the antibodies or fragments have specified Complementarity Determining Region (CDR) sequences. Compositions comprise such an antibody or fragment and methods of detecting α-synuclein protofibrils use such an antibody or fragment. In further embodiments, methods of preventing, delaying onset of or treating a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology comprise administering such an antibody or fragment, and such an antibody or fragment is used in the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for treatment of a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology. Such an antibody or fragment is used in the diagnosis or monitoring of the development of a neurodegenerative disorder with α-synuclein pathology, and in methods for reducing or inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation by administration of such an antibody or fragment.
US08968729B2
A method of treating or preventing bacterial infection in an animal comprises administering an effective amount of degraded date pits. Degraded date pits can be produced by the treatment of date pits with fungi.
US08968722B2
The present disclosure relates to milk-based nutritional compositions comprising lactoferrin and/or a prebiotic component, wherein, when combined, the lactoferrin and prebiotic component may exhibit additive or synergistic beneficial effects on the health and development of a pediatric subject. The disclosure further relates to methods comprising the administration of said milk-based nutritional compositions to pediatric subjects.
US08968719B2
The invention relates to Salmonella typhi Ty21a comprising core-linked Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 O-specific polysaccharide (O-Ps) and DNA encoding O antigen biosynthesis, said DNA selected from the group consisting of: a) the DNA sequence set out in any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2 and species homologs thereof; b) DNA encoding Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 polypeptides encoded by any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2, and species homologs thereof; and c) DNA encoding a O antigen biosynthesis gene product that hybridizes under moderately stringent conditions to the DNA of (a) or (b); and related sequences, compositions of matter, vaccines, methods of using, and methods of making.
US08968716B2
Disclosed herein are an in situ-forming, bioadhesive hydrogel and the medical uses thereof. Being formed by in situ crosslinking through an enzymatic reaction, the hydrogel has an advantage over conventional bioadhesive hydrogels in terms of biocompatibility. In addition, the in situ-forming bioadhesive hydrogel has excellent biocompatibility and mechanical strength and has excellent tissue adhesiveness thanks to modification with/without dopa derivatives. The hydrogel finds a variety of applications in the biomedical field, including bioadhesives or hemostats, implant substances for tissue regeneration and augmentation, carriers for delivering biologically active materials or drugs, etc.
US08968714B2
Carrier nanoparticles comprising a polymer containing a polyol coupled to a polymer containing a boronic acid, configured to present the polymer containing a boronic acid to an environment external to the nanoparticle and related compositions, methods and systems.
US08968712B2
A cosmetic composition comprises a) an N-acyl amino acid compound selected from the group consisting of N-acyl amino acid, its isomers, its salts, derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, and b) hexyldecanol.
US08968700B2
Methods and materials for the imaging of cells containing active proteases such as cathepsin are disclosed. The present materials include activity based probes that bind to an enzyme and are subsequently cleaved. Cleavage results in a fluorescent signal due to removal of a quenching group which, when present on the probe causes altered or no fluorescence. The probes employ an acyloxymethyl ketone reactive group, one or more amino acids for determining specificity, a fluorophore and a quencher. The probes are cell permeable and may use, for example, a QSY7 (diarylyrhodamine) quencher and a BODIPY (bora-diaza-indecene) dye.
US08968693B2
A fluidized bed reactor comprising a reaction column having a fluid portion; a gas inflow means for flowing a gas upwardly from the fluid portion of the reaction column; a particle feed means for feeding particles to the fluid portion of the reaction column; a cyclone capable of separating particles from the gas flowing upwardly from the fluid portion of the reaction column, the cyclone being located within the reaction column and being in communication with the gas flowing upwardly, wherein the cyclone comprises a cyclone body having an inlet, a gas outlet, and a particle drop port; and a particle discharge pipe having an upper part connected to the particle drop port of the cyclone body, and a lower part, wherein the particle discharge pipe is located substantially outside of the reaction column.
US08968692B2
The present invention relates to a method for removing sulfur from a gaseous or liquid mixture. This method involves contacting the gaseous or liquid mixture with an iron-enriched matrix under conditions effective to remove sulfur from the mixture through adsorption of the sulfur to the matrix. The iron-enriched matrix used in this method is a lignocellulosic material that is enriched with iron. The present invention also relates to a system, composition, and plant fertilizer that contain the iron-enriched matrix. Methods of making the composition and preparing a plant fertilizer are also disclosed.
US08968691B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a treatment method and a plant of an exhaust gas in which corrosion resistance of the exhaust gas treatment plant to a sulfuric acid mist after wet type desulfurization is increased. The treatment method of an exhaust gas in the present invention, wherein sulfur oxide is removed by wet type desulfurization of the exhaust gas and a sulfuric acid mist is removed by feeding ammonia into the exhaust gas, is characterized in that an ammonia gas is mixed into the exhaust gas by feeding inorganic ammonium salt to an alkali desulfurizing agent when the desulfurizing agent is sprayed into the exhaust gas to absorb and remove the sulfur oxide in the exhaust gas.
US08968689B2
A method is disclosed for treating residues from biodiesel production for the isolation of highly pure potassium sulphate from potassium sulphate-containing sludge. First, potassium sulphate-containing sludge from biodiesel production is heated in the first stage under non-oxidizing conditions to a material temperature between 400 and 700° C.; in a second stage the product from the first stage is heated under oxidizing conditions to material temperatures between 700 and 900° C.
US08968686B2
Disclosed are process and apparatus for vertical splitting of the oxygen supply to a post-oxidation reactor. Further disclosed are process and apparatus for supplying reaction medium to a post-oxidation reactor at a mid-level inlet. Such apparatus and process can assist in reducing oxygen pinch throughout the post-oxidation reactor.
US08968668B2
A microplasma device of the invention includes a microcavity or microchannel defined at least partially within a thick metal oxide layer consisting essentially of defect free oxide. Electrodes are arranged with respect to the microcavity or microchannel to stimulate plasma generation in said microcavity or microchannel upon application of suitable voltage and at least one of the electrodes is encapsulated within the thick metal oxide layer. Large arrays can be formed and are highly robust as lack of microcracks in the oxide avoid dielectric breakdown.
US08968667B2
The present invention relates to an electrocatalytic system for the joint treatment of oxidizing polluting entities of the NOx type and reducing polluting entities of the hydrocarbons HC or CO type present in a gas to be purified, in particular an exhaust gas resulting from a combustion engine, said system comprising: a catalyst A for reduction of the polluting entities of the NOx type, a catalyst B for oxidation of the polluting entities of the hydrocarbons HC type and CO, a compound E which conducts electrons and ions by oxide ions, said catalysts A and B being in contact with the compound E, said compound E being composed of an oxide which conducts ions and electrons corresponding to the molar formulation: Ce1-y-zO2-xMyNz in which Ce is cerium, M is an element chosen from: Gd, Y, Sc, Sm, La, Pr, Nd, Er or Tb, y is between 0.01 and 0.4, N is an element having several degrees of valency chosen from: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni or Cu, z is less than 0.4 and x is greater than 0.05.
US08968659B2
The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for mixing and dispensing a sample droplet from a microfluidic system, such as a liquid bridge system. In certain embodiments, the invention provides systems for mixing and dispensing sample droplets, including a sample acquisition stage, a device for mixing sample droplets to form sample droplets wrapped in an immiscible carrier fluid, a dispensing port, and at least one channel connecting the stage, the droplet mixing device, and the port, in which the system is configured to establish a siphoning effect for dispensing the droplets.
US08968654B2
A fluid delivery system includes a laboratory instrument that operates using fluid retained in one or more containers. The containers are supported on a motor-driven lift that is configured to transport the containers between a lowered position suitable for handling and an elevated position suitable for the delivery of fluid to the instrument by gravity. The lift includes a bench-mountable base, a tubular column extending upward from the base, an elongated lead screw extending longitudinally through the column, a drive mechanism for rotatably driving the lead screw, a carriage slidably mounted over the tubular column and mechanically coupled to the lead screw, a platform removably coupled to the carriage for supporting the containers, and a control system for regulating operation of the drive mechanism. During operation, a slot provided in the column restricts travel of the platform along a predefined path that is linear in part and helical in part.
US08968652B2
An oxygenator that inhibits or prevents bubbles in blood from exiting through a blood outlet includes an oxygenator part which performs gas exchange on blood and a heat exchanging part which performs heat exchange on the blood. The oxygenators part has a housing that is generally in a rectangular parallelepiped form, with a hollow fiber membrane bundle positioned in the housing. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is formed by a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes adapted to perform gas exchange. Blood flows along a blood passage comprised of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes and contacts the surface of the hollow fiber membranes where gas exchange occurs with gas flowing through the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes. In addition, a filter member is arranged on a downstream side of the hollow fiber membrane bundle so that bubbles present in the blood are caught by the filter member.
US08968647B2
A multi-layer article is provided containing a sorbent layer having a first side and a second side; a vapor permeable or microporous layer adjacent to at least a portion of at least one of the first side and second side of the sorbent layer; optionally, a second vapor permeable or microporous layer on a side of the vapor permeable or microporous layer not adjacent to the sorbent layer; optionally, a vapor impermeable layer adjacent to a portion of the sorbent layer not adjacent to the vapor permeable or microporous layer; and an active composition having at least one volatile component; wherein the sorbent layer contains the active composition, and each layer is capable of being formed into a required shape or structure; and a method for its use in treating the atmosphere of an environment such as a compartment or localized space.
US08968646B2
An odor control composition may be dosed to a wastewater treatment system to control hydrogen sulfide levels. The composition may include a sulfide-reducing agent and an oxidizer. Synergy between the compounds of the odor control composition may facilitate efficient reduction of hydrogen sulfide levels. The sulfide-reducing agent and the oxidizer may be present in a single odor control composition or may be dosed to the system separately.
US08968643B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an Ni-based single crystal super alloy capable of improving strength by preventing precipitation of a TCP phase at high temperatures. This object is achieved by an Ni-based single crystal super alloy having a composition comprising 5.0-7.0 wt % of Al, 4.0-10.0 wt % of Ta, 1.1-4.5 wt % of Mo, 4.0-10.0 wt % of W, 3.1-8.0 wt % of Re, 0-0.50 wt % of Hf, 2.0-5.0 wt % of Cr, 0-9.9 wt % of Co and 4.1-14.0 wt % of Ru in terms of its weight ratio, with the remainder consisting of Ni and unavoidable impurities. Furthermore, in this Ni-based single crystal super alloy, when lattice constant of matrix is taken to be a1 and lattice constant of precipitation phase is taken to be a2, a2≦0.999a1.
US08968641B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing porous metallic materials comprising the steps of: (a) miming metallic particles with a carbonate additive and a binder, wherein the quantity of carbonate additive in the mixture is in the range of 40 to 90 vol % and compressing the mixture beyond the yield strength of the metallic particles; (b) heating the mixture to a first temperature sufficient to evaporate the binder; (c) heating and maintaining the temperature of the mixture to a second temperature sufficient to sinter the metallic particles but insufficient to decompose or melt the carbonate additive; (d) removing the carbonate additive from the sintered porous metallic material; and optionally (e) heating and maintaining the temperature of the porous metallic material to a third temperature greater than the second temperature so as to enhance the sintering. The present invention also relates to metallic materials produced by such a process.
US08968639B2
A composition for extrusion-molded bodies which comprises a) an inorganic material that sets as a result of baking or sintering, and b) a methylhydroxypropyl cellulose having a DS(methyl) of from 0.8 to 2.5 and an MS(hydroxypropyl) of from 0.50 to 1.20 is useful for producing extrusion-molded bodies for use as a carrier for a catalyst, a catalyst, a heat exchanger, or a filter.
US08968637B2
A system for the fabrication of dome shaped low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) substrates comprises a plurality of prefired substrates, a first mandrel, and a second mandrel. The prefired substrates may form a stack and each may include a circular central portion and a plurality of segments uniformly distributed along the circumference of the central portion. Each segment may include a first edge, an opposing second edge, and an end edge. The first and second edges each may have an inner end and an opposing outer end. The end edge may be coupled to the outer end of the first and second edges. The first mandrel may have a first circumference and may be configured to receive the prefired substrates while the stack is formed. The second mandrel may have a second circumference smaller than the first circumference and may be configured to retain the stack during a firing process.
US08968625B2
A process for building three-dimensional objects based on electrophotographic printing is disclosed, comprising the steps of depositing a first layer of powdered base material on a substrate, operating an imaging member, a charging device, an image generating device and an image developing device, in that order, to deliver and deposit filler material onto the layer of powdered base material in an image-wise manner to produce a layer of bonded base material that correspond to the first cross-section of the three-dimensional object being built, repeating all the above steps for as many times as required to form successive layers that constitute the three-dimensional object, said filler material further causing adjacent layers to be bonded with one another; and removing unbonded material to cause the three-dimensional object to appear.
US08968609B2
A contactless power transfer system is proposed. The power transfer system comprises a field-focusing element comprising a dielectric material. The dielectric material comprises a composition that is selected from the family of (Ba,Sr)TiO3 or CaCu3Ti4O12. The compositions of the (Ba,Sr)TiO3 include the materials such as Ca1-x-yBaxSryTi1-zCrzO3-δNp, wherein 0
US08968601B2
Disclosed is a catalyst used for steam carbon dioxide reforming of natural gas, wherein an alkaline earth metal alone or an alkaline earth metal and a group 8B metal are supported on a hydrotalcite-like catalyst containing nickel, magnesium and aluminum. The disclosed catalyst is useful as a steam carbon dioxide reforming (SCR) catalyst of natural gas at high temperature and high pressure, while minimizing deactivation of the catalyst due to sintering of the active component nickel and deactivation of the catalyst due to coke generation at the same time. A synthesis gas prepared using the catalyst has a H2/CO molar ratio maintained at 1-2.2. A synthesis gas having a H2/CO molar ratio of 1.8-2.2 may be used as a raw material for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis or methanol synthesis and a synthesis gas having a H2/CO molar ratio of may be used as a raw material for dimethyl ether synthesis.
US08968599B2
A cholesteric liquid crystal. The liquid crystal includes a metal acetylide, of which the metal is a square, planar transition metal. The metal acetylide includes first and second acylphosphine ligands and first and second phenyl acetylene ligands. Each of the first and second phenyl acetylene ligands have a meta- or para-substituent, which are selected from the group consisting of H, F, CN, OCH3, C≡C—C6H5,(COO—C34H50O2), and COO—C5H10—C))—C34H50O2.
US08968592B1
Dust suppressant compositions and methods of suppressing dust and other suspendable particulates are described herein that are able to treat a wide array of surfaces. In particular, the dust suppressant compositions can comprise at least one synthetic fluid that was previously derived from a Gas-to-Liquids process. Furthermore, the dust suppressant compositions can also comprise binders and other additives to customize the compositions for their intended application.
US08968583B2
A method for cleaning a dielectric and metal structure within a microelectronic structure uses an oxygen containing plasma treatment, followed by an alcohol treatment, in turn followed by an aqueous organic acid treatment. Another method for cleaning a dielectric and metal structure within a microelectronic structure uses an aqueous surfactant treatment followed by an alcohol treatment and finally followed by an aqueous organic acid treatment. The former method may be used to clean a plasma etch residue from a dual damascene aperture. The second method may be used to clean a chemical mechanical polish planarizing residue from a dual damascene structure. The two methods may be used sequentially, absent any intervening or subsequent sputtering method, to provide a dual damascene structure within a microelectronic structure.
US08968576B2
A method of treating contaminated air, gas and surfaces is accomplished through the nebulization of gas and/or liquid oxidants through a field of electromagnetic radiation or sonic waves. The contaminated gas and/or liquid streams are blended with gaseous and/or liquid oxidants by the nebulizer and directly injected in the energy field. Free radicals produced from oxidants in the presence of the energy field instantaneously oxidize a large effective surface area of the contaminated media. Surfaces are treated more efficiently with the energy field situated directly above and parallel to but not on the surface; a high-frequency energy field may be used to create a large concentration of free radicals without damaging the surface in a collimated beam of the field situated parallel to the surface. A catalyst may be employed at the tip (i.e. discharge orifices of gas and/or liquid) of the nebulizer or blended into the nebulized cloud to increase the formation of free radicals. The method may also be used to carry out a reduction instead of an oxidation reaction.
US08968574B2
A method and device for the wet oxidation treatment of liquid waste laden with mineral matter in suspension. The device comprises a reactor including a treatment column, first and second heat exchangers placed upstream and downstream, respectively, of the reactor. The solution to be treated, laden with mineral matter to which an oxidizing gas has been added, is injected into the reactor for treatment after being preheated in the first heat exchanger. When the solution exits the reactor, the hot treated mixture is divided into two hot stream fragments. The first hot treated mixture stream fragment, the flow rate of which is kept constant by a diaphragm column, is used for controlling the temperature of the first heat exchanger and then discharged after being used in the first heat exchanger. The second hot treated mixture stream fragment is directly cooled and discharged when the second hot treated mixture stream fragment leaves the reactor.
US08968568B2
A water or liquid substance filtration device is disclosed which removes microorganisms and organic contamination and sterilizes the containers and water lines after the unit. The unit is portable, or can be mounted stationary. The unit has a five-stage filtration and sterilization system controlled by an independent onboard computer system that can link to a central computer system to keep track of all independent units. The unit will physically filter out of the water contaminants that can be reused, destroyed, or flushed down a safe drain. It can also be modified to filter for a certain size of particulate, making recovery of certain substances possible. The unit has a self-diagnostic system that can determine if the unit is operating properly and can shut down a part thereof if one of the capillary units fails. The unit uses ozone to disinfect containers and water lines.
US08968561B2
A mixed liquid passage (31) is connected to a trapping passage (22) at a point upstream of a trap column (23). A mixture of a diluting liquid and an additive agent, which are respectively drawn and sent by pumps (35) and (36), is supplied into the mixed liquid passage (31). When an eluate containing a target compound is passed through the trap column (23), the eluate is diluted with the diluting liquid and hence its elution capability decreases, so that the target compound can be easily captured in the trap column (23). Meanwhile, the solubility of the mobile phase in the eluate decreases, causing not only the target component but also foreign compounds to more easily precipitate. However, their precipitation is prevented by the effect of the additive agent. Thus, clogging of the trap column (23) or pipes is prevented.
US08968560B2
Methods and related apparatuses and mixtures are described for chromatographic analysis. The described system includes a pressurized source of a mobile phase and a flow path in fluid communication with the pressurized source such that the mobile phase flows through the flow path. The system also includes an injector in fluid communication with the flow path and downstream of the pressurized source, the injector being configured to inject a sample into the flow path. A first column located downstream of the injector, contains a stationary phase, and forms part of the flow path. A first detector is positioned to detect properties of fluid in the flow path at a location downstream of the injector and upstream from the first column. A second detector is positioned to detect properties of fluid in the flow path at a location downstream of the first column.
US08968558B2
The system of the present disclosure enables a filter cartridge having an array of filter media tubes to be remotely selectively back flushed during service by sequentially flushing the tubes with the rotary valving element to permit removal of trapped filtered material in service without disrupting the filtering flow in the balance of the filter array.
US08968550B2
Apparatus and method for cleaning chlorobenzenes-contaminated soil and groundwater are provided related to environment protection. The apparatus includes a direct current power supply, permeable reactive barrier (PRB) reaction walls and electrodes, wherein the electrodes are arranged in a polluted area according the concentric circles, and are installed into electrode chambers; the PRB reaction walls are installed at ½ between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode and at ¼ from the anode electrode. Chlorobenzenes in the soil and groundwater can be gathered in the PRB reaction walls through the arrangement of the electrode area; and then the chlorobenzenes can be further removed by oxidation-reduction reactions in the PRB reaction walls.
US08968546B2
A water treatment apparatus comprising a stack of circular electrodes with a central through hole, the electrodes are supplied with electricity so as to form anodes and cathodes in alternating intercalation. The anodes and cathodes so arranged to lie in such close-spaced parallel face to face relationship as to form a capacitive deionization cell. Water to be treated is passed from the outside of the stack, radially inward through between the electrodes into the central through hole and then axially out of the stack.
US08968529B2
A production method combining cathode arc and magnetron sputtering methods to form an antibacterial film on the surface of an object. Inside the vacuum chamber, both a cathode arc target source and a magnetron sputtering target source are configured. On the cathode arc target source, at least one of a zirconium, titanium, or chromium target is installed. On the magnetron sputtering target source, a silver target is installed. Argon and nitrogen are filled into the vacuum chamber to respectively ionize the silver target and one of the zirconium target, titanium target, or chromium target. Remote control is used to adjust the ionization proportion between one of the zirconium, titanium, or chromium target and the silver target to be 90-99%:1-9%. The surface of the object is formed with one of the zirconium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film, titanium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film, or chromium nitride-silver mixed antibacterial film.
US08968524B2
The invention relates to a method producing a portioned column by forming a first segment and a third segment into arcuate segments, and attaching these arcuate segments to a second z-shaped segment to from two contiguous volumes with approximately semi-circular cross-sections that combine to form a partitioned, approximately cylindrical segment.
US08968522B2
A process for recovering butanol from a mixture of a water-immiscible organic extractant, water, butanol, and optionally a noncondensable gas, is provided. The butanol is selected from 1-butanol, isobutanol, and mixtures thereof An overhead stream from a first distillation column is decanted into two liquid phases. The wet butanol phase is returned to the first distillation column as reflux. A bottom stream from the first distillation column is refined in a second distillation column to obtain a second overhead stream and a second bottoms stream. The extractant may be C7 to C22 fatty alcohols, C7 to C22 fatty acids, esters of C7 to C22 fatty acids, C7 to C22 fatty aldehydes, and mixtures thereof.
US08968520B2
A method of treating untreated low calorific coal containing moisture and organic volatiles includes feeding untreated coal to a dryer, and drying the coal. The dried coal is subjected to a pyrolyzing step where oxygen-deficient gases are brought into contact with the coal, thereby lowering the volatile content of the coal and producing a stream of pyrolysis effluent gases. The pyrolysis effluent gases are subjected to a separation process to separate lean fuel gases from liquids and tars, wherein the separation process removes less than about 20 percent of the pyrolysis effluent gases as the liquids and tars, with the remainder being the lean fuel gases. The lean fuel gases are returned to the dryer combustor, the pyrolyzer combustor, or the pyrolyzer.
US08968518B2
A papermaking process includes, firstly, providing carboxylated cellulosic fibers with a carboxyl group content being in the range from 0.06 to 1.5 mmol/g. Then the carboxylated cellulosic fibers are employed to prepare mixing pulp including filler particles, wherein the content of the carboxylated cellulosic fibers in the mixing pulp is in the range from 40% to 100% by dry fiber weight of the mixing pulp. After that, paper is made employing the mixing pulp.
US08968514B2
A gas distribution device for a substrate treating apparatus includes a plurality of plasma source electrodes having a first side surface; a plurality of plasma ground electrodes having a second side surface facing the first side surface, the plurality of plasma ground electrodes being alternately arranged with the plurality of plasma source electrodes; and a first gas providing part disposed at each plasma source electrode and including a first space, a plurality of first through-holes in communication with the first space for providing a first process gas between one of the plurality of plasma source electrodes and a corresponding ones of the plurality of plasma ground electrodes, and a first discharging portion at the first side surface.
US08968508B2
Systems and methods for joining polymeric materials together may use lasers or broadband infrared heat sources. The polymeric materials are arranged in an overlapping manner and then are exposed to the heat producing radiation for a sufficient time to join the polymeric materials together at the overlapped area. Such systems and methods may avoid the need to add an energy absorbing dopant to the materials being joined. Such systems and methods also may be used on transparent materials.
US08968506B2
This disclosure is related to a method for making a touch panel. The method includes following steps. A substrate having a surface is provided, wherein the surface defining a touch-view area and a trace area. A first mask layer is supplied to cover the trace area. An adhesive layer is applied on the touch-view area. A carbon nanotube film is placed on the adhesive layer and the first mask layer. The adhesive layer is solidified. The first mask layer and part of the carbon nanotube film on the trace area are removed to expose the trace area. An electrode and a conductive trace are formed on the trace area.
US08968503B2
Novel methods for extending electrostatic chuck lifetimes are provided. The methods involve providing a chuck having a metal cooling plate attached to a ceramic top plate, and after a period of use, disassembling the chuck, and providing a new chuck including the used metal cooling plate. In certain embodiments, the use of a low temperature bond material uniquely allows the described disassembly and reassembly without damage to other parts of the chuck.
US08968497B2
A method of making a ductile iron article is disclosed. The method includes providing a ductile iron article preform. The method also includes deforming the ductile iron article preform by hot-working to provide a hot-worked portion of the article. The method further includes cooling the article to an austempering temperature. Still further, the method includes austempering the ductile iron article preform for a predetermined time sufficient to provide an austempered article preform comprising an austempered microstructure, wherein the austempered microstructure of the hot-worked portion is different than in other portions of the article. A ductile iron wind turbine shaft is also disclosed. The ductile iron wind turbine shaft has an austempered microstructure comprising an ausferrite matrix and a plurality of graphite nodules. The austempered microstructure has a deformed portion, the deformed portion has a microstructure that is different than the microstructure of the other portion of the shaft.
US08968492B2
There is provided a brass free from lead (Pb) and possessing excellent machinability, castability, mechanical properties and other properties. A brass consisting of not less than 55% by weight and not more than 75% by weight of copper (Cu), not less than 0.3% by weight and not more than 4.0% by weight of bismuth (Bi), and y % by weight of boron (B) and x % by weight of silicon (Si), y and x satisfying the following requirements: 0≦x≦2.0, 0≦y≦0.3, and y>−0.15x+0.015ab, wherein a is 0.2 when Bi is 0.3% by weight ≦Bi<0.75% by weight; 0.85 when Bi is 0.75% by weight ≦Bi<1.5% by weight; and 1 when Bi is 1.5% by weight ≦Bi≦4.0% by weight, b is 1 when the apparent content of zinc (Zn) is not less than 37% and less than 41%; and 0.75 when the apparent content of Zn is not less than 41% and not more than 45%, the balance consisting of Zn and unavoidable impurities, is excellent in castability, as well as, for example, in machinability and mechanical properties.
US08968491B2
[Problems to be Solved]To provide a sputtering target that is capable of forming a Cu—Ga film to which Na is favorably added by a sputtering method, and a method for producing the same.[Means to Solve the Problems]The sputtering target is provided wherein 20 to 40 at % of Ga, 0.05 to 2 at % of Na, and 0.025 to 1.0 at % of S are contained and a remaining portion has a component composition consisting of Cu and unavoidable impurities. Also, a method for producing the sputtering target includes the step of hot pressing a mixed powder of Na2S powder and Cu—Ga alloy powder or a mixed powder of Na2S powder, Cu—Ga alloy powder, and pure Cu powder in a vacuum atmosphere or an inert gas atmosphere or sintering a mixed powder of Na2S powder and Cu—Ga alloy powder or a mixed powder of Na2S powder, Cu—Ga alloy powder, and pure Cu powder by hot isostatic pressing.
US08968490B2
A ferromagnetic amorphous alloy ribbon includes an alloy having a composition represented by FeaSibBcCd where 80.5≦a≦83 at. %, 0.5≦b≦6 at. %, 12≦c≦16.5 at. %, 0.01≦d≦1 at. % with a+b+c+d=100 and incidental impurities, the ribbon being cast from a molten state of the alloy with a molten alloy surface tension of greater than or equal to 1.1 N/m on a chill body surface; the ribbon having a ribbon length, a ribbon thickness, and a ribbon surface facing the chill body surface; the ribbon having ribbon surface protrusions being formed on the ribbon surface facing the chill body surface; the ribbon surface protrusions being measured in terms of a protrusion height and a number of protrusions; the protrusion height exceeding 3 μm and less than four times the ribbon thickness, and the number of protrusions being less than 10 within 1.5 m of the cast ribbon length; and the alloy ribbon in its annealed straight strip form having a saturation magnetic induction exceeding 1.60 T and exhibiting a magnetic core loss of less than 0.14 W/kg when measured at 60 Hz and at 1.3 T induction level in its annealed straight strip form. The ribbon is suitable for transformer cores, rotational machines, electrical chokes, magnetic sensors, and pulse power devices.
US08968482B2
The need for a method for hand washing dishes by direct application of an easily pourable liquid detergent composition, that delivers great grease cleaning with an excellent sudsing profile, is met by a liquid hand dishwashing detergent composition comprising small amounts of a branched alkoxylated nonionic surfactant.
US08968477B2
A deposition mask for manufacturing an organic light emitting display (OLED) using the same are provided. The deposition mask is intended for preventing an organic film from being damaged due to touching of a blocked-off portion of the mask to an emission layer (EML), or chemical transition from being generated at the organic film. For that purpose, the deposition mask stuck to a substrate of the OLED to deposit an organic EML includes an opening and an indentation. The opening is opened so as to deposit the organic EML. The indentation is indented a predetermined depth from a plane facing the substrate.
US08968472B2
A disclosed valve comprises a first valve body including first and second openings that permit gaseous communication between a chamber and an evacuation apparatus; a sealing valve element that moves near/away from the second opening to open/close the second opening; a sealing member provided in the sealing valve element to seal the second opening when the sealing valve element closes the second opening; a valve element retreat area that is provided in an inner wall of the first valve body away from the second opening, and shields the sealing member from an inside of the first valve body when the sealing valve element is moved to the valve element retreat area; and a first pivot shaft that pivots the sealing valve element so that the sealing valve element may be located in one of the second opening and the valve element retreat area.
US08968468B2
When pulling and growing a single crystal from a raw material melt by the Czochralski method, a boundary between the single crystal and the raw material melt is imaged by an optical sensor, and also the weight of the single crystal is measured by a weight sensor, a diameter value of the single crystal is calculated on the basis of first measured values of the diameter of the single crystal derived from image data captured by the optical sensor and second measured values of the diameter of the single crystal derived from weight data captured by the weight sensor, and a pulling rate of the single crystal and the temperature of the raw material melt are adjusted on the basis of the calculated diameter value to thereby control the diameter of the single crystal, and thus it is possible to accurately measure the diameter of a growing single crystal.
US08968463B2
A material capable for trapping a flammable gas such as hydrogen comprising at least one metal oxide in a cementitious matrix is disclosed. According to some aspects, the preparation of such a material and its different uses are also disclosed.
US08968460B2
To provide a Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment having a more vivid bluish hue than a Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment obtained by a conventional wet method. A Cu—Mn—Fe-based complex inorganic oxide black pigment having a more vivid bluish hue is disclosed. The complex inorganic oxide black pigment has a spinel structure composed of oxides of copper, manganese and iron as main constituent metals, the molar ratio of copper/manganese/iron is in a range of 3 to 8/5 to 10/1, at least one divalent metal element other than the main constituent metals has been introduced, and the molar ratio of (copper+the divalent metal element)/(manganese+iron) is in a range of 1 to 1.6/2. A production process of the black pigment is also disclosed.
US08968456B2
The present invention relates to a film coating composition used for film coating pharmaceutical tablets, nutritional supplements, confectionary forms and the like. The film coating composition comprises a water soluble film former such as hydroxypropylcellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, hydroxyethylcellulose, starches, modified starches and the like and one or more hydrophobic compounds, such as metal salt of higher fatty acids, higher fatty alcohol, natural wax either from vegetable, animal origin or synthetic wax. Optionally, the film coating composition may include plasticizers, colorants, such as pigments and/or flow aids.
US08968450B1
The present invention is a wet scrubber having a forced mixing chamber on top of an immersed packed bed, significantly increasing the scrubbing efficiency of acid gases and other pollutants by maximizing gas to liquid contact. A mixing fan located outside of the wet scrubber being connected to a mixing zone through an inlet duct to receive fluid from the mixing zone and an exhaust duct to blow fluid back into the mixing zone, thereby enhancing the mixing process inside the mixing zone.
US08968449B2
A spout, system, and method for producing a foam from a pressurized mixture of a liquid containing gas bubbles, e.g., air bubbles. The spout consists of a spout enclosure defining the body of the spout, and which receives the pressurized mixture and conveys the foam out of the spout enclosure. The spout enclosure houses a plurality of screens disposed in series that successively screen the pressurized mixture. Each screen is separated from a consecutive screen by a screen spacing. The screening of the pressurized mixture progressively transforms the gas bubbles in the liquid into foam bubbles of a smaller and generally uniform size. The system uses a manifold having a plurality of intakes which introduce under pressure into a chamber gas, and a solute, solvent or liquid, thereby generating the pressurized mixture containing gas bubbles. This mixture is conveyed out of the chamber via an outtake to the spout enclosure.
US08968446B1
An oil and air separation can includes: (i) a first screen that holds an oil filter assembly proximate a can intake for blow-by gases, and (ii) a second screen that holds a second oil filter assembly proximate a can exhaust for blow-by gases, wherein the first screen and the second screen are spaced vertically apart from one another.
US08968431B2
An apparatus for cooling hot ash particles discharged from a pressurized fluidized bed reactor, comprises a vessel, a solids inlet, a plurality of cooling pipes housed inside the vessel, and a solids outlet, wherein the cooling pipes are connected to a header located outside the vessel and are arranged such that the solids can flow between the cooling pipes under gravity without being blocked by the header, and wherein cooling liquid flows from the header via a flow path through the pipes, and exchanges heat with the hot ash particles through walls of the cooling pipes. The apparatus may further comprises a computerized evaporative cooling device comprising water nozzles and a thermocouple that measures the temperature inside the vessel. Also provided is a fluidized bed reactor comprising the cooling device.
US08968428B2
The invention provides additive mixtures comprising A) at least one terpolymer of ethylene, propene and at least one ethylenically unsaturated ester, which i) contains from 6.0 to 12.0 mol % of structural units derived from at least one ethylenically unsaturated ester having a C1- to C3-alkyl radical, ii) contains from 0.5 to 4.0 methyl groups derived from propene per 100 aliphatic carbon atoms, iii) has fewer than 8.0 methyl groups stemming from chain ends per 100 CH2 groups, and B) from 0.5 to 20 parts by weight, based on A), of at least one further component which is effective as a cold additive for mineral oils and is selected from B1) copolymers of ethylene and ethylenically unsaturated compounds whose content of ethylenically unsaturated compounds is at least 2 mol % higher than the content of ethylenically unsaturated esters in the terpolymer defined under A), B2) comb polymers, and B3) mixtures of B1) and B2), and also their use as a cold additive for middle distillates.
US08968415B2
Disclosed is an orthopedic implant that includes an anchor, a bore, and a compressible and expandable mesh. The anchor is configured to secure the implant at an implantation site and defines a longitudinal axis. The bore is defined by the anchor and extends along the longitudinal axis. The compressible and expandable mesh is aligned along the longitudinal axis and defines a plurality of openings. The mesh is configured to compress along the longitudinal axis and expand from the longitudinal axis to engage surrounding bone or tissue at the implantation site to secure the implant at the implantation site.
US08968414B2
A liner adapted for insertion into an acetabular shell for use in hip arthroplasty. The liner includes a concave inner surface adapted to engage a femoral head. The liner also includes an outer surface adapted to engage the acetabular shell and a rim that extends between the inner surface and the outer surface. The outer surface includes a locking section extending from the rim, a composite-curved section extending from the locking section at a first transition point, and a dome section extending from the composite-curved section, wherein at the first transition point, the composite-curved section is tangential to the locking section.
US08968412B2
An orthopaedic surgical instrument system that includes an orthopaedic surgical instrument adapted to be positioned on a proximal end of a patient's tibia, and a tibial bearing trial assembly configured to be coupled to the orthopaedic surgical instrument. The tibial bearing trial assembly includes a plurality of tibial bearing surface trial components and at least one shim.
US08968405B2
An interbody fusion device is provided that includes an interbody cage, a fixation system and an actuation mechanism to deploy one or more blades. The cage acts as an intervertebral spacer and provides resistance to the compressive loads in the spinal column. The fixation system includes an anchor and a ramp. These components could be manufactured from various medical grade materials.
US08968404B2
A device for ameliorating joint conditions and diseases comprising a) a first section comprising a joint-ward end, an opposing mating end, and a lateral wall, a peripheral column partially forming the lateral wall of the first section, a central column, and three or more than three struts extending between and connecting the peripheral column and the central column, and each strut thereby supporting the central column, the joint-ward end further comprising a plurality of fenestrations formed by a confluence of the peripheral column, the central column and two adjacent struts of the three or more than three struts, and first section further comprising a central aperture within and formed by the central column, and configured to mate with a driver, b) a second section comprising a mating end, an opposing leading end, and a lateral wall, the lateral wall of the second section comprising threads.
US08968401B2
Articles, compositions, and methods for growing tissues and organs using bioreactors, including rotating bioreactors, are provided. Synthetic scaffolds for growing artificial tissue and organ transplants are also provided.
US08968400B2
A self-sealing shell useful as a component of a soft fluid-filled prosthetic implant is provided. The shell is at least partly constructed of a wall made of a colloid of an elastomeric polymer matrix and particles of a water-soluble material distributed therein.
US08968396B2
Intraocular lens delivery devices and methods of use.
US08968393B2
A system for minimally invasive repair of a mitral valve including a catheter, a capture body and a surgical fastener. The capture body includes legs extending from a center portion, and is self-transitionable from a collapsed arrangement to a normal arrangement in which the legs extend in a common wind direction. The fastener has a self-closing clip forming a loop in an undeflected arrangement. In a delivery state, the capture body and fastener are disposed within the catheter and forced to the collapsed and deflected arrangements, respectively. In a capture state, the capture body legs are distal the catheter and self-assume the normal arrangement for capturing chordae. In a release state, the fastener is released from the catheter and the clip self-transitions toward the undeflected arrangement for securing the mitral valve leaflets.
US08968390B2
The present invention relates to covered endoprosthetic devices. Covered endoprosthetic devices comprise an endoprosthesis and a sheath. The sheath comprises a central portion and outer portions, wherein the central portion preferentially restricts or causes a restriction of blood flow. Blood flow can be reduced by the central portion of the sheath by varying the permeability of the sheath or by having projections on the sheath that slow blood flow. Permeability may be provided by perforations or holes in the material of the sheath or by varying the polymer structure that makes up the sheath itself. The outer portions of the sheath do not substantially reduce blood flow. Methods of using sheath-covered endoprosthetic devices of the invention to treat aneurysms, especially aneurysms in proximity to small perforator vessels or arteries, are also encompassed.
US08968381B2
A stent deployment system, handle, and method of loading of a medical device are provided. The system includes an outer catheter having an inner liner extending past the end of the outer catheter and an inner catheter disposed within the outer catheter. The inner liner is inverted and attached to the inner catheter. Relative movement between the outer and the inner catheters can urge the inner liner to peel away from the medical device. A handle is disposed at the proximal end of the outer catheter, and may include a splitter configured to slice the wall of the tubular member. The handle may also include a rotatable mechanism that can be attached to the tubular member. Rotation of the rotatable mechanism retracts a portion of the tubular member into the handle and winds the sliced portion about the rotatable mechanism.
US08968375B2
A method of treating a lens of a patient's eye includes generating a light beam, deflecting the light beam using a scanner to form a treatment pattern of the light beam, delivering the treatment pattern to the lens of a patient's eye to create a plurality of cuts in the lens in the form of the treatment pattern to break the lens up into a plurality of pieces, and removing the lens pieces from the patient's eye. The lens pieces can then be mechanically removed. The light beam can be used to create larger segmenting cuts into the lens, as well as smaller softening cuts that soften the lens for easier removal.
US08968373B2
An implantable screw system for maintaining horizontal and/or vertical space during bone grafting procedures is provided, the screw comprising: a contoured head having a region adapted to support soft tissue and permit bone growth; a threaded shaft and a tip adapted to penetrate bone tissue; and where one screw contains a threaded chamber for engaging a second screw for additional space maintenance; wherein the screw(s) comprises cortical bone material. Methods of implanting one or more screws during bone grating procedures are disclosed.
US08968365B2
The present invention relates to an interspinous spacer (10, 10′, 10″, 10′″, 10″″, 10′″″) for implantation between adjacent spinous process (SP) to treat spinal stenosis. The interspinous spacer preferably includes a W-shaped or S-shaped leaf spring body member (21) for insertion between adjacent spinous processes and one or more wire straps (42) extending from the body to attach the spacer to the adjacent spinous processes. The wire straps are preferably sized and configured to extend from one side of the leaf spring, along one side of a spinous process, over or under the spinous process to the other side wherein the wire strap can be coupled to the leaf spring. Alternatively, the spacer may include one or more hooks (60) for engaging one or both of the adjacent spinous processes. Preferably, the top bone contacting surface (22) has a more accentuated convex shape compared to the bottom surface (24) so that the spacer is better able to sit in the naturally formed concavity present in the bottom surface of a spinous process.
US08968360B2
A forceps is provided and includes a housing having a shaft. An end effector assembly operatively connects to a distal end of the shaft and includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable relative to the other jaw member from a clamping position to an open position. A resilient member operably couples to at least one of the first and second jaw members. The resilient member is configured to bias the first and second jaw members in the clamping position and provide a closure force on tissue disposed therebetween.
US08968358B2
A forceps for use in surgery for dissecting tissue includes a pair of jaw members movable from an open position in spaced relation relative to one another to a closed position. The jaw members each have an outer housing extending along the length thereof to a distal end of the jaw members. The outer housing of one of the jaw members includes a textured surface at a distal end configured to interface with and dissect tissue during the movement of the jaw members from the closed to open positions. A dissecting tip may be selectively extendable from a channel defined in one of the jaw members to engage and separate tissue when in the extended position.
US08968356B2
A surgical instrument is disclosed. A rotation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with a handle assembly and effects rotation of an end effector. The rotation mechanism includes a first member including at least one magnet, and a second member including at least one magnet. The first member and the second member define a space therebetween. The articulation mechanism is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the handle assembly and effects articulation of the end effector. The articulation mechanism includes a plurality of tendons. Each tendon extends longitudinally through the space between the first member and the second member of the rotation mechanism.
US08968350B2
A guidewire including a spreader or at least one centering device which may be used to open occluded vessels or other biological passages, especially chronic total occlusions. The guidewire may be used to either open the lumen or to center a boring device within the lumen, so that the chronic total occlusion can be crossed, and an interventional procedure can then be performed.
US08968349B2
An acupressure appliance to apply pressure to body parts. The acupressure appliance includes a pair of curved rod-like pressure units and a connector connecting the pair of curved rod-like pressure units in a lateral direction. Each pressure unit includes a convex-curved segment of a chevron shape curved continuously in an axial direction, and the pair of curved rod-like pressure units are spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction.
US08968342B2
An endoscopic stitching device includes a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws pivotally associated with one another, each jaw defining a needle receiving recess formed in a tissue contacting surface thereof; a drive assembly including a pair of concentric, individually rotatably and translatably supported barrels, each barrel defining a central lumen therethrough; and a pair of axially translatable needle engaging blades slidably supported, one each, in a respective jaw. The stitching device further includes a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed through the lumen of the barrels, a distal end of the center rod being operatively engaged with the pair of jaws.
US08968338B2
An instrument for performing thorascopic repair of heart valves includes a shaft for extending through the chest cavity and into a heart chamber providing access to a valve needing repair. A movable tip on the shaft is operable to capture a valve leaflet and a needle is operable to penetrate a captured valve leaflet and draw the suture through the leaflet. Proper leaflet capture can be confirmed with a fiber optic imaging system.
US08968333B2
A support assembly for supporting a remotely-controlled instrument driver, including a first member, a second member for supporting the instrument driver, and an interface assembly for allowing the second member to rotate relative to the first member about a first axis, and for allowing the second member to rotate relative to the first member about a second axis that forms an angle relative to the first axis, wherein the interface assembly comprises a ball that is rotatable relative to the first member, and a shaft extending through the ball, the shaft configured for coupling to the second member.
US08968332B2
The present invention relates to magnetically coupleable robotic surgical devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to robotic surgical devices that can be inserted into a patient's body and can be positioned within the patient's body using an external magnet.
US08968326B2
Various embodiments of components, devices, systems and methods are provided for a pneumatic surgical instrument having a probe or an impactor disposed at a distal end thereof and configured to make contact with a selected portion of an orthopedic implant or device and drive the implant into a hole or void formed in a patient's bone. The instrument is configured to generate a shock wave, which is then transferred to the distal end of the probe or impactor, and hence into the orthopedic implant, thereby causing the implant to be driven into contact with portions of the void or hole.
US08968320B2
Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.
US08968314B2
An electrosurgical apparatus includes a housing having a shaft extending therefrom. The shaft includes an end effector assembly at a distal end thereof. The end effector assembly includes first and second fixed jaw members in spaced relation relative to one another. An electrically conductive tissue sealing plate is operatively coupled to each of the jaw members. The electrically conductive seal plates are adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source and communicate with a control system. The control system is configured to regulate the delivery of electrosurgical energy from the source of electrosurgical energy to the tissue sealing plate on each of the jaw members. A guide channel is disposed between the pair of fixed jaw members and extends proximally along the shaft from the distal end thereof. A knife is disposed at a proximal end of the guide channel and is configured to selectively cut tissue in a distal direction.
US08968310B2
An electrosurgical forceps is provided with a shaft that extends from a housing of the electrosurgical forceps. An end effector assembly operably coupled to the shaft includes a pair of first and second jaw members. One or both of the first and second jaw members is movable from an open configuration, to a clamping configuration. A knife blade assembly includes a knife blade translatable within the first and second jaw members. A knife blade lockout mechanism is in operative communication with the knife blade assembly and includes an elongated cam slot with a cam pin translatable therein from a distal end of the elongated cam slot corresponding to the knife blade lockout mechanism engaged with the knife blade assembly, to a proximal position corresponding to the knife blade lockout mechanism disengaged from the knife blade assembly.
US08968309B2
An end effector of a forceps includes first and second jaw members movable between spaced-apart and approximated positions for grasping tissue. Each jaw member includes a tissue sealing plate that is selectively energizable. The tissue sealing plates are configured to conduct energy therebetween and though tissue to seal tissue. A knife includes a distal surface and an upper surface. The knife is selectively translatable between a retracted position and an extended position wherein the knife extends between the jaw members. The distal surface is configured for dynamic tissue cutting upon translation of the knife from the retracted to the extended position. The upper surface is configured for static tissue cutting with the knife in the extended position. The knife is selectively energizable and is configured to conduct energy between the knife and one or both of the tissue sealing plates and through tissue to electrically cut tissue.
US08968301B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods for tissue dissection and modification are disclosed herein. A method for tissue dissection and modification may comprise inserting a tissue dissecting and modifying wand (TDM) through an incision in a patient's body. The TDM may comprise a tip having a plurality of protrusions with lysing segments positioned between the protrusions to dissect and/or modify tissue. The TDM may also comprise an energy window positioned on top of the TDM that is configured to deliver energy to modify tissues. After separating tissue using the lysing segment(s) to define a target region, the energy window may be activated and moved around within the target region to modify tissues. In some implementations, the energy window may be activated prior to and/or during dissection of the tissue such that the tissue is separated while tissue is modified within the target region.
US08968300B2
An electrosurgical device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes a coaxial feedline having an inner conductor, an outer conductor and a dielectric material disposed therebetween. A proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor at a distal end of the coaxial feedline. A distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve is coupled to the inner conductor. First and second dielectric segments are coupled to the inner conductor and disposed between the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The device also includes an elongated shaft overlying the proximal cylindrical dielectric sleeve, the first dielectric segment, the second dielectric segment and the distal cylindrical dielectric sleeve. The elongated shaft includes an opening defined therethrough, wherein the opening is at least partially aligned with the first dielectric segment. A balun structure is disposed on the elongated shaft, at least partially overlying the opening in the elongated shaft.
US08968295B2
A circuit for controlling the discharging of stored energy in an electrosurgical generator includes a pulse modulator which controls an output of a power supply. At least one comparator is configured to provide an error signal to the pulse modulator based on a comparison between an output signal generated by the power supply and a feedback signal generated in response to the application of energy to tissue. A discharge circuit is configured to control the discharge of the output of the power supply to an inductive load disposed in parallel with the output of the power supply based on the comparison between the output signal and the feedback signal. The discharge circuit provides a rapid response and time rate control of the delivered electrosurgical energy by controlling the power supply and delivered RF energy in real time, based on a feedback signal generated in response to the application of energy to tissue.
US08968292B2
A device for directing energy to a target volume of tissue includes an inner conductor having a length and an outer conductor coaxially surrounding the inner conductor along the length. The outer conductor has a proximal portion and a distal portion. The distal portion of the outer conductor is provided with a number of apertures N defined therein for radiating energy, where N is an integer greater than 1, each aperture having a size and extending at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the outer conductor. At least one of the size and the angle of each aperture is varied in relation to the other apertures N−1 such that the energy radiated along the distal portion is substantially uniform.
